Why the C3 Corvette’s bad rap is beginning to fade

If you are of a certain age, the thought of a C3 Corvette—the third generation of America’s sports car (1968–82)—includes images of middle-aged men in “Members Only” jackets, who purchased one to ease the pain of a mid-life crisis.

Back in my high school days in the 1980s, my friends and I would sit outside the school after football practice, waiting for our parents to pick us up. If a Corvette pulled into the parking lot, there would be whispers and speculation that the family must be going through a divorce. Whether that was true or not, there’s no disputing that C3 Corvettes haven’t had the greatest reputation—for a lot of reasons.

Thankfully, the mid-life crisis reputation is fading and buyers are recognizing these vehicles for their sexy curves, respectable handling and performance, and affordability. The C3 is finally becoming more desirable to collectors.

Great value, great car

If you think about it, C3 Corvettes represent a great value for driving fun. The Chevrolet small-block V-8 is a consistent performer that is inexpensive to maintain, and while the C3 is perhaps a little nose heavy, it still handles reasonably well. With independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, the C3 also has excellent stopping power in stock form. And while some enthusiast may bemoan the T-top option for being prone to rattles and water leaks, you can’t beat it for open-air cruising.

The Hagerty Price Guide supports the affordability argument, at least for later examples of the C3, as a 1975–78 in #3 condition carries a value of $10,500–$11,500. For a little more cash you can get yourself a four-speed to further enhance your driving experience. If you’re handy, for $5600–$6300 you can find a solid #4 car that needs a little mechanical or cosmetic love. Since there are plenty of Corvette replacement parts out there, it’s a reasonable endeavor for the mechanically inclined.

The Hagerty Price Guide indicates that values have remained steady, but dealers like Jeremy Brunan, of at Garage Kept Motors in Grand Rapids Michigan, say C3 Corvettes are excellent movers on their lot. “Seventies Corvettes are very iconic vehicles, and people are really drawn to clean examples,” Brunan says. “We have often been able to sell well-maintained/restored examples above retail, and we’ve even sold a couple to other dealers at retail, and they’ve sold them at a profit.” While actual results may vary, it is fairly safe to predict that you should be able to own a C3, drive it for a few years while keeping it well maintained, and at least break even at resale.

A great palette for some self-expression

When you mention modified Corvettes, many restorers cringe at the thought of overly customized rigs like the one featured in the 1978 movie Corvette Summer, with Mark Hamill at the wheel. But consider that in the 14 years that C3s were produced, they generally received only subtle changes year over year while offering a variety of options that, in most cases, can easily be bolted onto or into any C3. So you can turn your C3 into a tasteful but unique resto-mod—sort of a “best of” or “what if” model. For example, you could pick up a 1975 Corvette convertible, add a Chevy big-block crate engine (perhaps with a Tri-Power unit), factory side exhaust, and four-speed manual, and you’d have a real ground pounder.

Open up your favorite high-performance mail order catalog and you’ll find affordable suspension and brake upgrades, along with plenty of options for an aftermarket radio that bolts into the factory opening in the dash. Keep the resto-modification tasteful and you have a subtly modified car that, while unique, is easily desirable to others when it comes time to resell.

Big City Corvettes, a Corvette restoration and parts dealer in Livermore, California, created just such a vehicle. Co-owner Tom Smith explains: “We took a 1975 chassis and upgraded it with a fiberglass mono-leaf rear spring, bigger brakes, and performance gas shocks. We dropped in a warmed-up 350 V-8 and topped it with factory aluminum valve covers and a functional cowl-induction dual-snorkel air cleaner and backed it with a Tremec five-speed manual. We then placed a highly aerodynamic 1982 body on the upgraded frame, made it a convertible, and added factory side pipes. At first glance it looks factory, but when you get inside and head down the road, and you realize this is something way better. It accelerates hard and handles like it’s on rails, but gone is that harsh C3 ride. We built the car as a fun car for me and my partner to drive and promote the shop, but we’ve had some pretty serious offers to purchase it. Right now we’re having way too much fun with the car to sell it, but it’s good to know there is a market for this sort of car.”

Join the fun

Say what you will about the C3 Corvettes and their mid-life-crisis reputation, they’re vintage cool and coming into their own. Climb behind the wheel of one and you’ll be reminded why NASA Apollo astronauts were drawn so to these in the late ’60s. They are high tech, with an interior that is aircraft inspired, and they are agile and fast. Simply put, these cars are fun to drive, and they’re often greeted with cheers and thumbs-up as you cruise the local boulevard. It is easy to see why C3s hold their value and are growing in popularity.