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

Opinions please

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 06:33 AM
  #1  
pwsusi's Avatar
pwsusi
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 10
From: Grafton MA
Default Opinions please

Hi,
I'm going to look at a '72 vette. The car looks like it's in good condition from the pictures...but did notice there is a minor dent in the frame crossmember. I'm going to go look at the car, but wanted to ask opinions on this. Even if it turns out to be something that is minor and does not compromise the integrity of the frame, how big of an issue do you think this would for potential buyers. Just thinking ahead if/when the day came that I tried to sell would this be something that would deter buyers and make it difficult for me to sell? I wouldn't be planning on selling anytime soon, but still a concern.


Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 06:38 AM
  #2  
curtis74's Avatar
curtis74
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: Chicago IL
Default

I wouldn't think that would a big deal. Looks like the car bottomed out at some point causing the dent. I'm sure others can chime in on this but I believe that cross member can be removed and fixed if it's that big of a deal.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 06:42 AM
  #3  
BassCat's Avatar
BassCat
Racer
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 445
Likes: 2
From: Thomastown Mississippi
Default

It wouldn't effect my decision to buy or not.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 07:40 AM
  #4  
spf72's Avatar
spf72
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
Default

Unless there is something really special about the car and it is for show only it wouldn't make a bit of difference to me. I would be pleased if this were the only dent - have you checked the front cross memeber under the engine? I thought it looked pretty clean and a good starting point.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 08:13 AM
  #5  
Derrick Reynolds's Avatar
Derrick Reynolds
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
Default

Looks like someone ran over something big and hard that left a dent. Like others have said, if that was the only issue I saw on the frame, I would be pretty happy with its condition.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 08:39 AM
  #6  
JimT's Avatar
JimT
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
Default

That is a minor dent and can be repaired. I have a '72 and love it. It is an "end of era" car in that it's the last year for front and rear chrome bumbers, and, if it is a coupe, the last year for the factory pop-out rear window. Go for it, and good luck.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 08:39 AM
  #7  
capevettes's Avatar
capevettes
CF Community Team
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 90 Days
Active Streak: 120 Days
Conversation Starter
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,363
Likes: 5,243
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

Since it does nothing to effect the structural integrity of the frame I would only use it as a bargaining chip if you decide to buy the car.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 08:50 AM
  #8  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,226
Likes: 4,313
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

From the shape of the dent I'd say the car was smashed through a chain link fence and 1 of the steel fence posts left that dent as the car went up over it.
JUST KIDDING!!!!
Looks pretty minor to me.
Regards,
Alan
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 Jan 30, 2009 | 10:18 AM
  #9  
brdd's Avatar
brdd
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
Default

The odds are that, as long as the frame is as clean as it appears to be, the dent would not be a deal breaker to any but the most critical buyers. And they would be looking for garage queens anyway.

If the price is right, go for it.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 12:28 PM
  #10  
pwsusi's Avatar
pwsusi
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 10
From: Grafton MA
Default

Thanks guys. I agree, it does not look like anything to worry about and would not affect my decision to buy or not buy. It's good to hear that others have the same opinion ... as i would hate to learn otherwise down the road when trying to sell. I don't have any plans on making it a garage queen so i guess nothing to worry about. Going to look at the car next week! It is a '72 LS5 coupe...will make a nice garage partner with my '71 LT-1 coupe. Thanks all.

Paul

Last edited by pwsusi; Jan 30, 2009 at 12:42 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 04:31 PM
  #11  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,226
Likes: 4,313
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi Paul,
You mentioned your 71, LT-1.
There's a discussion going on in another thread about 70-72 LT-1 fuel lines. If you think your car has an original line I'd love to see the fuel pump end of it. Do you do pictures? If not, how about a measurement from the TRUE END of the line to the start of the first clamp on the frame rail. Thanks for ay info!!!!
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 06:30 PM
  #12  
pwsusi's Avatar
pwsusi
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 10
From: Grafton MA
Default

Hi Alan,
I posted a picture in the other thread.

Paul
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2009 | 09:15 PM
  #13  
Flying Low's Avatar
Flying Low
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 460
Likes: 1
From: Millbrook Al.
Default

Is that all the pictures we get to see?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Opinions please





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:55 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