b1ghwx

First time poster... I have recently caught the 'fever' and have decided I want a 74-82 C3 - with 4speed. I have discovered that 4speed cars are difficult to find although it doesn't seem to affect asking prices?

I've been doing some research on Vette's, I've never owned one and never had any desire. Figuring out whats a fair price is confusing. I have seen several nice cars with wild variations in price. Here are two examples:

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/4508540488.html
http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/4509729048.html

Seems to me that the 'right price' for a clean, over 50k mileage, stock, 74-82 coupe is $5k-$9K. Are some sellers just too proud? Or, too cheap?

Sunstroked

Hard to tell the condition of a car from craigslist photos. Looking one over closely reveals the real condition. The 74 looks nice and he seems to have it priced right. The 78 seems high. Expect to pay a premium for a car that really presents itself well. You are spot on with your price range, for something needing a little work. If completely done, and shows well, a bit higher. Try and build one, you'll understand.

Big Block Dave

I have to agree with the above.

The 74 is a nice looking car that, if anything else photographs well. It has rebuilt driveline components, and is at that entry level price range thats palatable.

The 78 is dreaming. If that car was kept in a bubble and had super low mileage, I could see asking that price, and maybe at some point someone would just have to have it.

If you are serious about getting a rubber bumper car, the white one sure is worth going to see in person.

qwank

If I were you, I'd be all over that '74 if the frame and birdcage check out. As long as you aren't into originality.

ddawson

The 74 looks really nice, but white always photographs well.

LeMans Pete

You're price range looks pretty good to me. Stick to your guns with the options you want, the production of these cars were very large (relative to other years). '79 will give you the best possibility for a 4-speed.

Goodluck!

F22

A well built auto is a lot of fun. There's good and bad aspects, regarding either a four speed or an auto. With an auto, I think it's an easier and cheaper aspect, to go with an overdrive, versus the manual. The original four speed is a hoot, but you'd be a sore **** rowing that thing for 400 miles, ask me how I know! Around town, it is a blast to drive, rowing a four speed and working the clutch is always special in my book.

Iceaxe

I don't have much experience with the rubber bumper cars. But in my experience the chrome bumper 4 speeds sell faster and bring anywhere from $2k to $4k more depending on the car with all else being equal.

I will be willing to bet as the rubber bump cars age they will follow suit. As cars move further into the category of toy the manual shift becomes much more desirable. YMMV

b1ghwx

That would be my car - if not AT. Been looking awhile, every 'manual' is out of my area. Don't want to ship a car I can't look over first.

F22

Two options, then, either Patience or Inspection and Travel to get the Corvette yiu want. If you go the local route and wait, you might as well make yourself a Corvette savvy buyer and educate yourself thoroughly. There's a lot to learn about these cars, that's for sure

F22

The above is true for the rubber bumper cars as well. The four speed cars always bring more dough. This is also because of the rarity as well. Not exact numbers, just memory here, but close enough, that for 1974, 35k Corvettes were built and only 3,700 or about 10-11% were factory four speed cars.

overBlown

The white one also has a 80-82 rear bumper which is a nice upgrade in my opinion.

qwank

I was dead set on getting a manual car also. I couldn't find a decent one in my price range so I bought the best Auto car I could find and swapped in a 5 speed.

I understand about not buying a car you cant look at though

hopeuntilwecant

great post op. im in the same boat and have been trying to discern whats reasonable pricing for these c3s as they tend to vary a ton in price in things like auto trader etc. Chrome bumpers definitely bring the price up a bunch.

best bet is to find one with as nice a shell as you can find with a good frame/birdcage as those tend to be the major issues with these cars as mentioned earlier. whatever other fixes/tweaks tend to be smaller and more managable.

hopeuntilwecant

dont mean to derail ops thread, but am new to these cars as well, and as wondering if theres any ballpark idea of how much we should be looking to put into one to get it ready to drive regularly in the summer and be presentable aka not a show car but still turning some heads. (74-82) if we're getting it in the 7-9k range (assuming good body/frame/birdcage)? I know this varies car to car so its probably a difficult question to ball park, but am curious, and definitely don't want to get fleeced on my first vette.

Easy Mike

You say you want a four speed, but post pics of two automatics. All 82s were automatics, so you can skip those when looking.

Good luck with the hunt.

Eljay

If you want the stick, get the stick. I had my wants, big block, four speed, convertible, no luggage rack. But.. a nice small block, coupe, with a luggage rack thats a great deal could be ok... but it had to be a 4 speed!

b1ghwx

Those were just examples of the wild variations in asking price.

I'm convinced from actual sales on ebay, etc.) that the correct price is that 5-9k range for clean but not 'show' cars. What I'm most curious about is some sellers asking well over 10k when few cars appear to sell in that range?

Capkunu

What I'm most curious about is some sellers asking well over 10k when few cars appear to sell in that range?

If you don't really want to sell something, price it too high. This serves two purposes:

1. You get to keep the car

2. You've proven to the wife that the 'market isn't right at the moment.'

blue67ragtop

I think what you will find is that '74-82 cars in the $5-9K range usually have problems. Not to say that if you are patient you can't find a good car. If you move up to $10-12 the cars improve greatly. Those prices would be for a base automatic coupe. A 4 speed (or in the case of a '74 big block) will drive the price up. I see late C-3s on Craigslist all the time priced at $5-9K but most I've looked at have had rust issues, tacky mods, poor maintenance etc.