Your opinion may be that they are "highly looked upon" (whatever that means) but the fact remains the modifciations generally hurt value.

That said, I wish the early C3s would show a little more life. They have been pretty flat for a bit. Convertibles are still strong enough, but many of the auction I attend still show them plateauing a bit. Time for a spike.

 

sorry guys it's not a link it's a magazine.

 

I agree !!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the reply. Sometimes the mags are online.

 

That wasn't my impression when watching the latest BJ and Mecum auctions. All stock, perfectly restored cars looked weak. Restomods were way up compared to previous years. Maybe I'm wrong, but that was my impression.

 

The difference between asking prices and selling prices are 2 different things. It is a great editorial headline to sell magazines though.

Genuine verifiable data is the only thing that will confirm which direction prices are headed......and the only people who state that they are going up are those thinking about, or actually trying to, sell one. Same thing applies to real estate, stocks and bonds, gold, etc. I could buy a couple of C3's today if I wanted to but I am just sitting and watching things drop and the overall market get weaker due to the deterioration of the worldwide economy and North America in particular.

If Corvette Magazine thinks prices are headed up, call their editorial offices and ask them for their address where you can drop off your car and pick up the cheque.

 

I got mine in yesterday, $21500 seems high for a show ready '77 but I'm not complaining.

 

Have to agree. Although I (pushing 60),prefer to see a C-3 in it's origins, the up coming generation of buyers are more comfortable with moding.
My 16 yr. old daughter a Vette. girl since playing with her Barbie Corvette, likes my (her future?) 75 vert. stock "look",but she wouldn't hesitate to rip the sound system out and replace it with a -You know.And, that could be just the start.And,when we go to a show, she gets excited when she sees a tastefully done mod.
Good or bad, times will be changin.

 

Modded cars to varying degrees are one thing. Out of more than a half million C3s produced, I believe the majority that have "survived" are modded somewhat. As-built original drivetrain cars have to be in the minority and those that are rare AND highly desirable AND documented AND correctly restored will fair the best in the years to come. Their actual numbers have to be dwindling every year, becoming even more rare. High quality "resto-mods" are a totally different animal. I am surprised they are doing as well on the auction block...but doubtful if still anywhere near the amount spent on building them.

 

I tend to think the same, I'd like to see some statistics from an impartial source showing current prices for a few categories of Corvettes, not just matching numbers but others as well. I'm not aware of any such statistics being tracked. Many estimates of value I hear come from a few sales here and there, mixed with personal opinions as to what has value.

It depends on what the future buyer wants out of the car. It sounds like what you're saying is the younger generation may like the style of the C3s but may not be interested in owning and maintaining vintage gear, accessories, drive trains, etc. They may prefer a driver over an antique for the car shows?

I think this is probably true however I'd divide this group a bit further.

My thoughts on the matter...

My take is there are at least 4 groups of Corvettes.

1: Survivors, very original, no restoration, no major parts changed, original paint, etc.

2: Restorations with original major components. May have many parts changed but retain the components with original serial numbers.

3: Restorations, correct per NCRS standards but with one or serial numbered parts changed.

4: Restomods, customized, modern drive trains, etc..

I see group 1 as the rarest. Group 2 following closely, being derived from group 1. The rarity is what drives the value. To be accepted as a 'survivor' or 'original', the more documentation the better.

Group 3 IMO is a valid group though many will debate whether they really are legitimate. I'd say if an impartial group ie NCRS accepts them, they're legit. However since they're less rare, they will bring a lower sale price. Documentation would be helpful to sort upgrades (fakes?) from restorations. An upgrade I'd say would put the car into group 4.

Group 4 is hard to say where they'll fit. Much depends on whether the buyers tastes match with the seller. Buyers of these cars I'd guess are mainly looking for drivers.

This may be true today. In the future it would depend on what the next generation would want to do with these cars. A pure original may not mean anything more to them than a stock model T? Some may like the style but would prefer a modern drive train, more power, better mileage, less maintenance. Maybe a modern sound system? Depends on what their goals are, antique for shows or a driver. I don't expect an overnight change either way, maybe over the next few decades..

My opinions..

 

I wish! I think that, when the C7 will be out + 60th anniversary over if the economy stabilised it will be the next generation to be on the rise as everybody like the look of early or late C3's and not many can afford those 67 or older vettes no more...

 

Of course the magazines are gonna state prices are on the rise, they want you to keep buying every month to watch it rise....

 

OK........so in the April issue when they told us all the prices were on the decline they were trying to discourage us from buying the magazine ?

 

I've seen this discussion from time to time. My car is now worth more/less...It's worth more original....It's worth more tastefully modded...

Does it really matter?

And when you do sell it -is 3-4% really a big deal?

Does the car drive any better now that it's worth 4% more?

I hate to tell you but a bank does NOT/won't even look at our cars as an asset.... So what does it matter what its worth? Bragging rights? Or maybe now you can keep the car because you tell the wife it's performing better than our savings account?

My $.02 why the C3's are getting more money?

Pontiac/Mopars/Fords- are really tough to be faked- the vin tells you what the car was originally...You know what you are getting.

The C3's- no real way to tell if the car was really a big block or LT1 (later years not true)- these parts can easily be changed...Documents made/faked... No real pedigree from the factory.

Not to mention the C3's were around a long time- so many years to pick from also keeps the price down.

Richard

 

Chevrolet isn't selling many new ones either. If the economy doesn't improve soon...maybe the end of the line for Corvette?

 

I'd be surprised if Corvettes hit the bricks as a brand. What might be possible is some less than high tech second version that is less expensive. After all, many young people are far more familiar with Hondas and Nissans, etc. than Vettes. You'd be surprised what some of the turbocharged v6 lightweight smaller cars will do for max speeds and acceleration do as well. If gas goes to $4 and $5 a gallon you might see something radically different as well based on different technology. One idea is like the Tesla sports car with DC electric motor drive. I'm told they accelerate like a rocket...no shifts, low power losses like the Vettes have between engine and where the wheels hit the ground. I'm sure all this is being thought of at Corvette. It is at Cadillac if you haven't been looking lately....they are becoming a performance car at least in their ads and engines. Is the real competition BMW type cars? Lots of ifs...be interesting to see what actually happens.

 

Oh no! Not higher values, please!!! Higher values = higher taxes.

 

Saying something like "but the fact remains the modifciations generally hurt value." Is an implication that you have knowledge that others do not. So just to ask for clarification, what actual evidence do you have showing that so called fact? I completely disagree but I do so by saying it is my observation making no pias claim that I have some information discerned from the Corvette Gods. The cars that win the public voted shows tend to be highly modified cars that are done well. I know this may not sit well with the purests, but go to an open show and watch which ones the public gravitate toward. The stock cars values are higher to the collector that has deep pockets and is willing to pay extra for what he wants and will ignore the modified cars, but the public which extol a much larger amount of bodies and overall influence on the movement in any marketplace may very well be the ones who "highly look upon" the modified cars. I also don't think the majority of the C3's being sold are at auctions. Most people like me have never and will never buy an auction car. Those values never reflect the true movement in the value of the marketplace. I guess I will stay true to my redneck roots(read limited funds) and drool over a well done beautiful modified car along with most people I know, but at the same time I admire the tenacity and effort that is put into a well done beautiful restoration. 2 different worlds.

 

kinda depens INHO what you mean by modified. A 383 stroker in place of a stock small block in a 77, etc. would be a plus to me. Some of the cosmetic customized modifications to me make then extremely ugly and undesireable. When you do that there will always be a few who like that extreme but in most ways that narrows the prospective market considerably. The collectors who do the best over time are for original things kept well in their original state...from cars to art to furniture, etc. However, anything is only worth what you want to pay for it and when you are talking about collectibles including cars you are into the world of art and taste is what it's all about and everyone's is different.

I don't get the sense that someone says you shouldn't or can't modify a vette here but some like the original numbers matching, etc. car and others don't. In a down economy I'd guess that those trends of value would be accentuated in tough times.

What you like is what's important and there's room in the tent for everyone's likes. Vote with your wallet.

 

I'm still amazed the C3 doesn't do better than it does. I own three 69 Camaros, and a B+ Camaro is worth 150% more than B+ Corvette. Having built two C3's (total frame-offs) it's amazing that these cars are not more appreciated.

One could complete two first gen Camaro restorations in the time that it takes to do one C3 Vette.

Makes no sense. You'd think the Vettes would be worth more,..4-wheel discs, IRS, guages & tach are std, 160 mph speedo, T-Tops, handles better, etc.

Regardless, I love them all.