Last week we looked into how much (or how little) Corvette someone could get with their impending economic stimulus money. While there was at least one surprisingly decent option available under four grand, we concluded that these dollars would make much more cents (get it?) as down payments on an example of America’s Sports Car that you really want.
The first wave of checks and direct deposits will be reaching their new homes this week and, we are here to tempt Corvette nation with some of the best inventory currently available from sea to shining sea. Of course, buying a sporty luxury vehicle during a pandemic is a completely frivolous, some might even say dumb, decision but; 1. There are still some folks out there with their finances in order who could benefit from some outstanding deals right now, 2. Even during tough times, some digital window shopping can be a fun escape from reality, and 3. Car dealerships have been hit hard by the economic fallout of COVID-19 and could really use our help to stay afloat. With these qualifications in mind, let’s look at some cars, I’m psyched!
Tier 1: $10,000-20,000 Affordable AND Cool
There are a lot of good ‘Vettes up for grabs between last week’s $4,000 price ceiling and where we are starting this week but the premise this week is all about finding good deals on “special” Corvettes.
The first Corvette that really stands out from the crowd hails from our nation’s bicentennial, although it is doing a pretty convincing imitation of a ’78 Indy 500 Pace Car. Posted for sale by Coast to Coast Imports in the actual home of the “Brickyard,” this ’76 Corvette has the telltale black and silver accented by red pin-striping two-tone paint job from the 1978 Pace Car Replica but lacks the unique splitter, spoiler, and glass t-tops found on the genuine item.
None of that matters much because under the hood of this replica of a replica lurks a large, yet-to-be-identified Chevrolet Performance crate motor which is linked to a four-speed manual transmission and breathes through aftermarket side pipes. Mileage looks a bit high to those of us who primarily look at newer ‘Vettes but its odometer reading of 66,705 only amounts to about 1,500 leisurely miles per year. This excellent, if a bit poser-y, example can be yours for a nice, round $10,000.
Also, of note in the under-$20k club are a real-deal 1982 Collector’s Edition and, for those looking for something more modern, one of just 1,173 C6 Convertibles ever painted Daytona Sunset Orange. For some other special editions and interesting colors in this price range, get in touch with our friends at Van Bortel Chevrolet who have two 40th Anniversary Corvettes to choose from and a beautiful 2000 coupe in Nassau Blue. You could also join one of the most loyal ownership groups in all of Corvette-dom and snag a 50th Anniversary Convertible.
Finally, for people who want the most performance that their money can buy, there are actually a handful of higher-mileage (but not in an alarming way) LT5 and LS6 powered cars that could be yours for under 20 g’s. We like this 1990 ZR-1 that might be at a dealership that it is too late to save and this 2001 Z06 that is safe at a Toyota franchise in Iowa.
Tier II: Like Tier I, But Nicer! $20,000-40,000
This is where things get really interesting! If you are willing to spend a little more, you can score a pristine, 405 HP example of a C5Z or, for just a bit more still, you could even snag a 6k mile Commemorative Edition. If the first and (for a little while longer) only DOHC Corvette is more your speed, a final year ZR-1 from the personal collection of the dealership’s owner can be found at Mosing Motorcars in Austin, TX.
Tier II is also where you can find some outstanding, more contemporary, choices. There are a plethora of C6 Grand Sports to choose from in this price range; our picks would be this final year coupe in the gorgeous, one-year-only Night Race Blue Metallic (one of only 616 GS Coupes and 1,446 overall C6s ever painted this color) and this Centennial Edition Convertible (one of 528). A lot of nice, early C6 Z06s have also fallen deep into this price bracket. You can do your own searching to see all of the variety but one of the absolute best examples of the 427 ci beast has to be this flawless 9,000 mile Atomic Orange ’07.
Even the recently departed C7 is attainable now for more than $20,000 less than the base price of a new C8. Once more, the options are numerous, but I will give a recommendation anyway. Sticking with the rare and desirable theme of this write-up, one C7 really speaks to your author; it is a Lime Rock Green over Kalahari Z51 Convertible with the top-of-the-line 3LT equipment group, a 7-speed manual gearbox, carbon-fiber instrument panel, chrome wheels, and a matching Kalahari top, beautiful!
Tier III: $40,000-70,000
We have arrived at a place where economic relief checks won’t go far as down payments but the amount of performance available in Tier III has to be brought up before this article comes to a close. The majority of the Corvettes on my personal favorite list can be found here and many have seen significant price cuts in the last month in response to the suddenly grim economic conditions.
No large-scale for sale post of mine would be complete without a 2011 Z06 Carbon Edition, a car that, much to the chagrin of yours truly, has been priced steadily around $60,000 for years. The one-two punch of COVID-19 and the arrival of the C8 may have finally broken that price point though if Carbon #46, available at the Lone Star State’s Corvette World is any indication. It is a Supersonic Blue sweetheart with just over 7k miles that they have priced at… it feels so great to type this… just $53,995, or a full $6 thousand less than it probably would have been at the end of last summer. While on CW’s website, be sure to feast your eyes on the rest of their inventory; they have my favorite C7 special edition, the GS Collector’s Edition in both Coupe and Convertible, a 427 Convertible that would make Batman proud, my vote for the best C7 GS on the market, and much more, all priced at previously unheard of levels.
Here, in my home state, is an M7 C7 Z07 that is basically being given away (don’t believe the listing, it was under $60,000 just a couple of weeks ago).
And, finally, here is an extremely rare opportunity to buy a C6 ZR1 that is a dangerously close spec to my “one that got away.” That’s one of just 375 ZR1s ever equipped with the Viper-killing, Nürburgring-slaying PDE performance package. Even after a lifetime price cut of more than $10,000, the dealer is still probably $5-7k over market on it but as far as I’m concerned, it is one of the best Corvettes currently for sale, bar none.
So, there you have it, Corvette Nation, out of the thousands upon thousands of current Corvette listings, our picks for the best ones to stimulate the US economy (and your own life) by parking in your garage until the stay at home order is lifted. Happy hunting!
Related:
How Much Corvette Can You Get with Your Stimulus Check?
Ten Years Ago: GM Reveals the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition
[PICS] Even the Batmobile is Going Mid-Engine!
