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Not at all… Just don't want to start trouble. I know it was a loaded question. I was hoping the way I worded it. That I wouldnt come off making someone upset. Everyone who has answered has been great. I really never thought of the age thing. Always looking towards the cars. But it is true, Each age group has their own thing.
It wouldn't be you starting it, dont worry about it...
Cool thread,
I recalled, some trendsters of the restro road race look do not run the bumpers on the chrome bumper cars...
And the 73 oddball year of 1/2 and 1/2 was duntovs favorite c3 so....
I have both a 71 and a 82 the 82, the 82 has great lines I only wish they still had the straight back glass instead of the bubble back glass. the 71 is just classic
Don't you like the extra space you gain from the bubble window?
I was born in 1975. My favorite vette is the late "rubber" c3's and I bet that if I were born in 1965 my favorite would be the chrome bumper rigs.
Why? Cause when were were kids we saw movies, billboards, and posters that told us how cool "our generation's" vette was.
Chrome bumpers have a higher value than rubbers right now. But I bet as the 30 something's get into the financial position of buying up their childhood dreams (and most of the restoreable cars), the late C3's will step up in value similar to the chrome bumpers.
I don't doubt what you are saying. All years become more interesting to a certain group depending on age of the people. Vettes seem to move up in category as they get older. The early chrome bumper C3 Corvettes are now moving up where the C2's were previously and the C2's have moved up to infinity. There might even be hope for the C4's some day. Who knows !
It's a known fact that the hot babes much prefer chrome bumbers!
they like Corvette Period especially C3's the C4's get no love though.
But rubber cars are more fun because they have "no" value so you could do whatever you want to it and the ncrs guys wont get there pantys in a bunch but even then some people (mainly older) seem to frown upon modern upgrades on any classic. I also been told that the rubber cars are starting to go up in value but its to late for me to turn back and start making it 100% period correct or original. I really like chrome cars but I want a car I can drive and mod to my liking and I think buying a 20k chromey to add another 20k or more in mods is probably a better investment than buying a 5k rubber car and dropping 20k but it sure as hell way more fun to drive. only down side I see here in cali is that I still gotta smog it but my small block will keep up with those early c3 small block and a run for there money on them big blocks.
Rubber all day everyday (even though I changed to fiberglass bumpers)
It really has nothing to do with the bumpers. It has everything to do with the optional power trains...which began to disappear in 1970 and were pretty much gone by 1973. Rarity, desirablity and scarcity determine market value...not what the bumper is made of.
This NCRS guy doesn't wear panties and could care less what anybody does to their car...or how much they spend on it...or how much they think they can sell it for. If I had some extra money, I would not hesitate to buy a later year NOM C3 and mod the heck out of it.
It really has nothing to do with the bumpers. It has everything to do with the optional power trains...which began to disappear in 1970 and were pretty much gone by 1973. Rarity, desirablity and scarcity determine market value...not what the bumper is made of.
This NCRS guy doesn't wear panties and could care less what anybody does to their car...or how much they spend on it...or how much they think they can sell it for. If I had some extra money, I would not hesitate to buy a later year NOM C3 and mod the heck out of it.
Biggest thing, I agree with you.....which is why I loved my '72 vette so much in '95 when I bought it....has late shark wider fenders, mud/flaps and retains the classic chrome bumpers....but of course it's been upgraded to modern everything over the years....nothing is stock from wheels through roof.....NOTHING.....
rack, HB, springs, shocks, bushings, interior, injection, O/D trans, BRAKES--HB+ wheels/tires....Hurst shifter with 8 ball on top....seating modified for ME..... and all 3 of my vettes have been convertibles....
"whippersnapper", "geezer" - my wife is sitting across the room wondering why I've just broken out in such a good laugh! Thanks for that Mike/Scott. You're both right about personal preference and spot-on about the age/memories association with aspirational value. I fully anticipate that my early 50-something generation will step up to their bucket list dream once kids are out of the house, as we all have which will drive up the demand/price of the poly-bumpers which I personally remember drooling over as a buck. Chromees look great! But, polly-bumpers made the emotional bond. They still look modern by today's standards IMHO. But, since I'm never gonna sell mine I only care about value for rising insurance cost awareness purposes. But, I'll be surprised if the C4's launch in our lifetime. They simply nailed it on performance but I don't see the kids today doing the "hey mister - I love your car" at the gas station nearly as often as the C2's and especially C3's. If ever and that's a shame because we're all somewhat connected. But, I love C4'rs because they always wave back. (Hello C5/6'rs).
So, just like the north and south, we may squabble among ourselves, but if anyone from outside ever comes in dissing this amazingly beautiful art on wheels C3, watch us all circle the wagons in an instant. I would pity the blind fool. Chrome - Poly, pick your dream money-pit poison, they're BOTH "to die for" as my college-age kids would likely blurt. Go Whippergeezers!
Last edited by Lakeside49; 12-16-2014 at 10:17 PM.
It really has nothing to do with the bumpers. It has everything to do with the optional power trains...which began to disappear in 1970 and were pretty much gone by 1973. Rarity, desirablity and scarcity determine market value...not what the bumper is made of.
This NCRS guy doesn't wear panties and could care less what anybody does to their car...or how much they spend on it...or how much they think they can sell it for. If I had some extra money, I would not hesitate to buy a later year NOM C3 and mod the heck out of it.
well, my opinion is that people like shiny things. they were chrome for a reason, kind of like jewelry. people used to pay more for extra chrome/trim.
second, many of us think the chrome bumper versions look better because the car was designed originally with chrome bumpers. The plastic bumpers were a mandated add-on and don't look the same. IF the car was originally designed with plastic bumpers, it would likely look like the corvettes that WERE designed with plastic bumpers, specifically the last versions before c4's that were redesigned with the glass hatch. If yo60u compare say an '82 with a '74, the bumpers flow mutch better with the vehicle's lines.
Third, cars from the 60's performance era (ie. chrome bumpers) are almost always worth more than cars from the 70's smog era, irrespective of model. compare a 71 camaro with chrome bumpers, to a 74 camaro with partial chrome, then an '80 with all plastic. you'll see the same thing with prices.
I fully anticipate that my early 50-something generation will step up to their bucket list dream once kids are out of the house
I`ve been very fortunate in that I didn`t have to wait that long. All my kids have been involved in restoring classic cars. As I get older, and working on these cars gets harder, the boys do more & more. Just a couple weeks ago, the 16 year old completely dismantled the 350 that came out of the 71 Vette. This is actually the third car he`s helped build. He will eventually inherit the Vette.
The 19 year old does all the welding for me, a task he learned at 15! He`s now building his own 74 Camaro that he put a 79 front clip on, and his big dream is a 69 Camaro!
Agree 100%...Great comparison below. I'll add that I like the bumper cars from the outside but the dash/seats, interior in general is too old school for me...belongs in a C2. The 80-82 cars got it right, inside and out. For performance, I drive my 04 Z06/Z16!
Originally Posted by Brack c
Here's my .02
To each their own . Me personally , I love the look of the 80-82s . To me , you can't beat the lines on them , simply beautiful . But that's my opinion . Motors , drivetrain , suspension ... all can be changed .
Investment wise , hands down a chrome bumper car , IMO .
Although I am WAY younger than just about everyone on this forum (born in 1997), I do prefer the looks of the chrome bumper models. But as a 17 year old, there is no way I could even dream of touching one for another... 10 years if I'm lucky. Although I do happily have a 78, and I'm modifying to my tastes to become my car (without the bumpers...). I think it just comes down to everyone's personal preference and maybe not particularly age.
Because who can't love lines like these
Yes it's still a work in progress
12-16-2014, 06:37 PM
so you could do whatever you want to it and the ncrs guys wont get there pantys in a bunch 
but even then some people (mainly older) seem to frown upon modern upgrades on any classic. I also been told that the rubber cars are starting to go up in value but its to late for me to turn back and start making it 100% period correct or original. I really like chrome cars but I want a car I can drive and mod to my liking and I think buying a 20k chromey to add another 20k or more in mods is probably a better investment than buying a 5k rubber car and dropping 20k but it sure as hell way more fun to drive. only down side I see here in cali is that I still gotta smog it but my small block will keep up with those early c3 small block and a run for there money on them big blocks.
(even though I changed to fiberglass bumpers)
