5 Corvettes That Make a Great Investment
While some Corvettes have exploded in value over the years, good deals still exist if you want an appreciating asset.
1. 1973-1974 Corvette L82
The C3 Corvette, produced between 1968 and 1982, was a true mixed bag. Early cars are much more desirable, especially the front chrome bumper cars of '68-'72. But while most consider the 1972 to be the last desirable C3, don't overlook the 1973 and 1974 models with the L82 small block. Rated at 250 horsepower, it wasn't a barn burner like previous generations, but it was still plenty quick with a 4-speed manual. And with earlier C3's drying up, later cars will eventually start to catch up.
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2. C4 ZR1 (1990-1995)
It's hard to imagine any ZR1 coming at a bargain price, but the C4's are extremely cheap these days. You can't go wrong with any of them built between 1990 and 1995, but 1992 and up saw a power increase from 375 to 405 horsepower, making them a bit more desirable. Only 6,939 C4 ZR1's were produced, most likely due to the fact that the cost almost twice what a normal C4 went for at the time. All of which makes the C4 ZR1 a sound investment.
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3. 1963-1964 Corvette Convertible
You can forget about ever finding a 1963 Corvette split window coupe for a reasonable price, but people often ignore the convertible. The same goes for the '64 model, as most prefer the '65 and its disc brakes. And while no C2 is ever really going to be cheap, these two are still a pretty safe bet for future appreciation. Especially if you get one with the unloved 250 hp 327.
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4. 1996 LT4 Coupe/Convertible
1996 marked the last of the C4 Corvette before a vastly improved C5 came into the picture. But Chevy went out with a bang that year, offering a potent 330 horsepower/340 lb-ft of torque LT4 small block as an option. The more powerful engine was only available with the ZF 6-speed manual transmission, and offered a 30 hp boost over the base LT1. It's a special, and very much overlooked model.
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5. C1 (1958-1961)
Quad headlight early Corvettes aren't super cheap any more, but they are substantially cheaper than their predecessors. And there aren't exactly a ton of them out there, either. And while the look of the later model C1's isn't nearly as beloved as the '54-'57, it retains most of the original Corvette's flair. Plus, prices have nowhere to go but up, making them a great future investment - in both the short and long term.
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