luvchevs

Just wondering why the prices on these cars seem low in comparison to many others?
I am well aware that many consider the C2 to be the best Vette ever and the Chrome bumper C3's are considered by many to be better looking and more performance oriented than the rubber bumper cars. What I find odd is that 78 - 79 Trans Ams seem to bring a lot more $ than the same year Vette and If the TA is the black and gold edition the spread is much greater. The black and gold TA's are not really rare, I remember them be common back in the day. It seems even a comparable Z/28 Camaro will bring more $ in some cases than a comparable Vette and I find this odd.
Just wanted to see what you guys think?
Do you think these Vettes are due for a jump in Value?
I look forward to your opinions.

Dave

L-46man

Dave; Just one man's opinion...I don't care! This is nostalgia driven. Common sense does not come into it. MY HOBBY is not about money,selling prices, what other cars are worth etc...In fact I find EVEN the threads that say 'how much my car is worth to be unseemly, money grubbing and not TRUE to the hobby.

They made a lot less C-2's that drives the value up.
Perfect T/A's are fairly rare....many of those T/A's are in poor shape....so why aren't THEY put into the matrix?

Heisenberg uncertainty principle (paraphrased) The fact that an observer is conducting a test CHANGES the test. So applying this....C-3 L-88's go for a fortune...aren't these in your 'low value matrix'. You need a better information mixture.

C-3's Production was 535,000 cars.....no rarity there. The 'special' RPO's are selling for a TON.

They way I look at it is. 1. I'm keeping mine! 2. More for me! 4. Thank god it's not a C-4!

Steady rise a few percent a year for the more common cars, precipitous rise for the truly rare ones. Break- the-bank for the 'greats'.

The nostalgia driven BUYERS are getting older and older....the next generation would rather spend the bux on a Nissan Sylvia! LOL.

Unkahal

bashcraft

I don't. More people prefer the Trans Am. I believe they are rare, at least around here. I can't remember the last time I saw one. Honestly, if I had my choice between a 78 TA and a 78 Corvette, I'd take the TA.

pmr2000

Agreed also think it is odd - if you try to base it on logic Corvettes were always more expensive and rarer than Mustang's and Camaro's. Agree it is just the nostalgia thing a lot of people want what they had or wish they had....and as the generations age some older cars will likely go down from their peak values. Don't think there will ever come a time someone won't value any sports or muscle car. So we should buy what we like and enjoy!

vettebuyer6369

I think one problem is the ‘79 was the largest production point in the car’s series, driving down their value and the ‘78s. The 80-82 suffer the end of the production run, low performance market blues, with the computer in 81 and TBI in 82 not helping things at all. Finally, the ‘77s flat rear window design might give it a hair more nostalgia, accounting for a slight advantage over the later rubber bumper car market.

I see the (73) 74-82 market staying pretty comparable and level for the time being. Even the chrome bumper cars aren’t really selling all that strongly right now; my opinion is that series would have to show significant improvement before the rubber bumper cars follow suit.

L-46man

Touching on what our moderator says (sort of) If the C-8 comes out north of $100K....then 'the rising tide will raise all boats'.

PS They don't make Poncho's anymore either...but they still make Corvettes.

unka

vettebuyer6369

While I generally agree with our great former president’s quote, I didn’t say, nor do I believe that the C8s price will help rubber bumper values. I believe an increase in 68-72 values will “raise the boats” of 73-82 cars. Purely IMO, of course.

TommyFox

They have stayed the same for 20 years from owning some and looking recently. There are just too many out there still. Exceptions are very low mileage ones and nicely done modded cars depending on years. It's a bright side if you ask me common folk can still afford something you don't see much. It's crazy what new cars are costing these days as compared to salaries that don't reflect prices.

L-46man

Individual experiences may vary......I have a 1982 Collectors Edition with 18,500 miles. I've had it 3.5 years now....It's 'worth' 2x what I bought it for...

Buy low and keep it!

CE's range fro $9500 for 'fer-shizzle' ones to 39k for the 'plastic wrapped' 500 milers.

Go out an price a Chevy pickup....holy moly! Talk about markup! Since when did a $17,000 pickup become a $60,000 pick up?....man those are some expensive USB ports!

unka

Fast81

GLAD they are cheap - i can afford my whole bucket list !!!!!!

as far as value, my executor can worry about that

Big2Bird

I think rubber bumper cars are a bargain, and bargains dont last forever.
That being said, my crystal ball died years ago.

brassplyer

I was tickled to discover that C3's are relatively affordable since I've always considered them to be the slickest car design of all time. I was fortunate to find a bargain on one that's very intact and has the performance deficit issue solved with a crate motor that's much stronger than what came in an '80 originally and I like the fastback lines. And I found it locally without having to go through the drill of trailering.

Bikespace

If you are worried about the sales price of a vinyl bumper C3 before you buy one, perhaps you have the wrong hobby. They made a lot of them, many of them were well cared for and lived in garages their whole life, and now there are still a lot of them around, so supply is high. The Trans-Am example was more likely to be abused and left outside. There are likely far fewer of them total left around, and a lot are in rough shape. Supply is low for those.

So C3s are a bargain now. Perhaps they stay that way. Perhaps they appreciate slowly with inflation (a nice vinyl bumper car costs about the same as it did new nearly 40 years ago). Unless you flip the car, or don't otherwise spend a dime on them, you will likely be upside-down immediately.

Buy the car to enjoy it! That is priceless.

derekderek

The problem is the Corvette by 68 was obviously special and collectable. Very few got junked compared to the steel cars that had the rear fenders rust out. So there are so many bad condition C3's out there depressing the market. I am proud owner of 1 of them.

Iceaxe

X2

And the decision wouldn't even be close. Nice "Bandit Era" Trans-Ams at a good price are hard to find. 78-82 Corvette's not so hard.

KingRat

"Back in the day"...is the key phrase. Most of those really nice F-bodies have rotted away. '78-'82 vettes are plentiful and not much distinguishes them from each other.

Miccara

Ahhhh... I like my C3. I think 3's are one of the nicest Vettes ever built, especially with rubber bumpers!

bazza77

That is a beautiful C3 , love the stance

derekderek

I dunno. I think a leetle overpriced... https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d...834202871.html

av81

Back in the late 70's and early 80's only young guys drove vettes as daily drivers the older guys kept them as second cars in garages , all the t/a's and mustangs ect were daily drivers rotting away and getting crashed leaving them alot more rare today and worth money , the vettes are plentyfull thats why the cost is lower , I remember one bud totaling a brand new turbo t/a with less than 2k miles on it back when it was new I always drove vettes back then had new 79,80,81,82 ,85,87,88 I miss those days I could not even think about buying new so back in a 81