What is this Corvette worth - in your opinion?

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Baz

Thanks for all the replies and input so far.
Some other details about the car:

• 5.7L (350CI)
  
• Std Automatic
  
• Has original Bose Stereo with rear amplified speakers
  
• Removable Hard Top smoked Lexan roof
  
• Runs perfect
  
• No idea on top speed. I got it up to 130 before running up on traffic
  
• Added Michelin speed rated Pilot tires a few years ago. Still like new

I think my brother and wife are in denial a bit about what the car can really bring. They are asking $12K.

I think if they get $8-9K they will be doing good.

You never know sometimes about selling cars - sometimes the right buyer comes by at the right time and his buttons are pushed...bingo! I think that's what they are hoping for.

At least it has relatively low mileage for one that old. And is in very good condition.

It's a nice looking car - I think you will need to find a buyer that likes this year of car. I agree with others here with it's low desirability.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Baz

Thanks for all the replies and input so far.
Some other details about the car:

• 5.7L (350CI)
  
• Std Automatic
  
• Has original Bose Stereo with rear amplified speakers
  
• Removable Hard Top smoked Lexan roof
  
• Runs perfect
  
• No idea on top speed. I got it up to 130 before running up on traffic
  
• Added Michelin speed rated Pilot tires a few years ago. Still like new

I think my brother and wife are in denial a bit about what the car can really bring. They are asking $12K.

I think if they get $8-9K they will be doing good.

You never know sometimes about selling cars - sometimes the right buyer comes by at the right time and his buttons are pushed...bingo! I think that's what they are hoping for.

At least it has relatively low mileage for one that old. And is in very good condition.

I've done an indicated 153MPH in my 90 Z51 6 speed- 5th. Took a few miles to get there but it was done.

PS you MIGHT get $12K- out of leather faced sun-baked retiree who longs for the 'good old days' of youth. They buy some weird stuff- saw a 78 Tbird getting detailed once- a land yacht, big, ugly but mint condition- selling owner got $9K - I openly asked the guy 'WHY?"

- he answered: a retiree bought it out of nostalgia (as was trying hard not to be offended)

rjp

[RANDY P]

Look at it for what it is: An IRS suspended Chevy V8 car- besides the Camaro which isn't any better on paper what else do you have that isn't a million bucks and rusty to obtain these days?

It's a future drag car.

Just make sure to wear lots of neon colors, capezio shoes and skinny ties everywhere you go. Oh and a Mullet. Straight out of 1985.

rjp

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

As a result of my bad Corvette experience, I'm now in the market for a C6 Z06.

Now, that's a REAL Vette.

rjp

Mine showed up last Friday! Has already been to Lingenfelter. Cold tires, cold pavement...

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Mine showed up last Friday! Has already been to Lingenfelter. Cold tires, cold pavement...

Congrats, man!

Honestly, the C6 z06 is the only 'modern' vette I actually want- I believe that's a future classic, and it just looks timeless Vette. Not a fan of any of the others, including the new C7.

Up to 72 is cool as well, but I just don't want to deal with the hassles of an old car anymore.

[VincentVega]

A neighbor sold a C4 anniversary something for 7k 2-3 yrs ago. He never drove it, treated it like a treasure and seemingly gave it away. Weird market. I Like them idea of them for 'cheap' fun but I dont fit, thankfully.

[pavulon]

Thanks! I don't know what the future holds for them but they do appear better in person than in print and the performance is certainly there.

If you do a little homework, you'll quickly learn about the troubles with LS7 valve guides and the sources for getting the issue addressed before a catastrophic engine failure occurs. It's known well enough to be a legitimate conversation between seller and buyer everytime.

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Congrats, man!

Honestly, the C6 z06 is the only 'modern' vette I actually want- I believe that's a future classic, and it just looks timeless Vette. Not a fan of any of the others, including the new C7.

Up to 72 is cool as well, but I just don't want to deal with the hassles of an old car anymore.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Thanks! I don't know what the future holds for them but they do appear better in person than in print and the performance is certainly there.

If you do a little homework, you'll quickly learn about the troubles with LS7 valve guides and the sources for getting the issue addressed before a catastrophic engine failure occurs. It's known well enough to be a legitimate conversation between seller and buyer everytime.

I was gonna budget for that and a Lingenfelter cam

My ideal is a 2008- has the wheels I like and the new HD Trans.

rjp

[pavulon]

They are the ones to get. If you're gonna have LPE do the heads and cam, ya might as well decide if 660 is too much or just right! I can only say that 630 is a lot and it rides much more harshly than the magnetic shock version I tested this past spring.

[drcoastline]

Sorry no opinion on value as I have never been a Vette fan, but it sure does look well cared for.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Baz

Thanks for all the replies and input so far.
Some other details about the car:

• 5.7L (350CI)
  
• Std Automatic
  
• Has original Bose Stereo with rear amplified speakers
  
• Removable Hard Top smoked Lexan roof
  
• Runs perfect
  
• No idea on top speed. I got it up to 130 before running up on traffic
  
• Added Michelin speed rated Pilot tires a few years ago. Still like new

I think my brother and wife are in denial a bit about what the car can really bring. They are asking $12K.

I think if they get $8-9K they will be doing good.

You never know sometimes about selling cars - sometimes the right buyer comes by at the right time and his buttons are pushed...bingo! I think that's what they are hoping for.

At least it has relatively low mileage for one that old. And is in very good condition.

Some very nice C5s can be had for $12k and that is a lot more car IMO. Encourage them the take the first reasonable cash offer and don't look back. Of all the Vettes, C4 was my least favorite. The 80s were a lousy time for GM and they put out some pretty lame cars. I like all of the early ones, they fell of a cliff in 1973 and didn't really recover until the ZR1 release.
1990-1995 Corvette ZR-1 - The History of the King Of The Hill C4 - Vette Magazine

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Thanks! I don't know what the future holds for them but they do appear better in person than in print and the performance is certainly there.

If you do a little homework, you'll quickly learn about the troubles with LS7 valve guides and the sources for getting the issue addressed before a catastrophic engine failure occurs. It's known well enough to be a legitimate conversation between seller and buyer everytime.

Also the early dry sump wasn't the greatest. There can be issues with starvation if tracked. I may have had that problem. A main bearing split. The car still ran fine. After 2009 the system was updated.
They're pretty cheap to repair.
I can spin the tires in 3 gears without effort.

[Brian 162]

Baz
Tell your brother to look at the Corvette Forum (corvetteforum.com)
There's a C4 section for tech and classified ads, Similar to Pelican.
Nice car, I've always liked the C4

[JackDidley]

With the low miles I would not give it away. Better to just keep it. Cheap entertainment for sure. I had a ton of fun with my 87. Very few problems. With basic mods it ran the quarter 12.80 @ 107 all day and at 170,000+ miles the motor had never been out of the car.

[Steve Carlton]

How could they do worse than put it on BaT? Put a reserve on it. If it's going to bring too much money anywhere, it'll be there. I think a super clean car is worth a few thousand more than a rat, even if the rat is worth $5K. You couldn't turn a rat into that car for $5K more.

I always like the clean, simple looks of the C4. The dash is unfortunate, I think I remember a car mag calling it "Tokyo by night." Would be better with leather, too. Nice color combo.
Wasn't the '87 the first year with the aluminum heads?

Whats that dongle hanging out between the driver's door and fender?

[berettafan]

that car is looking for an uninformed buyer. someone with a pocket full of hundreds and a wandering eye.

[Steve Carlton]

A couple of gold chains to the pawn shop is all that's needed.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

How could they do worse than put it on BaT? Put a reserve on it. If it's going to bring too much money anywhere, it'll be there. I think a super clean car is worth a few thousand more than a rat, even if the rat is worth $5K. You couldn't turn a rat into that car for $5K more.

I always like the clean, simple looks of the C4. The dash is unfortunate, I think I remember a car mag calling it "Tokyo by night." Would be better with leather, too. Nice color combo.
Wasn't the '87 the first year with the aluminum heads?

Whats that dongle hanging out between the driver's door and fender?

I just clicked on the pics. My 87 was the same color but I had leather. I have too many cars or Id make on offer on that.
People ***** about the dash but it is way better than my Cayman. It actually has info I need. Like oil pressure, oil temp, and voltage. My Cayman has none of those but it has 2 speedometers.
Id say the dongle is for a battery charger.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

I just clicked on the pics. My 87 was the same color but I had leather. I have too many cars or Id make on offer on that.
People ***** about the dash but it is way better than my Cayman. It actually has info I need. Like oil pressure, oil temp, and voltage. My Cayman has none of those but it has 2 speedometers.
Id say the dongle is for a battery charger.

It's actually kind of grown on me.

The Vette is like any other GM from that era- they patch the car together with brittle plastic held in by torx screws, cheap tin nuts and those awful barbed clips- also, none of the panels interlock together so the car rattles like a china cabinet in an earthquake when the car moves.

rjp

[Baz]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

With the low miles I would not give it away. Better to just keep it. Cheap entertainment for sure. I had a ton of fun with my 87. Very few problems. With basic mods it ran the quarter 12.80 @ 107 all day and at 170,000+ miles the motor had never been out of the car.

Thanks for the additional posts. I sent your comments to my brother and here is his reply. I agree with his thoughts.

I pretty much figured all (or at least most) of this already so really have no plans advertising it where Corvette buyers hang out. The pluses that stand out is that this car has not been driven into the ground so there is no body flex or electrical issues. The digital dashes were always and issue but this one is flawless. However except for its spectacular condition it is nothing special and not even a special edition.

What I hope to find is someone who is not a collector and does not mind spending money on a well-kept and low mileage vette. It drives and shows good. The original exhaust was leaky so I bought a factory system off a wrecked 91 and installed it. It’s a much better sounding system so for someone who drives it they get a great sound as well.

We started at $12k but Judy will take $10k. Just had to leave some wiggle room so someone would think they are beating us down. If it does not sell there is a place in the garage where it can sit between the occasional run down the freeway.

Thanks for your help.