Why C3 ‘Vettes Are The Hot Ticket

At the Chevy Vettefest I was able to take a "barometer reading" on the Corvette hobby right now. I spoke with D & M Corvette Specialties, Pro Team, Corvette Mike, An American Classic and Valley Corvette. What the experts told me was that "regular use" Corvette sales are very slow and prices on these cars have leveled. When I asked for a definition of "regular use," I was told it applied to most (not all) 1973 and later Vettes.

The experts said that the Shark-style C3s are getting the most attention right now. They thought this was because these cars fit the "baby boomer" market. The people who were too young to buy them in the '70s, but dreamed about it, can now afford their dream. I think there's also another reason. Car collecting really boomed in the '70s, when many of these cars were near-new, and since everyone thought of 'Vettes as one of the top collector cars, I think people put them away, instead of selling them used. So, that makes availability high.

The experts were careful to point out that rare and desirable Vettes of all eras will "always have a buyer waiting." If you have a rare C-3, that's probably a good place to be right now. An early '70s LT-1 or LS6 will sell quickly and bring top dollar.