What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

[Michael G.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

I will take the contrarian view to many here. Whenever I drove my Sebring Silver '63 Sport Coupe, recently sold for a tidy profit - or even now with my Goldwood Yellow '65 Sport Coupe - a crowd gathers. These cars get serious attention even from children. What other car - EVER - could be bought off the showroom floor with side exhausts? They were objects of admiration when new and remain so today. The entire design, the look and the sound, are timeless.

At a car show just last Sunday, Jay Leno wandered over from his McLaren to chat with me and Don Hooper specifically about our Corvettes, and Jay has pretty good taste in cars :-)

That said, they were mass produced. Only a select few can be considered investment grade, and even then, over the long term one would likely be way better off investing in an index fund.

[Jim D.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

What other car - EVER - could be bought off the showroom floor with side exhausts?

Well, a 427 Cobra was one.

[Steve B.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

Wow, lots of Debbie Downers posting and I thought watching the debate last night was depressing...

[Michael G.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

Well, a 427 Cobra was one.

Right you are, of course, and I might point out that no informed observer believes the value of THOSE is heading anywhere but up.

How about this one: what other car, EVER, could be purchased off the showroom floor with side exhausts, knockoff wheels, AND air conditioning?

Even Jay Leno thought the knockoffs were

[David R.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

Right you are, of course, and I might point out that no informed observer believes the value of THOSE is heading anywhere but up.

How about this one: what other car, EVER, could be purchased off the showroom floor with side exhausts, knockoff wheels, AND air conditioning?

Even Jay Leno thought the knockoffs were

How about the Brooks Stevens - designed Excalibur SS?

[Thomas S.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

It would be interesting to see a report of NCRS membership showing the number of current members in each age bracket. Each member profile has a birth date so running a query on the database would be a relatively easy way to get this information. The NCRS membership would be the best representation of serious interest in Vettes and seeing the age based interest would give us a good idea of trends.

[Bob R.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

If you want to know the average age of members you should have attended the National this year. Or go to Corvettes at Carlisle I think the attendance at Corvettes at Carlisle has been dropping off every year for a while now. I would guess the average age of members is 55 on the low end and 75 on the high end. There were very few younger people there and I think it does cause some concern that in a few more years the popularity Corvette hobby will drop off a lot.

[Brian P.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

OK brand new to the forums and picking up my car Tuesday next week.
49 year old with a supportive wife and an 8 year old boy.
The sky is not falling, my son is hooked on cars and wants to know which car he will be taking his driving test in ;-)

[Mark E.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

OK brand new to the forums and picking up my car Tuesday next week.
49 year old with a supportive wife and an 8 year old boy.
The sky is not falling, my son is hooked on cars and wants to know which car he will be taking his driving test in ;-)

Welcome, Brian. And congratulations with your next car! What did you get?

[David B.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

One advantage that the C1/C2 cars have is that a home mechanic can actually work on them and restore them. That will be true even after the people who remember these cars from their youth pass on--but probably less true of successive generations of cars. Heck, there are still Model T enthusiasts out there, and their knowledge comes from history books (and contemporary fellow enthusiasts, of course).

Prices will probably adjust, but how many discussions have there been over the years about how rising car values have priced people out of the hobby? Can't have it both ways...

[Brian P.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

Thanks Mark,
I am picking up a '67 427/390 convertible from RK Motors in Charlotte it looks like it made 2nd flight a few years back.
Picking it up 10-4

[David R.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

One advantage that the C1/C2 cars have is that a home mechanic can actually work on them and restore them. That will be true even after the people who remember these cars from their youth pass on--but probably less true of successive generations of cars. Heck, there are still Model T enthusiasts out there, and their knowledge comes from history books (and contemporary fellow enthusiasts, of course).

Prices will probably adjust, but how many discussions have there been over the years about how rising car values have priced people out of the hobby? Can't have it both ways...

This is a great point - as the values of the C1, C2 & C3 Corvette falls, it makes them more affordable for more people. Those of us "seasoned citizens" still around can add to our collection, but more importantly, a younger group of enthusiasts can discover the joys of early Corvette ownership. All we have to do is get - and keep - them interested. While they may currently be more into ricers and resto-mods, it's our job to educate them and nurture them along. Remember you are an ambassador for your car, your club and your fellow enthusiasts. Get out there and fly the Corvette flag.

[Steve B.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

OK brand new to the forums and picking up my car Tuesday next week.
49 year old with a supportive wife and an 8 year old boy.
The sky is not falling, my son is hooked on cars and wants to know which car he will be taking his driving test in ;-)

Welcome Brian! Enjoy your purchase and the time spent with your son.

[John M.]

[Michael G.]

Re: What Does The Future Hold For C1 and C2 Classics

I don't agree that the value of C2 Vettes is going down, especially not as a function of demographics. Just look at the prices of other cars from that era - Ferraris, Lambos, Cobras, Shelby Mustangs, heck, even Mopars, GTO's and many others; they are all pretty much skyrocketing.

Again, it gets back to the desirability of the car when new. Base models will languish while highly optioned cars in popular colors will outperform. Nothing new about that.