I am in the process of buying a 1977 Vette after a long search (e-bay, local dealers, private sellers, you name it). Turns out that I find this car on E-bay, but its being sold from a dealer in my town....

Anyway, here is what I want some feedback on.

The car is beautiful. I dare say about as close to perfect as you can get without going crazy. Original Paint (I'd say an 8 out of 10), Interior (although the seats are new, but still matched color code) again an 8 or 9 out of 10, original factory radio, Numbers do match, Rebuilt engine (the cleanest I've seen...not chromed or anything, but spotless), 63K original miles (I trust this one), 4 Speed Manual close ratio transmission, etc.

The are asking $14K. So far we're at $12.5K, which isn't so bad if NADA is a realistic value and the car continues to check out. NADA list's the car values (for an L48) as follow's:
Low: $9,075
Average: $13,775
High: $20,925
So here comes the first question....Do you think $12.5K is fair. I understand that with these cars its an "to each their own" thing, but what is the general opinion?

Now, they advertise the car as 210HP, which is the L-82 350 CI engine, correct? What concerns me is the VIN # is: 1Z37L.......Doesn't that "L" indicate the car has a 180 HP, 305 CI L48 engine? Is it possible that the car/frame was built to originally house the smaller engine, but the L82 was added after the fact as a factory/dealer option? Is it possible that the engine is original, but 210 HP even though that "L" is in the VIN code?
Am I missing something with the engine code? Am I reading too much into the VIN #? I did not get the engine code...but I will if I need to.

If the VIN doesn't mean much, and the car does in-fact have the L82 - 210 HP engine, the NADA value then goes up about 15% to 20% with the 4 Speed Manual Transmission.

What do you think?

I tried to post pic's....it didn't work, so I'll add a link to the ad or put some pictures in my profile.

 

On 1974 at least J stood for L48 and the L was for the L82 I believe. I will double check.

 

This is one of the units in TX right? I was looking at it online and it looked clean. I thought about buying it myself.

 

Yes...this is the same car thats on E-bay in Texas.
We agreed on that $12.5K price yesterday (I went in with the mindset that I would not pay over NADA average) and this is where we ended up. Close enough to make me happy until I started reading some of the feedback on other '77 models, and not being worth much, so I got a little concerned. The engine thing got me thinking as well. I'd like to have my facts straight before I speak with them again. My initial impression was that nothing shady was going on, but I'd like to know for sure.

 

I know what you mean. Basically it comes down to what do you want to pay and what do you feel is a fair price. With cars this old its hard to say, imo. The car looks super clean on the ad, and the manual helps the value to most, although I like the auto trannies better.

Sounds like it might have the L82 motor, which also makes it more desirable, but for my purpose I want good clean corvettes no matter the motor code. I just love C3 corvettes period.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1559950734

 

The L48 is still a 350 by the way, just saw in your post you stated it was a 305.

 

Thanks for the info....but I THINK a '74 VIN codes may be different than a '77, mostly because this car has an "L" in the 5th position and that wasn't mentioned in the link/post.

You're 100% right. Its all about the car and the person buying it. I just don't want to be a total idiot and pay a price totally out of line. I don't believe I am here, but ya never know.

I too love the mid 70's Vette's, especially 75 thru 77, and I want a car that is already in great shape (to me that means it was taken care of and treated with TLC). Hopefully this all works out this week.

 

Before you shell out alot of doe for this 77. Can you get a reel good look at it.The steering wheel is from a 76. just a thought

 

1977-79 vettes without the tilt telescopic steering column had the vega steering wheel fitted.

 

Sorry you posted while i was typing.

 

Huh! Just learned another lil tidbit of information! I thought the '76 was the only year 'blessed' with this particular wheel.

The things I've learned just idly wandering through the threads here.......
John

 

The 4spd was a low option. It appears to be the wrong top on the air cleaner. And the front spoiler is aftermarket. Looks clean but I would expect it needing paint seller states 'paint crazing'.
L=L48 180
X=L82 210
If it were an L82 look at the exhaust manifolds. If they have been plugged where the smog should be. L82 would have had the smog equipment. I saw none. I would also check the suffix code on the front of the engine.
Just my "op" you couldn't give me one without A/C

 

The "L" in the VIN # on a 77 does in fact mean that it left the factory with the L48 engine. An "X" in the VIN would indicate that it left with the L82 option. Perhaps it is an L48 and someone put L82 emblems on the hood, check the VIN # on the engine pad to be sure unless it's not the original engine.

 

L indicates the base L48 engine. 350 CID not 305. 305s were 1980 California cars only.

No. If the car was to have the L-82 optional engine, the VIN would have been coded X.

No. The dealer has the listing wrong, or a PO built the L48 into an L82.

No. This car left St. Louis with an L48.

No. What you're doing it trying to convince yourself to buy this car. We've all done it. Have you heard that little voice in your head saying this one is the one for you?

 

In 1977 they made more cars than almost another year The Hood emblems are an old fart trick to make guys think they have a bigger one my 77 just happen to have the L-88 or L-82 (bad memory) emblem on the hood and EVERYONE that knew anything about vetts would tell me thats not an L-88 its a L-48 (hell with the price of gas get a 200r4 tranny and id rather have the L-48 to be A driver That is.My band needs tightened on my th 400 so Ive been looking at the 200r4 for an overdrive .that is A little high for A 77 But if It does not need anything it would be Kinda ok but if It needs anything brakes radiator half shafts any thing Get him down to 10 k.

 

I love the car and the color. But the ad states that its has "Front Disc Brakes". Should it also has rear disk brakes? I thought all Corvettes after 1965 have 4-wheel disk brakes? Please look into this.

 

All Corvettes since '65 have had four wheel disc brakes. During the '65 model year while parts lasted, you could request four wheel drum brakes in place of the discs and get a credit on your order.

 

As said above..."L" equals L48 and that is consistant with the valve covers on the car.

It has an after market hurst shifter kit (not a bad thing). The exhaust tips are aftermarket. The air cleaner is interesting. The front spoiler is aftermarket (from an '80-'81 maybe).

Car looks clean from the outside and the inside looks pretty good.

There were under 2500 4 speeds made in 1977. They are not all that easy to find. That being said, $12,500 seems high. If you buy it for that price I will have to consider putting mine on the market for around the same...

Good Luck!!!
Chris

 

Thanks for the feedback so far.
I spoke to them this morning and apparently the lady who does the ad's wrote in the 210 HP by mistake (they had a very similar car just before this one that had the larger HP engine and she made a mistake). Everything else is accurate.....

The Cross Flag emblems were added during the '77 run, regardless of the engine inside, so that doesn't concern me. The only thing that has so far is the innaccurate listing info, but I believe we're all set now. It does in fact have the L-48.

The car is really nice....and unless NADA is totally crazy, $12.5 doesn't seem un-reasonable, so at this point Im going forward and should be driving it by the weekend. Ill go over the car again 1 more time before I give any money. They are detailing it today or tomorrow for me. Can't wait to see it after being waxed and some of the small scratches rubbed out.