Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

[Larry E.]

As indicated by my past post I like to look at the Older Corvette market to see where it is going. What
I am seeing now is that it is getting harder and harder to find one. After the Mecum-Kissimmee and Barrett-
Jackson-Scottsdale Auctions a lot of older Corvettes where sold. Just checked the Mershon's Classic
Car Web page and saw they are down to only "5" C2's and "1" C3 Chrome Bumper cars for sale. These are
the lowest numbers I ever recall. Just got my March Hemmings Mag. in and the Mag. itself looks more like
comic book size; far from where it was not long ago. I think when our Moderator Don Hooper said>

"Article in WSJ today about huge jump in luxury car sales last year. Inflation today at 6.8% and rising, vs. 2.5% and steady in January 2020.
Young buyers rich on cryptocurrency and stocks moving cash into tangible luxury things. Maybe that includes iconic classic Corvette"

I THINK HE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! Comments Please>Thanks>Larry

[Tom E.]

[Bill M.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

Larry i bought my first Mid Year 46 years ago and that was from the factory worker down the block. That was easy i loved his silver 65 coupe since i was 14 and he finally sold it to me. But after that finding a nice car was always a bit of a chore. i will say that the car i always wanted was a tanker and every time one came up i chickened out because of price and circumstances. I think the cars are out there it is just a mater of pulling the trigger when you find one. It used to be said you never pay to much you just buy to soon. And you are right people are hiding their money in cars . look at all the Ford GT's that came out a few years ago. Ford would not even sell one to an average customer! now the people who bought the are getting 2 and 3 times original cost.

[Tim G.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

I've been casually looking for a 1967 327 4 speed coupe and they are nearly impossible to find. There seem to be more legitimate 1967 435's for sale out there than small block coupes.

[Duke W.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

...looking for arguably one of the finest original, unrestored, low miles C2s on the planet? Keep an eye on BaT. Within about a couple of weeks this Duntov Award winning Marina Blue '67 L-71 Coupe will be offered.

There is a current thread on the CF that includes a two minute video clip of this C2 being driven up a hill through a series of switchbacks in a very sporting manner. It has been very well received as it's rare to see a C2 driven as Zora intended them to be driven.

The Stig was driving.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/4606474-got-into-a-wrestling-match-with-a-67-435-hp-coupe.html

Duke

[Tim G.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

That's a stunning car, I bet it was fun to drive on those winding roads. I'm looking forward to seeing the video.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

I think that times have changed since 1970'S. Remember that 1970 is as far away from 2022 as 1918 is to 1970. It was hard to find Great old Corvettes in the 80'S even harder now. They're out there but the price is is also.

[Michael J.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

That's great Duke, isn't that the neighborhood where Tiger rolled his SUV? When I am ready to take my Triple Crown winning '63 Z06 tanker out for a spin around the high mountains here, I need you to come drive it......

[Michael J.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

Here is the video.....https://youtu.be/bwWkPoqiXU4

[Tim G.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

Wow, what a great video. I'm glad you left the correct tires on the car. The group at the scenic lookout couldn't take their eyes off that beautiful blue Corvette.

[George J.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

Duke,
Must have been fun. Now let's see you drive the same road in your car!

George

[James G.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

IT is difficult to find good cars and always has been, you have to be decisive and immediately pull the trigger on rare color combos with high performance engines which have legit docs.
One thing I have done numerous times is to ask if I book a flight as soon as I get off the phone to arrive within the week, will you give me right of refusal ie will you agree not to sell it to someone before I get there?
EVERY SINGLE TIME the sellers have agreed that if I am willing to fly out then they would not sell the cars prior to my arrival... 75% of the time I bought the cars and wired the money while I was there.

Make a MUST HAVE list in order of preference
For example I was only looking at LT1's with born with drivetrains -
Then in order of pref
Original paint
Original Interior
Engine never apart
completeness - ie orig fuel pumps carbs alt radiator, etc etc
Ext color
Int Color
Body config cpe/conv

If someone would have told me I would buy a brandshatch green car I would have dismissed the idea, however when the opportunity to pick up a car which was owned by the same person since 73 presented itself, the color was so far down the list that it really wasn't a consideration, it allowed me to make a decision pretty quickly as to committing to booking a flight.
And listing preferences has allowed my customers to more quickly make a decision as well.

[Pancho T.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

You can find cars to buy. But finding good cars that is the real challenge.

[Duke W.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

Tiger's crash was a few miles away on the Palos Verdes peninsula. He was northbound on Hawthorne Blvd. heading downhill to the LA basin on a four line divided section that's about a six percent downgrade. That section has a gentle curve and the speed limit is 45 MPH. I think the data recorder indicated he was doing over 80 shortly before the crash. I pass by his crash site on one route I take to Hector's place, and the remnants of the tree he hit are still there.

No need to repeat it here, but I explained on the CF thread that this car had a severe handling instability problem that had probably been there since day one. The first time I drove it, it was downright scary. I figured it was a rear toe problem and once we got it on a good alignment rack the left had a little toe in and the right had TOE-OUT. Swapping 3/32" worth of shim stack from the inside of the RH trailing arm to the outside gave about the same toe in as the LH side and the handling stabilized

I think the operator at St. Louis got the shim stacks mixed up... put the inside on the outside and the outside on the inside. Maybe one reason why it has so few miles is that it was so scary to drive and none of the owners ever got it diagnosed and corrected, and I understand that one owner hardly drove it because of carburetor issues. It ain't got no carburetor issues, now. When you floor the throttle the induction noise almost drowns out the sound of the N-11 exhaust

Even with the bias ply tires I was impressed with how well the car responded, and it proved to be quite predictable and forgiving. I think if you want to run bias play tires those Kelsey Goodyears are the pick of the litter, but I much prefer Avons.

For C2s and most other cars a few little engine or chassis tuning issues can spell the difference between a turd and a magic wand.

Duke

[David M.]

Re: Finding a older Corvette to buy is getting harder by the day!

Thanks for sharing this Duke.
Awesome Mid-Year getting driven as Mr. Duntov intended! The nose stands up nicely on the throttle. No mistaking the guttural induction sound of 3x2s through the "off roads".
Growing up a friend briefly owned a 68 435hp Bronze/Saddle coupe with side pipes. Never forget riding in it. The visceral experience is still seared into my gray matter. What a ride that was.
Not many sounds on this planet can top that.
The induction sound aint noise that's music sir!