I am looking a a 72 Vette, in good overall shape. Has a newly rebuilt engine (non numbers matching). I am getting it for $9000 but have some concerns with rust. I have put a deposit down, but do not want to make a mistake later. I took the kick panels off and took pictures of the rust. On the drives side, there is actually a hole, but everything else around it is solid.
http://leagh.com/72Corvette/images/i..._2063.JPG.html
http://leagh.com/72Corvette/images/i..._2064.JPG.html

And around the doors, non of this looks to be more than surface rust to me, the paint is cracked, but I do not think the metal is. Doors fit well and do not dip.
http://leagh.com/72Corvette/images/i..._2083.JPG.html
http://leagh.com/72Corvette/images/i..._2111.JPG.html

The entire frame under the car has been cleaned and painted in the last few years, no rust I could see. No rust around the radiator support, etc.

Here are all pictures I have taken: http://www.leagh.com/72Corvette

Here is the original craigslist posting:
1972 Chevy Corvette - classic and AWESOME! White with blue interior - 4 speed manual 5.7 Vortec 350 with mild roller cam performer intake Holley 600 DP (double pumper) carburetor ,Headers on car with original manifolds New clutch and pressure plate, new 390 rear fiberglass spring in rear, vette brakes products strut arms new trailing arms, new rear shocks, new bushings in all rear (frame off started) frame done does need new front shocks (was going with coil over but lost interest). All new front bushings. Nice tires, original rally wheels. SS brakes. braided brake lines. I was building a driver. Real nice car - runs great - fun as all get out to drive. We just had to get a big truck to haul the horses around - and need to sell. Paint in good shape - not a show car, but a very nice daily driver. I get compliments everywhere I go in this thing. we have title in hand.

Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks! Jay

 

Your going to have some pillar post rust based on the rust at the door frame edges. The hole in the birdcage is a telling sign that there is more rust above it.
How much rust is any ones guess as it is hidden until you start removing the trim, windshield etc.

That being said there are tons of cars out there like this that are being driven every day, but you will always know there is rust in there that will not go away by itself.

 

I'd be more concerned about the rust in the door frame pics than that behind the kick panels. As the poster above said, there is much worse out there. As always, the concern is what you can't see, not what you can.

How is the rest of the frame? Did you check the rear kickups?

 

How much cash & time do you have or are looking for a driver right now. If you are looking for a project, I've seen worse - but it may be worse. Darn windshield could be ready to fall off. If you want a driver that only needs minimal work to enjoy - then pass on this. A 72 in reasonable driver condition will be twice this much, easy. While 9k is not peanuts, it kinda is for a good chrome bumper car. 9k for a rubber bumper car will probably get you a driver, but still no guarantees. Good luck with your decision. Even if the rust is no worse than the pics you've shown, count on at least another 9k to get this car is really good condition.

 

 

Did you buy the 72'?

 

The photos of the cowl with the doors open would concern me. Rust bleeding out from under paint or fiberglass. IMG_2083 and IMG_2111.
They suggest there may be some deep seated rust on the lower windshield corner and under the surround. The repair to the birdcage isn't that difficult. Getting access to this area may be a challenge. Remove the front clip or cut away the surround, repair, the splice the fiberglass back together. Since it shows a hole behind the kick panel, if I were to repair it, I'd go with removing the front clip so everything could be fixed. Another area to check maybe under the windshield pillar covers, top corners where the header meets the pillars. They come off with one screw. If there's rot around the windshield header it may show up there.

This may not be the worst out there though I didn't see many shots of the cowl area with the wiper door open or the bottom corners of the windshield.

Another thought occurred to me. Can you take a picture of the inside of the door pillars, looking up? I did that on mine, put the camera in over the body mount, facing up inside with the flash on. You'll get a view which can't get by trying to get your head in there. If you take several pictures at different angles you may get a pretty good idea of what's up there, any rust holes, etec.

Will the seller let you do a water test? Pour water from a hose onto the windshield, cowl, that general area and look for water leaks inside?

If the rust isn't too extensive you may just have a water leak. You would need to keep it out of rain to slow the rusting. May not be a structural problem.... yet.

It looks like the body mount bolts were replaced and some of the chassis cleaned up and painted. I think that's a non original rear spring and adjusting rods. Since the car is non original, not a big deal.

Be sure to look at the frame right in front of the rear wheels. Very common rust out area.

It's a NOM as well. I don't know what the current expected price range would be for a NOM 72. At $9K will there be enough room to do some rust repair and repainting? Maybe estimate what a very clean weekend driver, NOM would go for, then deduct estimated cost of repairs. See if you're close...

Are you able to do some work yourself? Are you looking for a project?
The rust is what concerns me should it be more extensive than what we see. It's repairable but may be costly if a shop does all of the work.

My thoughts anyway..