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The C3 has been second in line on my dream car list since I was a kid. First was a Pantera. And third was an Acura NSX. I never really cared for the C2's. Being a kid who grew up in the 80's, the C3 was the epitome of all that was corvette.
When i was a kid my brother and I had a slot car set and the two cars in the set were the 250 GTO Ferrari and the 63 split window Vette. My brother being the eldest got first dibs on the Ferrari and I must admit I always coveted that car! I see a lot of the styling elements in the 70 Vette I have now in the 250 GTO. Much as I like the C2 I prefer the C3 but if I had a spare $1.2M NZ I would buy this replica Ferrari (given that the real ones are going for $20M +) This replica is for sale here at the moment, it was built about 60 miles from where I live by a guy who specialises in replicas mostly of D type Jags. But, I couldn't see myself parting with the C3 either though it has too much sweat equity in it now:-)
I sold my '66 roadster which I was restoring for 9 years. It had a LS5 454 (L71 tribute)new from the ground up, but I could not afford to finish up the interior and paint. Got big bucks for it, bought my 71 C3 vert!! Never looked back!!
Do you own a C3 because you can't afford a C2 - No.
At the time I bought my '68, autocrossing and later high speed events were important to me. You could stuff much wider tires under stock fenders on a late model than on a midyear and remain in a stock class in SCCA and NCCC. I had two midyears before my '68. I've had some midyears since then, too.
The '68 could accept wider rubber under stock fenders, handled better with lower CG and a revised suspension geometry, remained more stable at speed, required less horsepower to reach speeds in the triple digit range, and rode better.
As such, it was faster than any midyear I had until this one. But then, this one isn't exactly stock, either.
I just think they are both unique body styles that can both be appreciated.
I have told this story before here somewhere on the forum, but I was riding with my Father in his C2 coupe when he stopped at Harry Mann Chevrolet to check out the new C3's. The Salesmen had me taking customer ups while he went for the test drive. I think I sold an L88 that day (at least I am sticking to the story!). But some time passed and then we went to the Dana Chevrolet Performance lot closer to our house in Carson. As he was trying to do the deal, I was tugging on his pant leg to get a C2 Roadster. He brushed me off and the Salesman took me to get a soda and some dealership giveaways. Quickly I accepted the C3 especially as it was modified. I then eventually picked up my C2 Roadster and have tried to see if my Father would admit to making a mistake trading in his C2, but he sticks to his story! He has now had the C3 since late 1968 and still when out in it, gets stopped by praises everywhere he goes. We had a contest once at Tustin Vintage Races to count how many people physically walked up and made a complimentary comment or asked a complimentary question and it was almost a dead tie, I edged him out by three visitors (but he was parked closer to the porto-potty!) or I might have slaughtered him. And then I had a 1968 fall in my lap, and I pulled the trigger thinking to share illegally the street registrations and insurance coverage for both cars, just to plate swap and drive (hadn't exactly worked out all of the details when I put that plan in motion, like what to do or say if an accident occurred in the other car. The plan didn't quite work out anyways, but I have slowly grown to like my C3 also. I like the cockpit way better in the C2 and that car causes more rubber necking accidents (people in the other lanes on the freeway rear end the person in front getting a look), but the C3 is not that far behind in getting attention! Nowadays, people pull out the smart phones to capture them for whatever reason!
Last edited by TCracingCA; 05-26-2015 at 10:24 PM.
Have had C1's through C5's. Never owned a C6 or C7, but if I could own all generations I would.
I like the C2's, they are cool. But to me, a 1958-1960 is cooler than just about any other year. I grew up in my dad's 1960, which he grew up in. I wanted a C1 or C2 but when I was 15, my dad gave me his '72. Orange is my favorite color, and it was just an awesome car. I want a '58-'60, and would be very tempted to give up my "Orange Crush" to get one. But I can't give it up, it was my first car, my first Corvette, C3, and I drove it to high school in Hawaii. I have had other Vettes that have sadly been given the boot just to help me afford my '72. Other car's have also been sold to help me keep my 1970 428 CJ Mustang, also owned since high school. Truth is that I love all classics, and all Vettes. Cant loose with any generation. But with that said, the C3 is just way too cool. I have passed on numerous offers for my '72. Some better than others, but some have been very very tempting. If I sold my '72, all I would do is just go buy another '72 or try to find a '58-'60.
Oddly enough, my first Corvette purchase in 1977 was a C2 (a '65 396 convertible), that I bought because I COULDNT AFFORD A C3 ! (affectionately known as a "late model" back then. )
Fortunately, I was able to sell that silly Big Block Sting Ray and get into the base motor '68 I REALLY wanted.
At any rate, after many many Corvettes of nearly every vintage, I now know I must own a Split Window, and I must own a '68-'69 roadster... so I do.
Oddly enough, my first Corvette purchase in 1977 was a C2 (a '65 396 convertible), that I bought because I COULDNT AFFORD A C3 ! (affectionately known as a "late model" back then. )
Fortunately, I was able to sell that silly Big Block Sting Ray and get into the base motor '68 I REALLY wanted.
At any rate, after many many Corvettes of nearly every vintage, I now know I must own a Split Window, and I must own a '68-'69 roadster... so I do.
Love 'em both.
With our kids finally approaching the end of their education years the affordability of a C2, with the notable exception of rationalizing the cost of the iconic `63 split window like , might not be an issue - so pretend putting the affordability factor aside, those of us on the very tail end of the baby boomers well remember the C3's. The astronauts who were celebrities when we were little and craved Tang drove them. If we were lucky, very lucky (I wasn't but my younger brother was), our beloved bicycles were called "Sting Rays"! But, let's see what the product brand manager himself, Harlan Charles from the people who designed and brought us the Corvette has to say about the C3 Corvette compared to ANY other Corvette series whatsoever in its history to this point? He's been their extraordinary, veteran product brand manager for over 12 years and knows the smallest details of every model, series and trim/option level produced. He still owns the `90 C4 he bought new. But, if you Google the other series (i.e. search "Harlan Charles on C2, etc.) you won't hear the same passion on the videos that he has for the C3 because of it's legendary design and impression left on Americana. Enjoy.
. Watch it until the end of the short video - yes, the part about `when you close your eyes and think about Corvette..."
When I take my car out for a drive with my wife - just like all of you brethren on this forum - do you notice that people act like they're thanking you for taking care of `their' dream car? They envy you, but they also look at you as the custodian of our shared American culture which belongs to everyone, including them. If you listen, they seem to see it as a piece of our collective culture that you are the lucky caretaker of at this point in time. It is yours, but it is also theirs from an American, iconic culture standpoint and you have zero say in it no matter what you think - just fact to be appreciated not resisted. And, did you ever notice that this car has effortlessly almost completely crossed the age and gender barrier? Its a rare few stars at the typical vintage car show that has truly done this. The cars have been, and continue to be hip decades after they had their successful launch thanks to, both, the product itself and the legendary brand that was built around it by Harlan's predecessor's from the 60's - early 80's.
Its enjoyable and interesting how well we feud among ourselves about the attributes of each year of C3 - and make no mistake that each and every year has a few attributes that topped the prior C3 generation's designs. This is without a single exception, even if under the skin (i.e. 1970-71). GM kept investing in it, and the elite, hand-picked C3 engineers kept improving it despite thankfully removing lead from gasoline which forced lower compression ratios, and they somehow still made the C3 the top performing car through it's final year (200 HP was still not topped by a single non-exotic in the US in `82). There is sort of an unfair imbalance - the early C3's can rip up the road but are primitive (what the heck was Zora thinking with metal body mounts?) compared to the product refinements of later years, including last-of-the-gen units built at the state of the art, new Corvette plant used to this day.
Bottom line, great forum string about the C3 vs. C2. But, according to General Motor's product executive - your C3 is the car that you think of when a typical person thinks of a Corvette. Not the C2, sorry C2 fans - go back of the line behind the C3 in both traditional American and GM itself's opinion. The early C3 power caught the attention and respect of the performance heads, and the styling and legacy - and later refinements - have carried it through until today. What a great car and spouse-approved hobby that we've chosen with these timeless, beautiful machines, eh?
Dave
p.s. to those of us baby boomers, does Mr. Charles remind you of the young boy in the Oscar Meyer commercial sitting on the fishing dock with a pole ("my bologna has a first name, it's O-s-c-a-r....."). Google it if you're not a baby boomer
Last edited by Lakeside49; 05-27-2015 at 11:29 PM.
There is sort of an unfair imbalance - the early C3's can rip up the road but are primitive (what the heck was Zora thinking with metal body mounts?) compared to the product refinements of later years, including last-of-the-gen units built at the state of the art, new Corvette plant used to this day.
The aluminium body mounts give the earliest cars better torsional rigidity. They were probably because of the big motors in the early years.
I think that the 68-72's had aluminum body mounts because everyone was into road racing them, back then. They were a true sport car then, not the boulevard cruiser that they had to become due to emissions and fuel mileage regulations. And I speak from experience, buying my 68 coupe in July 1972. Lou.
It was in Miss Simon's 7th grade science class in 1968. She bought a brand new C3. For some reason she had left her keys in the car and asked me if I would go to the lot and get them for her. The THRILL of opening the door and sliding into the seat of that beautiful sexy 68 has never left my mind. I do remember that before I grabbed the keys out of the car I shifted that 4 speed shifter through the pattern a time or two. Always wanted a 4 speed C3. I now own a 1980 4 speed and will never ever sell it. It gives me the biggest thrill to drive that car.....
It was in Miss Simon's 7th grade science class in 1968. She bought a brand new C3. For some reason she had left her keys in the car and asked me if I would go to the lot and get them for her. The THRILL of opening the door and sliding into the seat of that beautiful sexy 68 has never left my mind. I do remember that before I grabbed the keys out of the car I shifted that 4 speed shifter through the pattern a time or two. Always wanted a 4 speed C3. I now own a 1980 4 speed and will never ever sell it. It gives me the biggest thrill to drive that car.....
No. I had a 67 convertible before I bought my 70, both big blocks. I prefer the feel of the C3 over the C2. This was over 30 years ago when prices were much lower. I still like the look of the 67 coupe but don't want one bad enough to entertain paying the prices asked for those cars today.
05-25-2015, 05:49 PM
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