In the cult classic movie Used Cars, one of the scenes centers around an illegal commercial being filmed for the struggling car lot in the movie. Superstitious salesman Jeff, dressed as an old west era U.S. Marshall named Marshall Lucky, starts the commercial by walking through the enemy car lot across the street. He becomes distressed at the prices of a few cars, proclaims those prices to be far too lofty, and blasts the cars with a shotgun. Then, he comes across a Mercedes that is priced too high and proceeds to blow it up. While his methods are a little extreme, perusing eBay Motors ads makes you kind of feel that he needs to come out of retirement. Some cars, like Porsche 356s and 911s are priced way too high to make sense, but someone must be shelling out the cash. This 1975 Corvette, found here on eBay and located in Bedford, Pennsylvania, is a beautiful car. However, the asking price for this C3 stunner is an equally stunning $19,500. Is this price too high for any 1975 Corvette?
To be utterly fair, this is the nicest 1975 Corvette I have ever seen this side of an National Corvette Restorers Society meet. The story, according to the seller, is that this is an original, numbers matching car with just under 27,000 miles on the odometer. The car features leather seats, air conditioning, 4 speed transmission, and an am/fm radio. It is powered by a 350 cubic inch small block V-8 with 165 horsepower. Before you hit the comments section to tell us your Kia has more horsepower, please remember this car was built in 1975. Despite opinions otherwise, low horsepower engines made 1970s cars not as fun as they could be. That’s too bad for the Corvette, because Zora Arkus Duntov and the gang had worked out a lot of the bugs in the C3 since 1968.
The seller states that the car still sports most of its original paint, which is called Orange Flame. I kind of wish they would have left it alone, or repainted the whole car properly. Whomever painted it seems to have been out of masking paper and tape, as the picture above shows orange overspray all over the headlight mechanism. On a car this nice, why be so sloppy?
Inside, the cockpit looks like the day it showed up in the showroom. The seats could use some Pecard’s Leather Dressing, but they seem to be in great shape. The seller says that you can still smell the leather when you open the door. Everything about the car presents well, and it is a relief to see a 1975 in such great condition. Most of the ones I have encountered are clapped out and generally depressing to look at.
Under the hood, this car continues to impress. Everything looks original, except for the radiator hose, which is understandable. The car even has the big rubber gasket surrounding the air cleaner assembly. I’d love to know the story on this car. There are a lot of Corvette owners who spend each and every weekend detailing their cars for years, but mid seventies Corvettes don’t usually get this kind of love. Sorry to say, they just aren’t worth that much.
If this were a 1968-1972 Corvette in this condition, then we would probably be debating how much north or south of $30,000 this one would be going for. Unfortunately, it is a 1975 Corvette, which is universally acclaimed as being the least valuable year of Corvette production. This is sad, because the low horsepower is the only thing holding these cars back. What is even sadder is that few are being restored, because doing so would be a financially disastrous decision. So, if you wanted a really nice 1975 model, then this one would be the one to get. However, the asking price may be a bit too high. We may not need Marshall Lucky yet, but he should start saddling up. The owner also has a make offer button on the ad as well. Once again, I’d love to see what you readers think it should bring. Let me know in the comment section, and please give justification for your answer.
Hagerty’s says #2 $15,800 and #1 (Concours) 30K. So maybe not that far off base.
If anybody actually pays the prices Hagerty states I would be shocked.
Horsepower wouldn’t bother me, a small block chevy can be built cheap.
Despite the alleged originality, the paint issue imo puts it in the 11-14k range. Who knows, seller may take 12k for it.
It isn’t insane. I am a Corvette guy. A low mileage 4 speed car with a/c. This has a lot of room to appreciate. Buy it, drive it & improve it. These are fun cars to drive, even these can be “woken up” with performance parts. Spend 10 years with it, you will certainly get your money back, possibly make some too. Even good C4’s are moving up.
It is interesting to note that we spend a great deal of time discussing “worth” and “value” as opposed to character and appeal. Cars used be about how they made you feel – we resonated with them- they are an extension of how we project ourselves. Its sad that the first question that comes up today is “How much is it worth?” Thank you BJ – times have changed…
It’s worth what someone will pay for it. Auctions are great, they strip away portfolio projections and market values, it all comes down to how much someone is willing to shell out.
You are absolutely right, but how surprised are you given the website’s soul purpose is to monetize the hobby?
I also chuckle at all the comments on value while many cars are featured here are clapped out hulls that will be sitting for years soaking up finances.
There is a LOT of value in a car that runs, stops, and can be enjoyed immediately.
So true Elrod. My brother and I have a 1966 Porsche 912. We grew to accept being derided by Porchephiles. Literally, they would yell out their windows as they passed by “Hey, how’s the Volkswagon?”. Regardless of their view that the car was financially worthless, we’ve always loved our “Volkswagon”. In the intervening years we have upgraded the brakes, suspension etc. Now, the Porchephiles deride us for having devalued the car by replacing original parts. Can’t win. But for my brother and I this car isn’t a monetary investment. It’s an investment in fun! I pity those hesitant to drive or alter areas of their cars because they might lose a buck here or there in value.
Agree 100%. You can’t take the perfect car with you anyway and you can’t control what the next owner will do with it. I’d drive a Hemi Cuda or Boss 429 or Yenko Camaro as much as possible. Take care of it, and honestly the bumps and bruises won’t affect the value much anyway. if it devalues the car $50,000 who cares? You get that enjoyment back and it’s doubtful $50,000 makes any difference to your life if you can afford one of these in the first place.
1975 anything is the bottom of the barrel for desirability for most all vehicles. 1st year of catalytic converters, 3rd year of the ugly bumpers, although the Corvette is probably the best looking of the US built vehicles
These cars are tough sells, good luck to the seller, other than the Earl Scheib paint, it appears to be in good condition
al8apex is the only person who has any idea what this car is worth.At an auction this seller would be lucky to get $5k for this very undesirable vette.
Amazing another garage queen. I am thinking for the $20K it should at least have a fresh set of BFG tires instead of the 1980’s no names on there now. Like the winged warrior this isn’t a Barn Find. I realize you can’t find them all but have a little variety and choose something less common then the C3 on a dealer lot priced at above retail. Dealers who list on ebay don’t need the extra help in drawing attention to their ad. You can do better if not maybe promote and have us submit tips on interesting cars.
The seller must have used the Crazy Eddie’s Price Guide.
I’d pay $20K for a 1975 L-82 4-speed convertible. Not this poorly painted L-48 coupe.
way over priced. 10-11k tops if it ck’out.
I’ve looked at a lot of automobiles in my time from Mecum to Barrett-Jackson to local auctions and car lots in anytime I find overspray like that I know that there are other issues that are hidden very well be careful.
I have a 1976 L82 4-speed ‘Vette with just 51,000 miles on it. It is numbers matching and mostly all original as-in factory correct and unchanged from the build at the St. Louis plant. Is it worth $20k? I don’t think so. Maybe half of that. As for the low HP numbers in the mid ’70’s; my L82 has just over 200 horses and plenty of torque. It is still a two-seat sports car with a 4-speed stick to row. And it is fun to drive. How much more fun can you have in the hobby for $10k?
I have a nearly showroom ’94 coupe with 47k on the clock. $10-12k. IMO a lot of car for the money but that’s what the market will bear.
Well said sir!
Universal acclaim as 1975 being the least valuable year of Corvette production is wrong. That “honour” would belong to the 1984- 90 C4s. If this was one of those I doubt it would break 10k.
Someone out there loves C3s. Corvette owners ALWAYS think their car is worth more than it really is. I just can’t get past the image of thick gold neck chains and ‘Members Only’ jackets when it comes to mid-’70’s ‘Vettes.
Hi ccr, Not only Corvette owners, but just about anyone with an old car thinks they are priceless. We see it here every day. Living in Wisconsin we rarely saw a man with gold chains and Members Only jackets. I own a 1972 Stingray and admit I do strap a St. Christopher medal around my neck every day. Just yesterday I put a battery in my buddies white 35th Anniversary Vette. He is no mechanic. He is 70 years old but looks like 60. When I got to his house he had white cowboy boots on, black pants and shirt, half unbuttoned. Elvis came to mind. Unfortunately, when i think gold chains, now I think C4. Oh, I love C3s
A chrome bumper car exempts you from my prejudice. I had a C4 for 7 years and have NEVER worn a gold chain. I gave up my cowboy boots years ago because they hurt my aging EEE feet, which plants me firmly in the Corvette demographic of boring, over the hill baby boomer spending his children’s inheritance on shiny toys.
Nothing wrong with loving C3s. Bill Mitchell preferred them to C4s. And they do elicit a more visceral response than the later cars. The shame was that they became emasculated by the double whammy of emissions & economy regs. Taking away the L88 and inserting the L48 killed it for me.