1976 question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 946
Likes: 116
From: Panama City, Florida
1976 question
I'm looking at a 1976 coup automatic, 95k miles. Looks great, runs great. Needs a few minor things I can take care of. BUT, it has no AC. Everything has been removed. NADA say's 11k low retail, 15k avg retail and 27k high retail. I'm assuming that's with AC. I can probably get it for 10k. What ya think? Anyone added AC? How much?
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,863
From: Palm Springs, CA.
I'm glad you realize that now.
A quick search will show there are NO '76's bringing $27K .....in any condition. And "asking" isn't "selling". You can buy a pretty nice chrome bumper car or even a big block for that kind of money.
Go to eBay and check under the "Sold" category for 1976 Corvette. You'll find they're averaging about $8K.
A quick search will show there are NO '76's bringing $27K .....in any condition. And "asking" isn't "selling". You can buy a pretty nice chrome bumper car or even a big block for that kind of money.
Go to eBay and check under the "Sold" category for 1976 Corvette. You'll find they're averaging about $8K.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,068
Likes: 7,678
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
If EVERYTHING has been removed, Strange, most leave the controls and evaporator behind. But if all is gone or not worth saving you can purchase a "Vintage Air" kit.
Just google Vintage Air. you should be able to get a current price on a complete kit for your 76.
Keep in mind it's a big job.
If the controls are still there and working and the evaporator can be saved, Look at my "73-E77 Air-Con upgrade" thread.
Youd be looking at around 1,500 bucks give or take and a lot less work. But kid you not, still a fair bit of work.
How about finding a 74 - 77 with working Air-Con?
Just google Vintage Air. you should be able to get a current price on a complete kit for your 76.
Keep in mind it's a big job.
If the controls are still there and working and the evaporator can be saved, Look at my "73-E77 Air-Con upgrade" thread.
Youd be looking at around 1,500 bucks give or take and a lot less work. But kid you not, still a fair bit of work.
How about finding a 74 - 77 with working Air-Con?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 946
Likes: 116
From: Panama City, Florida
If EVERYTHING has been removed, Strange, most leave the controls and evaporator behind. But if all is gone or not worth saving you can purchase a "Vintage Air" kit.
Just google Vintage Air. you should be able to get a current price on a complete kit for your 76.
Keep in mind it's a big job.
If the controls are still there and working and the evaporator can be saved, Look at my "73-E77 Air-Con upgrade" thread.
Youd be looking at around 1,500 bucks give or take and a lot less work. But kid you not, still a fair bit of work.
How about finding a 74 - 77 with working Air-Con?
Just google Vintage Air. you should be able to get a current price on a complete kit for your 76.
Keep in mind it's a big job.
If the controls are still there and working and the evaporator can be saved, Look at my "73-E77 Air-Con upgrade" thread.
Youd be looking at around 1,500 bucks give or take and a lot less work. But kid you not, still a fair bit of work.
How about finding a 74 - 77 with working Air-Con?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,787
Likes: 3,182
From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
When I told him I was the original owner he was ready to go higher and he left his phone number if I ever change my mind..
BTW....Hagerty's July '22 value of a '76 L48 in #2 excellent condition is $18,200...
4-vettes is right....Vintage Air would be the way to go...
Last edited by SEVNT6; Aug 10, 2022 at 11:45 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,264
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From: Sussex,Wi
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I'm glad you realize that now.
A quick search will show there are NO '76's bringing $27K .....in any condition. And "asking" isn't "selling". You can buy a pretty nice chrome bumper car or even a big block for that kind of money.
Go to eBay and check under the "Sold" category for 1976 Corvette. You'll find they're averaging about $8K.
A quick search will show there are NO '76's bringing $27K .....in any condition. And "asking" isn't "selling". You can buy a pretty nice chrome bumper car or even a big block for that kind of money.
Go to eBay and check under the "Sold" category for 1976 Corvette. You'll find they're averaging about $8K.
A few weeks ago a guy offered me $18k cash for mine at a car show.
When I told him I was the original owner he was ready to go higher and he left his phone number if I ever change my mind..
BTW....Hagerty's July '22 value of a '76 L48 in #2 excellent condition is $18,200...
4-vettes is right....Vintage Air would be the way to go...
When I told him I was the original owner he was ready to go higher and he left his phone number if I ever change my mind..
BTW....Hagerty's July '22 value of a '76 L48 in #2 excellent condition is $18,200...
4-vettes is right....Vintage Air would be the way to go...
For a '76 driver w/manual transmission, I searched for over a year before I got mine back in June.
I paid $9.25k for mine, original asking was $12.5k. 76kk miles.
So far, I'm in to it for over $5k in improvements I've done myself excluding paint, and I got about
another $5k before I'm finished. So, about $20k invested, for a $10-15K car?
Whatever. It's worth what you're willing to pay, and how you want to use /improve it.
Automatics were running anywhere from $2k to $5k less than a manual in my area. I did not find any drive-able manuals' under $11k asking price,
and the ones I did find were big POSs'.
Plenty of autos' that met the drive-able (still needing $5k and up updates) criteria for $7k and up. Complete junkers in the $3-5k range.
There were a few 76s available in the $25k to $35k range, but they're not selling. These were pristine condition/restored cars.
As greg said ,this year just doesn't bring that kind of money. Yet.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 805
Likes: 260
I'm glad you realize that now.
A quick search will show there are NO '76's bringing $27K .....in any condition. And "asking" isn't "selling". You can buy a pretty nice chrome bumper car or even a big block for that kind of money.
Go to eBay and check under the "Sold" category for 1976 Corvette. You'll find they're averaging about $8K.
A quick search will show there are NO '76's bringing $27K .....in any condition. And "asking" isn't "selling". You can buy a pretty nice chrome bumper car or even a big block for that kind of money.
Go to eBay and check under the "Sold" category for 1976 Corvette. You'll find they're averaging about $8K.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 41
From: Chehalis, WA
Damn, that is one beautiful car. I'm guessing your paint alone was a pretty penny. Love the color.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,801
Likes: 4,421
From: Virginia
For $11K, that car needs to be mint. For a typical automatic that needs everything, $8K tops. If it ALSO needs paint, $4K tops.
Post some photos! If you really love this car, and don't mind dumping the selling price again into fixing it up, make sure it is rust free.
Post some photos! If you really love this car, and don't mind dumping the selling price again into fixing it up, make sure it is rust free.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 41
From: Chehalis, WA
As with most anything, price is quite subjective.
For a '76 driver w/manual transmission, I searched for over a year before I got mine back in June.
I paid $9.25k for mine, original asking was $12.5k. 76kk miles.
So far, I'm in to it for over $5k in improvements I've done myself excluding paint, and I got about
another $5k before I'm finished. So, about $20k invested, for a $10-15K car?
Whatever. It's worth what you're willing to pay, and how you want to use /improve it.
Automatics were running anywhere from $2k to $5k less than a manual in my area. I did not find any drive-able manuals' under $11k asking price,
and the ones I did find were big POSs'.
Plenty of autos' that met the drive-able (still needing $5k and up updates) criteria for $7k and up. Complete junkers in the $3-5k range.
There were a few 76s available in the $25k to $35k range, but they're not selling. These were pristine condition/restored cars.
As greg said ,this year just doesn't bring that kind of money. Yet.
For a '76 driver w/manual transmission, I searched for over a year before I got mine back in June.
I paid $9.25k for mine, original asking was $12.5k. 76kk miles.
So far, I'm in to it for over $5k in improvements I've done myself excluding paint, and I got about
another $5k before I'm finished. So, about $20k invested, for a $10-15K car?
Whatever. It's worth what you're willing to pay, and how you want to use /improve it.
Automatics were running anywhere from $2k to $5k less than a manual in my area. I did not find any drive-able manuals' under $11k asking price,
and the ones I did find were big POSs'.
Plenty of autos' that met the drive-able (still needing $5k and up updates) criteria for $7k and up. Complete junkers in the $3-5k range.
There were a few 76s available in the $25k to $35k range, but they're not selling. These were pristine condition/restored cars.
As greg said ,this year just doesn't bring that kind of money. Yet.
PS: I drove the car 70 miles and back to a show this weekend, and it didn't miss a beat. Received lots of nice comments on it. Wife asked if I was sure the old crate would make it there and back. "****** A".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,390
Likes: 1,225
From: Tampa Florida
Grady, you have a beautiful '75 Corvette. You were lucky to have found such a car in like new condition.
I remember when you didn't want to pay $22K, aren't you glad you bought it?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-valve-2.html
I remember when you didn't want to pay $22K, aren't you glad you bought it?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-valve-2.html