Looking at a 72 vette...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Grottoes VA
Looking at a 72 vette...
Hello all, I have a 97 vette right now and love it...Right now there is a man selling his 1972 vette for about 7500...so he can pay his kids school...its not in bad shape...diff motor still 350,4 speed,red,ttop...he can not drive it cuz no lic (doc) pull it...is there anything i should keep my eye out...wife just loves the 68-72 vettes...as do i...any help would be great thanks todd
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
From: SAN FRANCISCO CA
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Grottoes VA
P.S. all the parts are there as far as i can see...
Last edited by todbusa; May 16, 2009 at 07:23 PM. Reason: forgot p.s.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 123
From: CA.
hi, do a search on bird cage, there are some good posts. its the metal around the entire cockpit that the windshield and so on attatches to. on a coupe the t tops also fit into it. look also at the vin # under windshield area for rust. a car could look like new from the outside but be hiding many problems with the birdcage. other posts will tell you how to check it and where else to look. also check frame in front of back wheels and back of front wheels.
Last edited by nutsy; May 16, 2009 at 07:40 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Thanks guys...First what is the (bird cage).... I could not find any rust...Its been parked for about 10 yrs(thats what he told me)...needs new paint and some tlc...It has no radio,and someother things missing but for the most part I could buy this and drive it the way it is right now...I will try and get some pix as soon as i can(lost charger)...And yes I DO Wave at all Vettes...Thanks guys for the help so far... P.S. all the parts are there as far as i can see...
P.S. all the parts are there as far as i can see...
Rick B.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
From: SAN FRANCISCO CA
If it has sat for 10 years chances are the suspension bushings are shot and it will certainly need the brake calipers rebuilt. If you can post some pics of the frame, suspension, engine bay, interior and body folks on this forum can give a better idea of what you are getting into. There are plenty of good chrome bumper Vettes out there but there are more money pits than good ones.
Rick B.
Rick B.
i can't fathom you actually being able to drive it away after having sat for that long. where did it sit? were fluids properly drained? the price is low but not low enough if this car turns out to be the pandora's box that it sounds like it could be. the rule of thumb is always to buy a car in the best condition you can afford, as repairing them will always cost more for YOU to do than it did the p.o. (previous owner).. unless you'll be wrenching yourself. p.s. thanks for waving!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
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From: Grottoes VA
Ok just got back from looking at everything...What I found was a very soild 72 vette...the bird cage is in great shape...And found some other things about this car...It is a original 1972 vette w/ac 4spd ttops...vin# 1Z37K2S520045 could someone look up this vin#...Trim is 417,paint 787...no power windows,or locks...was a original 350 w/360 lbs ft torque w/8:5:1 rato...Think I found a (barn) vette 
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
If the car is in good shape, the price sounds good. However, plan on doing lots of work. There will be a lot of issues from sitting that long. Mine had sat for about 15 years when I bought it three years ago. I'm still fixing things. It will probably need brake calipers, master cylinder, radiator, water pump, fuel pump, carb rebuild, belts & hoses, vacuum lines, tires, etc. Also remember, a good quality paint job will cost $$$$. The quotes I have gotten so far have been around $10k.
If you like working on them, go for it. It sounds like a fun project. If you want something that you can drive right away, I would probably keep looking.
If you like working on them, go for it. It sounds like a fun project. If you want something that you can drive right away, I would probably keep looking.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: North of Boston Ma
ok just got back from looking at everything...what i found was a very soild 72 vette...the bird cage is in great shape...and found some other things about this car...it is a original 1972 vette w/ac 4spd ttops...vin# 1z37k2s520045 could someone look up this vin#...trim is 417,paint 787...no power windows,or locks...was a original 350 w/360 lbs ft torque w/8:5:1 rato...think i found a (barn) vette
1972 vin numbers ran between 1z37k2s500001 and-------------------------------------------------1z37k2s527004
1972 were built from august 1971 and july 1972
20,496 coupes built and 6,508 verts = 27004 total(last vin)
trim 417 = saddle vinyl
paint 787 = ???? No 787 there is 987 = ontario orange that ran with the 417 combo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Grottoes VA
k = 350 base engine
1972 vin numbers ran between 1z37k2s500001 and-------------------------------------------------1z37k2s527004
1972 were built from august 1971 and july 1972
20,496 coupes built and 6,508 verts = 27004 total(last vin)
trim 417 = saddle vinyl
paint 787 = ???? No 787 there is 987 = ontario orange that ran with the 417 combo
1972 vin numbers ran between 1z37k2s500001 and-------------------------------------------------1z37k2s527004
1972 were built from august 1971 and july 1972
20,496 coupes built and 6,508 verts = 27004 total(last vin)
trim 417 = saddle vinyl
paint 787 = ???? No 787 there is 987 = ontario orange that ran with the 417 combo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Grottoes VA
If the car is in good shape, the price sounds good. However, plan on doing lots of work. There will be a lot of issues from sitting that long. Mine had sat for about 15 years when I bought it three years ago. I'm still fixing things. It will probably need brake calipers, master cylinder, radiator, water pump, fuel pump, carb rebuild, belts & hoses, vacuum lines, tires, etc. Also remember, a good quality paint job will cost $$$$. The quotes I have gotten so far have been around $10k.
If you like working on them, go for it. It sounds like a fun project. If you want something that you can drive right away, I would probably keep looking.
If you like working on them, go for it. It sounds like a fun project. If you want something that you can drive right away, I would probably keep looking.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,885
Likes: 1
There's a pic of the whole birdcage and various major rusted areas in this thread -
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-corvette.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-corvette.html
