C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1981 project...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 03:30 PM
  #1  
mainelenny's Avatar
mainelenny
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon maine
Default 1981 project...

What do you guys think? Can she be brought back from the dead? Fiberglass isn't to hard right? I'm a c4 guy.. but I'd love a project. Also, its
cheap, cheap, cheap. I know cheap is never real cheap. but what do you say?

http://images.craigslist.org/01150101020601031220080729ebc575f322de8f b41200f6c7.jpg"]
http://images.craigslist.org/010204011601010300200807298cae72ac4bcb69 0e59006c65.jpg"]
http://images.craigslist.org/01011101151101160120080801e70fa344366b50 86770013f2.jpg"]
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 03:47 PM
  #2  
Vampyre's Avatar
Vampyre
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
Default

Hmmm,
A cheap C3 Vette gets to be very expensive, very fast... in this case it looks like free would be too much.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 03:54 PM
  #3  
ShinodaVette's Avatar
ShinodaVette
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
Default

It depends on how cheap and how hard you're willing to work at it. It would take a lot of money to make that right again IMHO.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 03:54 PM
  #4  
mainelenny's Avatar
mainelenny
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon maine
Default

I'm thinking I can get it for 1000 and it comes with a new front end, and all the other glass to put it back together.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 04:01 PM
  #5  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by mainelenny
I'm thinking I can get it for 1000 and it comes with a new front end, and all the other glass to put it back together.
Better check before writing the check. Does the seller have any documentation with the car? Driveline original? From what I can see in the pictures, she needs a right rear fender more than she needs front fiberglass. Regardless, there's a lot of work there.

Good luck.

Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 04:01 PM
  #6  
dodge_ss/t's Avatar
dodge_ss/t
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: starting to wonder if im welcome here texas
Default

Originally Posted by mainelenny
I'm thinking I can get it for 1000 and it comes with a new front end, and all the other glass to put it back together.
1k... even for 1k it would take a lot of work and money to get it back to even good condition. 500$max. looks like a money pit

hows the frame?
hows it run? or dose it
hows the trans?
it looks like the interior needs work
body needs a crap load of work


this is a good project if you have deep pockets but there are easer 79-82 projects out there if you want to spend a little more. imo this one needs a frame off.

Last edited by dodge_ss/t; Aug 20, 2008 at 04:07 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 04:07 PM
  #7  
ShinodaVette's Avatar
ShinodaVette
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
Default

If the frame was rust free and the engine and driveline were complete, and you were looking for a really big project, then maybe.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 04:31 PM
  #8  
mainelenny's Avatar
mainelenny
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon maine
Default

It runs well, shifts well, frame is clean. I know she a basketcase... but just maybe....
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 05:10 PM
  #9  
guitarcrazy02's Avatar
guitarcrazy02
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio
Default

Ehh this is a tough one. I'd be really curious to find out how it got those stab wounds. There's a rule that I REALLY wish I had listened to when buying my C3. "Buy the best one you can afford, because fixing up a cheaper one will cost you more in the end". I cannot emphasize that rule enough.

It depends what you want. If you want a project and you don't care how much you spend, then it seems like you've got a great candidate. If you want something to get in and drive, then run far far away from this car. The frame may be solid and it may run nicely, but fiberglass is by no means "easy" and if you haven't worked with it before, it could be a nightmare.

Also keep in mind all of your suspension parts and the like. Do the rubber bushings look like the rest of the car? That type of job can add up fast. Also, how are the body mounts?

Dig deeper into the car and really think about what you want before you make a decision. I don't want to discourage you, just make sure you think it through.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 05:14 PM
  #10  
chevy69's Avatar
chevy69
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Is the car in your avatar yours? May help explain a few things
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 05:52 PM
  #11  
Jon Hekking's Avatar
Jon Hekking
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,115
Likes: 282
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Default

Would not touch it period, way too much work to restore. Depends what you want to do with it, but not to restore it looks like a big hole to throw your money into.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 06:10 PM
  #12  
Curby's Avatar
Curby
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Default

If you can do the fiberglass repair and paintwork yourself, it would be a good project car for you. The paint and body parts will run you about $3,500.00 if you do all the repairs yourself. The interior looks to be shot, so figure about $2,500.00 there, if you do it all yourself. The suspension will need to be refurbished, and that will run you about $1,500.00 if you do the work yourself, and the trailing arms are not wasted. That leaves about $2,000.00 for engine, transmission, and rear-end work. You need to be a great mechanic to get it done for that.

That will give you a complete car for about $10,500.00 and 12 to 24 months of hard work.

It will be worth about that much when you are done.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 08:49 PM
  #13  
78Vette-SA's Avatar
78Vette-SA
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
Default

You could just use the body with a clear title assuming it has one and resto-rod the !@#% out of it. It would require a few bucks but makes for a sweet ride.

I paid more for this.





Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 09:32 PM
  #14  
Jeffery73's Avatar
Jeffery73
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Default

I would be very tempted for $1000. The parts are worth that much. If it turns out to be too much of a project, part it out.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 11:12 PM
  #15  
sixxgunn13's Avatar
sixxgunn13
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg
Default

Parts car.....

I'll take the t-tops
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1981 project...





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:35 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE