late year c3 value?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,514
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Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
I paid $6800 for my '78 last year. I used it as a daily driver all last summer. It did need a tuneup and a tach board. I know it's not in the years you had listed but it'll give you 1 example at least.
Scott
Scott
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,052
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From: Tulsa OK
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (Scott78)
thatnks...my reason for asking is because im interested in getting a later model c3 for a daily driver. even though i dont have the $$$ for it....but its a vette, so who cares about $$$ :smash: :yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
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From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
Those years are really at the bottom of the barrel price wise right now. I would say stay away from anything under $6K. You can get a REALLY nice one for about $10K-$12K.
I don't care how much my '79 is worth. It's priceless to me. :D
I don't care how much my '79 is worth. It's priceless to me. :D
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 315
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From: Brushton NY
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
I just got rid of a 79 with 66000 miles on it. Interior was brand new motor was rebuilt, car was in excellent shape: $9000.00
I just went down to NJ and picked up an 82/Loaded 2 tone/....22,800 original miles..1 owner car: documented/ the front & rear bumper were faded so I painted the entire car: I have $ 13,500.00 in the vehicke total. I can drive it for 4-5 years ...5000 miles ayear, turn around and sell it for at least half of what I have into it...Hope this helps..
BTW spend a little more and get someone elses $$ and sweat it's cheaper in the long run.. :seeya
I just went down to NJ and picked up an 82/Loaded 2 tone/....22,800 original miles..1 owner car: documented/ the front & rear bumper were faded so I painted the entire car: I have $ 13,500.00 in the vehicke total. I can drive it for 4-5 years ...5000 miles ayear, turn around and sell it for at least half of what I have into it...Hope this helps..
BTW spend a little more and get someone elses $$ and sweat it's cheaper in the long run.. :seeya
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
Check out http://www.vetteweb.com
They have a pricing guide that's divided into categories (although I'm durned if I can figure out what category mine is . . . 2 with new paint maybe) :confused:
Also, the companion Vette magazine article quotes one dealer as saying there's a lot of interest in the 80-82 models right now. Perhaps people are discovering they make great daily drivers...I dunno :cheers:
They have a pricing guide that's divided into categories (although I'm durned if I can figure out what category mine is . . . 2 with new paint maybe) :confused:
Also, the companion Vette magazine article quotes one dealer as saying there's a lot of interest in the 80-82 models right now. Perhaps people are discovering they make great daily drivers...I dunno :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
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Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
Just a thought, but here in Texas - cars over 25 yrs. old are emissions 'exempt'.....so you might want to check on OK laws ?!?
.....real nice late-70's models go pretty cheap, too and you'll have better gearing & power. (at least you can tweak 'em for more power :D )
.....real nice late-70's models go pretty cheap, too and you'll have better gearing & power. (at least you can tweak 'em for more power :D )
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,177
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From: Tuscaloosa, al , us
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
Around here one in good shape goes for about 10,000. I have seen some that were less and some that were more , but this is about the average. Always remeber on a C3, if you pay between 5,000 and 10,000 you can always get your money back.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 774
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From: Palatine IL
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
Engine option makes a difference. The L-82 will cost more. I have seen mint '80 L-82's sell between $15k - $20k.
Average price for a 1980 driver is around $12.
Average price for a 1980 driver is around $12.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 951
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From: NW Burbs IL
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
I bought my '81 two years ago for $10K and it had 37K original miles on it at the time. It was in very good original condition. I've seen similar condition '80 and '81 Vettes go for $12K and $13K in the Chicago 'burbs since then. I agree with the others though, spend a few bucks more and avoid the headaches of having your Vette off the road for extended periods of time. Good luck!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,052
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From: Tulsa OK
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (page62)
Check out http://www.vetteweb.com
They have a pricing guide that's divided into categories
They have a pricing guide that's divided into categories
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Baja Oregon
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
Well, I paid $10,500 for my '81 a couple months ago, and feel I got a reasonable deal. Fairly low miles, decent interior, mechanically sound, and about $6k worth of custom paint and wheels.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,386
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From: far, far away
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
Paid $11k for my '81 in '93, when it had 65k miles on it. In retrospect, I probably should not have paid more than $10k for it. But it was an all-original car, with a 4-speed (rare for '81), a gorgeous bright yellow color, original lacquer paint, leather, cassette with CB, nearly every option except cruise, even the V54 T-top/luggage racks. It was a trade-in at a Chevy dealer for a new '93, and they were firm on $11k, and I had been looking for a sharp '80-'81 4-speed car for over a year, so I bit.
If I had known half as much then about C3's as I do now, I would have gotten the price down by at least $1000, maybe as much as $3000, by doing these:
1) dip out a little brake fluid and show everybody how brown it is, from the rust in the brake calipers and/or the master cylinder, all of which needed replacing.
2) take the seller/salesman for a test drive, including going through a carwash, whereupon we both would have gotten wet, because the weatherstripping was shot.
3) had them remove both rear wheels so we could check out the rear wheel bearings and U-joints, all of which were on their last legs.
Yep... with all that, I think I could've gotten the car for $9k or less.
Good luck! :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 11:37 AM 3/27/2002]
If I had known half as much then about C3's as I do now, I would have gotten the price down by at least $1000, maybe as much as $3000, by doing these:
1) dip out a little brake fluid and show everybody how brown it is, from the rust in the brake calipers and/or the master cylinder, all of which needed replacing.
2) take the seller/salesman for a test drive, including going through a carwash, whereupon we both would have gotten wet, because the weatherstripping was shot.
3) had them remove both rear wheels so we could check out the rear wheel bearings and U-joints, all of which were on their last legs.
Yep... with all that, I think I could've gotten the car for $9k or less.
Good luck! :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 11:37 AM 3/27/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
I paid $12k for a 40k original mile '80 with a 4 speed. But there was absolutely nothing wrong with this car, it had $4k in upgrades, almost perfect original paint and interior, full history (invoice, receipts since new), plus all original parts including the tires. On the other hand, I have a slightly used '79 with a 4 speed for sale for $6500. It runs great, but the interior does show a little wear and it has been repainted. It seems to me that it costs far more to make a cheaper car as nice as a more expensive car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,305
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From: Orlando,Fl,USA
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
!977, L48, auto, 61,000 on odo. (probably 161K) $5,100 back in 1997. Put in another $7,000 over the years. So what is it worth to me? A daily dependable driver at this piont with new motor,trans, rear, A/C and every other thingamagic that spun, clicked & chattered. Needs paint & interior soon. More $$$$???? :smash:
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 164
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From: Doylestown PA
Re: '79, '80, '81 value???? (ZiVvmO)
I bought my '82 w/ 19,500 mi. in '87 for $14K. I was a kid at 21 and sold my pro street '70 Camaro for some really good change.
I remember (very clearly) seeing an article around '87 in VETTE magazine predicting future prices for 'vettes. The 1982 models were predicted to be selling for $30K-40K by 2000. The collectors series were predicted at around $50K. Whoops! Yeah the '82s were the last of the sharks and in much lower production in a new facility, but they missed the dart board all together. Nice '80-'82s can be had for $9K-$14K.
I remember (very clearly) seeing an article around '87 in VETTE magazine predicting future prices for 'vettes. The 1982 models were predicted to be selling for $30K-40K by 2000. The collectors series were predicted at around $50K. Whoops! Yeah the '82s were the last of the sharks and in much lower production in a new facility, but they missed the dart board all together. Nice '80-'82s can be had for $9K-$14K.