C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What to look for...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 03:08 PM
  #1  
blk406's Avatar
blk406
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 16
From: Calverton N.Y.
Default What to look for...

I'm in the market for a 69-71 C3 and have only had newer vettes. What do I need to look for when I go to look at a car? Are there areas that are prone to rusting? What are some red flags? Thanks.
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 04:01 PM
  #2  
427SIXPACK's Avatar
427SIXPACK
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Community Influencer
Shutterbug
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 1,959
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
Default

Originally Posted by blk406
I'm in the market for a 69-71 C3 and have only had newer vettes. What do I need to look for when I go to look at a car? Are there areas that are prone to rusting? What are some red flags? Thanks.
I'm on Long Island & can help you inspect a car in the area if you need help. I work for beer - food & travel expenses.

Look for R U S T ............correctness / originality & functionability........
did i mention .................R U S T ?????
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 06:06 PM
  #3  
joewill's Avatar
joewill
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
Default

1st question is what are your requirements? price range, originality, survivor, or restored, custom?

look for rust, leaks, signs of money being spent on the car, good paint, hoses, brakes, rubber, exhaust, everything should work....

there is rarely a case where someone does not overpay for a rusty corvette.
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 07:02 PM
  #4  
z10kl's Avatar
z10kl
Racer
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Denver nc
Default

Why a 71 and not a 72?
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 07:28 PM
  #5  
a560156's Avatar
a560156
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by blk406
I'm in the market for a 69-71 C3 and have only had newer vettes. What do I need to look for when I go to look at a car? Are there areas that are prone to rusting? What are some red flags? Thanks.
Please do an archive search. This inquiry appears frequently.
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 08:54 PM
  #6  
blk406's Avatar
blk406
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 16
From: Calverton N.Y.
Default

Originally Posted by joewill
1st question is what are your requirements? price range, originality, survivor, or restored, custom?

look for rust, leaks, signs of money being spent on the car, good paint, hoses, brakes, rubber, exhaust, everything should work....

there is rarely a case where someone does not overpay for a rusty corvette.
My requirments are auto and black interior. Restored. Price range of 25K max.
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 08:56 PM
  #7  
blk406's Avatar
blk406
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 16
From: Calverton N.Y.
Default

Originally Posted by z10kl
Why a 71 and not a 72?
I actually prefer 69 or 70 because of the horsepower. I would be open to a 71 because it's my birth year. As corny as that sounds. That being said, I am not totally opposed to a 72.
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 09:00 PM
  #8  
blk406's Avatar
blk406
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 16
From: Calverton N.Y.
Default

Originally Posted by 427SIXPACK
I'm on Long Island & can help you inspect a car in the area if you need help. I work for beer - food & travel expenses.

Look for R U S T ............correctness / originality & functionability........
did i mention .................R U S T ?????
Thanks, I may take you up on that but can't seem to find what I'm looking for on long island. I found a possibility in NC but before I fly there to look at it I want to know really what to look for besides the obvious. Where exactly should I look for rust? Thanks.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 11:39 PM
  #9  
427SIXPACK's Avatar
427SIXPACK
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Community Influencer
Shutterbug
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 1,959
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
Default

Originally Posted by blk406
I actually prefer 69 or 70 because of the horsepower. I would be open to a 71 because it's my birth year. As corny as that sounds. That being said, I am not totally opposed to a 72.
BTW:
68's have the same amount of horses as 69's.........
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 05:07 PM
  #10  
blk406's Avatar
blk406
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 16
From: Calverton N.Y.
Default

Can someone tell me where to look for rust. There must be a common place. Thanks.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 05:09 PM
  #11  
blckslvr79's Avatar
blckslvr79
Drifting
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
Default

Originally Posted by blk406
Can someone tell me where to look for rust. There must be a common place. Thanks.
There are threads upon threads about this here.
The Search function is your friend.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 05:24 PM
  #12  
longbros's Avatar
longbros
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by blk406
Can someone tell me where to look for rust. There must be a common place. Thanks.
The most common areas are the frame under the car, just in front of the rear wheels. Also, the windshield frame, especially at the base on each side, near the VIN plate on the drivers side, same place on the passenger side. Also, if you remove the kick panels near the floor inside the car, near your feet, look for rust there at the body mount. That is a start. Sorry for all the lazy people out there.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 05:50 PM
  #13  
blk406's Avatar
blk406
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 16
From: Calverton N.Y.
Default

Thanks Longbros, that's exactly what I was looking for.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 06:00 PM
  #14  
joewill's Avatar
joewill
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
Default

here are examples...

frame rust



windshield frame rust

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To What to look for...





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:39 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE