$1200-Vette
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,294
Likes: 1,527
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
$1200-Vette
I got to thinking about the first vette I had and the cost. I bought
a used 1959 fulie with a hardtop no softtop for $1200. Wow did I
think I was a big stinky. The price of new vettes are in the 45 to 50
thousand range and were not talking convertables or the ZO6. I
wouldnt be surprised if a base model in 10 years will come close to
100,000 thousand! Do you think GM will allow the price to creep up
to the 100K price or actually produce a cheap vette as the C5 flat
top was suppose to be. What did you pay for your first vette ?
And do think a 2014 vette will cost 100K.
Thanks for your thoughts---road pilot
a used 1959 fulie with a hardtop no softtop for $1200. Wow did I
think I was a big stinky. The price of new vettes are in the 45 to 50
thousand range and were not talking convertables or the ZO6. I
wouldnt be surprised if a base model in 10 years will come close to
100,000 thousand! Do you think GM will allow the price to creep up
to the 100K price or actually produce a cheap vette as the C5 flat
top was suppose to be. What did you pay for your first vette ?
And do think a 2014 vette will cost 100K.
Thanks for your thoughts---road pilot
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,060
Likes: 24,730
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
My first Vette was a 79 and I paid around $11.5 for it at the time (1983 or so). I doubt the car will hit $100K for a base model, but I really don't see them going down anytime soon.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
My 1st Vette was a 1990 and it ran me $7900.00 and I was so pleased with it! Did about every bolt on possible then it got wrecked-
Now I have the '98 and it ran me from a forum member $17,000.00 and this is getting all the bells and whistles-It has about all the bolt ons now- this week were looking at the H/C Exhaust Dyno tune-
My next Vette will still be a used one and will probably get a C6 and again it will not be new it'll be used- Better price!
Thanks,Matt
Now I have the '98 and it ran me from a forum member $17,000.00 and this is getting all the bells and whistles-It has about all the bolt ons now- this week were looking at the H/C Exhaust Dyno tune-
My next Vette will still be a used one and will probably get a C6 and again it will not be new it'll be used- Better price!
Thanks,Matt
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 3
From: Havelock North Carolina
When I was a kid I really lusted over the 50's Vettes. I remember you could buy a new one for $3600. Too bad that was over a years income for most families.
I paid $3800 for my first Vette, a '68 Vert in 1972.
I wouldn't doubt a Vette would be hitting $100K by 2014.
I paid $3800 for my first Vette, a '68 Vert in 1972.
I wouldn't doubt a Vette would be hitting $100K by 2014.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 28
From: San Dimas Ca.
Back in 72 I would rebuild crashed C2s to make some money. I had a real nice 65 coupe that I personally crashed. It needed a front end so I bought a 64 convertible with an iffy engine for $400 took what I needed and sold it for $200. At the time I thought I did pretty good.
I was talking to a guy who had a 66 327/350 4 speed convertible at a car show. It had 18k original miles on it and he had just sold it for $125,000.
Rick
I was talking to a guy who had a 66 327/350 4 speed convertible at a car show. It had 18k original miles on it and he had just sold it for $125,000.
Rick
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 1
From: Mexico Mo
first vette $850.00
I paid 850.00 for my first vette in 1968. A 1959 white,red interior. Then $1200.00 for a 61 fuelie, $3000.00 for a factory air 64 coupe,$2700.00 for a factory air convertible,$3000.00 for a 65 396 425 hp convertible.The list goes on.....over 300 since 1968. One more, a 67 425 hp convertible I sold twice for $5500.00 in 1975. This car brought $164000.00 two years ago. If I had oly kept them.. Still have the memories and a vette in the garage now!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Thousand Oaks CA.
First 3 Vettes bought in mid-80's
63 Vert..............6000
65 Vert..............12000 365 W/Air all matching
67 Coupe............4000
Biggest Mistake.........Passed on a 68 L88 for 15000...Told the guy
68's will never be worth anything
63 Vert..............6000
65 Vert..............12000 365 W/Air all matching
67 Coupe............4000
Biggest Mistake.........Passed on a 68 L88 for 15000...Told the guy
68's will never be worth anything
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
First vette was a 56 in 1957. Soft and hard tops, 13 coats of 56 Buick Tahitian red hand rubbed lacquer with bronze racing stripes. I traded a 55 Chevy bel air vert and $800 for it. At that time it was really 
.
.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
From: CA
My first vette. A 1956 I bought in April 1958. 225 HP Aztec Copper/White cove. Hardtop only. $2400.00. I purchased it from a used car dealer, named Dodo Cendali. I'll never forget that name! In 1959 I bought another 1956. It had a $25.00 white paint job over the original red. Still red on jams and behind the windshield. I paid $800.00 for it. I painted all the remaining red with a rattle can and sold it six weeks later for $1500.00. Years later I realized out of the 3467 cars built that year I had two of them in my garage at the same time. By the way, I was making $2.73 an hour working in a electric generating plant. At 240 days X 8 hours a day X $2.73 gives $5241.00. So now we make $50,000.00-75,00.00 a year. 10 to 15 times times that. A new 56 Vette was about $3500.00, or about 7 months wages for me. 10-15 times that is $35.000.00-52,500.00, about 7 months wages. I see the same basic price today as 1956. But what do we get for our $50,000.00 now? 400 Hp with 70% better mileage, full power, great ride, fantastic handling, excellent fit and finish- well -(over the original anyhow), etc.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
First one was a dealer car 62 Vert bought in 64 for $2995.
Second was a 59 I picked up used (283 PowerGlide) $1675.
Third was a 63 SW Z06 Tanker for $2600 with 87 miles on it (wish I'd kept it)
4th - 13th included 68 through 79
14th my present C5 Other than the C5 I drive now the best was the 63. When I think back it drove like a truck compared to the C5.
Wife now wants a Z06 either C5 or C6.
Will get it shortly and keep the C5.
Second was a 59 I picked up used (283 PowerGlide) $1675.
Third was a 63 SW Z06 Tanker for $2600 with 87 miles on it (wish I'd kept it)
4th - 13th included 68 through 79
14th my present C5 Other than the C5 I drive now the best was the 63. When I think back it drove like a truck compared to the C5.
Wife now wants a Z06 either C5 or C6.
Will get it shortly and keep the C5.
