I think we can survive this.

 

IMO, much depends on your plans for the car. All things being equal, the 68-72 years will be more valuable in the long run if you plan to keep it relatively stock. If you plan on a resto-mod, then I would suspect the rubber bumper cars would be more cost effective, especially if you plan on upgrading the engine. Either way, these are fun cars that were well ahead of their time and are relatively easy to work on for the back yard mechanic. For my own likes, the earlier years are a more balanced look as the layter years added some more length on the front of a car that didn't need it. On the other hand, I like the look of the 80-82 cars in the back.

 

The truth is, the entire generation of C3 Corvettes is 90% the same car. Minor cosmetic differences across the time period. Interiors changed slightly in 77. Many parts are interchangeable,....proving they are all the same car. Also......everything continously improved each year on the car, in terms of design, etc.

As for looks......its a personal thing. I personally like them all.......but my favorite years are 69 and 73. In 73 the chrome bumper on the back, the side view of the car has a short rear end......and then with the rubber nose....the front end looks longer....and I think the contrast is obvious and makes it look very special. I also like the final years with the shovel nose. Underneath.....almost the same car......the differences are minor.

I also think 77 had the most of the best features. There are lots of details each year,....making each one unique. You can't go wrong with any of them. Please don't buy the car as an "investment"......buy it to drive.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong here (AND I know somebody here will) but I believe the '68s have an issue with finding available parts compared to the later years. That issue alone would not make it the best year to buy.

 

Exactly......

Besides my liking the looks of the last years, I am rather tall, not small, and have big feet...I could never fit in or drive a chrome bumper car, it wasn't until the last years with their glass sun roofs yielding more head room, larger floor board/ foot area, and I can't drive a stick because my left knee hits the tilt or blinker levers... So my "preferred" car is a late C3 with and Auto trans because I drive mine...often.... And I also Like the 73 for over all looks....

60

 

Its true for finding quality built parts, especially electrical switches, but its true of all years as repops are mostly crap. Some 68 only parts are available as 66 or 67 parts but again, 68 only parts can be pricey if there are repops

 

This...

 

Yes and no.....Parts are available, but not as easy as picking up the phone and ordering from a parts house in some cases depending on the part. It also depends on how original you want it to be, other year parts fit, just not "correct" for '68.

I would never suggest passing on a '68 because you have trouble finding an OEM part when most cars are modified anyway. Having a' 63 Split Window Coupe shares the same situation , I would not pass on it either.
Just depends on what you want.

 

for sure!

 

It really comes down to, Which one do YOU like the best.
As stated above, they are all pretty much the same car. And although the latter ones left the factory with less power, 40 - 46 years later very few are still in this state.
Which one do YOU like!

 

What are your goals?

1980 is the best year to actually drive. And 79 is the best looking year that doesn't have chrome bumpers.

 

No chance of a raucous debate! The answer to your question is intuitively obvious to the most casual observer .

 

I agree that green 73 is very nice>>>>lol

 

You are correct, I just had a bad camera angle in taking that photo! lol

 

When it comes to Corvette, what is the definition of Prefered? I prefer different than others and as the years tick by the newer C3 seeme to gain more prefered due to the older generation C3 require a little more tune up knowlege

 

I know this has already been said, but the 'preferred years' are what YOU prefer. IMO, however, if you look past the biases that that folks tend to have for whatever year they have, in general, the chrome bumper cars 68-72 are the most desirable and expensive (and will always be) with '73 being a love/hate kind of deal with that federally-mandated rubber front bumper - but certainly (the '73 is) still more valuable than the 74-82 model years. I've been pricing Corvettes since I was a kid, and that's what I've noticed.

That's made obvious by looking at the prices the early C3's fetch over the 74-82 C3's - simple economics of supply and demand. More people demand the chrome bumper cars, and are voting with their wallets. Personally, I have a '69, but I also love the 80-82 cars, but for me it's not about bias, as even within the 68-72 years, I narrowed it down even further.

When I was looking for my 69, I was only looking for '69 or '70 model year 4-speed convertible, as those are the high horsepower years, along with a lot of kinks ironed out from the 68 year. I wasn't even considering anything over '72 model year.

Just as it's easy to tell that early C3's are more valuable than the everyday C4 gen, it's pretty obvious where buyers are putting their money, if they can justify and afford - the early C3's. Doesn't mean that the later C3's are any less of a car, if you take stock performance out of the equation. It's just the way it is. Even amongst the later C3 fans, some will prefer the bubble window cars over the mid-year C3's straight back window, and visa-versa. Every year has its fan base for one reason or another.

If I actually had room for another Vette (I have a C4 vert as well), I would be looking for an 80-82 to complete the collection.

If investment is your bag (as far as cars go), then buy the nicest example of a chrome bumper C3 you can afford -small block, or big block. If that isn't a priority, then buy the year you like best and can afford, and have fun.

 

The one that floats your boat when you see it.
Seriously. If you find a green 76 that you see yourself in, then that is the one. If you find a numbers matching bumper car that makes your heart go pitter patter, then that is the one.
They are not an investment as in you are not going to be rich if you sell it in 10 years, but, as long as its still in good shape that appeals to the majority of people, you shouldnt lose the initial investment. What you do to it in the meantime is the cost of ownership.

 

73-77 would be my choice .. best bang for the buck . You can buy a very decent one for 16 to 18k .

 

80 Rules!

 

70 and 71