What's wrong with the C3's
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,640
Likes: 121
From: Farragut,TN
Have you ever driven a properly tuned 73? I'm glad that myth is still being tossed around. It keeps the prices reasonable for the most part which I ain't crying about. Look, it's still a 350 engine and the horsepower is there if you want to unlock it. Both the 73 L-48 and L-82 are equivalent in performance to the 72's I have owned. The only difference really is the way the horsepower was rated which was at the flywheel prior to 72 and at the rear wheels of a fully equipped car from 72 on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,885
Likes: 1
"1967 Chevrolet Corvette - $3,500"
You almost have to wonder what's the story is on this rock bottom price. They're giving it away! Check out the ad (no affiliation). There's actually two ads for this 67 which makes me think this sale posting wasn't a joke.
http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/che...t&distance=any
You almost have to wonder what's the story is on this rock bottom price. They're giving it away! Check out the ad (no affiliation). There's actually two ads for this 67 which makes me think this sale posting wasn't a joke.
http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/che...t&distance=any
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
"1967 Chevrolet Corvette - $3,500"
You almost have to wonder what's the story is on this rock bottom price. They're giving it away! Check out the ad (no affiliation). There's actually two ads for this 67 which makes me think this sale posting wasn't a joke.
http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/che...t&distance=any
You almost have to wonder what's the story is on this rock bottom price. They're giving it away! Check out the ad (no affiliation). There's actually two ads for this 67 which makes me think this sale posting wasn't a joke.
http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/che...t&distance=any
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,885
Likes: 1
Yeah, you're probably right, it kind of does look like funny business cuz I just noticed this car is posted by two different people. 
Same mileage, same daytime phone numbers and photo, and then two different names on two posts - second post includes an evening phone number. Both have no details about the car. Oh well.
Same mileage, same daytime phone numbers and photo, and then two different names on two posts - second post includes an evening phone number. Both have no details about the car. Oh well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Yeah, you're probably right, it kind of does look like funny business cuz I just noticed this car is posted by two different people. Same mileage, same daytime phone numbers and photo, and then two different names on two posts - second post includes an evening phone number. Both have no details about the car. Oh well.
Same mileage, same daytime phone numbers and photo, and then two different names on two posts - second post includes an evening phone number. Both have no details about the car. Oh well.
It usually is true that if it sounds to good to be true or there is more than one seller......well, you know
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
Another fact that I think has an impact is, that I calculated the percentage of cars ordered with the base engine for the chrome bumper years. Here is what I got:
1968: 21%
1969: 26%
1970: 38%
1971: 67%
1972: 79%
Clearly something happened after 1970, exactly what, I think I am a little too young (45) to comment on intelligently. But, I think this also impacts the values of even the chrome bumper C3s. The later C3s are not considered in the same league for performance as the earlier ones, and the earlier ones are relatively common. You want an original 1969 with something higher than the base Hp? No problem, the factory churned out nearly 29 THOUSAND of them. You want C3 big block power BEFORE they dropped the compression ratings? No problem again, the factory built over 33,000 of those (68-70). Sure, the truly rare cars like the LS-6 or the L-88 are going for big money. Anything else has numbers that are just too big to pull "rare" type money.
1968: 21%
1969: 26%
1970: 38%
1971: 67%
1972: 79%
Clearly something happened after 1970, exactly what, I think I am a little too young (45) to comment on intelligently. But, I think this also impacts the values of even the chrome bumper C3s. The later C3s are not considered in the same league for performance as the earlier ones, and the earlier ones are relatively common. You want an original 1969 with something higher than the base Hp? No problem, the factory churned out nearly 29 THOUSAND of them. You want C3 big block power BEFORE they dropped the compression ratings? No problem again, the factory built over 33,000 of those (68-70). Sure, the truly rare cars like the LS-6 or the L-88 are going for big money. Anything else has numbers that are just too big to pull "rare" type money.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Yeah, standing on the side of the street and watching the slow procession of time pass by is a bitch. There was probably a time when the C2 guys were wondering if their cars would ever have as much desirability as the C1s. I may not be around to see the C3 chrome bumper cars hit the six figure mark, but they will go up over the coming years, as will all the C3s relative to where they are today. Whle some of it is related to the age of the cars, most of it is related to people's perceptions. The fact that the C3 is probably the most numerous Vette of the production thus far probably doesn't help, but it's more about what's cool. When you're hot, you're hot. That's just how things work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,012
Likes: 3,342
From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had a guy offer me $15k for mine a couple of years ago.....
Which means I could of made a $7k profit.....
That took only 30+ years to make.....
Which means I could of made a $7k profit.....
That took only 30+ years to make.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Yikes, I thought I stumbled into the C4 Forum, This is the kind of stuff they complain about there.
Shucks, those '67s are worth more than a '75. Darn.
Come on. Pre '68s are the most vintage cars and command the most respect as well as dollars and attention. The chrome bumper C3s are selling strong, mostly convertibles, but not to the level of the C2s. Nor should they. They are the next vintage car.
Its just not time for the rubber bumper cars yet. They are still entry-level cars whether you like it or not. Down the road as more cars continue to all look the same, ala C4-C6, the rubber bumper cars will gain respect and have their day,
Still, please dont start complaining that your '80 doesnt get that Sting Ray respect that it "deserves." Sound waaaay too C4.
Shucks, those '67s are worth more than a '75. Darn.
Come on. Pre '68s are the most vintage cars and command the most respect as well as dollars and attention. The chrome bumper C3s are selling strong, mostly convertibles, but not to the level of the C2s. Nor should they. They are the next vintage car.
Its just not time for the rubber bumper cars yet. They are still entry-level cars whether you like it or not. Down the road as more cars continue to all look the same, ala C4-C6, the rubber bumper cars will gain respect and have their day,
Still, please dont start complaining that your '80 doesnt get that Sting Ray respect that it "deserves." Sound waaaay too C4.
I don't think there's anything "wrong" with the chrome bumper years, or the C3 for that matter. 74's and beyond are stagnant as they should be, lower HP/compression and post muscle car era.
I'm a fan of the C3, but when it came time to buy, I ruled out anything past 70. Personally, I think the class should be divided into era's of the C3, because an 81 looks totally different than a 69 sitting side by side. It should, they're years apart.
I'm not trying to start a C3 hate thread here, but understanding the differences in relationship to the era and that time is part of the history of these cars. Values will reflect the here and now, just as the economy is reflecting values now.
Just imagine 15-20 years from now...."man! I could have bought that 75 vert for $9000 back in 2009! Now they're 3x that!"
That is if BO doesn't make us turn them in and crush 'em....
