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Old May 11, 2010 | 08:53 PM
  #1  
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Default New guy with a question

Nope, I don't have a Corvette but a customer on my route has a 1975 coupe for sale. He's asking $5000 for it and it has 64k miles on it. It's a L48 with a 4 speed. There's no power anything in the car.

So far the problems I've seen with it are the following

The front and rear bumpers have pieces missing from them.

The car has a terrible base coat clear coat paint job on it. Owner's not sure of the color.

Needs tires

Center console needs some work as it has some a broken piece on it.

Drivers side interior door panel was messed up some, don't know how repairable it is.

I didn't see any cracks in the body anywhere

The owner bought the car when it was 1.5 years old

Engine fired right up but there was a small puff of smoke when it fired so it probably at least needs valve seals.

According to the owner the car has always been garaged and never been driven in the winter (snow, ice and salt).

Can't take it for a ride because it isn't insured.

I don't know much about Corvettes so is there anything specific I should be looking for? Is $5000 too high, too low or just about right? Thanks

KenB
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Old May 11, 2010 | 09:01 PM
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corvettes cost a lot to paint, even if you figure 5K for paint and another 5K for everything else, thats a $15k investment, you can get a nice/decent '75 for 10K, so its not a good deal.
(based on the info you presented)

If it was a convertible, it might make sense.

4-speed and low miles are pluses, but sounds like this owner has really ignored the car, thats not a good sign.
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Old May 11, 2010 | 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by smallblock350
corvettes cost a lot to paint, even if you figure 5K for paint and another 5K for everything else, thats a $15k investment, you can get a nice/decent '75 for 10K, so its not a good deal.
(based on the info you presented)

If it was a convertible, it might make sense.

4-speed and low miles are pluses, but sounds like this owner has really ignored the car, thats not a good sign.
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Old May 11, 2010 | 09:30 PM
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I'd pass and get something that someone else has invested in.
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Old May 11, 2010 | 09:48 PM
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I would pass on it. Sounds like it has been neglected. I would keep looking.
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Old May 11, 2010 | 10:10 PM
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It sounds like a $3,000 car to me. The items that need repairs are not cheap and $3,000 might be to much, but Corvettes only get so cheap.
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Old May 12, 2010 | 10:54 AM
  #7  
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like others stated, too expensive.

aim for a 68-72
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Old May 12, 2010 | 11:01 AM
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$5K is not absurdly out of line. The items listed in your post are all repairable/replaceable. Do the numbers match? Have you checked? I'd be surprised if the car has no options, but a true no option car appeals to certain buyers. Post some pics.

A copy of this will help:




Last edited by Easy Mike; May 12, 2010 at 11:05 AM.
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Old May 12, 2010 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by KBinCT
It's a L48 with a 4 speed. There's no power anything in the car.


Yup, that includes the engine.

Unless you feel the need to adopt every lost puppy and kitty that comes along, keep looking for something better.
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Old May 12, 2010 | 11:32 PM
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Don't be so desperate to own a Corvette that you buy anything with an emblem on it. These base, low power and high production, mid 70's coupes are everwhere - cheap. This fixer upper won't be a valuable classic, just an expensive project.
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Old May 13, 2010 | 01:57 AM
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Just a point of interest if you continue shopping... asking/checking if the engine numbers match is far, far, far, far more important than if it needs tires.
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Old May 13, 2010 | 02:09 PM
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If you doubled your money to spend I bet you could get more than twice the car without all the labor and trouble.
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Old May 13, 2010 | 07:25 PM
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Thanks for all the replies everyone. What everyone here says makes perfect sense. I already have one vehicle money pit (60 Chevy pickup) that's draining my wallet so I really don't need another one.

I'm not really in the market for a Vette but I see this one every day when I'm out making my deliveries so that's why I stopped to take a look at it. Didn't fall in love with it and don't need it either but I would like to have a Vette one day.

Thanks again

Ken B
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