The price gap between used C8 and C7 Corvettes is narrowing

Ample supply, the arrival of hotter models and a sane auto market have made used C8s more affordable

A few years ago, the C8 Corvette was at the forefront of a pandemic price-gouging movement, with people paying big bucks for the first-ever mid-engine Chevrolet sports car. But by 2024, the dust had settled, and the less exotic C7 had done a much better job of holding off depreciation.

Data from Haggerty The data shows that three years ago, the average price of a C8 (the supercar Corvette launched in 2020) was 83% higher than the average price of a C7 (the last front-engine Corvette produced from 2014 to 2019). As of today, that gap has dropped to just 48%.

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The arrival of any new Corvette is a big deal for American sports car fans, but the C8 is an exception. It’s the first Vette to put a V8 behind the seats, which means it looks and drives unlike anything that’s come before it. Naturally, demand is high, and the soon-to-be-discontinued C7 suddenly looks boring and outdated. At the same time, C8s are selling for more than their MSRP, and some new owners are flipping them for a profit, which helps drive up values.

This would have happened regardless, but the pandemic has exacerbated the situation, causing production delays that have further distorted the supply-demand ratio and pushed up prices. Three years ago, C8 Stingrays had a base sticker price of $60,000 and sold for an average of more than $115,000 on the used market. Haggerty explain.

Today, the average price is $72,000, a decline driven by a wider selection of cars on the used market, which has retreated from its pandemic-era highs, and the introduction of newer, faster C8s, such as the Z06 and E-Ray.

But Hagerty pricing information shows that the C7 is currently selling for $49,000, the same price it was four years ago this month. Like other used cars, they appreciated in 2021 and 2022, in part due to a shortage of new C8s, but prices have since fallen back.

Both cars are great, but the C8 feels more exotic, both in the way it drives and in the control layout. But the C7 has one major advantage: It’s the last Corvette to come with a manual transmission. For some sports car buyers, that’s a real deal breaker. Would you pay a premium for a used C8 over a used C7?