C3 vs other classics
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 511
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I've also been involved with cars all my life, not quite as long as you but close enough. I've noticed the other car guys don't seem to mix with Corvette owners. It's been a while since I've hung out with other car guys, back in the days when owned Mustangs, a few Firebirds, etc. The car guys were generally interested in what's under the hood, modifications, seeing what it will do in the 1/4 mile and so on. I recall viewing Corvettes as being a different class, too expensive, hard to work on and high insurance cost. Out of reach for the average Joe. Those who owned them were generally the more affluent guys, sometimes regarded to be snobs, may have caused some resentment. It seems many of the average car guys don't connect with Corvettes. Could be a nostalgia thing (lack of) or a feeling they don't fit in with Camaros, Mustangs, Firebirds, GTOs, and so on. Corvette owners are more likely to pick apart someone elses car for minor details. Seems to be more competition wrt whose car is more 'original', 'correct', or more valuable. The reputation of being a bit arrogant or snobs may have some basis. Part of the culture?
The muscle car community seems a bit more friendly than the Corvette crowd, more interested in what else is out there, less critical. Could be part of the reason for more interest in muscle cars over Corvettes?
The muscle car community seems a bit more friendly than the Corvette crowd, more interested in what else is out there, less critical. Could be part of the reason for more interest in muscle cars over Corvettes?
The Firebird guys aren't like that.
But I've never seen Corvette guys as 'snobs'.
Well - that's not true either. The C1/C2 crowd sometimes look down on the C3 people. The chrome bumper crowd looks down on the rubber bumper crowd. The C6 crowd look down on everyone. And the C4 guys pretend to have real Corvettes...
Just kidding to you C4 guys! LOL!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
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From: Harleysville PA
It costs a fortune to restore these cars correctly, even when you do alot of work yourself.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,206
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From: Belmar NJ
There would be alot more vettes on the road if it had better owner friendly brakes.
If I had to pick between a vette and that green GTO above I would pay the owner to keep the GTO.
Now I got a question.
Why when someone puts a list up of cars they want its a pure dream list.
'69 T/A vert
'70 Superbird or Daytona (Hemi 4 spd, nach
'64 Cheetah
'70 W30 442 or GS Stage III
'67 Iso Grifo (the Italian Corvette).
A stage III GS, whats wrong with a GS stage 1?
And above all what would you do with these garage queens.
If I had to pick between a vette and that green GTO above I would pay the owner to keep the GTO.
Now I got a question.
Why when someone puts a list up of cars they want its a pure dream list.
'69 T/A vert
'70 Superbird or Daytona (Hemi 4 spd, nach
'64 Cheetah
'70 W30 442 or GS Stage III
'67 Iso Grifo (the Italian Corvette).
A stage III GS, whats wrong with a GS stage 1?
And above all what would you do with these garage queens.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 1
From: Harleysville PA
The point is, all the above cars could have been had for $2-3k in say 1974, the same could be said for most used mid years and early C3's. I would vintage race the Cheetah and drive the rest about the same as the Vette (that is to say approx 1500-3000 mi. per year). What makes these garage queens any different from the garage queen I have now? How many C3's are DD's driven 12k miles per year? My guess is not many.... And there's nothing wrong with a GS at any stage.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
'70 Superbird or Daytona (Hemi 4 spd, nach
'64 Cheetah
'70 W30 442 or GS Stage III
'67 Iso Grifo (the Italian Corvette).
And above all what would you do with these garage queens.
The point is, all the above cars could have been had for $2-3k in say 1974
'64 Cheetah
'70 W30 442 or GS Stage III
'67 Iso Grifo (the Italian Corvette).
And above all what would you do with these garage queens.
The point is, all the above cars could have been had for $2-3k in say 1974
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
You've also got to be kidding yourself if you think muscle cars are worth more than Corvettes just because a hemi superbird or a hemi cuda (or that one of eight TA verts someone mentioned) sell for more than a 78 Vette.
There are lots of relatively valuable cars. Vettes are at the top or at least near it (in terms of current sale value) for every year of production.
There are lots of relatively valuable cars. Vettes are at the top or at least near it (in terms of current sale value) for every year of production.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: duluth minnesota
i had a chance to buy a 1970 superbird 440 4bbl pistol grip 4spd, vitimin c orange, black int, bench seat, 37000 miles for $6500 in 1985. i really wish i would have bought that car but that was a lot of money for a 17 year old.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
You've also got to be kidding yourself if you think muscle cars are worth more than Corvettes just because a hemi superbird or a hemi cuda (or that one of eight TA verts someone mentioned) sell for more than a 78 Vette.
There are lots of relatively valuable cars. Vettes are at the top or at least near it (in terms of current sale value) for every year of production.
There are lots of relatively valuable cars. Vettes are at the top or at least near it (in terms of current sale value) for every year of production.
Have you looked at the price of a 70 Hemi cuda latley,
Boss 302 mustang, 442 W30 or a 69 Camaro anything?
WHat you smokin?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Why would I compare a 1978 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro when I can compare a 1969 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro? Which is the better comparison when looking at the relative values of each brand?
I'm not cherry-picking. You are. I'm saying that the ONLY legitimate comparison is to look at different cars of THE SAME YEAR.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
See - that's just it. I'm not arguing that. I'm only saying that a 78 Corvette is worth more than a 78 Camaro - and probably worth more than anything else built in 78. I'm not comparing a 78 Corvette to anything made in 1969, or 1970, or any year other than 1978. YOU are doing that.
Why would I compare a 1978 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro when I can compare a 1969 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro? Which is the better comparison when looking at the relative values of each brand?
I'm not cherry-picking. You are. I'm saying that the ONLY legitimate comparison is to look at different cars of THE SAME YEAR.
Why would I compare a 1978 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro when I can compare a 1969 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro? Which is the better comparison when looking at the relative values of each brand?
I'm not cherry-picking. You are. I'm saying that the ONLY legitimate comparison is to look at different cars of THE SAME YEAR.
I contesting the following:
'70 Superbird or Daytona (Hemi 4 spd, nach
'64 Cheetah
'70 W30 442 or GS Stage III
'67 Iso Grifo (the Italian Corvette).
And above all what would you do with these garage queens.
The point is, all the above cars could have been had for $2-3k in say 1974
You got to be kidding yourself getting a hemi superbird for $3000
'64 Cheetah
'70 W30 442 or GS Stage III
'67 Iso Grifo (the Italian Corvette).
And above all what would you do with these garage queens.
The point is, all the above cars could have been had for $2-3k in say 1974
You got to be kidding yourself getting a hemi superbird for $3000
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 1
From: Harleysville PA
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 1
From: Harleysville PA
See - that's just it. I'm not arguing that. I'm only saying that a 78 Corvette is worth more than a 78 Camaro - and probably worth more than anything else built in 78. I'm not comparing a 78 Corvette to anything made in 1969, or 1970, or any year other than 1978. YOU are doing that.
Why would I compare a 1978 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro when I can compare a 1969 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro? Which is the better comparison when looking at the relative values of each brand?
I'm not cherry-picking. You are. I'm saying that the ONLY legitimate comparison is to look at different cars of THE SAME YEAR.
Why would I compare a 1978 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro when I can compare a 1969 Corvette to a 1969 Camaro? Which is the better comparison when looking at the relative values of each brand?
I'm not cherry-picking. You are. I'm saying that the ONLY legitimate comparison is to look at different cars of THE SAME YEAR.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 268
From: iowa city iowa
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C3 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I thought this video was kind of funny looking at the Charger 500 by today's standards.
I was born in '63 so when I think of Corvettes I think of what I remember when I was a kid. The C3. I can't imagine how radical those crazy body lines must have seemed in '68. I always assumed they used fiberglass because they could not make those shapes out of metal back then but that was just my theory. I also thought they did not rust, so what did I know?
I have always loved Mopars, but when I was looking the market had driven the price of cuda's out of the park even for junk. Then one day I thought "corvette!" Hell yea. I don't NEED a back seat. I am just building it to cruise around in. I don't need a practical car. CORVETTE IT IS!
I was born in '63 so when I think of Corvettes I think of what I remember when I was a kid. The C3. I can't imagine how radical those crazy body lines must have seemed in '68. I always assumed they used fiberglass because they could not make those shapes out of metal back then but that was just my theory. I also thought they did not rust, so what did I know?
I have always loved Mopars, but when I was looking the market had driven the price of cuda's out of the park even for junk. Then one day I thought "corvette!" Hell yea. I don't NEED a back seat. I am just building it to cruise around in. I don't need a practical car. CORVETTE IT IS!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Victoria
And this has to do with?................................... .......
Yea this site reflects that!
Yes as with the famous 425 horse 350 cid, im sure its quit tame and very streetable manners, for about 5 mins until the new owners gets sick of it and puts it back up for sale at the first cruise in.
I don't get this?
They will go 70mph on the interstate, 30mph down main street USA.
Some people like an American car they can drive without all the valve adjusting, low gear, loping, car shaking, scaring little old ladies attitudes.
If you can't get into a 77 Vette and go riding around and enjoy it you might as well just go back to driving for John Force because your just too much of a man for the normal masses you God like phenom you.
Yea this site reflects that!
Yes as with the famous 425 horse 350 cid, im sure its quit tame and very streetable manners, for about 5 mins until the new owners gets sick of it and puts it back up for sale at the first cruise in.
I don't get this?
They will go 70mph on the interstate, 30mph down main street USA.
Some people like an American car they can drive without all the valve adjusting, low gear, loping, car shaking, scaring little old ladies attitudes.
If you can't get into a 77 Vette and go riding around and enjoy it you might as well just go back to driving for John Force because your just too much of a man for the normal masses you God like phenom you.
Corvettes are not sports cars they are GT cars. What is a GT car? A snobby European name for a boulavard cruiser with a massive engine to make it go fast (to make English people think they are not actually driving a blue collar muscle car...). Not that far away from a muscle car. So, it kinda makes sense to me that Corvettes would appeal to some muscle car fans, the point of which is to have a powerful engine. They make all the right sounds too (loud ones that scare old ladies).
With the brakes thing, you wrote that you didn't think disc brakes were a good thing. The alternative to disc brakes are drum brakes, like old Caddys have, and that was a story about why drum brakes are... Is English your first language pall? Or did you get disc brakes confused with drum brakes? Discs are the good ones
Man, really getting into the spirit of corvetteforum!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 8
From: Belmar NJ
After they were a couple years old, THEY WERE JUST USED CARS! A used Cobre could be had for $2500. Someone I know did just that with used Ferrari's, Lambo's, Alfa's and Jag's from the 60's to early 70's. Everybody told him he was nuts for buying all those used cars. He has about 20 of them and spent less than 100k on the bunch. Today their worth MILLIONS. I would have done the same thing but I didn't get my licence until 1975.
As for the T/A I believe they made 89, but still crazy money. Why not drive it? You could clone one without so much as a donor car shopping catalogs. It's still a Firebird.
As for the T/A I believe they made 89, but still crazy money. Why not drive it? You could clone one without so much as a donor car shopping catalogs. It's still a Firebird.
Last edited by parkerracing; Sep 3, 2011 at 05:37 AM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 1
From: Harleysville PA
After they were a couple years old, THEY WERE JUST USED CARS! A used Cobre could be had for $2500. Someone I know did just that with used Ferrari's, Lambo's, Alfa's and Jag's from the 60's to early 70's. Everybody told him he was nuts for buying all those used cars. He has about 20 of them and spent less than 100k on the bunch. Today their worth MILLIONS. I would have done the same thing but I didn't get my licence until 1975.
As for the T/A I believe they made 89, but still crazy money. Why not drive it? You could clone one without so much as a donor car shopping catalogs. It's still a Firebird.
As for the T/A I believe they made 89, but still crazy money. Why not drive it? You could clone one without so much as a donor car shopping catalogs. It's still a Firebird.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Victoria
After they were a couple years old, THEY WERE JUST USED CARS! A used Cobre could be had for $2500. Someone I know did just that with used Ferrari's, Lambo's, Alfa's and Jag's from the 60's to early 70's. Everybody told him he was nuts for buying all those used cars. He has about 20 of them and spent less than 100k on the bunch. Today their worth MILLIONS. I would have done the same thing but I didn't get my licence until 1975.
As for the T/A I believe they made 89, but still crazy money. Why not drive it? You could clone one without so much as a donor car shopping catalogs. It's still a Firebird.
As for the T/A I believe they made 89, but still crazy money. Why not drive it? You could clone one without so much as a donor car shopping catalogs. It's still a Firebird.
He also has a Cord roadster that was bought new by Amelia Earhart which he bought after it came to Australia for next to nothing. It was the first car he bought for his dealership and he kept it.
The Cord has a plaque on the dash certifying that, that particular one had a tested top speed of 108mph before being sold. Not a feature of many modern cars!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
I agree with you. Even when these cars were new and some of then DID cost $3,000, comparing that to $3,000 today is silly. Compensate for inflation and that's like $15,000 or $18,000 today.