Any Corvette Experts around?
HI, I'm trying to get a feel for what a Corvette is worth that I'm looking at. My friend sister has a 68 vette she would like to sell. She is the second owner and has had it since 1970. She always garage keep it. It's never been wrecked. It was repainted in 1989 from white to forest green with saddle interior. It has around 77,000 original miles. 427-390 horse 4 speed. Soft top and hard top(not original) although factory. She hadn't started since the beginning of last summer. We tried to jump it but it wouldn't start. It did pop off with starting fluid. So it's been sitting for about a year and half without running, so I know it will need some work. No signs of leaks under it except at the rear. Everything looks decent, not perfect but what you would expect from a 40 year old low mileage car. So I know it will need a little TLC that I can do. So in all this is an original 68 big block except paint in need of TLC. Asking 25,000 what do you experts on this think?
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Select Fire has good knowledge in that field. 0 -
The (relatively) little work it will take to get it running would increase the price greatly... otherwise, I'd think it would be worth normal running value - cost to fix issues - a couple more tho in case its worse than it seems.
I've got a Porsche in similar condition... wonder how many folks would want to buy if it were listed on GB?0 -
I will give a stab at your stitution. I won't knock the car cause I haven't viewed it but here are some important notations. Corvette buyers are some of the most finicky purchasers out there. 1. Check the frame, especially behind the passenger door between it and the right rear tire for rust Along with the windshield pillar posts. 2. Painted the wrong color will hurt resale. Paint jobs on Vettes are expensive. Especially if any body seams need redone. Don't really know that till they are stripped. 3. Does it have the original engine? this is extremely critical for top dollar.4. Is it an AIR condition Roadster? This will hurt resale quite a bit if it isn't. 5. Documentation. Very critical to alot of buyers and increases value if history of car can be made. Bill of sale, Tank sticker ( you can drop the gas tank ) it is on top of it. May be deteriorated beyond reading. I personally would pay an appraiser to appraise the car either in repaired condition or as is. This documentation will help you sell the car easily with that documentation to show the prospective buyer along with the options your car has or does not have. IF your car has a specific rare option it will bring more money. Don't negiotiate much off of the appraisal ,your car is a very desirable collectable Corvette. 0 -
With Corvettes it's all about condition and originality. My advice would be to do lots of reserach on the market. Join a corvette forum, ask questions there. Find out the common problem areas on a 68 and inspect them closely. Check the engine numbers to be sure that it really is a numbers matching car. Spend a little more time and get the thing running to really know what you are getting into. Engine could be fine as is or need a complete rebuild.
What I know:
1968 Big Block four speed is a very desirable car.
Repaint in different color lowers its value.
Not run in 18 months lowers its value.
I would not make an offer on it until its running.0 -
Here you go, out of my old beat up Corvette Black Book 
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I was offered a '69 427 'Vette with the original 427 and 3 deuces in trade on a street rod once, and I had a friend that's a Corvette collector look at it. (he currently owns 20 Corvettes).
He said that the Corvettes made from 1968 forward weren't worth near as much as the 1967 and below models. They had many problems from day one, and he advised me not to take the '69 in trade if I expected to make any money on it. He thought the guy wanted much more than the car was worth, and I didn't trade with him.
From what I've seen, classic Corvettes have increased in value over the past few years, but as others have said to bring top dollar the car has to look and run good with no prior history of frame rust, wreck or fire damage -- otherwise it's a project car which can drop the value considerably.0 -
25,000 is alot of money be carefull. check serial #,s on engine block to see if they match vehicle identification number.check fit on all body panels. rusted frame is big problem with old corvettes check anyway even if garaged .big engine corvettes in original condition bring big $'s. www.ncrs.org 0 -
a friend of mine dad has a 59 vet, he recently bought a 57 vet,all original.check everything that can be checked.repainting lowers the value,not running lowers the value.and we wont even talk about the price of parts and restoring these........but if your going to a good place is corvette central for parts and info. 0 -
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/index.php
I belong to this forum.. I have a 2002 Vette and love it .. Any question you have will be answered here by the experts ..0 -
The 68 with the big block, 4 speed, & both tops is not worth 25K in the condition that it is in.
To bring the car back to a #2 or #3 condtion (daily/weekend driver), it would cost at least 15K (if no engine, trans, rear diff, or brake work needs done - and it will need done - brake job on that car starts at $1500 in parts, to do it right the first time).
The repaint hurts it.
If original drivetrain - ALL of it, that helps a ton. But, 68's are just not that desirable.
Don't forget to check the rear differential cover for cracks at the top - the bolts go through the ears on the cover to the frame. Common breakage point, especially with big block/4 speed cars. A GM cover that is the heavy duty style is $200-$250 bucks.
Brake jobs...ugh...get ready to spend money. If I remember correctly, the 68 will still be 4 piston calipers - CHA CHING! $400-500 per caliper.
The rear leaf spring needs replaced...I can tell from here...they ALWAYS do. Same with the front springs - good luck getting the ride height where it should be...you will have to cut 1/4 to 1/2 coil on new springs.
Headlight motors...Cha Ching!
Radio work? If not, Cha Ching!
Is the ignition shielding still in place? If not, time to buy chrome...yep...Cha Ching!
Forgot...the radiator needs replaced as well. $500 for a good, correct, big block radiator.
Can you tell I spent an hour or 2000 under a couple Vettes?0 -
dcloco hit the nail on the head. Was a wrench from '59 thru '74 and worked on many different years of Vettes myself. The '68 was a transistion year where GM tried new stuff, which oft times didn't work. Door handles, brakes, etc...
Had a '65 myself again a transition year with many new things such as discs all around. Costly to maintain, even with me wrenchin. Could kick myself for lettin it go.
The 25k figure is high I think for the condition. Google Vette dealers and see what the big boys are askin. One in Medina, Ohio if my memory serves me right best around, been around since the 60's they have everything from project to pristine.
Good luck0 -
I thought 25 seemed a little high thinking I was going to put about 2-3 grand in it to get it back on the road. When you check e-bay to see what these thing are bring it all over the place and hard to get a real feel for what it's worth! Seeing I know the history of the car since 1970. Knowing it's all original except for paint and the usual stuff belts, hose, battery, plug wires, cap, air filter. It is all matching numbers. I was thinking about offering $20,000, figuring I would have about 23-24 into it after all the work and paper work is done. However that is alot of money and I wanted it for two reason. One as an investment, so I didn't want to pay to much to start. Second, I want to have one. Would rather have a 69. But try to find one not restored, hiding a but of thing you don't know about. Think about this. She told me when she bought it in 1970, she traded her 63 fuel injected coupe for it, because she wanted the new body style! Just think what that would be worth now! I know the president of the local corvette club offered her 17,500 and she turned it down. He was also the mechanic that worked on the car till she stopped driving it. So I don't feel I'm over looking anything major on it that is wrong. But anyway, it's still alot of money and a hard decision to make. Don't want to let my excitement to get in the way of a good decision. 0 -
First off don't ever go near that engine with starting fluid again! Starting fluid and gas engines get along like cats and dogs and you will destroy that engine, if you must use an aid to fire the engine use WD-40 but a good ol fashoined spray bottle with gasoline will work best.
Next, contact this guy about the 'vette, he is a local here and lives and breathes Corvettes http://www.keystonecorvettes.com/ I've owned two corvettes, both of them '76 models and I wish I still had them, price on them has doubled from what I paid for them almost 15 years ago.0 -
quote:Originally posted by MFI
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/index.php
I belong to this forum.. I have a 2002 Vette and love it .. Any question you have will be answered here by the experts ..
I am also a member of CF (Corvette Forum) and these folks will not only give you the straight skinny, but If you post that car for sale it will go quickly. I have been looking for a 68 or 69 vert and they do not last long on the CF.
From your description I would think this car would be a good candidate for a frame off restoration. Key would be original motor, tranny and as many parts as possible. Since it hasn't been started in a year, you would need to go through the car from top to bottom before driving anyway. There are always people looking for big blocks to restore so I think you have a winner on your hands.
Good luck
Maalox0 -
quote:Originally posted by chumchum
I thought 25 seemed a little high thinking I was going to put about 2-3 grand in it to get it back on the road. When you check e-bay to see what these thing are bring it all over the place and hard to get a real feel for what it's worth! Seeing I know the history of the car since 1970. Knowing it's all original except for paint and the usual stuff belts, hose, battery, plug wires, cap, air filter. It is all matching numbers. I was thinking about offering $20,000, figuring I would have about 23-24 into it after all the work and paper work is done. However that is alot of money and I wanted it for two reason. One as an investment, so I didn't want to pay to much to start. Second, I want to have one. Would rather have a 69. But try to find one not restored, hiding a but of thing you don't know about. Think about this. She told me when she bought it in 1970, she traded her 63 fuel injected coupe for it, because she wanted the new body style! Just think what that would be worth now! I know the president of the local corvette club offered her 17,500 and she turned it down. He was also the mechanic that worked on the car till she stopped driving it. So I don't feel I'm over looking anything major on it that is wrong. But anyway, it's still alot of money and a hard decision to make. Don't want to let my excitement to get in the way of a good decision.
18K is about top dollar for the car.
I forgot that it probably needs a fuel tank as well.
Oh...and the rear axle bearings need replaced. Takes a SPECIAL tool that Snap On used to sell - it is $800 if you can find one. You have to preload the axle bearings on the swing arms.
Good luck getting the swing arms off...the bolts are rusted in. I broke a Snap On breaker bar on the last one that I did. Snappy man could not believe it (25 years in the truck and he never saw one break...head would spread...but never break the head off). About sheet myself when it let go!0 -
Big block 68's were/are notorious for running hot, making the interior, especially the tranny tunnel, hot to the touch. Finish work on the 68 through 72 was notoriously poor. I bought a new 70 roadster with my 'Nam money and it was by far the worst car that I have ever had. I must have had it in the shop for warranty work a dozen or more times in the six months that I kept it, before selling it at a big loss just to get rid of it. Maybe mine was an exception, but, I do remember a lot of issues with 'Vettes of that era. Be prepared to spend a lot of money on it to make it right. And, even if it is a second owner car, I would still want to check to see that it was numbers matching. Sorry to seem overly negative, but, I definitely had a bad experience with my Vette. Rant over. 0 -
i know they dont hold up very well when they crash . seen one friday evening hit a ditch and culvert ,went about 10-15 feet in the air and landed on its roof. there was a bout a twelve inch opening that the little fellow crawled out of. 0 -
Talk to a lot of experts and be very carefull! The big blocks are in high demand and bring crazy amounts of bucks if in good shape.
I agree the 68 was not a real desirable vette, but that said, if it was garaged and the running gear is in good shape and you don't have to replace the gas tank, bearings, radiator etc, you might have a nice car.
Most likley you just need to replace the fuel, blow out the lines, clean out the carb fuel bowl and she will start fine.
The folks that sell at the Barrett-Jackson Auction are looking for origional cars all over America to restore. Big Blocks are Hot! Check out their site and talk to some of the experts.
Everyone will be more than willing to take the car off your hands for a low price. Fix it up nice and you might get two to three times 25K at auction.
A full frame up restoration is expensive to do but folks that do this for a living have the sysetem down and can do it cheaper than the rest of us. If the parts are all on the car and origional its a desirable restore job. These may be the folks you want to chat with in addition to regular buyers that desire a nice vette as a driver.
I restored a 1967 conv with the 327-350 four speed and owned a 1977 and 1979. Just want to encourage you to shop around, talk to lots of people and you have a better idea of what the fair market value is of your 1968.0 -
Iam bummed to hear the 68 vettes are not in big demand.... I have one.
Mine has the 300HP 327 engine. It is a convertible with 2 tops, hard and soft. I have owned it since 1972.0 -
In present condition 11 to 15K. Just gussing. I don't think she's going to get over 20 in running condition let alone the shape it's in now. 0 -
big engine corvettes 1974' on down are the most wanted and the only way to turn that car upside down is by hitting a ditch unlike all the others. take a good look at the car hope fully the original paint was not taken off by an idiot harming the fiberglass before new paint.probably doesn't need as much work as you think and yes there was a time 68's were not desirable but not anymore . the national corvettes restorers society member since 1983'. www.ncrs.org. check the frame if it has been garaged all that time it still has black color to surface most important is history of damage your looking for a "no hitter" 0
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