Modifying or keeping Original
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
They made a quarter million of them. Mod away!! 
________________________________________ ___
A few reasons why I always had to have a day job:
http://soundcloud.com/theofly
________________________________________ ___
A few reasons why I always had to have a day job:
http://soundcloud.com/theofly
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Value when it comes time to sell it will depend who you sell to and when you decide to sell it . If you sell when there are still plenty of cars and years like yours then it might not make that much difference but when your car gets older and becomes a classic then it will matter a whole lot . Originals always sell for a whole lot more and thats why mine will stay bone stock and pampered. I don't believe you can improve what is already perfect but you will always find plenty of people who don't agree and it's there car . I don't care , that makes it better for the rest of us with stock cars. 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 333
From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
I bought mine with 21,000 (now 23,000) miles and it was bone stock. Not really interested in modding it, the performance is great as it is, and I feel obligated to keep it stock - for now LOL! It's only original once. If I ever sell it, let the new owner have a clean slate to do whatever.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
I can see it now..... years later I sell my C5, they walk up to me in my wheel chair and lean down and scream...Mr Rick! we sold your BONE STOCK C5 for big bucks! I reach up with a crippled hand holding a hankerchief and wipe the drool off my face and weakly say whoopie! I can buy a large pack of Depends!
Spare me the I'm saving it for an investment.....for a casket maybe!
Spare me the I'm saving it for an investment.....for a casket maybe!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 48
From: Yuma CO
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 19
From: Los Angeles
Buyer thought process
Engine mods = hard life of WOT shifts and track days.
Body mods = hiding some type of previous collision.
I knew I wanted a modded Corvette, but searched for a bone stock one because I don't have the time to trust or correct other people's shoddy work.
Engine mods = hard life of WOT shifts and track days.
Body mods = hiding some type of previous collision.
I knew I wanted a modded Corvette, but searched for a bone stock one because I don't have the time to trust or correct other people's shoddy work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Buyer thought process
Engine mods = hard life of WOT shifts and track days.
Body mods = hiding some type of previous collision.
I knew I wanted a modded Corvette, but searched for a bone stock one because I don't have the time to trust or correct other people's shoddy work.
Engine mods = hard life of WOT shifts and track days.
Body mods = hiding some type of previous collision.
I knew I wanted a modded Corvette, but searched for a bone stock one because I don't have the time to trust or correct other people's shoddy work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,296
Likes: 1,531
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
You know all of the TV auctions have gone out of control. Folks
think they are going to buy a stock vette keep it a few years
and then sell it and become millionair's. This is the exception
and not the rule. Cars are built to be driven not for investment
( with few exceptions). Yea I have a model vette that was
produced and there are only 2 like it in the model year. I
would be 100 years old before I would become a million
air (possibly). Instead I modified it and enjoy it. I try to live
what I preach--drive your vette hard and stop just staring
at it (they ware out just sitting in the garage).
think they are going to buy a stock vette keep it a few years
and then sell it and become millionair's. This is the exception
and not the rule. Cars are built to be driven not for investment
( with few exceptions). Yea I have a model vette that was
produced and there are only 2 like it in the model year. I
would be 100 years old before I would become a million
air (possibly). Instead I modified it and enjoy it. I try to live
what I preach--drive your vette hard and stop just staring
at it (they ware out just sitting in the garage).
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
You couldn't have said it better. Mods equal abuse in some peoples minds so mods = lower value. But if you are intending to beat the car after you get it , then I guess the mods would equal a + since you won't have to spend the additional money. But of course those cars never become survivors either.
Just because you have a huge weener doesn't mean you have to pull it out and show it to everyone. Sometimes just knowing you have it is enough.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 30
From: Fairfax Virginia
Personally, I vastly prefer stock cars. On this forum there is a lot higher percentage of people that prefer modded cars than I think you will find in the general population of vette owners. I don't dislike modded cars to look at them at a show. Most mods will disqualify a car from my ever considering purchasing it.
I realize that I'm expressing a minority opinion in this thread, but somebody considering the question of should I mod or not should be aware of both sides.
I realize that I'm expressing a minority opinion in this thread, but somebody considering the question of should I mod or not should be aware of both sides.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 48
From: Yuma CO
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Okay, this brings up a question I have been thinking about for a while. I know with earlier generations and the whole NCRS thing, "numbers matching" cars were worth the most money!!!
Is this no longer an issue? Have the numbering systems at the factory changed to where there is no way to tell if a car still has the original engine or not?
The reason I ask is that so many people are buying stroker motors, Katech engines (427's mostly I think), etc. that it makes me wonder.
I'm a fat, old guy so stock is pretty much enough for me at this point. If I had all of the money back that I poured into seriously fast bikes and cars over the years, and I mean seriously fast, that I never got back out of them, I would not even have to work now!!! I could just polish and drive my basically stock Z51, 3:15 geared black '99 A4 coupe and not look back!!
Obviously that is not the case at this point, so I'm curious about the numbers matching thing.
DSTURBD
Is this no longer an issue? Have the numbering systems at the factory changed to where there is no way to tell if a car still has the original engine or not?
The reason I ask is that so many people are buying stroker motors, Katech engines (427's mostly I think), etc. that it makes me wonder.
I'm a fat, old guy so stock is pretty much enough for me at this point. If I had all of the money back that I poured into seriously fast bikes and cars over the years, and I mean seriously fast, that I never got back out of them, I would not even have to work now!!! I could just polish and drive my basically stock Z51, 3:15 geared black '99 A4 coupe and not look back!!
Obviously that is not the case at this point, so I'm curious about the numbers matching thing.
DSTURBD
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 514
Likes: 3
From: Levittown NY
Okay, this brings up a question I have been thinking about for a while. I know with earlier generations and the whole NCRS thing, "numbers matching" cars were worth the most money!!!
Is this no longer an issue? Have the numbering systems at the factory changed to where there is no way to tell if a car still has the original engine or not?
The reason I ask is that so many people are buying stroker motors, Katech engines (427's mostly I think), etc. that it makes me wonder.
I'm a fat, old guy so stock is pretty much enough for me at this point. If I had all of the money back that I poured into seriously fast bikes and cars over the years, and I mean seriously fast, that I never got back out of them, I would not even have to work now!!! I could just polish and drive my basically stock Z51, 3:15 geared black '99 A4 coupe and not look back!!
Obviously that is not the case at this point, so I'm curious about the numbers matching thing.
DSTURBD
Is this no longer an issue? Have the numbering systems at the factory changed to where there is no way to tell if a car still has the original engine or not?
The reason I ask is that so many people are buying stroker motors, Katech engines (427's mostly I think), etc. that it makes me wonder.
I'm a fat, old guy so stock is pretty much enough for me at this point. If I had all of the money back that I poured into seriously fast bikes and cars over the years, and I mean seriously fast, that I never got back out of them, I would not even have to work now!!! I could just polish and drive my basically stock Z51, 3:15 geared black '99 A4 coupe and not look back!!
Obviously that is not the case at this point, so I'm curious about the numbers matching thing.
DSTURBD
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 48
From: Yuma CO
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
You make very valid points about spending so much money on toys but the real question is, did you enjoy it? Because that is the only purpose in life I can figure is fun factor. Also about keeping original and #'s matching, you and I both know we will be long dead before these cars are of the value caliber of a c1-c2 so why gip yourself of all the fun of modding to appease this false sense of value?
I had a '55 Chevy 210 sedan (in other words, not a Bel Aire) that I equipped with an L88 spec 427, actual Muncie Rock Crusher 4 speed (I know 'cause I rebuilt it and saw the straight-cut gears with my own eyes) and a '59 Pontiac rear diff. with the front drop-out third member (absolutely indestructible), that would absolutely scare people to death with the acceleration it was capable of!!!!!!!
My only regret with that car was that my wife at the time was such a hot shoe that she could cut my best time by at least a full second every time!!!!!! That little girl could flat out drive !!!!!!
When I got ready to sell it, I had a guy tell me to take him for a ride to see what it could do. I just smiled and said, "No, she'll take you for a ride!!!!!!!!" I could describe how she left with with rubber burning, power-slid out of the alleyway into the street without having to correct with the steering to get oriented 90 degrees right to go up the street, but I'm sure you can picture it, etc., etc.
He crawled out after the ride and said, "Dude!!!!!!! I have to have this car!!!!!!!!
Wish I had that one back!!!DSTURBD
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Mods really depend on how much they take away from the original design.
For instance, CCW SP500's are a mod that brings ADDED value to the car for 99.99% of buyers out there. Black wheels are a hit/miss mod that will not bring value, but will eliminate some potential buyers.
There are "safe" mods which are the MOST popular among corvette owners, then there are subjective mods that only appeal to certain circles. Sitck with the "safe" ones and you will be able to modify your car while retaining the biggest buyer pool when it comes time to sell.
For instance, CCW SP500's are a mod that brings ADDED value to the car for 99.99% of buyers out there. Black wheels are a hit/miss mod that will not bring value, but will eliminate some potential buyers.
There are "safe" mods which are the MOST popular among corvette owners, then there are subjective mods that only appeal to certain circles. Sitck with the "safe" ones and you will be able to modify your car while retaining the biggest buyer pool when it comes time to sell.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 62
From: New Madison Ohio
Buyer thought process
Engine mods = hard life of WOT shifts and track days.
Body mods = hiding some type of previous collision.
I knew I wanted a modded Corvette, but searched for a bone stock one because I don't have the time to trust or correct other people's shoddy work.
Engine mods = hard life of WOT shifts and track days.
Body mods = hiding some type of previous collision.
I knew I wanted a modded Corvette, but searched for a bone stock one because I don't have the time to trust or correct other people's shoddy work.
But, I also agree with the statement below too. And that last line is just too funny..
Not everyone abuses their modified cars.
Just because you have a huge weener doesn't mean you have to pull it out and show it to everyone. Sometimes just knowing you have it is enough.