Premium for a factory Black car?

[Greg L.]

This might be an odd question and even tougher to answer but past experiences has me wondering....

For example at the winter meet in January there was a black 64 "fuelie" coupe for sale in the far south east corner of the swap meet area(some of you may remember it). It caught my eye so I came back to it towards the end of the day. I talked to the owner a bit about it(nice guy) but to make a long story short I asked if it was originaly black. He laughed and said no, not for that price(it was originaly white).

Now I realize that everyone has their favorite and not so favorite colors but it seems like the REAL black cars have this premium attached to them. Is it only me thinking this or is this just the way it is?

[Roy S.]

[Michael J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

If there is a premium for black Corvettes (or all Chevys) this guy has (or had) that market cornered:

http://www.chevyhardcore.com/news/video-unique-corvette-collection-features-only-factory-black-cars/

[Jim S.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Great collection of black Vettes, but, alas, it was sold in the summer of 2011. Bill may still have the black Chevys, but the Corvette barn is empty!

[Greg L.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Well Roy I guess that makes sense. I didnt realize that black was a rare color back then. I personally wouldn't buy a car because it was a rare color but I like black so as my luck would have it black also means rare.

[Greg C.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I think that is the trick... back "in the day" Black wasn't as popular... so it wasn't ordered as frequently.

Black has had become more popular over the years, so they are more"desirable" now. Desirability and rareness = premium prices. There are other colors that are rare, but not as desirable (Saddle Tan?) thus it doesn't command the premium (no offense to Saddle Tan, I personally like it myself, though I think Chevy could have done themselves a better service by calling it something different... Moroccan Gold maybe?)

[William F.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Your money may be tainted-'taint enough. BUT, call James Greene in MS. (662) 417-0522. He knows his stuff and is honest. I've bought 2 cars from him. A while back he had a nice red with white interior, '65, I think, maybe a bit more than 30K, but reasonable.

[Kevin S.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I paid a bit more to get my black car

[Paul J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I recall that someone told me that at one time black auto paints were hard to come by, something to do with the availability of the pigment. This may have been during the oil crisis in the 70's, but I don't remember. It's all a matter of taste...and tastes change. The market eventually reflects these changes.

[Michael J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I think that is the trick... back "in the day" Black wasn't as popular... so it wasn't ordered as frequently.

Black has had become more popular over the years, so they are more"desirable" now. Desirability and rareness = premium prices.

The last stats I saw for recent C6s was that black was the most popular color, around 20+% were black. I think it beat out red, now that is a very interesting turnaround for black. I have only had one black car in my life, and I swore, never again.

[Steven B.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

During at least the first three generations dark Corvettes showed body and minimal prep flaws much more than lighter colors. I know an owner who upon delivery of his black '64 immediately had it repainted, another customer who wanted his in black so he ordered it in primer and had the dealer repaint it, and then there was the period when black was not offered. They look good today!

[Paul J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

During at least the first three generations dark Corvettes showed body and minimal prep flaws much more than lighter colors. I know an owner who upon delivery of his black '64 immediately had it repainted, another customer who wanted his in black so he ordered it in primer and had the dealer repaint it, and then there was the period when black was not offered. They look good today!

Black always shows the body flaws, in metal or glass. I just looked at several this morning.

[Perry M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I have owned several black cars. The first new car I ever purchased was a black on black '69 El Camino SS, then a '67 Camaro, two mercedes ( 2002 and 2004) . In '84, I special ordered a black Corvette. It took several months to get it because, as I was told by the dealer, the factory was having problems with the black paint. The truth probably was with the quality of the bodies as black paint will magnify the flaws. I love black cars when clean.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I think it is the American way to have something that most don't. Green was the sports car color of choice in the day & black was one of the least ordered. That is why green was the most popular color most years & now most don't want it & it hurts the value of the Corvette compared to other colors. I was told that the dark colors especially black had so many dealer warranty body work that GM just quit offering black instead of making the panels straighter. I bought a 65 GTO conv. Black/Red I guess I was ahead of the curve. I never could keep it clean & not show dust.

[Michael G.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

People like black cars. I get many more compliments when driving my black 63 L84 convertible, than I do when I've got the silver blue one out. Even the though the blue one is very pretty, a much nicer restoration (better chrome, body fits, paint, etc.), and worth easily double what the black is, the black one always seems to attract the attention. I was going to sell it, but maybe I'll keep it and do a better restoration....