Hello All,
I've come across the opportunity to join the C3 Corvette owner's club, but not having much knowledge of the C3 I wanted to try to get an idea of what is particular car may be worth.
Here's brief description of what I know and its at a minimum for now until I get in touch with the actual "owner":
Its a 79 white with red interior. Its a T-Tops, non-glass. Auto tranny. As you can see from the pictures the center console and glove box aren't in such great shape. The seats seem to be good but them and other random pieces of interior plastic are faded. The door panels are new. I'm not sure if the engine is original or not yet, but I'll find that out along with the VIN. However, the car has been sitting for 6 years. The engine bay is covered in cobwebs, but nothing seems to be missing. I can get an idea of why it doens't run when I finally speak with the owner.
The car was awarded to the mother of a friend of mine in a divorce settlement and she doens't have any interest in keeping the car. I'd like to get an idea of what the car is worth. I'm sure that people are going to say I need to give some more info to get a better idea of what its worth and I'll edit this post as I get the info. But any help for now would be great.
Thanks,
Patrick
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** I finally spoke with the previous owner of the car and got some of the info that I was missing. He says the engine is the L-48 and everything is original. The car does have headers, which I noticed while looking at it over the weekend, and a shift kit in the tranny. He said that there was nothing wrong with the car when he stopped driving it. He was taking automotive classes to become certified and while doing so did some minor repairs to the car. New U-Joints, A/C lines, Condensor & Evap., New Cats, and gone through the brake system. 2002 was the last inspection sticker that was on the car and he said it passed inspection and emmissions without a problem. HOWEVER, with all that being said, the car has still sat for 7 years. What needs to be done to this thing to attempt to get it started and drivable? I've never dealt with a car that has sat for so long so besides the fact that gas has to be worthless and I can't imagine what the oil looks like in the thing, what else would need to be addressed before trying to start it up?
Thanks for all the input so far, its been a great help!

 

I would offer 3k.

 

depending on original motor or not.......& depending if it is functional or needs a rebuild if rebuildable.............i'd start at the $2,000 to $2500 area.......check high& low for R U S T !!!

 

$3K "as is" if she can't start it for you. Up to $5K if it starts and runs well (IF she goes through the proper prep process for a long standing car); $4K if she wants you to do the prepping.

 

Have a 79 myself that I am restoring (car needed a "little" interior work when I bought it, now I am doing a frame off). I would say in the 2500 to 4000 range. Check the birdcage before you make any offer though..

 

I'm almost afraid to even ask, but what is "the birdcage"?

 

Whoa.



A copy of this will possibly save you a bunch of $$$$$.

 

$3000 give or take.

 

I don't think it will help you on price, but this website has some info you might find useful:

http://geocities.com/dilbertopotimus/index.html

Also, if it has been sitting for 6 years, expect it to have essentially no brakes. You will probably need to rebuild the entire braking system before it is safe to drive - expect $500 for that alone, if you do it yourself.

Hope this helps.

 

prices stated above sound good to me. If the car is running a driveable then 5 to 6K would be a ballpark.

 

Based on what's missing in the interior, I would't go any higher than $3,500 and that's if it runs. New carpet, console, misc bits/pieces will run you lots of greenbacks. The engine looks like it's been worked on, at least a little. The valve covers have been repainted or replaced.

 

 

Right I think I'm pretty much set on the price and I know I need to check the birdcage for any rust/rotting which I will do the next time I swing by the house.
But my question now is what does a car need to have done to it to get it running after sitting for 6 years? Besides fresh fuel and I'm assuming doing an oil chance prior to cranking it over, what else would need to be done or looked at?

 

A short and incomplete list....

1. Tires are definitly flatspotted and possibly dryrotted - replace
2. Belts are most likely brittle and dryrotted - replace
3. check all rubber fuel lines, coolant lines, heater lines, vacuum lines etc for brittleness or rot - replace as needed
4. brakes most likely will need full repair...bleed - check calipers - replace and rebuild as required
5. lord knows what the engine might need (at the very least the carb probably needs looking at and the sparkplugs replaced, but it most likely is more than that)
6. change all fluids & filters - oil, fuel, coolant and tranny...diff is probably ok (change it anyway as its cheap)

 

#7 Rebuild carburetor. It's almost certainly gummed up after sitting for six years.

#8 Blow out the fuel line. Ditto on gum and crud.