A blast from the past
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
A blast from the past
Happened to be walking through an antique mall this afternoon with my wife, and I come upon a classic Auto Trader magazine from 1993. Wow! A 69 Big Block 427/390 for less than $18k, a 64 vert. for $22k. there were plenty more. I couldn't remember many more, but the prices were truly the past. Where is that flux capacitor when you really need it?
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
When I feel like having a good cry, I take out my Feb '75 Hemmings motor news. Check these out...........
"57 Vette, exceptionally nice, red with white cove.........$2,550"........
"58 Vette, factory fuel, 37,265 miles, perfect car.........$5,500".........
"63 Split-Window Coupe, exc condition, never damaged........$4,000"....
Only two C3s. A '68 Vert, 32,000 miles with an L79 for $3,695. And a new '75 Coupe with 2 miles. The guy wanted to sell outright or he'll take a PARTIAL TRADE ON A '53 to '67 VETTE IN MINT ORIGINAL CONDITION!!!!!.....
"57 Vette, exceptionally nice, red with white cove.........$2,550"........
"58 Vette, factory fuel, 37,265 miles, perfect car.........$5,500".........
"63 Split-Window Coupe, exc condition, never damaged........$4,000"....
Only two C3s. A '68 Vert, 32,000 miles with an L79 for $3,695. And a new '75 Coupe with 2 miles. The guy wanted to sell outright or he'll take a PARTIAL TRADE ON A '53 to '67 VETTE IN MINT ORIGINAL CONDITION!!!!!.....
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
How about a '33 Lincoln 2-window Berline. Only two know to exist. Exc. condition........$7,500.....
Or a '57 Chevy Bel Aire sport coupe. Power pack, P/S P/B, 41,000 miles, perfect rust free original.........$2,150 FIRM!!..
Or a '57 Chevy Bel Aire sport coupe. Power pack, P/S P/B, 41,000 miles, perfect rust free original.........$2,150 FIRM!!..
Last edited by SEVNT6; Oct 3, 2009 at 08:17 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Okay...here is my story,
Around 1978/79 I pay 4500.00 for a 1972 BB air Convertible with both tops and nice paint and interior, the 454 had been de-smogged and hopped up by a PO,
The AC went out then the brakes, I tore up two trannys and with money being skinny and with less that good advice I made the most stupid move of all time,
I swapped it for a new 1982 Camaro pace car the biggest POS Chevy ever built, I quickly traded that POS for the 81 vette,
I have owned many kits, customs and vettes over the years but I miss that 72 the most,
And NOT because of what it is worth today in good shape, some things are not about monetary value,
I just really loved that car, I would raise or lower the hard top at a red light, I would step into it with out opening the door, and it was nasty fast,
This is the motivation behind the Mako project I am now on....get back what I let get away.
Around 1978/79 I pay 4500.00 for a 1972 BB air Convertible with both tops and nice paint and interior, the 454 had been de-smogged and hopped up by a PO,
The AC went out then the brakes, I tore up two trannys and with money being skinny and with less that good advice I made the most stupid move of all time,
I swapped it for a new 1982 Camaro pace car the biggest POS Chevy ever built, I quickly traded that POS for the 81 vette,
I have owned many kits, customs and vettes over the years but I miss that 72 the most,
And NOT because of what it is worth today in good shape, some things are not about monetary value,
I just really loved that car, I would raise or lower the hard top at a red light, I would step into it with out opening the door, and it was nasty fast,
This is the motivation behind the Mako project I am now on....get back what I let get away.
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've had my '76 since new, over 33 years. LOTS of memories. Like a two week honeymoon back in '81 when I put almost 2k on the odo cruising Colorado highways.....
If anything ever happens to this Vette, no other could ever replace it....
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
You gave me a warm smile tonight,
Thing is I could never have my exact 72 again, my guess if it is still in this world that it was restored, it was not far off, and someone worships it and wipes it with a diaper and is scared a pigeon will pass gas on it,
Me, I was always a custom person, I love the look of the early c3's in road race trim, you know hood scoops, flared fenders, I am just taking that a bit further and adding the Mako front clip and rear bumper to a good donor conv, no metal flake or diamond tuff this time...lol
So I just look for a somewhat unloved 68-72 perhaps 73 or 74 conv, a car that has heart and soul, you know what I mean some cars you look at are just cars and some are a little something extra......
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
I remember flipping through an Autotrader in about 89-90,, 2 DD Cudas for 2500 a piece, and a GTX for 2000. not today. Heck, i picked up a '72 factory SS 350 for 1600 in '92 
. needed a resto, paint was bad, like blue primer from sun and weather, but NO rust,, body was a never hit, straight as an arrow, and it ran pretty good after a tune up. Yep.
. needed a resto, paint was bad, like blue primer from sun and weather, but NO rust,, body was a never hit, straight as an arrow, and it ran pretty good after a tune up. Yep.
Last edited by RunningMan373; Oct 4, 2009 at 02:49 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 303
Likes: 2
From: southeast Idaho
When I was a junior in high school back in 79, I went to the local dodge dealer and tried out 2 cars. A 69 hemi charger for $2,200.00 and a 70 Mark Donahue javelin that they wanted $1,600.00 for. I really wanted the charger but I couldnt talk daddy into it, that would have been a good investment. When I got married in 82, my stable of cars included a 69 AMX (that I bought right after high school and I still own by the way), 2 70 challengers, 1 was a 440, automatic SE version, the other was a 440 six pack, pistol grip shifter, dana 60 rear, and a 70 el camino, (that was my pickup). I decided that I needed to sell all but one because I couldnt afford to fix up more than one of them. I sold the challenger se for 800 bucks minus the engine and the other challenger for 2200 that was in very good shape. Damn am I kicking myself for that....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,352
Likes: 1
From: Westminster Maryland
Ok, here is mine. I was 16, and the local car lot had 2 Vettes. A white '66 427 4spd convertible, excellent condition, for $8500. The other was a black '67, 427 4 spd, white top, also excellent, for $7500. It might as well been $75,000,000 at the time. Minimum wage was $1.25, and I was making $2.50!! It took me another 24 years to catch up to my corvette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
just reading an ad out of Dragway Park News 1981
72 Cuda(Former Motown Missle) 440 by Beattie&Woods, $7,500. with Tandam Trailer
I had to pass on a 69 427/435 coupe the guy offered it to me for $5,500. back in 79 . I needed a commuter car and the Vette wouldn't have been very good in snow storms
I kick myself to this day!.
72 Cuda(Former Motown Missle) 440 by Beattie&Woods, $7,500. with Tandam Trailer
I had to pass on a 69 427/435 coupe the guy offered it to me for $5,500. back in 79 . I needed a commuter car and the Vette wouldn't have been very good in snow storms
I kick myself to this day!.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
I actually have one of my own too:
About 10 years ago, I passed a car parts store in Berlin, MD. that had a 69 Trans-Am For Sale out front. I stopped and looked at it, yep, blue and white, all the bits where they should be, just in need of restoration. Asking price $10k. Even 10 years ago, that was a bargain. I went home to tell the wife of my crazy idea. Figured I'd go back and offer him $7k and see what happens.
Following week I went by and it was gone, sold!
Have you seen what one of those go for now?!
About 10 years ago, I passed a car parts store in Berlin, MD. that had a 69 Trans-Am For Sale out front. I stopped and looked at it, yep, blue and white, all the bits where they should be, just in need of restoration. Asking price $10k. Even 10 years ago, that was a bargain. I went home to tell the wife of my crazy idea. Figured I'd go back and offer him $7k and see what happens.
Following week I went by and it was gone, sold!
Have you seen what one of those go for now?!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Okay...here is my story,
Around 1978/79 I pay 4500.00 for a 1972 BB air Convertible with both tops and nice paint and interior, the 454 had been de-smogged and hopped up by a PO,
The AC went out then the brakes, I tore up two trannys and with money being skinny and with less that good advice I made the most stupid move of all time,
I swapped it for a new 1982 Camaro pace car the biggest POS Chevy ever built, I quickly traded that POS for the 81 vette,
I have owned many kits, customs and vettes over the years but I miss that 72 the most,
And NOT because of what it is worth today in good shape, some things are not about monetary value,
I just really loved that car, I would raise or lower the hard top at a red light, I would step into it with out opening the door, and it was nasty fast,
This is the motivation behind the Mako project I am now on....get back what I let get away.
Around 1978/79 I pay 4500.00 for a 1972 BB air Convertible with both tops and nice paint and interior, the 454 had been de-smogged and hopped up by a PO,
The AC went out then the brakes, I tore up two trannys and with money being skinny and with less that good advice I made the most stupid move of all time,
I swapped it for a new 1982 Camaro pace car the biggest POS Chevy ever built, I quickly traded that POS for the 81 vette,
I have owned many kits, customs and vettes over the years but I miss that 72 the most,
And NOT because of what it is worth today in good shape, some things are not about monetary value,
I just really loved that car, I would raise or lower the hard top at a red light, I would step into it with out opening the door, and it was nasty fast,
This is the motivation behind the Mako project I am now on....get back what I let get away.
Anyone that is old enough and loves cars has a great story to tell, but I just wanted to know about your statement of "raise or lower the hard top" at a red light, on a 72 vett???
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
You have no story to add ?
...shall I assume you are not old enough and do not love cars
I have noticed a few people on this forum are pretty hung up lately on typos or misprints that are fairly obvious to most people, in this case mine is very well known to any owner of a Convertible C3 that my mistype was "hardtop" it should have been "soft top"
As you see Roger knew just what I was talking about...yep did mine one handed too....
What more I could take the HARDTOP on and off all by myself in those days, but that was in the yard not a red light....
Last edited by The13Bats; Oct 5, 2009 at 04:28 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Manuel Azevedo,
You have no story to add ?
...shall I assume you are not old enough and do not love cars
I have noticed a few people on this forum are pretty hung up lately on typos or misprints that are fairly obvious to most people, in this case mine is very well known to any owner of a Convertible C3 that my mistype was "hardtop" it should have been "soft top"
As you see Roger knew just what I was talking about...yep did mine one handed too....
What more I could take the HARDTOP on and off all by myself in those days, but that was in the yard not a red light....
You have no story to add ?
...shall I assume you are not old enough and do not love cars
I have noticed a few people on this forum are pretty hung up lately on typos or misprints that are fairly obvious to most people, in this case mine is very well known to any owner of a Convertible C3 that my mistype was "hardtop" it should have been "soft top"
As you see Roger knew just what I was talking about...yep did mine one handed too....
What more I could take the HARDTOP on and off all by myself in those days, but that was in the yard not a red light....
Well not ever owning a convertible I thought there may of been something to flipping the hardtop for some reson. Anyway I am plenty old enough to know that in the S.F. bay area any way that vetts were alway cool but where not much of a concern in the street racing arena. My car at the time "68" junuer in high school was a new SS, RS, 396 Camero which was out the door at $2550.00. was a great deal even then, $1000.00 later and this car was running 11.80's and paid for it;s self on the street back then. One thing that always stayed with me all these years was as fast as that car was on the street is that I took it to the drag strip and thought I was hot sh-- because of how it was on the street. Hey when you run up on real race cars I was nothing and had my *** handed to me and sent home. But love the 60 and 70's cars!!!!!!! And love my 68 vette also.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Yep. Sang that song enough times that I hope never to sing again.
I was late coming to the Corvette party but I have always had some tweaked 1st Gen SBC sitting between the frame rails of a popular model Chevrolet, sitting in the driveway or later on, a garage.
The one I pine for is the '68 Camaro convertible 327, 4-sp, ps, pb, pwr top car I sold for $13 hundred in '79. Some G.I. paid me cash and drove away in it; never saw that car again.
The at-the-time wife was afraid to drive it for alleged safety reasons (poor girl got chased a lot back then and wanted a hard top). I paid $500.00 for it in '77, found it with 2 flats sitting behind a used-car lot in dusty, Old El Paso. All it needed was a good cleaning, changing oil, filters, and pipe in a load of fresh gas and I was stylin' hard! Bought a set of rally's, 15x7 & 15x8 to replace the steel wheels and covers but never did. The potential I had. Day-um. I still have those rally wheels though. !!
That's why my '72 Z-28 and the Vette are just the start of another set of toys, when the $ returns. LOL: wishfull thinking I know, but a guy has to believe in something besides his next beer.
I was late coming to the Corvette party but I have always had some tweaked 1st Gen SBC sitting between the frame rails of a popular model Chevrolet, sitting in the driveway or later on, a garage.
The one I pine for is the '68 Camaro convertible 327, 4-sp, ps, pb, pwr top car I sold for $13 hundred in '79. Some G.I. paid me cash and drove away in it; never saw that car again.
The at-the-time wife was afraid to drive it for alleged safety reasons (poor girl got chased a lot back then and wanted a hard top). I paid $500.00 for it in '77, found it with 2 flats sitting behind a used-car lot in dusty, Old El Paso. All it needed was a good cleaning, changing oil, filters, and pipe in a load of fresh gas and I was stylin' hard! Bought a set of rally's, 15x7 & 15x8 to replace the steel wheels and covers but never did. The potential I had. Day-um. I still have those rally wheels though. !!
That's why my '72 Z-28 and the Vette are just the start of another set of toys, when the $ returns. LOL: wishfull thinking I know, but a guy has to believe in something besides his next beer.
