What happened with this auction?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 175
Likes: 188
From: Puget Sound, WA
What happened with this auction?
I’m just starting to understand the market for a C3 and stumbled across this listing on eBay for a 69 427 L68 that looked at first glance to be a real opportunity:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12446875830...p2471758.m4704
Body and interior seem very good, engine appears original, two tops and original side exhaust, surface rust underneath but nothing horrifying, and documentation. Yet bidding ended at $21K which seems quite surprising. Was it bad luck that real buyers didn’t see the auction, a known shady dealer, or is there something apparent to experts that scared buyers away? Not that I would buy based on photos alone of course. Just curious what folks think.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12446875830...p2471758.m4704
Body and interior seem very good, engine appears original, two tops and original side exhaust, surface rust underneath but nothing horrifying, and documentation. Yet bidding ended at $21K which seems quite surprising. Was it bad luck that real buyers didn’t see the auction, a known shady dealer, or is there something apparent to experts that scared buyers away? Not that I would buy based on photos alone of course. Just curious what folks think.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22,717
Likes: 798
From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
Down at the bottom was this note:
It was likely sold at the dealership.
Notice to Bidders:
We reserve the right to cancel all bids and end the auction early should the vehicle no longer be available for sale. NOTE: All of our eBay inventory is available for sale at our dealership. We will end auctions early should a vehicle be sold at the dealership.
We reserve the right to cancel all bids and end the auction early should the vehicle no longer be available for sale. NOTE: All of our eBay inventory is available for sale at our dealership. We will end auctions early should a vehicle be sold at the dealership.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 934
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
That car has been for sale for a while and has a lot of issues given the $86k asking price by the dealer!! I would be shocked if someone bought it....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 934
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Also, when a car is for sale on ebay by a dealer most buyers go to the dealers website to see what the asking price is or message the seller through ebay. With the asking price so high on this car it probably slowed down the number of bids.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,103
Likes: 802
From: Massapequa Park NY
Nobody is paying anywhere near 80k for that car. I see no documentation other than a photocopy of a dealer invoice which means absolutely nothing. The car is a nice driver but is not in any kind of show condition. The car might sell for around 60k if it has a tank sticker hidden on the tank. Higher than that and you are in L71 territory.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Ebay says the reserve was not met. I would not and have not bid on any ebay auctions with a reserve. Too many games and chicken bidding going on. Likely just fishing and not really serious about selling.
Condition:
Used
Ended:
Dec 09, 2020 , 1:18PM
Current bid:
US $21,200.00
Reserve not met
[ [url=https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/124468758300?item=124468758300&rt=nc&_tr ksid=p2047675.l2565]18 bids ]
Condition:
Used
Ended:
Dec 09, 2020 , 1:18PM
Current bid:
US $21,200.00
Reserve not met
[ [url=https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/124468758300?item=124468758300&rt=nc&_tr ksid=p2047675.l2565]18 bids ]
Last edited by 20mercury; Dec 9, 2020 at 08:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,149
Likes: 284
From: cary Il
The L-68s are rare cars, less made ( by over 3000 ) than the L-71s, there are very few original tri-power motors around, more so for convertibles
the only cars more rare in 68-9 are the L-88 and L-89, I bet there was only 500 or less 68-9 L68 convertibles built.
the only cars more rare in 68-9 are the L-88 and L-89, I bet there was only 500 or less 68-9 L68 convertibles built.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
I had a 69' 427/400......there were 2122 of these made and 800 of them were convertibles like mine.....
It was actually a Vert with A/C too......and apparently quite desirable....I sold it here on the forum after being available for a week. The new owner did a outstanding restore on it and sold it for 79k....
Jebby
It was actually a Vert with A/C too......and apparently quite desirable....I sold it here on the forum after being available for a week. The new owner did a outstanding restore on it and sold it for 79k....
Jebby
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 934
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
While the L68 had lower production that the L71, they do not bring as much as the 435 HP cars. The only exception if it is an L68 with AC and then you get closer on the values.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,103
Likes: 802
From: Massapequa Park NY
Also, there are quite a few of them out there for being low production and 50 years old. If they were so rare you wouldn’t see them around but there are always some to be found with the original engine. The L71 is way more desirable and they only made about 700 more cars than the L68. For that price, buyers will go for the L71.
Jebbysan is slightly incorrect on the production numbers. They made 2072 L68 cars in 69. It’s likely 40 percent were converts as that corresponds to the overall production numbers. In my opinion, as there are no numbers to back it up, the percentage of all the L68’s that had A/C is higher than other cars simply because it’s the highest HP car that could get AC and it seems like you see it way more often than with the 390hp cars, percentage wise.
In 68 they made 1932 L68 with the ratio of 2 to 1 converts to coupes in production. That is roughly 1300 roadsters made. So for both years that’s well over 2000 cars made.
Either way, nice car, just not worth anywhere near that price.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,103
Likes: 802
From: Massapequa Park NY
I had a 69' 427/400......there were 2122 of these made and 800 of them were convertibles like mine.....
It was actually a Vert with A/C too......and apparently quite desirable....I sold it here on the forum after being available for a week. The new owner did a outstanding restore on it and sold it for 79k....
Jebby
It was actually a Vert with A/C too......and apparently quite desirable....I sold it here on the forum after being available for a week. The new owner did a outstanding restore on it and sold it for 79k....
Jebby
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,117
Likes: 1,230
From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
That cars a mess underneath the hood and under side. There are screws missing and bent and melted components.
80k? Not.
Marshal
80k? Not.
Marshal
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
The place that was selling it has a pretty slick operation. Nice building and website.
https://www.classicautomall.com/
https://www.classicautomall.com/