why are C3's so cheap
#41
Race Director
My Mothers uncle had a beautiful 63 silver blue, split window, 427, injected, side pipes, leather, Corvette that he only drove around the block once in a while to keep the battery up.
He had purchased the car for his wife who refused to drive it.
In 1973 my first car, 1970 SS Chevelle with cowl induction, was stolen and I was waiting for the insurance to pay me off.
My mom's uncle sold me the Corvette for the $1,500.00 I was getting from the insurance.
I drove the car and instantly fell in love and promised to never sell it to anyone.
Before the insurance check got to me his daughter and her husband took the car for a drive and wrapped it around a telephone pole putting the big block up between the seats.
The car sat for decades in their pasture then disappeared when they sold the property.
I've always wanted a C2 split window, but my budget only allowed me to get my current 73 Big Block.
He had purchased the car for his wife who refused to drive it.
In 1973 my first car, 1970 SS Chevelle with cowl induction, was stolen and I was waiting for the insurance to pay me off.
My mom's uncle sold me the Corvette for the $1,500.00 I was getting from the insurance.
I drove the car and instantly fell in love and promised to never sell it to anyone.
Before the insurance check got to me his daughter and her husband took the car for a drive and wrapped it around a telephone pole putting the big block up between the seats.
The car sat for decades in their pasture then disappeared when they sold the property.
I've always wanted a C2 split window, but my budget only allowed me to get my current 73 Big Block.
#42
Safety Car
currently on ebay,
168 total 1969 camaros, 111 are asking 40K +, gm made 243085
36 total 1969 corvettes , 13 are asking 40K + .gm made 38762
provenance, condition, rarity, options, then the almighty intangeble factor called demand, drives the price.
throw out rarity for the camaros
its the demand factor. kids wanted a 69 camaro when they were young, or already owned one and want to relive their past. they could not afford a vette, so throw out the rarity factor in all but the most wanted option.
there are lots of folks wanting 69 camaros and subsequently have 168 to choose from.
i myself think the corvette is a much cooler car and much more rare and could not afford one when young, now I can.
it is therefor amazing how people will pay 40+ for a camaro vs. 40+ for a vette.
168 total 1969 camaros, 111 are asking 40K +, gm made 243085
36 total 1969 corvettes , 13 are asking 40K + .gm made 38762
provenance, condition, rarity, options, then the almighty intangeble factor called demand, drives the price.
throw out rarity for the camaros
its the demand factor. kids wanted a 69 camaro when they were young, or already owned one and want to relive their past. they could not afford a vette, so throw out the rarity factor in all but the most wanted option.
there are lots of folks wanting 69 camaros and subsequently have 168 to choose from.
i myself think the corvette is a much cooler car and much more rare and could not afford one when young, now I can.
it is therefor amazing how people will pay 40+ for a camaro vs. 40+ for a vette.
#43
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I’ll never understand the Camaro thing. When I was a kid after my first couple Corvettes, 67-69 Camaros were bought by the kids who couldn’t afford Corvettes. They were a dime a dozen. Used selling prices were in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands. They used to call Super Chevy Super Camaro Sunday because there were a million there. The genre is even different for Camaros as the whole “numbers matching” thing is looked at entirely different and all the mods in the world on a Camaro doesn’t seem to make a bit of difference to buyers even though there is a ton of them out there.
I always tell people the market is what it is, not what you want it to be, so I have to take my own advice and just accept the prices Camaros bring vs Corvettes. But it doesn’t mean I have to understand it. They will always be cheap fallbacks for Corvettes to me.
I always tell people the market is what it is, not what you want it to be, so I have to take my own advice and just accept the prices Camaros bring vs Corvettes. But it doesn’t mean I have to understand it. They will always be cheap fallbacks for Corvettes to me.
#44
Race Director
It would be nice if the availability of good quality aftermarket body and chassis components for Corvettes equaled that of the Camaros.
At one point I researched building a 69 SS big block cowl induction Camaro and found I could purchase an all new, high quality, exact replica, steel body complete with doors, fenders, hood, deck lid, glass, chassis and all components, ready to paint for under what I could purchase a project car with a six cylinder.
The world would be a perfect place if we could find good quality, good fitting exact replica body and chassis components for any generation of Corvette.
As it is we pay a fortune and then need modify them in the hope to make them fit.
At one point I researched building a 69 SS big block cowl induction Camaro and found I could purchase an all new, high quality, exact replica, steel body complete with doors, fenders, hood, deck lid, glass, chassis and all components, ready to paint for under what I could purchase a project car with a six cylinder.
The world would be a perfect place if we could find good quality, good fitting exact replica body and chassis components for any generation of Corvette.
As it is we pay a fortune and then need modify them in the hope to make them fit.
#45
Safety Car
YMMV
#46
I have a theory that most people believe whatever they want to believe, whether it is actually true or not, in order to justify their own situation and the decisions they make...present company included. Original drivetrain high performance Corvettes are quite rare, highly desirable and that is where savvy collectors are spending their money...driving the prices up. I still believe a rising tide lifts all boats
Last edited by Faster Rat; 07-12-2018 at 09:41 PM.
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tomboyy (07-13-2018)
#47
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Except the numbers matching crowd exists in larger numbers in the C1 - C2 groups more so than C3's and those gens command the big money.
#48
Safety Car
#49
Racer
They made more Camaros because more people wanted them then and now , I own both so I don't have that tunnel vision that I see with some vette owners just because you think they are the coolest cars doesn't mean everybody does , I knew plenty of people that could afford a vette but went for the Trans am or Camaro etc just because the cars are more practical and you do not have to climb in and out you can put the dog in the back seat ... for the record I have bought 6 new vettes and 3 used over the years so I do love vettes but I still think my 69 RS is serious eye candy also ...
#50
The Bathtub
The prices on Vettes have always been a bathtub shaped curve -- the oldest ones and the newest ones are priced about the same. They drop from there to the lowest priced ones but the low point moves with the years -- in the lat 70's, the cheapest ones were the 63 to 65 models with the smaller engines not a total junker will bring maybe $20,000 if it has a clear title. Probably the cheapest ones right now are the later 70's models with all of the smog crap and then the early C4 models, especially the 84. Plus remember that you are looking a a car that has always been a collectible car while some of the Mustangs and Camaros had their big years and then nothing. Hard to compare a 74 Mustang to a 74 Vette
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amandico82 (02-13-2021)
#51
Melting Slicks
I do agree, a Corvette with a truly original drive train is a bit rare, especially the high performance versions. Makes sense they would command a higher price from collectors.
Last edited by BBCorv70; 07-13-2018 at 01:52 PM.
#52
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Yes, I noticed that too. Look at a 69/70 Mustang 428 and its typically going for a lot more than a 68-72 Corvette big block. When I started out looking for my dream car I wanted a 69 Charger but nice done cars were $35-60K and even a rusted, dented car sitting in field with no interior and no drivetrain was 10K. My budget was $18k with another $10k set aside for repairs so I decided I couldn't afford the Charger and went with the Corvette. Now as I start to tally up what I've spent and will spend on my 79 I'm going to be in it for $35-40K, I could have bought that 69 Charger if I had waited a few years until I had all my money in one place at one time.
Like others have suggested, I think the reasons these cars are more than C3's is that many/most C3's were well taken care of and a much higher percentage of them survive compared to 69 Mustang/Charger/Camaro, etc. also, a lot more people had these metal cars back in the day than the C3's and want one again so there are more people after fewer metal cars and that's driven up the prices compared to C3s
Like others have suggested, I think the reasons these cars are more than C3's is that many/most C3's were well taken care of and a much higher percentage of them survive compared to 69 Mustang/Charger/Camaro, etc. also, a lot more people had these metal cars back in the day than the C3's and want one again so there are more people after fewer metal cars and that's driven up the prices compared to C3s
#53
Race Director
I remember growing up in my teens.
My friend had a Corvette and my mom was scared every time I got into his car.
"You'll die in that plastic car if someone hits you"
I remember back in the 70"s Corvettes were not a very popular car to own.
They were made of plastic, they cost more money new, insurance was over the top high, and they were definitely not a high performance car.
Yes, they had big blocks and were fast, but in a quarter mile my 70 SS BB Chevelle or my 72 455 Buick Skylark GS would eat one up with no problem.
I think the Corvette got a bad rep in the 70's that stayed with that generation and passed along through to today.
My friend had a Corvette and my mom was scared every time I got into his car.
"You'll die in that plastic car if someone hits you"
I remember back in the 70"s Corvettes were not a very popular car to own.
They were made of plastic, they cost more money new, insurance was over the top high, and they were definitely not a high performance car.
Yes, they had big blocks and were fast, but in a quarter mile my 70 SS BB Chevelle or my 72 455 Buick Skylark GS would eat one up with no problem.
I think the Corvette got a bad rep in the 70's that stayed with that generation and passed along through to today.
Last edited by OldCarBum; 07-13-2018 at 07:51 PM.
#54
Safety Car
Are you sure about that? I ordered a brand new 72 Buick GS 455 and it was one of the biggest turds I ever owned. When I ordered the car I had no idea what a giant POS the new smog motors were, I have never been more disappointed in a car. I traded in a 67 Buick GS 400 for the 72 GS turd.
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amandico82 (02-13-2021)
#55
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Are you sure about that? I ordered a brand new 72 Buick GS 455 and it was one of the biggest turds I ever owned. When I ordered the car I had no idea what a giant POS the new smog motors were, I have never been more disappointed in a car. I traded in a 67 Buick GS 400 for the 72 GS turd.
#56
Race Director
Are you sure about that? I ordered a brand new 72 Buick GS 455 and it was one of the biggest turds I ever owned. When I ordered the car I had no idea what a giant POS the new smog motors were, I have never been more disappointed in a car. I traded in a 67 Buick GS 400 for the 72 GS turd.
Did I fail to say it was a stage II, and it was not stock.
#57
Safety Car
#58
Race Director
Very easy for a father and husband to get his WIfe to go along with the idea dads new “old”classic can take the kids Tio where ever they want to go inn the pony car...
cant do that with the corvette c3 as it’s an two seater...
plus asking price on craigslist is not the actual selling price.
lots of plastic bumper c3 automatics...and while fun cars....they aren’t stick shift “drivers cars” that’s what a lot of classic buyers are thinking even if not true..
back in the mid seventies We all had hopped up pony cars....although my smokin hot girlfriend at the time had a bright red 74 or 75 L82....(I still can’t believe she is dead from cancer)
great memories though.,,
all that said....pony cars are easier to get a green light from the wifeys would be my guess..plus it’s easier to convert to manual transmission on a pony car I bet.
rowing gears is a big part of nostalgia..
cant do that with the corvette c3 as it’s an two seater...
plus asking price on craigslist is not the actual selling price.
lots of plastic bumper c3 automatics...and while fun cars....they aren’t stick shift “drivers cars” that’s what a lot of classic buyers are thinking even if not true..
back in the mid seventies We all had hopped up pony cars....although my smokin hot girlfriend at the time had a bright red 74 or 75 L82....(I still can’t believe she is dead from cancer)
great memories though.,,
all that said....pony cars are easier to get a green light from the wifeys would be my guess..plus it’s easier to convert to manual transmission on a pony car I bet.
rowing gears is a big part of nostalgia..
Last edited by JerriVette; 07-14-2018 at 06:26 AM.
#59
Race Director
I traded it in or a new dodge surfer van.
#60
Safety Car
They made more Camaros because more people wanted them then and now , I own both so I don't have that tunnel vision that I see with some vette owners just because you think they are the coolest cars doesn't mean everybody does , I knew plenty of people that could afford a vette but went for the Trans am or Camaro etc just because the cars are more practical and you do not have to climb in and out you can put the dog in the back seat ... for the record I have bought 6 new vettes and 3 used over the years so I do love vettes but I still think my 69 RS is serious eye candy also ...