its good price, IF there is no rust issues..

if no rust issues it is cosmetics only

find a 2 top chrome bumper 4-speed convertible without rust issues for 15K? aint gonna happen, i bet this is one of the lowest prices in the nation, and as a result, it probably does have rust issues..

plus if it is a base engine car, then NOM is not that big of a hit.

if you want the car, ask the seller for a reasonable discount from his asking price and go for it.. if and only if no rust issues.

if rust issues, then run forrest run..

notice how many times i used the 'rust' word in my post? hint.. hint..

 

I agree with BBCorv70 about going to Corvette Carlisle. Lots of cars to at least look at and choose from. Worth the trip! Enjoy the hunt.

 

...went there last year - all the cars were pretty much overpriced Big prices posted on the cars. Great place to see a LOT of stuff though.

 

Count me as completely disagreeing with this position.

 

good eye, dam ,what is it? i think it is sasquatch.

 

Ditto.

 

I happen to own a 72 Vert... and it has been running a 68 327 CI, 350 Hp engine under the hood since about 1976 or 1977...when I blew the original 360 CI 200 Hp engine ...

I purchased the car as a left over 72 in the beginning of the 73 model year and it was Ontario Orange ..I have since repainted it Red...

So I now have a 72 Vert with the Wrong engine and its the wrong color...BUT...as far as I am concerned it has the right wrong engine.. and I like the resale red color better then I did the original color....

Now I am not selling the car .but for a "collector" to buy it I would expect that it would not bring the same price a "Car Guy" would pay for a good solid car. ..as its value as a collectable just is not their any more BUT the car is actually a much better preforming car... So I would not lower my price because if the non OEM motor and Paint.. in fact I may ask a premium for it...

Having said that ... since the OP stated it need some paint work and interior redone...so I would expect that I'd have to drop another 5 Grand into it..so I would have to get the car for a little less (not much) then the 15 K asking price..

Just my thoughts as a car guy NOT as a collector..

64 72 & 98 Convertibles
76 79 and 88 (35th anniv) Coupes

 

I think that pretty much sums up the two groups who visit this board. Certainly different points of view.

 

The term car guy and collector are not mutually exclusive. You can collect them AND be passionate about them. I think the point is that you don't want to pay more than a car is worth. The fact is that a NOM car or a car with a color change is worth somewhat less than an OM car or a color code matching car. I am not saying it is any less of a car to drive and enjoy, but the market dictates that a NOM car is, in fact worth less.

So, while it may be unimportant to a "car guy" that there has been a motor change or a color change, any prospective buyer should be aware of the market differences so they don't throw money away.

 

This may be true, a collector may be passionate about cars or could be simply in it to make a buck. IMO the car guy has a different set of priorities than the collector. What's very important to a collector may not be a a car guy. So far as what the value of a NOM should be ... a hot topic at times. Without any hard data to refer to we hear more opinion than fact. How does a buyer judge whether the price of a NOM is a fair price without a reasonable database to refer to? The advice to not overpay for the car sounds reasonable but somewhat useless without sales numbers to refer to. The 'numbers matching' values can be found pretty easily since nearly every Corvette for sale has 'matching numbers' if you follow the ads. We can't deduct the cost to convert a NOM to numbers matching for a basis since this is theoretically impossible though it's been done quite often with higher value Corvettes.

A car guy doesn't look at resale value first and above all else when they work on their cars. Many may never get their money back, a choice they make preferring to have the car they way THEY want it, unafraid to modify or customize as they please. We could suggest looking at this by comparing a NOM to a 'numbers' vehicle. Some may suggest if the cost to bring the NOM to identical condition as the 'numbers' car, it makes no sense to buy a NOM. But if the buyer goes with the 'numbers' car he/she then has to stick with 'originality' to preserve value. This may not be what they want.

So far as overpaying, I agree, same goes for 'numbers' cars which IMO some overpay for as well. The sales price reflects the value that car had to it's buyer. I may never pay that much but someone thought differently.

 

Put me on the car guy list.

With that said 15K is still too much for that car. What are you paying for? Yes it's a NOM but is that engine really an upgrade? Only if the OEM was destroyed and no longer ran. So now it runs under it's own power. Fine. The color change...well you said the paint needs attention. If originality is not important (and I'll be the 1st to say that's OK) then at least get something for what you are paying for. Has the suspension been rebuilt or upgraded? Under the hood certainly has not been detailed. If you judge the value of the car by the condition of the interior and under the hood there is lots of work and money to be spent to make the car driver quality. There are some really nice NOM driver quality cars out there that have been restored/rebuilt/upgraded in the under 20K range that need little or nothing to start enjoying as soon as you get them home. You have to take your time and look for them. Yes a convertible and resale red are hard to pass up but don't purchase a Corvette on emotion. It will cost you more in the long run. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

still, show me a 72 convertible advertised for less money, I looked and looked at many of the major car sites.. its the lowest price in the nation and you guys still say it is too much for this car. Sure it needs work, but if you want a 72 convertible, this is the lowest price car you are gonna find..

 

If your "looking" means checking out the dealer sites for their advertised price, then Yes, this car is priced reasonably when compared to those. But, dealer advertised price is usually much higher than private sale purchases of identical condition cars. And, I can tell you that no respectable dealer would ever try to sell a car with a filthy, unkept engine compartment and a worn out interior. So, you are talking 'apples' vs. 'oranges'. This whole thread is just a bunch of opinions; and I, for one, will not try to sway anyone else's opinion to that of my own. When you get down to the 'real world' of actually buying a C3, 'condition' is what really matters to me and that is why I would pay extra money. This is a "run of the mill" C3 with a so-so paint job that is not the original color and it doesn't have the original engine. So, discount that $20K+ value for a really nice, numbers-matching '72 SB convertible and I end up with something between $10-13K, depending upon the functionality of the vehicle's operating systems. If the frame is significantly rusted, you can lop off even more. That's just one opinion...mine...and I'm not trying to sell anyone else; I'm just trying to give the OP another perspective to consider.

 

I fall in the car guy. I took my 195hp engine out of 74, kept it in case someone wants to put it back some day, and put in a slightly modded fuel injected modern lt1 with about 400 hp, 700r4 tranny, and a 3.55 rear. to me, and anyone wanting a driving car, it would be worth more than a similar condition 74 with the 195hp and the old auto tranny. Car is much more fun, more reliable, and all together just a BLAST. That is what I, as a car guy, want. A purist or collector would consider it "ruined."

To the OP. If the car is worth 15k to YOU, then it is a good price. It has to be the right car for you. If the engine is fine with you, I would not worry about it at all. All depends on what you want to do. That being said, the car with what I can say seems to be worth the asking price (chrome bumper verts are drawing a premium). However, if he is asking 15k there will be some wiggle room. Don't hesitate to act like it ain't worth it and go for a cheaper price.

 

If you can talk it down a few K it wouldnt be too bad. It is a red 72 4 speed convertible after all. It's just that for 15 or a little more I bet you can find others like that to choose from. Shop around a little more.

I didn't have 15k plus to spend on mine because I wanted to have cash in hand left over for fixing and upgrading things the way I wanted.