having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

[Brett H.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

After having both new and old, I think I'd go with the new to drive and enjoy anytime you want. THEN....I'd buy another old one to tinker with, if I were in your shoes.

Roy and I, like many others here, are lucky enough to have the best of both worlds.

[Ed H.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Brandon,
The last reply is my life's code. This is not a dress rehearsal of life. I have owned four corvettes, 56,57,60, and my most pleasurable to drive, the 93, Ruby ZR-1. The dollars per pleasure meter is very high in the ZR-1. For easy maintenance and fun to work on it was the C-1's . The oh's and ah's go my 57. Heart stopping was my 10 second, 135MPH drag race 60. The ZR-1 is creeping up in value from the original cost of over 70K. Also the C-4 is in the process of NCRS judging. I have driven the ZR from Ca. to Colorado, Wash., and Or., for all of the judging events, this to include a PV. My point is for fun, judging and cost, my money is on any ZR from 90-95. In my opinion, the 93 to 95 ZR-1's are on the rare side of market. The 93 ZR-1, 40th Anniversary is the most rare, only 245 were built and 240 were sold to the public. Good luck.

[David J.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

I had a 95 convertible that was cherry sold it in 07 with 30k miles on it. My dad has a 68 427 vert thats near done with a body on restore and engine rebuild.

I have been looking for awhile for MY next corvette and have narrowed it down to either a brand new one, a 2004 or a 67.

Obviously I'd perfer a 67 bb convertible 4so sidepipe car but since I'm picky it would take one that fetches over 100k to please me since they're old cars and I simply wouldn't want one for 50k with a busted up body and rusty frame etc..

so If I go with a 67 convertible it would have to be a small block car for say at most 60-70k price range.

besides that let's just talk about an 04 c5 vs a c6...I personally LOVE the front end of the c5 but perfer the rear end on the c6....if I go newer, that being a 2004 c5 or a new c6 I'm going to have a hard time deciding!

I found a 2004 triple black convertible 6sp with 6k miles on it that I can get for about $30k I am leaning that way as of right now just thought I would get some op's on how people felt about the late c5's vs the c6's.

I've never been one to have to have the lastest and greatest I go with what I like but this time I'm struggling!

Taking every thing every body said which is all good advise but there is one more thing to consider. This might be the last time as we know it that you will be able to buy a new corvette the way you want it and not a Pelosi-mobile. Think about it !!

[Fred Y.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Brandon,Feel good,actually feel REAL good that your in a position to spend some serious $$$ in todays economic enviroment!! I sure know alot of people who have much harder decisions to sleep over lately.I feel fortunate that I have a BB 67 & picked-up an 07 ZO6 last Fall.Two totally different cars man!! The 67 is for the short hauls mostly like the other guys mentioned (cruise nights,car shows,Sun drives) I wouldn't want to take it on too long a cruise,but she sure gets alot of attention.But the 07 is one seriously refined machine & they really move and are super comfortable at the same time.Cops that pull you over in a 67 usually end-up asking you questions about the car & then tell you to slow down;newer vettes usually get nailed with a big ticket.Either way, have fun & enjoy!!

[Bill S.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

i guess i am confused. i am on a corvette restoration tech site and reading of all the acolades of the new vetts and all the negatives of the old. in my opinion the old vettes that are being "restored" are not just a car but a life style, if i want comfort and smoothness i drive my acura or suburban if i want to go back in time i take the 66. you can in no way, in my opinion, decide between a C1 or C2 C3 or a C4 and newer. they are just two completley different trains of thoughts and worlds. my wife hates my car even though i had a 66 427 when we met as my only car (NOT LIKE SHE WASN'T WARNED) but i don't care. i could look at the old ones all day and never drive it. new ones do not messmerize me like the old ones. thats why i joined a club that focuses on restoring corvettes and not a member past or present of any other club. this is like should i pick vanella or chocolate.

[Brandon T.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

If I go older I've been looking at this 65...the seller said he would take 49k for it now in person maybe I could get it a little lower? who knows...looks like a decent car to me but I don't know 63-67's that well either.


http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...eadExists=true

[Roy B.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

If I go older I've been looking at this 65...the seller said he would take 49k for it now in person maybe I could get it a little lower? who knows...looks like a decent car to me but I don't know 63-67's that well either.


http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...eadExists=true

The vary best advice you will ever get ( take some one that knows 65's or what ever year your looking at ) to inspect it even if it cost a $1000.00. I'm so sick of hearing people tell how they got screwed after they got their Corvette . I think buyers think the person they take will try and buy it out from under them.

[Bill S.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

brandon, you should consider a 70-72 LT1 or a LS5 you get a little of every thing. power classic looks comfort etc. if i sell my 66 that is where i will go. i had a 70 350/350 as a dailey in the 70's. they are a great value and WILL go up. you can even be picky and stay under 50k.

[Brandon T.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

brandon, you should consider a 70-72 LT1 or a LS5 you get a little of every thing. power classic looks comfort etc. if i sell my 66 that is where i will go. i had a 70 350/350 as a dailey in the 70's. they are a great value and WILL go up. you can even be picky and stay under 50k.

Since you mentioned that I have an uncle who bought a 1972 convertible bb 4sp convertible with air! when he graduated college...

it's green with a white top and tan interior.

has under 50k original miles...but he autocross raced it back when it was nearly new and lost it and bumped it in the back end into a wall..it's not bad at all he even has a new replacement clip although you can fix the original one very easy...

it's in his basement and has been every since I can remember...I think this happened in like 77 or so? I was born in 83 and every since I can remember...since I was like 5 or so I can remember that car being in his basement sitting in the same friggin spot.

he even has the original hardtop that came with it.

problem is he won't sell it! and has no intentions of fixing it...weird right???

[Ridge K.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

The vary best advice you will ever get ( take some one that knows 65's or what ever year your looking at ) to inspect it even if it cost a $1000.00. I'm so sick of hearing people tell how they got screwed after they got their Corvette . I think buyers think the person they take will try and buy it out from under them.

Now we both know that no NCRS member would do that, but one must be careful.


Ridge.

[Brandon T.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

looked back on a thread of that 65 maroon vette I posted...

looks like the members spoted it had a 67 hood, wrong inner fender, formally a base engine 300hp car, wrong ps cap, wrong seat material and some other things...I had forgot I had posted that car before.

[Mark W.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Great thread and discussion. Brandon, after reading all the posts with advice and especially your comments all through the thread, it appears to me you are leaning towards the C5 and are looking for some backing. The best comments I've seen were about buying the car that fits what you want it to do. For someone with cash in this financial environment you can't really go wrong on price with any of your potential choices, There should be a bounty of C2, C5 or C6 cars available and with cash, you should get a great deal no matter which you choose. It is up to you to decide how and when you want to use the car, how often and far you will drive it, Once you do this, go buy your car and just enjoy it. I personally have a '66 L79 that I love driving anytime I have a chance. I've also owned a C3 and driven C5s and C6s and loved driving them all. Good Luck!

[Brandon T.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Great thread and discussion. Brandon, after reading all the posts with advice and especially your comments all through the thread, it appears to me you are leaning towards the C5 and are looking for some backing. The best comments I've seen were about buying the car that fits what you want it to do. For someone with cash in this financial environment you can't really go wrong on price with any of your potential choices, There should be a bounty of C2, C5 or C6 cars available and with cash, you should get a great deal no matter which you choose. It is up to you to decide how and when you want to use the car, how often and far you will drive it, Once you do this, go buy your car and just enjoy it. I personally have a '66 L79 that I love driving anytime I have a chance. I've also owned a C3 and driven C5s and C6s and loved driving them all. Good Luck!

Thanks Mark.

How is the performance on the l79 compared to a newer 350hp c5 or a 300hp lt1 like the 95 I had?

thats what scares me I perfer the looks of the c2's and will probably end up with a l79 since it's in my price range and has more guts than the 300hp but since I can't afford a bb one the l79 is probably the best I can get hp wise.

what would a stock built l79 do in the 1/4? with say a m21 and a 3.70 rear?

[Chris E.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

what would a stock built l79 do in the 1/4? with say a m21 and a 3.70 rear?

I would guess 14 sec @ 90 mph.

Also, not all L79s are created equal. Many of these engines have had rebuilds, and not all rebuilds are equal. Depends on whether or not they stayed with the 11:1 domed pistons or like I did, dropped down to 10:1 to run on pump gas. Also depends on the cam.

[Mark W.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

I'm not sure what it will do in the quarter mile, but it can't hold a candle to any of the newer C4, C5 or C6s when it comes to performance, especially the C5 and C6. To my knowledge, mine has never been rebuilt and now has 80k miles on it, but it still runs great and I put a Keisler 5 speed in it a year ago, which made a huge difference in "spirited" driving in the lower gears and cruising in 5th gear. If you're looking for a stock C2 that will be comparable to a C5 or C6 in performance, you will be very disappointed. I think if you want both, you should be looking at a restomod with the C2 body with modern engine, drivetrain and suspension.