74 vette with 78 back window
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 28
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From: Clarksville Iowa
74 vette with 78 back window
Hi guys Im new and am in the process of buying my first vette, I am from Iowa,Well I can buy a 74 that has 65000 orig miles 350/375 horse, new interior buckskin.but they put a 78 back window did a good job side pipes nice looking,for under 5000.00 or I can get a 77 orig, 350 180 horse needs door pannels and seats covered 85000 orig miles for 5500.00 both could use paint but dravable not bad,, My question is how bad will the 74 with the longger window hurt me if I try to sell and witch one do you guys beleive is a better deal? Am I gonna be made fun of . with it being modified like that? HELP Thanks Tim
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
... and witch one do you guys beleive is a better deal?...
...Am I gonna be made fun of with it being modified like that?...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I don't mind modified cars as long as it can easily be returned stock (bolted on). But a mod like that I would personally not purchase. The '77 would be my choice, but you need to first look for deal killers like rust; check the birdcage, body mounts and other common rust areas. Does everything work? How is suspension and power/drive train? If this is your first C3, you may want to have someone knowledgeable check out for you. These 30-40 year old treasures can have a lot of hidden cost that you will discover once you own and drive more. Are you looking for a daily driver or a project car? I would identify everything wrong with the car and realistically determine cost for repairs. It may be better to find a car for a little more that is in better condition. Will you be doing all the work yourself or will you pay a mechanic? Paint jobs easily run 5-10K. Just some things to think about . . . good luck with you decision. There is a lot of talent here to help once you make your purchase.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,667
Likes: 3,123
From: Shamong, NJ
In the future, a stock car, or stock bodied one anyway, will be easier to resell.
As far as the 74 having more horsepower, there's nothing to stop you from building up the 77's engine. Personally, I'd prefer to build (or have built) my own engine. That way it's built the way I want it and I know exactly how it was built. Do you really know that the 74 engine can produce 375 horses, or have any idea how it was built?
From my experience, most pre 78 Corvettes, that have had a 78-82 rear window installed, have actually had a whole 78-82 rear clip installed. This is usually done because the car was hit hard enough in the rear, that they needed to have the clip replaced.
If you really prefer the look of the 74 with the 78 rear window, I would keep looking until you found a 78-79 you liked. They're out there in the same price range that your looking at.
As far as the 74 having more horsepower, there's nothing to stop you from building up the 77's engine. Personally, I'd prefer to build (or have built) my own engine. That way it's built the way I want it and I know exactly how it was built. Do you really know that the 74 engine can produce 375 horses, or have any idea how it was built?
From my experience, most pre 78 Corvettes, that have had a 78-82 rear window installed, have actually had a whole 78-82 rear clip installed. This is usually done because the car was hit hard enough in the rear, that they needed to have the clip replaced.
If you really prefer the look of the 74 with the 78 rear window, I would keep looking until you found a 78-79 you liked. They're out there in the same price range that your looking at.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Understand that the rule in the marketplace is, generally, deviations from stock means lost resale value. And that horsepower also is a value deduction, as its the wrong motor.
This does not mean you should not buy what you want. However, what it does mean is that you 1. must go into it with your eyes open, in that resale may be next to nothing. A '74 as you describe isnt worth much to begin with, and when you deduct for cutting off the rear clip and gluing on the wrong year tail PLUS needing paint, the car isnt worth much of anything.
#2 is, dont PAY for lost value due to modifications. Id never tell someone they should not buy a car you describe, if thats actually something you like. However, dont you dare pay $5000. Bad paint, wrong engine, big back window? I think $3500 is too much, but it could be fun to play with at that point.
Just dont plan on selling it.
Regarding what other people might say... its easy to say you "shouldnt care" what people say. However, since you asked, I think it matters to you. Corvette people can be a little snotty and you will get some disapproving responses. You will. However, again, part of owning custom cars is ignoring that stuff- it comes with the landscape. You wont get the sheer laughter some people would get, say, if they grafted on chrome front ends or tails on post-74 cars, but you will gets some frowns.
This does not mean you should not buy what you want. However, what it does mean is that you 1. must go into it with your eyes open, in that resale may be next to nothing. A '74 as you describe isnt worth much to begin with, and when you deduct for cutting off the rear clip and gluing on the wrong year tail PLUS needing paint, the car isnt worth much of anything.
#2 is, dont PAY for lost value due to modifications. Id never tell someone they should not buy a car you describe, if thats actually something you like. However, dont you dare pay $5000. Bad paint, wrong engine, big back window? I think $3500 is too much, but it could be fun to play with at that point.
Just dont plan on selling it.
Regarding what other people might say... its easy to say you "shouldnt care" what people say. However, since you asked, I think it matters to you. Corvette people can be a little snotty and you will get some disapproving responses. You will. However, again, part of owning custom cars is ignoring that stuff- it comes with the landscape. You wont get the sheer laughter some people would get, say, if they grafted on chrome front ends or tails on post-74 cars, but you will gets some frowns.
