One is for sale near where I am staying for 9,500 adn it is PERFECT save for some added speakers. I thought that was a great deal for its condition. Ask over on teh corvette forum dot com
He wants $6000 for this one, I have always wanted one but I am trying to not let that cloud my judgment. He said it appraised at $11000 but if he had it appraised at that why doesn't he want more. Still its a 30 year old car.
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09:27 PM
craigsfiero2007 Member
Posts: 3979 From: Livermore, ME Registered: Aug 2007
If it runs good, Id say it was worth it. Look down the sides for signs of fiberglass repair. It will always have waves, but look for cracks or circles in the reflection. If you have agreed insurance, you usually cover it for more than you would sell it for. Insurance that way will cover it even when repair costs go up. And if if its a total loss, you get a little for your personal loss + its replacement value. Id sell my C4 convertible for less than I have it insured for.
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12:12 PM
Oreif Member
Posts: 16460 From: Schaumburg, IL Registered: Jan 2000
He wants $6000 for this one, I have always wanted one but I am trying to not let that cloud my judgment. He said it appraised at $11000 but if he had it appraised at that why doesn't he want more. Still its a 30 year old car.
Just because it appraises at $11K does not mean it can be sold for that. He may be selling it for the lower price due to the TLC that is required. $5K-$6K sounds about a fair price for one that needs some work.
Three 1978 pace cars sold on Barrett-Jackson between $19K and $25K. These were low mileage "Concourse" pace cars, so you can see that the 1978 Corvette's are not a popular car with collectors at present. Although they may go up in value as time goes by. Many of the late 70's and early 80's "popular" cars are just now starting to increase in value.
[This message has been edited by Oreif (edited 02-12-2008).]
He wants $6000 for this one, I have always wanted one but I am trying to not let that cloud my judgment. He said it appraised at $11000 but if he had it appraised at that why doesn't he want more. Still its a 30 year old car.
See if you can talk him into paying for whatever goes wrong with it......
Whoops, look at the time, got ta gooooooooooo.........................
[This message has been edited by Taijiguy (edited 02-12-2008).]
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01:48 PM
Lambo nut Member
Posts: 4442 From: Centralia,Missouri. USA Registered: Sep 2003
I was actually going to offer him around $5000 as thats the amount of cash I can come up with and not go to the bank for it. He is very busy and cant seem to find time for me to come out, plus I have things I have to do so if it works out then it works out. If not then the money will go into my Fiero.
Ok that one didnt work out How about a 1984 with a rebuilt motor, t tops and new paint. Going to go look at it saturday.
Well, I think that's the expensive way to get your brake parts for the Fiero swap
Seriously, The main things I'd look at on that car are the hood scoop and how it was attached (I don't think it's a GM option) and how badly/if the fuel system was butchered when the CFI was taken off and the carb slapped on. Also I'd want to see receipts for the engine rebuild, it looks clean, but that doesn't mean it was rebuilt. Also look for the roof wrench, the early C4's used Torx-head screws to secure the roof panel, though it is possible to swap them out.
As far as value, I'm not sure, 6-8k?
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08:05 PM
ron768 Member
Posts: 781 From: Somewhere in the southeast Registered: Apr 2004
Not my first choice but I'm just looking for something to take me to work and back home in some style. It will be a DD if I get it.
Have you driven a C4 before? The few that I've driven have all had a ride I would describe as too stiff for commuting. I liked the ride of the C3's and C5's that I've driven, but the C5's would be out of the range you want to spend, and a decent C3 (decent for commuting, anyway) would likely be near the top of the budget.
You could probably get a Caddy that's considerably newer then the 'vette for about the same money. Of course it's not the same kind of style the 'vette has...
My Fiero is not what one would call a smooth ride I don't know I'm torn between just putting the money in my Fiero or getting something nice to drive now. I put the Fiero up on jack stands tonight and started scoping out what I need to fix.
New axle boots New brake shoes New wheel bearings New oil pan gasket New CA bushings and ball joints.
Have you driven a C4 before? The few that I've driven have all had a ride I would describe as too stiff for commuting. I liked the ride of the C3's and C5's that I've driven, but the C5's would be out of the range you want to spend, and a decent C3 (decent for commuting, anyway) would likely be near the top of the budget.
Depends on what suspension you have in both the C3 and C4. Neither ride like a Park Avenue.
I have owned both a C3 (73) and currently own a C4 (92). I like the C4 better. The only problem with the C4 is there are more gadgets to break.
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08:37 AM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
The black ones had an engine swap. Wrong valve covers and they were crossfire injected.
My 88 C4 rides like a dump truck. I hit a small bump sticking up in the road at about 40 mph and it broke my inside mirror off and into my lap. It was fastened to the glass and pulled off the inner layer of glass with it. You wanna talk bump steer. If your going around a curve or freeway ramp that has expansion strips, hang on...car jumps sideways on each one if your going very fast.
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10:59 AM
FieroJimmy Member
Posts: 741 From: Mechanicsburg, PA Registered: May 2002
My 88 C4 rides like a dump truck. I hit a small bump sticking up in the road at about 40 mph and it broke my inside mirror off and into my lap. It was fastened to the glass and pulled off the inner layer of glass with it. You wanna talk bump steer. If your going around a curve or freeway ramp that has expansion strips, hang on...car jumps sideways on each one if your going very fast.
I've never driven a C4 assertively (they were customer's cars) but out of all the 'vettes I've driven I disliked the C4s the most. "Rides like a dump truck" is a very accurate description from what I've seen.
You know this thread reminded me of a question I thought up a few days ago.
When will gas prices start effecting the value of collectors cars?
Not soon enough lol When gas is $10 a gallon I will still be burning the tires off of mine, just not as much and as long I never buy a car thinking I can restore it and sell it later, when I'm done with a car it usually done
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07:12 PM
2birds Member
Posts: 1685 From: Ottumwa, Iowa USA Registered: Nov 1999
My 88 C4 rides like a dump truck. I hit a small bump sticking up in the road at about 40 mph and it broke my inside mirror off and into my lap. It was fastened to the glass and pulled off the inner layer of glass with it. You wanna talk bump steer. If your going around a curve or freeway ramp that has expansion strips, hang on...car jumps sideways on each one if your going very fast.
The black ones had an engine swap. Wrong valve covers and they were crossfire injected.
My 88 C4 rides like a dump truck. I hit a small bump sticking up in the road at about 40 mph and it broke my inside mirror off and into my lap. It was fastened to the glass and pulled off the inner layer of glass with it. You wanna talk bump steer. If your going around a curve or freeway ramp that has expansion strips, hang on...car jumps sideways on each one if your going very fast.
I had the pleasure/displeasure of running one of the new ZR1's at Watkins Glen in 1989. I soon found out why the things had those ginormous tires on them. This was their top of the line Corvete at the time and the thing handled like an anvil on marshmallows. I'm sure they've improved since then but I was really expecting alot more for the kind of car it was and the price they were going for.
------------------ Whade' "The Duck Formerly Known As Wade" Duck '87 GT Auto '88 Ferrario '84 Indy
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11:35 PM
Feb 24th, 2008
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
I really dont see the price of gas affecting collector cars. People that are serious about collecting cars that are important or of interest to them wont care. Most also are well off enough financially, they dont worry about costs. If I will pay $1500 for a used grill, im not concerned too much about gas being a dollar more a gallon. Im not rich but financially stable and every car I have has a big ole V8, and gas mileage is getting better no matter the size anymore. Vettes all get 25-28 mpg nowadays. The worse mileage car ive had in the last decade was my Fiero kit that got around 15-16 mpg and that was the only 6 cyl ive had in memory.
I prefer the 70's body style myself. Just saw a '79 Vette down here in PR for sale at a used car dealership I pass by quite often in Aguadilla. It has 70k miles and needs nothing and is selling for $7,500. The paint was just a tad bit faded on the fenders and rear deck area but I think I could buff that a little and get it to shine better, so I am going to go and check it out tomorrow if I have time and see if I can talk them down a bit more to where I might be motivated enough to add it to my driveway
http://lakeland.craigslist.org/cto/868885800.html hmm too much red but it has potintial. Has a lot of autozone updates tacked on. APC wheel and aftermarket "racing" seats. I dont have $5000 laying around and its not nice enough to get a loan.
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05:49 PM
FieroJimmy Member
Posts: 741 From: Mechanicsburg, PA Registered: May 2002
I think with a black dash and some black door inserts it would be ok, I wouldn't be able to leave it that way With the economy dropping like a cheap dates inhibitions I don't really want to take out a loan.
Stop looking at modded ones. They have 2 bad things going for them. They have usually been thrashed, which will cost you more money in the long run and stock ones are usually worth more in the long run. Plus the added bonus of stock ones usualy being in better condition.
I don't know I'm torn between just putting the money in my Fiero or getting something nice to drive now. I put the Fiero up on jack stands tonight and started scoping out what I need to fix. 
