Hello all, I am looking at getting my first corvette. It is a 1980. All original down to the factory CB, 39,000 miles. Owner said he has changed the battery,tires (5000 miles on them), recently changed the oil (suspicious?),changed belts. Very slight wear on driver seat. Normal fading on carpet for a 30 year old car. Garage kept. Door weatherstrip in fair/good condition. T top strip in good condition. Clear coat was starting to peel so owner stripped it off and polished the aluminum. He did that beceause he had planned on new rims so gave it a shot. I would like to know if there is anything else I need to ask. If I go through with the purchase I plan on taking it to the dealer for an inspection. Please feel free to give all the opinions you have. I look forward to being on here as an owner. By the way it is white with red interior. Asking $14,900 said price was negotiable.

Thanks for you help,
Mark

 

Be sure to check the frame and birdcage for rust. Is he the original owner? If so ask for any and all documentation he has. 14,900 is a lot of money for a 1980 unless it is perfect. Have pictures? Put them up. Good luck! And welcome to the forum.

 

Trying to post pictures. Hate!

 

i wouldn't give him more than $12,500 for an emmaculate 1980

not that i am saying that 1980 is not a beautiful car it is very much an amazing car

but in this market you can get a beautiful stock 1980 for $10-$13k

i think $14,900 is an asking price thinking people would run him down a few thousand

 

I wouldn't bring it to a "dealer" for inspection - you need to find someone who is familiar with '80 vettes to get a real good inspection.

 

Ill send you some directions.

$14.9 is an awful lot of money for an '80 of any condition.

Check the numbers on the engine to be sure the numbers match. Do not believe the seller.

Check the trim tag codes on the tag to be sure the paint/trim matches. Do not believe the seller.

 

Directions sent. Let me know if they work for you.

 

Let's get you a 1980 expert. Post some pics for the best level of help.

 

Thanks for the advice so far. I am working on pictures now.

 

Shew! That was an ordeal. Thanks to my friend Glenn.

 

It looks OK, but we need some underside shots, "A" pillar shots especially around the VIN tag. All corvettes look good at 10 feet!

 

If you are going to have the car inspected be sure to do it before you buy it. Afterward all you may have is good information and buyer's remorse.

 

Six montgs ago I found a 78 with 25k miles & the orig. owner wanted $14000. I guess he sold me a bill of goods... guess what? It really was a 1 owner with 25k miles & every time I work on it ... it was worth every dollar I paid for it. Today I pulled a door panel to give it a looksee & the original grease on the riser mechanisms is almost like new- latches mechanisms- same thing...beautiful. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. No doubt the car needed some work- leaking seals,scratched trim rings , etc, but it was worth the money to ME!.It's a buyers market for sure but some buyers have other buyers on hand & you go for it or no. You have to do what's right for you. If you think it's a fair deal & all your questions are answered to your satisfaction & you trust the seller Isay buy it but only if you trust the seller & feel good about the price. I paid the asking price after he paid 8 $800 to have it inspected- oil change, trans. drain & filter, belts etc. & I am very with my purchase. I don't have a lot of the problems others have with their mid to high mileage cars. Inthe end you have to do what you feel is fair based on the answers you get here on this forum & elsewhere. DO NOT go to a dealer for advise or inspection- they don't know about a 1980 corvette. LET ME REPEAT THAT- THEY DON'T KNOW JACKSHIT!!! Follow your inner spirit with forum input. lonebull

 

I have not gone to see it up close yet. Was behind it on my bike and took down his number and called. Looked on auto trader and saw it. Just want to sound like I have a clue before I go over there. Also didn't want to waste his time or mine if this was a definite no go. When I do go over I'll take the close ups. If this is like the Harley Davidson forum,you guys can't get enough pictures anyway.

 

I have an 81 and personally like the 1980-1982 body styles; in Socal that price would be a fair ASKING price but I would definitely negotiate the price. I would not start out the negotiations any higher than 12K and see where it goes. If you love the car and the color combo go for it; I think the 80-82 cars will appreciate over time for nice examples and with the chrome bumper cars pricing going crazy its dragging the price of the rubber bumper cars up. Much like the mid-years reaching 50-100K is what is making the C3 generation seem like a bargain. My 81 is number 5 vette for me and since it's my current one its my favorite, my corvettes over the years have been a 1976, 1971 vert, 1972 vert, 1998 vert and now my 1981. So if it makes you happy go for it and no disrespect to the C4 generation but not my choice so the last affordable generation is the C3 IMHO.

 

Not sure who Glenn is but youre welcome for the directions.

 

Oh, sorry Vettebuyer. Didn't mean to leave you out. Thank you too for telling me how to post pictures, but after loading them on photo bucket they were blurry and small when I tried to post them here. Thats where Glenn came in. He logged on to my computer and straightened it out. Again thanks to all for helping me on getting a Corvette.

 

Good job Glenn

 

All this talk about not taking the car to a dealer I believe is wrong...

It all depends on what dealer he is talking about...if he lived in Atlanta and took the car to Buyavette... then he would be doing a very smart thing. They do the inspection with you, go all through the car and tell you what is right and what is wrong. They specialize in all Corvettes. So if he has a place like that in his area I think he would be smart to take the car there

 

IDEALLY... if there is a local, reputable and most importantly KNOWLEDGEABLE shop nearby the seller that specializes in CORVETTES, then I'd make an offer contingent upon inspection. Alternatively, there may be someone right here in this group or someone from a shop who would travel to see the car for a fee. Even if you spent $200 to $300 to have someone come see it on your behalf, it would save you down the road.

Based solely on the pics and the information presented and based on what I see IN the pictures in the background, seems like this is a third car, well cared for, in good condition with lower miles. Low miles does not mean mechanically superb.. means it sits a lot which can result in more issues than high miles.

Overall, for the year, color, condition, description and based on where he's starting price wise, I'm thinking $12 to $13 opening offer. He's expecting to get $14 is my guess. Y0u'll probably land on $13,500

Let's see what happens....