81 c3 mecum auction
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Here's the link.
$40K is wishful thinking for a car that needs (at mininum) a new carb, dist, and manual transmission.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1099457/1...orvette-coupe/
$40K is wishful thinking for a car that needs (at mininum) a new carb, dist, and manual transmission.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1099457/1...orvette-coupe/
Last edited by Bikespace; Jan 6, 2024 at 04:03 PM.
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Le Mans Master
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From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Hagerty says $33,800 for a #1 perfect condition '81...
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 35
Likes: 30
From: Weatherford TX
The miles definitely drives the price but the paint scheme does too. It’s a stunning paint job in person and you don’t see many around. I own same car but my interior is dark red and I prefer that better than silver. I looked for quite a few yrs for this color and it is very elusive but finally I found one with 21k miles mint condition last yr but I get more chit chat over paint color than I expected. As most of us know there are no real records on two tone paint for the 81 yr but I think I would say with confidence the autumn red over dark claret was the least painted color scheme
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
The miles definitely drives the price but the paint scheme does too. It’s a stunning paint job in person and you don’t see many around. I own same car but my interior is dark red and I prefer that better than silver. I looked for quite a few yrs for this color and it is very elusive but finally I found one with 21k miles mint condition last yr but I get more chit chat over paint color than I expected. As most of us know there are no real records on two tone paint for the 81 yr but I think I would say with confidence the autumn red over dark claret was the least painted color scheme
Drifting
Joined: May 2022
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From: CA & ID
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Obviously everyone buys these for different reasons…clearly the extremely low mileage is a major factor for its price…but if you spend this much $$ for an 1100 mile car, would you drive it? I drive my ‘69 as much as I can, and it gets rock chips etc. (which is exactly why Chevy added the flares to the rear wheel wells on the ‘70). I also paid nowhere near $50k for it. My friends with awesome condition C2s hardly ever drive them, outside of shows.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Obviously everyone buys these for different reasons…clearly the extremely low mileage is a major factor for its price…but if you spend this much $$ for an 1100 mile car, would you drive it? I drive my ‘69 as much as I can, and it gets rock chips etc. (which is exactly why Chevy added the flares to the rear wheel wells on the ‘70). I also paid nowhere near $50k for it. My friends with awesome condition C2s hardly ever drive them, outside of shows.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 295
Likes: 104
From: Toronto Canada
It doesn't seem right, very odd. Maybe that's what makes it worth so much LOL
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 756
From: Laporte, IN
The interior color with the darker dash is standard. I know in 1973 if the interior was light or medium saddle the upper dash was dark saddle. This was due to lighter color had more reflectivity with light that could cause a blind spot for the driver. So the government mandated the darker colors.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 295
Likes: 104
From: Toronto Canada
I've searched the internet and found many grey interior cars from 1981 and I can't find any with a different colored dash than the interior. A unicorn or something doesn't jive. I would be interested if anybody can find anything to confirm that they were shipped from the factory with similar interior.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 295
Likes: 104
From: Toronto Canada
The only reasonable explanation would be that this was a very late production car and they ran out of the correct color dashes.
Since this is an early production car, it looks like they may have used an interior from a 1980? Or they had two different color Grays and got them mixed up.
Since this is an early production car, it looks like they may have used an interior from a 1980? Or they had two different color Grays and got them mixed up.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 35
Likes: 30
From: Weatherford TX
I think it’s the flash of the camera or Mabey they have light shining on the interior that gives it odd shade The interior option for that particular 2 tone paint is either dark red / silver grey my count number is 2900 and that places it 1st week in aug of 81. That vette 1120 so it earlier ,I cant see trim tag but if you read the info about car they claim it was built and painted in st Luis that not right easily figured out by vin number and besides all 2 tone paint in 81 was a 2 stage paint and that was bowling green only. But ya never know ? Mabey it is wrong dash those dang kids rolled a doob at lunch ,My car has l-82 tach so I’m sure it’s worth millions & millions.