hey everyone,

i have a c5 and don;t know much about the c3's

my fathers friend has a mint 1977 vette. he said it has every option.

he's asking 5000. for it.

1. is it worth 5000?
2. what did the loaded c3's come with..?
3. was one of the options a cb radio?

any help would be great.

thanks scott

 

mint condition is definitely worth picking up for $5k.
be sure to check condition of the frame though, especially in the kick-up areas just in front of the rear wheels - that area especially is prone to rust.

"Loaded" is always nice.
Here is a list of options available in '77

RPO A31 Electric power windows ($116)
RPO B32 Color-keyed floor mats ($22)
RPO C49 Rear window defogger ($84)
RPO C60 Air conditioning ($553)
RPO D35 Sport mirrors ($36)
RPO FE7 Gymkhana suspension ($38)
RPO L82 350-cid 210-hp V-8 ($495)
RPO M21 Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission (no-cost option)
RPO M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission (no-cost option)
RPO N37 Tilt-telescopic steering wheel ($165)
RPO N40 Power steering ($151)
RPO QRZ GR7O x 15 raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires ($57)
RPO U58 AM-FM stereo radio ($187)
RPO UM2 AM-FM stereo radio with tape system ($414)
RPO U69 AM-FM radio ($187)
RPO V54 Luggage rack and roof panel rack ($73)
RPO YJ8 Aluminum wheels ($321)
RPO ZN1 Trailering package ($83)
RPO ZX2 Convenience group ($22)

 

thanks ..


anyone else have any advice?

 

A 1977 that is in "mint" condition and "loaded" with options will bring over $10K on the market. I regularly see them bring over $7 and $8K on eBay that are no where near mint condition. I sold a 1976 (almost the same car), in driver condition last summer for $6K that needed a full restoration. It ran and drove, but was in need of paint, interior, and trim work.

For $5K it sounds like a steal.

 

If it is in mint condition, it's a no-brainer. Part with the 5 grand.

 

my first corvette was a '77, it had AC, power windows, sport mirrors, luggage rack and roof panel rack, rear window defogger, tilt-telli column, power steering, and AM/FM stereo radio.

it was a great car, I paid $6500.00 for it back in 1982 and sold with 100,000 miles on it for $9000.00 in 1988.

that car is part of the reason I bought the '73 convertible to restore.

I say GRAB IT!

 

thanks for the info...i will be seeing him a week from monday..he's on vacation.. gonna grab it and either keep it or just flip it.

 

 

Some 77 CORVETTE info.:
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/77facts.htm

 

Be sure it has no rust issues on the birdcage or frame . If you look it over and have any questions call me, I'm in New Haven. I'll go over check points on the car for you. Check the floor boards too they were steel then and do rot out. Otherwise, typical wear points to look over. $5k for a decent 77 is good but if you need to start adding work that was never done,ie: rear bearings,suspension, work yokes, etc then it may not be such a good deal.

Gary

 

Scott

some other things to check out, or have checked out

from underneath
in front, check out the complete suspension and chassis
you are looking for the condition of
- upper & lower controls arms,
- ball joints
- end links, pitman and idler arms
- brake lines
- frame welds at the cross member
- any kinks or distortions before or after the cross member

in the rear you are looking for condition
- rear spring, and spring bolts and busings
- differential bushings
- Ujoints, drive and half shafts
- brake lines
- general condition of the trailing arms ( rust, damage, bushing wear)
fluid leaks at the diff, and rear seal of the tranny
- see if there are any new seams on the body from underneath i.e has the rear been repalced
- also check fuel lines and fuel tank bot inside and out

check the frame for rust at the body mounts, corners and along the rails under the rockers, also look for water damage inside the door wells, and peek under the dash for water damage, hopefully the bird cage is sound

pop the hood and check the condition of the weather seals that runs along the wiper area ( also birdcage issue here) power steering hoses, vacuum hoses, top upper control arm, welds at the cross member again, engine mounts,

other things to check condition of, weather stripping ( do the t-tops leak, I'm sure they do)

Interior

- carpets, do thye look discolored from water damage?
- cracks in the dash area
- do all the guages & lights works including dimmer ( wiring harness tell tales)
- general condition of seats and console

a vette interior can cost as much as 1100 all by it self in these years
Engine

check for

-does the block match the body ( if you care)
- run a compression test (static) and hook up a vaccum guage to check the condition of the bottom and top end
- obvious oil leaks, and chek the oil itself (discoloration & and content)
power steerign leaks
- take a peek in the oil fill area and down the carb to see if there is any thing funny going on
- also listen to it run and place your hand over the exhaust while its runnning looking for excesive carbon, or smoking, white or blue

Tranny

if auto, how does it shift, firm and smooth, clunking and late?
also check fluiod here


if manual
-binding in the linkage even throw across all gears, does it go in reverse easily,
- cluctch petal feel, and whining from the clucth, doe sit stop when you push the clucth in

etc


see how it drives, is the rear end squirley ( t arm busings royal PITA), does it drive straight, stop straight etc


just some thoughts


Good luck with the buyScott, let me know if i can help

eieth way 5 gs is sa good price if it is as advertised, if it mint, you could easily flip it for 10k or so, if it needs minor work it is still a good car, if it need major work, it s a good project car, but im not sure if thats what you want to get into

cheers

 

from another thread

 

if the paint and interior are great looking and the car runs and steers well and holds it own on the road at highway speeds, i would be inclined to buy it assuming there is no rust and it has a clean title....if it steers funny at highway speeds those repair costs can add up quick, also rust can add$$$ real fast same with paint and an interior