1974 Roadster Values

[Stephen E. Mueller]

Help:

I know we never like to talk money on this site, I wonder if I could get some help. I have found 1974 Silver/black convert. It has 19,200 miles and is a L-82 4 speed. It also has a stock hard top with Vinly cover from the factory. It's a honest 9 car. It has all of the documentation from day one and is a 3 owner car. It also has the orginal tires as well. I think I can buy the car for $20,000, what are you thoughts. Or can you recommend a value source.

Steve

[Jack H.]

Re: 1974 Roadster Values

Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but from your description you've found a Shark that might qualify as a Star/Bowtie car (unrestored class). If so, the $20K might be a good price.

Each year (around April/May, if memory serves), Vette Vues magazine publishes a price survey. This might be helpful to you, but take it for what it's worth -- a snapshot at one point in time....

[Ed Jennings]

Re: 1974 Roadster Values

I have had my eye out for a similar car for a while. I'm not too concerned about originality, so I'm looking for an example that needs a ZZ4 or 385 crate engine in place of a worn out L48, etc. Most of the cars I see are in the $15K range, and it would take a lot more that $5K to return them to the condition you describe. Based on that info, I think it might be a pretty good deal. '73-'75 convertibles seem to be inching up in price fairly quickly. Hope I happen up on one before they get real expensive.

[David W.]

Re: 1974 Roadster Values

I've used this website as a decent value indicator. Can't get the direct link to paste so here is the address:

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/CGI-BIN/CALCULATOR.ASP

[Ed Jennings]

Re: 1974 Roadster Values

I ran my 62 driver through this excercise. It gives a value of $70K+. Even thought the car is a two top fuelie in very nice condition, I don't think that value is even close. If it is, I need to quit driving the car and encapsulate it in bubble wrap.

[David W.]

Re: 1974 Roadster Values

Ed - I can certainly appreciate what you are saying. I think the site, which has been posted here many times, can give a fair idea of value, especially if one is very objective regarding condition. (I am not implying you didn't.) I think it is also a very interesting tool to see how the values change when different condition assumptions are used and/or the value of various options on a car.

I'm sure the results are closer to full retail but in my humble opinion, it is still an interesting tool. There are others out there but this one seems to be the most detailed. David

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1974 Roadster Values

Steve If this corvette is original and the frame is nice it could be worth the money. If you don,t know what to look for have someone who can tell if things are not original to NCRS standards go with you to look at it. We all like the low milage Corvettes but they all seem to have some issues. Lyle