Mid year C3 pricing
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 27
From: Monroe Twp, NJ
Mid year C3 pricing
I just cant figure out why the market for mid C3s as compared to early C4s is so different. Why say a 76 C3 will bring at least $10,000 and a mid year C4 will only bring about half as much both cars being equal in condition. I would much rather have the C4 since its all round performance is better. ( both Corvettes being stock.) Even a 82 Crossfire is rarely frowned upon ,but the 84 with the same power train is consided by many to be almost Vodoo. Why will a 82 crossfire bring a easy 10 thousand and a 84 has to strain to reach five or six?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Cause people is dumb. The mid '70s ones are worth about $10K though. The '82 is a "special collector" year or some crap so they think its worth a lot. IMO they should be worth slightly more than an '84.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 1,352
I would GUESS it's the bodystyle of the shark. I also would GUESS there are lots of guys who buy smog year sharks becasue they want a 68-72 but can't swing the $$ Just a guess though. The later C3s are better drivers just down on power which can easily be FIXED.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Oh yes indeed and you will find quite a few of them with crate motors. If not you can easily bump up the horsepower with a good set of heads as the compression ratio was really low, like 8.5:1
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
The C3 market is chrome bumper and big block driven; beyond that some very good deals are available. It comes down to demand for years/features/colors/options. I love my 91 but some turn their noses up at L98s. So I got it for very good value. The older the cars are, the more they have "followings", guys who, for varied personal reasons, want them enough to pay a premium. Go back far enough and it really becomes a rich man's game.
For so many reasons, the early C4s are clearly the best values of all corvettes.
Now, don't get me started on my obsession with my 72............
For so many reasons, the early C4s are clearly the best values of all corvettes.
Now, don't get me started on my obsession with my 72............
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
My 2 cents on this.
cent 1, supply and demand. Lots of C4s out there. Not so many C3s.
cent 2, C3s up to 81 are basic carbed/non computor cars. Easy to mod and parts are common SBC parts. Makes them attractive to hot rodders.
cent 1, supply and demand. Lots of C4s out there. Not so many C3s.
cent 2, C3s up to 81 are basic carbed/non computor cars. Easy to mod and parts are common SBC parts. Makes them attractive to hot rodders.
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
Likes: 34
From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Some of the '82s are CEs, just like some of the '96s are Collector's Editions.
The rear window on '82 CEs open like a C4, and are loaded with options. Hence the bigger price tag.
They'd be worth even more if they weren't all automatics. Many Corvette people have to have a manual transmission.
Last edited by xCCTer; Oct 21, 2007 at 08:10 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 51
From: Jacksonville, FL
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '26
That's one of those Q's that made me stop & think also when I was trying to get back to the vette hobby. I'd been away for 25 yrs, and when i started to look for a vette that I could afford on my budget I was amazed at what the steel bumper sharks were bringing.
I bought my 90 ZR-1 for the same price that I would have had to pay to replace my 72 that I owned 25 yrs ago. I loved my 72 but jez the C4 is sooo much more car for the same $.....to me it was a no brainer.
I bought my 90 ZR-1 for the same price that I would have had to pay to replace my 72 that I owned 25 yrs ago. I loved my 72 but jez the C4 is sooo much more car for the same $.....to me it was a no brainer.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
73-up Vette buyers are similar to us..They want an affordable Vette to drive. Maybe they just want a cruiser on the cheap or cant afford what they want but still wanna get in the game. I like em all but they have a similar "dogs of the Corvette world" stigma as the C4s do to . I will say Im shocked at what the C3 verts (no matter what year) are brining.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 230
Likes: 1
From: Covington GA
I think the two appeal to slightly different markets, with people seeing the C3 as an affordable classic and the C4 as an affordable racer. With the basic C3 design dating back to 1968, they can touch a nostalgia nerve in ways a C4 Corvette doesn't. It seems where I live, I see more C3s than C4s at car shows, and more C4s than C3s at autocrosses.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
supply and demand, there were so many C4's made it will be a long time before they are hard to find and become collectible. thats what it will take to drive the price up, thats just my opinion
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
In my area 1968 to 1973 are the same price as a C5 the C5 being the newer, more advanced car makes it hard to get all the money for a C3.
The C4 is the most under-rated Corvette ever built. But at the same time that also makes it the most available Corvette ever built.
For the money it doesn't get any better than a C4.
The C4 is the most under-rated Corvette ever built. But at the same time that also makes it the most available Corvette ever built.
For the money it doesn't get any better than a C4.
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
Likes: 34
From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
In my area 1968 to 1973 are the same price as a C5 the C5 being the newer, more advanced car makes it hard to get all the money for a C3.
The C4 is the most under-rated Corvette ever built. But at the same time that also makes it the most available Corvette ever built.
For the money it doesn't get any better than a C4.
The C4 is the most under-rated Corvette ever built. But at the same time that also makes it the most available Corvette ever built.
For the money it doesn't get any better than a C4.
It's never hard for sellers to get their price on a chrome bumper car ('73 not included) in good shape.
C5s are still in their "used car" phase with prices dropping on a regular basis.
completely with the rest of your post. 
