Hi, everybody--

My name is Brian and I'm new to the board and the Corvette world in general, having just recently gotten back into muscle cars thanks to a new job that actually makes getting my hands on one a major possibility.

I'd love a C3--preferably, an example from somewhere between '68-'70. I want it as a second car to take out on weekends or whenever the mood strikes. I'm 30 years old right now; I want to still have this car when I'm 60.

Some have suggested a new C6 (or future Vette) is my best bet, but there are items on the new models (satelite nav, Active Fuel Management, error codes) that take away from the Vette being just a basic pavement pounder. And that's what I want. A basic, stripped-down racer with a big engine. So, a '68-'70 C3 is my target.

I've seen plenty of models at the local consignment dealers who specialize in classic and collector cars, but some are in the $30-70,000 range (no joke), and I'm seeing a trend in those prices continuing to climb.

How difficult is it to maintain a classic car?

What should I be doing now, while I'm saving money, to learn how to do basic repairs?

Is a C3 best for what I have in mind, keeping the car over the long haul? Or would I really be better served by a C6 despite my complaints about all the computerized mumbo-jumbo?

Any input or suggestions are greatly appreciated; I look forward to your replies!

Thank you! --Brian

 

I am biased towards the C3. Having owned a C2, several C3's a C4 and a C5 Z06. For my corvette ownership, I will stay loyal to the C3. The C3 (esp the bumper cars) are going to continue climbing in value which will allow you to "get out" if you need to later. Your insurance and taxes are a great deal less which is nice as you walk by it sitting in the garage. Maintenance is going to be an issue. These cars DO tear up. Spend your $$ to fix it RIGHT the first time or buy one that is done. You need to drive a few before you decide, take your time the lookin' is the fun part. BTW WELCOME!!

 

I enjoy old cars because my Dad passed along the tinkering gene. I like the fact that I can do just about anything a carbed engine. I have no use for dealer service (sorry gator79) until it comes to electronics and sensors. I have no desire to plug and play! If you like dirty, greasy, sweaty work and you like it when your neighbors can't believe you got it running and if you like meeting other good people then by all means get you a car and enjoy it. Welcome!

 

I bought my 68 in July 05 and I have been having a blast fixing the little things. I'm not a mechanic by any stretch, but I've tackled some (what I consider to be) big projects with help from this forum and the AIM and Haynes manual. Go for the C3 and buy the manuals - short of major engine overhauling for me, I can figure my way through just about anything.

The reward of saying I did it myself makes it all worth it

Now if I can just get this darn brake light problem worked out

 

If your leaning toward a C3 get the C3,you'll just kick youself later if you don't.Just don't jump on the first one you see,unless it's absolutely perfect!They are a challenge to work on because of space constraints but not overly difficult.Good luck in your search and welcome.

 

Good choice!! Most members of this forum agree that the '70s are by far and away the best looking and desirable of all Vettes.

Maintenance is pretty easy compared to newer cars because they are pretty basic (as long as you get one in pretty good shape to start with). To get familiar with working on them, I'd do everything I could on my own car and maybe the g/f's car too. Get some kind of maintenance manual specific to the car. Get a set of basic tools. You should be able to change oil, filters, etc., then move on the changing out brake pads, shock absorbers, light bulbs, etc. There are Vette magazines (you might want to subscribe to) that have articles that show what others have done with their cars.

Good luck -

 

I was glad to see your post, because two years ago, I was asking the same questions. Since then, I bought a 69 vert and my wife got so jealous, she bought an 81. So, in the time, I've seen a good bit of what happens when you pick one up that hasn't had the TLC it should have had.

When looking, the biggest thing is the body and rust-free, straight frame. I always feel around in the wheel wells for obvious body work. Because of the fiberglass on Corvettes, this is such an important step. You'd be surprised how many headaches you can eliminate early on.

Pick up the Corvette Black Book and check numbers and paint codes - this will also tell you if you're looking at a pretty convincing Frankenstein. And, I've seen some myself. One more good thing is to ask if you can see where it is regularly parked - look for spots on the floor and know the different colors of fluid and locations where they drip. Again, I eliminated another classic car that way. I also found some good ones by doing that.

Once you find a good body, frame, and hopefully matching engine, the absolute biggest headache I ran into post-purchase was electrical trouble. With my 69, I went through practically the whole electrical system with a friend, the help of this forum, and a really good vette mechanic I've found. Turns out I needed a new wiring harness - it solved the problem alright, but it was about $1300 in repairs that I hadn't planned on early into it. Now, with a new battery and alternator too, I leave it for weeks in a cool garage and crank it on the first turn. If there is anyway to check out the electrical on it before buying, do it. This is critical in Vettes again because of the fiberglass. And, the wiring in these older models was made to last 15 years at best. Try to crank after knowing it has been sitting a while. Drive it a little bit and crank it again. You might even want to run it by an auto place and have the electrical system checked - that's about $50, but it might give you some piece of mind.

Having said all that and done all of this, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. And though I don't have the garage space, I'm always looking for the next one. Hope this helps.

 

My only advise is to really check out any car you want to buy for rust. Certainly the frames do rust, and it's usually pretty easy to find the problem areas. Worse then the frames is the birdcage. The rocker channels and windshield frames can be completely rusted out, but yet the car still looks very good on the outside. Either of these repairs can cost you thousands, so check the car really well. Remove the kick panels and #3 body mount covers to look inside. If you find a car you really like, don't hestitate to ask here on the forum for someone to help you check it out.

 

One other thought. First buy a floor jack and some good jack stands, because you can't do a darn thing underneath one of these cars without jacking it up.

 

Don't buy the first one you see. Unless it's a beautiful '69 convertible with great paint and a great price. You'll enjoy looking at different ones and discovering the little differences that accompany each year. You'll also get a better understanding of exactly what you should pay for a certain year. Prices vary so much. You don't want to overpay unless its just a super car and you have to have it. You're going to get that feeling a lot. A certain Vette you have to have. Vettes are truly a magnet.

 

Thanks, everybody, for your replies.

There's a classic car dealer in my area that sells a lot of older Corvettes; I'm going to see if I can schedule a test drive and see if the C3 is really for me.

While browsing the shop tonight, I found a dark red 1975 coupe that appealed to me only because that's the year I was born. The price was good, too--around $14k. But I'd really rather hold out for a '68-'70 model.

 

to get an intimate knowledge of the use of:

and other associated tools.

The best way to learn to work on cars is by reading about it, doing it and asking a lot of questions.

Older cars require ongoing attention and believe me there is always one more thing to do on them.

 

Read,research,learn right here on this forum..get to know the vette first...talk to vette(C3) owners...
Rich

 

Everyone has been giving you good advice, one of the great things about a C3 is depreciation is not an issue. One of the best things you can do when C3 shopping is take a very knowledgeable person with you, not only will they know the market values but they know what to look for not only from a structural standpoint but also prices and difficulty of repairs that cars may need. Very important when negotiating a final price. I'd stay away from most corvette dealers, they tend to be very high in price, 14k for a 75 coupe is very high, if it was a convertible 4spd with very low miles (under50k) then it would be in about the right range if it's mechanically sound with good paint. Spend lots of time at corvette shows, and talk to the owners (remember everyones car is for sale for the right price), a lot of owners have multiple cars and are willing to sell, and a corvette enthusiast is who you really want to buy the car from. I bought my car from a fellow enthusiast (I think it was his eighth or ninth), and it's really been a great car and a terrific investment. He passed up more money from other people becouse he wanted to sell it to someone who would take care of it, so I got it for a great buy (insurance man told me I stole it ).

Good Luck

Pat Kunz

 

The concept of keeping a car 30 years is something I can appreciate, although I've never been able to do it. Life throws you curve ***** and I've had them both ways. When you're short on cash it's hard to justify keeping a toy, and when you've got lots of it then you want something nicer.

I've got a 69 Camaro that I've managed to hang on to for 14 years now (I'm 50) which is a record for me. I've got it pretty much the way I want it. But I love to tinker on cars so I've had several C4's and 5's in the last 14 years too. Now those are gone, the Camaro is still around, and I've bought a 71 Vette where no two numbers match and I'm having a great time with it.

If you want to keep a car 30 years, get something that makes your heart beat faster. If it's something you love, you'll keep it longer than a car that's mechanically perfect but not involving. You can fix nearly anything but ugly.

 

Welcome!

I bought my C3 last November as a weekend driver and my biggest problem is ONLY driving it then . These cars are so fun to cruise in!

I looked around for about 2 months before I made my choice. The thing you need to be aware of is, no matter how "perfect" the car looks before you buy it, you will be spending money on it afterwards either through need or want.

I could easily spend $10K to make my ride "perfect", but in all honesty I really only "need" to spend 1K to make it a better than my current daily driver.

IMO, C3s are simply the best weekend cruisers period. Drive one with the T-tops off and see all the people gawking at you... priceless!

 

You're 10 years ahead of me. I just turned 40 and decided I needed a mid-life crisis diversion. Enter the Corvette. The last time I seriously turned wrenches was in high school, when I had a Camaro. Having taken two years of Auto Mechanics taught me a lot about cars. I hadn't used any of that knowledge in the last 23 years (work, life, marriage, kids).

I bought my '70 Corvette 3 months ago, and am having the best time with it, even though I haven't driven it that much yet. I spend a little time every single day reading about vettes - either here on the forum, or other forums and websites, as well as books. You can't buy enough books. I just joined a local vette club, and have high hopes for that this spring.

In hindsight, I rushed buying my vette. I don't regret it, but all of these people on the forum are right: try and take your time. take a person who knows vettes along with you when you think you've found "the one". I am certain I paid more than mine is worth and more than I should have paid, but damn, I love it! And that's what really matters! I think the value of it will rise, and it will be a moot point how much I paid (like the housing market).

Lastly, think about what you want this car to be: strictly fun driver? or more matching-numbers weekend cruiser? or trailer queen? Having owned a '68 Camaro, I think back to how much I modified on it, and then look at what an unmolested one is going for, and I cringe a little. With my vette, my aim is to keep it as close to 100% stock as possible, but still drive it regularly and enjoy it as a car and not a museum piece.

Good luck!

Mark

My '70 Vette

 

[QUOTE=kevinator80] I have no use for dealer service (sorry gator79) until it comes to electronics and sensors. [/QUOTE

no problem, I have been seeing you on a lot lately, got the fever again?

 

[QUOTE=gator79]You bet I do!