I don't understand why some people are whining about" Their car hasn't gained as much value as something else".
I think if you're spending time thinking about what other people will pay for your car, then you really don't want the car. So sell it and buy something else, quit whining.

I think I've got got value for my vette, but I'd have a hard time adding up all the cash I've put into it, but what the hey, I'd have a hard time adding up all the money I've put into beer.

I think people buy C3's for these reasons ( There may be more, feel free to add on )
1) Fun to drive ( I have put over 1200 miles in one day in my 74, it felt great, and I'm 6'-4"). Keep it appraised and insured, if you wreck it, fix it or buy another.
2) Nice to look at and collect.
3) To spend time and stories with other idiots with C3's.
4) Fun to work on. (well maybe not the parking brakes, or the electrical ) If you don't want to work on it, buy something newer with a warranty.
5) To "compensate" for something else ( According to lot's of e-mail, there's lot's of pills that do a better job )
6) For an investment ( If that's your only reason, buy stocks in an oil company or waterfront property, you'll make more in the long run)
This is the only reason that you have to think about what the value of your car is to others.

If you fall into reasons 1-4, nice talking to you.
Needless to say I don't have a lot of respect for reasons 5&6, but that's my opinion.

 

I like number 3 thats freakin funny!

oh hey wait dose that mean im an?? LOL yeah sometimes i guess!!

 

well if you buy any car from a place like that or any classic car dealer your nuts!! you will pay top dollar and usually for an average car!

found the chevelle on ebay and no one bid cause 1 it was green and 2 it had plain steel wheels and a worn out 350/350. All easy fixes if you know how.

if i was not mechanicly inclined and wanted a classic i would probably look in those places. But i prefer not to pay 6-10 grand more for a car because someone says the motor is fresh (1/3 rd are probably cleaned and repainted no internal work acctually done).
Not into the numbers matching thing so i usually dont pay another 4-6 grand for paper work for a 200 hp small block car .

i bought the vette cause the guy had 4 and was a friend and new i would fix what needed fixing and enjoy it. So i think i`ll keep it and buy some more chevelles any way.

I actually get as much enjoyment out of fixing up any old car as i do driving it.

 

I am glad the muscle car prices are up. I sold my 70Z28 for enough money to buy my 69 Corvette, which I would much rather have.


greg

 

I've had my share of C-3's and only because I always liked Corvettes. I have never purchased any of my Corvettes with the thought of re-sale. The Corvete has always had a following of those who admire and enjoy the car and thoes (mostly non-owners) who like to find fault in the car.

With that said I have never thought that I lost money on any of my past C-3's. At 51 this is one car that can cause me to day dream and I enjoy it. I site, have a cigar, stare at the Corvette and make my mentel note on what I'm going to do with it and how it will spend my money.

 

Ive wanted one since I was 9. That was 1967, Ive got a 1976 this year and will never sell it. My kids are lucky as hell, if they are patient! By the way Bruce, I am #1, and #3

 

A vette only has 2 seats. I will spend more on a SS Chevelle than I have into my vette because it has a back seat.

 

With that logic, I'd hate to see how much you'd sink into an extended minivan (just kidding, but it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read it)

 

Uh because a 70 Chevelle that cost $2400 new is now $30000, and a $5500 vette is now $7500.
Not everybody wants to keep a vette for the rest of their life.
And when its time to get something else, you releize you can't because the vette is terrible value for the money!

 

I never cared about the value of my Corvette. Since it has been a childhood dream to own one, I went into this following my passion. I know that it will never be worth what I put into it, but I'm cool with that.

 

there are certain cars that usually get big bucks for, if i remember the article there is 10 muscle cars that get big money. However i watched a clone yenko camaro go for 90,000+ and a 69 z28 numbers matching go for 65,000+ on barret jackson. It all depends how much someone is willing to spend for that special or rare car. I'm in the process of frame off and will have $________+ in it. This car will never be sold. People who know about cars will know what it is worth, and i will show it off! I would go to local car shows and get plenty of attention with my... 427 beefed up w/4 speed. Remember some cars can get more attention and be worth less.

 

I can't wait to sell mine and it will be the last C3 I buy, I want a 67/70/1/2/ Camaro!

 

Excellent writing here.
I am one who is new to corvettes, having recently bought a 78 which sat in someones garage for the last 7 years collecting dust. I got tired of looking at my stock ownership and traded some for a corvette. Needed some fun after giving up 25 years of motorcycles and the kids are a little older now.
But boy o boy...what did I do? What a mistake! I quickly learned a 30 year old car has many issues needing attention- gaskets leaking, engine and car rebuilding, brakes, interior, you name it.
For many, this can be a money pit and a vette mechanic has already warned me to be careful. Any money spent will never be returned.
I can say that these cars are not for kids. You better have lots of know-how, friends and money.
For these reasons, many are for sale and will continue to be. I'm afraid we all will have to give them away to get rid of it.
Its not stock ownership, but it ain't going up in price either. At least not any time soon IMHO. Not in todays environment but I'm doing my best to not worry about all this gloom and doom that the internet brings upon all of us.
Greed is catching up with us. Enjoy the ride.

 

Since many of you don't put much value on your corvettes, I'll take all of the chrome bumper C3's you are giving away.

 

Very interesting thread. I bought back my old 63 Nova SS with a built small block last spring, had been driving mid 70s Corvettes for a few years and thought I wanted something different. After owning the car about 6 months I discovered that my heart wasn't in it, I really like C3 Corvettes. I sold it about a week ago and am now looking to replace it with another mid 70s Corvette. I really believe they are the most bang for the buck out there and the absolute hands down most fun to drive.

 

So a vette is terrible value for the money, so what!
Enjoying yourself in general is terrible value for the money !
Think about about, go out to a movie, go on vacation, visit friends, what do you end up with, NOTHING!, other than memories.
I'm sorry you didn't buy your Chevelle when you could afford it and bought a vette instead, but you could have invested the money in Bre-X stocks.
You spend your money, you take your chances. Enjoy what you have, don't get into if I had only put my money into that...... and now I could afford it all.
There's always someone else off worse than yourself, think of how many people would love to be able to "waste" money on a vette instead of skimping together enough money for food and shelter.
Enjoy your car!, that's what it's there for!

 

A real nice one thats clean and rust free is gonna run about twice what your selling your vette for.

 

Those are the exact reason the clasic muscle car market is gonna crash in the next few years!!

every person that watched Barret Jackson and looks at ebay has been out buying up old cars and parts to make a buck and now with the economy going into ruin many are trying to get out (sell) and flooding the market.
Tons of people with little or no knowledge of working on cars have bought cars or worse projects for way to much money only then to realize how much it costs for parts or worse to pay someone else to fix what needs fixing. I have seen in the past 2-3 years idiots buy plane jane 67-69 camaros and 66-72 chevelles that were nothing more than rusted out scrap parts cars at best for 4- 8 grand thinking for a couple grand they could fix them up and sell them for 30-60 grand?? now im seeing these cars on tons of sites for way less and they cant give them away and they cant afford the 10-20 grand it would acctually take to restore them.
If i could not do all but body work on any of my cars i would have a different hobbie!!
I have seen 70-72 chevelle ss`s that need rear 1/4 work and some tlc listed for under 6 grand recently this time last year it would have been 10 easy!!
Although the steel cars are fetching more now than the vettes it wont stay that way and the vettes dont seem to rise and fall in price nearly as much as a standard no frills steel muscle car dose.

 

what would you pick...a full FRAME OFF... BB 427, A/C, PB, AND PS.
I'll take the Corvette.

 

I think your statement is a little misleading. What 70 CHEVELLE sold for 30,000 & what 70 CORVETTE sold for 5,500? I turned down 70,000 for my 70 LT-1,1900 MI. & I bought a matching conv. that needs restored for 23500. I think prices for all classic cars depend on rare options, condition & popularity. I have been buying,selling & collecting for 30 years & they are the best investment I have & a lot more fun than stocks & bonds.
KEN