C3 Prices?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
C3 Prices?
What price should I expect to pay for a car in good condition (not perfect by any means, but a car that would need a bunch of little things but nothing major), numbers matching, for Years 1975-1982 (each year)?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Too much research is necessary to answer that question with any amount of accuracy.
Geography plays a part. Corvettes cost more in sunny states.
Options play a big part.
Some colors will get more money than others.
Originality can play a huge part if you want that type of car.
Expect a low of about $5K for some years with no options in daily driver condition with normal miles.
As much as $15K for above average cars that haven't been beat down with no rust at all and pretty original with much lower than average miles.
Museum cars and trailer queens will fetch much higher prices.
All other prices fall in somewhere in between those amounts. You should see what those years are selling for in your area.
Geography plays a part. Corvettes cost more in sunny states.
Options play a big part.
Some colors will get more money than others.
Originality can play a huge part if you want that type of car.
Expect a low of about $5K for some years with no options in daily driver condition with normal miles.
As much as $15K for above average cars that haven't been beat down with no rust at all and pretty original with much lower than average miles.
Museum cars and trailer queens will fetch much higher prices.
All other prices fall in somewhere in between those amounts. You should see what those years are selling for in your area.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1
From: JOPPA MD
Do some searching here on the CF...buy a Black Book and visit as many other sites as you can to see the current prices for the years mentioned. What you are asking is a little much. Get familar with this site and your questions will be answered. To ask for an all inclusive 8 year span is just a tad much. Maybe go one year at a time as you find one that really interests you?
Stay in tune...
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Maroochydore QLD
It sure does, here in Australia, if it was a registered, roadworthy and a daily driver the price would start at about $20,000 and could easily go to $28,000, a damn site higher as the car gets "prettier" or rarer.
Keep in mind that you guys need to add 20% to appreciate the amount as the US dollar is worth more than ours.
Cheers, Dennis.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Out the wahzoo if you don't know what you're looking at.
There are a couple of C3 buyer's guides. Buy one (or more) and read through them. Check prices for Corvettes for sale in your area.
There are a couple of C3 buyer's guides. Buy one (or more) and read through them. Check prices for Corvettes for sale in your area.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Feb 10, 2010 at 02:16 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
Prices depend on many factors as other have said, but I don't agree with Vettes costing more in sunny states...
Those states normally have many Vettes and that drives the prices down, as the market in that area is overstocked. The cars can also be used all year and those will have higher milage than a northern car.
States with colder weather will generally have higher prices, and the best time to sell is in the Spring to get the most money, while the best time to buy is in the Fall, when the cars get stored for 6 months
Just remember, there is no such thing as a cheap Vette, you either pay up front or in the end.
Good luck with your search, and take your time, the right car will show up, don't settle for just any Vette, get the one you wanted.
Also the later year C3 are more refined than the early models, so if power windows and power seats and power mirrors, and cruise control or rear window defrost are on your want list, you will be looking at later model C3's
The later models also have some tech upgrades as in 1981 and 1982 the rear leafspring has been replaced with a compsite leafspring to save about 40 pounds and improve ride quality, unless you got the gymkhana option installed.
In 1981 , thay also added turn signal curb lights, that light up the corner of the road while making a turn. Clocks were also replaced in 1981 with Oil Temp gauge in the center console , as the clock was built into the radio.
The seats are also lighter and more comfortable in the later C3's,
The 1981 Vette weights the least out of all the C3's models due to GM saving weight to gain better gas mileage
The 1980 and newer C3's, do not have bumperettes on the front and rear, those are built into the bumper.
1981 was also the last year of Vette building at the St. Louis plant. All those C3 got Lacquer paint applied... while the 2nd half of the 1981 builds were done at the current
Bowling Green plant, those C3's had enamel paint was applied .
Lots of stuff to know....So start reading up!!!!
But any year C3 Vette you choose will be a great car they are all great cars....
Those states normally have many Vettes and that drives the prices down, as the market in that area is overstocked. The cars can also be used all year and those will have higher milage than a northern car.
States with colder weather will generally have higher prices, and the best time to sell is in the Spring to get the most money, while the best time to buy is in the Fall, when the cars get stored for 6 months
Just remember, there is no such thing as a cheap Vette, you either pay up front or in the end.
Good luck with your search, and take your time, the right car will show up, don't settle for just any Vette, get the one you wanted.
Also the later year C3 are more refined than the early models, so if power windows and power seats and power mirrors, and cruise control or rear window defrost are on your want list, you will be looking at later model C3's
The later models also have some tech upgrades as in 1981 and 1982 the rear leafspring has been replaced with a compsite leafspring to save about 40 pounds and improve ride quality, unless you got the gymkhana option installed.
In 1981 , thay also added turn signal curb lights, that light up the corner of the road while making a turn. Clocks were also replaced in 1981 with Oil Temp gauge in the center console , as the clock was built into the radio.
The seats are also lighter and more comfortable in the later C3's,
The 1981 Vette weights the least out of all the C3's models due to GM saving weight to gain better gas mileage
The 1980 and newer C3's, do not have bumperettes on the front and rear, those are built into the bumper.
1981 was also the last year of Vette building at the St. Louis plant. All those C3 got Lacquer paint applied... while the 2nd half of the 1981 builds were done at the current
Bowling Green plant, those C3's had enamel paint was applied .
Lots of stuff to know....So start reading up!!!!
But any year C3 Vette you choose will be a great car they are all great cars....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
Prices depend on many factors as other have said, but I don't agree with Vettes costing more in sunny states...
Those states normally have many Vettes and that drives the prices down, as the market in that area is overstocked. The cars can also be used all year and those will have higher milage than a northern car.
States with colder weather will generally have higher prices, and the best time to sell is in the Spring to get the most money, while the best time to buy is in the Fall, when the cars get stored for 6 months
Just remember, there is no such thing as a cheap Vette, you either pay up front or in the end.
Good luck with your search, and take your time, the right car will show up, don't settle for just any Vette, get the one you wanted.
Also the later year C3 are more refined than the early models, so if power windows and power seats and power mirrors, and cruise control or rear window defrost are on your want list, you will be looking at later model C3's
The later models also have some tech upgrades as in 1981 and 1982 the rear leafspring has been replaced with a compsite leafspring to save about 40 pounds and improve ride quality, unless you got the gymkhana option installed.
In 1981 , thay also added turn signal curb lights, that light up the corner of the road while making a turn. Clocks were also replaced in 1981 with Oil Temp gauge in the center console , as the clock was built into the radio.
The seats are also lighter and more comfortable in the later C3's,
The 1981 Vette weights the least out of all the C3's models due to GM saving weight to gain better gas mileage
The 1980 and newer C3's, do not have bumperettes on the front and rear, those are built into the bumper.
1981 was also the last year of Vette building at the St. Louis plant. All those C3 got Lacquer paint applied... while the 2nd half of the 1981 builds were done at the current
Bowling Green plant, those C3's had enamel paint was applied .
Lots of stuff to know....So start reading up!!!!
But any year C3 Vette you choose will be a great car they are all great cars....
Those states normally have many Vettes and that drives the prices down, as the market in that area is overstocked. The cars can also be used all year and those will have higher milage than a northern car.
States with colder weather will generally have higher prices, and the best time to sell is in the Spring to get the most money, while the best time to buy is in the Fall, when the cars get stored for 6 months
Just remember, there is no such thing as a cheap Vette, you either pay up front or in the end.
Good luck with your search, and take your time, the right car will show up, don't settle for just any Vette, get the one you wanted.
Also the later year C3 are more refined than the early models, so if power windows and power seats and power mirrors, and cruise control or rear window defrost are on your want list, you will be looking at later model C3's
The later models also have some tech upgrades as in 1981 and 1982 the rear leafspring has been replaced with a compsite leafspring to save about 40 pounds and improve ride quality, unless you got the gymkhana option installed.
In 1981 , thay also added turn signal curb lights, that light up the corner of the road while making a turn. Clocks were also replaced in 1981 with Oil Temp gauge in the center console , as the clock was built into the radio.
The seats are also lighter and more comfortable in the later C3's,
The 1981 Vette weights the least out of all the C3's models due to GM saving weight to gain better gas mileage
The 1980 and newer C3's, do not have bumperettes on the front and rear, those are built into the bumper.
1981 was also the last year of Vette building at the St. Louis plant. All those C3 got Lacquer paint applied... while the 2nd half of the 1981 builds were done at the current
Bowling Green plant, those C3's had enamel paint was applied .
Lots of stuff to know....So start reading up!!!!
But any year C3 Vette you choose will be a great car they are all great cars....
