My favorites are the '66 and '67, but I bought my '81 as it was in perfect shape and a one owner. After owning it f/ awhile, I realized it had acouple of the best options of the C3 era, ie; the single fiberglass leaf spring, the front spoiler which from what I understand helps keep the front end on the ground over 100 mph. The body, IMO, is atleast as nice looking as the other C3 models. Why it would be less desirable than the other C3 models I have no idea. W/ a more powerful engine, my '81 will be a keeper f/ sure.

 

Now now.......Least desirable are the early C4's. They are for sale like grass clippings around here, 5 to 1 over the late model C3's and usually half the price. I think the 80 -82's are the best looking C3's, but I also beleive your age kind of steers this.

 

You hit the nail on the head Max. Years ago I asked an older friend of mine why people love the midyears so much. He told me it is usually because the people who love them so much grew up with them.

When I was growing up a Vette was a C3.

 

Excellent taste in color Jim

 

JLinNY, I had to laugh when you told Max he had hit the nail on the head as to a person being partial to the year 'Vettes that one grew up w/. As a kid, I was in love w/ the cars of the hi-po muscle era, before the smog pump and the lowering of compression in American Mfg's engines. IMO, what was tougher than the mid '60s Stingrays w/ the 327/365. I remember them smoking the tires and getting a big second gear w/ the rear squatting, and to me, nothing was more cool than that. Charlie DeVito had a red '66 Stringray w/ white interior and a white convert. top. It had a 327 in it and THAT was the car of my dreams. I remember it like it was yesterday.

And thank you f/ the comp. on the color.

 

I remember walking through a mall and they had the Vette, the first one without a rear spoiler and thinking they just ruined the Corvette. The rear spoiler suddenly re-appeared years later molded into the body along with a different front nose.

When I was out looking for a Vette I was only interested in the 1980 model, chrome bumper Vettes are worth more but I actually like the 80-82 body better that any other C3. I don't believe the Vettes after the chrome bumpers and before 1980 are worth any more

 

The 80-82 cars, in all fairness, are partly a victim of the times. I am not putting the cars down at all. To each his own.

The fact is, the 80-82 are not as desireable collector or restoration cars as other years.

It has nothing to do with styling. They are beautiful. No doubt about it. And the advent of the fiberglass rear spring was a step forward.

The L82 engine started life in 1971 or so with 250 hp, and ended its run in 1981 with 230 hp. 10 years of development with no progress.

81 was the finale for the L-82. It could not be mated to a 4-speed, as the manual gearbox was offered only with the base engine.

The speedometer in all cars read to a maximum of 85 mph, mandated by a new and controversial federal law.

The car lost all vestige of being a muscle or sports car. Air conditioning became standard, as did the tilt-telescopic steering column, power windows, exterior sport mirrors, and the convenience group. The front suspension was detuned to make more mushy and loose steering. A far cry from the earlier "feel the road" sensation.

Convenience group included power seats and mirrors were optional.

Essentially, an underpowered, cramped and small Cadillac.

New was an optional roof panel carrier that would mount to the rear fastback deck. Many weight-saving components were introduced including thinner body panels and an aluminum Dana 44 Independent Rear Suspension differential and crossmember.

The new lighter unit replaced the stronger cast iron GM 10 bolt differential. In line with further weight savings, the aluminum intake manifold associated with L-82 engines since 1978 was now installed in all cars.

For the first time, due to California emission considerations, a unique engine was installed in cars delivered to that state and was mandatory. This motor was a 305 cu in V8 engine rated at 180 hp, fitted with new tubular stainless steel exhaust manifolds, and mated to an automatic transmission, also mandatory.

The carburetor and ignition timing were controlled by Chevrolet’s new Computer Command Control system. The smaller displacement engine was not available in any other state. California buyers were credited $50 as consolation but had to pay for the California emissions certification which was $250. For comparison, the L-48 350 cu in engine, standard in the other 49 states, was rated at 190 hp. The base price increased four times during the model year raising the cost of the car by more than $1,200 to $14,345,24.

The 81 , no manual , gets slightly better mpg than 78-80, but weak engine. There was only one powerplant available, a 350 cu in engine that, like the L-48 base engine the previous year, produced 190 hp, but was now designated the L81. The motor was certified in all states and available with manual or automatic transmissions

The 82 was first to have the 700R4 Overdrive tranny.It gets another 3-4 mpg but again, Crossfire motor is also very weak

Many guys jump into an 80-82 Vette because they are plentiful and inexpensive when compared to their earlier or later counterparts.

I mean, after all, it IS a Vette.

80-82 got caught in the technology gap and the folks at GM just didn't know what to do with the car.

The stock engine bay of an 81 is one busy place:

http://www.vettefinders.com/carphoto...f_DSC01971.JPG

 

Many guys jump into an 80-82 Vette because they are plentiful and inexpensive when compared to their earlier or later counterparts.


Yeah the 74-79 and especially the '84 Vette are worth thousands more

 

I understand and know all of your points, but some are out of context. Lately there are a ton of threads about restoring or fixing late model C3's, and I think it is because like me, thats what they wanted when they were looking. Not because they are plentiful and cheap, I could have bought a number of 74-77 cars cheaper many times but wanted an 80-81 car. And my steering is quick and precise. My car has the Gymkhana FE7 suspension and handles great. It has steel rear springs, 550 lb front springs and sway bars fore and aft. Very agressive handling, it takes nothing to fly through a corner with no body roll. And there is no sloppiness at all in the steering, stock rebuilt system. The L81 motor was a thinly disguised L-48 nothing less. It is very easy to squeeze more ponies out of. It had more torque but less HP than an L-82 in earlier models. I have had mine way past triple digits many times, they will run. The rear gear is more limiting than the motor for quickness. I love the ergonomics, perfect for me. I can't see any reason not to call it an upgrade from the early models because that is exactly what it is. I have put poly bushings on the car, It is so much better now, but that was because the old 30 year old bushings were shot. And in '72 they went from gross to net HP so there is not much difference if any in the L-82 HP from year to year, they were all pretty much 225-230 the whole time. You state a lot of things like comfort as a negative, I find them as upgrades and a HUGE positive! I like all C3's but drive an 81 because thats the year I graduated from High school and I love the look, feel and everything about it, and what I didn't like I changed, and will continue to do so. I am a Late Model C3 fan to the core regardless how some interpret the cars. They are just plain Sexy, Sports Cars, that with a little imagination and elbow grease can hang with anyting out there.

 

Ahhhh. The old my chrome bumper car is the shiznit and your plastic Vette is for poor wannabe folk argument! LOL

Funny how the government mandated Net/Gross HP evaluation changes are always forgotten by the old steel bumper guys.

You know, my dad has a 1937 Plymouth. It has chrome bumpers too. What a step forward GM took in 30+ years with design and engineering.

I bought the year of car that I like, not what others percieve as better.

 

You may actually be right about that.

I ran across this article while surfing that is pretty interesting.

http://corvettes.about.com/od/history/a/C4_Profile.htm

Fact is, I really don't pay much attention to anything after 82. Although the new Team Jake car is pretty awesome.

 

I'm no big 'Vette historian, but I feel that the up-grades, the single fiberglass leaf and the front spoiler that keeps the car stuck to the road over 100mph or so are positives. I look at the C3s as pretty much being all the same, w/ the exception of the '68 thru '70, as they had the performance engines of the real performance era w/ the higher compression and therefore big HP and torque. IMO, the chrome bumpers also represent the styling of the earlier 'Vette. '71 thru '82 'Vettes are, IMO, super similar and I have never seen any big difference in performance among those years, either in handling or power. Not because I own an '81, but looking at the Corvette from "71 thru '82, I'd rather have the one w/ the single leaf and the front spolier, as these two options are big sellers in the after market world f/ obvious reasons. I'm a big fan of the C2, as, like one of the members "hit the nail on the head," I grew up w/ the mid '60s 'Vettes. I bought my '81 because it was in perfect shape and bought new by my father-in-law, and I knew how he took care of things, like his life depended on it. The car over time grew on me. I've taken all the smog devices off, disconnected the little computer and went to all mechanical, w/ afew after market components. It runs ALOT stronger and the engine still burns NO oil, doesn't smoke or anything else. Infact, I removed the belts looking f/ a squeeking noise, which turned out to be the water pump, and the engine, running w/o any belts/spinning components, is next to silent, so quiet I couldn't believe it. In the future, I'm going to build a performance engine f/ it, and IMO I'll then have a REAL Corvette, as I feel that the handling, braking, etc. is up to snuff w/ today's sports cars and w/ a bunch of HP and torque, I'll hang in there w/ the best of them, and still have the one and only Great American sports car.

 

Year Body Style/Special Edition Average Price Search VetteFinders.com
1968 T-Top $ 21,800 View Ads
1968 Roadster $ 23,900 View Ads
1969 T-Top $ 24,000 View Ads
1969 Roadster $ 28,700 View Ads
1970 T-Top $ 25,300 View Ads
1970 Roadster $ 29,900 View Ads
1971 T-Top $ 23,600 View Ads
1971 Roadster $ 26,200 View Ads
1972 T-Top $ 22,400 View Ads
1972 Roadster $ 25,800 View Ads
1973 T-Top $ 14,500 View Ads
1973 Roadster $ 19,900 View Ads
1974 T-Top $ 10,100 View Ads
1974 Roadster $ 17,800 View Ads
1975 T-Top $ 10,500 View Ads
1975 Roadster $ 18,900 View Ads
1976 T-Top $ 9,300 View Ads
1977 T-Top $ 10,400 View Ads
1978 T-Top $ 9,100 View Ads
1978 Silver Anniversary $ 13,000 View Ads
1978 Pace Car $ 18,700 View Ads
1979 T-Top $ 10,800 View Ads
1980 T-Top $ 11,000 View Ads
1981 T-Top $ 11,500 View Ads
1982 T-Top $ 12,400 View Ads
1982 Collector's Edition $ 16,500

I don't see any T Tops worth more than the 80-82's after 1973

 

And here's those wicked C4's priced way higher too , I don't know where some get there info, it's either made up or it's made up just to p*zz people off , I could buy three '84's for what is in my engine bay

Matter of fact comparing apples to apples you have to go to 1996 before you get into the same price as 80-82's

1984 Coupe $ 7,700 View Ads
1985 Coupe $ 7,900 View Ads
1986 Coupe $ 8,500 View Ads
1986 Roadster $ 10,100 View Ads
1987 Coupe $ 8,700 View Ads
1987 Roadster $ 9,800 View Ads
1988 Coupe $ 8,900 View Ads
1988 Roadster $ 10,100 View Ads
1988 35th Anniversary Coupe $ 14,700 View Ads
1989 Coupe $ 9,100 View Ads
1989 Roadster $ 10,300 View Ads
1990 Coupe $ 9,300 View Ads
1990 Roadster $ 10,450 View Ads
1990 ZR-1 $ 22,000 View Ads
1991 Coupe $ 9,500 View Ads
1991 Roadster $ 10,600 View Ads
1991 ZR-1 $ 21,500 View Ads
1992 Coupe $ 9,800 View Ads
1992 Roadster $ 10,900 View Ads
1992 ZR-1 $ 24,600 View Ads
1993 Coupe $ 10,100 View Ads
1993 Roadster $ 11,300 View Ads
1993 ZR-1 $ 26,000 View Ads
1993 40th Anniversary Coupe $ 13,600 View Ads
1993 40th Anniversary Roadster $ 16,800 View Ads
1994 Roadster $ 11,800 View Ads
1994 ZR-1 $ 27,500 View Ads
1994 Coupe $ 10,400 View Ads
1995 Coupe $ 10,750 View Ads
1995 Roadster $ 12,200 View Ads
1995 ZR-1 $ 35,000 View Ads
1995 Pace Car $ 26,500 View Ads
1996 Coupe $ 11,400 View Ads

 

For $10k, you can get in to a very nice 74-82. I would walk away from this one.

For $4500 I'll sell you my '81, it's not very nice.

 

I paid 8K f/ my '81 almost 8 years ago. I feel I did well.

 

I'm new here & reading through the threads, so I can't say that I agree or disagree with everything you said, but you're definitely right about the difference in engine bays. It really surprised me.

1976 engine bay:



1981 engine bay:

 

The 81 has cruise control, air conditioning, and a dual snorkel air cleaner, for better breathing. The 76 pictured has none of those things.

You really are comparing apples and oranges here. Add AC to the 76, and it will get busier, and a dual snorkel air cleaner and cruise (admittedly not offered in 76) would get that 76 engine compartment looking a lot like the 81!

The A.I.R. system does add a lot of hardware and hoses, but 81 wasn't the first to have an A.I.R pump.

A 74 small block with AC, power brakes and steering, can get darn near as crowded as the 81.

So 81's are undesirable because the engine bay is a "busy place". Based on that logic, no one would ever buy a 68-74 big block, especially one with AC, steering and brakes!

 

 

After removing all of the superfluous crap on my 81 including the computer and smog piping in lieu of headers my engine more resembles the 76 in terms of less cluttered. Albeit I have an A/C compressor. But an 81 bay can look like any other bay if you want it to.