elsinore401

Hello, I just found a very orginal 72 coupe that has one of my favorite color combo's Green ext, biege int. It is very original with faded paint, some small chips, etc. You can see the rivet marks near the headlights etc. wear on interior. 4-speed ,with AC and power steering and windows. mechanicals very nice. My question is: would this be dumb on my part if I could get it for 14k? If I did basic paint and seat ccovers would I be better off just buying one already painted?Need some advice. Thanks

CaseyJones

You are looking at anywhere between $5 to $10K for a good to great paint job unless you are really handy or have a friend, neightbor, brother-in-law, etc. who can paint a fiberglass car well. Seat covers will run anywhere from $300 to $700-ish installed , if I remember correctly. Then there will be incidental stuff that you didn't figure on at the time. To me, $14K is a bit steep. I'd rather buy a great looking $14K car needing mechanical work over a mechanically great $14K car needing paint and interior work. IMHO. If it was a big block car, then iI would probably jump on it. Otherwise, not so much.

Honestly, if the car is good enough to drive and the paint can be classified as a ten-footer, then the price may not be too out of line. If it was me, I'd feel better if it was in the $7500 to $9000 range. You are looking at doing the really expensive stuff. I just went through my '80, which is a driver and not a show car by any stretch, for about $6500, adding in my head, not including tires. Engine, suspension, brakes, vacuum system, miscellaneous electrical stuff, cooling system, weatherstripping, etc. I do my own work 99.9% of the time and shop very carefully. I put a lot of miles (maybe 8K to 10K yearly) on my baby and I want it to be very safe and dependable.

0Willcox Corvette

Elsinor-

Aside from the paint job info above… You should post pictures of the car and….

There are many other things to inspect besides the paint for a car with an asking price of 14K. If it were me personally buying this car I would pull the kick panels and inspect the A pillar condition, I’d take a hard look at the windshield frame inside and out.

I’d put the car on a rack and inspect it top to bottom checking the condition of the frame, the trailing arms, and so on… I keep a check list here when I do pre-purchase inspections for customers and it's pretty long.

Fixing those rivet pops the correct way is a pretty intense job, I have a PDF on my web site that will walk you through this repair.

Over and over we see people that get buried in a car and as most will probably tell you, buying done vs. buying and building is always cheaper and sometime buying done will bite you in the rear too… We had a 78 “restored” car in the shop the other day that created a nightmare for us trying to repair the power window motors and adjust the door glass…. Why? Because someone cut and bubba filled the doors with no regard to the door lock striker position.

However…. This is also a hobby of mine and I've repaired cars in the past that I knew in advance I’d never recover the money invested combined with the time. You have to factor in the man cave fun created with doing a project too…

elsinore401

Thanks for the info guys...nice to hear an opinion. I will see if i have a pic. wilcox...I know the feeling of previous "work" being annoying. I am a motorcycle tech by trade and do some british bike resto's. The amount of questionalble repairs will always keep us scratching our heads.

elsinore401

Here are the only photos I have

20mercury

I think this is a nice Corvette! Paint looks pretty good to me. Good polish/waxing might indicate lacquer paint is acceptable depending on how much of a perfectionist you are. If the original lacquer, it is never gonna look like modern base/clear though.

Also, IMHO, 14 is not bad IF:

All potential rust spots check out to be nominal or just surface.

And a through inspection does not turn up any major uh ohs.

If you check completed ebay sales and other sources, you can get an idea if this is in the ball park. Paint is a biggie though, and if you gotta add new paint to 14 so now you are in the low twenties, you can buy a lot of very nice Corvettes for low twenties (take a look around). But again, IMHO, I think there are buyers out there for 14.

7T1vette

It doesn't look as if that car has any significant paint damage. If that's the case, just find/mix some touch-up paint that matches well, then spend your "free" time making spot repairs to any nicks/dings/scratches on the existing paint.

[Note: This IS something that you can do with some tips on how to do it and some practice. Done well, these repairs can be nearly invisible from 5 feet.]

Once you get the imperfections fixed, either take it to a GOOD paint shop for a 'cut-n-buff' on the entire paint job, or DIY...IF you know what you're doing. Taking it to someone who really knows how to buff-up lacquer paint--and not wear the edges too thin--is the best way to go, IMO.

This is a LOT less expensive than a paint job, but it will look 80-90% as good. AND, you won't worry so much about driving a newly painted car and getting any 'road rash'.

If that car is mechanically "sound", it would be a good buy at $14K.

Easy Mike

Not necessarily, based on the pics.

joewill

by very original, do you mean original engine and drivetrain?
if so, then it is a good buy, especially with A/C and those other options.

good luck getting any 'very original' chrome bumper car with A/C for $8K.

listen to the other guys here.. check for rust.. that is the value killer..

elsinore401

thanks for the input guys. By original I mean original engine never been out. Original paint, no crash damage, Original trans, seat covers etc. I think even the exhaust is original. The paint has gone through to primer in a couple of small spots etc. I really like the unmolested nature of it, there is value for me in knowing it hasnt been messed with/repaired a hundred times, but a shiny nice for for only a few thousand more has some appeal too.

rene040269

Either it is the camera, my screen, or i am getting old or something but that second picture looks somewhat photoshopped, just like the pic of the car is placed in the scenery....


Cannot point my finger to what i am seeing but something looks strange???

nutsy

based on the shadows i dont think it is photochopped.

Alwyn678

Really???

tx75vette

I say take a vette guy with you to check it out. The frame and bird cage need to be nice for that price. The paint you can do later down the road. I would not be embarrassed to drive it as is till I got ready to paint it. At least having original paint you know what you got instead of wondering whats under that shiny paint job.
Being a 4 speed , air car and #s matching adds value. I say price is fair.

kdf1986

I would also consider how many other 72s or chrome bumper cars you have found within your area, or within the distance that you are willing to travel.

Its supply and demand. If this is the only 72 or chrome bumper car in your area for $14k, then the price is reasonable. If there are other cars you can see, get to, drive to, etc. then you can do a comparison.

It makes no difference what a car is selling for in Texas if a person lives in New York and is not willing to travel more than 50 miles to see other cars. You have to consider what is available in the price range you are comfortable with in the area you are willing to travel.

kdf

elsinore401

True, kdf1986, i am in Phoenix, so chrome bumper cars come up every now and again. As for the photoshop...I looked at the car once and this does look like his yard. I think the lighter and darker gravel makes it look wierd. But if you lok really close you can just see Lee Harvey Oswald in the upper right corner.

Alan 71

Hi el,
Based on the car's appearance in the 2 pictures and your description, I think $14k is a good price.
It would be nice to see the engine compartment, chassis (front and rear), and the interior to get a clearer idea of what the car is, and how original "original" is.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

elsinore401

alan, the guy will be back in town here on the 8th. I will go by and take some better pics then. I would appreciate your expert eye on the details of originality.

dmaxx3500

more info would help,milage,eng/trans,options,run/drive cond?

7T1vette

If that car has little rust and is mechanically sound, it won't stay around long at that price. Be ready with a knowlegeable assistant and ready cash or check when he gets back, or you may not be the new owner.