is it possible to find corvettes w/ 1970-1980 body with 2-5 thousand dollars? What type of repairs and issues are common in low priced vettes? I live in nyc so it would need to pass ny inspection and be drivable for short distances. I wouldn't mind driving hrs to find the car- but I'm guessing something cheap wouldn't make it back

interior condition, engine power, are not important as long as it's somewhat reliable and not a complete rust bucket

 

finding a 70-73 will be very hard to find drivable for that money 5k - 10k you might find something worth saving and making a decent driver

 

where in nyc are you ? so am i

 

I live on Manhattan's upper west side/bronx borderline, and I usually use the subway to get around. I'm not sure if I can afford a corvette and maintenance on one- my father just totaled my car and he plans on helping me out- I'm going to angle for an old but reasonably priced corvette, but I'm not sure if that will fly or if we can even afford it. It will be parked on the street most of the time so I can't get anything too nice or valuable or it might disappear. I'm unfamiliar w/ the different types of vettes and why the value/prices change. I guess I'm looking for a good looking car and not really a true investment. I will not be able to garage my car so as long as I live in the city it will probably see lots of rain, dirt and bumpers. Basically I want to find the cheapest corvette w/ a stingray body that is drivable, not too much of an eyesore or falling apart. I'm hoping I can find a 1980-83 w/ about 4k that isn't a total piece but will be there in the morning

Can we use classic car insurance on a early 80s car in NY? Do you know about what's necessary to pass inspection?

 

When I was looking hard for one it seemed that the best condition cars for the lowest price were 77's.. or maybe even 75-78

 

Look for a low optioned late model C3. If I were you, I would put some more money and buy a car that has fairly good interior and paint. Good luck.

 

The answer to your question is "Yes...but you don't want it." An 'under $5K' C3 will be a near-basket case with a rusty frame and lots of parts missing. At that price, it is assumed to be a "parts" car...not one that can be re-assembled for any reasonable amount of money. By the way, how long would a decent C3 last on the streets of New York (or the Bronx, for that matter) if you weren't in it with a weapon in hand? You should ask your insurance agent (you know...the one who handled the 'totaling' of your car by your Dad) how much a policy would cost now if you owned a vintage Corvette.

 

I agree with 7T1. A really cheap Corvette is probably the most expensive and problematic way to go. I believe you will be sorry if you go that route...

 

I've searched a few different cities on craigslist and found listings with low asking prices, and say that the car is running well is that just talk, running well = it turns on,


There are many cars that regularly park that I would be much more valuable than a older corvette-there are a lot of high end cars in the neighborhood and from what I've heard and experienced theft is not very common. People don't like the police, theft creates the need for more surveillance- they make more off drugs than stolen cars...I've even seen 100-300k cars parked on the street at night, people don't mess w/ the cars- but some of those guys are probably dealers. There are always people out at night which is good and bad at the same time, I guess a corvette would be more distinct than a similarly valued suv or sedan.

what about other models, same problem w/ a camaro in that price range

 

The issue is not buying a car for that price, that can be fairly easy because your disposing of someone else's headache. The issue is getting it driveable!
To think that you can spend $5k, tag it, and drive it around for a few years is simply foolish(I'm sure it can happen though, but very rarely). You're going to spend much more once you really find out what it needs. Brakes are a common issue for example. Master cylinder, rebuilt calipers, lines, etc. will run you another $500 easily. The list of possible issues goes on. I spent $3000 in the first 2 months of ownership, on top of the purchase price. It was no basket case, just mechanically neglected for a few years. So, if you're thinking of going this route, keep another $5-10k handy for parts.
Good Luck, but as mentioned above, save another $3-5k and get a 75-80 with few or minor problems.

 

A parked Corvette on the streets just YELLS "Take me for a ride!" Every kid that sees it will look for an opportunity to go for a 'joy ride'. You've got to be kidding....

 

 

There is no way I would park a 70-80 vintage vette on the streets of any city. The hi-end cars are really a dime a dozen and you don't notice them, hence low thefts. The Shark body vette stands out ALLWAYS! Unfortunately this will attract vandals, possible theives etc...
Insurance will probably be very high for deceint coverage, and I would think most of the classic car insurance companies would require it to be garaged or parked in a secure lot at best.

A car this old will not stand up well parked on the streets. The long nose is low and will be backed into sustaining constant damage. The T-Tops are notorious leakers. The rear rubber bumpers will be scraped and eventually cracked.

The lowest cost-value vettes are 75 & up usually.

Now if you really do want a vette no, matter what, here's my laundry list of things to look at when looking at a Vette.

Check for rust in the frame and kick-ups (in front of rear tire, part of frame that goes over the rear suspension) & bird cage. Surface rust is ok. When you lightly tap it with a hammer it should have a metallic ping. If bad rust it will sound more like a dull thud.
The kick-ups are the frame area in front of the rear tires where the frame goes up and over the rear suspension.
The bird cage is the steel frame around the passenger compartment. Look for rust along the windshield pillars, viewed from outside the car. Also pull the kick panels (down on the sides by your feet) inside the car to see what the body mounts look like and if there's just surface rust or serious rot, if the owner will permit you to.
If you can get it up on a lift and let the wheels hang so you can check the front & rear wheel bearings. Grab the 12 & 6 o'clock positions on the tires and pull back and forth to see if there's any movement. Front bearings are an easy replacement, but the rear is much more involved and costly to repair.
Check engine for visible oil leaks around the valve covers & oil pan.
Just a few things to look for when you check it out.
The radiator support is another rust prone area to check. Replacements run around 300-350 and are a PITA to remove & replace.
Check headlight operation (and wiper door up to 1972) and that they open fairly quickly. Vacuum system issues are common.
Ask to see all repair & maintenance receipts.
Remember, ALWAYS buy the best car you can afford

http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/juliet/rearsusp.htm

http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...home&pageID=11

This is not made to disuade you from buying a vette, just to be prepared for the realitys of owning one living in the city.
Good luck!
Glenn

 

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For any kind of classic car/collector car insurance most times you will need another car for a daily driver, besides that the collector/classic insurance usually requires the car be parked in a secure garage. Way, way, back I worked for an electronic device company (POCKET-FONE) that relocated from West Nyack N.Y. to the Hunts Point section of the Bronx and my ONLY driver was my '67 Corvette Coupe, I had to be the first to park the car in a one lane 4 deep alley to keep it from getting stolen, broken into or stripped cause if I parked on the street the vent window pivots would be mysteriously broken when I got in it to drive back home to Rockland County. Bad move trying to keep a Corvette yours if you park it on a city street. Good luck in what ever you decide, pretty slim pickins in your price range,,,Peace, Moosie

 

any 30 year old car will require work, and parking on the street with no garage makes it near impossible to work on, do you know how to work on it, do you have the tools? if not then you you would have to pay someone to fix it... brakes are 500$.. pay someone to fix the brakes.. tripple that...

pay someone 5K for a well running 78 is possible, but it will require work if you want to trust it to take it out cruising, or for a trip out of the city..

what you are asking is possible and can be done with the right motivation... but it is entirely impractical, and 5 years down the road you will be asking yourself why you did it..

 

you get what you pay for.

 

They're out there, but you get what you pay for... Here is an example of one for sale recently on here

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3s-...-corvette.html