It would be an incredible understatement to say that 2001 was a year unlike any other we've seen. We started off by inaugurating a new President (barely), and the media invested lots of time in worrying about impending economic doom. As things have turned out, however, worries about a recession have been the least of our worries. The horrific events of September 11th shook all facets of society--including the Corvette marketplace. But will the effects be long-term? To put it succinctly, the answer seems to be "No."
According to our expert sources, 2001 was, colloquially speaking, an up and down year. Despite all the economic gloom-and-doom talk, the first eight months of the past year were good ones for buying and selling Corvettes. September 11th brought these activities to a halt, but only, our experts say, for about a month. Business has picked up again, and these dealers expect to have good years in 2002. We made the following statement last year, and it should hold true for 2002: Nice, desirable cars will continue to appreciate, C5s will be bought and sold like mad, and there's still plenty of affordable, entry-level vintage Vettes out there for the neophyte.
Now for the "fine print." In compiling this price guide, we've averaged prices that were sent to us from major Corvette dealers in different parts of the country. Bear this in mind as you peruse the following pages. Depending on where you're located, there may be a significant deviation in price for any given vehicle. What we've come up with is an approximate figure, not a set-in-stone number that eliminates the need for further research. Another point to remember is that the figures printed in various publications are asking prices. A car may or may not sell for what its owner thinks it's worth. So get out there, do your homework, and remember: in this game, knowledge is power.