I thought my wife had tossed my January addition to Corvette Magazine... but I found it tucked away in the restroom library.

I have read several people asking about car values recently, and thought I would share some information from the magazine dealing with the C3 market.

For Starter.... Defintions are listed below;

Show Ready - Near factory condition
Good - Older restorations and lightly worn originals
Average - Daily Drivers
TLC - In need of major overhaul

This info was compiled by George Stradlater

1968
T-Top, SR (Show Room) 30,000, Good 22,000, Avg. 16,000, TLC 8,500
Vert, SR 34,000, Good 25,000, Avg. 21,000, TLC 10,500
Value increase of 7% last year
add 35% for 427, 100% for RPO L89, $1500 for 327-350, $1500 for AC

1969
T-Top, SR 31,000, Good 24,000, Avg. 18,900, TLC 9,200
Vert, SR 35,000, Good 28,000, Avg. 23,500, TLC 11,000
Verts saw an increase of 8% and T-Tops 9% last year
(add same as above for options)

1970
T-Top, 28,000, 23,000, 18,500, 11,000
Vert, 36,000, 27,000, 23,000, 14,000
T-Tops increased by 6% and Verts by 5% last year
add $5000 for 454, add $10,000 for LT1, add $1500 for 350-350
add $1500 for AC

1971
T-Top, 25,000, 20,000, 16,500, 10,500
Vert, 33,000, 25,000, 21,500, 11,00
T-Tops increased by 4% and Verts by 8% last year
add 75% for LS6, add $5000 for 454, add $10,000 for LT1, $1500 AC

1972
T-Top, 26,000, 21,000, 18,000, 11,000
Vert, 34,000, 26,000, 23,000, 14,000
T-top increased by 4% and Verts by 6% last year
add $5000 for 454, add $10,000 for LT1, add $1500 for AC

1973
T-Top, 21,000, 15,000, 11,500, 11,500
Vert, 25,000, 21,000, 19,000, 10,500
T-Top increased in value by 2% and Verts by 6% last year
add $3500 for 454, add $1500 for L82, add $700 for AC

1974
T-Top, 17,100, 13,500, 9,000, 5,000
Vert, 24,000, 19,000, 16,000, 11,500
T-Tops increased in value by 6% and Verts by 5% last year
add $3500 for 454, add $1500 for L82, add $700 for AC

1975
T-Top, 21,000, 14,000, 9,200, 5,600
Vert, 28,000, 21,000, 19,000, 11,000
T-Tops increased in value by 7% and Verts by 4% last year.
add $1500 for L82, add $700 for AC

1976
T-Top, 16,500, 13,000, 9,500, 5,500
T-Top increased in value by 10% ast year
add same for options listed above

1977
T-Top, 18,000, 14,000, 10,500, 6,000
increased in value by 11% last year
add same for options listed above

1978
T-Top, 17,500, 13,000, 8,500, 5,800 +5%
1978 SA, 19,000, 16,000, 13,000, 7,100 +3%
1978 PC, 32,500, 24,000, 18,500, 9,500 +2%
add $1500 for L82, add $500 for optional wheels

1979
T-Top, 29,000, 16,500, 11,000, 7,300
Increased in value by 6% last year
add $1500 for L82, add $500 for RPO N90 Aluminum wheels

1980
T-Top, 17,100, 14,500, 9,500, 6,800
8% value increase last year
add $2000 for L82, add $500 for RPO N90 Aluminum Wheels

1981
T-Top, 18,500, 15,000, 10,900, 7,000
8% value increase last year
add $500 for wheels above

1982
T-Top, 25,500, 18,000, 11,500, 7,500 +4%
1982 CE, 28,500, 22,000, 16,800, 9,500 +3%
add $500 for wheels above

Just to wrap up.... the author did say they expected the rise in value to continue for quite a while.... due to people interested in collecting the C3s has been on the rise.

Hope this helps and I hope I did not do anything wrong for sharing this information...

 

Thanks!

 

No Problem..... I just noticed a lot of people asking lately... and I found the article interesting myself.

 

Gee, I happened to notice that the highest increase was for the 76 and 77 cars at 10% and 11% while the 68-72s were 4% to 8%. Well, what do you know! Maybe my smog restricted, rubber bumpered 76 vette will be worth as much as a chromie some day!

 

don't hold your breath

 

the real value is only noticed when someone bumps it in the parking lot....

 

I'm holding it..... til I turn

 

Gotta love that when a show ready 79 is valued more than a 70.

 

Here is something for the finance people. I have a 71 Big Block coupe and was just checking the cost of a 454 in 1971. it cost 295 bucks back then. Today it commands a 5k premium over a small block. Running my financial calculator at 295 bucks over 34 years growing to 5000 bucks gives one an 8.68% total return....Not bad!!!! Too bad I didnt buy it in 71 though!!! I was only 10 yrs old myself!!! With the Mid Year prices out of control all of the Sharks will start to run. Watch Barrett Jackson in a couple of weeks. I checked and they have a decent amount of Sharks at the auction.
I didnt buy my Vettes as an investment, I have them because i enjoy them and they put a smile on my face. Besides my kids think their dad is cool too!!! If the price rises its just another bonus!!!!

Anthony

 

I don't ever see that happening. I think what did happen was the chrome bumper C3s were climbing in price early (when the rubber bumpers were sitting idle)... and are starting to taper off a little, with thier early rise in value, it priced some people out of the chrome bumper market..... now those people are starting to buy up some of the rubber bumper C3s and causing a higher % increase in value this past year. I think as a whole.... the chrome bumper C3s will always fetch a higher price.... and soon the % increase in values for all C3s will even out. What I found most encouraging was the fact the C3s are on the move up in value as a whole...

BL

 

whats up with that 79 t-top value?

 

way to sugar coat it

 

I don't know... unless it came equipped with a lot of the goodies the 1978 PC had. I read where it had some interior upgrades, bolt on spoiler package, was made 12 lbs lighter, and received an updated and improved exahust system and a dual snorkel breather...wich amped up the HP. L82s had a whopping 225 HP and base engines 195 HP. I think the price reflects the fact the 79 was riding the coat tail of the 78... with some improvement.

just my guess....

BL

 

Maybe that $29K is a typo. Should it be $19K?

 

Yeah but those are original motor prices. How many of us here have NOM?

 

I rechecked the magazine..... because I have been known to fat finger keys..... but the prices were the same. Of course.. I am certainly no expert on car values... just passing along the info from the article.

BL

 

 

i wonder where my '79 fits into the price code..... 60k miles, overall very good condition, '98 350/300hp crate motor with 5k miles....t-tops, red leather int....

 

After I got my 79 & put $$ into it I read that it was the high production year for the corvette and there fore lowest collector value.

 

It could have been a typo in the article... but I am not sure. You would think the editors would have caught a $10,000 uh-oh...

BL