rajsid

A 74 454 just came up for sale locally on CL. It's a project and the buyer is asking for 5k. It's supposedly a numbers matching rust free car. The rear bumper looks like it's from a 75 and I expect a lot more non original parts on it. I have not had a chance to go look at it, but I may.

Just wondering how valuable this car would be

(I just hope that my wife will not see this post )

bobbarry

Given the corrosion on the metal on the interior, I'd have a hard time believing the "rust-free" claim about the frame and birdcage. I'd double-check that part VERY closely.

Even still, it looks like it's going to need paint, interior and a lot of underhood detailing at minimum; every part I look at on that car has $$$ attached to it to either replace or refurbish. The cost of all that will probably exceed what it would cost to buy a nice big-block rubber-bumper coupe in the first place.

If you really wanted a project, and had a few years on your hands and liked getting them dirty, AND the frame was in great shape, then maybe I could see going to $3k-$4k if you really wanted a big-block rubber-bumper.

Or wait for someone else to buy it, let them sink a ton of time and money into it, and then buy their half-completed project from them when they get tired of it.

7T1vette

Does the engine run? If not or if you have no way to start it, then the value of that car is simply for parts. The owner believing that the engine is "good" means nothing to a buyer. Either prove it can run or sell it as "parts". $3K max for that thing. I really doubt that you can put that car in good condition for less than it will cost to repair it. Maybe you could break-even if you did your own body work and paint. Otherwise, it would take at least $20K to build a $15K car.

That would be a great project car for a high school auto tech class (if the owner donated it to the school).

rajsid

It's a running car.
The amount of work aside, is a 74 454 a desired car? Or will it ever be as desired as a chrome bumper big block car?

Mike Ward

They're already as desired, but not at the same money.

PRNDL

To answer your question, hopefully without offending any owners of bigblock 74s, I would guess that the cost of restoring this car to as-new condition would be more than its market value in that condition.

Grumpy 427

Any Factory big block car is a desirable car. Be sure your ready for a total restoration.

Ravine Speed

I think what the OP wants to know is if this makes financial sense. Certainly a '74 BB is "desirable", but is it "valuable". As the last year for the 454, I'd say it has some desirability (despite the anemic 270 hp), only 3,494 were produced, which is pretty small out of 37,500 made for '74.

Looking at these pictures and thinking about the top prices I've seen for a rubber bumper BB, I'd have to say that you'd be upside down almost immediately. Maybe someday this model will be a collectible, and this one in particular due to the last of the 454s, but right now they really aren't so you would undoubtedly put a lot more dough into this restoration than it is worth.

oldsarge

silver 1

it depends on who ur are, if ur a crome bumper guy then its not so desirable if ur a rubber bumper guy who likes big blocks then it will be desirable. the LS4, 270 net hp is the same as the 72 LS5, 270 net HP and the 73 LS4 at 275 net HP. the 71 LS5 was 365 hp and the 72 LS5 is suppose to be the same just a different system to rate the HP which is 270 net. i can't figure out who every body get so upside down about the 74 HP rating when it is the same as the 72-73

bobbarry

I think the chrome-bumper cars will always carry a premium over the rubber-bumper cars, for a number of reasons:

* Fewer produced, for fewer production-years
* Impression that they are always higher-performance (a false impression, but a prevailing one nonetheless)
* Chrome equates to "classic" in many people's minds, whereas the rubber-bumpers are "just like" newer cars in many people's minds
* More Gee-whiz features on many chrome-bumpers (hidden wiper door, fiber-optics, removeable rear window, shiny exhaust-tips)

Even a special, low-production version like a '74 BB doesn't stand out to most people as any different than, say, a '77 base 'Vette.

I think they'll always be under-valued relative to the earlier cars, and therefore difficult to justify the huge restoration expense that one like this would incur.

Alan 71

Looking at the pictures makes me wonder if it would make a lot of financial sense EVEN IF it were a 70-72 chrome bumper car. If you could do everything yourself, maybe. If you have to pay to have it done, not likely. The car looks to need a LOT of parts and work.
Regards,
Alan

silver 1

a 74 BB does stant out compaired to a 77 base vette. thats like saying a 71 small block is worth the same as a LS5 BB. if u take the c3 crome bumper cars and keep them seperate from the ruber bumper cars as far as production #'s goes then u need to keep the 74-77 seperate from the fast backs 78-82. thats does lower the production # some. yes a rubber bumper will never be worth the same as a crome bumper car but the c3 crome bumper car will never be worth the same as a c2 in some people eyes. agree that car will take a lot of work, but if some one wants to save a rare BB 74 vette then go for it. in some people it will have value in others not so

jordan89

That Vette has been on the list for quite some time now. I think you could work something out with the owner and make him go down on the price. You should go take a look at the car and inspect it, one the owner sees that you are serious, he'll most likely go down on the price. I kind of wish my '74 was a 454 car. I would say it's a desirable car since it was the last Vette to come with a 454 and no cats. It was also the first and last for many other things.

Mike Ward

Very true, the same can be said of most Corvettes.

Neptune75

bumper looks like its from a 76.

rajsid

You are right. I called the guy up. He says that the car is in Redding California and he is willing to drive it down to San Jose if I want to see it
(something sounds fishy. Redding is over 200 miles from the bay area. Wondering why someone would list a car for sale here if the car is not here.)

btw.. lot of the CA cars in similar condition that I have seen has good frame and it almost rust free.

CCrane65

BTW, you are correct about the rear bumper not being a '74. The '74 is split in the middle.

Also, I would go through and verify as many numbers on the car as possible because some of them are really expensive and can take the value down fast. Starter - $400, Alternator - $200, A/C fan blade - $400-700 (if it's supposed to be a finger fan), carburetor - $1400 if you can find one (this was for a '72 while '73's are readily available so your mileage may vary for a '74).

I can tell you that a 270 hp big block is still a big block with a whole lot of grunt and scary fast because it just keeps pulling.

Most of the time, your car is never worth more to someone else than it is to you. If this car is calling you then that is what is important. If you are looking for an investment, there are better ones.

cc

thatcorvetteguy

rajsid

Yeah.. I was just interested in it only as an investment. I have just enough money to buy a project. If I were to buy it, I would not restore it for at least 3 years.