Corvette C3 temptation.....
 

I have heard all the horrible things about them. It has not dissuaded me.

This one is local. I had a long talk with the owner who was very open about condition. Car sat for 10 years indoors, he recently went through it get it ready for sale. It has had a patch riveted into the driver side floor. Original paint, which he describes a 10 footer. It has a cam, headers, L82 carb. Radiator support was replaced years ago.

He said he can move on price. Would I be nuts to give him $8k for it?

Yes...its a nearly 50 year old Vette that has been sitting...I'm aware of what I'm getting into. :D I just can't shake the itch. I would just love to have one to cruise around.

https://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/d/howard-76-corvette-stingray/7111876551.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1589827296.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1589827324.jpg

I know this one is a world away from you but I think it's a better value...

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/placentia-corvette-chevrolet/7125392972.html

Not nutz.

But you will end up putting $$ into it. You won't be able to help yourself. I'd look for something nicer (like not with a riveted floor) for the same or probably a little more money.

IMO 1982 was the prettiest year (also the crappiest power year).

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/d/temecula-1988-corvette-covertable/7125317171.html

Fly out drive it home...you doin' anything these days?

I want a C3, not a C4.

OK, you'll probably have this much invested by the time you get done with that one....

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/d/apple-valley-1977-c3-corvette/7121652790.html

Are they all, or virtually all automatics? That would not trip my trigger...meh.

Or take a vacation to Palm Springs and pickup this one....

https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/cto/d/palm-desert-1977-corvette/7120698035.html

For a cruising around town or road-trip car I'd buy an automatic. It's like buying sleek Buick minus a few seats.

Man, I hated mine. I could not wait to get into a Corvette. Once I did, it was a huge let down. It handled far worse than any year Camaro I had ever owned , it was slow, the seating position was horrible , I can't think of much I really liked about it . I painted mine, fixed the brakes, and drove it for one season, then I was done.
It was one of my least enjoyable car experiences ever .
I think a 1985 Bonneville would be more rewarding to cruise around in .
They are pretty cars though .

It's funny how new(er) cars have spoiled us with how good even the mundane ones are.
We've come a long ways in almost 50 yrs of motoring....

My suggestion would be to spend a little more up front and get a car that is more of a driver's car as well as more desirable, meaning you won't throw 10k at a 5k car and end up with a $8k car when you are done.

- 68-72 chrome bumper
- 4 speed
- Non rustbelt car

I had a 71 ragtop 4 speed C3 and it was a lot of fun to drive and it did handle quite well. The chassis beneath is practically the same as the C2. I would NEVER consider an automatic corvette of this vintage. As a matter of fact, another one of these is high on my list of "next car to buy".

There you go. Now if you say you want a rubber bumper C3 and chrome is a no-go, well then go knock yourself out. :)

G

Tricky .

The repair made to the floor is not because of rust. its a fiberglass floor.
Not uncommon for it to be a weak point, but deserves better than a pop rivet fix.

If you like the car, and can afford the nickel and dime stuff it will need for setting 10 years, go for it.
As others have said, not a very collectable year and no special options to help that.


If you want a fairly inexpensive toy, could do worse.
If you are looking for a car to flip for quick cash, could do better.

I dated a girl in high school that had one. It felt like it was handling good until it broke loose and then you just held on until you hit something or skidded to a stop. My last attempt to drive the thing resulted in a 360 on the freeway in the dry at about 75 mph. No thanks!

check for frame rust that is a vet killer in ohio from salt

76 is not a good year heavy smog power loss
but you can get better bits in the 350 or just ls7 i

Just do it.


Besides, we a thread on an extensive 'vette restoration...


also a 'vette engine swap thread...

Cats gone, hotter cam and springs. Hooker headers. Has a bigger carb on it as well.

Reminds me of a joke.

What is similar between riding a moped and screwing a fat girl.

Both are fun but you don't want your friends to know.


C3's are the moped/fat girls of sportscars.

(Unfortunately, I shopped for corvettes on Craigslist this morning. I get it)


(apologies to large, young women everywhere)

The car is not ugly. It has kind of a stigma, but if you just want to have fun, why not? $8 k is only $2700 more than I paid for a 65 VW, so value per dollar seems like a plus.
I’d avoid getting too invested in “ It’s a Vette,” originality and treat it like an amusement appliance .
It could be really fun if treated with love and appropriate disrespect.

It's not just newer cars, Scott. Most of my car buddies are about ten years older than my tender 62 years and, not all that surprisingly, are Corvette owners. We'd park together at local car shows where it was always Corvette, Corvette, Corvette, 930, Corvette, Corvette. They (well, one in particular) kept bugging me to buy a Corvette, something I finally did - a first year C5 ZO6. Have to admit it was cool to look at and the performance bang-for-the-buck is pretty much unmatched. I toyed around with it for about three-four months before I'd had enough. I'll take the 50 year old technology in the 930, thank you very much.

_

I'm wondering if parts of old Hardrive suddenly shrunk or shriveled up.

There once was a time, not all that long ago, when I was infatuated with the idea of a '57 T-bird. I think they are one of the best looking Fords out there, and I'm a Chevy guy at heart. I really thought I'd enjoy having one, that is until a friend of mine kindly let me try out his '56.
Talk about a let down. I guess it shouldn't have surprised me that much, but it drove like an old Ford, or what I'd envisioned an old Ford would drive like.
I still like the looks of the '57 -bird, but I sure don't want one unless it's a resto-mod'ed one.

Throw a low ball offer, you never know. Much "different " driving experience than a Porsche, but fun.. a buddy had had one for a long time, and currently has it apart for restoration. When you jump on it, the front end raises like a boad in the water. What others have, chrome bumpers, 4sd , etc are much more desirable, but cost more as well. All that being said, parts and upgrades are readily available and could be a fun project. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1589845830.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1589845830.jpg

Can’t go wrong with silver and red. It looks pretty good as it sits.
If it runs well, just tinker with suspension bits and enjoy.

My dad bought his 1968 Corvette new in 1968. He stopped driving it ten years ago and me and my brother have been driving and maintaining it since.

The C3 is a great car except for the handling. It has been super reliable too. I highly recommend one.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1589847941.jpg

I had a 77 L48. It wasn't very fast, but it got me around. The floorboards get really hot from the exhaust, and high speed driving is not very fun.

I think thats too much money for that car. 76 and newer had steel floor boards that rust. I put 200,000 miles on a 75 that I modded but that was in the 80s. A lot goes bad in 40+ years. Weaherstrips, rust and interior problems can all be a problem. Also the rubber bumpers can look fine but may crumble if you push on them. If you are going for a C3 a chrome bumper car will return the money you spend but the rubber bumper cars, not so much.

Assuming the bird cage and frame are not completely rotted, what if bites at $6k? Zero thought towards future value, just buy it as a beater.

Well, I think the best C3s are '68-72 and '82.

I suppose if you live someplace that you don't have to worry about smog inspections, so you can mod it (which appears to be the case), then that's a huge plus. Also, you should be able to replace the horrible bumpers.

I think an old corvette could be fun, and I've seen them modded to handle decently.

Just don't take yourself too seriously.

I never really cared for Corvettes (although as a kid, I thought C3's were cool)...but after seeing this thread, I was looking around on the internet for info on them. Man, the L88 was a beast. I saw a video on youtube tonight of a guy drag racing an original one. I couldn't believe how that thing scooted. I guess the factory completely understated the HP on those things.

I'd prefer a Datsun ;)

I think it’s cool and you will have fun.

This thread reminded me of a buddy that had a late 70’s Trans Am, screaming chicken and all. Was a complete rust bucket but he spent every dime he ever made on the motor. Holy sheet, I swear it would pull the front wheels off the ground and anyone that came from out of town got schooled by that ratty looking Pontiac.

Find a '72 or older.

Danny Popp regularly destroys the field in his.

You live once, go for it. You'll a get a million opinions, but if its what your heart desires then do it

Sounds like you want it. At that price, it’s not a huge risk. Life is short. Buy the car and keep us posted.

Too many opinions are not a good thing.

Agreed, if you like it who cares? $8k is dirt cheap for a toy car, and they are easy and cheap to repair.

I've always liked them and we have a few down her in Aus... They are so "American". :D

A friend owns one like this but it's been "converted" to RHD which is not good IMO.
Anyways.. It's the same color (Speed yellow?) and has the same stock wheels.
They look great IRL. I don't understand the negative reliability comments. Surely you could fix that!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1589890709.jpg

For simplicity and parts availability, can't be beat. Looks good, just don't expect performance of any kind. It's hard to believe how far that model of car fell from what it was just a few short years earlier to what it was in the mid-'70s. GM was just skating by on brand loyalty at that point, I guess.

My uncle had a new '78, (I think), that he loaned me once when he went out of town. I was a car crazy teenager who was used to driving cheap schit boxes and I distinctly remember how slow it was. Stock L48 automatic. It was winter in MN. and I could not even get in trouble w it. I think he knew this, I mean who would loan a fast car to a teenager?

Looked like a million bucks, though. :)

If you don't have emissions to deal w where you live, you could always put any decent SBC in it and have a good performing car. The whole shebang would not cost all that much. Not sure what it would take to make it handle but can't be that tough to do. But then you are talking about a project, not a turn-key deal. As-is, it's a dog.

I had a 77 and agree with others, it’s slow and a bit scary over 120mph,but it was fun to cruise in !

If you like it -go for it.
Wanted a 79 once upon a time (early 80s) then I drove it -- L48 and slow though everything was in the late 70s.
Had a 454 -1971 -- pretty fast but didn't like curves too much.

Cant hurt to offer em say 6K --