What do you think.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
What do you think.
I know very little about corvettes and I've never really had any intentions of owning a vette, but while I was out on my route one of my customers was talking about a number's matching '69 L46 4 spd that is for sale. He said that it doesn't have power anything and it has a 3:73 posi rear. The car caught on fire when a fuel line broke and the gas got on the engine. The fire was contained to the engine compartment and there is no visible damage to the exterior of the car. I have not seen the car I'm going off of what he saw while looking at it. He said that it needs a little work to get it going on the road. The guy is asking $8000 for it. Is that way out of line for what you're getting. If I buy the car I'm not looking to make any money off of it. I just want to have something to cruise down the street with and to put a few of these punks with their stupid little tuner cars in their place. Like I said I have no idea what this might be worth so I registered here to get expert advice. Thanks in advance for any comments.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
Needs Pics, $8000 is a good price for a project depending on some things. First would be birdcage rust, original engine, what really needs to be replaced, & fire damage.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
I hate to sound stupid, but I don't know anything about these so when you say bird cage what exactly are you talking about. I know laugh about it, but if I don't ask I won't learn.
I'm all ears. The guy said that it is the original engine, but it's getting a little weak and the brakes need work. I haven't seen this car so I'm limited to the info given to me by my customer. The car is 1.5 to 2 hours away from me so I wanted to get thoughts from you guys before going to see the car.
I'm all ears. The guy said that it is the original engine, but it's getting a little weak and the brakes need work. I haven't seen this car so I'm limited to the info given to me by my customer. The car is 1.5 to 2 hours away from me so I wanted to get thoughts from you guys before going to see the car.
Last edited by Fordman77; Jan 26, 2009 at 11:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
Trust me I had no idea either what a birdcage was before joining this forum. It it the metal like the name "birdcage" that holds you in under the fiberglass and is a problem with these cars. Here is a good thread on what it really is
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-pictures.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-pictures.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: Chicago IL
Read this guy's story first. Be careful buying a car that cheap. It might be cheap for a reason!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...tte-story.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...tte-story.html
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,972
Likes: 6,197
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
-you never said if it was a convertible or a coupe (T-Top). It matters.
-Do not believe a seller when he says the engine is original or matching numbers. Look at the pad yourself, or have someone do it for you.
-Look for rust on the frame, especially in front of the rear wheels. People go on and on about the birdcage, but the truth is a little rust in the windshield frame is expected on most of these model cars. Rust or damage on the frame is a deal-breaker.
-you are a long way from being able to solicit a price opinion. Get lots of info and pictures.
-Do not believe a seller when he says the engine is original or matching numbers. Look at the pad yourself, or have someone do it for you.
-Look for rust on the frame, especially in front of the rear wheels. People go on and on about the birdcage, but the truth is a little rust in the windshield frame is expected on most of these model cars. Rust or damage on the frame is a deal-breaker.
-you are a long way from being able to solicit a price opinion. Get lots of info and pictures.
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CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse NY
Where are you located ? If you're really serious, get someone knowledgeable about 'vettes to go with you, free or not $, it'll be worth it.
If ya do buy it........ then change that screen name
Good luck,
Scott
If ya do buy it........ then change that screen name
Good luck,
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Does your customer live near this Vette, or know the owner? Have them take lots of pics, or the owner take them, of every aspect of this car, especially the frame & engine compartment damage, and e-mail them to you. Open a free account with photobucket.com and then down load the pics to photobucket, then copy the IMG code & paste here in your thread so we can better give you an educated evaluation, and what will be needed to make it road worthy & safe. If you go to look it over try to find someone familiar with Vettes to go with you.
Keep us posted. & good luck.
Glenn
Keep us posted. & good luck.
Glenn
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Warwick Rhode Island
Something else to consider as it may be a factor. Prolonged heat can anneal steel, essentially slightly changing it's molecular structure and making it softer. Based on the duration and the temperatures created by the fire, it might have had an impact on the integrity of the frame around the fire and any other metal in the area. Just something else to think about...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
All good advice here. FILL OUT YOUR PROFILE!
Unless you are in the boonies there is probably a member nearby who will go with you to look at this beast.
And be careful of those little crappers in their little toy cars. Some of them are real sleepers.
Unless you are in the boonies there is probably a member nearby who will go with you to look at this beast.
And be careful of those little crappers in their little toy cars. Some of them are real sleepers.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
I won't see this customer until Thursday. I'll try to get more info on this car if I talk to him (he's a truck driver so I don't always get to see him). He lives in the same area as I do. I do know that it is a coupe, but I don't know if it has T-tops or not. If I do go and look at it I'm going to ask the guy that will do the paint to go with me. He is into vettes I think that he still has his '03 and he also has an '08. He does restorations on old cars all the time so he knows what he's looking for. Sorry about the username, but I bleed blue oval blue. I do actually own a car that is not a Ford. It's my '85 white 442 (1 of only 400). Even though I'm not a chevy guy I love the chrome bumper vettes.
Last edited by Fordman77; Jan 27, 2009 at 09:32 PM.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
Well I went over my noon hour today to talk to my customer. I've got the guys number and more info from the customer about the car before I called the owner. I've got 3 pieces of info on the car (1 good and 2 bad). First the good info the bird cage is in great condition. Now to the bad the bird cage is so good do to the fact that the car got it's miles a 1/4 of a mile at a time. So I'm guessing that there could be some twisting issues with the car. The other piece of info is that there is someone going to look at the car on Saturday so I'm going to call the guy on Sunday to see if he sold it or not. My last post about the T-tops goes to show you that I know very little about these cars.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
Well I called the guy today and he sold it this morning. Oh well I'll keep looking. The same customer that told me about this car also knows where I can find two mid to late 70's. I would much rather have a chrome bumper vette instead, but if the price is right I would consider one.