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I recently ran across an ad for a 1998 C5 that is Medium Purple Pearl Metallic, and now I've got a couple of questions for those with way more expertise than me.
I've never seen that color in person, although photos I've seen pique my interest. Those of you who have seen it up close, how does it look?
And, with less than 400 of those cars in 1998 painted that color, how much should that bit of rarity affect value?
I'm interested in honest opinions here, so have at it. Thanks.
Radar purple was used on the pace cars and is a different color from purple pearl metallic. The purple pearl is, IMHO, a very nice color and looks good on a Corvette. In 1998 381 were done in medium purple pearl metallic, to use its full name. It was a one year only color.
The medium purple pearl metallic is a color that really looks different depending on the light. I would say it has gray undertones, maybe - at least to my eye. To me it is a beautiful color for the C5 and if I had seen one for sale in good condition during my search I definitely would have seriously considered it. What color is the interior on the car you are interested in? Not sure if the rare color adds anything to value, guessing very little since the C5 is not a collector car.
Prices based on rarity, when dealing with Corvettes is seldom greatly enhanced by non drive related options. History has shown us that high horsepower options are a bonus at resale time. Thus the L-88. L-89 in the mid years and early C-3s bring huge premium over non performance cars of similar other options. The early C-1s with the fuel injection option or the two fours option bring more money than base engine cars.
Pace cars may be the one small exception , 78 Pace cars bring a small (even large sometimes) premium over other 78s. This may or may not be the case for other Pace car Corvettes. The C-4 95 Pace car is a true rarity and pristine examples often bring a real nice premium. The 86 Pace car rarely brings much premium.
The purple C-5 may be 'rare', but it's value is more related to personal taste than anything else.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
There were 381 of the 95U Medium Purple Pearl Metallic Corvettes produced in 1998. I saw one of them at the Chevy/Vette Expo in Chicago in 2005. It was beautiful under the lights and I complemented the owner on how nice it looked.
Found this pic with a Google search:
It was the one advertised in Seattle that caught my eye. It'll be June before I'm in a position to buy, though. (I'm looking for something to drive while I'm in Seattle in the summer months)
I really haven't seen a C5 that I disliked regardless of color, although I'm partial to Torch Red and that deep, dark blue. The bright purple pace car isn't my favorite, either, but the Medium Pearl Purple Metallic really caught my eye when I saw photos. I'd love to see one in person.
Hey Harley6, I see you are in the Phoenix area. The picture that jdvann posted is actually mine. I am located in east Mesa so if you want to see one upclose and personal so you can make up your mind about the color then give me a little notice and we can meet up someplace and time. Here's a picture of it from the front.
I love the Grape Ape...one of my all time favorites on here!
Originally Posted by mstromquist
Hey Harley6, I see you are in the Phoenix area. The picture that jdvann posted is actually mine. I am located in east Mesa so if you want to see one upclose and personal so you can make up your mind about the color then give me a little notice and we can meet up someplace and time. Here's a picture of it from the front.
That looks awesome! I am on the other side of the Valley in Goodyear. I'll definitely send you a note about getting together when I get a chance to get away. Do you ever take it to any of the local cruise nights (Scottsdale Pavilions, etc.)?
Originally Posted by mstromquist
Hey Harley6, I see you are in the Phoenix area. The picture that jdvann posted is actually mine. I am located in east Mesa so if you want to see one upclose and personal so you can make up your mind about the color then give me a little notice and we can meet up someplace and time. Here's a picture of it from the front.
Great color, if not for torch red that I bought this was my second choice.That is a color that you can really make shine. Owned a caprice in that color and I really liked it.
I really wish I could get out with it more but I work most Saturdays. Saturdays are my Mondays and I work the night shift to boot. So it doesn't get out to much. The first Saturday of every month is Corvettes & Caffeine at Corvette Performance in Scottsdale located at 2318 N Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85257. It usually starts around 7 or so and lasts until people leave late into the morning. The next one should be March 7th. I can meet you there if you want and that will work for you? Or we can try for sometime sooner if you need to.
Last edited by mstromquist; Feb 27, 2015 at 09:18 PM.
I'm going to be tied up the next couple of weekends, so I'll send you a note when I see I'll be free. No hurry; I'll be in AZ until late May.
That Corvettes & Caffeine sounds inviting, although I'm not sure what the reaction would be when I rolled in. My ride down here is a 1969 Mustang sportsroof.
Originally Posted by mstromquist
I really wish I could get out with it more but I work most Saturdays. Saturdays are my Mondays and I work the night shift to boot. So it doesn't get out to much. The first Saturday of every month is Corvettes & Caffeine at Corvette Performance in Scottsdale located at 2318 N Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85257. It usually starts around 7 or so and lasts until people leave late into the morning. The next one should be March 7th. I can meet you there if you want and that will work for you? Or we can try for sometime sooner if you need to.
Thanks for the kind words everyone. Much appreciated.
As for meeting some place, I have next Wednesday thru Friday off if any of those days work for you better? And as for driving your Stang to a Vette party, there have been people that do that but I think they make them park in the back...You would think I am kidding but I am not......They do appreciate other types of cars but they tend to want Corvettes at this party. So if any of those other days work for you let me know. I sleep during the days most of the time but I gravitate towards the day shift mode on my weekends, Wed. thru Fri..
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
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Purple
...They do appreciate other types of cars but they tend to want Corvettes at this party. So if any of those other days work for you let me know. I sleep during the days most of the time but I gravitate towards the day shift mode on my weekends, Wed. thru Fri..