Hi again,

I have found myself here twice now and wow !!. How does one begin to learn all he can about C2's, the difference between the years, what is a good price for a classic Vette, what to look for when shopping around ?

I have owned C5's and Trans Am's...I have never owned a classic..

Some things worry me greatly. First off, I am no mechanic...This worries me when thinking about a classic. Most repairs are going to the shop ! Where is the best place to start looking to get an idea ? I live in CA. and I know about Corvette Mikes and West Coast Corvette...Others ?? EBAY ?? Auctions ??

As I prepare for C6, I am beginning to think that I might want to try a different path. I love the "66 or '67. I really think I would like a rag-top. I know I want side exhaust.

Here's a good one. If I drop 40K-60K on a C2, What kind of miles can I put on her ? Is 200 miles every couple of weeks too much ? Of course I have daily drivers but are your rides garage queens ? Reliability ??

Lot's of questions, sorry but I am really interested since coming over here a week or so ago.

Any books you can recomend or thoughts are appreciated. By the way, What's Top Flight ?
Any help is appreciated !! Oh yes, how is insurance ? I am not sure if a trip to my local Farmers would work ?

I guess the last question is what will 40K - 60K get me ? Good Lord, there is a '67 for $105k at Mikes...And I am sure it is just up from there !!

Rick

 

Buy Noland Adams "Corvette Restoration & Tech. Guide Vol. 2"
Read it for a few weeks, then get back to us. :lol:

200 Miles per week is no big deal with a good car.

The huge prices you are seeing are for Trailer queen Big Blocks.
You can get a super nice driver, non orig engine, small block Mid yr roadster
in the 25-35k range. 40k to 60k will get you a small block car so nice,
you wont want to leave it in a parking lot.
Just my 2 centavos. :smash:


[Modified by 396 RAT, 11:04 PM 6/17/2003]

 

I agree with 396RAT, buy that book, along with "An investment in Excitement" By Rick Miller, join the NCRS, they have alot of books on Midyears, dont call them C-2's :D Try local shows like Pomona, or NAtional shows like Bloomington or Carlisle to go see alot of cars for sale. Topflight is an award from the NCRS stating the car was measured against a criteria and was deemed to be in the condition it was made originaly, or that is the short answer. Remember dealers are trying to make money too, it is usually cheaper to buy a car from a private individual, or check the for sale section here.

Happy Hunting,
Tom

 

Thanks Guys !!

I will order both books immediately....

I will certainly become educated before such a decision...and thanks for the MidYear info. !! :thumbs: That was lesson one...

A little more than I would want to go but this beauty makes me want a "midyear all the more !!"
http://www.westcoastcorvette.com/sho...ail.cfm?id=372

Thanks for the reading advice !!

Rick


[Modified by Rick Rader, 11:41 PM 6/17/2003]

 

I too was worried when I first bought my 65..
I kept thinking, what if something goes wrong, will I be able to keep this car up..
To tell you the truth, with the help of the guys on this forum, I have tackled many things already that I would have never thought I could pull off..

The cars are fairly simple.. to work on..
There are things that are difficult, like the rear trailing arms, but for the most part I think you would be suprised..

I find that working on the Vette is almost as much fun as driving...

It has also brought my son and I much closer than we were before.
We now share a common interest..
We learn something everyday..

There are guys here that are always willing to lend a hand..

No stupid questions can be asked... Trust me I have already asked them

Some of the guys here wrote the books that you are going to be reading..

Welcome to the wonderful world of the C2

Good luck
Tony



[Modified by pittsaj, 10:23 PM 6/17/2003]

 

Rick, welcome, Definaltely Noland Adams book is a must. Also agree on buying from an individual rather then a dealership if possible. When you find the one you think you want take someone who knows midyears with you if possible. Frame condition is the most important part and there are a couple of trouble spots. When I bought my 64, I was looking for a 66 but I could get far more car for far less money. The forum is invaluable. The guys and gals on here have done and seen it all and they are the best source of information in the world. There are a lot of cars for sale out there so take your time and now is the time to be overly critical.
200 miles a week is just warmup time, they need exercised. It's out there waiting for you so go find it. Let us know how your search goes. :cheers: :party:

 

Rick,
Welcome. FWIW, I searched for a C2 for about a year and found just what I wanted right here on the the forum (thanks again Andy60). I have managed to do my own work/repairs, etc. and enjoyed every minute. MHO.....the C2 is the most exciting and "head turning" vette ever. :yesnod: :smash:

 

also, search the archives here (when you develop a question), 90% of the time the answer is there :-)

 

I did what you are thinking about 4 months ago. This forum has brought me up to speed very quickly.

 

you seem to be spending a lot of time thinking about this.

for me, it wasn't worth a second thought. i decided to buy a silver/red '63 coupe with a high horsepower engine one day after stopping by an old vette store in dallas texas. i didn't worry about it. just made up my mind without getting wrapped up in the what if's.

the only issue i had was trying to find the specific car i had in my mind. i looked for two years. the previous owner of my car didn't advertise it for sale. when i found it, i practically bought it on the spot. it didn't run the first time i saw it. he had to work on it for two months to get it to run. my first test drive was with no brakes. didn't matter. in my mind, it was exactly what i wanted. it's had some issues, but i've had it for over 4 years and could not be happier.

now i drive it almost every day. 200 miles every two weeks for me is the same as not driving it. 200 miles is a lazy afternoon and a tank of gas to blow. i've done 200 miles in two hours before while caravaning with a bunch of c5's headed home from the museum. they were all freaking out that i was keeping up with them.

it's just something you do. imo, the less you think about it, the better off you probably are going to be. you can't drive it if you die stressing out over it.

good luck finding the car you want.
:flag

 

Rick,
Really excellent advice so far, I will add that I had mechanical and engine experience before I bought my 66, but not body experience what so ever. Through the forum and friends I have been able to do anything to this car. Really working on it is the half the fun, but driving is the best pleasure of all. I would think that you could get a good midyear driver in the 35k range that you could put alot of miles on without worry. I can't wait to drive mine again, but I am loving the work all the same. (not really, but it sounded good. a little tired of bodywork now)

Kurt
:cheers:

 

Rick

I had the same thoughts and hesitations. I had owned C4's, and new/newer Vettes are primo cars. Best bang for the buck. But my heart has always been in owning a mid-year. I took the plunge. The reaction these cars generate, verbal and otherwise, is astounding. And I am referring to yourself as well as others. Forum members here have given solid advise to you. It worked for me. Good luck in deciding to acquire a classic. :cheers:

 

You have the books, and advice. My $.02 on the mileage is tainted by the fact that I live in IL, which gives me an excuse to work on the car during the winter months. Spring, summer, and fall usually rack up 7000 miles or so, mostly top down.

Besides grocery runs and trips to see my dad across the river, the summer NCRS Road Tour will go to Hershey PA this year (took me to Monterey last year - with a CO hiking vacation included). A week after getting home from Hershey, my wife and I will hit the road to MT for some Glacier park hiking. Winter is when I repair items that can wait (convertible tops, engine, leaky power steering, etcetera)

Trailer? We don't own no stinkin trailer......... :lol:

Top Flight is what you get if you just work on the car and trailer it to NCRS meets. The NCRS judges will explain what needs to be done to make the car look just like it did when it was delivered in the dealer show room. To be a Top Flight car, you need to return it to that condition. If you click on my homepage (shown below) you will notice that comfortable seats, intermittent wipers, cruise control, a cassete stereo, and other thing that make a C2 a wonderful Grand Touring car are also what keep it from ever being Top Flight.

The last consideration is the drive train. When mine came due for rehab, I opted to bag the BB and original Muncie in favor of a SB (cheaper and better mileage) and a 65 Muncie. If I wear them out, I replace them. The bagged drive train is unharmed.

If you get a car where the numbers don't match, you have no worries about wear on the original engine, and the car is a lot cheaper. :lurk:

 

Rick,

You've found the right place for advice and have gotten some great tips already. I would add one more suggestion as part of your search. After doing your reading and other research to become familiar with these cars, I'd suggest having any car you are seriously interested in inspected by a knowledgeable Corvette mechanic or NCRS judge. Getting the best value really boils down to finding a good car and getting what you are paying for.

You also asked about insurance. Insurance is readily available from several carriers that specialize in collector car insurance and the coverages (and pricing) are tailored to this market. They recognize the limited use of the car and also tailor the physical damage coverage (Agreed Value) to reflect the appraised value of the car. Be sure to look for "Agreed Value" coverage vs. the usual "Actual Cash Value or Stated Amount" coverage on normal policies. A couple of companies that come to mind are Grundy Worldwide and American Modern. You will usually find their adds in car magazines and Hemmings.

Good luck on the search.

Rich Lagasse

 

Heh Rick..

What is posted above is all excellent advice....All I can say is.... take your time and don't jump on the first one that makes your Heart hit 7000 RPM..Unless your positive it's the one.

Find yourself a Midyear expert either from a local Vette Cub or some one here on the Forum or in your area.

Once you have found the Vette that makes you hot..bring in your Big Gun Expert and have him look the car over top to bottom. After spending time researching Midyears you will know what to look for. Your Expert will then confirm your choice.

My quest took over a year and I knew what I was buying after it was rechecked by my expert. You will find (Unless your bying a Frame Off Restoration Car) That Bubba might have done some work on your car, but this is not always found untill you work on something that is hidden from plane site.

Bubba has been in my car in many places behind panels and up under the dash and even inside the tire carrier.

Bubba can make you laugh or cry.... Good luck hunting for your Midyear...and ask questions here to get the correct answers..

:cheers:

 

to reiterate -- spend the money and get iton a lift and spend an hour on the frame alone. I checked and rechecked the frame when I looked at mine and guess what -- I still found some rust holes. The frame had been sanded and painted so it looked great but upon closer examination the true condition was exposed.

Also, if time permits you may want to walk away and take a 2nd look another day. This was my first corvette purchase and even though I had consulted a few forums like this, did my HW, and knew what to look for my excitement STILL blinded me. I cannot believe how much I missed. I travelled 5 hours to look at it and had to drive 5 hours back to be at my bachelor party so I was in a big rush. I looked it over for an hour and a half.

They always say your you pay too much for your first Corvette. Don't let it happen to you.
Brian

 

WOW !!! All of your replies and helpful advice is just fantastic..

This is why I love Vette's weather it be a C5 or a "MID-YEAR" !! Thanks to all of you for your input. I have looked many places and what seems to match "my personality" is a non-numbers big block. I know it seems to be the "craze" of the moment (I think ??) but I really think I want a '67 rag-top, big block, side pipes beast.....I currently own a 2002 Collectors TA and have owned a 2000 C5 but had a freak accident (aren't they all !!) and have not replaced it due to the up and coming C6... But you know what...a limited edition TA and '67 rag-top is not bad for a car guy !!

Bottom line is I want to thank all of you again for the advice. I will take it all to heart and when I figure it all out, I will post pic's !!!!!!!

Corvette folks are the best folks on the planet !!

Take care,
Rick

 

Here comes the rub.....
quote

"I guess the last question is what will 40K - 60K get me ? "

"I really think I want a '67 rag-top, big block, side pipes beast....."

I have turned down more than your max on my 65, so you may be in trouble
if you want a nice 67 BB. On the other hand, for a NOM you may be in the ball park? Keep us posted..... & drive as many as you can prior to laying down the cash. Some are turn pike cruisers, while others scare passengers.
Its all in what you want. How does 8 to 10 mpg grab you? :lol:
Welcome to my world........ :reddevil

 

My kinna Rat !!

You know I am just starting to look. I know the price goes out of the universe with some of these beauties !! Don't know what the final purchase price will be...maybe more ?? but that damn TA of mine drinks gas also....She needs a Vette companion !!! Ahhh yup open to other years....but, I will not spend more than I expect the 2005 Z06 to be which is what I believe to be $60k-$70k ...In the mean-time I'll keep driving my boring TA (NOT!!) .....I have $55k in this TA with purchase price...There is only one car missing !!
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/transamri...S+CETA&.view=t

She misses her Vette companion in the garage.......... and...She would be very disappointed if she had to be the daily driver...!!!!

Rick





[Modified by Rick Rader, 11:56 PM 6/20/2003]

 

You have to keep classic Corvettes in perspective – this is a hobby and not an investment. I just finished a restoring a C1 and over spent my budget, which isn’t really surprising. A really good friend of mine came over and made the comment that I would never recoup my investment in the car and that the money spent was foolish. Then he turned around and jumped in his new SUV pulling a new 30,000.00 bass boat on his way to the lake to catch some fish for super. What I getting at is don’t get you shorts in bunch over “rare options combinations”, “Matching Numbers” or “Investment quality car”. Buy it – Drive it – Enjoy it – chalk the money up to “It’s a hobby and the fun of ownership”. :yesnod: