I have started doing some research on the C3s and I was wondering if there was a "bad year"? I have been looking on ebay and noticed that some vettes just don't get bids at all and I think they look like nice cars. I was just curious if there were particular years to avoid.

 

Not really bad years, but some models are more desirable than others. Say a nos matching 69 Big Block can be more desirable than a modified 79 L48. In the end of the day, to me, it is all matter of taste not the market value. :cheers:

 

Just like any automobile manufacturer any new style is going to have the most bugs. A few years later you end up with most of them figured out and ultimately probably the best version. I'll probably get some disagreement on this, but I'll give you my thoughts.

'68 - First year of the C-3. Probably worth the most if all original since it was the only year with the 327 and the 2nd to last 427. It had bugs though with overheating, gates to windshield wipers that failed, and other nik-naks. Two years later the '70 was probably the best refined with still lots of HP.

'74 - The first complete conversion to the rubber front & rear bumpers. HP was sinking and the rear split bumper was not the most intelligent invention GM ever came up with. The only year that did not have an emblem on the gas tank lid on the deck and you are limited in some cases fo finding parts that work across multiple years. A plus was that it is 1 of 2 years offered as a vert with the rubber bumpers and the last of the 454's. The '75 vert was probably better thought out.

'75-'82 - No big blocks offered from here on out.:nono:

'82 - Last year of the C-3's with the only crossfire fuel injection system. Wasn't a brilliant thought.

'67 - At all cost avoid a '67 C-3. :jester

Just a view... like everyone is going to say... "It's all about preferences."

 

Hi Chris,
I agree with groovyjay. There's no such thing as a bad vette, it's just that some are better than others. I've owned over 40 of them. All years & body styles. Everyone of them was great!
You will, however, see some that don't usually bring the top money and the reasons for this vary. First there's that weird '4 thing. Like the '64 usually brings the lowest price of the mid years, '74 usually brings the lowest of the C3's, and '84 will usually bring the lowest of the C4's. (I wonder what this means for the '04?) There are exceptions to each of these though.
Again I've owned these 3 years at different times and enjoyed each of them. I'm certainly NOT dissing any particular car or anyones ride here on the forum. I've brought some really rough vettes back from the dead over the years so I truly believe in every vette's "inner beauty!"
Buy whatever vette you can afford, treat it good and it will almost always bring you more than you paid when it's time to sell.
Wecome to the forum, Greg

 

Treat it great and you'll lose your butt if you sell it ;) Once I get my 'Vette I plan on keeping it. Hopefully I can find one someone who is willing to lose their butt on a sale :D

 

1952 was the worst Vette year!!! Before the Creation of the Vette. IMO there is no bad year.

 

dont forget about the 83 C3.5 :skep:

 

To an artist, a vette is a clean palette just waiting to be personalized :) . Any year can be made distastefully of out of this world. Depends on a persons tastes & $$$ ;) .

 

I believe '83 was a bad year.

 

The late 70's and early 80's were real dogs because of the power of the engines. The good news is that the original engines need to be replaced now and crate engines with twice the HP are not to expensive. There is little peer pressure to keep the 80 stock and they are relatively cheap. Keep in mind that a 7k car usually needs another 10 k to do it justice (talking from experience).

 

:lolg: :lolg: Musta heard wrong!! :lolg: :lolg: Baaaad years?? :lolg: :lolg:

We're talking COR VETTES here, not CHE vettes! :hurray:

 

:withstupid: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

This is a trick question. Do not answer. If you mention a BAD year then those owning that BAD year will be offended. Dont ask me how I know. :)