I’ve been watching with great curiosity what seems to be a growing trend and renewed acceptance of major body modifications on C3s. L88 flares, tall hoods, and other body kits in particular. It brings to mind the C2 customization craze in the late 60s when it seemed half the cars in town (Detroit suburbs) had 6 taillights, radiused wheel arches and deleted front bumpers. Then it was C3s with flares, hooker side exhausts, fixed headlights and station wagon conversions. A few years later a new industry emerged specializing in reversing these mods and the restoration aftermarket followed suit.
I know trends and fads come and go, but this time it feels a little different. There seems to be a certain fatalism regarding the value of these cars and that because current retail prices are depressed and demand is low we might as well get our automotive design freak on and cut em up. What also seems a bit different this time around is an attitude of “who cares if it has no market value” when it’s completed. As if the car is disposable and using it up is part of the buzz. Personally, I LOVE THIS and hope that if this IS a thing, it gains momentum. We need a new generation to create demand for the C3 that invests in and learns about them. If that new market scraps half the current remaining supply of unmodified C3s all the better because nothing drives prices better than scarcity. Feel free to flame away.

Ken

 

There are plenty of pristine restorations out there. Even if half of them were turned into restomods, there would STILL be a **** ton of them. Fact is, values aren't "currently" depressed on base model small block cars and rubber bumper cars...they've ALWAYS been depressed. They made a crap ton of them and it is ridiculous to look at a car like that as an investment. Doesn't matter how rare they get, those versions will never be all that valuable. Rare doesn't mean valuable. Hence, make it what you want. That doesn't make it disposable...it makes it more valuable to the person who currently owns it, rather than some random person at some random point in the future who might, maybe, be interested in it.

 

I applaud your enthusiasm CSIROCZ. There’s no need to be defensive. I think you misunderstood my position. Your reasoning is perfectly acceptable. I fully support what you are doing and hope many others follow your lead. Heck I want to send you saws-all blades and cutoff wheels. It’s the same rationale that prevailed in the late 60s & early 70s when base model C2s were considered, plentiful, relatively inexpensive and expendable for customization. You can’t touch a decent stock one today under $30K.
So, do your thing, I’ll do mine, and in another 20-30 years we’ll all know how it turns out.

Peace,
Ken

 

I prefer modified C2 and C3 Vettes far more than original. These body styles just beg to be customized.

Give me flares, Firebird tails, spoilers, tall L88 hoods, metal flake, and lots of HP!

 

Not being defensive. Simply pointing out the obvious. The C2 market in the midst of its depreciation curve near it’s build date has no relevance to the C3 market 50 years after they were built. If they were going to become as hot as C2s, they would have by now. They never will.

You’re better off comparing C5 and C6s to that C2 trend than the C3. Though that is the laughable thing about many Corvette owners...thinking their Everyman Car is something special. It’s specifically designed and built not to be. It’s for the masses. It’s only special to you, so make it your own. C2 was the anomaly...not the norm.

PS, my car isn’t cut up. It’s a pretty darn close to stock SB auto car at the moment...