Big Block Price Differential
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 341
Big Block Price Differential
Since buying my small-block C3 I've come to realize there's a $5-$10,000 price differential for the big block C3's. Even more for the top condition cars.
*scratching my head*
It's only 100 more cubic inches. A SBC with decent heads can make plenty of power. Probably weighs a bit less, too.
Where's the appeal to command so much more money? Is it just the cool looking L88 hood? More STOCK horsepower?
Or is it just scarcity; more of the big blocks got crashed back in the day -- and fewer made?
Apparently I missed the boat on this because the big blocks are in a lot more demand. A lot of guys must have "always wanted" a 427 Vette.
*scratching my head*
It's only 100 more cubic inches. A SBC with decent heads can make plenty of power. Probably weighs a bit less, too.
Where's the appeal to command so much more money? Is it just the cool looking L88 hood? More STOCK horsepower?
Or is it just scarcity; more of the big blocks got crashed back in the day -- and fewer made?
Apparently I missed the boat on this because the big blocks are in a lot more demand. A lot of guys must have "always wanted" a 427 Vette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Back in the day Wade, size did matter. Not every teenager had the means or ability to build a hot rod in their daddy's garage. We were lucky to get a co-signer on a used muscle car. The bigger the factory motor, the more likely it made more power.
I waited 35 years to be able to buy my 427. I will never sell it. There were only 40 some thousand Corvettes built with the 427 from 1966 to 1969. Those that are still intact with their original drivetrains and not butchered will ALWAYS be considered collectable. Rarity plus desirability tends to drive the price up. Increasing demand while decreasing supply WILL drive the price up.
If you still do not understand, don't worry about it. Enjoy your small block and dump all the money you can afford into mods to make more power, if that is what you want. In fact, even go ahead and have a laugh at those of us who are "wasting" our money on authentic 427 C3s and trying to restore them as original. The C3 Forum Mod Squad will surely chime in. Time will tell who has the last laugh.
I waited 35 years to be able to buy my 427. I will never sell it. There were only 40 some thousand Corvettes built with the 427 from 1966 to 1969. Those that are still intact with their original drivetrains and not butchered will ALWAYS be considered collectable. Rarity plus desirability tends to drive the price up. Increasing demand while decreasing supply WILL drive the price up.
If you still do not understand, don't worry about it. Enjoy your small block and dump all the money you can afford into mods to make more power, if that is what you want. In fact, even go ahead and have a laugh at those of us who are "wasting" our money on authentic 427 C3s and trying to restore them as original. The C3 Forum Mod Squad will surely chime in. Time will tell who has the last laugh.
Last edited by Faster Rat; Feb 26, 2019 at 10:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 341
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,797
Likes: 4,420
From: Virginia
Did you buy the car to sell it, or did you buy the car to drive it? Zora preferred the SBC for lightness and balance,, and that was back when it was a lot harder to get HP out of them.
There's no reason not to go drive the snot out of your beautiful car, whatever is under the hood.
There's no reason not to go drive the snot out of your beautiful car, whatever is under the hood.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,443
Likes: 326
From: Indy Indiana
doesn't matter, a big block costs more to buy and you can then sell it for more.
there's not much evidence that the appreciation curve is higher with one vs. the other. its buy what you want or make what you want.
you can put a BB in your car for 5K and sell your SB for 2K for a delta of 3K and then be able to sell your car for that 3K more. its a wash...
there's not much evidence that the appreciation curve is higher with one vs. the other. its buy what you want or make what you want.
you can put a BB in your car for 5K and sell your SB for 2K for a delta of 3K and then be able to sell your car for that 3K more. its a wash...
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 341
Since I've got the "wrong" motor anyway (a crate 350) I may just go to a 383 stroker and not worry about resale as I'd prefer a "better" SBC to an unmodified big block.
Last edited by wadenelson; Feb 27, 2019 at 07:26 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 410
I tell people to stick with original drive train, solid lifter, four speeds, and they won't go wrong, the more original the better...
Think about the fact that during their production they constituted less than 10% of corvette production every year they were offered and they were the ones that were beat on HARD... There are probably less than 50% of originals left and how many their drive trains in tact?
Think about the fact that during their production they constituted less than 10% of corvette production every year they were offered and they were the ones that were beat on HARD... There are probably less than 50% of originals left and how many their drive trains in tact?
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 4,015
From: New Braunfels Texas
Because Big Blocks are cool......period. They are special because 9 years after the first one was built, Big Gov killed them......and after 77' there was never built a passenger car with a Big Block ever again.
Having owned one......with Tri-Power, I can say that they are waaaaaay cooler than a small block........even though my current small block car make a LOT more power.
Big Blocks are special because they are the biggest baddest thing offered that year.
They even sound different.
If you wonder why they are more valuable......drive one......it changes a sports car into a brutal tool......torque corrupts!
Jebby
Having owned one......with Tri-Power, I can say that they are waaaaaay cooler than a small block........even though my current small block car make a LOT more power.
Big Blocks are special because they are the biggest baddest thing offered that year.
They even sound different.
If you wonder why they are more valuable......drive one......it changes a sports car into a brutal tool......torque corrupts!
Jebby
Last edited by Jebbysan; Feb 28, 2019 at 08:28 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 131
Did you buy the car to sell it, or did you buy the car to drive it? Zora preferred the SBC for lightness and balance,, and that was back when it was a lot harder to get HP out of them.
There's no reason not to go drive the snot out of your beautiful car, whatever is under the hood.
There's no reason not to go drive the snot out of your beautiful car, whatever is under the hood.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 767
Likes: 74
From: Blaine MN
I actually looked into that and came to the same conclusion. It's a wash -- EXCEPT then the car is even less "right". Not numbers, wrong block, wrong hood. And it putsme in the engine selling business which is exactly where I don't want to be.
Since I've got the "wrong" motor anyway (a crate 350) I may just go to a 383 stroker and not worry about resale as I'd prefer a "better" SBC to an unmodified big block.
Since I've got the "wrong" motor anyway (a crate 350) I may just go to a 383 stroker and not worry about resale as I'd prefer a "better" SBC to an unmodified big block.
If it ain't a numbers match car, I feel you'll have an easier time getting more of your investment back. Time will tell if the up and coming generations will have the same lust for a 427 Tri-power Vert as I did. I'm hoping, so I can get some of my $ out of it later, if not it's still a blast to drive the beast.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 123
From: CA.
I had 3 chrome bumper BBs. All I ever bought. I just love the torque and the way it idles. they all sounded like they had a cam put in but were stock. with that being said I would have no problem with a nice small block.
working on the BB is a negative with everything being so tight.
working on the BB is a negative with everything being so tight.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 378
Likes: 19
IMHO, when GM started with the 396/425 mid year engine option for the C2, it did not make any difference that a 327 Fuelie was not that much slower than a 396, it made the Corvette not only a sports car, but now a muscle car.
