C3 Values Dropping
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 6
C3 Values Dropping
I was just sitting around looking up car values and wow C3 values have really dropped. Of course I did not buy either of mine thinking I would make money but its still odd to see values drop like they have..
Hope someone got a C3 for Christmas! HAHA
Hope someone got a C3 for Christmas! HAHA
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
On the other end of the fantasy scale are the C3s whose (dealer) or wishful-thinking owners set ginormous asking prices. Those cars seem to languish on the market indefinitely - with certain exceptions, of course.
My guess: although slightly healthier, the discretionary spending market is still rather sickly.
Last edited by Capkunu; Dec 25, 2013 at 12:14 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Looks like Plum Crazy, the early 70's MoPar color......
but as to values dropping, it will happen eventually just like tracing values of all old cars of other types over the years, like my old friend with a '35 Ford rumble seat convertible....NICE car V8 club winner....BUT when it was time to sell, he found no market, all the guys wanted a steel body HOTROD, not a resto.....bet odds the buyer who got it for a steal, made a HOTROD out of it.....
and even there, that hotrod type is still cool, ok, but damn rarely sold for much these daze, kids remember cars from their teen age years....
but as to values dropping, it will happen eventually just like tracing values of all old cars of other types over the years, like my old friend with a '35 Ford rumble seat convertible....NICE car V8 club winner....BUT when it was time to sell, he found no market, all the guys wanted a steel body HOTROD, not a resto.....bet odds the buyer who got it for a steal, made a HOTROD out of it.....
and even there, that hotrod type is still cool, ok, but damn rarely sold for much these daze, kids remember cars from their teen age years....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 6
Where did you look for price info? Haggarty's valuation scale seems to suggest - overall - most C3 years are holding steady, at least for the latter half of this year. ePay's completed auctions - if averaged out - tend to agree. Afterall, ePay's sales (if actually consumated) reflect true wholesale market value. And these, too, have to be adjusted for season; 'summer-type' cars tend to fetch a few higher shekel in summer. Late autumn - not so much.
On the other end of the fantasy scale are the C3s whose (dealer) or wishful-thinking owners set ginormous asking prices. Those cars seem to languish on the market indefinitely - with certain exceptions, of course.
My guess: although slightly healthier, the discretionary spending market is still rather sickly.
On the other end of the fantasy scale are the C3s whose (dealer) or wishful-thinking owners set ginormous asking prices. Those cars seem to languish on the market indefinitely - with certain exceptions, of course.
My guess: although slightly healthier, the discretionary spending market is still rather sickly.
I actually was looking at Haggertys values
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 3
From: Cincinnati Ohio
I started the gifts with the kitchen appliances, socks, slippers, etc...ho hum....then when she went outside for something else it was pulled out in the driveway with the bow on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Values
I have seen nice examples of chrome bumper cars and those prices are up slightly or holding steady.
The exception is the base model versions especially an automatic.
Nice examples of C3 convertible bumper cars are definitely heading up with again the notable exception of base model with automatic.
Now if the numbers are not matching then values have fallen significantly.
Now if you have an L48 Automatic you may have to give it away. They made lots and they look great, but are very very uninspiring in terms of performance. The upside is there are some great deals to be had.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Out of curiouslity, where are you finding sales data for non matching numbers? Ebay? Craigslist? Hemmings? 99% of all Corvettes I see for sale are either claimed to be matching numbers or a minority being restomods..
So far as Haggerty values are concerned I've seen the high end, grade 1 or 2 cars drooping in value. A 70 Corvette taken for a test case, grade 1 dropped about $10K in value from 2006, grade 2 dropped around $8k. Grade 3 dropped about $4k, grade 4 remained pretty flat if not a slight increase suggesting the high end restorations may sell for more but are also prone to dropping almost as much value as the price of a grade 4.
Another article posted by Haggerty stated one reason the values have dropped is over supply, too many on the market due to the general state of the economy. Some high performance Corvettes may have done better mainly because there are fewer of them, works for the few holding them.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 6
I have seen nice examples of chrome bumper cars and those prices are up slightly or holding steady.
The exception is the base model versions especially an automatic.
Nice examples of C3 convertible bumper cars are definitely heading up with again the notable exception of base model with automatic.
Now if the numbers are not matching then values have fallen significantly.
Now if you have an L48 Automatic you may have to give it away. They made lots and they look great, but are very very uninspiring in terms of performance. The upside is there are some great deals to be had.
Bill
The exception is the base model versions especially an automatic.
Nice examples of C3 convertible bumper cars are definitely heading up with again the notable exception of base model with automatic.
Now if the numbers are not matching then values have fallen significantly.
Now if you have an L48 Automatic you may have to give it away. They made lots and they look great, but are very very uninspiring in terms of performance. The upside is there are some great deals to be had.
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,274
Likes: 6
From: Corvetteville USA
This thread is a complete mess. I had to check to see if it was one I started. Looks like one of mine. 
Anyway, going back to the original post about values. Yeah, those prices have been slashed. Unbelievable.
This 1971 LT-1 pricing is just ridiculous. How much cheaper can it go. Year end sale!!!!!! This won't last long!
http://www.proteam-corvette.com/Corv...17E/1017E.html
Anyway, going back to the original post about values. Yeah, those prices have been slashed. Unbelievable.
This 1971 LT-1 pricing is just ridiculous. How much cheaper can it go. Year end sale!!!!!! This won't last long!
http://www.proteam-corvette.com/Corv...17E/1017E.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Values
This thread is a complete mess. I had to check to see if it was one I started. Looks like one of mine.
Anyway, going back to the original post about values. Yeah, those prices have been slashed. Unbelievable.
This 1971 LT-1 pricing is just ridiculous. How much cheaper can it go. Year end sale!!!!!! This won't last long!
http://www.proteam-corvette.com/Corv...17E/1017E.html
Anyway, going back to the original post about values. Yeah, those prices have been slashed. Unbelievable.
This 1971 LT-1 pricing is just ridiculous. How much cheaper can it go. Year end sale!!!!!! This won't last long!
http://www.proteam-corvette.com/Corv...17E/1017E.html
Every car has it's own story. A triple black or black/red 69 400 hp or 435 hp has not gone down much if any and may have even increased in price.
My evidence is purely anecdotal. Nice rust free higher hp bumper cars are still fetching a decent price. The key is defining nice. I did not look quite as long as you did but really nice rust free bumper cars are just not that plentiful. The base models kind skew everything to the low side.
The market is still soft no doubt, but the right car still gets top dollar.
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,274
Likes: 6
From: Corvetteville USA
I guess it is all relative. That o!!!! a 71 LT-1. Contrary to some claims is runs nothing like a 70. However, I am very tempted to offer on this one since I love white with red but I REALLY want a 70 LT 1 convertible some day. The other issue is the optional 3:36 rear. Very rare but the LT-1s love to rev. and came standard with 3:70 and optional ratio was typically 4:11. White is just not in high demand right now. Same car in the right color would be gone a long time ago. Most guys really don't like the PO2s either.
Every car has it's own story. A triple black or black/red 69 400 hp or 435 hp has not gone down much if any and may have even increased in price.
My evidence is purely anecdotal. Nice rust free higher hp bumper cars are still fetching a decent price. The key is defining nice. I did not look quite as long as you did but really nice rust free bumper cars are just not that plentiful. The base models kind skew everything to the low side.
The market is still soft no doubt, but the right car still gets top dollar.
Bill
Every car has it's own story. A triple black or black/red 69 400 hp or 435 hp has not gone down much if any and may have even increased in price.
My evidence is purely anecdotal. Nice rust free higher hp bumper cars are still fetching a decent price. The key is defining nice. I did not look quite as long as you did but really nice rust free bumper cars are just not that plentiful. The base models kind skew everything to the low side.
The market is still soft no doubt, but the right car still gets top dollar.
Bill
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 155
Likes: 5
From: Illinois
I don't know about the price dip you saw??? Corvette Magazine's annual pricing study shows C3's from 1973-82 holding stead or increasing slightly, and the 1968-72 cars are going up between 4 and 10% a year, depending on year and body style.
I wouldn't pay much attention to the "for sale" listings on various web sites. Corvette Magazine's survey is a good blend of sources and I have found them to be right on target.
I wouldn't pay much attention to the "for sale" listings on various web sites. Corvette Magazine's survey is a good blend of sources and I have found them to be right on target.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
70 lt 1
The 71 just does not pull like a 70. The cam profile was designed to work with higher compression. Heads were better in 70 in terms of actual combustion efficiency and that is where the real difference lies. The heads alone were good for 20-30 hp.
Back in the day the 71 and 72 chevy guys would swap the heads for the earlier 186 heads from 69 and 70.
I believe the flywheel hp rating went from 370 in 70 to 330 in 71.
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,274
Likes: 6
From: Corvetteville USA
70 LT-1 has 11:1 compression versus 9:1 for 71.
The 71 just does not pull like a 70. The cam profile was designed to work with higher compression. Heads were better in 70 in terms of actual combustion efficiency and that is where the real difference lies. The heads alone were good for 20-30 hp.
Back in the day the 71 and 72 chevy guys would swap the heads for the earlier 186 heads from 69 and 70.
I believe the flywheel hp rating went from 370 in 70 to 330 in 71.
Bill
The 71 just does not pull like a 70. The cam profile was designed to work with higher compression. Heads were better in 70 in terms of actual combustion efficiency and that is where the real difference lies. The heads alone were good for 20-30 hp.
Back in the day the 71 and 72 chevy guys would swap the heads for the earlier 186 heads from 69 and 70.
I believe the flywheel hp rating went from 370 in 70 to 330 in 71.
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
http://www.hagerty.com/valuationtool...port?vc=655723