Your first C-3.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
I've always liked the look of the C3 but for whatever reason I was always more into the Firebird line. Until a month ago..when I went to look at a 67 Firebird I passed on and then saw a 1978 Corvette and something clicked.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 125
From: Apple Valley Minnesota
Really have no clue as to why, it was 68 coupe, red/red with the original L68 400hp engine and 400 turbo auto trans, p/s p/b, 38000 original miles with some original docs, and it was in very good condition with a super paint job, just a real nice original clean car, found it at the Chevy Vettefest in Chicago in the mid 90's, bought it because I thought the seller was giving it away and after owning it for 1 year I gave it away.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
I would have started w/ a Corvette if I had the money. Instead I started w/ 57 Chevys which have the engine set back behind the front wheel line like a Corvette & built hot rods like a 10 sec BB street legal race 57 & SB 57s. Bought a Corvette as soon as possible & started mods.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Because they're awesome.
Seriously though, I've always liked the '80-'82 Corvettes. I'm a Camaro guy, and after getting rid of a '68 I recently had, I was looking to get another '80-'81 Z28 like I had in college . Anyways, I noticed the prices on the Camaros I was looking at were the same as a comparable Corvette in the same condition and year. So I said, "why not" and bought a Corvette instead.
Seriously though, I've always liked the '80-'82 Corvettes. I'm a Camaro guy, and after getting rid of a '68 I recently had, I was looking to get another '80-'81 Z28 like I had in college . Anyways, I noticed the prices on the Camaros I was looking at were the same as a comparable Corvette in the same condition and year. So I said, "why not" and bought a Corvette instead.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I bought my first Corvette in 1977, a '65 396 roadster. I bought it because it was the cheapest Corvette in the Massachusetts Want Advertiser at $2500 and it was the only one I could afford.
But the "late model" Corvettes (they werent called C3 then) were the most unbelievable looking car in the world then. Thats what I aspired to, and again, I bought a '68 327 roadster in 1978 for $3250 because 1. those old looking chrome bumper cars were out of style and 2. those silly convertibles werent worth anything. GM had discontinued them, ya know.
Funny how things change, eh? I couldnt afford a '77, so I bought a 396 roadster and a '68 convertible.
But the "late model" Corvettes (they werent called C3 then) were the most unbelievable looking car in the world then. Thats what I aspired to, and again, I bought a '68 327 roadster in 1978 for $3250 because 1. those old looking chrome bumper cars were out of style and 2. those silly convertibles werent worth anything. GM had discontinued them, ya know.
Funny how things change, eh? I couldnt afford a '77, so I bought a 396 roadster and a '68 convertible.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 34
From: Porterville Ca
My parents had a really nice 81 back in 83 or so. It was nice, new and great to borrow for date nights. I've been exposed to several chrome bumpered Vets when I was a kid because my Dad worked at dealerships back in the day. In kindergarten our neighbors had C2's, and their friends had C2's and huge out. My friend hired me to get his ready to sell as has was moving out of state. A couple of weeks went by and I couldn't help myself, here's a Chrome bumper,convertable big block Vet in my garage, and she needed to stay there. Before I bought it I looked at other performance/exotics, but this is pretty much the ultimate. It's a great bang for the buck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 8
From: Charlotte (Area) North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Growing up NYC in the 70's all my friends older brothers had Vettes and I swore one day I would have one too. It took me 43 yrs but 2 yrs ago my dream came true. Never thought it would take so long but life got in the way!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
I owened a 1961 back in aday. I did a frame on restoration. It was pretty cool driving around when I was 18 years old in a 61. I was really hoping to get another C-2 but I came across a 1968 convertible last year. It has really been in a barn for 25 years and the guy lost interest, his 20 something year son also had no interest so I offered $3500.00. The rest is history and I find myself in a full frame off and love-in it
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 3,130
From: Shamong, NJ
It was 1979 and I was getting married. My future wife was driving a Javelin at the time. I didn't want that thing sitting in my driveway, so I picked up a low miles 74 Corvette for her.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 4
From: Regina Saskatchewan
I had almost forgotten. It was many years ago. I had a 1976 Jeep CJ5 and I was on a grid road going about 45 miles/hr when I hit some washboard. The Jeep started vibrating horribly , then slid left , then right , then left again. By the time I came to a stop I was on the left side of the road. I was lucky I didn't flip it or worse hit any oncoming vehicle. 2nd time that had happened. Right then and there I said although the CJ5 was a fun vehicle I needed something that was a lot lower to the ground. Found the lowest car I could find and traded off the CJ . Found a loaded up '79 vette for 12G. Sold it 4 years later for 12G for a downpayment on a house but told myself I'd buy another when I hit 40 yrs old. Found one for $12G when I was 45. No depreciation on these cars at all ! 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I'd had a new 64 Impala Convertible 327/300, 4 speed; a 66 Chevelle SS327/300, 4 speed; a 68 GTO 400/350, 4 speed.
I traded the GTO for a 71 Coupe, 350/270, 4 speed, during my lunch hour one day, just because I liked the way it looked. It wasn't nearly as fast as the GTO but was more fun.... except when it rained (leaked), or snowed ( pretty wide nylon cord tires on packed snow... why does this car want to go down the road sideways?).
Still like it pretty well. Gave up driving it in the rain and snow!
Regards,
Alan
I'd had a new 64 Impala Convertible 327/300, 4 speed; a 66 Chevelle SS327/300, 4 speed; a 68 GTO 400/350, 4 speed.
I traded the GTO for a 71 Coupe, 350/270, 4 speed, during my lunch hour one day, just because I liked the way it looked. It wasn't nearly as fast as the GTO but was more fun.... except when it rained (leaked), or snowed ( pretty wide nylon cord tires on packed snow... why does this car want to go down the road sideways?).
Still like it pretty well. Gave up driving it in the rain and snow!
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
[QUOTE=thatcorvetteguy;1578338894]
And I only paid $4,000 for it...Well that was back in the late 70s.
When I sold it around 1981...The fever hit me...I looked for three years to find the 72 Lt-1 I still have.
When I sold it around 1981...The fever hit me...I looked for three years to find the 72 Lt-1 I still have.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 11
From: Grafton MA
I still remember the day my uncle pulled up to the house driving a brand new white '80 corvette (I was 6). Most of my youth was during the C4 era, but it was the early childhood memories of the C3 that I remember most. No offense C4 owners but I remember when they first came out thinking to myself how plain they looked and knew some day i needed to have an older model corvette
I didn't buy my first vette until my 30s. I was planning on buying a white '80-'82 just like my uncle's, but the more I starting researching and learning more about this generation I ended up going for a '71 LT-1.
Here's a picture of my car taken sometime around 1974 (probably before i was born). Garage-ghost -- Our pictures look very similar...same rims, sidepipes, etc....just a different color.
Oh...and i liked the car so much I couldn't resist a white one, not quite my uncle's but close enough
I didn't buy my first vette until my 30s. I was planning on buying a white '80-'82 just like my uncle's, but the more I starting researching and learning more about this generation I ended up going for a '71 LT-1.
Here's a picture of my car taken sometime around 1974 (probably before i was born). Garage-ghost -- Our pictures look very similar...same rims, sidepipes, etc....just a different color.
Oh...and i liked the car so much I couldn't resist a white one, not quite my uncle's but close enough
Last edited by pwsusi; Aug 6, 2011 at 05:51 PM.
