ThorpesCorvettes

Hey everyone, just curious if anyone out there is like me & sold their Corvettes too early. Corvettes with great pedigree are only going up in the market, but back in the day some L88's did not even bring 100k. I've definitely had a few cars that were sold too early, that could be worth big bucks today. I have a modest collection of cars and actually only one vette (69 Blue/Blue L89 Coupe that i'm doing a resto on) but boy do I kick myself twice a day every day for letting some of those slip away.

I encourage you to share your stories and photos of the cars you let go of just a little too early. As bad as this sounds, I hope to get a big response, so we can all sympathize together!



Tim Thorpe

7T1vette

Since C3's have only gone up in price over the long-term, everyone who has sold one has sold it "too soon". But, that might not be the case in the next several years. As with any 'collector' or 'hobby' item, their interest ebbs and wanes with the generations; and the generation which has had the most interest in C3's is almost "toast" (and, that includes ME! ). I am curious about how younger folks will perceive the early Corvettes and if their value will be retained.

Alan 71

Hi TC,
Some didn't get sold.
There's NOTHING about it that made it a keeper... but it stayed in the garage.
Regards,
Alan

1971


2011

gccch

Alan,

those pictures are priceless. I did not know you were original the owner of your car. I hope to see it some day.

Greg

cor66vette

A '61 I had that at times I regret was sold. (The Triumph belonged to a buddy)
1970

1970

AirwolfPJ

They'll be worth whatever people will pay for them but will always hold a value. Supply and demand holds true with the economics of C3's.

Since I've only owned mine for about 6 weeks, lol, I haven't had any real desire to either sell it or test the market. But, I do know that every Mopar muscle car I've ever owned, with the exception of one I still have, I probably sold too soon. Who would've known...

Being retired, when I made the choice to buy my 69, it was with the knowledge that I could afford it, be able to maintain it, and not consider it a disposable asset in case of financial or marital, (lol) discord. If you can't enjoy it free and clear, what's the sense?

ramair_bryan

Allen needs a hair cut...................

73C3TX

I don't think interest in older Corvettes is changing much. Buying my first C3 this week at the ripe old age of 28 and have met many 20 somethings that are, or want to get into the collector/hobby car scene.

7T1vette

Glad to hear it!!

Also, I think Alan71 might have had some biological "help" with that 'haircut'.

80Baby

I bought my '80 brand new in 1980; paid $13,000.00. Three years later my soon-to-be bride told me that I had to get rid of my car because "A married man doesn't drive a car like that." Happy wife - happy life so I did was I was told. I sold my beautiful baby for $13,100.00. Funny thing, if I had kept that car I probably wouldn't get that much for it today.

I have a second '80 now. By the time I finish the restoration I'm going to be into it for $28,000.00, but because I've been without a Vette for so long, the sentimental value of this car is worth more to me.

By the way, I'm not married to the "Anti Vette" anymore.

Sunstroked

It's not that I sold too soon, but what I didnt buy back then. My brother told me of a co-worker who was selling his 69, 427. Asking price $3000. But it had 100k miles. The yr was 1978, and I was single, making big bucks, and had just bought a new engine for my 73 Camaro. I wanted it so badly, but passed. Doh!
I ended up keeping that Camaro until 1988, and definitely sold it too soon.

MidShark

Here was my 1st Vette, a '57 I bought as a basket case for $300 in 1970 when I was 15. Got it on the road 18 months later, and had about $2500 into it. Drove it until 1976 when I sold it for $3600. At the time I thought I did pretty good on it.

The other Corvette I would love to have back was the '67 427/435 HP coupe I bought the following year. It was a Black/Black, and I remember it had the speedo warning buzzer and factory shoulder belts. I paid $3000 for it, had it about 8 months, and one day someone stopped and asked if it was for sale. I said "sure- $3800 cash". I thought it was the easiest $800 I had ever made!
I never did take any pics of that one.

jr9170

ThorpesCorvettes

I feel for all of you! Sold my 69 l88 for what seems like peanuts today. Along with the black/red l89 I've started a thread about for 60k back in the 90s. That car has more than tripled in value! Will try to post pics of the L88 soon.

Bfail

I'm not really a youngster, but I am 30. I just bought my first C3 today. A 71 Coupe L-82. I've wanted one ever since I was a kid!

Mick71

I see young people giving me all the time. They'll always be strong market for 'vettes and American muscle imo.

ThorpesCorvettes

Never too young to own a vette. My nephew has a beautiful custom 77 with a 406 & he's only 23. My first corvette was a 77 so it was great helping him with his & very nostalgic for me. Spoiled kids these days!

TexasMadMan

Not Corvette, but still Chevy.

In 1981 I sold a very nice 1956 Nomad Wagon for $5500.
Didn't learn my lesson.
In 1994 I sold a very nice 1957 Nomad Wagon for $8000.
Can't afford to buy another one now.

7T1vette

If you like 'em...keep 'em. When you don't, sell them.

redwhitekat

Wow great stories there will always be something special about older cars the way they look feel and sound there is nothing like it anymore in another 20 or 30 years they will still be great and maybe this topic will come up then