corvettes
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
corvettes
am I alone here, or does anybody else feel a little sadness that every day, just on this forum, someone is parting out another C4?
What about on other places, like local newspapers, craigslist, ebay, etc.
Where will this end? When all that is left of them are not street driven anymore?
What about on other places, like local newspapers, craigslist, ebay, etc.
Where will this end? When all that is left of them are not street driven anymore?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Palm Harbor Florida
I think of parting out like organ donation. So that others may live.
I'm sure those who are parting out have a car that is not worth restoring.
I agree that it is sad to see C4s diminish but I also like seeing good looking C4s out there and not a bunch of ragged out, poorly maintained Vettes that make the rest of us look like we're driving a step child.
JMHO but the C4 is a special car I like to see them live up to the legacy. There are still plenty of great C4s out there.
I'm sure those who are parting out have a car that is not worth restoring.
I agree that it is sad to see C4s diminish but I also like seeing good looking C4s out there and not a bunch of ragged out, poorly maintained Vettes that make the rest of us look like we're driving a step child.
JMHO but the C4 is a special car I like to see them live up to the legacy. There are still plenty of great C4s out there.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
I just parted a 86, 75k miles, no hit body, had a very good interior, ran great, clean title. I can get more for the suspension, frt clip, engine/trans, and a few other parts than I can for the whole car. For years I tried to build them/restore them. It's just not worth the trouble anymore. I advertized the interior for $500 complete, no calls, just the usual "can I have it free, and will you deliver?" There's not that many being driven in Phoenix anymore, mostly 92 and up is all.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
am I alone here, or does anybody else feel a little sadness that every day, just on this forum, someone is parting out another C4?
What about on other places, like local newspapers, craigslist, ebay, etc.
Where will this end? When all that is left of them are not street driven anymore?
What about on other places, like local newspapers, craigslist, ebay, etc.
Where will this end? When all that is left of them are not street driven anymore?
I always feel a little sad when I see a perfectly good car being parted out. If the car was in an accident, thats one thing, but sometimes you see cars parted out just because the parts are worth more that the car.
Oh well, its a crazy world.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,198
Likes: 10
From: Homestead Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
It can only go to increase the rarity of the C4. And that's a long, long time away. I agree with the organ donation response. It's just a car. Enjoy the ride...........
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...........
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Not all bad...
...those that remain become more desirable. U priced a '63 split-window coupe lately?
Some attrition is inevitable, but their demise assures one of the best of the best will live on! The C4 legacy lives on - many of the innovations introduced in the C4s live on in today's cars. Enjoy the ride!
P.
Some attrition is inevitable, but their demise assures one of the best of the best will live on! The C4 legacy lives on - many of the innovations introduced in the C4s live on in today's cars. Enjoy the ride!
P.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,303
Likes: 213
From: Sussex,Wi
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
How about the people who call, and ask if you'll take 50% less than the asking price, without even looking at the item.
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Safety Car
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From: Jennings LA
CF Community Team
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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The C4's were produced in such large numbers every year I don't think they will become scarce any time soon. The fact that they are being cannabilized speaks to the great technology they had that is still used for resto rods. I don't like to see nice cars parted out though.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Coconut Creek FL
am I alone here, or does anybody else feel a little sadness that every day, just on this forum, someone is parting out another C4?
What about on other places, like local newspapers, craigslist, ebay, etc.
Where will this end? When all that is left of them are not street driven anymore?
What about on other places, like local newspapers, craigslist, ebay, etc.
Where will this end? When all that is left of them are not street driven anymore?
Some give their all so that others can carry on...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Unfortunately profit overules any other consideration. I've seen this happen in other sport car markets. With other car models its considered heresy to part out a sports car that can be restored. Registries are created and enthusiasts purchase multiple models just to save them from the crusher or the profiteers. Enthusiasts even go so far as to blacklist the cannibals who rip apart a perfectly good platform. Right now you don't see the effect clearly since there were quite a few C4s and C5s produced. I'd rather purchase a solid complete C4/C5, sit on it for awhile and sell it to a fellow enthusiast down the road. Passing it to someone who plans to restore and more importantly drive the car is preferable to me rather than see it get ripped apart for profit. What would you think of gutting a solid complete Z06, GS or ZR1 just because you can get more money for the parts? Just ask any Z06, GS or ZR1 owner. Look at what happened to the C2/C3 generation.
Last edited by RIISITAS; Nov 27, 2007 at 09:05 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
I just parted a 86, 75k miles, no hit body, had a very good interior, ran great, clean title. I can get more for the suspension, frt clip, engine/trans, and a few other parts than I can for the whole car. For years I tried to build them/restore them. It's just not worth the trouble anymore. I advertized the interior for $500 complete, no calls, just the usual "can I have it free, and will you deliver?" There's not that many being driven in Phoenix anymore, mostly 92 and up is all.
Last edited by RIISITAS; Nov 27, 2007 at 09:00 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Unfortunately profit overules any other consideration. I've seen this happen in other sport car markets. With other car models its considered heresy to part out a sports car that can be restored. Registries are created and enthusiasts purchase multiple models just to save them from the crusher or the profiteers. Enthusiasts even go so far as to blacklist the cannibals who rip apart a perfectly good platform. Right now you don't see the effect clearly since there were quite a few C4s and C5s produced. I'd rather purchase a solid complete C4/C5, sit on it for awhile and sell it to a fellow enthusiast down the road. Passing it to someone who plans to restore and more importantly drive the car is preferable to me rather than see it get ripped apart for profit. What would you think of gutting a solid complete Z06, GS or ZR1 just because you can get more money for the parts? Just ask any Z06, GS or ZR1 owner. Look at what happened to the C2/C3 generation.
It's not so much profit motive as at long last realizing the futility of spending all the time and money needed to bring back cars that frankly not alot of people care about. When I read posters saying that they don't care about resale, it reminds me of all the trashed C1-C4's I have brought back. I was criticised for wanting to restore ZR1's rather than parting them, on this forum. But I agree, it sad to bury an old friend.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
It's not so much profit motive as at long last realizing the futility of spending all the time and money needed to bring back cars that frankly not alot of people care about. When I read posters saying that they don't care about resale, it reminds me of all the trashed C1-C4's I have brought back. I was criticised for wanting to restore ZR1's rather than parting them, on this forum. But I agree, it sad to bury an old friend.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
I agree with the organ donation prospective. As the C4 moves down the Generals food chain, parts are going to get harder to come by. For example, I just had to replace the pivot ball and the clutch fork in my ZF6. Come to find out the GM doesn't make those parts anymore. They don't make the bell housing for the ZF either. I was lucky that we found the ball and fork from a dealer in Michigan. Not to mention that it is a heck of alot less expensive to get them from our friends on the Forum than the General himself.
But yes, it is sad to see one of our generation go by the wayside. The cool thing about Corvettes is that each one is a work of art with a history. Each one was at one time or another the fullfilment of a dream to somebody, somewhere. How many posts have we read, "Got my first Vette today!"? Each car has a story to tell, and somewhere a former owner is remeniscing that story to someone, somewhere. Every Corvette, in that sense, is immortal in it's personal legacy.
But yes, it is sad to see one of our generation go by the wayside. The cool thing about Corvettes is that each one is a work of art with a history. Each one was at one time or another the fullfilment of a dream to somebody, somewhere. How many posts have we read, "Got my first Vette today!"? Each car has a story to tell, and somewhere a former owner is remeniscing that story to someone, somewhere. Every Corvette, in that sense, is immortal in it's personal legacy.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Coconut Creek FL
With the improvements in paint technologies and manufacturing C4s have "weathered" better than past generations. Also a lot were waxed, armor all-ed and covered or garaged. So they tend to appear in a nice condition.
A C4 that has been neglected by an owner cause its "just a used car" or has been sitting around outside for an extended amount of time, With the cost of restoring an interior or paint not getting any cheaper then that car winds up getting parted out.
Perhaps if GM continues to lose sales they will convert factories to restoration centers and get into the auto rebuilding biz. Then all Corvettes will be new again.
A C4 that has been neglected by an owner cause its "just a used car" or has been sitting around outside for an extended amount of time, With the cost of restoring an interior or paint not getting any cheaper then that car winds up getting parted out.
Perhaps if GM continues to lose sales they will convert factories to restoration centers and get into the auto rebuilding biz. Then all Corvettes will be new again.
Last edited by vettes555; Nov 28, 2007 at 09:45 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
But yes, it is sad to see one of our generation go by the wayside. The cool thing about Corvettes is that each one is a work of art with a history. Each one was at one time or another the fullfilment of a dream to somebody, somewhere. How many posts have we read, "Got my first Vette today!"? Each car has a story to tell, and somewhere a former owner is remeniscing that story to someone, somewhere. Every Corvette, in that sense, is immortal in it's personal legacy.[/QUOTE]
Very well said, almost nobody bought a vette to go from point A to B.
Very well said, almost nobody bought a vette to go from point A to B.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 1
From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
It's the nature of things. The only time it bothers me at all is when it's an obviously good, street worthy car that someone did the economics and found they could make more by parting it out. That's sad.
Eventually, there won't be so many C4s, and the ones that are left will be worth enough that no one would dare part out a good one.
Eventually, there won't be so many C4s, and the ones that are left will be worth enough that no one would dare part out a good one.