| Author | Message | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
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Peter I am sorry to have upset you. I already have a 348 TS. This car is more as a collector item but also has to be something I want to own and drive occassionally. Hence the options can be endless. I am sure you like other car in addition to Ferraris and have not closed your mind to all the other very beautiful machines. I certainly do like many other marques. | ||
| Peter Boray (Gts308qv)
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One minute you are talking Ferrari, then you are talking Vette, then it turns into an E Type.Are you an enthusiast or a speculator? Go work out which car makes your heart race and your mind spin. I appreciate all classic sports cars, but for me Ferrari gives you that extra buzz! Once you start comparing and worrying about prices, parts, maintenance, collectability, appreciation etc, you will miss the point in owning and driving a Ferrari. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
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Get the Ferrari, Ferraris are more fun. | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
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Thanks guys for your input. Scott that was a very elaborate analysis and was much appreciated. Magoo thanks for the tips on verifying the authenticity of the cars. The car is in fact a 327 C2 (small block) with 300bhp (the carbs have been uprated and the exhausts are on the side). I think after reading your mail, I will pass up on this one and wait for a better buying opportunity. I just like the look of the 60's Sting Ray but then I could get an e-Type Jag for the same money. I suppose I should check out the Testarossa a bit more. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
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Najib, As a collector of old cars I can tell you that the 64 is the least desirable of the Sting Ray series. Like it or not it has gotten labled as such. As Scott has said the 66 and 67 are the best years except the 63 is unique because of the split window on the coupe. At $28,000 it is a little high by about $5,000 in perfect condition and factory A/C. To check the casting numbers which can't be changed you have to use a mirror and look down behind the left side of the block near the firewall and the acell. linkage. The Nos. are raised and cannot be duplicated. The engine numbers on the Rt. side of the block near the water pump can be ground down and re-stamped. In some states it is considered legal to do that because of the vintage of the car. Be careful. | ||
| Scott Anderson (Srandrsn)
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Najib, I've got two 1966 corvette convrts. It really depends on what you want the car for. In terms of buying the vette as a collectable/investment that you can also drive in that body style (which is the C2) I would look for a 65 big block (396 cubic inches in 65) or a 66 or 67 big block (427 cubes for those years). What I'm trying to say is that the most popular and collectable years of that body style are 65-67. The 67 is the most refined of the era and the most prized by collectors. Both my cars are small blocks (327) and they are bullet proof. There are quite a number of companies that do nothing but supply parts for the restoration and preservation of corvettes, so reproduction parts or NOS items are not hard to find. For me those early years of 63-64 never did anything for me, the cars are pretty much the same but really the 65-67 is the core collectable of that body style. I don't have a TR but I do have a 308. And just in terms of finding parts and people who know what they are doing around Ferraris is much harder than corvettes. It true that those old corvettes are brutes to drive. An hour or two is fine but I often go on 6-7 hour trips and let me tell you with no air conditioning (save for the top down) and the rough ride its fun but it takes a lot of energy to drive those cars a long distance. Again I don't have a TR but my 308 is vastly more civalized than my 66's, I can only surmise that the TR would be even more civalized than the 308, and leave the vette in the dust. The corvette is fun, simple, relatively inexpensive; Ferraris are even more fun, not so simple and very expensive. If money is not an issue I'd go with the TR, in fact I'm looking to trade a 69 corvette I have on a second Ferrari. In terms of investments I think that both would stay relative to each other in terms of value. I'm not sure a TR would drop much below 40K, and a 64 corvette (unless you restore it to NCRS spec) would go much higher than the mid 30's. Again the greatest investment cars of that era are the big blocks, if you could find one for around 30-35K and perfectly restore it (another 20-25K) if it were a rare car (color combo) it would be worth 80-90K now and always. I'm not sure that helps in any way. Before I forget old corvettes rarely if ever have any kind of history, service or otherwise. All those years ago no-one ever thought to keep much documentation on those cars. A few of them do, and of course they are going to bring a premium in terms of price so don't be alarmed that there isn't much in the way of documentation. Just check that the vin # on the car (usually under the glove box) is also on the engine block. Also decode the build date for the car and see that the engine was built/made prior to the build date of the car. Other parts like the alternator, starter, water pump.. also have casting or build dates on them and they should alos preceed the build date of the car. But the engine is the most critical to have both the correct vin # and a casting/build date that preceeds the build date of the car. There are alot of cars that have been restamped with the correct vin # but the casting date (which as far as I know can't be duplicted) for the engine is after the build date for the car which means it may be a 1964 engine but it wasn't the engine that "came" with the car. Check it out carefully be for you purchase. Both cars would be great but I would be inclined to go for the Ferrari. | ||
| Peter Boray (Gts308qv)
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Investment potential aside: An early Vette is an awsome car to look at, but a dog to drive. A Ferrari is an awsome car to look at and awsome to drive. Ball's in your court. | ||
| Ernie Bonilla (Ernie)
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Look at it like this. What will make you happy in the long run, and most important what can you afford. Also if you already have a Ferrari then you know what your in for, and if you don't then listen up. It was once said " It is hard to find an honest mechanic", and I say " It is even harder to find an honest Ferrari mechanic". To be quit frank the Vett is a nice car but it does not have the pressence of a Ferrari, on the other hand the Ferrari isn't as cheap to maintain as the Vett. Bottom line, get what will not break your bank. | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
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Get the Vette. Lower cost, lower maintenance, and rarer(?). Probably a good value at $28k. Is it a big block? That TR with low miles don't seem right. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
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The Vette will certainly cost u less in maintenance  I love the C2 & C3 Vettes. Is the 64 a C1 or a C2 ? If its a C2 I might go for that cus they r far more rare than Testarossas, especially overseas. check out http:www//corvetteforum.com if u want more Vette advice | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
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Both cars have great bodies. I love the old Corvettes but at the end of the day...the TR. I am not sure if I wanted a 9000KM car though. $40K sounds very reasonable. I understand that car is in Europe likely or at least not in the US. Kind of odd that they have no history on the Corvette but matching numbers. If you have a matching numbers car 40 years old you usually have the history as well. Just odd. | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
|
I have an opportunity to buy either: 1. A 1990 Testarossa (Red/cream) with only 9000 kms. on the clock (To be verified)and in visually very good condition (no scratches or dents) for $40,000; or 2. A Corvette 1964 Sting Ray convertible (Red with white top) recently rebuilt with matching numbers but no previous history at $28,000. Which would you buy and why? Also which do you think will be a better investment. |