1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

[Bob B.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

Saw that car there VERY NICE !
Bob

[Darryl D.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

This reminds me of all of the people that paid stupid money back in 1978 for the pace cars. Some paid as much as $22K and put them away thinking they would be big money some day as they were only going to make one for every dealer. What people did not realize was at that time Chevy had 6000 dealers. You still see one advertised occasionally for sale with no miles and still on the MCO and they bring no money to speak of. No one wants the 73 up C3 smog cars and they have little value.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

True, I loved the process and that was what it was all about, not money, and since so many people told me "that car should be in a museum"...I donated it to the NCM, they were thrilled to get it, one of the early ones made at the new BG Corvette factory.

Michael,

What a generous thing to do for the NCM. I remember the car and your presentation about it in San Antonio last year. Gorgeous car; I'm glad it found a good home where it will be preserved and appreciated.

There aren't many Corvettes from that era left in #1 condition.
M

[Michael J.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

Thanks Mark, and Bob too. I really wanted to keep it, but the NCM just seems like the right place for it to retire to in its' old age.

[Jack M.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

True, I loved the process and that was what it was all about, not money, and since so many people told me "that car should be in a museum"...I donated it to the NCM, they were thrilled to get it, one of the early ones made at the new BG Corvette factory.

Way to go, Mike!

[Bob B.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

Darryl, Good point, 6,000 Pace Cars in '78 was way too many , and got a LOT of greed going. I was a dealer in those days and sold A LOT of those pace cars on the "greed" market, wish I had never seen them, and NO I did not make ANY money by the time it was all done. A MSO L82 4speed pace car brings good money today still twice original MSRP plus a 80,000 mile dog not so much. But just how many 3,000 mile 75 Convertibles are still out there, if MSRP was $7,500. and lets say market is $40k to $50k for that 3,000 mile car in my book that is a fair amount of coin.
I am trying to sell my 400 mile 19 Grand Sport Cpe red/red at $10,000 off MSRP anybody ? Do I hear $57.900 ?????

[Paul B.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

..But just how many 3,000 mile 75 Convertibles are still out there, if MSRP was $7,500. and lets say market is $40k to $50k for that 3,000 mile car in my book that is a fair amount of coin.

...I've been doing a 1975 L-82 Corvette Survey since the late '90s and have probably 178+ cars in it. I know of probably more than a dozen cars with less than 3K miles in my survey, so they're out there.
...Sunnyside Chevrolet in Elyria, Ohio has a gorgeous Dark Red/Black Leather '75 L-82 convertible, auto., non A/C car, 30,100miles and they're "asking" $31,995.
...the one that did sell for $55K was a Medium Blue L-82 convertible that I judged out in Phoenix, AZ @ a Regional there around 2001 that had 9K original miles on it and was a stunner.
...10-14yrs ago? when they had that Bob McDorman auction in Columbus, OH, he had I think it was Tim McKeon's '75 Orange Flame L-82 4spd convert with every possible option in '75 including Z07(144 produced). Had Black vinyl hdtp and the soft top had never been in the "up" position.
Was some GM executive show car, I guess. It had supposedly "174 original miles" and sold for $50K back then.

[Leif A.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

True, I loved the process and that was what it was all about, not money, and since so many people told me "that car should be in a museum"...I donated it to the NCM, they were thrilled to get it, one of the early ones made at the new BG Corvette factory.

What an incredibly generous thing to do Michael. Was it 2015 or 2016 when you had her at the Lone Star Regional garnering awards? I'm glad I got to see that beautiful '81 in person. All the best to you.

[Michael J.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

Thanks Leif and Jack. I took it to the 2016 Lone Star Regional for Bowtie sign-off, and then to San Antonio National in 2017.

[Dominic B.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

Yep.......gotta be a convertible with manual trans and low miles to get the $$$$$.

[Greg S.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

In 1975 there were only 366 L82 Convertibles produced probably due to the late availability of the L82 engine option. It is unknown how many were 4 speeds but only about one fourth of total production were 4 speed equipped so you could guesstimate there are less than 200 L82 4 speed convertibles in 1975. If rarity makes a car worth more then a 4 speed L82 Convertible is a rare commodity. Low miles and highly original cars will bring more to the right collector. This car is for the collector looking for something rare and original. The 75 sold at auction last January for 55k was an example of someone wanting a rare original car. Was it worth it? Only time will tell. All of us have a story of the car you sold or didn't buy where you say "If I only knew then what I know now".

[Greg S.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

This thread from 2004 questions the value of the Blue/Blue 1975 L82 that reappeared and later sold in January Auction for 55K. Question was, is it worth 10-15K? In this case I would say yes.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...IBLE-L-82-4SPD

[Darryl D.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

In 1975 there were only 366 L82 Convertibles produced probably due to the late availability of the L82 engine option. It is unknown how many were 4 speeds but only about one fourth of total production were 4 speed equipped so you could guesstimate there are less than 200 L82 4 speed convertibles in 1975. If rarity makes a car worth more then a 4 speed L82 Convertible is a rare commodity. Low miles and highly original cars will bring more to the right collector. This car is for the collector looking for something rare and original. The 75 sold at auction last January for 55k was an example of someone wanting a rare original car. Was it worth it? Only time will tell. All of us have a story of the car you sold or didn't buy where you say "If I only knew then what I know now".

The bottom line here is that it is a limited market for ANY rubber bumper cars. Only people that have some kind of attachment such as their birth year, had one years ago, etc. are even interested in them.

Most people are attracted to them because of their low price to get into a Corvette. All of that goes out the window when prices like this show up.

Just because it is a last year of the convertible, L82, 4 speed does not make it more desirable to MOST people who will look at comparables of other more desirable years with like type features.

Collector trying to fill in their collection certainly will look at the price and compare it to similar C3 cars and will find more desirable models (68-72) for less money to fill in that gap. Not likely there are collectors out there looking for a rubber bumper car unless they want one of every year, and want the highest optioned lowest mile example they can find for each year. That is not a big buying audience.

[Paul B.]

Re: 1975 Convertible red 3,000 mile L82 4sp value ?

.....even the "Last 1975 Corvette Convertible" that I've been following for years, when it surfaces, I've seen for sale multiple times, anywhere from $60K to $100K. It also is an L-48, automatic car, White w/Red leather int, most if not every available option except Z07. Had I think, 2800 original miles on it last I seen it. Was down at the NCM for years on display. Thought I also remember one year at Bloomington it sold for nearly $62.5K??? Was VIN#35199 July 12, 1975 build date.

[Greg S.]