View Poll Results: Why did you choose your C3?
The Year I wanted
64
43.84%
Price driven
33
22.60%
Condition driven
19
13.01%
Option driven (chrome/rubber bumper, auto/manual)
30
20.55%
Voters: 146. You may not vote on this poll
Choosing "your" C3....
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
My reason sure wasn't price driven cause it was not cheap, it was condition. I was 13 when my car was built and i always loved the curves of the C3, when I finally had some money and could afford it
I started looking (2009) and found my 73 convertible. She had 8500 original miles was a benchmark survivor, and all orginial including paint, 2 tops and A/C (we need that in Texas) and not a hotrod, so don't ask me to race, but a very well maintained car. I have since Top Flighted the car and just enjoy the heck out of turning peoples heads when we drive around it's gotta be the sexiest ride on the road in it's time.
I started looking (2009) and found my 73 convertible. She had 8500 original miles was a benchmark survivor, and all orginial including paint, 2 tops and A/C (we need that in Texas) and not a hotrod, so don't ask me to race, but a very well maintained car. I have since Top Flighted the car and just enjoy the heck out of turning peoples heads when we drive around it's gotta be the sexiest ride on the road in it's time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 14
From: A town SC
My 81 found me, sold a finished project and dad found out I was looking to buy a Harley. Well good ole dad conn'ed me in to the vette to keep me off a bike. Anyway It was a "piece"and im now 70% complete. But man it was rough. These cars are built nothing like any other GM product! The biggest surprise to me was the fact that I was going to fix it and flip it,as I wasnt a big fan of the c3.But I guess she grew on me.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 147
Likes: 2
From: Bargo NSW
Mine was price driven I wanted a C3 and only had cash for a 73 or 74 model, when out of the blue I got the opportunity to purchase a 68 BB 4 speed vert in the same price range as the 73-74 (a chrome bumper car was something I always wanted but was out of my price range). I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough. She needed a few thing fixed up nothing major.The car is just a joy to drive always pus a smile on my face.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 850
Likes: 36
From: Providence RI
Mine was year, then condition, then options, then price.
I wanted a chrome-bumper, and knew from experience to buy what I really wanted in the first-place, rather than settle for something I would be less-happy with.
I was willing to buy one requiring some work, but after reading up on here, no-rust and presentable paint were absolute requirements primarily because of the time and $$$ it would take to make those right.
While I would have loved to find a BB, the other compromises that would come along with that engine in cars in my price-range made a SB more likely. I would have loved a 4spd, but knowing that the price to convert one to a 5spd or 6spd would be about the same as converting from an auto, it wasn't a deal-breaker.
Location was also an issue: I had to be able to inspect the car, and I didn't want to jack up the price with transit-costs.
I scoped out the market for about a year before I came across the combintion of the above in a nearby car. When it appeared in the local Craigslist, I was ready, cash-in-hand, and bought it the next day.
I wanted a chrome-bumper, and knew from experience to buy what I really wanted in the first-place, rather than settle for something I would be less-happy with.
I was willing to buy one requiring some work, but after reading up on here, no-rust and presentable paint were absolute requirements primarily because of the time and $$$ it would take to make those right.
While I would have loved to find a BB, the other compromises that would come along with that engine in cars in my price-range made a SB more likely. I would have loved a 4spd, but knowing that the price to convert one to a 5spd or 6spd would be about the same as converting from an auto, it wasn't a deal-breaker.
Location was also an issue: I had to be able to inspect the car, and I didn't want to jack up the price with transit-costs.
I scoped out the market for about a year before I came across the combintion of the above in a nearby car. When it appeared in the local Craigslist, I was ready, cash-in-hand, and bought it the next day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
I found mine by accident... a buddy called me about a local Craigslist listing "for parts or restoration asking $500". I replied by e-mail and never heard back until a month later when the PO called out of the blue... my name was next on the lost of respondents all of whom had passed on the car because it was so far disassembled it could not be rolled out of the garage. We struck a deal at $450, and he put enough suspension under it to roll it on the trailer. I initially intended to part it out but it has a clear title, and zero rust so I'm slowly reassembling it.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 482
Likes: 23
When I decided to get back (had been 5-6 yrs since I last owned one) into the Corvette ownership, I knew I wanted a C3 becasue I had owned several before and knew them to be "affordable classics". So I set my sights on a twin bumper (68-72) convertible. I knew the high horsepower cars were out of my price range so I started doing some research and decided I wanted an LT-1. After that I decided that, even if it was rougher I wanted to get the 70. It took a while but I finally got it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 945
Likes: 10
From: Winston Salem NC
1976 Bright Yellow Stingray
For me I was in the right place at the right time. My father-in-law decided to get rid of his '76 Stingray. I said I was interested and we both agreed on a price. I was not really in the market, but I could not let the opportunity pass.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I voted price, but condition was almost as important. I would much rather have a chrome bumper C3, but couldn't afford it, so I wound up with the best later C3 I could afford. I do love my 79 though, and have developed a soft spot for later C3's over the 5 years I've owned mine.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 136
From: Out of Site...Out of Mind. Corvette: anything else is just transportation.
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
My Vette chose me, or the situation that led to me buying it. Long story short. Friend of mine owned the Vette. He wanted my motorcycle. We traded.
It was silver, favorite color. It was a C3, the style I fell in love with. That's all it took.
I'll vote for pie.
It was silver, favorite color. It was a C3, the style I fell in love with. That's all it took.
I'll vote for pie.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
This last one started with price being a concern but I wanted a modded car or at least a car that I could make personal, no pristine purists cars, I planned to go custom, that dropped the prices so in that price range I was able to be even more picky,
Next was it had to be a convertible..hard top convertibles are the best of both worlds.
after that I was looking at all 68-72's but not for any real reason, then when I passed on several 68's ( seems lots of 68's were modded )
And a 75 with a 502 then it dawned on me that what started all this for me 30 years ago was the 69 model year...partly because of the naughtlyness of the 69 but then something just really cool about that year.
So it took a while but I found a rust free 69 vert and the only thing I would have changed was it to have been a stick rather than auto although I hate driving a stick....
Next was it had to be a convertible..hard top convertibles are the best of both worlds.
after that I was looking at all 68-72's but not for any real reason, then when I passed on several 68's ( seems lots of 68's were modded )
And a 75 with a 502 then it dawned on me that what started all this for me 30 years ago was the 69 model year...partly because of the naughtlyness of the 69 but then something just really cool about that year.
So it took a while but I found a rust free 69 vert and the only thing I would have changed was it to have been a stick rather than auto although I hate driving a stick....
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: laredo tx
My 75 was sold to me by an angry 
wife that caught her husband giving some other woman a ride in the vette (thats the only downside to a convertible , you can't hide from anyone). I guess he had a choice to make when he got home that day because he offered it to me 2 days after that went down . The guy wanted 12,000 so i left the guy my number while i thought it over and later that day his wife called me and asked if i was still intrested ,I told her i was but 12,000 was more than what i had on me or could come up with so she asked how much i had , I told her 5,000 is what i had at home . Her reply was SOLD!!
totally unexpected response , but she had him sign the title and i picked up a nice vette . I kinda felt bad for him but he chose the wife over the vette .
wife that caught her husband giving some other woman a ride in the vette (thats the only downside to a convertible , you can't hide from anyone). I guess he had a choice to make when he got home that day because he offered it to me 2 days after that went down . The guy wanted 12,000 so i left the guy my number while i thought it over and later that day his wife called me and asked if i was still intrested ,I told her i was but 12,000 was more than what i had on me or could come up with so she asked how much i had , I told her 5,000 is what i had at home . Her reply was SOLD!! totally unexpected response , but she had him sign the title and i picked up a nice vette . I kinda felt bad for him but he chose the wife over the vette .
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
My 75 was sold to me by an angry wife that caught her husband giving some other woman a ride in the vette (thats the only downside to a convertible , you can't hide from anyone). I guess he had a choice to make when he got home that day because he offered it to me 2 days after that went down . The guy wanted 12,000 so i left the guy my number while i thought it over and later that day his wife called me and asked if i was still intrested ,I told her i was but 12,000 was more than what i had on me or could come up with so she asked how much i had , I told her 5,000 is what i had at home . Her reply was SOLD!! totally unexpected response , but she had him sign the title and i picked up a nice vette . I kinda felt bad for him but he chose the wife over the vette .
wife that caught her husband giving some other woman a ride in the vette (thats the only downside to a convertible , you can't hide from anyone). I guess he had a choice to make when he got home that day because he offered it to me 2 days after that went down . The guy wanted 12,000 so i left the guy my number while i thought it over and later that day his wife called me and asked if i was still intrested ,I told her i was but 12,000 was more than what i had on me or could come up with so she asked how much i had , I told her 5,000 is what i had at home . Her reply was SOLD!! totally unexpected response , but she had him sign the title and i picked up a nice vette . I kinda felt bad for him but he chose the wife over the vette .So who told you the detailed story about the husband getting caught with another gal and the wife asking for him to pick the vette or her?
And if she made the deal wit6h you was it really his choice?
Hum....
Last edited by The13Bats; Dec 20, 2010 at 02:23 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: laredo tx
The guy was my uncles co-worker ( federal agent ) wont say what dept though ,at the end he had the final say so cuz he signed the title over.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Looks like you got a nice deal and he's probably kicking himself over it today 
