dadgonebroke

First of all, this isn't my car and it's not currently for sale but the lady that my son works for has a gold 82 w/auto with 38k miles that has been sitting in her garage for the last 10+ years under a cover. She says it's time to go down the road and she's thinking- in her mind- that it should be worth $20-25k! The body is original paint 8+/10 and the interior is also very nice at 8/10. The problem is that after sitting so long, there are oil leaks everywhere .She wants to pull the motor and trans to fix the mass of leaks and then get her $25k. Me personally, without seeing the car, would say the car's worth maybe $8-10K but I don't want to be the messenger that brings her bad news. What do you guys think?

bazza77

Pictures of the car would be nice ?

Fast81

IF its an 82 Collectors Edition (gold color) with sitting that long plus all the known leaks, it is not worth much more then $6-8K.
It WLL need at least the following
tires, hoses, belts, filters, gaskets, weatherstriping, gas tank drain/clean, fuel line flush, radiator flush, TBI rebuild, total brake rebuild and prob most of the sensors replaced.
AND that's if the engine internals havent rusted enough to need a compete engine rebuild
Her $20-25K is a pipe dream as that price strata is reserved for under 10K miles museum pieces with every scrap of documentation laminated along with Top-tier show awards.................................. ....
If its not a CE, $4-6K.

rebuilding an 82 right now................................and have gone thru all the above

dadgonebroke

The kid texted me a couple pix.

'78CorvetteS.A.

Very rare color, should be paint code 56, 1 of 648 produced in '82! I'd love to have it, but not at anywhere near $20-25K!

interpon

If thatcar is as nice and original as stated zero rust..and only leaks...8-13k

Bikespace

Not a CE, but a very nice looking 82!

I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt she could farm out an engine refresh and end up with more profit than selling the car as-is.

What is your interest in this? If you or your son want the car, be truthful and up-front. Perhaps make an offer, and then back away, and wait for the market to "correct" her wild number. Beyond that, I don't see an easy way for your son to help her without hard feelings.

dadgonebroke

Neither my son nor I have any interest in the car. He simply works for her and it was her first car. He's going to hand her some internet links to the cars value as I told him not to be the bearer of bad tidings. She just feels that her first car with low mileage should be worth a bunch.

Bikespace

I think you have given your son very sound advice.

Mark G

That's a good way to handle it. Let her list it and see what happens.
It's worth what a buyer with cash will pay, and nobody here can say until it's sold. Someone might come along with the money and appreciate it for what it is. The leaks could be as simple as a drain plug and a steering ram. It doesn't sound like a thorough diagnosis was performed by anyone.

Thanks for sharing the pictures though. It's a nice looker from what I can see.

Easy Mike

She's going to be disappointed.

dadgonebroke

I told him to also have her change the oil and replace it with some of the current high mileage oil that help swell leaky old gaskets and seals and to drive it a bit.

L-46man

I have a CE...yet it's a nice car non-the-less. Sorry but $10k MAX!!!!!!
You will have $5k into squaring it away and that is it's MAX Value.
Very nice rare color though...gold is coming back as a color.
2021 color so to speak.

All 82 C-3's were automatics with the 700-R4 tranny, which is a VERY pleasant tranny to drive.

$25k....on MARS if you could get it there!

Unkahal

stingr69

Don't try too hard to help her. It is not anywhere near that number. Half maybe.

If you really want a car, you should start by walking away from this one.

Mark G

Looks like original tires maybe...

general ike

Yeah sadly from my experience the "bearer of bad news" gets the blame and not just with Vettes. I have often times found that when you are the one that educates the seller for some reason they blame you for it. I have made offers for various items and the seller winds up selling it for less than my offer. When I ask them why they did not tell me they state that I was not interested!l

Luckily you are not in the market but your son should still tread lightly!!! Ike

Mark G

I wonder how many rakes-skis-yard equipment-etc has fallen on it, or scrapped against it over the years?!

dadgonebroke

My bet says not many as there is also a Ferrari and a Mercedes G Wagon in the garage and the owners don't "do" lawn work- if you know what I mean.

Easy Mike

And they don't look like they've been "sitting" for ten years.

ustabevetteguy

I really like that colour on that car. I'm not looking to buy but if I was this would make the short list at about 50% of $25k.