1978 Corvette Automatic - Estimated value
 

I will be looking at a 1978 Corvette which is white, automatic, L48, wheels. The owner claims that it has 48K for mileage. The paint is new and the interior has new carpet and the seats are worn but "OK"

It has working air too. New tires with factory upgraded wheels.

He also claims it is an 25th Silver Anniversity model.

What is the estimated value of this car? Is it worth looking at? He is asking $7000.

I have an 84 Corvette that I would be selling to get this car. Shold I keep my 84? Or look at purchaing the 78?

Comments on value and what your recommendations? What to look for?

Comments and suggestions on the 78 Corvette values? Good model to own?

all 78's carry the 25th anniversary badges... there was a 25th anniversay paint option (B2Z) however that was a two-tone paint not white...

So technicly its a 25th anniv car but that carries no especial value since they all were.

Auto and L-48 are also pretty much base line stuff.

I Love my 78 but its hardly what it was when i bought it. mechanicly its easy to work on and the car should be very affordable. for a plain jane l-48 in very good condition I wouldnt expect to pay more than 8-10k on a 78.

Dont let him pull a NADA book outta his pocket and claim the car is worth 20k or show you Barret jackson sales and claim its worth 150k...both are quite inflated :)

The guy looking for $7000 for this car. He claims that is only needs the small stuff to complete.

What would be a fare amount to offer him?

Any upside with owning this model?

What condition is it in mechanically? I have a 78 right now. Pretty wimpy motors stock. Are you planning on driving it as is or will you be wanting to do work to the motor or even replace it? That will be where your cost will really come in. They are very basic and very easy to work on.

If you were happy with the car power wise and it is in good shape, I would say that price isn't that bad. 78 is when they changed the rear and put in the bubble glass on the back and if I am not mistaken, it was the highest produced year model up til that time so they aren't real rare.

Faxrs2 is right about the 25th anniversary badging being on all 78s. Just basing off of your description on what you know about the car, if true I think you'd be fine around 7k, offer him 6.

No real upside, there were over 40K built so it will never be extremely collectable. Plus it's the base L48 so it's low on the power side, fairly common stuff. If it's in good shape I don't think $7K is out of line. The real upside is your preference, if you like it, go for it!

Here's my 81. It had new paint and was in great shape when I bought it in April last year. Same kind of thing, high production numbers, not much horse power but I like it. It had 74K miles on it and I paid $8,500 for comparison.

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7k is fair IF it only needs small stuff - be forewarned that.. well.. all cars sold need only a few small things to finish...48k miles is very low - do your best to verify it isnt 148k too often people just report whats on the odemeter...is this the original owner? does he have reciepts?

look for rust on the frame - especially at the kickup just in front of the rear tire...examine all the things you would normally examine when looking at a used car.

when you arrive to test drive or inspect..make sure the motor isnt warm. reach right in and touch it...often owners with cold start problems and bad cold idle settings will warm the car up before you arrive.

The motor had a new cam from a 327 put in the engine. I not quite sure what that might of done to improve the performance.

I wish to thank every body for there help. I have a 84 with four speed and it was in need of paint. Paint work is very expensive these days. I thought I might sell the 84 and in the long run I might be better off with 78.

What is your feelings on owning a 78 vs 84?

Looking at it this afternoon
 

Again thanks guys!

I have been getting quotes for paint job for my 84 Corvette. They are ranging from $3000 to $10,000.


I have looked at several cars in the past. Never have I found a car that was good as the owner claimed. Maybe this will be different.

Rick

Actually my 1st vette was a 84. it had the FE5 (i think) suspension - you know the one that was a kidney buster...well anyhow, i musta been lucky because i never had a issue with the car it ran great and was quick and fun to drive.

the 84 does pretty much everything better than the 78 in stock form..

better fuel economy
faster
handles better
more comfortable (except for that one suspension package)
better stereo

the 78 on the other hand

far better looking
generally easier to work on now because of the waning availablity of 84 electronics
going up in value (albeit slowly)
probably more desirable than the 84

I would say if both cars were in excellent shape the 84 is probably a slightly better daily driver... but its a very marginal gap. The 84 feels loads more powerful because of the overdrive compared to the nearly identical power of the 78.

Given the differences I wouldnt hesitate to go 78 before 84

Visit to see 78 Corvette
 

Very interesting trip. The owner claim that it had 49K for mileage. (149 or 249K) Steering was slightly loose, brakes are weak, interior was torn out, no radio, carpet and the list goes on. Only the driver seat was in the car.

He said that he spent $1300 in air conditioning work. No blower fan.

Door jams had cracks, and poorly finished.

As you can tell, I was very disappointed in what he told me on the phone and what the actual car was.

While I was leaving, he said he had two other people looking at the car today and one next week.

Maybe the car was worth $1500.

:D Typical... only needs a few little things.....LIKE AN INTERIOR!!!!!!

I dont know what you're looking to spend but I'll sell you mine for $13k....I'll even throw in a passenger seat for free :)

There is no such animal as SMALL STUFF TO COMPLETE

You said you would have to give up your 84 for this car, better the devil you know than the one you don't 'nough said.

added: P.S. and I own and love '78s

RUN FOREST.................RUN !!!! :lol:

Good advice on here from everyone. I found a guy who has a silver 78 with red interior that I'll probably be trading my 85 for. His 78 is in great condition except for carpet and seats which he has the stuff to finish it that will be going with it for my junk 85. So in my opinion pretty good deal especially since i don't really get along with the computers in my 85.

He is correct.

That's up to you.

Reasonable.

That's up to you. The only question here is whether you want his 78.

Good reading here:
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Good luck.
:thumbs:

5 year old thread. Wow, a blast from the past eh? :willy:

new to this forum. just joined...

saw a 78 corvette today for sale, guy said he wanted $5000.
he said engine and exhaust were good, had racing seats in it
but still has the original seats....but it wasn't much of a looker.
looked like undercoat or primer (it was gray/silver in color)
was the color of the car, said
it needed painting...although i thought it looked cool in it's rough
state to me.
wasn't sure if it was worth $5000, but don't really know value.
haven't seen much of any 70s corvettes for under 6 or 7k.

just been doing a bit of research on 78 corvettes tonight....

Have you found your 78 vette yet?
 

I have one for sale and would like to tell you about it.

Jr member responds to five year old post...

1.2 years later another Jr member makes a personal, unrelated post instead of starting his own thread...

...and today we get a response to the OP, 6.5 years later.

:willy: