Classic car.....get AC?

[HardDrive]

I've decided I have to scratch the C3 Corvette itch.

I know....I know....

Most cars either do not have AC, or the parts were removed at some point. I have this fantasy in head that I am going to drive the car on long drives in the summertime, and thus should target a car with working AC.

Am I full of baloney?

A) Am I actually going to go on all day drives in the country in a C3 corvette?

B) As with any classic car, is part of the experience having the windows down (or the T tops off)?

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I've decided I have to scratch the C3 Corvette itch.

I know....I know....

Most cars either do not have AC, or the parts were removed at some point. I have this fantasy in head that I am going to drive the car on long drives in the summertime, and thus should target a car with working AC.

Am I full of baloney?

No. AC is wonderful

Originally Posted by HardDrive

A) Am I actually going to go on all day drives in the country in a C3 corvette?

Only you can answer that.

Originally Posted by HardDrive

B) As with any classic car, is part of the experience having the windows down (or the T tops off)?

Yes, the question is, do you want the experience. It sounds kind of romantic to have the wind blowing through your hair as you drive a winding mountain road, but wind blowing in your face and whipping around your head gets pretty tedious after a few hours (or even one hour). It's why I don't take my Speedster on long journeys any more.

[ramonesfreak]

i don’t know if you’ll drive the corvette for long drives in the country but i can say that not having AC in my 911sc is a major problem in july and august. my weather is similar to yours. short driving season that you want to take advantage of...the heat and humidity here in july and august are just too much for me most days which makes my vintage sports car driving season all the more short

[red-beard]

If I had kept my 914/6, it was going to get air conditioning. There is a company here in Houston that specializes in doing this for any classic car.

Air Conditioning and Classic Car Restoration - Custom Car Cool, Houston TX

[fintstone]

After my experience with 911s, I only consider classic cars with AC or with a clear plan to to add it without issue and without making the car less "correct"...valuable or whatever...as it often makes the decision whether or not to drive it in nice weather go negative. If it was an AC car, it is pretty easy to make it work reasonably well. Some cars like 65'-66' Mustangs often did not have it but it was a bolt on (and a repro system is readily available). If a hit rod, and you don't care about originality or looking stock, you can always add a system. It should not be difficult to find a C3 with AC.

[RANDY P]

Better do something cuz the C3 is famous for burning your feet due to the lack of heat shielding. People complain about it in normal places.

rjp

[HardDrive]

Good stuff, thanks guys.

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Better do something cuz the C3 is famous for burning your feet due to the lack of heat shielding. People complain about it in normal places.

rjp

This, I had a C3 that had no a/c when I was living in KS. I made the trip to Bloomington IN. in the Summer for the big corvette gathering. Really enjoyed being in an American sports car driving through the heartland BUT wow was it hot even with t-tops off. I was in my 30's and would not want to do in now at 61.

I would love to have another one but it would be a 74 vert or a coupe with a/c

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I took the AC out of my 84 and never regretted it. YMMV.

That said, I also took the heat out (headers) and my feet were a little cold in NH last weekend. Sweater was toasty though. Windows were open.

[Baz]

None of my 3 Porsches have AC.

When I need AC, I take the Silverado.

Problem solved!

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I've decided I have to scratch the C3 Corvette itch.

Be fully sure the car's frame isn't rotting from the inside out and then checkout what Danny Popp and Detroit Speed have done with their C3s because they're terrific!

If AC is a priority, maybe get a C5 or C6 Z06 as the starting point.

[Scott Douglas]

Look at it this way.
Even if you have it, that doesn't mean you have to use it.
But if you don't have it and find you really would like it, well....
My SC had a/c. It never worked great. If I were to do it again, I think I'd look into putting in popout rear windows in. That would have solved a lot of air flow problems.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by Baz

None of my 3 Porsches have AC.

When I need AC, I take the Silverado.

Problem solved!

you live in florida so you can drive your classic cars year round if you want to.....up here, we cant. theres usually salt on the roads until the end of march, april it rains, may it rains, june is perfect, july and august are extremely humid, september is hit or miss and october it typically starts snowing and then comes the salt again

so, we get like 30 days a year to enjoy our classic cars up here....im not even sure its worth it anymore

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

eres usually salt on the roads until the end of march, april it rains, may it rains, june is perfect, july and august are extremely humid, september is hit or miss and october it typically starts snowing and then comes the salt again

so, we get like 30 days a year to enjoy our classic cars up here....im not even sure its worth it anymore

I get it. Not driving in salt to preserve your car is a valid concern. I share that concern with my 356s, but the 911 - hell there are hundreds of thousands of them. If it rusts out and I want another one it's not like someone in California or the south won't have one to sell. The humid days of July and August, while not pleasant driving weather, are not the only weather we have. I've had my Speedster out several times this month.

[ramonesfreak]

salt? no thanks. i bought my almost MINT 911 for $12k 13 years ago. i would never pay $30k plus for one now nor would i buy a junker and waste my time and money getting it to the condition mine is in....not that it wouldnt be worth it but im getting old and have other priorities and simply love my car too much to subject it to salt....

but yea, ive had mine out too. september and october can have some nice driving days. i wont argue with that

[Nostril Cheese]

I suggest you go have a look at a few C3s and see how they are assembled. These are old cars with not very large AC ducts. To do the AC right would mean replacing all the hoses, compressor, etc..

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by pavulon

If AC is a priority, maybe get a C5 or C6 Z06 as the starting point.

This. Why would you even consider a C3?

[RANDY P]

Swapping out the ac evaporator on a BB C3 looks like quite a treat.

rjp

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

I suggest you go have a look at a few C3s and see how they are assembled. These are old cars with not very large AC ducts. To do the AC right would mean replacing all the hoses, compressor, etc..

Sounds like an '80s 911.
No, I would not buy a car with an AC system like an '80s 911 unless it was an '80s 911. If you are going to buy a post 1970 American car it should have a reliable AC system.

[GH85Carrera]

I LOVE the AC in my 85 911. I can drive in comfort in the summer. My wife will ride with me on long road trips and we are cool and comfortable.

I will never own a car that is not air conditioned. I prefer to drive in comfort.