Advice needed - looking at this 78
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 29,085
Likes: 14
From: Cary IL and Parrish FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Advice needed - looking at this 78
http://www.volocars.com/showroom/sho...price=&eprice=
Is this a good deal for 8 original miles? Anyone know if there are known issues with the engine, overall reliability? If I buy this, I will actually drive it - but just on weekends, etc.
I am new to the corvette world. Owned a c6 for just over a year. Want to have a C3 as well. Thanks!
Is this a good deal for 8 original miles? Anyone know if there are known issues with the engine, overall reliability? If I buy this, I will actually drive it - but just on weekends, etc.
I am new to the corvette world. Owned a c6 for just over a year. Want to have a C3 as well. Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
If you purchase it you should immediately put it on blocks and not drive
it for 20 years. It has been "sitting" for 29 years - yes, there will probably be problems. You can get daily drivers and spend under
$15,000 for some good cars.
it for 20 years. It has been "sitting" for 29 years - yes, there will probably be problems. You can get daily drivers and spend under
$15,000 for some good cars.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 29,085
Likes: 14
From: Cary IL and Parrish FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Yeah that is my issue. I guess this is not a good daily driver. This may actually be a good deal if you were to sell it at an auction in another 20 years.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
Exactly - then the next issue is a chrome bumper car or a '74 and over
for much less. Then this gets into a real discussion on what to get.
My suggestion if this is your first C3 is set a budget at $15,000 -then
see what you can get in regards to style, reliability.
I realize Marines don't like to tip toe - but, it could be good advice here.
for much less. Then this gets into a real discussion on what to get.
My suggestion if this is your first C3 is set a budget at $15,000 -then
see what you can get in regards to style, reliability.
I realize Marines don't like to tip toe - but, it could be good advice here.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 29,085
Likes: 14
From: Cary IL and Parrish FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Exactly - then the next issue is a chrome bumper car or a '74 and over
for much less. Then this gets into a real discussion on what to get.
My suggestion if this is your first C3 is set a budget at $15,000 -then
see what you can get in regards to style, reliability.
I realize Marines don't like to tip toe - but, it could be good advice here.
for much less. Then this gets into a real discussion on what to get.
My suggestion if this is your first C3 is set a budget at $15,000 -then
see what you can get in regards to style, reliability.
I realize Marines don't like to tip toe - but, it could be good advice here.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
Clubs are great places to look because you should have people that
really know Vettes and various mechanical issues. I would look every-
where - the Web, etc - to see what is out there. Some people travel
a long distance to find the right car - different states. Where you are
in a major metro area there probably is the car you are looking for just
miles away. Good luck hunting!!!
Old Military Saying -- Trust no one, respect everyone.
really know Vettes and various mechanical issues. I would look every-
where - the Web, etc - to see what is out there. Some people travel
a long distance to find the right car - different states. Where you are
in a major metro area there probably is the car you are looking for just
miles away. Good luck hunting!!!
Old Military Saying -- Trust no one, respect everyone.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
Definitely not a daily driver. It's only an investment piece at this point.
There is a Chevy dealer about 5 miles from my house that has the same thing, only with a few more miles. It think it has like 27 miles. The dealer ordered it in 1978 and kept it in the showroom the whole time. It is still not for sale.
There is a Chevy dealer about 5 miles from my house that has the same thing, only with a few more miles. It think it has like 27 miles. The dealer ordered it in 1978 and kept it in the showroom the whole time. It is still not for sale.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
Call the Chicago Corvette Club they probably know of several for sale.
In your part of the country look for -- rust at the window and at the
frame. Then, since it costs $6 to $10M for a Vette paint job, find a
car that doesn't need one and one that is in good mechanical condition.
The interior you can do yourself.
In your part of the country look for -- rust at the window and at the
frame. Then, since it costs $6 to $10M for a Vette paint job, find a
car that doesn't need one and one that is in good mechanical condition.
The interior you can do yourself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Way to many sitting in garages with less than 50 miles to be an investment. Since it sold new for $30K in 1978(Dealer mark up), I don't think it has gone up in value that much to make a difference in 2027. You can get Pace cars all day long for under $30K and drive them all you want. Buy one of those and enjoy it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
take a look at C3 cars for sale. That is a good place to start. On thing with the one you're looking at, brakes, lines, hoses, and a whole lot of other things to be looked at and replaced.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Not worth $45K unless you're looking for a museum piece. Let's face facts: for each mile you put on this car, the value goes down. I saw this car a few years back at the Corvette Homecoming in Bowling Green. It had four miles on the odo at that time. What attacted me to stop and take a look was that the car had not been through dealer prep.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: Ellicott City MD
No one has mentioned yet how much time and money will be needed to rehab a 29 year old vehicle that has only been driven 8 miles. The ad doesn't say when the car was started the last time... the fluids... seals...etc. You would NEVER buy a car like this to drive...I don't even think you could drive it off the lot, and if you did, you'd probably wish you hadn't.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Collierville TN
My car set up for a good 10 years before I bought it. The previous owner started it occasionally and even drove it around his property every few months. It was stored in a steel building. Despite that, all of the bushings in the front were rotted away, the transmission seals had disintegrated, numerous vacuum lines were in bad shape, and the hoses connecting the fuel lines to the fuel pump fell apart upon being touched. Time does bad things to rubber...
It would be an awesome car to fix up and get on the road (where Corvettes belong--not in plastic bubbles), but at the price they are asking it just isn't worth it IMO.
It would be an awesome car to fix up and get on the road (where Corvettes belong--not in plastic bubbles), but at the price they are asking it just isn't worth it IMO.
Last edited by column5; Jul 13, 2007 at 04:53 PM.