Is your C3 a DD?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
Is your C3 a DD?
As the title asks...
Is your C3 a daily driver?
If you could make your C3 a DD, would you?
And lastly... If your C3 was cosmetically and mechanically sound with modern improvements (such as: OD transmission, modern stereo, cold a/c, modern seats, modern rubber), would you consider making it a DD? Why or why not?
Looking forward to your responses!
Is your C3 a daily driver?
If you could make your C3 a DD, would you?
And lastly... If your C3 was cosmetically and mechanically sound with modern improvements (such as: OD transmission, modern stereo, cold a/c, modern seats, modern rubber), would you consider making it a DD? Why or why not?
Looking forward to your responses!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 50
From: Jersey Shore
Mine is a DD in the summer... Drive it to work every day, go to the bank, go to the beach, etc... Its far from stock, and I have taken alot of the creature comforts out- no insulation, no A/C, manual brakes/steering, stiff VB&P suspension, and its been open headers for a few months now, used to have spiral baffles in the sidepipes. It does bring a smile to my face every time I drive it, and I love all of the looks it gets.
BUT there are some times I wish I had another car to drive. On a hot summer day, it gets a bit uncomfortable inside. Worse if you are sitting in beach traffic. Sweaty back is the worst
(even though cruises to the beach are the best with the T-tops off 
). I dont like to take it out at night too often because of how loud it is. Once in a while when I leave work really tired, its not great to hop in a loud and bumpy sports car that you have to muscle around with manual brakes and steering. Its a little annoying if I get stuck in the rain though, especially since it always happens right after I detail it.
If I had another car, it would probably sit in the driveway for weeks at a time though. The positives of DDing the vette outweigh the negatives by far.
Everyone always asks what kind of MPGs I get in it. I tell them its Smiles Per Gallon, and it gets more than enough
BUT there are some times I wish I had another car to drive. On a hot summer day, it gets a bit uncomfortable inside. Worse if you are sitting in beach traffic. Sweaty back is the worst
(even though cruises to the beach are the best with the T-tops off ). I dont like to take it out at night too often because of how loud it is. Once in a while when I leave work really tired, its not great to hop in a loud and bumpy sports car that you have to muscle around with manual brakes and steering. Its a little annoying if I get stuck in the rain though, especially since it always happens right after I detail it. If I had another car, it would probably sit in the driveway for weeks at a time though. The positives of DDing the vette outweigh the negatives by far.
Everyone always asks what kind of MPGs I get in it. I tell them its Smiles Per Gallon, and it gets more than enough
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
My '75 was my daily driver for years. Drove it rain or shine, even during winter, handled great in the snow. Other then it not starting once in a while due to the solenoid getting to hot, it was very dependable. Once my '81 is ready in spring, I will be driving daily. I like trailer queens, but i like driving them even better and as much as possible!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Owned my '72 vert here for some 15 years, DD all the while, except winter 01-02 for a long list of modifications....
my car is not stock, wheels to roof.....injection, overdrive auto, wheels tires, frame, lights, grill, fans, radiator, serp drive, HVAC fan, contole, gauges, TT wheel, seating, you name it, it's modified....
gets on down the road ok....
Sold the hard top as it hung in the garage here for some 3 years in Florida.....
my car is not stock, wheels to roof.....injection, overdrive auto, wheels tires, frame, lights, grill, fans, radiator, serp drive, HVAC fan, contole, gauges, TT wheel, seating, you name it, it's modified....
gets on down the road ok....
Sold the hard top as it hung in the garage here for some 3 years in Florida.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
My 76 was a daily driver for years, but now it has finally been upgraded to a play car. Still like driving it, but mostly on vacations and having fun with it instead of having to worry about it getting damaged in the daily commute.
It was very dependable even at over 20 yrs old. It required the usual maintanance of any older car (new ps hoses, etc.), but only broke down once at work due to a faulty starter. And I agree, these cars do very well in winter with a good set of all season tires on them.
It was very dependable even at over 20 yrs old. It required the usual maintanance of any older car (new ps hoses, etc.), but only broke down once at work due to a faulty starter. And I agree, these cars do very well in winter with a good set of all season tires on them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I have not and do not intend to make mine a daily driver, but for the previous onwer, it was his only mode of transportation (unless you count the F-16's he flies). It gets damn hot in mine in the heat of the summer without the A/C working.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I think I will be representing the extreme side here. My 1971 BB is a daily driver, it has full matching numbers drive train and %98 original, I driver it around the year, even in our 105*F summers because it has a very good A/C and Dewitt's Rad. and fan combo to keep the slightly modifed BB cool. I even drove it in rainy days several times, but I do my best when it comes to preventive maintenance 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 820
From: SUFFIELD CT USA 2023 C8 CORVETTE UN-MODIFIED FINALIST
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 820
From: SUFFIELD CT USA 2023 C8 CORVETTE UN-MODIFIED FINALIST
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My '77 is a daily driver except in winter w/salt. I do drive my other vehicles also though, SVT Mustang, Harley, Dodge Ram.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
I drive my 81 everyday in the summer, but not to work. I look forward to coming home and going out just anywhere for a vette ride, especially now that it has a 383 stroker, before it really looked better than it went. Now it goes!!!! I take it out every day after work. Sometimes long trips some short.
I will never drive it in the winter, too much snow here.
Jarred.
I will never drive it in the winter, too much snow here.
Jarred.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
One more thing I would like to add about having a C3 (esp. the early ones) as your daily driver, you have to spend 20-30 min. almost everyday to talk to different people about your car, this is becoming seriously annoying to me, like when you are in a hurry and carrying few grocery bags and someone parking beside you will start asking about the car like "is that a old camaro? is it a V8? ... etc!", you know what I mean!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
It was at one time a DD if you could call driving 28 thousand miles in 5 years until the warranty expired in 1973 and thats when gas prices began to spike upwards....it then sat for 35 years in a corner or against a wall in my warehouse without its engine...I would use it today if the necessary gas was available at the gas stations....opps, I mean candy and soda pop convenience stores.....
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,581
Likes: 28
From: Spring, Texas
My first Vette (76) was a DD, but all other Vettes that followed have been an weekend toy. After completing grad school, I bought a separate DD and starting fixing up the 76 (then sold it to buy a 71 coupe).