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Down the road years from now the 1997 C5 should be the sought after corvette with only 9,752 made. Thats the lowest run with the independent rear end ever! Thats less than the 63 split window 10,594 produced. Then figure in the fact that about 1/3 of the 97's are not around anymore, either wrecked, defiled or raced. So hang on to those 97's
By the time '97s become collector's cars, none of them will be drivable anymore because of all the electronic parts being discontinued, and all the spares will be gone...
The issue with the C5 I see is that it was effectively the first Corvette that didn't receive a major mid-cycle refresh. If you put later thin spokes on a 1997 Torch Red it's going to look no different than a 2004 Torch Red. That's both a good and bad thing in that owners of very early cars can pass their cars off as effectively being any year C5 at initial glance. The other side of the coin is that very early cars have their issues, in addition to the aforementioned parts issue also having to deal with things like unique brake and ABS setup '97-early '98 cars have, among others, that doesn't necessarily make them desirable. They're also not easily rectifiable issues, which will reduce their ownership base.
That and the following is an opinion, and you know the saying on opinions, but my opinion is the C5s to own from a collect-ability standpoint would be;
1) The last year made, especially Commemoratives. The reasoning here will be the last year made, and doubly the Commemorative trims, get all the bells and whistles that GM could throw at the C5. You're going to see something similar with C4 Corvettes in the future as people look for the GS or manual trans '96s with the same 330 HP as the GS.
2) Hard to find colors. Colors play a lot more into value than people may think especially when documented and when presented with a color not typically associated with speed (not red, yellow, etc). Remember color is the first thing you see and it plays with emotions in different ways depending on the individual. "Odd" colors will be key. Think colors like the '98 Amethyst Purple, Bowling Green metallic, etc. We may laugh now but 10 - 15 years from now someone sitting with a clean Amethyst car will probably have something very marketable. I like my Nassau Blue which I think is difficult to find but it'll take some major time to really appreciate value-wise.
Eventually - years and years from now when the market dwindles - C5s of all shape will be collectable but I think it will be the reverse of conventional thinking. Again, we're already seeing this with the C4. How many people do you know are clamoring to jump into an '84 crossfire, or a pre-LT1 anything? If anything later C4s are seeing a very nice uptick in value.
Well I would have to disagree if you are talking merely production numbers of C5 Corvettes. The Z06 should be at the top of your prediction:
2001-5,773
2002- 8,297
2003- 8,635
2004- 5,683
Or even more "rare" is the FRC-
1999- 4,031 2000- 2,941
I guess the word collectable should be defined...collectable as what, a car you do nothing with except look at? Like I said, one day all of the electronic parts that make a C5 drivable will quit working, and replacements will no longer be available...the C5 will be an immoveable conversation piece...
Another dream, a collectable C5. If it's rare in color or options choice it's only because no one wanted that color or option package. Anyone who bought one and put it in storage for a collectable investment lost their shirt in $$$ but still have a collection. Back in 1967 you could get a three speed manual transmission, they are rare because NO ONE WANTED THEM!
Another dream, a collectable C5. If it's rare in color or options choice it's only because no one wanted that color or option package. Anyone who bought one and put it in storage for a collectable investment lost their shirt in $$$ but still have a collection. Back in 1967 you could get a three speed manual transmission, they are rare because NO ONE WANTED THEM!
Corvette Mike has a C5 that is this goldish, copperish color he said was extremely rare...he's had the car for over a year...I can see why, the color is ugly as hell...
I got news for all of you people, my 03 vert will be the one people will want! I don't care what you all think!
Sure they made several million of them but this one is mine and I have the best one!
So there!
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
C5s as a collectible car - not for many, many years, if ever. They are a great platform and the bang for the buck is obvious, but there was really nothing that would make them rocket up in price like many of the older Corvettes did.
It will happen sooner or later and to some degree. All one has to do is look at cars from the sixties and trucks for that matter. I am amazed at the prices some examples are bringing and the amount of money people are willing to put into their restorations.
As to the original question about the 97, I see no reason to suspect that the 97 would be anymore valuable down the road that any other model year.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-
'23-'24
Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
C5s as a collectible car - not for many, many years, if ever. They are a great platform and the bang for the buck is obvious, but there was really nothing that would make them rocket up in price like many of the older Corvettes did.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
I view cars as an investment in pleasure. If they go up or maintain their value over the years that's a nice by-product of all the enjoyment they bring. I have a 97 and it's as nice to drive as any other C5 I've owned. Not worried about collectibility.
These old Vettes have served me well over the years.
65 I bought for $1,500 46 years ago:
61 I bought 35 years ago for $8,500
They have certainly gone up in value. but the enjoyment I've had over the years: Priceless
Making new memories with my 97
Well if had known what my 59 Vette, 65 SS Chevy convertible, 66 GTO, or 69 442 would be worth today, back then, I could by a few more C5's. But, then we are going into a post-petroleum era. Who knows what gas burners will bring in the future?
11-20-2017, 10:29 AM
1997 C5 - The next high dollar collector car?
before any year C5 gets to the dollar numbers of the C1/C2's or ever. 