I get asked this a lot, so I posted this on the Corvette forum

You are correct, the high dollar sales are coming from rare 427's. Here's a list of Corvette 427's that have sold since January at auctions for over $100,000:

1966 427/390 HP $103,680
1967 427/435 HP $182,970
1967 427/430 HP $450,000 (L88)
1967 427/435 HP $216,000
1967 427/435 HP $210,000
1967 427/435 HP $228,960

17 Corvette's have been reported to be sold at major auctions this year. The average price is $121,400. Of course the $450k sale makes a big tilt. if you remove that sale, the average is $97k. But with 6 of 17 cars selling for over $100,000 you can see why the mid-year Corvette's are good collector cars.

There has been 2 Daytona's sold this year, $192,500 and $235,035.

Your question about production numbers for the 435 HP Corvette's is as follows:

427/390 HP (1966 - 1967) 8,948 produced
427/400 HP (1967) 2,101 produced
427/425 HP (1966) 5,258 produced
427/435 HP (1967) 3,754 produced

Of course the bad thing about Corvette's is that many believe there may be more 427's running around today than what left the factory. Who knows for sure, but when you can buy a real nice 327 for under $40,000 you can image what would happen when prices are 2 or 3 times that amount for a 427.

I'm sorry if I was misleading about the $150,000 Corvette 427's. Not all 427's will bring that much, but a few will. You can still buy a driver #3 for under $65,000 if you shop and shop and don't mind mismatching numbers on a few parts.

- Bill

 

It would make sense, but then there are a lot of C6 Z06's not making it to 1,000 miles. 505 HP and 400+ lb ft torque = bad days for people who don't respect the power.

- Bill

 

Not that I'm an expert, but I think one other thing should be considered when contemplating the collectability of 355s... the Dino. Who would have ever thought that 206/246 Dinos would ever bring big money? Their reputation as money pits was the same (maybe worse) than 355s. Dinos were cheap cars in the late 70s, enough so that parts costs became a huge factor in ownership. Those cars also had plently of maladies too. Finally, factor in the "its not a real Ferrari" syndrome and Dinos looked like terrible investments.
Could the 355 follow the Dinos path? Ferrari did sell alot more 355s, but will there be more enthusiasts in the world in 20 years who will want a 355?
Time will tell...
And hey, what about a 348 Spider? I own a 348 Spider, maybe I can try to justify its ownership as a retirement investment strategy to my wife!

 

Good post, so if you ignore the (to my mind) irrelevant stuff like paintwork, luggage space, comfort, air con, AND then add LOTS more power the standout winner as a drivers car would be the Lotus Elise