1980 vettes did surprisingly well. I am unsure of the reason. The base coupe went up 7.89% and the L82 coupe 11.59% in one year. Show quality 1980 vettes are $17025 for the base model and $20925 for the L82.


[Modified by virtue4u, 10:22 AM 7/1/2004]

 

80 coupe (Excellent 17,025 Fair 5,750 Good 10,250)

80 Coupe L82 (Excellent 20,925 Fair 7,050 Good 12,600)

 

virtue4u,

As Mike noted in his response to this thread, these published price guides have to be taken with a grain of salt. Most are terribly inaccurate compared to what is being sold in the real world and even those that do come close to reality with regard to value tend to be obsolete as soon as they are printed. Unless you are seriously involved in the sales end of the hobby, it can be tough to get a handle on.

Having said that though, I would agree with the general premise... The 1968-1982 cars appear to be increasing in value (as a general rule). My take as to "why?".... All of these prices/values move off the top, that is, the higher priced/valued cars determine where the rest of the group will be valued. L-88s were stagnant for four or five years at around $75,000-$80,000 for a nice coupe, but have finally taken off... Now it's tough to find one in the $130,000-$150,000 range. Once that happened, everything else on the 1968-1982 Corvette food chain increased to some degree... There simply was more room under the pricing curve to support higher prices for the rest of these Corvettes.

That seems a bit obvious, but it is true all the same.

From what I've seen, this value seems a bit exagerated... While they have gone up, 1968 L-89s haven't increased in value any more than their 1969 counterpart... And they're still bringing about $10,000 less than a comparable 1969 L-89.

Afraid I can't make any comment on the post 1974 Corvettes... I just don't follow those cars closely enough.

Stephanie,

From my own experience with the 1968-1972 cars, if the car is in very good condition and still has a relatively stock appearing body, there is usually no problem selling it in the $12,000-$15,000 range regardless of whether it has matching numbers or not. When the price goes north of $20,000, I can almost guarantee that you will have a difficult if not impossible time selling a car without numbers matching driveline.

Regards,

 

I love those guides. Bubba reads it and thinks his vette with non-matching numbers, paint, misc parts along with a rusted out frame is worth $15,000. I looked at a 69 coupe last week, car in primer,no interior, front end sitting on the springs, rear end jacked up 3" with aftermarket spring and he wanted $15,900.00
Mint condition cars and very nice drivers will go up just because most of what you find is worn out and over-priced. I'd take a well done NOM car over a worn out numbers car if a driver is all that's wanted.

 

Stan,

Good to still see you posting.

When the price goes north of $20,000, I can almost guarantee that you will have a difficult if not impossible time selling a car without numbers matching driveline.


The exceptions would be well documented desired cars such as the L88, L89, LT-1s and so on. These cars will still need to be in good shape with most of the original parts. As the prices for the NCRS cars climb, I have to assume that the non NCRS version supported with documentation become more valuable as as means for someone to purchase an otherwise unaffordable car.

As for modifications, I agree with the above statements that modified cars are personal. There will need to be a buyer that wants exactly what you have done AND either doesn't want to do the work or the price to build a duplicate car would cost more.

 

The article doesn't dispute what you are saying -- non original show cars are obviously worth more than fair original cars. The important point in the article is that ALL categories of C3s are now going up.

 

Robert,

Thanks... This is a very good forum and I enjoy posting here when I get the opportunity. Hope that things are going well with the LT-1... Haven't been over to your website in a while to keep up with the progress.

Good point... One that I failed to mention. A quality, documented example of a desirable car will still bring good money, although not as much as one that has all off its original parts. L-88s are a prime example... I'd bet 70% don't have the original engine and they're still selling at $125,000+ if the rest of the car is restored correctly... Heck, that '68 "in a barn" L-88 that was on Ebay about six months ago brought almost $60,000.

virtue4u,

I would agree with you and the article on that point completely... Prices are up and are continuing to go up!

Regards,

 

I think a modified Vette would sell, but you have to wait for the right person to come along, if you are in a hurry to sell you will lose. You should get the base amount for the car and 50 cents on the dollar for the mods, just my 2 cents.

 

Stan,

Thanks... This is a very good forum and I enjoy posting here when I get the opportunity. Hope that things are going well with the LT-1... Haven't been over to your website in a while to keep up with the progress.

Haven't updated much on the site or the car. I did just have the distributer redone, and a full tune up. She flew through emissions with barely any detectable pollutants. The car does well enough to break the tires loose in 2nd (purely by accident ).

The more digging I do, I suspect the NOM block might be a factory replacement. It is date coded January of 71 (6 months from build and with over the counter replacement heads and all peripherals (starter, intake, alternator, etc) this sounds logical. I am still trying to locate the original owner.

Robert

 

I have a theory that even a mechanically mod'd non matching numbers cars can easily sell, and bring a fair price as long as it looks stock and is in very good cosmetic and correct shape. I think it's a lot of the cosmetic mods, that are based on individual tastes, that make a car harder to sell to others who do not share that same taste. Body mod kits, incorrect spoilers and wings, incorrect poor paint and graphics, after market or incorrect year seats, interior mods, accessories etc can turn potential buyers off. Stock is how the car was intended to look, and is generally universally acceptable. I'd think if you had a C3 that in excellent cosmetic shape, and appears stock and correct, the mechanical mods, if done well, will not affect the ability to sell it too much. Only the real hardcore NCRS purists will pass it up, but your general Corvette lover who simply wants a nice looking driver Vette should be open to such a car. You wont get as much as you would for a 100% stock low mile garage queen, but I feel the mechanically well modified yet cosmetically correct car in excellent shape will have little trouble selling.

 

There is so much truth to this statement! Of the 4 early C3s I've owned (including the 68 I bought today), 1 had every K-mart glue-on gadget known to man, one had a bordello red valour interior, 3 had wiring 'alterations', and only one was basically stock and working (my latest toy). I've spent countless hours replacing rusty Taiwan chrome components and replacing wiring harnesses. Fortunately, I acquired all these cars cheaply because they needed work.

I have no problem with mods but you have to understand that they're YOUR mods. You know how well you did the work and how reliable it will be. Plus, mods are subjective. What looks great to you might not work for me.

If you like modifieds, great - just do it for you and enjoy it. But recognize that your personalization might not match the majority of corvette enthusiasts who just like corvettes for the sake of liking corvettes, and don't expect the return on investment.

 

I have made a personal decision to never sell another Corvette in my lifetime. So, the prices really do not make much difference to me.



[Modified by OHSIXX, 3:43 PM 7/1/2004]

 

When I was shopping around for my vette, I quickly started looking only at modified cars. The years that I could afford were embarassingly slow in stock form.

 

 

In my case I kept all the original parts, numbers matching engine, air conditioning aluminum rims etc. so I would imagine that would only help sell the car. Heck it wouldn't take to much to return it to stock but I doubt that's ever going to happen


[Modified by MotorHead, 3:11 PM 7/1/2004]

 

Prices don't matter much to me either. When I'm gone my kids will get the Vette. They're already fighting over it. Hopefully they'll keep it in the family.

 

My feeling is that certain mods will not affect the value, while others may reduce the price. Adding another 100/200 or so horsepower to a car with 185 is not that critical unless the buyer(s) are only interested in a completely factory stock car. Adding a 6 speed, power brakes, power steering, air conditioning will probably increase the value. There is a big difference in a buyer looking to buy as a daily driver vs. one who is looking to buy as a weekend, fair weather car vs. someone who wants a factory original. Most buyers of C3's will fit the first two. As we all know, genuine GM parts typically cost more than aftermarket and as the supply diminishes the cost to replace these will go up. A vette that is equipped with the original or replaced factory parts will have a pricing advantage. As time continues on, a non-modified will be worth more. The owner can make up his/her mind as to what they want to do with the car.

 

I think this is a interesting thread. I bought my car about 5 years ago. I knew exactly what I wanted and kept looking for the right car. I passed up many modified cars...headers..side pipes...flares...etc. I almost passed on this car because it had 1978 Pace Car wheels on it...but I figured out I could easily buy new wheels whenever I wanted them. My car is a 1973...it will never be worth really big bucks but it was what I wanted and what I could afford. I'm not married to it...if I should tire of it I'll sell it. I just bought it to enjoy it and please myself. I never figured to make any profit on it.

 

How about a '69 coupe, no options, non-original 350, Ford T5 trans?

 

Too bad mine's modified--it ain't worth twiddly **** to anybody but me.