Originally Posted by Golfobsessed

Hello all, I have a simple unbiased question.

I have been looking for an early C3 convertible 4 speed car.
I know cars, old cars and corvettes, I am in the automotive collision, paint and restoration business and have been for 37 years so I am NOT looking for the paint, rust, trouble area, prior hit, authentic, take a professional answers.
I spent years doing PPIs for Vipers and Cobras, this is specific to early C3 small block corvettes, I've owned over 20 corvettes, currently own a C2 and C5 but haven't been involved in C3s since the late 80s/early 90s and find the values a bit strange and spread out for the same car.

I recently looked at a 69 350/300 4 speed monaco orange 46k original documented miles car, low option car but added PS, side pipes and hard top.
the body is no hit and 9/10 paint, interior is excellent, motor is detailed (havent heard it run as there is a carb issue being handled) but i do believe the motor runs excellent... very nice tops, all around needing nothing, the underside is not what you expect from the top side, it is original patina with some scaling but absolutely solid ( I would spend allot of time on my back under this car cleaning it up and the frame could use a rust encapsulate like POR15 or SEM Rust Seal... again solid but some surface scaling.

It will cost me almost $50k to buy and get the car home, i have been looking at 68-70 verts online and a few in person, i am finding like kind and quality in the $35-$40k range all being nice original well preserved or non frame off restored, low original miles, frankly most 350hp cars and most been for sale for a while... now I want PS and side pipes so not on all the other cars but I can add PS for $1000 and factory style side pipes for about $3000-$3500. I don't mind doing this at all as I added both to my 64 in a Saturday afternoon.

This car was restored the right way, high quality paint, seat upholstery etc but again underside original patina from mid west for almost 40 years of its original owner life. The car was not sperated from the frame, all body gaps good.

I feel the price is a bit high only in comparison to others out there, lots of early C3s out there for sale all over and again please no lectures on corvette value based on condition, authentic or you having a similar car and wanting it to be worth $100k... I am NOT comparing an all correct rare NCRS car to a rusted POS with a 76 station wagon 350 motor.

Would I be out of line making a much lower offer, should I move on to another car as I can add the things I want and still be about $10k plus in the positive, with the instability out there in the economy is $50k to my door too much for a 300hp small block car? Am I getting in big block territory now?
again I am trying to get unbiased thoughts, not from someone who wants top dollar for their car or someone looking to purchase one at the moment.



Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by SEVNT6

Believe this or not....Hagerty's Jan.'23 values on a '69 Roadster...

L48 in #2 excellent condition..$50,300. #3 good..$29,700.
L36 in #2..$49,200. #3..$30,300.

Every big block skyrockets after the L36....but still..

Originally Posted by grady white

just my opinion 50k too high for a small block . Maybe 30to 35k, unless it was an unmolested mint condition NCRS top flight winner ..

Originally Posted by Jebbysan

Has to be a typo......no WAY is an L-48 350 worth more than a 427/390.....not on this planet.

Originally Posted by grady white

no way have you ever asked where haggerty gets there pricing from

Originally Posted by Golfobsessed

thanks and it is not, body, paint and interior all very nice, engine bay is nice as well but smog equipment added and it never had it originally, underside untouched and shows age, bent leaf spring (car leans pretty heavy) won't be an NCRS car, cosmetically restored and documented 46k miles, stock L48 4 speed.
I wasn't feeling good about the purchase and mind is made up after all the feedback.

Originally Posted by vettebuyer6369

Im pretty sure all ‘69s had smog equipment.