Hey , was on the c-5 section for a while, ran across a barn car it is a 76 vette, it have been setting for around 20 years, the body looks pretty good, no cracks, the interior is shot, the rear body mounts are gone and the front floor boards are gone. It is unmolested,auto-trans caar is it worth $1500???? Thanks for the help

 

My first thoughts were. If the body mounts are shot what about the birdcage and the rest of the frame. $1500.00.... If frame and birdcage are OK. NADA average retail is around $10,000.00. Could you make a solid driver for $8500.00? Pictures sure would help.

 

If the floor and mounts are gone, I'd have to guess that the frame is not far behind.

I'd say you'd save yourself a lot of money by buying a much better car for around $6000, as it will likely cost you far more than that to make this one usable.

 

John,

It probably is worth $1,500 as a parts car, if all is present. The important questions are:

1. What are your intentions? If you are looking to restore this puppy, get the VISA card ready. As Bob said above, the frame is probably shot. You will need just about EVERYTHING ELSE, as the car sat for 20 years!

2. How much of the work will you be doing yourself? The only way I would even consider tackling this project is if I could do all my own glass and paint work.

Let's assume that you are that talented. Resto of engine, trans, chassis, interior, plus misc. parts will still cost you up to $8k. Finished car will be worth, what, $12-15k tops. You may recoup $1.50/hr. for the 2 zillion hours of labor once you sell.

If you want to restore a C3, I would at least start w a convertible, 68-75. Chances are you will wind up w a more valuable car, should you ever need to sell.

Rickman

 

I should have stated my intentions,sorry, if the frame is good just fix the floor pans and rear mounts ,pull the motor and trans,make sure the rear end will handle some power and stuff and nasty small block (427) and have some fun with car and maybe paint it, I can do all the work myself. With that said will the rear end handle some power? I don't know much about the rear ends in the vettes. thanks for your thoughts

 

No offense to 76 owners I was one, but it's not all that sought after a year even though it had it's unique features like last year of "Stingray"
Almost always when one thing is rotten on a car other things are rotten too...lots of red flags on that one,
I sold my running driver 76 for 3500.00 and was pretty thrilled to get it in today's economy and it was almost as rust free as the day it left GM,
A nice car with great interior needing mild bodywork and paint.

I also know all the ideas of parting something out or making a silk purse out of someone's sows ear but no matter what way you go with the car just getting it to runner/driver condition will take a lot of work and a stack of toad pelts.

As far as rear ends, GM changed them a bit for 80-82 but the 68-79 are okay, I have seen people run 11's and heard of better with a vette rear end and I have seen others bust one with a stock engine...I personally in younger days beaten the hell out of them and never broke one,...but did wear the one out in my 81 just from miles on it.
Of course the IRS on a vette is more for handling than blasting the 1320 so for that reason some die hard drag racers ruin ( IMHO ) a vette and install a straight rear axle,
I did drive a straight axle C3 around town and didn't see the difference from it and the true IRS I thought I would...but I wasn't trashing on it


1500.00 is good I guess if it has a clear title and the rust isn't too bad, then again I know people who buy runner drivers for that....they get posted on places like CL for cheap and you have to be ready to pounce with cash in hand.
In my way of thinking and no offense to anyone the 74-82's that are not low miles numbers matching purists cars scream to be modded and played with and with the economy right now great cars can be had for cheap