When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
ok guys im thinking about purchasing a 78 silver anniversary from a friend i was wondering if you guys could tell me if its worth it. He's selling it for $5000
details:
350 ramjet installed in 2003
rebuilt auto tranny
exterior electrical works (headlights don't pop up guessing a vacum problem)
power brakes don't work
all the interior guages work
none of the interior lights work though
odometer says 65,000 im sure its turned over
ac doesnt work
here are some pictures
^^^as you can see there is some warping
some undercarrage pics
im pretty knowlegeable with c5 vettes but im lost with c3s
any feedback would be great
I think it's easily worth that. Needs a new interior. Brakes & headlight problem is probably related, maybe the AC too, since they all require vacuum. How does it run? Pop the kick panels off & look at the body mounts there. I'd buy it, if you have the time & money. Just remember, a C3 will always be a money hole, it's just the size & depth of the hole that varies.
ok guys im thinking about purchasing a 78 silver anniversary from a friend i was wondering if you guys could tell me if its worth it. He's selling it for $5000
details:
350 ramjet installed in 2003
rebuilt auto tranny
exterior electrical works (headlights don't pop up guessing a vacuum problem)
power brakes don't work
all the interior guages work
none of the interior lights work though
odometer says 65,000 im sure its turned over
ac doesnt work
here are some pictures
^^^as you can see there is some warping
some undercarriage pics
im pretty knowledgeable with c5 vettes but im lost with c3s
any feedback would be great
thanks, matt
This is a very clean looking SA. Do not be so quick to dismiss the mileage. Looking at the paint, this was one very well cared for SA or it's been repainted. '78's came with very horrid paint jobs and the light colors like the SA did not hold up well unless they were very well cared for and stored inside. The wrinkling on the bumper is pretty common and I've seen much worse on many that are a decade newer.
Judging by the chassis, I would restate that this car has spent a good deal of it's time inside. The chassis seems to have a lot of light surface rust in most places and even appears to have the paper tag still on the sway bar. Also the chassis paint on these cars was very light and yet this car seems to have a good deal of it remaining, a very good sign.
Looks like a pretty well preserved '78 and well worth the price.
Was that a complete ramject 350 motor or just the intake setup? If it is a new motor and has good paint as it appears, it is easily worth 5k imo. Electrical stuff is a pain, but it is very cheap to do if you do it yourself. Headlight fixes the same.
i spent 3500 on a 79 that i had to put together myself, and its half primer (see side picture/avatar) paint jobs (decent ones) alone runs a couple thousand dollars.. so id say definately worth it!
plus the ram jet is a cool lil add on
not to mention the very well cleaned motor. awesome!
must ask how it performs though...
I think it looks pretty good. Most of that scale will fall right off with a little elbow grease. A lot of this decision may hinge on your plans for the car (restore to original, customize, driver, etc). For 5K though, it's going to be hard to go too wrong.
Welcome to the C3 Forum, you will find a lot of knowledge on these pages.
sorry not for me .for a couple of thousand more you could get one that needs alot less work .you can get a 1979 in good shape for 6 to 9 thousand ,with original drive train .imo there are better cars out there .
sorry not for me .for a couple of thousand more you could get one that needs alot less work .you can get a 1979 in good shape for 6 to 9 thousand ,with original drive train .imo there are better cars out there .
It all depends on what a person is looking for. If planning a full restore and matching numbers are important, then you may be right. The car looks in decent shape, 350 ramjet, The repairs seem minor, for a few more grand he'd have a nice ride.
sorry not for me .for a couple of thousand more you could get one that needs alot less work .you can get a 1979 in good shape for 6 to 9 thousand ,with original drive train .imo there are better cars out there .
It looks like a pretty good deal, but that list of repairs can add up pretty quick and then you're in the price range where you could buy a nicer car to start with. The market is soooo soft right now I would get the most for my money, don't know if this is it.
Don't know what the big decals are on the doors, hope they don't damage the paint if you take them off, that could be a costly repair as well, and as mentioned above, the interior needs work. Looks like a carpet kit and seat covers anyways in addition to the mechanical repairs. Also, when you say the interior lights don't work, electrical gremlins are a pain. Also, not sure if the smog pump is there or not (don't know if I see the air tube either), could be an issue if your state has emmission testing or if you sell it to someone that does.
Looks like it would be a fun project though.............
Last edited by Jon Hekking; Jun 15, 2008 at 04:20 PM.
sorry not for me .for a couple of thousand more you could get one that needs alot less work .you can get a 1979 in good shape for 6 to 9 thousand ,with original drive train .imo there are better cars out there .
thanks for all of the replies!
well the 350 was out of the crate in 2003, it drives as if it wouldve came with the car, the guy is not worried about selling it right this instant, i just offered to buy it since he never uses it and being as im a college student i don't have a substantial money tree to pull from but im not looking for a matching #s or a full restore just something i could work on and have fun with. ive only driven it once, and im trying to see if i could get him to let me drive it again
Does the fact that its a Silver Anniversary Model carry any weight in your decision ? Yeah you can probably find a '79 for less but then its only a '79 and not "special". If it checks out frame and birdcage wise it seems like a good deal even with the ramjet which to me seems like a plus. Peace,,,Moosie