Gotta Have That Darn C6

[Joe C.]

But I don't have any room for my beloved red '85 -- 20,000 mile car, multiple show winner. I am the original owner, and have everything, including the certified checks when I originally purchased the car from the dealership in 6/85. Vito Cimilluca used my car as a model when he wrote the 1984-86 TIM&JG. Should I keep her or sell her?

[Patrick H.]

Keep It.

Even though the 85 may not lead the list as "most desirable" or "most valuable" Corvette, you will never have the same experience again. I know others who have tried. Sure, you could buy a new C6 and try for it all over again. But will you have it long enough for a TF Award/Hill Award/Bowtie Award/Benchmark Award? Will "Vito Jr." use it for the Judging Guide for the 2005-7 Corvette in 2021 when they get written?

And economically, let's say you get $15k for the 85. Not a bad price, but if you can keep it, do so. Just convince the wife you need that extra stall on the garage, OR consider raising the garage ceiling and buying a lift. I've got two.

Patrick

[Joe C.]

Re: Keep It.

Patrick:

Thanks for the good advice. I still want to be buried in the '85 someday. The car is just now arriving at the point where all the TLC will start to pay off, although there are many early C4's around, that are well preserved original cars.
The '85 Corvette was the first real "fuelly" since 1965....and at the time, considered a quantum leap. The '85 Corvette IMHO, was the one that started the Renaissance in Corvette engineering, and it has been a horsepower race ever since. Who knows, the early C6 will very possibly be underpowered by 2021! But, then again, the way gas prices have been rising lately, we might be in for another round of 1970's doldrums.
Well, I guess I'll have to turn the living room into a garage.

Joe

[Mike Yager]

Re: Keep It.

Joe:

I had an '85 that I bought new and sold in '98. I still remember the experience of buying the first new Corvette. It had about 28K miles at the time I sold it and was well cared for. It was a good car and the first Vette in many years that could stand up to the world's best performance-wise.

Not long after I bought my '85, I began dating a girl whose girlfriend's boyfriend had a new 928S. He thought he was HS. We happened to leave a restaurant and pulled up at a light that was on a long straigt. He could not believe that a "lowly" Corvette dusted his Porsche. I would say that I had several car lengths on him after a quater mile and he was never able to close the gap even though we got up to a bit about 110. Ran out of road before we could test the top end.

The '85 was a great car. Should have kept it.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Gotta Have That Darn C6

corvettes are to be bought,driven and sold. i never kept one more that 2 years,just had to have the next model. some i only kept 8 months because the guy with the right amount of green showed up.

[Clem Z.]

PS my 02 C-5 is gone and waiting on the C-6 *NM*

[Joe C.]

Re: Keep It.

Mike:

That L98 has tons of torque, especially when coupled to the 700R4! I have driven a few LT1's, but they just don't feel the same on the bottom. I suppose it's childish, but I can't resist breaking those Gatorbacks loose out of the hole. Awww, who gives a s..t, it's fun!
Far as top end goes, somewhere around 1988, I took a ride to Bowling Green. On the ride home, just after dawn, and somewhere in Kentucky, I found myself completely alone with 2 lane blacktop ahead, straight to the horizon, and flat as a billiard table. I dropped the hammer on the red '85, and kept it there until the speedo read 144. It was still climbing, and might have made a couple more, but I ran out of straight road. I got into the brakes in time to take her around the curve.

Joe

[mike yager]

Re: Keep It.

Joe:

Yes, its a good motor. The most I saw in mine was 141 before I ran out of road but it felt like it could do a bit more. Mine was also an automatic.

[Jim T.]

Re: Gotta Have That Darn C6

Joe I bought our 85 in 92 and repainted it in 97. My wife and I love this car. Has the coldest air conditioning system and most comfortable seats on long drives. And it will get up and go. Buy a lift and just keep it, no one will pay you what its worth to you. I sill long for a 64 convertible with factory air that I should of never sold.

[Joe C.]

Re: Gotta Have That Darn C6

Thanks Jim. I can't use a lift, because I have an 8' ceiling in my garage. I'll find a way, even if it means renting a space nearby. I really could never sell the car at this point, it has been around for so long, that it is almost like one of the (dare I say it, with tongue firmly in cheek)"family". Since I already own a '65, and an '85, then if you add another twenty, you get 2005. It adds up real good to me.

Joe