When looking at C4s and their prices people need to take into consideration as to whether it is in need of a lot of work to get it all fixed right or is it already there and needs little or no work at all.

We have our 1994 Torch Red over Red/Black Coupe for sale. It has 57,609 original miles, both tops, everything works with the exception of the PKE, and how many still work anyway. We just completely replaced the entire Fuel System and Opti Spark Ignition System, over $2K as C4 owners know too well so she is ready to roll. We have received many comments on it's original paint as it looks and shines like new. This car has won numerous awards over the years all the way up to Twins Division at Lone Star Corvette Classic with my Brother and his 1994 Copper Metallic Coupe. They are both beautiful Vettes.

My biggest gripe/rant/complaint whatever you choose is that people think just because it is a C4 you should just about give it away. I take extremely good care of my Vettes to point of being OCD, and some offers have been absolutely insulting saying things like KBB says this and NADA says this. We all know that Corvettes go by none of these.

 

That looks really nice. What are you asking?

The problem I had was the "Craiglist Keyboad Cowards" that knew what my car was worth without ever seeing the car let alone driving it.

 

I listed it at $14,500 based on the January 2016 Corvette Magazine
C4 Buyers Guide Ranges Being:
Good-------------$14,500
Show Ready-----$21,000
* Add $1,500 for removable top which it has both.

I felt this is a fair and honest assessment with 57,609 miles and everything works.

 

One issue is that there are so many for sale, people have their pick. Go out to autotrader or any of the other sites and start scanning for low mileage C4's. About 25 miles from my house is a business that specializes in low mileage Corvettes of all generations.

They have a 1995 Red Coupe with .... 1,727 yes 1,727 miles on it, that was stored in a climate controlled room being sold for $21,978. There is a 2004 with 34K miles being sold at a local dealership for $22,000 and a just a lot of cars being sold right now, at least around the Akron Ohio area.

A private party is listing his red 95 coupe, garage kept, with 18,000 miles for $16,000. So you know if folks show up with cash, all 3 of these cars can be bought for some degree of less.

That is part of what you are running up against. Some real stiff competition in regards to selling.

 

Not knowing the options but seeing your photo I think $14,500 is a great price with both tops. I am not sure how to factor in the price with those miles but my guess still is $14,500 is pretty good. Have you tried Cars.com or Craigslist? This should give you an idea what the price should be and you should get real buyers.

 

Those are pretty good prices, more than the OP’s car. I think he should be able to get his asking price.

 

I based my price on this chart.
I feel our car is actually in the middle of Good to Show Ready but I am realistic and decided to stay on the lower end because I do want to sell the
Vette but I do not have to either. I could have added for the removable hard top but I felt the price we are asking is within reason since everything
except the PKE works. What with the Opti Spark and all ignition parts being new & the Fuel System being all new being over $2K in replacements done
at that time I still feel this is a good price for someone who wants a C4 that has been done right and you can enjoy it from day one.

 

Maybe mine is rated good because that is where they gave me there last offer of $12,000. I see your car on there too; if that is correct I think you are being more than reasonable. Give Craigslist and Cars.com a try and the ad is free.

 

I was showing what was available around this area for the top price that was listed. In our area, low mileage, 1 owner C4's are listed around the $12,500 to $15,500 range .There was a 22K mile, single owner car that came in from California (a 1990) and a 34K mile, 1 owner '94, at $12,500 also, both coupes, both auto's, both immaculate.

I spent the last 6 weeks watching prices and reading ads before I bought the '96 a couple weeks ago. I bought this one for $15,500 and they were very generous with my trade-in. I bumped it over 12K miles on the ride home. Granted it is not an LT4, but it is a nice car, with Z51 suspension.

There are lots of cars for sale around the country. Craigslist is full of them. C2',3's,4's etc. There are people that are getting older, unable to get into their cars anymore, and are trading them in. That is how I got mine. The woman bought it for her 50'th birthday in 1996 and put just under 12,000 miles on it in 20 yrs. The '94 I mentioned above, was also immaculate, was traded in on a SUV because they couldn't get into it anymore.

There are lots of 84's and 85's around here also. There was a reasonably clean 84 that had $3950 OBO in the window locally.

I was not insulting his car. Just illustrating that there is a lot of competition for the sale. It is going to be the meticulousness of the care that will set it apart from the others with similar or less mileage.

 

Regardless of what pricing guides say, C4's are at a low point and still falling. They are plentiful, with complicated and aging electronics that are expensive to repair. While they will almost certainly rise in value over time, currently it's a buyer's market. It's worth what you can get in whatever time frame you have.

 

drcook I agree with what you are saying. I think the OP is asking the right price. His car looks good and I am guessing those that you have highlighted are probably pretty darn good too. I never thought you were insulting his car. Unquestionably there is lots of competition from not only other Corvettes but other car, motorcycles, boats and other things.

 

You are correct about the aging electronics in these C4s. My '94 has had all of that done with Certified GM Restoration Parts. This Vette is done. If someone wants to start the NCRS process on this Vette you can take "Beauty" as far as you want to. She Is Done.
Most people buy C4s that need work and spend the money to get them right and then they have a "Done" Vette. And as you know that can get rather costly. I am to a point very OCD about my Vettes I have owned and the key to keeping them right is taking care of them and not abusing them so you can enjoy them and not have to work on them all the time.

 

GLWTS from a fellow Eran!

 

There are lots of cars for sale around the country. Craigslist is full of them. C2',3's,4's etc. There are people that are getting older, unable to get into their cars anymore, and are trading them in. That is how I got mine. The woman bought it for her 50'th birthday in 1996 and put just under 12,000 miles on it in 20 yrs. The '94 I mentioned above, was also immaculate, was traded in on a SUV because they couldn't get into it anymore.


And it's really just beginning. One of the troubles C4 owners have is they tend to think of them as cars, and compare them to other cars. They are possessions or toys. Museum quality will always draw some attention, but other than that the market is either people who specifically want that year or group, and bargain hunters.

 

I hate to thing about what my track is with. I figure on a good day maybe $10,000.



Richard Newton
C4 Rear Suspension

 

My feelings are that the KBB, and NADA are merely guidelines. The magazines are always optimistic in my experience and the classic insurance guys are over rating them so the premium is higher. I could make far more money if my Vettes were stolen or totaled, I shudder at the thought, and the insurance ponied up. Our precious C4's have been relegated to the category of "daily driver" for now. There is no scarcity of fine examples. Anyone interested only has to have some patience and they can find the car of their dreams for a drop-jaw price. C4's don't command much attention at car shows so awards mean little to anyone but the current owner. Investment value only comes into play if there is something documented that makes yours special. Otherwise you're at the whim of the buyers. If you can find a buyer at $21k, more power to you. It comes down to being in the right place at the right time. No matter what the "book" says, its only worth what someone will pay. In that price range there are plenty of low mileage C5's around and more coming up every day. You may be able to get your price, whatever that may be. Good luck finding the right buyer.

 

I am not asking $21K. I put it at $14,500 to stay on the low end which if you looked on www.cargurus you would see is an exceptable price for a Vette that only needs the PKE reprogramed.
Oh, and if you have been watching any of the car related shows they will tell you that not all C4 are Beaters or Daily Drivers. Some of us have actually kept them original, take extremely good care of them, and only use Certified GM Restoration Parts when something does need repairs because that is the way we like them to be.
We are all proud of our Vettes and we all know to start a bit high to give yourself some negotiating room.

 

Even at the high point it's a lot of car for 21k. My Cruze stickered at $20,500 and its nothing special. With the money you've put into it 14.5 is a steal. The right buyer is out there.

 

My torch red 1994 six speed coupe has more miles, is pristine and everything works. Picked it up for a little over $6k. I guess it depends on the market.

 

Many dealers price by NADA or higher

Rest of the world generally goes by KBB....sure an ultra clean low miler could bring a little more but in the real world nobody thats shopping goes by collector magazine those are pie in the sky prices .

Not trying to burst anyones bubble just saying. Crappy economy, layoffs, cars that arent really in demand;nice sub 100k mi C5 in that range;40k+- mi ZR1 for teens

Somewhere out there is a buyer whos dream car belongs to you right now youll have to wait for him.

Many ads on the web have bogus come on ads, the car doesnt exist, sold aready pics are not the real car, careful out there.