Yeah, the seats look like crap, but every thing else looks good to me, as for the speedometer, it would actually be a selling point for me. As fo the mileage, yeah it seems suspicious but as long as I could verify the cars condition, I'd be willing to over look it.

 

The description's words describe a very different car than the pictures show.
Quite a let down!
Regards,
Alan

Doesn't that car need quite a few $$$ to make it look like a 1 owner, 29k mile car?

 

So here is what the person told me about the speedo (not trying to get hung on this item but I found this odd) "we have seen a few 80's that slipped through production with 140mph speedos." Is this possible for a domestic car? What are the odds they have seen a "few" like this?

 

I don't believe that for a minute. The change to the 85mph speedo started in the late 1979 model year. GM would not buck federal law in 1980. That speedo has been changed.

 

Sounds like a "this is one rare Vette!" sales pitch.
85MPH speedo's are embarrassing! But, C'mon, it was 1980! Nothing like a couple high-schooler's telling everyone: "we had the speedometer pegged!". Sounds good, but you're only going 90 MPH! Peg a 140 MPH speedo and you're doing something!

 

It is I assume a 1980, it has the two storage compartments in the back as was in 1980, in 1979 the early built cars had a 140 speedo and three compartment in the back and the cars built after July 1979 had the 85 speedo and two compartment. But someone has installed a speaker boom box in the rear? I don't know what's that all about. But in most states, ie: Pennsylvania if the car is twenty years or older, the seller donsen't need to submit a correct mileage. But to me, this car looks like it's got a lot more miles that advertised. just my $0.02

 

80 L-82 only came in auto.

 

Maybe the salesman didn't know the speedo was changed but I wouldn't trust any dealer that doesn't put the asking price of the car in the ad (or did I miss it).

Gary

 

How does the engine sound,how does it drive,any leaks....etc.Those seats are not original.If you really like it and the engine sounds good and it drives fine make him an offer

 

Outward appearance of the seats says a lot more than the mileage claimed. Price seems fair, but the mileage disclaimer seems out of wack.

 

Maybe the owner lived in the car making the seats appear well used compared to the cars mileage...

 

My speedo say 31,000, I know I have put over 100,000 on it, but I gotta go with what it says on my odometer if I sell it

 

And if true, the car has... ZERO... miles since the sticker. Zero? Really?

The speedo is broken or not hooked up. And, if it really is at all close to true, every part on the car needs to be replaced.

The L82/#'s are easily checked. The car could be an interesting project if the numbers really do match and there's no rust issues. For half the money.

 

I bought an 82 last Oct with 56K miles, the engine sounds good, and can support the 56k. But a car fax showed in 2004 it had 16k. I'd find it hard to believe in 22 yrs only 16k. The frt suspension was shot. ths diff only had about quart of fluid. The owner had the trans overhauled, I would think 56k it wouldn't be up for a trans overhaul. It is what it is, and I guess I just got wrapped up in having another one of these beauties I didn't go with my gut feeling, like I should have. Oh well if this is the only mistake I make the rest of my life, thats not too bad....

 

In the blink of an eye last year my Vette shot up in value!

 

Judging by the pictures only, the car does not look all that bad for that price and maybe you could talk dealer down a little more.

One owner? Should be easy to verify that, and maybe talk to the original owner.

The booster, EGR valve and a few other engine compartment components appear to have heavy rust so I'd do a very, very careful check of the frame and usual inspection points of the birdcage before considering it at any price.

The speedometer is really not a big deal. If the mileage is really true and the car sat, you may end up replacing a lot of parts before you are finished. On these older cars overall condition and what has been rebuilt/replaced/repaired is often more important than mileage unless you are looking for a "survivor" to add to your collection.

 

It looks like you guys have a great post going on my corvette. Glad to hear both sides and everyones opinion.

From what the original owner told us the speedo was in it when she pick it up. Is she lieing i have no idea, dont really care either. Are the seats original yes, the original plastic was behind the seats when i took them out for cleaning, the passenger side seat bottom has been fixed because it was split from the sun. The car has 7 more miles than the inspection sticker. The miles are on the Pa title. The car spent most of its life under a carport. The frame is very solid, along with the birdcage. Also it is a real L82, which is why its a automatic, numbers matching too.

8,000 is a gift for how original the car is. I had plans to do the restoration, but ran out of time last winter. If its still here this winter i will probaly do the restoration.

If anyone has any other questions send them over too hobbycarcorvettes@yahoo.com

Thanks,
RJ Sottile

 

It looks like you guys have a great post going on my corvette. Glad to hear both sides and everyones opinion.

From what the original owner told us the speedo was in it when she pick it up. Is she lieing i have no idea, dont really care either. Are the seats original yes, the original plastic was behind the seats when i took them out for cleaning, the passenger side seat bottom has been fixed because it was split from the sun. The car has 7 more miles than the inspection sticker. The miles are on the Pa title. The car spent most of its life under a carport. The frame is very solid, along with the birdcage. Also it is a real L82, which is why its a automatic, numbers matching too.

8,000 is a gift for how original the car is. I had plans to do the restoration, but ran out of time last winter. If its still here this winter i will probaly do the restoration.

If anyone has any other questions send them over too hobbycarcorvettes@yahoo.com

Thanks,
RJ Sottile

 

I see things on here that just dont look right.

I guess the foam could be breaking down, but if the foam in the seats go bad so does the foam in the steering wheel. The wheel looks decent. The lock cylinder bezel missing from the column, the rear compartment is torn up in the middle of the rear bezel, both the lift tabs are broke and the trim on the left door is broken.

The chrome edge around the shift plate is worn off but the chrome aroud the upper part is still there. IOh, the dash pad is broke in the door jamb side where the panel hits the dash.

The price is nice and car looks like it has all the factory parts on the engine and is in great shape. I just think it may have more miles on it than the person that sold it to the new seller stated. I think she may have been off on the miles and that when the speedo was changed so were the miles.

I think the seller is trying to be honest about the car but something just is not looking right on the interior.

My 2 cents.

 

I think you are all reading far too much into this. It is time for a reality check.

1. It is an $8000 car, not an $80,000 car. Even if everything is a lie, you still couldn't lose more than $4000 on it.

2. Dead horse, 85 mph speedometer. They were changed all the time. Some were set to correct mileage, some weren't. Many Corvettes have had dead odometers on them for years. It was real common with C2s. Get over it.

3. Are you judging all this by pictures or real eyeball view? Pictures lie. I have seen lots of cars that looked great in pictures you didn't want to bring home. I've also seen many that in pictures you wouldn't take if free, but in person, you gladly paid the price.

4. It is a 29 year old used car similar to many others. It is not a 1 in 20 rare collectible claimed to be fully restored. It is simply a used car. Deal with it.



If you are really interested in it, go look at it. Take someone familiar with C3s, especially '80s, and go look at it. Drive it, check it out, and then buy or leave.



I'd be more concerned on paint. From the pictures, it looks like the bumper paint is dead and the passenger rear quarter is rough. But it might just be the picture.




As to seats, they look like someone has thrown on new covers over old foam somewhere in its life. Again, it is common and not a big deal. $800 for new seat inserts (new covers on new foam) from Al Knoch. Budget that in, if you must. If you are short, you might like new foam. If you are tall, new foam will bang your head on the tops.

And seats go bad for lots of reasons. Wrong dressing on leather dries them out. Sitting in the sun too long ruins them. Someone got in with a screwdriver in is back pocket. And so on.