Opinions please.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Louisiana
Opinions please.....
Hi all,
I'm from the C-4 section. I know little or nothing about C-3's but I have a chance to buy a 74 T-Top Coupe from an aquaintance. Body has been thru a off frame restoration that looks very nice. Interior is mediocre but OK. Couple of missing *****. It a 4 speed with a LT1, I think, engine. Not sure what that means. Price is negotiable but I;m sure I can get it for low teens at the most. The question is,....Is it potentially collectable ? Has it bottomed out in value at low teens?
What should I be asking about the rebuild. I don't believe he has any records but he's an honest person and wouldn't shaft me intentionally.
Are 74's of particular interest ?
I'm trying to decide whether to pursue this any futhur than conversation with the seller.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you care to share.
I'm from the C-4 section. I know little or nothing about C-3's but I have a chance to buy a 74 T-Top Coupe from an aquaintance. Body has been thru a off frame restoration that looks very nice. Interior is mediocre but OK. Couple of missing *****. It a 4 speed with a LT1, I think, engine. Not sure what that means. Price is negotiable but I;m sure I can get it for low teens at the most. The question is,....Is it potentially collectable ? Has it bottomed out in value at low teens?
What should I be asking about the rebuild. I don't believe he has any records but he's an honest person and wouldn't shaft me intentionally.
Are 74's of particular interest ?
I'm trying to decide whether to pursue this any futhur than conversation with the seller.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you care to share.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Here is what Corvette Magizine had to say (January 2006 issue): "These are the last Corvettes without catalytic converters and as such have a claim to classic status. Still, to many outside the Corvette community these are still used cars, not treasures. Anyone interested in making a super sleeper hotrod cheaply could do a lot worse than focusing on this year. ......watch for neglect related issues such as Posi and power steering failures......the more cheaply the buy in, the more likely the car is to have sufferend deferred maintenance." They list the value as 5K for needs TLC, 9K for average, 13.5K for good, and 17K for show ready. Look for rust in the birdcage (windshield posts) and the frame, both are very common.
Last edited by Duke94; Jun 1, 2006 at 07:54 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by cedrop
Hi all,
I'm from the C-4 section. I know little or nothing about C-3's but I have a chance to buy a 74 T-Top Coupe from an aquaintance. Body has been thru a off frame restoration that looks very nice. Interior is mediocre but OK. Couple of missing *****. It a 4 speed with a LT1, I think, engine. Not sure what that means. Price is negotiable but I;m sure I can get it for low teens at the most. The question is,....Is it potentially collectable ? Has it bottomed out in value at low teens?
What should I be asking about the rebuild. I don't believe he has any records but he's an honest person and wouldn't shaft me intentionally.
Are 74's of particular interest ?
I'm trying to decide whether to pursue this any futhur than conversation with the seller.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you care to share.
I'm from the C-4 section. I know little or nothing about C-3's but I have a chance to buy a 74 T-Top Coupe from an aquaintance. Body has been thru a off frame restoration that looks very nice. Interior is mediocre but OK. Couple of missing *****. It a 4 speed with a LT1, I think, engine. Not sure what that means. Price is negotiable but I;m sure I can get it for low teens at the most. The question is,....Is it potentially collectable ? Has it bottomed out in value at low teens?
What should I be asking about the rebuild. I don't believe he has any records but he's an honest person and wouldn't shaft me intentionally.
Are 74's of particular interest ?
I'm trying to decide whether to pursue this any futhur than conversation with the seller.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you care to share.
1974 did not have a LT1! Lt1 was 1972.What is the fifth digit in your serial number? If it is an L, you have a 180HP L48 350.
1974 had a two piece rear bumper.
Buy it to drive it and modify it like mad if it pleases you. Save your money for a chrome bumper car if you want something collectable.
1974 was the last year of the Big Block.
Only my .02
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Low teens? You mean like 12 or 14 thousand??? A '74 small block coupe just isn't worth that kind of money unless it's a super low miler or it comes with a Playboy Bunny.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Greg
Low teens? You mean like 12 or 14 thousand??? A '74 small block coupe just isn't worth that kind of money unless it's a super low miler or it comes with a Playboy Bunny.
That goes for the big block as well! .......270HP LS4 454
(I need a smilie with a dude pushing with his one leg like crazy on one of 'em skateboard thingies with a handlebar attached)
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,238
Likes: 1,092
From: YANKEES UNIVERSE 70 454-LS5 500 ft-lbs Torque
Summerfun,i believe your statement .."No rubber bumper vettes are collectible"...is not accurate.A 74 BB,75 Vert,78 Pace Car,78 S/A,80-81 4 speed,82 CE,and i am sure i missed a few,are indeed VERY collectible.A low mileage 78 Pace Car can go for upwards of 40k.There is a thread here with a 82 CE with 450 miles and the owner turned down 44k.The 74-82 vettes are often overlooked cause of low HP numbers,but they are solid vettes none the less....
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 3
From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
The bottom line, if you like the car and the price, buy it. Forget all the crap about what it might be worth in the future. Think of what it's worth for the pleasure of owning one now.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
I agree Jake....and like jr9170 has pointed out, some of them are already in the collector $$$ price range. There are still a lot of rubber bumper cars that are very affordable for how much car you get. No, they aren't huge horsepower and they don't have chrome bumpers but a '67 big block isn't a '58 fuelie either. Both great cars, both big $$$, just different.
The car the OP asked about simply isn't worth what his friend is asking but for the right price it's probably a great car.
With the trend C1's, C2's and early C3's have shown it's only a matter of time until the rubber bumper cars hit it big.
This statement is for those members who are a little older:
When the rubber bumper cars first came out most Corvette guys hated them. But, 30 some years later when ALL CARS HAVE RUBBER BUMPERS it makes the Corvette stand out as a pretty good looking car that's still radically different looking than anything else on the road.
The car the OP asked about simply isn't worth what his friend is asking but for the right price it's probably a great car.
With the trend C1's, C2's and early C3's have shown it's only a matter of time until the rubber bumper cars hit it big.
This statement is for those members who are a little older:
When the rubber bumper cars first came out most Corvette guys hated them. But, 30 some years later when ALL CARS HAVE RUBBER BUMPERS it makes the Corvette stand out as a pretty good looking car that's still radically different looking than anything else on the road.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by jr9170
Summerfun,i believe your statement .."No rubber bumper vettes are collectible"...is not accurate.A 74 BB,75 Vert,78 Pace Car,78 S/A,80-81 4 speed,82 CE,and i am sure i missed a few,are indeed VERY collectible.A low mileage 78 Pace Car can go for upwards of 40k.There is a thread here with a 82 CE with 450 miles and the owner turned down 44k.The 74-82 vettes are often overlooked cause of low HP numbers,but they are solid vettes none the less....
In general the rubber bumper C3's are the cheapest and also the least collectable Corvettes, I believe.
Originally Posted by ahoover
This is a C3 forum, not a chrome bumper forum!
Cedrop wanted to know if the car he is looking at was collectable. My statement means that teens are PROBABLY too high for the car that he is looking at.
I will never sell my '74. Even though I have kept the numbers matching 454 and transmission, I have spent so much over the years on modifying the drivetrain to what I like that I will never get even a quarter back of what I have put into it. The rubber bumpers look very nice with chromalusion paint on it, but they are not a very collectable group of cars in general.
I may be proved wrong.
I will be absolutely delighted if I am!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Originally Posted by LittleJake
I personally think the 74's through 77's are going to be the next C3's to price jump through the roof.
Sadly, though, it seems that it's the high horsepower cars that are getting all of the respect in the collectible car world. 6 figure pricetags are the norm on pretty much anything with a Hemi engine, and on the big block GTOs as well...And just about any pre-1970 big block car seems to have a huge price tag as well.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Louisiana
Well I asked for opinions and I got em. Thanks everyone.
I got the answer I was looking for. I bought my 91 to drive and enjoy.If it's ever worth much , fine, but the primary reason to buy one is to enjoy it. The 74 I was looking at is for my son who's really looking for both and appreciating value and some fun. Sounds like the appreciating value part would be a very long shot .
Thanks again everyone for your quick replies.
I got the answer I was looking for. I bought my 91 to drive and enjoy.If it's ever worth much , fine, but the primary reason to buy one is to enjoy it. The 74 I was looking at is for my son who's really looking for both and appreciating value and some fun. Sounds like the appreciating value part would be a very long shot .
Thanks again everyone for your quick replies.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Summerfun
There are of course exceptions to any rule.
In general the rubber bumper C3's are the cheapest and also the least collectable Corvettes, I believe.
In general the rubber bumper C3's are the cheapest and also the least collectable Corvettes, I believe.
I like that.....
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma Washington
Originally Posted by Glass Act
The bottom line, if you like the car and the price, buy it. Forget all the crap about what it might be worth in the future. Think of what it's worth for the pleasure of owning one now.
