Rare??
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Rare??
I'm new to Corvettes but I'm a fast learner. This seems to be one of the most used/abused words in the Corvette world. Every color or combination seems to be "Rare". CE are rare...but it appears dang near half of the 96 production where them. At least by the number for sale. Just sayin.
I keep thinking about a time way back when I was younger. A friend was shoping for a new Pontiac Trans Am. He wanted the Smoky and the Bandit one, black with the big bird on the hood. It was around 78-79 I believe. Yes I am that old. So we are at the largest Pontiac dealer in the Pittsburgh area. He's trying to make a cash deal on one. The salesman says " I'm sorry sir but we can't discount these. They are hard to find" My friend says " WHAT?? You have 5 of them sitting right here." He ended up buying one at another dealership. They only had 3 but were willing to deal.
I keep thinking about a time way back when I was younger. A friend was shoping for a new Pontiac Trans Am. He wanted the Smoky and the Bandit one, black with the big bird on the hood. It was around 78-79 I believe. Yes I am that old. So we are at the largest Pontiac dealer in the Pittsburgh area. He's trying to make a cash deal on one. The salesman says " I'm sorry sir but we can't discount these. They are hard to find" My friend says " WHAT?? You have 5 of them sitting right here." He ended up buying one at another dealership. They only had 3 but were willing to deal.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I'm new to Corvettes but I'm a fast learner. This seems to be one of the most used/abused words in the Corvette world. Every color or combination seems to be "Rare". CE are rare...but it appears dang near half of the 96 production where them. At least by the number for sale. Just sayin.
The CE is NOT one of them. They made more '96 Collector Edition models than any other '96.
But that model was never intended to be rare, it was just a tribute to the last C4.
Lots of people will tell you "rare" in the Corvette world.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
Marketing sells to stupid people...what's worst today is that with the Internet it is so easy to tell how many cars were produced in a certain production year. Generally when I see the word "rare" used in a sales ad, I move on to the next ad. If indeed a car is rare, you don't need to advertise it as an buyer who knows their stuff will know it right from the start! Another ad that annoys me is when you see people selling a "96 Red Grand Sport"...see even the engine says it's a Grand Sport!!! 
But sadly there are a bunch of stupid people who fall for it every time!
But sadly there are a bunch of stupid people who fall for it every time!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 763
no flames, but the term "rare C4" is an oxymoron, and one out of five, 1996 corvette were CE's - hardly rare. "rare" and desirable, are two different things. people seem to add up all the unique things about their particular car, and slap the label "rare" on it - trying to justify something, usually the price or value of the car. color, suspension, transmission type, etc, doesn't make a car rare, and there are very few rare corvettes out there. only when the manufacturer limits production, or has constraints and stops production for some reason could something be considered rare. there is a dealer on-line, right now with a "rare arctic white" 2011 C6 - how the F can something be rare that's in current production without constraints??? big picture, every corvette is extremely "rare" since every one has a unique VIN number. people, and usually dealers that use the term "rare" are clueless! 
Last edited by Joe C; Apr 16, 2011 at 09:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Speaking of dealers, These cars listed for 15-18 grand. Does anyone actually buy them? I'm not talking about ZR1s or Grand Sports just low mile C4s. I see listings that are from 2010 and they still have em but don't seem to budge on the price. I'm sure they aren't that deep into them. I worked in new car dealerships and never could understand the thought process. I saw them take cars to auction and sell for less than what they were offered.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
No offence taken. I wasn't intending to bash Corvettes. If I didn't like them, I wouldn't be looking. And I see the "rare" term used a lot with other vehicles too.
I have an 80 Triumph TR8 of which less than 3000 were made in 80-81 Perhaps you could consider it somewhat rare. But there aren't that many people looking to buy one either.
I have an 80 Triumph TR8 of which less than 3000 were made in 80-81 Perhaps you could consider it somewhat rare. But there aren't that many people looking to buy one either.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Sussex,Wi
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
I'm new to Corvettes but I'm a fast learner. This seems to be one of the most used/abused words in the Corvette world. Every color or combination seems to be "Rare". CE are rare...but it appears dang near half of the 96 production where them. At least by the number for sale. Just sayin.
I keep thinking about a time way back when I was younger. A friend was shoping for a new Pontiac Trans Am. He wanted the Smoky and the Bandit one, black with the big bird on the hood. It was around 78-79 I believe. Yes I am that old. So we are at the largest Pontiac dealer in the Pittsburgh area. He's trying to make a cash deal on one. The salesman says " I'm sorry sir but we can't discount these. They are hard to find" My friend says " WHAT?? You have 5 of them sitting right here." He ended up buying one at another dealership. They only had 3 but were willing to deal.
I keep thinking about a time way back when I was younger. A friend was shoping for a new Pontiac Trans Am. He wanted the Smoky and the Bandit one, black with the big bird on the hood. It was around 78-79 I believe. Yes I am that old. So we are at the largest Pontiac dealer in the Pittsburgh area. He's trying to make a cash deal on one. The salesman says " I'm sorry sir but we can't discount these. They are hard to find" My friend says " WHAT?? You have 5 of them sitting right here." He ended up buying one at another dealership. They only had 3 but were willing to deal.
I had a '78 until 1998, the movie version was a '79 I believe, but they were the same cars.
I got mine for $1200 under sticker, as the dealership owner drove it for close to a year.
Rare back then? Nope.
Today? Not yet. Still too many available.
10-15 years from now, maybe.
Rare C4. About 25 years from now. Or more.
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Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
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2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
I had a '78 until 1998, the movie version was a '79 I believe, but they were the same cars.
I got mine for $1200 under sticker, as the dealership owner drove it for close to a year.
Rare back then? Nope.
Today? Not yet. Still too many available.
10-15 years from now, maybe.
Rare C4. About 25 years from now. Or more.
I got mine for $1200 under sticker, as the dealership owner drove it for close to a year.
Rare back then? Nope.
Today? Not yet. Still too many available.
10-15 years from now, maybe.
Rare C4. About 25 years from now. Or more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,198
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From: Homestead Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
I had a 79 T/A myself. I really enjoyed that car but I like the Corvette more. 
Rare C4s ..... Callaway or Challenge car. Limited production ZR1,CE, 35th Anniversary or GS. Ultimate collector an 83. IMO
Rare C4s ..... Callaway or Challenge car. Limited production ZR1,CE, 35th Anniversary or GS. Ultimate collector an 83. IMO
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 2
From: Alpine, Texas
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
From: MD
rare doesn't mean much... my 1986 corvette is Rare...
it has cloth Seats...
no power locks, yet it has power windows, and mirrors...
It has the regular GM Stereo, not the Bose...
I would go on... but like 2% of Vettes my year had some of these Non-Options... doesn't make it worth more...
Philip
it has cloth Seats...
no power locks, yet it has power windows, and mirrors...
It has the regular GM Stereo, not the Bose...
I would go on... but like 2% of Vettes my year had some of these Non-Options... doesn't make it worth more...
Philip
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
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From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Movie version was 77/78. I loved that car, and thought they destroyed the TA with that ugly front end in 79. Now, it don't seem so bad, but the 77/78 is a fairly rare car in Black (it good shape, that's the rare part) and hard to find for under $20k. Not bad for a not-go-fast smog mobile.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
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From: Pennsylvania
I have to admit those were bad azz looking cars. The stock ralley wheels and white lettered tires look so cool on those cars. The shaker hood also added to the great body lines. They weren't the most powerful cars, but were one of the nicest looking ones from the 70's and 80's.