Over the past few weeks one particular corvette has caught my eye. The car in question was originally a '74 454 with every major option (except the sport package and the aluminum wheels). A few years ago this car was partially restored. The 454 was replaced by a '66 396 and everything under the hood appears to have been overhauled. The disk brakes and calipers have been replaced as well as the bumpers. Also, the car has recently received new paint job (in my favorite vette color).

There are some problems with the car though. First, the weather stripping needs to be replaced (it's visibly dry rotting). Second, this stingray will eventually need a whole new interior, including the dash. Third, the radio has been chopped to accommodate a new am/fm/cd stereo system. I would have done this anyway (without tearing the stock radio apart). However, the speakers were not reconnected to the stereo, so the car would have to be put in the shop almost immediately. The door handles would have to be replaced at some time since the springs are starting to rust and the handle gets stuck in the socket (they aren't properly aligned). Finally, the mirrors also need to be replaced (might as well) since I'm going to be adding a passenger side mirror and want everything to match. In the future I plan to add side pipes. I've read that they may melt the doors, but would like a few more opinions.

So here's the question: does this car sound like it's worth $14,000? Keep in mind that it's rust free, has had nearly every mechanical part replaced, all of the gauges work, the bumpers have been replaced, and it has received a totally fresh, clean paint job. Also, this vette has no know history of accidents.

Thank you all for your replies


:flag


[Modified by sweetsix_stingray, 6:14 AM 11/16/2002]

 

Correction: the engine is a '67 327

Originally from Cali

New:
-Holley Carb
-Aluminum Edelbrock intake
-Chome valve covers
-Air cleaner
-Complete new exhaust system
-Taillights
-Rear shocks
-Rear leaf spring
-Both rear wheel bearing assemblies
-Strut rod kit
-Right and left rear axle shafts
-New paint

 

Is the car a convertible or T-top? I am going to assume it is a T-top. I don't think the car is worth 14K. It is not numbers matching so that takes the price down. I paid about 8.5K for mine and it was also in really good shape but wasn't numbers matching. I would keep looking. I think for a 74 roadster the latest price guide for a fully restored numbers matching was 14.5K and a non-numbers matching that needed restoration was 9.5K. I may be a little off on that but that is pretty close.
BTW, it took me 6-7 months of looking before I found the car I wanted at the price I wanted.

 

I think it's high, too. You should be able to buy a #s matching SB car (coupe) for around $8K or so. Even if the above example needs paint, it's still not more than what you're looking at, and it carries the "premium" of having it's original block. The fact that it was a BB car doesn't really add anything, UNLESS the original engine and it's associated parts comes with it. If you get the itch to convert back to a BB, the accessories add up very quickly.

How long ago were the brakes done? If it was "a few years ago", and done with standard rebuilt calipers, it may well need them again, especially if it's not in frequent use.

I also noticed that you said it would have to go in the shop. I'm taking this to mean that you will be paying someone else to work on it for you. Nothing wrong with that, but it can become costly very quickly. Personally, I'd continue looking, but that's just me. The market seems to be flooded with cars right now, and prices will continue to fall, IMO.

***Please note that the preceding editorial does not reflect the views of this station, or it's management***


[Modified by a454corvette, 9:35 AM 11/16/2002]

 

If it were a matching number car it Might be......Sounds a bit high to me as well...I would say it was worth around 8 to 9k in the condition

 

Thank you everyone. I'm going to go back to the dealership and haggle a little. This particular vette has been sitting on the lot for at least a couple of months, so that should work in my favor. One bonus is that the dealer runs a well respected lot, so *hopefully* he wouldn't try to hide anything major (he was truthful as to the repairs that the car needed and what didn't work). The only reason that this car would need to go into a shop would be to have its interior relaced. However, I'm considering doing the interior restoration myself in a few months (it doesn't NEED to be replaced, but I'd like it to look better than it does).

BTW, it has T-tops.

 

We have a '74 roadster, and I think the asking price for the one you're looking at is high. If the car was recently painted, the weatherstripping, handles, mirrors, etc. should have been replaced at that time. Also, replacing the interior can become quite costly. We just looked into that for ours though the original isn't THAT bad! Replacing the original carpeting, leather door panels, leather seats, top of the dash (and have bottom of dash re-dyed), plus some incidentals, was going to cost in the vicinity of $3,000-4,000 installed!!! That's just a number for your consideration!

Look around...for that kind of money, you don't want to get into more spending right away!!

GS Diva aka Elaine