Hello,

I am new to this forum and need advice. I have been looking for a corvette for a month or so. My budget is around 8,000, so I am limited. After doing research and seeing several vettes, I prefer the look of the early 70's, but for the mostpart,they are not in my ballpark. I have seen some 74's for close to that amount. I am not looking for an investment or show car, but rather a quick, sporty convertible or t-top that is fun to drive.

So yesterday I saw a car that I would really like some advice on.

It is a 1968 corvette, completely stripped to the primer and with a few minor repairs, is ready to paint. The car is intact. Pretty new tires, interior is ok, but not all original. It had the radio removed and a large tachometer put in it's place. Someone decided to spraypaint the original door trim (I think it was saddle colored) to black. It actually didn't look too bad. Engine does not match and is modified. It is a 454 has msd ingnition and distributer, holley double pumper, 4sp, t-tops, pop out rear window, power windows, and $700 worth of exhaust and flow master mufflers. Owner said he put 6000+ into the engine/car.

Seller said he believes the original engine is still in a barn 1 mile from him, but it would be with a ton of other engines, parts, etc. If I could get that engine, I guess I would take the car for sure.

Asking price is close to 8000. A friend of mine said if I bought a new full interior kit, he would put it in. That leaves the paint job, and the headlights don't go up (vacuum). Frame is solid.


Any advice would be appreciated!

 

I'm sure you know pictures would be helpfull. You have to be very carefull when buying one of these cars not to let emotion over power being rational. It's not what you see that is wrong it's what you don't see. Don't be fooled by "minor" repairs. What you consider minor can become time consuming and costly to repair. Define your goal of what you want the car to be when it's finished. If you want the car to look correct when it's done it will cost much more than you anticipate. Know your budget. Know the time and space commitment it takes to "build" a project car. I know I'm starting to sound harsh but think this thing through before spend your money on something that may take you years to enjoy or worse yet cost you a ton of money you won't get back. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

Hi Craig,
The car you've found isn't at all like the car you describe in the first paragraph of your post.
From you description it sounds like you might be buying someones poorly executed, unfinished, incomplete project.
I think you need to keep looking!
Regards,
Alan

 

Plus,68' had a lot of one year only parts which can be expensive to replace and hard to find. I'd pass on this one.

Gary

Where are you located? Fill out profile.

 

But if you still aren't sure, you need to take pics of all the known problem areas and post them. In addition, you need to have someone very familiar with C3's look at it for you and give an objective opinion.

 

pop out rear window??

 

He said the car had T Tops. Sounds like a '68 coupe to me.

 

You need to be real careful when purchasing a car someone else has taken apart. There are about a million little pieces that get lost / misplaced/ used in the wrong spot/ etc, that end up costing a lot in the end.
Ask me how I know.....

 

Where are you?

 

A butchered '68?????

RUN Forrest RUN!!!!!

 

The original engine has a VIN derivitive stamped on the pad on the block at the front of the right head. You might get lucky and find it, but you should ask the seller why the original engine was pulled in the first place.