Musclecar value question

[Dave Rifkin]

So I'm watching the replays of the Barret-Jackson auction and I couldn't help but notice a distrubing slant to the values of certain cars. For example, why would a Hemi 'Cuda be worth more than a 1969 L88 Corvette? Both cars were very beautiful; the "Cuda was green with black vinyl roof and interior with a 4 speed. The 'Vette was a Riverside Gold coupe 4 speed with all of the usual L88 stuff. The 'Vette went to 260k or there about and the 'Cuda went for closer to 300k.
Both cars (maybe not these two specific cars) have racing in thier blood and are extremely rare; I think the '69 L88 is rarer (I could be wrong) but, for some reason once you put a Hemi into somthing the price skyrockets.
In my opinion the Corvette was more "state of the art" back then and I would think the L88 would be equal to, or more, valuable than any production Mopar.

Anyone else have any thoughts on the disproportionate values placed on these Mopars compared to other, sometimes rarer, musclecars?

[Paul D]

I couln't agree more..... and note by my signature that I'm not biased at all :-)

I'd like to see a Hemi Cuda be clocked at 220 mph down the Mulsane staight at the 24 Hours of LeMans like the L88 was in the early 70's!

Seriously, it was pretty apparent at Mecum last week that Hemi's were coming off the "bubble" with many being bid to lower numbers than at Mecum Rockford or B-J.

However, the deep pocketed baby boomer who buys a hemi car, probably has more "bragging rights" at the country club....all his buddy's have heard of hemi's, but you almost have to be a real hard core car guy to know much about the signifigance of an L88.

Just my $.02.

[SBR]

I too believe that L88 Corvettes are undervalued when compared to Hemi Cudas ZL1 Camaros etc. Here is a car that was produced for three years with total production at 216 units and had racing sucess. I may be a little biased though

[rich p]

Some guys were not born with a silver spoon and Only could afford a MUSCLE CAR with lots of cubes !!And boy did we have fun packing your friends in the car with a case of beer and driving around all night listening to Toys in the Attic,Led Zep,Doors, and Jimmy HX on the guitar full blast.
I didnt think Vette guys did that !!

Drinking and racing was fun back in the day and nobody got hurt !! Im still but without the booze.

[Belair62]

Damn..I got goosebumps Rich !!

[71-LS6]

[ QUOTE ]
Some guys were not born with a silver spoon and Only could afford a MUSCLE CAR with lots of cubes !!And boy did we have fun packing your friends in the car with a case of beer and driving around all night listening to Toys in the Attic,Led Zep,Doors, and Jimmy HX on the guitar full blast.
I didnt think Vette guys did that !!



[/ QUOTE ]

In 1976 I sold my 70' 440-6 Challenger (after trashing it ) and bought a 1970 LS5 Corvette. My buddy and I went on several double dates in that car, it was just a little crowded, and there was a weight limit on the girls...

IMO I think the mid-year vettes have sucked a lot of the wind out of the C-3 prices over the last 10 years, even though 69 L88's and ZL1's were the baddest of the bad.

[tom406]

If anyone looks at the Fall 06 issue of Muscle Car Review, in the cars of '69 section on page 21, theres a write up of a '69 ZL1 Vette that I've never seen before, a red ZL1/M40 AUTOMATIC roadster owned by a fellow named John Maher, who's also said to be the original owner and in possesion of the tank sticker. I've never seen this car before, being familiar only with the yellow car and the (debated) white car. It has a picture at the Pigeon Forge car show last year(its shown with polished Americans and a vintage race paint scheme). Does anyone have some knowledge of this car they can share?

[L-79 Nova]

Tom,I remember in 1988 at Bloomington during the L-88 meet ther was talk of an orange ZL-1 with non matching motor. Never heard any more about it. Ron.....

http://photobucket.com/albums/e341/9187/

[Pacecarjeff]

I met John at Carlisle. Very nice guy!!
The car is a real ZL1, and yes -he is the original owner.
From what I remember his car is orange.
John Z. knows him very well, he is one of those vettehead guys. He should be able to tell you much more.

[737Driver]

I've long since given up trying to make sense of values. I have very fond memories of driving a 68 Hemi Roadrunner jumping the local railraod tracks and going airborne (before I was a pilot) while listening to 'Songs For Beginners' by Graham Nash. I have fond memories of owning and enjoying my 69 Duntov L88 Corvette. When I was young, I couldn't afford the L88 but I could damn sure afford to jump railraod tracks in that Hemi Roadrunner.
Today, they would both be worth a lot of money to me. I think reliving our youth helps to determine values today. A lot of us could afford a high performance Mopar in the day but few of us could afford that Corvette. I think that is the equalizer.
Regards,
Mark