Mar 6, 2015, 03:07 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
Browse all: General How-Tos
- C6 Corvette: Car Value and Buying Guide
Important information to help you understand your Corvette.
Browse all: General How-Tos
C3 Market values right now
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
C3 Market values right now
What's going on at the moment? Just had a look on eBay, and my very unscientific survey of 1970's Corvettes revealed that 74-79's are selling, but 73's and under are not. Could it be that rubber bumpers are more popular?
Or maybe their owners are a bit more realistic on price in this market.
60's C3's seem to be struggling as well, with more chance of a sale if you have a convertible. But once again, very unscientific!
Here in NZ, American classic car sales in general are very flat, but guys are stubbornly refusing to bow to the market, and as a result, cars just ain't moving! I feel sorry for the local muscle car sales owner, a really nice guy.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts........
Or maybe their owners are a bit more realistic on price in this market.60's C3's seem to be struggling as well, with more chance of a sale if you have a convertible. But once again, very unscientific!
Here in NZ, American classic car sales in general are very flat, but guys are stubbornly refusing to bow to the market, and as a result, cars just ain't moving! I feel sorry for the local muscle car sales owner, a really nice guy.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts........
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
Anything C2 or the early C3s with the chrome bumpers are on average much more expensive that the later rubber bumper versions. What you're seeing is economics. Less to spend on toys but the urge to buy a toy is still there. If you really want an alcoholic beverage, but only have a few bucks, will you buy a beer or nothing at all until you can afford wine?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
From: pensacola fl
A few months ago in Pensacola there was a 71 in great shape with 4 speed, a/c and a few extras for 15,000.00. Ran it in the paper for a few weeks and dropped the price to 12,500.00 and it sold. It was a nice buy for somebody. The car was garage kept, blue and nice.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 409
Likes: 3
From: St. James, NC
The April 2012 edition of Corvette Magazine just came out with their Buyer’s Guide for the C3s. All the chrome bumper years show good appreciation with the 1970 T-top showing the highest gains at 10%. Results for convertibles verse T-top are mixed for this sector with convertible leading for some years and not for others. You are right about the soft nose Vettes with 74 and 75 models showing good appreciation, but not so for model years 76 and 77. The 1978 Vettes appreciated as well. Results for the 1973 model were mixed with the T-top up 2% and the convertible down 5%.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 409
Likes: 3
From: St. James, NC
I can’t really speak to the science behind their results. They do a Buyer Guide for each of the Corvette generation each year. Values and broken down by year, condition, and major options. I have been following it for a few years…the values seem to track the market reasonably well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I no longer subscribe BUT I HONESTLY miss the editions where they include the Price Guides... so in my case you are correct...
Chrome Bumper cars sell less because they cost more..
BTW./..is the price guide in the current issue on the newsstand now..
.
I'd like the latest price list for c2. c3 c4 and c5 to be honest...or be able to download them (even for a fee) if anyone wants to sell me their copy of the latest prices...I'll pay..
Bob G.
I'm in my late 60's and have started thinking about selling a few of my toys
Chrome Bumper cars sell less because they cost more..
BTW./..is the price guide in the current issue on the newsstand now..
.
I'd like the latest price list for c2. c3 c4 and c5 to be honest...or be able to download them (even for a fee) if anyone wants to sell me their copy of the latest prices...I'll pay..
Bob G.
I'm in my late 60's and have started thinking about selling a few of my toys
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
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
The data is just a guess, probably a good guess.
The Auctions houses charge both buying and selling commissions, which if not included, really skew the numbers. EBAY charges their commissions also. some cars sell for much more in states with no sales tax. I have to add 7% to my price in order to register the car for the 1st time.
Most people will not respond to buying and selling surveys, or will lie.
dealers will not tell you what it bought or sold for, because then they will be publishing how much they negotiate.
I rarely, if ever, tell anyone what I paid for my car.
the data is either false or flawed. The NADA guide is 50% different than other price publications.
The Auctions houses charge both buying and selling commissions, which if not included, really skew the numbers. EBAY charges their commissions also. some cars sell for much more in states with no sales tax. I have to add 7% to my price in order to register the car for the 1st time.
Most people will not respond to buying and selling surveys, or will lie.
dealers will not tell you what it bought or sold for, because then they will be publishing how much they negotiate.
I rarely, if ever, tell anyone what I paid for my car.
the data is either false or flawed. The NADA guide is 50% different than other price publications.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 670
From: Northeast
I no longer subscribe BUT I HONESTLY miss the editions where they include the Price Guides... so in my case you are correct...
Chrome Bumper cars sell less because they cost more..
BTW./..is the price guide in the current issue on the newsstand now..
.
I'd like the latest price list for c2. c3 c4 and c5 to be honest...or be able to download them (even for a fee) if anyone wants to sell me their copy of the latest prices...I'll pay..
Bob G.
I'm in my late 60's and have started thinking about selling a few of my toys
Chrome Bumper cars sell less because they cost more..
BTW./..is the price guide in the current issue on the newsstand now..
.
I'd like the latest price list for c2. c3 c4 and c5 to be honest...or be able to download them (even for a fee) if anyone wants to sell me their copy of the latest prices...I'll pay..
Bob G.
I'm in my late 60's and have started thinking about selling a few of my toys
as far as other years:
c4- July /11 issue
c5- Oct/11 issue
c2- January / 12
You can go to their site and buy the back issues. Sorry, I recycled mine
I really don't pay attention to their guide since every issue they say a base 78 has the lowest value of any C3
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,238
Likes: 1,092
From: YANKEES UNIVERSE 70 454-LS5 500 ft-lbs Torque
I follow sales of 68-72's closely as far as auctions,private sales and my own personal sales,you will see that prices are all over the board as Big Block prices in general are soft while the LT-1's seem pretty strong.A clean original 68-72 small block 4-speed vert is allways a good seller and in demand.On the high end 68-69 L88's are hot as a pistol with prices in the 400-600k range and higher.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
People with the money to spend are willing to buy collectible cars, not just Corvettes. Since the economy is down they're looking for bargains from people who need the money.
Overall the market sucks if you're looking to sell. It's good if you're looking to buy.
Supply and demand...sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield.
Overall the market sucks if you're looking to sell. It's good if you're looking to buy.
Supply and demand...sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
In order to buy, first I have to sell. Which puts me in a worrying position. Do I take a hit on my car, and hope that someone else is prepared to do the same? The good news is that 74's are moving according to my very unscientific research! I think the best thing is to sit tight. The 1970 convertible dream will have to wait a while.........
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
As someone who's just had to do some market research to convince a ins co of my restomod'd 81's worth and now shopping for it's replacment, the market is pretty down. Ebay has the same C3's just recycling thru listings without hitting reserves and CList is full of C3's listing $3-4k lower than 3-4 yrs ago. having to recalibrate my value gauge as i'm now seeing former $9-10K drivers being listed for $6-7k and staying listed for a while.
CASH is king right now...........
OH - it seems every other 82 for sale is a ultra low mile CE..................
CASH is king right now...........
OH - it seems every other 82 for sale is a ultra low mile CE..................
Last edited by Fast81; Mar 2, 2012 at 09:07 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
In order to buy, first I have to sell. Which puts me in a worrying position. Do I take a hit on my car, and hope that someone else is prepared to do the same? The good news is that 74's are moving according to my very unscientific research! I think the best thing is to sit tight. The 1970 convertible dream will have to wait a while.........
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I like that!The principle of substitution at work. Why would anybody in their right mind pay you more for something if they can buy something similar for less? Low end vettes (most C3s) are plentiful and the people who can afford to own them (as in middle class workers) are more likely to have been negatively affected by the American economic downturn. They say that it's a recession when your neighbor loses his/her job...but a depression when you lose yours.
I've grown tired of and been trying to sell both my boat and Harley for the last year. Dropped my asking prices 40% and still no takers. I literally have to give them away and that just ain't gonna happen. Too many for sale and too few with the money/credit that are willing to buy. Same goes for houses and condos. Prices have dropped probably 60% around here.
I drove by the Palm Beach Int'l Airport a few weeks ago and noticed the hundreds upon hundreds of private jets, lined up like white marshmallows along the tarmac on billionaire's row. Donald Trump even had his new $100+ million Airbus there. What's all this silly talk about a recession?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,959
Likes: 3,354
From: NYC NY
I follow sales of 68-72's closely as far as auctions,private sales and my own personal sales,you will see that prices are all over the board as Big Block prices in general are soft while the LT-1's seem pretty strong.A clean original 68-72 small block 4-speed vert is allways a good seller and in demand.On the high end 68-69 L88's are hot as a pistol with prices in the 400-600k range and higher.
"Prices ARE all over the board"I think the highly desireable cars sell for the "right money" or they just don't sell at all until someone comes up with the "right money". The "well bought" cars are a result of a "must sell" situation due to other financially pressing circumstances.
What do we say? I happened to be in the right place at the right time (with money in hand of course).
