I have narrowed my search. The 70' is a 4spd,350/350, #'s match,conv,no a/c or p/w.The car is a two owner with the tank sticker and is in mostly original condition with a six year old paint job. There are two chips in the body that are 1-2 inches in length and will need repair. New brakes, tires, ball joints,and the car looks to be in great shape with only 80k. The 74' is a 4spd,350/?,#'s match,conv,no a/c,p/w and this car is fully restored with 53k. They both cost about the same.I am looking for a long term investment car. I know in the long run the 70' will be worth more but it will need a restoration and the 74' is already done. Which car is a better investment?

 

For one simple reason: look at both cars from the rear. The '70 has the classic rear, not to mention front, and the '74 has the vertically split rear rubber bumper. Sorry, but that was ugly in 1974, and it's ugly now. At the least, if I did have a '74, I would put a '75 rear bumper on it immediately.

 

70!!!!

 

70!

 

79!!!

 

I'd go with the 70. 70 was a great year and 350/350 a great engine. However, take a look at what a restoration will cost. You may be better off finding a 70 that has been restored. Buying cars a investments are tough. The 70 is a better car, but if you dump twice what it is worth to restore it isn't a good investment.

 

It seems as all the money has been spent on the 74. Have you gave both cars a good going over? Look closely at the 74 it is supposedly restored. Check it out. The 70 you know will need restoring. It is a tough decision. How much is the 70 going to cost to get it restored? What are your plans, is the car going to be a driver or show car? If you are going for a driver, I would take the 70, for show I would probably take the 74.

 

70.................70................... .....70............period

 

in 1970 17,316 cars were built 6,648 were conv, in 1974 37,502 cars were made 5,574 were conv. as a investment peice you do the math. I would go with a 70 even it was a basket case. you can't beat a chorme bumber Corvette.

 

1970

 

I dont think I would buy a car as an investment. Not unless you bought one already fully restored from a guy that lost his shirt on it. Buy the 70, drive it and love it.

 

I guess it all depends how you want to approach the situation, do you have time and the resources to restore the 70 or wish to roll with the 74. In the long run I bet the 70 will be worth more. I like both the bumper and non-bumper vettes.
Personnally, I don't think the split bumper looks ugly, it's unique.

 

The 1970 without a doubt. Whatever you do, don't buy it as an investment and never use it. Do whatever work you feel it needs to fulfill what you want in a classic Corvette and drive it as often as you can.

 

What do you have in mind? Do you want to let this car sit in a garage or are you going to drive and enjoy it? If you want a vette to drive and plan to keep for along time, buy the 1970. Good luck.

 

70.....70....70 all the way, better looking, better running, better investment, better in every way go for the 70, did I mention the 70 was better

 

As you can see I have a rubber bumper car. I am also an investment manager, First off dont even tease yourself about this being an investment. If you want an investment buy callable short term govt. agecy bonds at a discount. If your buying a car, buy it to drive!!! and buy it cause you love it. if your buying matching numbers car definately go with the 70. The two cars restored to perfection the 74 will be worth 2/3 the 70 and always will be. The rubber bumper cars were built in an era of new unleaded fuel and a new 55 mph speed limit. This was not the high point of the corvette history.

However, I have a matching numbers 75 and this is what you are going to run into. The standard 35 yr old parts don't work nearly as well as new. There are all kinds of after market gear that will greatly improve performance but will not be origional. You will want to put this stuff on if you drive the car any amount of time..then you will have a delema....I paid a 100% premium to have a numbers matching correct car...unfortunately it drives like crap...steering is sloppy..steering wheel is too thin ...motor doesnt make enough power...ya really need an overdrive cause after a half hour in the high way at 3500rpm you have a head ache. So what do you do make it drive like new and "ruin" the oragionality of the car , or keep it "right" and get out run and out turned by honda Accord.

I would recommend this...Find a REAL nice clean 70-72 driver that is not numbers matching. Save the 5000-10,000 and make the car ride and drive like you want it. I have been going to Corvettes of carlisle for the last ten years and I have noticed a definate trend...The day of the all matching numbers cars is slowly losing ground...sure there will always be diper wipered trailer queens, but all the big crowds were gathered around guys that had put old bodies on modern drivelines. I have a feeling that is the future. if you have a car with the origional look and feel of the origional, but do the right upgrades, it may be worth more than an all origional car...its already starting to happed. If your building a car for you the 74 and 75 are real inexpensive ways to get a nice car to start from but te final decision comes down to what you like best.

 

7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 7070707070707070707070707070707070707070 70707070707070707070707070707070.....70

 

.......Chrome bumper Verts Rock!.......they look so good the chicks will be swarming all around it.....even if it's broken down by the side of the road

 

Don't buy it as an investment. Please drive it and enjoy it. That is what they were designed to do. I can tell you a hundred ways to invest your money and get a better ROI.

If you can do most of the work, the 70 is a great car, wish I could afford one. If you need to take it to someone else get a vert that is already restored. Having someone else restore your classic c3 is very expensive.

 

'70 hands down...