Corvette vs Rx7 !!!!!!!!!!!
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$14k for an SA22C? Has anyone ever seen one sell for that much? I saw nearly the same car (but automatic, and later production '79) sell last year on BAT for $8k with only 27,000 miles. I can't imagine a stick shift and some map pockets driving the value up 80%.
SA limited editions like the LS or LE in very low mileage and #1 condition might come close to 10k,
but I agree with the average. 8K for a very pristine limited or not SA is not unheard of.
but I agree with the average. 8K for a very pristine limited or not SA is not unheard of.
BTW - Kudos here to Tim/ RCCAZ 1. This is HIS SA in this article!
Should be noted too, this was the COVER story for the April Hemmings.
Still want to hear how this all came about....Tim??
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
Should be noted too, this was the COVER story for the April Hemmings.
Still want to hear how this all came about....Tim??
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
$14k for an SA22C? Has anyone ever seen one sell for that much? I saw nearly the same car (but automatic, and later production '79) sell last year on BAT for $8k with only 27,000 miles. I can't imagine a stick shift and some map pockets driving the value up 80%.
Chuyler: Yes. the bar for really special-condition and/or VERY low mileage (and in some cases, equipment) SAs has come up quite a bit.
3 EBAY samples:
-Toronado Gray 80 GS with 7000miles (i.e., brand new): Ask was $17,000. Later showed up on a dealer website with a $21K ask. Did the dealer buy it and up the price? Or the seller consign it with his $17K -ask, then the dealer marked it up?
To be fair, I never found evidence it actually SOLD (2015), but it has not popped up again so....?
-Sunrise Red GS SOLD (in 07!): $12000. 22K miles
-Solar Gold SOLD August 2013: $12,800. 41K miles (a relative high mileage car for the $$, I think)
Three cars in very clean-to-mint condition. Of course, timing is everything, so its not to say that similar cars could still be had for less, but I think these suggest there is some definite upward movement for good SAs, ongoing. I think the "average" price for similar cars may still hover in the $6500-8K range. For now.
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
I watch a lot of eBay listings, many of them are up just for attention and friends and family bid them up. They get posted a number of times even if they are reported as sold and meeting reserve. There is no penalty for a bidder failing to follow through so I really don't trust the numbers I see there. Bring A Trailer, on the other hand, has a much better system for auctioning cars online because the winner will be charged a non-refundable fee. Don't bid if you're not willing to pay the 5% fee.
I'm sure there are some really nice examples that hit various live auctions and Hagerty/Hemings has compiled those in their estimates. I just see an entirely different market watching Craigslist. I picked up my 20k mile FB for way under what I should have paid. For a month or two I wondered whether I maybe over paid...there is always cheaper cars...but in the end, it was still affordable enough for me to pay cash and I don't feel bad driving and modifying it. In less than a year I've put 8k on it and sorted through all the deferred maintenance items.
I'm sure there are some really nice examples that hit various live auctions and Hagerty/Hemings has compiled those in their estimates. I just see an entirely different market watching Craigslist. I picked up my 20k mile FB for way under what I should have paid. For a month or two I wondered whether I maybe over paid...there is always cheaper cars...but in the end, it was still affordable enough for me to pay cash and I don't feel bad driving and modifying it. In less than a year I've put 8k on it and sorted through all the deferred maintenance items.
Sometimes the selling price can be a closely held secret for those RX-7's sold via places like Craigs list. I can't blame someone for not wanting to disclose what they bought a car for. We all like the thrill of buying low and selling high. Maybe we need a place we can disclose buying/selling prices.
I'll start with my most recent buy and sell.
Sold -> 1985 GSL-SE 148,000 miles for $4500 (Craig's List)
-- History -> My dad bought in 2012 for $2000, I bought from him in 2015 for $3000
Bought -> 1979 GS 98,000 miles for $1050 (eBay)
-- History -> Bought from original owner
I'll start with my most recent buy and sell.
Sold -> 1985 GSL-SE 148,000 miles for $4500 (Craig's List)
-- History -> My dad bought in 2012 for $2000, I bought from him in 2015 for $3000
Bought -> 1979 GS 98,000 miles for $1050 (eBay)
-- History -> Bought from original owner
I thought the article was fair and very well written. Jeff was great to work with and very professional. When the article finally came out, having it on the cover along with 10 pages inside was the icing on the cake. The GOAL for all of us is to move the collector car community towards seeing the value that WE see in older Japanese cars. Valuewise, I agree, $14K seems a little high, but the number of uber clean examples you can find anymore grows more and more difficult with each passing year.
Just happy and proud to represent the community in a magazine such as Hemmings!
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 923
Likes: 36
From: Lillington NC
The essence of coolness. Nice article well crafted and worth your long wait. Now I have two autographs to collect, yours and Mr. Farrell's.... rotary Gods! Hope to see all of you at DGRR this April on my birthday the 29th! One thing the article didn't mention.. Rotary car club members are much cooler than vette club members. Congrats on the article!!
Nice! Another SA featured in a world renowned magazine.
I wonder, is it just coincidence we both are named Tim? Hmmmm ....
When Jim posted this I was wondering who's car it was.
I want to show this to my neighbor, as he has 3 corvettes and one of them he bought new is
a 70s era vette similar to this one.
I wonder, is it just coincidence we both are named Tim? Hmmmm ....
When Jim posted this I was wondering who's car it was.
I want to show this to my neighbor, as he has 3 corvettes and one of them he bought new is
a 70s era vette similar to this one.
Cool article, I enjoyed reading it!
I think the comparison was pretty good in my opinion, having driven both cars. My grandfather has a 79' Corvette (4-speed), unlike the article and I have an 83' RX-7. The cars feel very different. But at the same time, both cars have almost an aversion to technology - each having outdated chassis for when they came out. The Corvette has a lot more grip and handled much better than I expected it to. The RX-7 is more nimble and raw. Both cars have a relatively long hood and you feel as if you're sitting in the middle of the car. The Corvette takes some getting used to with it's extremely long hood. The engine actually sits behind the front axle on the Corvette as well. My grandfather's car has a Chevy crate engine in it, and it makes ~350 bhp. While the Corvette is all torque and the RX-7 is no torque, interestingly enough the torque curves of each engine feels similar. Both have a very linear torque curve. The Corvette's seating position is very bad for me, being that I'm short, the car was almost not made for people of my stature.
In general I prefer small, tossable, raw cars. I'm indifferent towards manufacturer or drivetrain layout, and like the RX-7 for a reason. But I had a lot of fun driving the Corvette too!
I think the comparison was pretty good in my opinion, having driven both cars. My grandfather has a 79' Corvette (4-speed), unlike the article and I have an 83' RX-7. The cars feel very different. But at the same time, both cars have almost an aversion to technology - each having outdated chassis for when they came out. The Corvette has a lot more grip and handled much better than I expected it to. The RX-7 is more nimble and raw. Both cars have a relatively long hood and you feel as if you're sitting in the middle of the car. The Corvette takes some getting used to with it's extremely long hood. The engine actually sits behind the front axle on the Corvette as well. My grandfather's car has a Chevy crate engine in it, and it makes ~350 bhp. While the Corvette is all torque and the RX-7 is no torque, interestingly enough the torque curves of each engine feels similar. Both have a very linear torque curve. The Corvette's seating position is very bad for me, being that I'm short, the car was almost not made for people of my stature.
In general I prefer small, tossable, raw cars. I'm indifferent towards manufacturer or drivetrain layout, and like the RX-7 for a reason. But I had a lot of fun driving the Corvette too!
Last edited by hcaulfield57; Apr 8, 2017 at 06:44 PM. Reason: wording
