C1-vs C-2
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: New York New York
not even close
I drive my c-2 quite a bit. I wouldn't want to have to drive a c-1 regularly. The few I drove felt like trucks. With that said, I'm not sure I would use either as a daily driver.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 45
From: SC SC
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14, '20
Hi, I agree with all the comments. Least friendly to drive in a city environment with rain and all other issues would be the C1 followed by C2. I think you would be better off with a mid 70s or later Corvette as a daily driver with a leak-proof (or at least mostly leak-proof) top, A/C, power steering/brakes, no or few over-heating issues in a hot climate like Houston. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 682
Likes: 0
From: Northport New York
When I was a kid in the 1960's most people didn't put 10,000 miles per year on their car and it was rare that anyone I knew had more than one car. In the early 70's when I started looking for a car of my own my dad suggested that we look for something with over 50,000 miles so it was more affordable but less than 80,000 miles because the odds of catastrophic failure and high maintenance costs went up dramatically as the car approached 100,000 miles. Cars with 100,000 miles on them were few and far between. Now you can go to the car dealer for a cheap used car and end up buying one with 150,000 miles on it and still pay over $5,000.00 for it. Modern vehicles are more dependable and last much longer than cars from the C1 and C2 generation...and even C3 generation.
Last edited by 65coupe; Apr 21, 2008 at 08:35 PM.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
My dad had a 63 vert with the cast iron no syncro 1st gear 3sp. manual trans he bought in 65 and drove every day through 71. It was his only car, he was a construction worker and hauled all his hand tools in the back. The car was driven through many horrible Ohio winters and never let him down. I now have a 67 427/390 coupe driver with no options except tinted glass and leather seats. This car would idle all day in traffic and not over heat on a hot 85 degree day (may be a different story with AC). The ride with radial tires is excellent, and may even be better then my 2000 C5/6sp vert. I say if that's what you want "do it".
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
Doing mostly my own careful maintenance in the '60s, I would drive my C2 15-20,000 miles per year and an engine would last about 150,000 miles. The Powerglide was going strong at 250,000 when I swapped it for a Turbo 350; bad mistake, the original aluminum-case autos were as bulletproof as a 1937 Frigidaire "monitor" refrigerator! Plug changes were at 7500 miles with ACs or Champions, about double with copper NGKs.
No AC necessary, I live in coastal California.
Today with synthetic oil, you could probably double the engine life to 300,000. And a Pertronix or other modern ignition would probably increase plug life 50-100%.
Only limiting factor today might be mileage vs. gas prices. I wrote my 'Vette off for business use for years, so 50% of all expenses were a write-off. I can still write it off today without even driving it as it's part of my company logo.
No AC necessary, I live in coastal California.
Today with synthetic oil, you could probably double the engine life to 300,000. And a Pertronix or other modern ignition would probably increase plug life 50-100%.
Only limiting factor today might be mileage vs. gas prices. I wrote my 'Vette off for business use for years, so 50% of all expenses were a write-off. I can still write it off today without even driving it as it's part of my company logo.
Last edited by sub006; Apr 22, 2008 at 02:03 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 149
Likes: 23
From: Tulsa OK
I will throw in my two cents worth.
First, all of old Corvette convertibles leak when it rains. Some more, some less, but they all leak. You will get wet.
If the mechanicals are overhauled/replaced any car can be reliable. That being said, an old car will require more maintenance than a newer one.
The older cars will generally not ride as well as newer cars. They do not ride with trucks if you install radial tires. Select a size appropriate for the car on seven inch wide wheels; example, 205 75 15, possibly 215 75 15.
Everyone has an opinion on tires; pick your own with an eye for wet performance and ride.
You can install an A/C in a C1. That is not the end of it. To make it work well in "humid, trafficy and sometimes rainy Houston", you will need to do a lot of work to stop air leaks and add insulation.
So I will come down on the side of a Midyear coupe with A/C. If it were mine, I would also install a late model fuel injected engine with automatic overdrive; less maintenance, better fuel mileage.
All that, and I will continue to drive my 57. Drove 5500 miles last sumer, SACC National Convention, Bloomington, NCRS National Convention, Carlisle with no problems so the old ones can be reliable.
But I did get wet.
Verle
First, all of old Corvette convertibles leak when it rains. Some more, some less, but they all leak. You will get wet.
If the mechanicals are overhauled/replaced any car can be reliable. That being said, an old car will require more maintenance than a newer one.
The older cars will generally not ride as well as newer cars. They do not ride with trucks if you install radial tires. Select a size appropriate for the car on seven inch wide wheels; example, 205 75 15, possibly 215 75 15.
Everyone has an opinion on tires; pick your own with an eye for wet performance and ride.
You can install an A/C in a C1. That is not the end of it. To make it work well in "humid, trafficy and sometimes rainy Houston", you will need to do a lot of work to stop air leaks and add insulation.
So I will come down on the side of a Midyear coupe with A/C. If it were mine, I would also install a late model fuel injected engine with automatic overdrive; less maintenance, better fuel mileage.
All that, and I will continue to drive my 57. Drove 5500 miles last sumer, SACC National Convention, Bloomington, NCRS National Convention, Carlisle with no problems so the old ones can be reliable.
But I did get wet.
Verle
