81 Corvette..what's it worth?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
81 Corvette..what's it worth?
Greetings folks,
One of the things I love about forums is that they are generally full of people who love cars and are happy to help out some new guy who wanders in aimlessly off the street.
So I recently became the proud owner of an 81 Corvette in very rough shape. It's one of those stories that breaks your heart. My in-laws owned the car and one day in 1995, a large tree branch fell across the back of the car and busted it up. They were not carrying full coverage insurance and just set it aside and planned to fix it some day.
14 years later, it's still sitting in the same spot. We bought the property from them six years ago and this summer, they decided they would rather give it to us than bother moving it.
So...I've got to decide if this vehicle is worth trying to restore or should I just unload it? I had a guy ask me today what I wanted for it, but I didn't have an answer. I have friends who do auto restoration work, but I'm in no position to try to tackle it myself.
I can upload some pictures tomorrow if anyone is willing to share their thoughts.
Very much appreciated,
Adam C
One of the things I love about forums is that they are generally full of people who love cars and are happy to help out some new guy who wanders in aimlessly off the street.
So I recently became the proud owner of an 81 Corvette in very rough shape. It's one of those stories that breaks your heart. My in-laws owned the car and one day in 1995, a large tree branch fell across the back of the car and busted it up. They were not carrying full coverage insurance and just set it aside and planned to fix it some day.
14 years later, it's still sitting in the same spot. We bought the property from them six years ago and this summer, they decided they would rather give it to us than bother moving it.
So...I've got to decide if this vehicle is worth trying to restore or should I just unload it? I had a guy ask me today what I wanted for it, but I didn't have an answer. I have friends who do auto restoration work, but I'm in no position to try to tackle it myself.
I can upload some pictures tomorrow if anyone is willing to share their thoughts.
Very much appreciated,
Adam C
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 768
From: Waterford WI
Adam.
I recently bought an 80 (very comparable to and 81) with unhit body, original everything under the hood, down to the EGR valve, with mirrored t-tops, correct aluminum wheels, new BFG TA's, with auto, tilt/tele, power everything. I paid $1500 for it.
The owner had begun to get it ready for paint, so he had hand-sanded
the body, so it doesn't look too great. (But is a great surface for painting) He had partially disassembled the motor, so it doesn't run, but again, absolutely everything is there and original under the hood. The car has a legitimate 60,000 miles on it.
That should give you at least some baseline for what you have. Unless there is sentimental value to the car you have, you're better off selling it for what you can get for it, and if you really want an 80 or 81, buy one that is pretty nice. They're regularly available for under 10 grand.
I recently bought an 80 (very comparable to and 81) with unhit body, original everything under the hood, down to the EGR valve, with mirrored t-tops, correct aluminum wheels, new BFG TA's, with auto, tilt/tele, power everything. I paid $1500 for it.
The owner had begun to get it ready for paint, so he had hand-sanded
the body, so it doesn't look too great. (But is a great surface for painting) He had partially disassembled the motor, so it doesn't run, but again, absolutely everything is there and original under the hood. The car has a legitimate 60,000 miles on it.
That should give you at least some baseline for what you have. Unless there is sentimental value to the car you have, you're better off selling it for what you can get for it, and if you really want an 80 or 81, buy one that is pretty nice. They're regularly available for under 10 grand.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Cabot AR
Adam,
I have an 81 was bought about a year ago, was in very nice shape,untill son and ditch got together, it has 78,000, auto power everything. interior is about 80% overall a nice DD. I paid 6,000 for it. Your car as described is worth more in parts, the front clip is worth a very good price if you find a buyer. Where is the car located, that will determine alot about the price.
Good luck
Bill
ps I know where you can get a good rear clip from an 82 if you decide to repair your car, for a fair price.
I have an 81 was bought about a year ago, was in very nice shape,untill son and ditch got together, it has 78,000, auto power everything. interior is about 80% overall a nice DD. I paid 6,000 for it. Your car as described is worth more in parts, the front clip is worth a very good price if you find a buyer. Where is the car located, that will determine alot about the price.
Good luck
Bill
ps I know where you can get a good rear clip from an 82 if you decide to repair your car, for a fair price.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
Based on what you have described, it sounds like a $1500-$2000 car. If it needs items replaced due to rust, that will bring you down a bit. ANYTHING can be fixed, it just all depends on how much time and money you want to throw at it. If it's something that you enjoy doing, go for it. Just bear in mind that there are a lot of running and driving cars out there that don't have serious issues, for $5000-$6000. You can easily tie up that much money just trying to get back to basics. At least at this stage in the game it's a lot easier to cut and run, rather than spending a lot of time and money only to find out that it's breaking the bank and frustrating you. Who knows, it might be worth it to buy it, part it out, and use that money to buy something that doesn't require so uch work.
Post some pics, just to give us an idea of what you are dealing with. I could be imagining this car to be a lot worse than it is.
Trevor
Post some pics, just to give us an idea of what you are dealing with. I could be imagining this car to be a lot worse than it is.
Trevor
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I guess life just happened. They had intentions of getting it fixed and then you look up one day and it has been too long. Like I said, it's one of those stories that breaks your heart to see a vehicle like this just go to waste.
Thanks for the input guys. I really appreciate it.
Thanks for the input guys. I really appreciate it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 2
From: Melrose Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
I think this car is probably $1500 to $2000, or whatever 1980s are getting for parts. Even if the frame isn't rotted to the point of it being a parts car, you still have a car with the rear clip totally wasted, in need of paint, and definitely needs some interior work, so no one is going to make money on this car at any price. If it was down the street, and you sold it to me real cheap, I'd probably take it, work on it until I got bored/over my head, and then part it out.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 14
From: A town SC
It really depends on you. wether you have the money to drop all at once for a driver/or this car allows you to finance you a great car built to your specs. The extra work involved to get the car drivable(the rear clip) is essentially the cost of being able to build what you want a little at a time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
ANYTHING can be fixed, saved, salvaged, repaired, but it just entirely depends on how much money and effort you want to throw at something. Who knows how much rot is in the interior, and those parts aren't exactly what I would call cheap. It probably does run, I will give you that, but I've seen cars in my neck of the woods in better condition, for roughly the same price. It just seems like it would make a lot more sense to part it out, and get something that has had at least a small measure of care bestowed upon it over the past 10 years. It makes for a less frustrating project. Don't get me wrong, as I'm not trying to be a turd, just trying to give my opinions on one. Juuuuust kidding.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 14
From: A town SC
No offense, brother, but NO amount of elbow grease and Simple Green is going to save that fiberglass. ANYTHING can be fixed, saved, salvaged, repaired, but it just entirely depends on how much money and effort you want to throw at something. Who knows how much rot is in the interior, and those parts aren't exactly what I would call cheap. It probably does run, I will give you that, but I've seen cars in my neck of the woods in better condition, for roughly the same price. It just seems like it would make a lot more sense to part it out, and get something that has had at least a small measure of care bestowed upon it over the past 10 years. It makes for a less frustrating project. Don't get me wrong, as I'm not trying to be a turd, just trying to give my opinions on one.
Juuuuust kidding.
ANYTHING can be fixed, saved, salvaged, repaired, but it just entirely depends on how much money and effort you want to throw at something. Who knows how much rot is in the interior, and those parts aren't exactly what I would call cheap. It probably does run, I will give you that, but I've seen cars in my neck of the woods in better condition, for roughly the same price. It just seems like it would make a lot more sense to part it out, and get something that has had at least a small measure of care bestowed upon it over the past 10 years. It makes for a less frustrating project. Don't get me wrong, as I'm not trying to be a turd, just trying to give my opinions on one. Juuuuust kidding.
I myself dont have 10000.00 to throw at a corvette with this economy. Im currently building an 81 BB car,and trust this it was rough but coming together a dollar at a time.
