Looking to get into Vettes
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Palatine Illinois
Looking to get into Vettes
A little background on me.
I am 20 and never owned a corvette in my life, but have always admired them. I was driving home from work and saw a corvette for sale.
1972 White w/ Black interior Corvette Stringray with ~72000mi
Modern sound system
He has it up as $9000 (or best offer)
From what I could tell just looking a bit at it (Without looking at the import parts), he seemed to take care of it.
I have not yet talked to him nor driven it or seen the inside.
SOO, getting to the part where I beg for help.
I am interested in this car and I was wondering what I should look for/ ask about.
I apologize if this isn't the right section to do this. But, thank you for any help you can give.
I am 20 and never owned a corvette in my life, but have always admired them. I was driving home from work and saw a corvette for sale.
1972 White w/ Black interior Corvette Stringray with ~72000mi
Modern sound system
He has it up as $9000 (or best offer)
From what I could tell just looking a bit at it (Without looking at the import parts), he seemed to take care of it.
I have not yet talked to him nor driven it or seen the inside.
SOO, getting to the part where I beg for help.
I am interested in this car and I was wondering what I should look for/ ask about.
I apologize if this isn't the right section to do this. But, thank you for any help you can give.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi CT,
The simplest answer is to find a Corvette Club in your area and ask if someone knowledgeable about 72s would look at the car with you.
Corvettes can be quite deceiving and so can Corvette sellers.
You may have found a great car or you may have found a money pit.
If you fill out your profile someone from this forum may be close by and would be able to take a look at it with you.
Regards,
Alan
The simplest answer is to find a Corvette Club in your area and ask if someone knowledgeable about 72s would look at the car with you.
Corvettes can be quite deceiving and so can Corvette sellers.
You may have found a great car or you may have found a money pit.
If you fill out your profile someone from this forum may be close by and would be able to take a look at it with you.
Regards,
Alan
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 127
Likes: 1
From: Lisbon Ohio
When looking at an older Vette, there are many things that can be hidden from you if you don't know where to look (or don't know to look for at all).
Crawl underneath and get a GOOD look at the frame (trust me on this one), especially in front of the rear wheels at the "dogleg". If possible check around the windshield frame. If you can pull the pillar cover back a little you might be able to see. These are the two most notorious areas that can come back to bite you in the butt.
Rust can be easy to hide because most people don't really look for it on a Corvette.
As far as looking for other possible problem areas, just do your research and test everything you can if you get to look at the car. Lights, vacuum system, electrical issues and the list goes on.
The price you listed could be a steal.....and it could be a waste. So just make sure you take someone who is familiar with Corvettes and look at it with your head and not your heart. (Although if your heart is set on it, it will override your logic.....I know mine did.)
Good luck
Dean
Crawl underneath and get a GOOD look at the frame (trust me on this one), especially in front of the rear wheels at the "dogleg". If possible check around the windshield frame. If you can pull the pillar cover back a little you might be able to see. These are the two most notorious areas that can come back to bite you in the butt.
Rust can be easy to hide because most people don't really look for it on a Corvette.
As far as looking for other possible problem areas, just do your research and test everything you can if you get to look at the car. Lights, vacuum system, electrical issues and the list goes on.
The price you listed could be a steal.....and it could be a waste. So just make sure you take someone who is familiar with Corvettes and look at it with your head and not your heart. (Although if your heart is set on it, it will override your logic.....I know mine did.)
Good luck
Dean
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Topeka Kansas
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14,’18
You have be careful about looking into Vettes. Especially C3s.
They have a way of sneaking up on you and before you know it you have to have one, then you have a strong need to take yours for a drive or at least slide on into the garage to take a quick peek. Working on her brings a pleasure that can't be explained. Driving her is special and the comments and the occasional thumbs up.. well that's just frosting on the cake. You'll only be able to go so long without sitting behind the wheel. If it gets really bad you start thinking about a 2nd one. So be careful.
Mike
They have a way of sneaking up on you and before you know it you have to have one, then you have a strong need to take yours for a drive or at least slide on into the garage to take a quick peek. Working on her brings a pleasure that can't be explained. Driving her is special and the comments and the occasional thumbs up.. well that's just frosting on the cake. You'll only be able to go so long without sitting behind the wheel. If it gets really bad you start thinking about a 2nd one. So be careful.
Mike
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski