Largest........understatement........of. .....all time!!

 

i just saw redls1gto's video ... WOW!! I bet that was fuuun

 

I think these are difficult to sell for a number of reasons (speaking from ongoing experience of trying to sell). For one thing to most of the population out there these are still considered some kind of exotic mysterious car that is great to look at and great to "consider" owning but never actually owning. That is basically the way I first bought my 1995. A Corvette was not even on my list of cars to consider as I imagined they were much more expensive than they actually were and also that they were too exotic to drive. While at a Chevy dealer the salesman talked me into looking at one (versus a Camaro) and I was pleasantly surprised at the price and the fact that these could actually be relatively care-free daily drivers if reasonably maintained and not beaten to death.

So here I am 14 years later and trying to sell and I get non-stop compliments from folks seeing my car as they walk by (it was mistaken as a new Corvette by one person recently) but, as admired as these cars are, the majority of non-motorheads out there would never consider something so "exotic".

 

No way, maybe he doesn't want it to go and to make the wife happy he priced it that high.

 

PLRX, yeah but it is an 86 custom baby!
lol

 

But not every vehicle that reaches 25 years of age is a 'collector car'.

Many collector cars, like the muscle cars of the late 60's early 70's became popular later in life since there was an absence of that type of performance and styling in the many years that followed. Unfortunately the C-4's story is different in that it was the beginning of a new era of performance, meaning that each subsequent model was designed to outperform and outstyle the prior years(not everyone will agree on the styling but that was the intention of the designers). With this in mind there is very little guarantee that the older C-4's will follow the footsteps of the earlier generations in the 'collector' market, let alone ever start to appreciate in value again.

 

Are you serious??!!?

With that logic, who in the hell would want a C2 or C3? Back in the 80's you could pick up a nice C2 for less than 10 grand. Go find one now and let me know how much it is.. They have appreciated many times the rate of inflation. It is a FACT that COLLECTOR cars start to gain in value around the 20-25 year mark. I remember when Bandit Trans Ams were considered DORKY, and I remember when c3s were out of style. If you think for one second that C4s are not poised to take the same trend, then you don't know the hobby. The appreciation factor NOTHING to do with performance and everything to do with capturing the essence of an era, from a shrinking slice of Americana.

If the Vette doesn't represent that in ALL of its flavors No automobile does.

 

Around here my '89 Vert is just a neat old car. I love to take it out for a cruise and to shows when the weather is nice. I just turned over 40,000 miles and it still looks new. There aren't many Fours here so mine gets heads to turn, and when I punch it... Well that's just nice. Isn't that why I got a Vette?

 

The difference between current collector cars C1-C2-C3 and future ones is the same as any other collectible. Cars, baseball cards, those stupid beanie things, hot wheels,....

The reason that they are valuable is that nobody ever thought they would be. How many people have C4-C5-C6 Corvettes sitting in a garage so as to preserve the value? What percentage of the limited ones such as ZR-1, Z16, Grand Sport, etc. were bought by somebody who never had the intention of driving them? I'm guessing that the number is pretty high.
Now, think about the older cars. How many people bought a Yenko Camaro only to preserve it in a bubble? Same with LS6 Chevelles, Corvettes, etc. People bought them to drive for the most part. I'm sure there is an exception out there but the folks that ordered them didn't order the "rare" model because it would be worth more in 4 decades like people do now.

There are a lot of factors that make today's cars different from those of the past in terms of future collector value.

 

Just a comment on this car - if you were going to purchase a high end 90 ZR-1, would you buy the car if the owner told you that the oil had NEVER been changed? I wouldn't touch this car with a ten foot pole. Perfect condition - I think not.

 

I agree with this reasoning. My 67 was however bought by the SECOND owner in 1970 with the intention to preserve the car when he heard that compression ratios were going down due to emissions. He thought that was the beginning of the end for high performance cars. So after driving the car about 200 miles per year for 25 years, I bought this low mileage original 435HP coupe - which to those in the know, tell me that are only about 15 (67 435s) left in original untouched top flight condition. While I do think that certain C4s will appreciate over time, it is true that there are way more untouched ZR-1s out there than there are C2s in the same state.

 

I guess with your 'FACTS' then the last of the C3's and the earliest C4's are now currently gaining in value right? I mean they have hit the 20-25 year mark haven't they?

I agree that the appreciation may not be directly tied to performance, but in a Corvette it does make a difference. It doesn't take much research to figure out which motor/drivetrain combos are bringing the highest $$.

Yes, there are many factors that go into what makes a car collectible, even rarity is not a guarantee since it may not even be desirable, but just because it's a Corvette and 25 years old doesn't mean people will ante up the $$ for that shrinking slice of Americana.

 

I didn't read through the whole thing, but if that is the case it is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard of. What a waste.

I have heard that same story a lot. It seems like the cars that were preserved from that era were most commonly because of the imminent doom of the performance car in 71+. I wonder how many of these pristine cars would be around if all of that legislation hadn't happened.

I would love to find a nice C2. If I did it would no doubt be a driver. Been my dream car since I was born. I look at the for sale section all the time and would sell the others in a heartbeat if the right one popped up.

 

The question is NOT whether the cars are going to bring BIG MONEY Next year. It is whether the cars are starting to gain in value. THEY HAVE HIT ROCK BOTTOM. THEY ARE BEGINNING THE APPRECIATION CURVE. It may be slow but it is happening. Look on EBAY and tell me what a decent Gremlin is fetching!! Who would have thought that? None of you guys who are claiming the C4 market will always be dead know anything about the collector car market. I have been trading on it for the past 20 years and can tell you that the early C4s have hit bottom and are starting to appreciate. The C5 and C6 performance gains make the performance difference between the early and later c4s insiginificant. Corvettes will always be collectible and the C4 is no exception

 

You make a good point! I also have been trading in muscle cars for a VERY long time. Many guys you speak of are mostly self proclaimed experts who feel if they race cars or have one that is heavily modified, they are experts in the values of classic or older cars too. When a car of any type is modified or raced as much as some here claim they do, they WILL depreciate in value to many buyers. The market of buyers looking for these modified or race ready Vettes is very limited especially in the older Corvettes. Who in their right mind really wants a Corvette that they know for a fact has been raced all the time? Fact is that most people wanting to buy an older Corvette are not looking for race cars or ones that have been altered too much. They want originallity in older Vettes. Guys who spend $1000.00's of dollars modifiying their cars will always look down on the original versions of the cars claiming theirs are much better. That may be the case in some, but to many buyers out their looking to spend their hard earned money on a Corvette, originallity in them will always stand out and will be more inclined to spend the extra money for it and not for ones with all the after market stuff added on. Many posts here are guys looking for wiring or mechanical questions because they bought a Corvette that was altered and are frustrated trying to fix the dam things.The older original C4's have indeed hit bottom in price and have indeed started to rise in value if they are in excellent running (not beater) condition. "Collector car" is a term that should not be used in any Corvette except for a very few of any generation.

 

Anyone who doesn't believe the C4 will, at some point, increase in value are pessimists.

The C3 hit bottom and now the survivors/restored C3s are triple the price they were new. And this is 190 HP car on the latter ones.

It will however take much longer for the C4, or any future generation, to ever triple but they will. This is due to the extreme price of the C4 and up.

We won't see a tripling but our grandchildren will.

Whoever thought a restored/survivir C3 would ever bring the price they are. Those who know cars knew it but the average pessimist joe didn't.

JMO with a little common sense thrown in.

 

After looking back through this thread I'm going to assume that this was directed at me. I didn't think it could have been any more obvious that I was being sarcastic when I said racing it was adding value. Apparently not.

First off, it has nothing to do with money spent. Second, it has nothing to do with being "better". Seems to me like you pristine garage queen guys are the only ones to say that yours are "better" and that those who modify them kill the value, ruin the car, blah, blah, blah. A vast majority of people who modify cars have an appreciation for the originals as well. The opposite is not usually true from the NCRS "mine is perfect" types. Would I rather have the Corvettes that I have over their stock counterparts? Obviously that is a yes. Do I think they are better? No. It is what I choose to do with them. I'm not stupid enough to keep everything on a car protected and in a bubble because in 50 years it might make it more valuable. I don't give a crap about what some restoration society thinks of them, and I don't give a crap what anybody else thinks about them either. I have a C5Z that is driven more than 99% of the Corvettes in the world, and I have a 96 LT4 (which some claim to be collectible) that I have no problem taking a sawzall or a welder to if it makes it faster. You seem to enjoy looking at yours sitting in a garage or in a show. I'm sure it looks very pretty in it's home. I like driving mine. They get dirty, they see the rain, and I don't have a coronary about a rock chip. Who knew that Corvettes wouldn't melt?! To each his own. I brought the 96 to a car show straight from the track and covered in rubber chunks, brake dust, oil, and other crap from top to bottom. I absolutely loved watching every single low mile pristine original owner shake their heads. ...and you can bet that they did.

Show me an old C4 that has gone up in price... they will eventually, but not now.

At least there was one thing that I agree with in all of that. In the case of C4 it is ZR-1, Grand Sport, and B2K

 

I love driving my car, EVERY DAY. And I like it to be more original than on the ragged edge of performance. I don't think any of these guys on this topic are into garage queens, anymore than they are down on racers. But racing is what you know, not car values. Your extreem statements illustrate your ignorance about the many facets of this wonderful hobby we ALL enjoy.

 

OK, you like driving yours, you like it to be stock. Good for you. There are many variants. I addressed 2 of the extremes with the NCRS types and the beat the crap out of it at the track types. Obviously there are infinite levels between those which you no doubt fit in. Did I ever say anything about you specifically? Don't think so. The only person who I talked to specifically is 4Speed who seems to be a garage/waxer type. There is nothing at all wrong with that and I never said there was. If that's what he enjoys then go for it. I said that I PERSONALLY don't give a crap about it being pristine and the rest. I never not once said there was anything wrong with those who did. I responded directly to his comment that the people who modify their cars think they are better. I also said that the counter to that is that there are a LOT of people who instantly get down on anybody who ventures away from stock, and there are. I never said anything about people specifically on this thread. What was it that you apparently took offense to in that?

And the last part. How do you know what I do and don't know? Answer: You have no f'n clue.

 

You give yourself way to much credit. I don't remember naming you in my post, but I guess you figure you're the spokesman for the people that it applies to, and you needed to bring attention to yourself. We all have opinions here of what we think about things, so if you're so thin skinned and arrogant that you think we all should check in with you first on our opinions you are sadly mistaken. You need to read my post again. This time "verrrrrrry sloooowly". Instead of taking personal offense, and criticising my car, realize it's my opinion on statements and opinions of others here. As someone else stated, maybe you may have expertise on racing or performance, but your comments don't impress me as someone with any appraisal skills at all. Just someone with a very large ego.