Thoughts on car
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 413
Likes: 3
From: Frankfort Illinois
Thoughts on car
I am not familiar with the C3 neighbor hoods.....was seeking thoughts on this car thanks...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...67923997#v4-38
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...67923997#v4-38
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,235
Likes: 4,325
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi K,
The car looks interesting in the pictures. It's extra value is in the LT-! option.
I think the big questions that aren't answered without an informed inspection of the car are... was it an LT-! when it left St. Louis, how many of the parts are that made it an LT-! are still on the car, and how original is the rest of the car?
Regards,
Alan
PS: It's curious that there's not a picture of the stamp pad.
The car looks interesting in the pictures. It's extra value is in the LT-! option.
I think the big questions that aren't answered without an informed inspection of the car are... was it an LT-! when it left St. Louis, how many of the parts are that made it an LT-! are still on the car, and how original is the rest of the car?
Regards,
Alan
PS: It's curious that there's not a picture of the stamp pad.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,060
Likes: 101
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Hi K,
The car looks interesting in the pictures. It's extra value is in the LT-! option.
I think the big questions that aren't answered without an informed inspection of the car are... was it an LT-! when it left St. Louis, how many of the parts are that made it an LT-! are still on the car, and how original is the rest of the car?
Regards,
Alan
PS: It's curious that there's not a picture of the stamp pad.
The car looks interesting in the pictures. It's extra value is in the LT-! option.
I think the big questions that aren't answered without an informed inspection of the car are... was it an LT-! when it left St. Louis, how many of the parts are that made it an LT-! are still on the car, and how original is the rest of the car?
Regards,
Alan
PS: It's curious that there's not a picture of the stamp pad.
looks like a lot of information regarding "originality" is missing. at the very least i would want to make certain it left the factory that way and isn't a clone. next would be to at least check the casting numbers to see if the engine, trans and rear end are appropriate date wise. a qualified independent appraisal should also be considered if you are a serious "buyer". they will check all the above and more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
You might also want to see what the owner posted on the C3 registry.
http://www.c3registry.org/index.php?...10-05&uid=9648
http://www.c3registry.org/index.php?...10-05&uid=9648
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,235
Likes: 4,325
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi K,
The surface of the pad is very pitted. In the picture I don't see any sign of broaching.
The pits seemed to have been pushed down into the valleys of the letters as though the pad was stamped after it was pitted With the pad so pitted wouldn't the digits and letters be less distinct.
PLEASE REMEMBER....only ONE person's thoughts.
Regards,
Alan
The surface of the pad is very pitted. In the picture I don't see any sign of broaching.
The pits seemed to have been pushed down into the valleys of the letters as though the pad was stamped after it was pitted With the pad so pitted wouldn't the digits and letters be less distinct.
PLEASE REMEMBER....only ONE person's thoughts.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Oct 6, 2010 at 06:23 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
That stamp pad looks really bad but I am definitely no expert. I have never seen the important engine date stamp suffix letters (CKY) to be so crooked and spaced so far apart...they appear to be outside of the gang...very suspicious. Is that the correct beginning of the VIN derivative (12S5112??) for a '72 LT-1 with VIN 1Z37L2S511275 as corrected by the seller? What happened to the last three numbers of the VIN derivative? They are faint or missing altogether. Combine that with lack of broach marks and the pitting that Alan mentioned....
This car requires some serious scrutiny before any LT-1 money changes hands.
This car requires some serious scrutiny before any LT-1 money changes hands.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
If it were a restamp I'd think the stamper would have done a better job getting it straight rather than attract attention. The stamp which would have been done at St Louis looks much straighter. The crooked one is the one which would have been stamped at the engine plant? So far as rust pits go I'd think rust would settle in the valleys of the letters as well as on the pad. If it were restamped I speculate the compression of the metal during the stamp may obliterate rust pits..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I dont like the crookedness of the important part of the stamp........but i must say it looks like it's ok.........letters / numbers appear same size, but there is entirely too much rust on the pad to see any broach marks, it could have been restamped a very long time ago & then the rust came to make it look as it does now. But I also dont think a very long time ago, or the time it would take to rust the pad like that, noone cared to bother restamping..........it's also doing big money in my opinion, it's not "FRAME OFF" restored, the paint has been done, but it doesnt appear much else & not to clean under or in the engine bay................no documentation either, etc....& it's NOT A VERT......SO........I think $32K is a bit high.............
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
it is amazing that this car with that pitted and crooked stamp with the mis-alligned letters and incomplete Vin Derivative is currently bid at 32K.. nowhere is anyone asking the date code on the block.. and the paint on the pad? yes it is an LT1 due to the VIN#, but that stamp.. wow.
sure it is a 010 block, probably one of the most common blocks. easy to find anywhere and restamp.. but hard to find in the date range of this car. and this one has a pad that has probably been sitting in a junk yard for 25 years rusting away. thats why I say show me the casting date code.
of the 50 different definitions of numbers matching, this one even fails the one that most people use. how can this guy claim numbers matching?
But.. someone in the LT1 world knows this car to bid it to 32K.. or look at the bidders.. looks like a couple of people are the only one's bidding it up past 20K.
People will pay alot for 'unrestored' I suppose.. not me though..
sure it is a 010 block, probably one of the most common blocks. easy to find anywhere and restamp.. but hard to find in the date range of this car. and this one has a pad that has probably been sitting in a junk yard for 25 years rusting away. thats why I say show me the casting date code.
of the 50 different definitions of numbers matching, this one even fails the one that most people use. how can this guy claim numbers matching?
But.. someone in the LT1 world knows this car to bid it to 32K.. or look at the bidders.. looks like a couple of people are the only one's bidding it up past 20K.
People will pay alot for 'unrestored' I suppose.. not me though..
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
" I will back the legitmacy of the vehicle and give a full refund if it's not a #s matching car I say it is"
a rather broad statement.. what will it take to prove this to the seller and to win in court and force him to refund when there is no absolute legal definition of numbers matching.. it is all heresay.
sure it is numbers matching.. the windshield pillar VIN# matches the VIN# on the title!
a rather broad statement.. what will it take to prove this to the seller and to win in court and force him to refund when there is no absolute legal definition of numbers matching.. it is all heresay.
sure it is numbers matching.. the windshield pillar VIN# matches the VIN# on the title!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
I would not purchase a car without seeing it beforehand, BUT I would certainly not purchase this car without having seen it.
Mark G: Pad mistakes were made, but were probably much less frequent than some of the self-empowered magazine writers want us to believe.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Oct 7, 2010 at 11:38 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
Nice car. But I wouldn't invest $30K+ in that car with that pad. It's more like a $25-27K car (max.), IMO. If it is a legitimate LT-1, the car should have some of the original documentation. Since it does not, very few folks will ante up the overcost for an 'original' LT-1 car. Perhaps there are some "suckers" on the hook at eBay.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
