Does anyone here have a Vette? I've wanted one since I was 7. Back in 1979 my dad and I went to the Chevy dealer in a St. Louis suburb where I grew up and sitting all alone on the showroom floor was a brand new 1979 Corvette.. It was beautiful. I remember it like it was yesterday. Rick Mears had just won the Indy 500 a few weeks prior and John Wayne had just died. Just a year prior the Vette had been the pace car in the Indy 500. I could see that my dad had his eyes on that Vette too.. God, it was gorgeous. Canary Yellow, rally wheels, spoilers.. Man, what a car. I wanted him to buy that car. We left that day with a station wagon. But hell, back then, the 70's, Carter, inflation, unemployment, 14% interest rates on homes.. That car was around $10k back then, like $60k or more by todays dollars.. That and a family, the station wagon was the only logical choice. Well, here I am almost 30 years later. I've owned all kinds of cars, bikes, etc., never a Vette though. I found that 1979 Corvette. It's in great shape, has 84k original miles. Everything on the car is original right down to the Chevy Rally Rims! The factory AC still works! I drove it this morning in the miserable cold October Wisconsin rain. I've never driven a more comfortable car or felt more in control of an automobile than I did today. It runs and drives like a dream. It's old, and has its quirks, could use a new paint job and interior, but for a car near 30 years old, it is in incredible shape. I'm gonna make an offer on the car tomorrow. I just have a few questions: I've looked at Kelly's BB and the car values only go back to 90. I've seen some that go to 87 and others to 80. I only found one place that goes back to 1979. So does anyone know what a 1979 Corvette in original condition is worth? I would give it an "Average Rating", not fair, not excellent, but somewhere in between. Again, it is in great shape. Body is solid, interior could use replacing, but the dash is perfect, motor is in great shape and is extremely clean, almost show room new for such an old car. The brakes are new, the master cylinder is new, all the U joints have been replaced, and everything mechanically is in great shape. What is it worth? I've seen numbers around $9k or more.. Anyone? I'm finally gonna own a Vette, assuming he accepts my offer...
The car in 1979 was about $13,000. I know because I bought a black one in that year. Here are the prices for 1979 Corvette. 1979 CHEVY/CORVETTE CORVETTE Dsp/HP Eng Fair Good Exc Show Loan COUPE 350/195 V8 5,500 9,500 15,500 21,000 8,500 Add: Alloys $500, Glass Top $500 1979 CHEVY/CORVETTE CORVETTE L82 Dsp/HP Eng Fair Good Exc Show Loan COUPE 350/220 V8 5,500 10,500 18,000 22,000 9,500 Add: Alloys $500, Glass Top $500 There is about $1000 difference if it is L82 or not. Just be careful with rust on the frame. The interior is expensive too. You can find everything but usually it doesn't worth a restoration.
Thanks for the info! They are Glass tops, no alloys, just the rally rims which I prefer. Not an L82, so I'm guessing around the north side of $9k based on all the info above. I'm a big fan of the L82, but given it apparently only added 10hp I'm not too concerned that it is not. Anyway, it fits well within the "good" area or better... Frame wise, it is in good shape. The interior kit I was told was around $2500.. That's what my MGB cost, so I am not too worried about it. Anyway, I am looking at using it as a daily driver for now... Not interested in another restoration project... I've already got a project car in the garage. I figured this car would get my feet wet as far as Vette go.. The last sports car I had I sold a few years ago.. An 85' IROC Z28. I had that thing for years and got sick of fixing things... Thanks again!
If the interior needs replacing, I think the better price will be around 7000-8000. If you really want to invest in Corvette that will go up in price, 68-71 are good choices. Those are not as expensive as 63-67 or earlier but pre-regulation, so muscle car people want them.
Well, by replacing, it needs it if I am concerned about what someone thinks.. It's not horrible.. The seats are not torn, just worn, which seems to be unusual in these cars.. The carpet is clean, but again, worn and not torn. Door panels are worn, but in place, and other than looking old, are in ok shape. The dash is perfect, no cracks or sun bake, again, unusual.. The gauges and other interior components are in perfect shape... It just looks old... The guy is asking $6900, but told me today he'd do $6500. My plan is to show up with $6000 in cash and ask him if we have a deal. I figure if he will go to $6500, he'll probably take $6k. That said, I'm fairly confident based on what I have seen both from what you have told me, eBay prices and other Vette's I have looked at over the years, I can't go wrong. I suppose I could probably get away with replacing the carpet and putting seat covers on, though again... I am mainly looking for my starter Vette...
It sounds OK for starter but anything you want to do with it will cost and most likely you won't get it back. Take a look at 78 Indy pace car vettes. Those were sold about $25,000 and everyone was sure they would become classic and will go up but nothing happened and you can pick up one for about $8-10 and if one day those models start going up, this will be the car. In the mean time if you decide to buy a real muscle car, I have 71 Dodge Challenger which is yellow.
I really do not plan to do too much with it other than drive it. I've got $18k into my MGB and I will never get that out of it, so I know what it is like to put a lot into something that you will never get out of it... But I built it for me, not someone else, so I'm not too concerned... The MG is built for show and to drive. I'm not a big an of the Challenger, though I've had some Dodges over the years that just kept running... Looks wise, I've just never been a fan. My neighbor had one of those pace cars.. Kept it in the Garage for years and never drove it... I think he bought it hoping it would go up in value. He finally sold it years ago. I just personally like the model year and those big humps in the fenders.. They look cool from the outside.. Driving though, it's like a big obstruction. It will take some getting used to.
Those are nice cars, it was a girls magnet in 79. I also checked on my dealer system for the car and there was one blue/blue with 70,000 miles (Exc) that they are asking $12,500 for it, so your price is OK.
Please, whatever you do, don't take a beautiful car like that and paint it yellow... Please. I know where you can get a good deal on a '72 Charger.
IMO - Yellow is much to girly for a car like that. It's a sissy color. Yellow is a great color for a VW bug or something like that. Vettes should be red, or black, or blue, or something sleek and manly like that... Just my opinion, of course. If I had a Vette, I'd paint it silver, but I can do that - I'm a girl...
I knew someone who had a cheVETTE once! That's as close as I'll ever get and it gets worse...a mini van is in my future
Yeah, but a "Little Red Corvette" is classic... But I think black would be the best choice anyway... Or get really wild and use the chameleon paint that changes colors depending on your viewing angle!
Yeah, I had a friend that had a Chevette.. His pick up line in the bar used to be: "hey, wanna ride in my Vette"... I remember this one chick that he got to come out of the bar and look at his "vette" slapped the crap out of him...