Rain..................
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 4
From: Windham, NH
When you wash a car, YOU control where the "clean" water goes.
When you drive in the rain, all the slimy, dirty, yukky water that is sitting there in puddles splashes all up and under the undercarrage and into every knook & cranny that you spent hundreds of dollars and FAR too many hours detailing to get as pristine looking as new.
How's that for an explaination!!!!!
When you drive in the rain, all the slimy, dirty, yukky water that is sitting there in puddles splashes all up and under the undercarrage and into every knook & cranny that you spent hundreds of dollars and FAR too many hours detailing to get as pristine looking as new.
How's that for an explaination!!!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 2
From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Some of us even avoid washing them more than we need to. For one thing, C3 are's prone to bird cage rust in the channels that drain the windsheild wiper area.
But I think the reason some folks advertise them as never driven in the rain is to say they've been babied and haven't seen a whole of lot of weather of any kind.
JB
But I think the reason some folks advertise them as never driven in the rain is to say they've been babied and haven't seen a whole of lot of weather of any kind.
JB
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 86
From: Putnam county NY
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
On top of all of this, they all leak when you drive them in the rain and nobody likes to get wet!
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: League City TX
I dont drive mine in the rain because I have no convertible top! It sucks getting stuck driving when we get a sun shower even! Hell I was supposed to get it aligned today and its raining. Guess the shop is going to have some free time on their hands!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
one of my first rides after the resto was in the rain. had to drive back from the alignment shop... it was pouring, and I still have no convertible top. We made a makeshift top out of a roll of plastic.
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
Originally Posted by danthony
On top of all of this, they all leak when you drive them in the rain and nobody likes to get wet!
However, when I first bought it, I had to carry a big towel because I'd get totally and completely soaked if I didn't. Thank goodness those days are gone...
Last edited by PhotoVette1; Oct 8, 2005 at 10:32 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Never been in the rain but washed with chlorinated water only 
I not only drive in the rain but with the top down too. You only get wet if you stop.
BTW I don't drive through puddles. It can lead to hydroplaning.
I not only drive in the rain but with the top down too. You only get wet if you stop.
BTW I don't drive through puddles. It can lead to hydroplaning.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by JB
Some of us even avoid washing them more than we need to. For one thing, C3 are's prone to bird cage rust in the channels that drain the windsheild wiper area.
JB
JB
I've never washed mine, just detail spray between polish/wax cycles.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
ive never experienced it but i ve heard way to mant stories of corvettes hydroplaining in the rain. i met one guy who let his son drive his vette in the rain one day. 30 feet later, 2 knocked down trees, and a new living room ornament for some unlucky sap, the car was wrecked.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
my dad told me when he had it out in the rain once he came to a turn going a little faster then he should have. ended up spinning out and came about 3 inches from the guard rail. this was like a year after he fully restored it.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
My parents have a '77 Corvette that Dad bought for Mom, brand new. It's never been driven in the rain. Since they live in Seattle, it only has 19,000 miles on it. That's about as many miles one can put on a car in 28 years without driving in the rain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh NC
i did drive mine home from a shop after a rain once. started off in 2nd gear and lit the tires up for a 50 yards or so..woohoo! 
like mentioned above, I only wash mine when redoing the wax. detail spray(Z6/8) are my version of a car wash. it is never more than slightly dusty so....
like mentioned above, I only wash mine when redoing the wax. detail spray(Z6/8) are my version of a car wash. it is never more than slightly dusty so....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 16
From: Fl
danthony:
I have the exact same car -- and with all new GM NOS weather strips the car doesn't leak one single bit.
If you are willing to spend around 500-600 $$ and take your time installing and adjusting - the car will not leak on you..
Ask me how I know this .....
Bill
I have the exact same car -- and with all new GM NOS weather strips the car doesn't leak one single bit.
If you are willing to spend around 500-600 $$ and take your time installing and adjusting - the car will not leak on you..
Ask me how I know this .....
Bill
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey FL.
I drove mine to work yesterday (first time since I bought it that I actually drove it.) It's a 45 min. ride and the weather lady said, "10 percent chance of rain this morning and 30 percent this evening. So to work I go, T-tops off beautiful clear 5:30 a.m. morning. 10 minutes down the road you geussed it, I hit the 10 percent. I put the tops back on and went on my way. (it drove fine in the rain.) I got to work and a few hours later clear skies. So I took the tops off to allow interior to dry. No lie, 30 minutes later I check on it, can't see the car through the rain. Weather lady is getting a bill.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh NC
Originally Posted by 72ls5fla
with all new GM NOS weather strips the car doesn't leak one single bit.
If you are willing to spend around 500-600 $$ and take your time installing and adjusting - the car will not leak on you..
If you are willing to spend around 500-600 $$ and take your time installing and adjusting - the car will not leak on you..
previous owner installed new weather stripping in mine but it leaks. I need to run some tests and adjust it in a few spots. water comes in around the center support bar and the rear window.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
It will crash if you drive in the wet? 
Hydroplaning has everything to do with tires and almost nothing to do with the rest of the car. Overdriving your car in the rain is a matter of not driving safely and should not be blamed on the car. It's not a modern car in which you can make terrible decisions and the car will sort it all out for you (i.e. traction control or ABS).
I know about leaks, wet feet and left side of your body are no fun! Mine used to drip out of the ducting above my feet, how it got in there I still have not figured out!
-Chris
Hydroplaning has everything to do with tires and almost nothing to do with the rest of the car. Overdriving your car in the rain is a matter of not driving safely and should not be blamed on the car. It's not a modern car in which you can make terrible decisions and the car will sort it all out for you (i.e. traction control or ABS).
I know about leaks, wet feet and left side of your body are no fun! Mine used to drip out of the ducting above my feet, how it got in there I still have not figured out!
-Chris