Fiberbundle

C4 member looking for a little advice. I have a friend whose husband has passed away and she is looking to sell their 3rd owner 1975 Convertible.
Non numbers matching car. 130,000 miles with a new ZZ4 about 15,000 miles ago. Auto, dark blue, silver interior. Maintained meticulously with no rust but still a driver.
She wants it to sell it and does not want it to take forever. I am just looking for a little help in establishing a reasonable selling price for her without the vultures around here trying to steal it for a low ball offer. Around here there a number of mid 70's cars listed ranging from $7,500 to $21,000 but we all know a lot of owners think more of their cars than what the market will accept as a selling price.
Any guidance would be appreciated. She wants to not have it just sit in the garage but does not need to sell it. If all else fails I would just pay her a fair price and let the wife drive it.

Easy Mike

Pics would help considerably.

pmr2000

I would estimate from my shopping around last year $15-$20K would be fair for a driver quality '75 vert. The crate engine is a plus or at least an offset for the non-matching numbers and mileage.

MelWff

try downloading the free Corvette DNA app to your phone

Fiberbundle

I just spoke with her last night but should have pics on Thursday.
We have a clean 1975 L82 4-spd coupe for $12,500 in the area that has 60,000 miles numbers matching. Advertised for a while now. Not a convertible but things seem slow in this area for late C3'S and all C4's

MelWff

does it have power windows?
does it have the auxiliary hard top?
does it have AC?
without the above for a Driver and High mileage, $10,350.

croaker

Fiberbundle

The pacific northwest Tacoma, WA.

Fiberbundle

A very interesting app. It says my 1992 ZO7 with 20,700 miles is worth $17,500 but the first person that walks up to me with $15,000 cash could walk away with it.

joewill

as you suggested, pay her a fair price and you buy it. you have to put a value on all the tire kickers that show up taking up her time, negotiating, causing grief and gray hair, time out of her day multiple times, trying to scam her, etc...
its a pain in the butt trying to sell a car privately. I would take a grand or 2 less if I could just dump it to a quick fair price seller or dealer for a trade in where the price will knock down the sales price I would pay for another car, vs waiting to find my one buyer who will give me that extra 2 grand.

but in reality, a no rust 75 convertible, the last of the c3 convertibles, is worth a good premium.

Fiberbundle

I looked over the car today and it is a nice driver with a custom paint and interior that was done in the mid 90's. Some rock chips, a small paint bubble on the rear bumper, a couple of areas that are noticeable paint areas that need touch up. Interior is in very good condition, newer radio, power windows, tilt steering, power steering. Spare tire carrier is not there. 90's era mags with decent tires that are aging out. The engine is not a crate motor but SBC built at the same time as the repaint and interior. Probably 30K on the motor and not sure if the transmission was rebuilt at the same time. No rust west coast car. Will need exhaust system soon.
That said, a nice driver.
Photos attached. Any additional suggestions on pricing would be appreciated.

cv67

Think Mel is pretty accurate if youre looking for "fair" value for both of you vs the internet.
Knowing the history is a big plus, go pick it up before she lists it online.

vettebuyer6369

I think the combination of the NOM and the custom paint hurts the value of the car significantly. ‘75 convertibles are very soft right now and represent a nice value buy in the market as they are nice top down cruisers. But the nice stock examples are undervalued as it is; excellent cars are selling too cheap at auction. A car of an odd color and NOM is going to get lowball offers all day and it won’t be because they are vultures. They are informed.

If you have an interest in the car to play with as a driver, it would be fine at a low price, but don’t get misled by price guides on this one.

general ike

Vettbuyer, I think all the Chrome bumper convertibles are soft as well. I have been half a.. looking for a mostly orignal chrome bumper convertible in the NY area. I have seen a few come to market but very little ever sells at all much less anywhere near were the owner started in price. Some owners refuse yo adjust their price and the car just sits. Perhaps they aren't very motivated to sell.

I wonder were the market is going???? Usually as the economy goes up so do these cars but I am not sure anymore. Ike

Gold Dragon

Cool car. Wasn’t 75 the last year for convertibles? Desirable Corvette, and undervalued in my opinion.

Fiberbundle

Thanks Vettebuyer,
I am just trying to find out a reasonable price she might get for it in todays market. She is an older woman who does not feel comfortable advertising it on CL. I have my 92 ZO7 which I am very happy with so I have no interest in purchasing it. I am just trying to find out what to tell our local clubs what she may take for it. Her husband was in a hot rod club not a Corvette club and they are not that interested. Given everything I have seen here I think she will be lucky to get $9000 if that much since it is truly a driver.


Regarding soft prices, I think that is very true. Just had a local 3 owner 1977 L82 4-sp all original with 66,000 miles go for $7100.

cv67

Think its old cars in general who is lining up to buy them, older guys who have already done it? Millenials who would rather lease something new that does it all better? TV had the market super inflated for a long time but imo they arent worth anywhere near what they could have gotten a few yrs back.
Look at CL, even oddball pos that dont run are asking the moon looking for a sucker cause they watched counts customs too many times.
Guys that want a particular vette know the market well, they arent going to overpay by accident.

Need to sell my A body but would cringe at how little it would really bring.
Its a hobby, money down the toilet.

It may sound blunt but seriously worrying about value all the time is a waste!! Its not a savings account.

v2racing

In the Minneapolis area the C3's of all years have been somewhat soft for a long time. I see some ads with very high prices, but they are usually up for a long time.

I see people on the forum here saying prices are going up, but I haven't ever seen it in my area. Of course low mile original cars like 435 horse 427's, L88's, Lt1's bring a premium.

I bought my 75 Vert a few years ago with zero rust, OK paint, a decent original interior, a good convertible top, a very low mile 550 horse 406 under the hood with a 400 turbo with 3500 stall and shift kit, nice wheels and tires. I paid $10,500 for it. I sold the wheels, motor and trans and tore the car completely apart to do a frame off and build it to what I want.

Mike

Fiberbundle

Could not agree more! Hell at our local shows if we have 2 or 3 C3"'s , 4 to 6 C4's we are lucky and then there will be 60+ C5-6-7's for the show. And most of us are old. Never mind asking someone in the clubs if they have a recommendation for a jet size change after engine modifications. They look at you like you have three heads.
I agree with it is a hobby. I never think I am going to make money on a hobby.

71 Green 454

Just curious, why are you looking for mostly original?

The C3 Chrome Bumper market is going down because I am planning on selling mine after owning it for 43 years. Timing is everything....I didn't pay attention!