'73 with 350 engine re-done, new clutch, flawless body work and paint.

I know from reading the forum to look at as much of the birdcage as possible. From this, I see to pull the top trim of windshield off, kick panels, and some panel on the inside of rear wheelwells, as well as checking under the car for rust on the frame. Is that it?

Here's other things I've noticed on the interior:

Seats are in good shape
Seat belts don't pull out
Door panels are loose at the bottoms (both)
Tach doesn't work
Radio doesn't work
Other gauges may/may not work
Speedo works OK
T-tops seem a little "loose"; doubt they are watertight. One of the interior t-top panels is drooping at one corner

It's a stock 350 4 speed, engine may not be original, but it's rebuilt. To be honest, I haven't checked the numbers on the motor because I don't know where to look.

The guy bought this car a couple years ago, and supposedly his wife doesn't like riding in it. He's not real mechanically inclined, and I think he's not gung ho on me starting to tear apart the inside of the car checking out the birdcage.

Are there some simple, quick procedure documented for pulling the kick panels, the trim, and the rear wheel well cover panels? I couldn't find them, and I don't want to be bumbling around if he's already nervous.

Also, given the car's birdcage checks out, with all the interior problems, what would be a good ballpark price for this car? As I said, the paint is immaculate; the best I've ever seen, but I'm not an expert.

I looked at this car a couple months ago and he still has it, ready to deal a little more. At that time, I spoke to the president of the local corvette club, but didn't get a lot of help there. Obviously it would be great to take someone knowledgeable with me to look at it again, but I don't think that's going to happen.

Looking for an "ice cream getter". My thought process was to also buy something that wouldn't be constantly depreciating, but either stable or slowly appreciating in value.

Thanks for the help and sorry for the length of this.

 

OK; did I say something wrong?

 

No Man... I'd go back to that Vette club & find someone who can help you out. It's a good way to get new members right? I would also hope that who ever dumped all of that $$$ into the paint & body did it because it was a solid car. Not always the case but most of the time it is......

 

Here are some links on checking for rust:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ls+kick+remove

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ls+kick+remove

Try searching for "checking for rust" or "remove kick panel" in C3.

Good luck.

 

If you would fill out your profile so we would know where you are located someone might be able to help you look at the car. This is a worldwide forum so giving a little info will help you a lot.



Rick B.

 

A lot of good info on this site.. just for '73's good luck.. also if you are looking at price... Values go up with Vert, Big Block, and 4 spd.


http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/vette73/index.htm

 

OK!!! Thanks!!!

And I'm in VA; near Staunton and Waynesboro; car is closer to Charlottesville

 

Hi N34,
If you haven't yet found a knowledgeable person to go with you to look at the car, may I suggest that you contact Tom Vollrath, from the Mid- Atlantic Chapter of the NCRS. tom vollrath@hotmail.com There are lots of members in Virginia, so he may be able to hook you up with someone familiar with 73s.
You can also call Chuck Berge in HayMarket Va.. 703-754-1960 or 703-629-0206. He knows Corvettes, too.
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks, Alan. I appreciate the contact info.

 

Check when you take a test drive.

Check the numbers. There is a pad on the engine block at the front of the right head. You will find two numbers stamped there.


See above. What is the seller asking?

Do not buy this car as an investment. Buy this car because you want this car.

 

Assuming there's little birdcage rot and the frame is ok, she sounds like a good project. If the paint and body are done, that's a big plus because that's the most expensive line-item of a restoration.

Good luck!

 

i wanna know more about your username! i owned 2 z3's before getting my c3. only reason was that i needed my car to be a DD. i always appreciated the curves of the car and felt that they had a very nice classic sports car look. but still, once i got a 2nd car i made the move to the c3 i always wanted. now after having a c3 and seeing how dumb so many people (especially guys) look driving the z3 i could never go back. in fact, when i needed to replace my newer DD my wife suggested i get another z3. "nooooo waaaayy!!!!", i said. i got a v12 bmw 850 instead. good luck and welcome to the forum. the guys and gals here are like none other

 

You're probably one of the few that "got" this name.

The history is I wanted a Z3 about 8-10 years ago, but we could not afford the price tag. I opted for a Miata, which was a lot of fun, very reliable, but not a Z3, and certainly not a Vette. Anyhow, I got NOZ34ME on my license plate, started using it on the Miata forum, and others, and it's sort of stuck.

 

He's at $8500.

 

 

Shocker, at least for me. My old boss got ahold of a couple Corvette club members in Culpeper area. They told him $8K for the car may be OK as described IF the engine numbers matched; otherwise subtract $3K.

Does that sound right? $5K for a '73 with beautiful paint?

 

$5K for a '73 that is something you can work with is cheap. I don't think the numbers matching on a small block '73 is worth 37% of the car's value either, so I think the problem is in the value difference. I would think a numbers matching '73 for $8K would be in pretty rough shape. I would be thinking half of the difference they outlined, numbers match=$8K to me would mean NOM=$6500, assuming the motor in it is good.

 

I tend to agree, I know the owner's not going to bite on anything near $5K.

I need to get back over to look at the car and check out behind the kick panels.