70 454 value?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
70 454 value?
I've got my eye on a 70 454 and the price is $30,000 firm. I'd like to get the consensus from the gurus out there. Do you think that price is fair? Its my first big block...and thats alot of money for me.
Its got all the options I want, colour too... and the records and history on this car is fantastic, right down to a spread sheet with every previous owner's information and a class yearbook photo.... I've seen cheaper similar cars but My gut tells me that there may value in this price especially since its still numbers matching and he has all records and documents. I think this guy really cherished this car..
Here's the specs:
All Numbers Matching ~ 103k Miles
Cortez Silver / Black Vinyl
LS5 ~ 454c.i./390hp/500lb.ft.
M20 4-Speed
Power Steering
Power Brakes
Air Conditioning
Rear Window Defogger
Professionally installed side pipes
Engine Professionally Rebuilt & Balanced @ 75k miles
Pertronix 71181 Ignitor III Distributor Conversion Kit Pertronix 44001 Flame-thrower III Chrome Coil
Repaint ~ 15 years ago
Recent Carburetor Rebuild
Front Suspension Rebuilt & Aligned
New BFG Radial Tires
All Recent & Many Historical Receipts
Original Owner’s Manual & Protect-O-Plate
Its got all the options I want, colour too... and the records and history on this car is fantastic, right down to a spread sheet with every previous owner's information and a class yearbook photo.... I've seen cheaper similar cars but My gut tells me that there may value in this price especially since its still numbers matching and he has all records and documents. I think this guy really cherished this car..
Here's the specs:
All Numbers Matching ~ 103k Miles
Cortez Silver / Black Vinyl
LS5 ~ 454c.i./390hp/500lb.ft.
M20 4-Speed
Power Steering
Power Brakes
Air Conditioning
Rear Window Defogger
Professionally installed side pipes
Engine Professionally Rebuilt & Balanced @ 75k miles
Pertronix 71181 Ignitor III Distributor Conversion Kit Pertronix 44001 Flame-thrower III Chrome Coil
Repaint ~ 15 years ago
Recent Carburetor Rebuild
Front Suspension Rebuilt & Aligned
New BFG Radial Tires
All Recent & Many Historical Receipts
Original Owner’s Manual & Protect-O-Plate
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Point Texas
If it looks good,runs and drive good and you've checked everything you can check, then I would say pay the man cause that's not a bad price,if you like the car. I guess it depends where you live also.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 329
Likes: 55
From: Winfield West Virginia
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Just my $0.02. I would think $30K to be near the top of the price range for a car with a 15 year old repaint and over 103K miles. It's a numbers match car , but with incorrect exhaust, ignition components and radial tires. What about the other date coded components, are they correct? Have you checked the frame and birdcage for rust? 70 big-block cars are cool and I'm not saying this one is a bad deal, just not a real "bargain" at $30K.
Jim
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi C,
One way to look at it is.... what is the MOST this car could be worth, right now, if it were perfect. (Of course we'll first need to decide what 'perfect' is.)
Then make a very realistic estimate of what it would cost to get this car to that state. What's left is what you may want to pay for this car in it's present condition.
The nicer a car gets the more it needs....yes, that's not what people usually say. Here's an example; a new paint job often makes the chrome and stainless trim, (that looked o.k. with the old paint), look a little shabby so let's get that all re-done. And then the glass is is little scuffed up, so let's replace that too.
Does everyone think that way, NO, but perhaps it has some bearing on what a car is worth.
Sounds like a nice bb 70 if it is what it sounds like it is.
Regards,
Alan
One way to look at it is.... what is the MOST this car could be worth, right now, if it were perfect. (Of course we'll first need to decide what 'perfect' is.)
Then make a very realistic estimate of what it would cost to get this car to that state. What's left is what you may want to pay for this car in it's present condition.
The nicer a car gets the more it needs....yes, that's not what people usually say. Here's an example; a new paint job often makes the chrome and stainless trim, (that looked o.k. with the old paint), look a little shabby so let's get that all re-done. And then the glass is is little scuffed up, so let's replace that too.
Does everyone think that way, NO, but perhaps it has some bearing on what a car is worth.
Sounds like a nice bb 70 if it is what it sounds like it is.
Regards,
Alan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 41
From: Pinecrest FL
2015 C3 of the Year Finalist
Coupe or vert? If its a vert and all checks out, jump on it. If its a nice coupe, still worth the money.
Not an easy task to find a big block 4 speed car with factory AC.
Not an easy task to find a big block 4 speed car with factory AC.
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,948
Likes: 3,351
From: NYC NY
30K is a lot of money no doubt. Do you really like it? Sounds like you do. Have you found another car for less money that you like as much or more? Soiunds like you haven't. Now could you duplicate for it less?
Depending on how you answer those questions the next step is to have someone who knows these cars check it out for you and then decide for yourself if it's a fair price.
Good luck with what ever you choose to do.
Depending on how you answer those questions the next step is to have someone who knows these cars check it out for you and then decide for yourself if it's a fair price.
Good luck with what ever you choose to do.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
you stated numbers matching so perhaps that is important to you.. understand what all numbers matching means and how the car may be faked. understand how any question of the authenticity of the numbers causes a huge spread on the price. the 70 BB is the last of the high compression cars.. which may not matter depending on how it was rebuilt.
check the metal.. the frame, birdcage, windshield frame, front crossmember and radiator support.. any heavy rust in any of these drastically lowers the price and drastically reduces resaleability.
a real 70 BB with AC is easily worth 30K if the metal is solid and the numbers are legit.
a 70 AC BB with no rust, POP, doc, and good condition is rare indeed, you won't find another for under 30K.
check the metal.. the frame, birdcage, windshield frame, front crossmember and radiator support.. any heavy rust in any of these drastically lowers the price and drastically reduces resaleability.
a real 70 BB with AC is easily worth 30K if the metal is solid and the numbers are legit.
a 70 AC BB with no rust, POP, doc, and good condition is rare indeed, you won't find another for under 30K.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Seems to me whether it was a coupe or convertible could determine whether this is a "good" buy or an OK one. Especially with AC.
Some pictures would certainly help as well.
The wrong-year sidepipes don't help the value at all, and if the rear 1/4s were filled to make it look like a '69 with stock pipes, that would actually hurt the value.
Joewill also make a good point that while the numbers are critical to the value, you need to have someone who knows what they are looking at give an opinion on whether its faked. Some people have posted "numbers matching" pads here that most people would laugh at. Some people feel BBs are more likely to be faked than other cars.
And yes... rust. Look hard.
It could be a good buy... a BB '70 is a nice ride. Love the colors. Id like a lot more info and Id like to see it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
There are 2 things that I would add to the other advice you have already received.
1st...the $30k price sounds like it is on the high side. Without seeing the car or the presentation on how nice it is, it seems a bit high.
2nd...If this is the car you want. Then the $30k value does not matter. There are very few 1970 BB corvettes around. So you are paying for the brand and image name. I think this is my main point. It does not matter if the $30k price is too high, or right on the mark. If there are no other 70 BB vettes available, then the price should not matter. Its what is available when you are ready to buy the car.
kdf
1st...the $30k price sounds like it is on the high side. Without seeing the car or the presentation on how nice it is, it seems a bit high.
2nd...If this is the car you want. Then the $30k value does not matter. There are very few 1970 BB corvettes around. So you are paying for the brand and image name. I think this is my main point. It does not matter if the $30k price is too high, or right on the mark. If there are no other 70 BB vettes available, then the price should not matter. Its what is available when you are ready to buy the car.
kdf
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,862
Likes: 118
From: Texas
If you spend much time on CF, you'll find that it often seems like a contest to see who can get the most car for the least amount of money.
That being said, a matching numbers '70 big block a/c coupe is worth every bit of $30k, if it's in good condition and it has a no-hit body. It could actually be worth more if a lot of other details are "correct", but it could be worth less if a lot of details aren't "correct", are in poor condition, or poorly repaired. That's just my opinion.
Nice BB cars don't grow on trees.
That being said, a matching numbers '70 big block a/c coupe is worth every bit of $30k, if it's in good condition and it has a no-hit body. It could actually be worth more if a lot of other details are "correct", but it could be worth less if a lot of details aren't "correct", are in poor condition, or poorly repaired. That's just my opinion.
Nice BB cars don't grow on trees.
Last edited by RatRacer; Aug 6, 2012 at 08:08 PM.
