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To me it is a # 3 car and NO proof that it is an original L72. Any of the telltale L72 items can be added. The OP has known of the car for a while and THINKS it is but when it comes time to sell it he will have to prove it and so does the current owner in my book. If the original owner is still available I would be talking to them and getting a signed and notarized statement from them for whatever that might be worth. Some kind of FACTORY documentation is what it really needs to sell the “story”.
Respectfully if you for some reason want this car because it's the car you want, and you've waited ten years, tell the owner "look I've been patient and there are other cars out there in similar condition or better than this, for what I've been offering. I'm buying a Corvette. Tell me if you want it to be yours that I buy, or not, so I can get on with what I'm doing."
I think you are over thinking this . . . just make sure the guy has your number . .he will let you know when he is ready to sell and let him give you a price and go from there.
He knows you want it and he is not sure he wants to sell it. That combination can cause nothing to happen for a while because...he knows you want it and that is sufficient for him.
Best to back off and ignore him and his car. Pretend you are not interested anymore. Once that occurs to the guy, who would have to start from scratch to sell a C2 going backwards with a truck motor, he might loosen up.
Everybody likes to want what they cannot have. No sooner than you no longer want it, its yours.
Dan
I don't know. Back in the day, I was never able to get any dates by playing hard to get. The only success I had was by being persistent, and even then it was a low percentage proposition. It sounds like the OP has been too patient for ten years now and only has a tease to show for it.
I think you are over thinking this . . . just make sure the guy has your number . .he will let you know when he is ready to sell and let him give you a price and go from there.
My name and number have been in the glove box for several years.
Jason - I was watching the BAT auction on a 65 396 Coupe today and one of the guys posting mentioned his L72. Did a little digging and he just bought a Maroon over Black 66 L72 also on BAT less than a month ago. That one supposedly had a replacement engine...but the block was a 66 #942 block (not sure 4 versus 2 bolt) and it was a clean car and he bought it for $65K. Not a lot of options and I see a Ballast Resistor on the firewall so the TI died at some point. Different car, different circumstances but check this one out as a comparison, price wise. 427-Powered 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $65,500 on January 13, 2023 (Lot #95,673) | Bring a Trailer
Good luck.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
I had a sort of similar situation. My parents bought a 67 R/T new and then sold it in 1972. A guy in our small town owned it ever since. My mom tried to buy it around 1994 and was not successful. I started talking to the owner probably close to ten years ago now, being pleasantly persistent. In 2019 something changed and he was willing to sell to me. Point is, people who have owned cars since 1970 something have a bond that you can’t break with an offer of money. It has to be on their terms. You just need to be there when that happens. They also won’t sell you the car if they think you’ll get bored in a year and sell. If this guy sells it to you I’ll bet he wants first right of refusal if you sell it.
I had a sort of similar situation. My parents bought a 67 R/T new and then sold it in 1972. A guy in our small town owned it ever since. My mom tried to buy it around 1994 and was not successful. I started talking to the owner probably close to ten years ago now, being pleasantly persistent. In 2019 something changed and he was willing to sell to me. Point is, people who have owned cars since 1970 something have a bond that you can’t break with an offer of money. It has to be on their terms. You just need to be there when that happens. They also won’t sell you the car if they think you’ll get bored in a year and sell. If this guy sells it to you I’ll bet he wants first right of refusal if you sell it.
I agree with what you are saying. I think if he didn’t have the son it would be a lot easier to get the car. The 60 and 66 that I do have were both purchased from owners who didn’t have kids. I’m pretty good at the long term waiting game, it just gets frustrating.
Jason - I was watching the BAT auction on a 65 396 Coupe today and one of the guys posting mentioned his L72. Did a little digging and he just bought a Maroon over Black 66 L72 also on BAT less than a month ago. That one supposedly had a replacement engine...but the block was a 66 #942 block (not sure 4 versus 2 bolt) and it was a clean car and he bought it for $65K. Not a lot of options and I see a Ballast Resistor on the firewall so the TI died at some point. Different car, different circumstances but check this one out as a comparison, price wise. 427-Powered 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $65,500 on January 13, 2023 (Lot #95,673) | Bring a Trailer
Good luck.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Thanks for the info, I watch BAT sometimes but must have missed this one. It’s nice to see one sell in the 60k range and not the 100k range. I don’t want to over pay of course but I would gladly pay a few thousand over what it’s worth just to get it, but it’s hard to pinpoint what it’s worth exactly. I know his daughter thinks it’s worth 100k+ but that’s just not realistic. I would like to offer $50k but I’m afraid he will just shoot me down.
I will dig some pics out I have on my computer in a bit.
Get in good with his daughter. Maybe a nice steak dinner at Golden Corral. Eventually after enough dates, marry her. Then you won’t even have to pay for the vette.
Here are the pics I could find on my computer. My plan would be to clean up the paint, put knock off wheels with red line tires. I would replace the carpet and see how well I could clean up the inside and replace what is just to worn to revive. Get rid of the Hurst shifter and radio and put them back to a stock appearance. Long term I would look at pulling that motor and putting in a more correct block, intake, etc. Since it's an NOM car I have thought about gutting the interior and changing the carpet to bright blue, dash to bright blue, door panels white and white seats. I think that would look stunning, but it wouldn't make much financial sense.
I guess at the end of the day I need to decide the best approach since I have built a friendship with the guy. I might write a letter and give to him with an offer and what I would do with the car. The reason being is because I have a gift of being able to talk to these owners and build relationships with them, but on the other hand I think I don't come off serious sometimes. It took 5 years to get my 60 and my 66 was bought by being persistent. Many people had tried to buy that car, but I put in the time and got it.
Maybe the guy's wife can help move this along. She told you when he dies it won't get passed on to his son and will be sold. She's probably tired of looking at it too and might want a warm dry place to park her car during the winter. I'm sure she could find something to do with all that cash!
I would consider bringing her into the conversation. It might help him turn the corner. Just a thought...
Maybe the guy's wife can help move this along. She told you when he dies it won't get passed on to his son and will be sold. She's probably tired of looking at it too and might want a warm dry place to park her car during the winter. I'm sure she could find something to do with all that cash!
I would consider bringing her into the conversation. It might help him turn the corner. Just a thought...
I have already done that. He jokes that she will probably push it out and load it up for me. She has told him several times to just sell it already. She doesn’t like it, the daughter hates it and I don’t know the son The daughter said that they were never allowed near the car growing up and she despises it.
I understand where he is coming from. He’s a retired coal miner and has worked hard his entire life. He’s owned it basically since he graduated high school so the car has been with him most of his life. I just don’t understand why he just lets it sit year after year. He’s retired and now is the time to enjoy it.
There is so much unknown about this car every response it a guess. Can this car be driven right now? Is it safe? What's the undercarriage and bird cage look like? If there are no major issues and a forum member posted this car in a "what's it worth thread" what would the responses be? My guess not many replies would be 50K. IMCO you need to ask the owner IF you were going to sell this car what would you have to get for it? Then at least you have a place to start. It's really a candidate for a nice driver with big block under the hood that might need a rear gear change to be civil. If the response is 75K or higher you can explain why you don't feel that's a realistic price sighting the reasons why and counter offer. If you can't come to an agreement you walk away and remind him he has your number if he changes his mind. I think showing frustration or lack of patience is not going to play well. You have to decide how long you are willing to wait and how bad do you have to have it? You just may convince your self it's time to move on. Good luck going forward. It seems like you'll need it.
There is so much unknown about this car every response it a guess. Can this car be driven right now? Is it safe? What's the undercarriage and bird cage look like? If there are no major issues and a forum member posted this car in a "what's it worth thread" what would the responses be? My guess not many replies would be 50K. IMCO you need to ask the owner IF you were going to sell this car what would you have to get for it? Then at least you have a place to start. It's really a candidate for a nice driver with big block under the hood that might need a rear gear change to be civil. If the response is 75K or higher you can explain why you don't feel that's a realistic price sighting the reasons why and counter offer. If you can't come to an agreement you walk away and remind him he has your number if he changes his mind. I think showing frustration or lack of patience is not going to play well. You have to decide how long you are willing to wait and how bad do you have to have it? You just may convince your self it's time to move on. Good luck going forward. It seems like you'll need it.
When you say not many would say 50k are you thinking that’s low or hi? I had thrown out 30k when I first met him about ten years ago and he didn’t laugh at me and told me he would consider it, but prices have gone up since then.
Im looking at it as a no hit 2 owner car that has very nice paint. To me that is a really big deal and especially not having to paint it. I agree about the birdcage and frame. I’ve been under it before but it’s been a long time and I do know if I had seen rot I would have remembered.
I think you are over thinking this . . . just make sure the guy has your number . .he will let you know when he is ready to sell and let him give you a price and go from there.
I disagree…. I have been there (66 SS Chevelle) spoke with owner numerous times over 1.5 years, left my number several times (even with his mother when she answered the door and owner wasn’t home , she wanted the car gone )…. Saw it in the paper too late…. He actually sold it for less than I offered (buyer talked him down).
If you really want this car, bring the cash, or at least a BIG deposit ($5k-$10k), show them how serious you are, and how much you want the car…. I also agree with getting his wife involved if you can….
I have already done that. He jokes that she will probably push it out and load it up for me. She has told him several times to just sell it already. She doesn’t like it, the daughter hates it and I don’t know the son The daughter said that they were never allowed near the car growing up and she despises it.
I understand where he is coming from. He’s a retired coal miner and has worked hard his entire life. He’s owned it basically since he graduated high school so the car has been with him most of his life. I just don’t understand why he just lets it sit year after year. He’s retired and now is the time to enjoy it.
Maybe he enjoys going out in the garage and looking at it and remembering how much fun he had in it when life was simpler. Sometimes it's not possible to figure out why people can't part with their old stuff.
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