Some classic cars can be a surprise packet, although the reasons can vary from one vehicle to another. Take this 1970 Corvette Convertible as a prime example. It is a desirable car that ticks many of the right boxes for most enthusiasts. However, even though the owner has listed it for sale with No Reserve, it has thus far failed to receive a single bid. Ninety-one people are watching the listing, so maybe they’re waiting to see who blinks first. The ‘Vette is located in New Paltz, New York, and is listed for sale here on eBay. When you consider the potential value locked away in this vehicle, the opening figure of $19,000, especially when No Reserve is in play, looks pretty competitive.
Once it found its way out of the shed, this Corvette revealed itself in all of its Marlboro Maroon glory. The paint shines impressively, although I have noticed a couple of spots that suggest that it may have received at least a partial repaint at some point. There are no significant flaws or issues, and I agree with the owner’s assessment that the fiberglass is in good order. There are no glaring faults or problems, and if the frame and birdcage are structurally sound like the seller suggests, this classic looks like it could be a winner. The soft-top has some wrinkles that indicate it has been lowered for a significant period, but those will soon take care of themselves if the buyer parks it in the sun with the top raised. The exterior trim is in good order for a survivor of this age, and I can’t spot any issues with the glass.
The single interior shot brings positive news, but it also reveals some aftermarket additions. The previous owner installed later-model leather seats, which appear to be in good condition. However, if the buyer is a purist, the seller includes the original seats in the deal. A radio/cassette sits in the spot originally occupied by the factory radio, but I can’t spot any other additions. The upholstered surfaces and dash are in good order, but the state of the carpet is unclear. The console has no significant damage, although the section to the right of the shifter has a collection of scratches and marks that is typical in these cars. Overall, if someone is searching for a good driver-grade C3 Corvette, this one seems to live up to that tag.
The owner supplies no engine photos, although he has undertaken to rectify this before the auction ends. We know that the engine bay is occupied by a 350ci V8 backed by a four-speed manual transmission. It isn’t clear which version of the 350 we are dealing with, but even the entry-level ZQ3 version would give the driver 300hp under their right foot. That’s enough to launch the car through the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds. The company offered a couple of more powerful versions of the small-block, but those figures would be enough to satisfy most enthusiasts. The owner says that this Corvette rolls on good tires and that it drives nicely. We’ve seen a few promising turn-key classics recently at Barn Finds, and this looks like it’s another one.
Chrome-bumper C3 Corvettes remain one of the strongest and most consistent performers in the classic market, with values continuing to increase in an era when many other classics stumbled. Defying the odds, the 1970 Corvette Convertible has climbed by around 15% across the board in the past two years. It is common to see tidy examples sail past $25,000, which is why I’m surprised by the lack of bidding so far. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s quite a frenzy just before the hammer falls, so this auction could be one to watch…or participate in.
Perhaps the BF readership is getting tired of Corvette posts?
Never.
I was wondering as some of the cars haven’t garnered too much attention.
The pictures could give the impression that this was slapped together and pushed back in the weeds with the other used cars getting “the treatment”.
One day left with no bids.
No way I would take a chance on a NY car without checking the frame a birdcage closely. It’s a bas model engine with the wrong hood. Meh.
Add me to the unimpressed list.
19K might be okay for a driver, but closer to 15K would be better.
Non-matching numbers, so-so engine dress up with no shielding, ? frame/birdcage, wrong hood – drives down the value.
It honestly does not look that bad. The one shot of the spare tire does not show any rust. But that is going to the breaking point on this car. The other upgrades and changes the car has had done to it over the years are not a deal breaker and it looks like the seller has most of the original parts as well. Yeah, its the low end drive train, but there is a lot you can do to bump up performance as well. If the frame is as good as the spare tire carrier, its a decent deal.
They should have stuck with the period correct seats. The installed seats are much more comfortable but they look out of place.
Sheesh!
Lots of people, myself included, like the big block hood. It was a common upgrade back in the day. It’s a factory part, not like some aftermarket junk.