You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join Corvetteforum.com today!
Based on the information, pictures & video in the listing, what's a good high bid amount for this '80 Vette?
This will determine if I pay to have it checked out.
Well, it looks great. How are the mechanical aspects of the car? (steering, suspension, brakes, engine, trans, diffy, A/C, lights)
If those things are in decent condition, maybe $12K; if they have all recently been refurbished, possibly up to $15K. If they are in original factory condition (no work done to them), I wouldn't bid any higher.
Specifically ask about the tops. They do not show in any of the pics. Skip the dealer hype. Most everything listed as optional was standard equipment. The 4 speed was only available with the L-48.
Tops are painted black and are in the 2nd or 3rd pic down. I had an 80, a pretty car for sure, but felt rubber bumper vettes just a few years prior offered a little more quality to them. Personally I would hold out for one a few years older. Car looks like its all there, another vote for 10k tops. Good luck.
I bought an 80 on e bay. It was similar to the one you showed. Owner said it was in great condition, nice driver. Spoke to the man, got pictures, car looked great. Got the car delivered. It looked great until you looked at it good. It needed bumpers, once I changed them I found it had 5 coats of paint on it. The newest coat looked great, but you can't leave all that paint on a car it will crack. So I am in the process of repainting it. He advertised a new interior. He dyed everything. Now it has a new interior in it, I put it in. The motor was fine for around 80,000 miles. But just for fun and the fact I was into this car for a ton of money I put a 383 into it. When I am done I will have paid $12,000 for this real nice driver and will have put about $10,000 into it. But I love 80's and now will have the car the way I wanted it. Would I have paid 12,000 for it if I saw it. No way.
I bought an 80 on e bay. It was similar to the one you showed. Owner said it was in great condition, nice driver. Spoke to the man, got pictures, car looked great. Got the car delivered. It looked great until you looked at it good. It needed bumpers, once I changed them I found it had 5 coats of paint on it. The newest coat looked great, but you can't leave all that paint on a car it will crack. So I am in the process of repainting it. He advertised a new interior. He dyed everything. Now it has a new interior in it, I put it in. The motor was fine for around 80,000 miles. But just for fun and the fact I was into this car for a ton of money I put a 383 into it. When I am done I will have paid $12,000 for this real nice driver and will have put about $10,000 into it. But I love 80's and now will have the car the way I wanted it. Would I have paid 12,000 for it if I saw it. No way.
Have you spoken with the people running this place? When I was looking for a vette I called them about a couple of their cars.....this is just my personal experience but they did not make me feel good about potentially dealing with them.
Your potential purchase looks GREAT! Black and oyster is a very good combination.
There is a lot of pride of ownership that goes with owning a C-3. Just imagine the smile on your face as you motor along.
If you pay $10,000 or $13,000 whats the difference, you'll have one of the best big boy toys out there.
You've been looking long enough, take a shot! If the frame and birdcage are good everything else can be fixed.
Have a real professional do the inspection and then make the final decision. http://www.hagerty.com/valuationtool...ort?vc=1091025
Regards, Pete.
Nice looking car from the pics, I would also have to see this in person before making any bids to see if the pics are really that good, only saying this due to the T-tops sitting on gravel with nothing under them to keep from scratching the edges.
Wow! Deja Vu going on here. In February of 1980 I factory ordered an '80 - black on oyster with a 4-speed. But a month later I cancelled my order and purchased off of the lot a white on claret.
The car looks exceptionally clean and well maintained. I'm always leery when they quote milage at under 100,000 for these cars because Vettes rezero at 99,999. But I must say, this car looks like 85,000 original miles. From the photos, everything looks great; it's what you can't see that will make all of the difference. Can you contact the seller and asked for photos of the underside, specifically the frame just ahead of the rear wheels? But better yet, call and arrange for a knowledgable person to inspect the car and report back. That's really the only way you'll have piece of mind when dealing with eBay.
If the car checks out, I'd go as high as $12,000.00. They originally sold for $13,000.00, however this car is a classic and if the underside steel is okay, you won't have to pump large sums of money. It could be a "Corvette Summer" for you this year!
If the underside has not been rebuilt , from bearings to bushings to breaks to u-joints ect ect ect it is not a 10k car . Just suspension can run you several thousands of dollars. And lets face it this is a want not a need so the buyer has the market.
I earlier said 10k but if all original means suspension ect , it is at best a 7500.00 car in todays market. Look at my pics I paid 8500.00 and it had new tranny new zz4 newer paint ,breaks, suspension, door panels bla bla bla bla ... So in hind site if h has an offer over 9k let it go .
Where is the front spoiler and bottom rubber on this 1980? It seems to be completely missing, which would cause over-heating, not to mention that the car is not complete, f/ whatever reason.
90% of the time, dealer cars will not meet reserve.. call him up and ask him what he wants for it.. then go see .. ask for underside pics before you go see it.
My experience has been everything looks good on the the internet. I personally would NEVER buy any vehicle that I did not inspect in person. Even after a through inspection I ALWAYS find issues I missed. Even after lengthy discussions with owners, I have been very disappointed at times at the actual inspection. To me, $10,000 is a substantial sum and there should be other 1980's close by that you can actually inspect, if you have confidence in your car inspection ability. I did buy a vehicle on EBAY once, but have passed on many. I sent my brother to look at a Vette that was far from me but close to him. He actually looked at the wrong car!
Corvette Store
What's the most that you would bid?
