I have always liked the stingray body style. I like the idea of no hatch. I am a bachelor so storage space doesn't really matter to me.

Anyway, a 76 popped up for sale locally. here is the scoop:

1976 stingray coupe, automatic, carb. needs to be rebuilt, needs front brake caliper, seats have tears, carpet is ok, steering is alright, tranny seems to shift fine, new tires, not original color--was painted black cherry metallic two tone paint, looks good, didn't notice bondo, interior features all seem to work, 160K original miles, two owner (so he says), not sure if t top has leaks, numbers match

How much would I expect to pay? Give me a ballpark figure. Thanks!

 

$4,000
is the first number that comes to mind !

 

Hmmm...I did exactly what you are thinking about doing. I have an 88 and bought a '76. You can find some pretty good deals on fixer-uppers for sure.
$3500 and up depending on the condition and options. The '76s had the L-48 and the L-82(more rarer). The one I bought is pretty immacculant with the exception on the bumpers and I paid $9500/ Its a 4sp L-48 Bright yellow with Black Leather interior.

Good Luck!

 

 

I thought it may be a little high. The guy is asking $5500.

 

$5500 is too high IMO. I agree with the $3500 to $4000 range for a project Vette.

Unless you really have your heart set on getting your hands dirty on a project, I would advise spending a few $K more and buy a nice one that needs little to no work. You can get a very nice C3 for about $10K if you look around.

Good luck!

 

I'd think $5000 wouldn't be too much to pay for a '76 in this condition.

This 'project vette' doesn't sound like much of a project assuming you've checked it out throughly and all that's wrong with it is listed here.

Can you do your own work? You can get a set of seat covers off e-bay for $100. A rebuilt caliper with SS inserts is under $100, but call it an even $100. You can rebuild the carb for $50.

It's high mileage, be sure to check the front crossmember, common rusting points on the frame, birdcage....etc. But if the car runs ok (with carb exception), shifts allright, not rusted out in the floorboards, you're light years ahead of what some of the rest of us have repaired!

$5250.00 isn't bad for an enjoyable driver with decent paint. Wouldn't you give that for a decent '67 Camaro or an old mustang in fair shape?

Some corvette owners (not many here, thank God) will sniff and say "well, it's not a chrome bumpered beauty". Others look over the top of their glasses and remark "it's a '76, it will never be worth much." That's ok, you're not spending $20,000 to buy a work of art you're not comfortable driving in the rain or anytime you feel like it.

Buy it, fix it, drive the h*ll out of it and enjoy it!
John

 

I'd go look for a 80/82 just for more comfort. I'm a bit bias

 

Yep. Better seats, lighter, more HP and the rear tail fin that makes all the girls go "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Bay-Bee!"

 

i have had the C3 for about 4 yrs now and EVERY time i look at it i still think the lines are cool.......how that for staying power!

 

Check for rust on the frame and bird-cage, if all looks good try to talk him down. There are a lot of c-3's in the Dallas area, look around see what you can find, if not then go with your gut.
$5500 would be just about right for this area, but there are few c3's around here for sale.

 

Well, ok. While you will get a very few serious snob comments, there IS a certain amount of good natured heckling between different year C-3 owners.

But really, the classic front hood and fender lines, the low top, the wasp waist middle just screams CORVETTE to C-3 owners of whatever year. (and you can ALWAYS count on folks turning for a second look when you're cruising!)

and my '76 has a rear spoiler too!

 

Here is my 92 that I have owned since 1995 and I finally grabbed the 76 Stingray below, and it has the 79-82 seats and the spoilers to boot, I am super happy for doing this, I get the fun out of an older vette, and then I have comfort from the C4, and just the total difference in the feeling of the cars, gives you the fun in picking out what you want to drive on certain days

 

C4 for Monday through Friday. C3 for Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. Good Strategy.........

 

I drive my C3 everyday and have not had any problems with it, dispite a minor vaccum leak. I love the car and so far it's been great to me! My first vette and I never want another car again, besides a Z06 to add to our collection!

If you are going to buy a C3 make sure you go with the original paint!

 

If one caliper is bad, the rest need to be replaced too! They are not far behind. Recovering seats, you are looking at $300 to $1000 depending on vinyl or leather, and whether you do the work or have it done. Have the suspension, u-joints and rear end checked out. Leaky calipers are a maintenance issue, others may be neglected as well. I have seen several cars of similar vintage (74 - 77) and similar description (maintenance issues) advertised locally, and they don't usually sell till the price dropped below $4500.

 

Well said.

 

I bought my vinyl covers off e-bay for $100. I got a seat cover installation kit from Corvette America for $32 plus shipping. My padding is in fair shape. $140 in the seats.
Replace the one caliper. If you can do your own work, rebuild it yourself. If you want to do all four, go head. It's not rocket science, just simple wrench turning. I will admit, I'd look seriously at SS insert calipers, but it's whatever you want to spend.
The carb is easier to rebuild than the calipers.

Good Lord, I've read threads by fellows here that have more than this in their ENGINES.

All I have to go by is the original description. IF the car has been throughly checked out and these three items are all that's wrong with it, it's a simple 1 week labor of love, not a time and money consuming black hole like mine and others I've read about here.

Look at the description, this car is in good shape. Body's good, tires are too. Everything works in the interior. Good paint, shifts ok.

I've seen old muscle cars sell for more than this in worse shape. I don't see a lot of maintenance issues, especially if the description's accurate. I just see a good 'ol driver that needs very little to make a lot of fun.
John

BTW, cheaper (in purchase price) is always better. If he could buy it for $1000 I'd say great. But if it's described accurately, it's worth every penny of $5000.