1972 Stingray for sale. Your thoughts gents?

[HardDrive]

My neighbor up the street has a 1972 Stingray for sale. Cosmetically rough, but runs very well. Lots of mechanical work done. Paint looks good in photo, but boy howdy is it bad. Rattle can bad.

Asking $9500, will bargain a bit. Seems like a reasonable price.

Photo and text from his E-bay ad:



Last year for the chrome bumpers (front and rear) and removable rear glass. I purchased this car 5 years ago from a retired diesel mechanic who had it in his garage for 10 years in pieces. He did all the motor work and put most of it back together but it was not driveable. I have spent the last 5 years tinkering around with it and teaching my then 14 year old son about cars and engines. We accomplished alot and the car drives well. Cosmetically it could use some freshening up although it looks pretty good from 20 feet.

Features of the car and things I have done since ownership include:
- Power steering
- Power brakes
- Tilt/Telescoping wheel (makes it easy to get in and out)
- TH400 transmission (3 speed)
- New battery (this week)
- New rear leaf spring
- New gas tank
- New shocks
- Rebuilt power steering
- HEI Ignition
- Original radio (needs speakers)
- Originally a War Bonnet Yellow car
- Tires are in excellent shape with less than 5,000 miles
- Complete brake overhaul with everything new except the lines and proportioning valve.
- Completed the exhaust from the headers back with dual Flowmasters (sounds like a Vette should)
- Keys and door locks work fine

A list of upgrades completed by the previous owner includes:
- Engine rebuilt in 2009, bored over .030 with flat top pistons, 268 competition camshaft and lifters, hardened valve seats and guides, Edelbrock inteake and Holley 650 double pumper, powder coated headers (all done by the previous owner for which I have no documentation other than the previous listing - and the car runs great).

What doesn't work:
- Horn
- Windshield wipers (new motor)
- Clock
- Odometer
- HVAC controls
- Needs new seals for the t-tops and doors
- Some minor fiberglass damage behind the drivers rear wheel
- Small hole patched in the hood (the result of closing the hood with the air filter screw not down
- Could use a paint job (fiberglass crows feet, the damage above, and it wasn't a very good paint job to begin with)

If you want a chrome bumper C3 Vette with a removable rear window to drive around, this is it. If you want a show car to stay in your garage, this is not your baby.

[Oh Haha]

Do it!!

A body shop can fix up whatever needs to be done if you don't have the tools/talent for body work with fiberglass.

You have said many times that these are your favorite years.

[johnsjmc]

I have a very similar car for sale Mine is a 454 big block car with auto PS,PW,and air. Also a red 72. with black interior. My paint is better and the engine and trans were also rebuilt. Originally a Florida car but in London Ontario now. Mine has new seats, exhaust ,tires, door panels carpet new AC compressor,lines,poa valve and condensor BUT the interior needs to be reinstalled. Look carefully for frame rust where the frame rises up from the rocker area to the rear wheel arch. I,m asking $15 cdn for mine and a big block with air should be several thou more than a small block base car.I think the car you are looking at should be around 10,so price seems fair. Be advised a repaint on a vette with cracked paint is probably $5k. It needs to be stripped before repaint or the cracking will show through the new paint in short order. Wipers and hvac are a pain because they are all electro/vacuum operated . Old corvettes are also more valuable the closer to original they are. Reduce price for NOM (non original motor),colour change, headers, flowmasters , double pumper carbs etc. The highest priced C3s now are big block 4 speed roadsters with air. Or LT1s with AC
Curious how high the car bid when he had it on Ebay?

[HardDrive]

Still on eBay. Last I checked it was at $8200.

[Baz]

If you can purchase directly from owner off eBay, I would do it at $9K right now. That would potentially save him the hassle of dealing with an out of town buyer.

I think it would be a great car if you don't mind spending some $ on cosmetics.

I'm no Vette guru so these are just my own thoughts.

Keep us posted.

[cashflyer]

I'd love to own an early C3 as a play toy, but not as a DD.

[Brian 162]

Maybe it's the angle of the photo but the left front wheel doesn't look centered in the wheel well, and the car is sitting pretty high. If you can get it checked out and all is good I'd say go for it.

[weseeeee]

You only live once, go for it!

[johnsjmc]

Ebay pics show it was an AC car with missing compressor ,condenser etc. That,s a slight plus. The chewed up glass behind the wheelwell is nasty. What condition is the "birdcage" in, frame ? A replacement gas tank " says rust " so look at frame and birdcage carefully Also does look to be sitting a little high .
Looking under the hood there are a stack of alignment shims on the FR upper control arm BUT NONE on the FL. suggests it has been hit on the front drivers side. Removing shims adds positive camber so one side of the frame has a lot more camber built in than the other. The drivers fr wheel does look too close to the rear of the fender opening. He doesn,t show a pic of the other side to compare. Looks like the drivers side fr fender has been repaired/patched looks like poor repair along the inner edge visable under the hood. Drivers door gap is too tight and will chip the edges when driven. it will need to be slammed every time when that tight.The interior needs about $3000 in new /replacement parts.
Everything is available to restore the car but the closer I look the more I like mine.

[mattdavis11]

Looks like the radiator leaks.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

Ebay pics show it was an AC car with missing compressor ,condenser etc. That,s a slight plus. The chewed up glass behind the wheelwell is nasty. What condition is the "birdcage" in, frame ? Also does look to be sitting a little high .
Looking under the hood there are a stack of alignment shims on the FR upper control arm BUT NONE on the FL. suggests it has been hit on the front drivers side. Removing shims adds positive camber so one side of the frame has a lot more camber built in than the other. The drivers fr wheel does look too close to the rear of the fender opening. He doesn,t show a pic of the other side to compare. Looks like the drivers side fr fender has been repaired/patched looks like poor repair along the inner edge visable under the hood. The interior needs about $3000 in new /replacement parts.
Everything is available to restore the car but the closer I look the more I like mine.

Good catch. You can see it in the pics here the drivers front wheel is cockeyed- bigtime.

rjp

[Oh Haha]

What I MEANT to say is ...


If it checks out to be a solid car, get it. That may not be the case, though.

[HardDrive]

This car has had damage on the left side, zero doubt. The frame is way too clean in left rear. Clearly some work was done back there.

Its a hard knocks car, but it really does look good at 20 ft, and it runs well. Seems like $9000 isn't too off the mark.

[johnsjmc]

sent you a PM

[pavulon]

There are better 'vettes that will cause less heartache.

[gacook]

I love that model. I'd snatch it up; but maybe try to talk him down a little as it does need some work that's gonna cost $$.

[johnsjmc]

There are lots better examples of the same car for similar dollars.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Seems like a lot of dough for a car with some serious needs and not much potential value. If you fix it right I can't see how you're not seriously upside down.

[asphaltgambler]

Nothing worse than a cheap Corvette..............................except a cheap Porsche. Spend a little more and buy a nice car to begin with. I just went through this with a local guy who bought the same year, paid $10K too much and has now a money pit that he can barely drive.

[dennis in se pa]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

nothing worse than a cheap corvette..............................except a cheap porsche. Spend a little more and buy a nice car to begin with. I just went through this with a local guy who bought the same year, paid $10k too much and has now a money pit that he can barely drive.

+1