CallawayOwnersGroup.com

Hello,

I'm considering purchasing a 1988 Callaway Corvette. Here's what I know about the Vette:

Basics: Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Red on red. 48,000 miles. 4+3 Doug Nash. Z52 package. G44 3.07 rear end. And, obviously, the B2K option.

Exterior: There is no AeroBody, but it does have the Dymag wheels and all of the appropriate Callaway stickers and badges. From a distance, the car looks good. Up close, it's in rough shape, with clearcoat cracks in the hood and minor fiberglass damage in 2 or 3 places. The targa top has some paint bubbles. It's been driven hard and enjoyed. Nothing wrong with that! The Dymag wheels will need repainted and there is some curb rash.

Paint: D+
Body C+
Wheels: D-

Interior: Standard C4 issues. The usual driver's side wear and tear on the leather. Some cracks in easily replaceable plastic parts. No dash cracks. Needs cleaned, but it could be a lot worse.

Interior: B-

Engine: The turbos were rebuilt by Evergreen Turbos in FL. Due to inclement weather, I haven't had an opportunity to drive the car, but it started easy in the shop. There was a plume of blue smoke on start-up, which likely means an oil leak somewhere. I'll almost certainly need to have the car inspected before purchase.

Underbody: I haven't been able to get it up on a lift yet, but I did notice a small hole in the exhaust.

They're asking $35k for the car. We're far apart. Given the obvious work required plus the unknowns, (plus what C4 ZR1s are going for), I'm closer to $20-25K. They're willing to take my near mint 89 C4 on trade ($10,500). Both Vettes have 48,000 miles.

I'm new to the Callaway world, so any advice or help ya'll might be willing to offer would be tremendous!

Thank you

DTHL98:

You are in the same spot I was in before buying my B2K.

First, you will have the support of the COG brothers. I have received a lot of advice and help.

Second, mine started the puff. If this one has set for awhile, it is probably the valve seals. Mine dried out and needed replacement. Some were cracked and broken. The old compressed air in the spark plug hole allows them to be replaced without having to pull the heads. While that was happening, it makes sense to replace the fuel injectors with upgraded ones that can handle ethanol. Search the site there are topics on where to get the best ones. As a precaution, you may want to do a compression check.

Third, I believe you are on track to not pay asking. Without Aero Body, that's at least 12k without paint. The body repairs and paint will be expensive to fix.
Search Bring A Trailer for past auctions results for Callaway Corvettes. Dymags are worth a lot but should be refinished to preserve them. Ye Olde Wheel Co is out of business so i you will have to work at that, more $. They did one for me, it was hundreds to correct a flaw and repaint.

Finally, if you do get it, put 2 3/4 or larger exhaust and it will shock you how hard they pull under pressure.

Good luck with the deal. They're are others that will come in who have much more knowledge.

Dakota Aero

PS you can contact Callaway Cars in Ct. to get information on that specific car in the registry.

$35k is way high for that condition. With bad paint and glass damage, Id target the car in the 18-20k range. You will need to replace injectors, oil and coolant lines, tires etc. It will take time and money to get it road worthy again.

Is it number 82 by chance?

There is an 87 Vert on Corvetteforum for $25k that looks to be in excellent condition. The 87s have lower hp but still have the same turbo frame available...now upgraded with ball bearings. If you were going to by one of the two Id take a hard look at the 87.

Dakota Aero wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 1:34 pm DTHL98:

You are in the same spot I was in before buying my B2K.

First, you will have the support of the COG brothers. I have received a lot of advice and help.

Second, mine started the puff. If this one has set for awhile, it is probably the valve seals. Mine dried out and needed replacement. Some were cracked and broken. The old compressed air in the spark plug hole allows them to be replaced without having to pull the heads. While that was happening, it makes sense to replace the fuel injectors with upgraded ones that can handle ethanol. Search the site there are topics on where to get the best ones. As a precaution, you may want to do a compression check.

Third, I believe you are on track to not pay asking. Without Aero Body, that's at least 12k without paint. The body repairs and paint will be expensive to fix.
Search Bring A Trailer for past auctions results for Callaway Corvettes. Dymags are worth a lot but should be refinished to preserve them. Ye Olde Wheel Co is out of business so i you will have to work at that, more $. They did one for me, it was hundreds to correct a flaw and repaint.

Finally, if you do get it, put 2 3/4 or larger exhaust and it will shock you how hard they pull under pressure.

Good luck with the deal. They're are others that will come in who have much more knowledge.

Dakota Aero

PS you can contact Callaway Cars in Ct. to get information on that specific car in the registry.

Thank you! We're far apart, but if the seller comes down, I will have a full inspection performed on the car.

SurfnSun wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 2:04 pm $35k is way high for that condition. With bad paint and glass damage, Id target the car in the 18-20k range. You will need to replace injectors, oil and coolant lines, tires etc. It will take time and money to get it road worthy again.

Is it number 82 by chance?

There is an 87 Vert on Corvetteforum for $25k that looks to be in excellent condition. The 87s have lower hp but still have the same turbo frame available...now upgraded with ball bearings. If you were going to by one of the two Id take a hard look at the 87.

I've reached out to the seller about the Callaway Number. I have the VIN but I don't have the build number. 1G1YY2182J5113196

I found that 87. That's how I'd expect a $35k Callaway to look. Beautiful car. I can live with paint chips and whatnot. But the car I'm looking at needs a total repaint and bodywork.

That VIN is car #88-082

Good luck w/ your negotiations, and thank you for starting this topic with the Callaway Owners Group

SurfnSun wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 2:04 pm $35k is way high for that condition. With bad paint and glass damage, Id target the car in the 18-20k range. You will need to replace injectors, oil and coolant lines, tires etc. It will take time and money to get it road worthy again.

Is it number 82 by chance?

There is an 87 Vert on Corvetteforum for $25k that looks to be in excellent condition. The 87s have lower hp but still have the same turbo frame available...now upgraded with ball bearings. If you were going to by one of the two Id take a hard look at the 87.

Confirmed. It's car 82. How'd you know?

The car was for sale in 2014. I swapped texts with the owner but I wasn't in a position to buy it. I still have pics of the car.

Oh, do share! I’d love to know what kind of condition it was in then.

DropTheHammerL98 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 12:27 pm There was a plume of blue smoke on start-up, which likely means an oil leak somewhere.

My -87 does that, which is normal according to the Callaway owner’s manual: I think this is caused by oil leaking through the journal bearings in the IHI turbos after the engine has been turned off. (An electrical scavenge pump that could run until the engine had cooled down a bit would probably solve this mainly esthetical problem.) I don't know if this also applies for the later cars with Rotomaster turbos.

Here are the pics…I don’t recall the seller speaking of hood damage but perhaps the shot angles were hiding it.

SurfnSun wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:30 am Here are the pics…I don’t recall the seller speaking of hood damage but perhaps the shot angles were hiding it.

The hood damage is very minor and impossible to see from these angles. It's hard to see even if you've got the right angle.

You just can't tell much of anything from these pictures.

I called the owner and politely told him that we're too far apart for me to even make an offer.

I told him that he's got a great car and, based on the market for Callaways, I understand why he's asking $35k, that it might be the right price for someone, but it's just too much for me.

He insisted that I make an offer.

I told him $19k is where I'm at.

He said he'd keep that in mind, but he wasn't ready to move it at that price.

I have my eye on a 21k mile, mint condition 1990 ZR1 for $34k. I wanted to join the Callaway club, but it just wasn't in the cards for me. I just can't bring myself to pay $30k+ for an 88 Callaway that needs bodywork, wheel work, and a paint job, when I can get a mint 1990 ZR1 for the same price.

DropTheHammerL98 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 4:16 pm I called the owner and politely told him that we're too far apart for me to even make an offer.

I told him that he's got a great car and, based on the market for Callaways, I understand why he's asking $35k, that it might be the right price for someone, but it's just too much for me.

He insisted that I make an offer.

I told him $19k is where I'm at.

He said he'd keep that in mind, but he wasn't ready to move it at that price.

I have my eye on a 21k mile, mint condition 1990 ZR1 for $34k. I wanted to join the Callaway club, but it just wasn't in the cards for me. I just can't bring myself to pay $30k+ for an 88 Callaway that needs bodywork, wheel work, and a paint job, when I can get a mint 1990 ZR1 for the same price.

I think if you keep looking, you'll find a good Callaway for a fair price. You'll be rewarded with a special car, in the meantime.

The Black 87 which sold last week is an example of a nice car which was sold at a really fair price. It didn't last long, as a result.

This is my long way of saying, don't settle.

The seller is a good guy, just not overly eager to sell. He came down $5k but that's just not my price. I hope the car finds a good home.

Good buyers know when to walk away!

I agree with your move. A stock bodied 88 that needs work is not a 30k car IMO.

Every now and then a good deal seems to surface. This one doesn't seem to be it. Good on you to realize this now, and especially after others have mentioned their thoughts on the car. Some go blindly into purchases and buy wrong. Wrong car, wrong price, wrong deal based on concessions. What I gain from this site in my own experiences are a great summary of how to get the best car possible and then get the most out of it while you own it. There is more knowledge about automobiles in this forum that I have seen anywhere and the best part is it's gladly given or offered. Good luck with your search as you continue the hunt. It looks like several are helping you with realistic ideas, so you will hopefully get the right car, really soon.

My 87 TT #149 did that right up until I replaced the valve guide seals