Conversation about valuations
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
so many sellers overprice their car.. can't blame them, they just want to get top dollar.
the fairly priced cars will sell fast, or else they themselves are overpriced also due to rustout or condition issues.
I think you will find that that 74 is either already sold, or rusted out. I may be wrong of course, but one must peruse craigslist daily and be ready to pull the trigger immediately in order to get a good bargain.
the fairly priced cars will sell fast, or else they themselves are overpriced also due to rustout or condition issues.
I think you will find that that 74 is either already sold, or rusted out. I may be wrong of course, but one must peruse craigslist daily and be ready to pull the trigger immediately in order to get a good bargain.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
I think what you will find is that '74-82 cars in the $5-9K range usually have problems. Not to say that if you are patient you can't find a good car. If you move up to $10-12 the cars improve greatly. Those prices would be for a base automatic coupe. A 4 speed (or in the case of a '74 big block) will drive the price up. I see late C-3s on Craigslist all the time priced at $5-9K but most I've looked at have had rust issues, tacky mods, poor maintenance etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
The above is true for the rubber bumper cars as well. The four speed cars always bring more dough. This is also because of the rarity as well. Not exact numbers, just memory here, but close enough, that for 1974, 35k Corvettes were built and only 3,700 or about 10-11% were factory four speed cars.
In 1974 there were 37.5K cars built, 25K came with M40 automatic option, 3,500 came with option M21 close ratio manual, the remaining 9K cars came with the base wide ratio manual.
So the actual breakdown is 66% auto, 33% manual, and 1/3rd of the manuals were optional close ratio.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
what happens often is that a potential buyer will ask for expertise in helping to look at the car and that same expert will point out the many many things that make that car less than perfect and non original. this scares away the buyer. even though if the car was indeed perfect, then it would be priced far higher.
if you expect excellent condition and original cars then you have to pay for them. Its a simple concept.
if you expect excellent condition and original cars then you have to pay for them. Its a simple concept.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Your memory's pretty good, but I think you are only remembering the M21 close ratio option. The base transmission was the 4 speed wide ratio.
In 1974 there were 37.5K cars built, 25K came with M40 automatic option, 3,500 came with option M21 close ratio manual, the remaining 9K cars came with the base wide ratio manual.
So the actual breakdown is 66% auto, 33% manual, and 1/3rd of the manuals were optional close ratio.
In 1974 there were 37.5K cars built, 25K came with M40 automatic option, 3,500 came with option M21 close ratio manual, the remaining 9K cars came with the base wide ratio manual.
So the actual breakdown is 66% auto, 33% manual, and 1/3rd of the manuals were optional close ratio.
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
dont mean to derail ops thread, but am new to these cars as well, and as wondering if theres any ballpark idea of how much we should be looking to put into one to get it ready to drive regularly in the summer and be presentable aka not a show car but still turning some heads. (74-82) if we're getting it in the 7-9k range (assuming good body/frame/birdcage)? I know this varies car to car so its probably a difficult question to ball park, but am curious, and definitely don't want to get fleeced on my first vette.
On the other hand, I'm 3 yrs into a body off restoration on my 72. It is now awaiting an opening at the paint shop for its final paint. I've done all the work. Every nut and bolt was off the frame, I've torn every part apart, rebuilt, re sealed and re installed. I've done all the body repairs, 4 months alone, block sanding for the past few months. When it comes back from paint, I'll wrap up the interior. I'm into it for roughly 20k, including original purchase price. I'll need 3k to finish it up. That's shopping sales pricing, doing all installations myself and utilizing as many original parts that I can. So, it depends on what you want the finished car to look like. If you buy a very nice car with very little work needed for say, 10k, you've done very well.
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Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
The best advice I ever received about buying classic cars is "buy as much car as you can afford." You often pay less for more that way.