74 Corvette Big Block
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
other than doing the obvious such as making sure everything on the car works, the killer is rust. unless you have extensive experience with these cars, you'll need a corvette experts help in evaluating the car. these cars are 40 years old, and everything can be a problem. get help.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
In regards to the rust issues mentioned earlier...........this will be item #1 to watch out for on any C3 you want to buy, and on any of the rubber bumper cars (73+) as a severely rusted out frame and/or birdcage makes them uneconomical to buy and repair.........I had a 1974 coupe with several of the issues that you will eventually read about here on this site, but that was back in 1982, before the numerous problems were as well known as they are today, and before the internet existed. GOOGLE........"Corvette birdcage rust" or "Corvette frame rust" and start reading..........
You've found the right place for information...........
Spend as much time as you can on this site before doing anything.
Never buy the first car, or the tenth car, you look at.
Spend as much time on this site as you can before doing anything.
When in doubt about something, ask someone on this site, or hire an expert.
Spend as much time on this site as you can before doing anything.
Buying a bad car will put you upside down financially really fast.
Spend as much time on this site as you can before doing anything.
Welcome and enjoy the reading here..........!!
You've found the right place for information...........
Spend as much time as you can on this site before doing anything.
Never buy the first car, or the tenth car, you look at.
Spend as much time on this site as you can before doing anything.
When in doubt about something, ask someone on this site, or hire an expert.
Spend as much time on this site as you can before doing anything.
Buying a bad car will put you upside down financially really fast.
Spend as much time on this site as you can before doing anything.
Welcome and enjoy the reading here..........!!
Last edited by 10caipirinhas; Feb 11, 2012 at 04:11 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Highly unlikely, unless it was delivered DOA to a barn, sometime in 1977. Look...the mileage on a 38 year old car is completely irrelevant. The $7k asking price, which I refer to as the price of admission, is also completely irrelevant. You could easily spend way more than that just making the car a reliable driver, then into a beauty queen, then into a museum piece. 
On the other hand, if the frame is badly rusted, like in beyond repair, then you pretty much wasted $7k, unless you decide to keep throwing good money after bad. I spoke to an experienced vette dealer who bought a C3 at an auction, without looking underneath, just because it looked good up top. When he got it back to the shop and put it on a lift, the frame snapped in two. Even the experts can get fooled if they are in a hurry.
On the other hand, if the frame is badly rusted, like in beyond repair, then you pretty much wasted $7k, unless you decide to keep throwing good money after bad. I spoke to an experienced vette dealer who bought a C3 at an auction, without looking underneath, just because it looked good up top. When he got it back to the shop and put it on a lift, the frame snapped in two. Even the experts can get fooled if they are in a hurry.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: San Jose CA
:rof l:You will find ALL Corvettes for sale have less than 100,000 miles. Usually followed by the "prior owner said that is correct."
There are 5 digits on the odometer. Probably rolled over 5 or more times. More likely 541,000 miles than 41,000.
As previous poster stated, condition of car and not mileage is important. Rare exception is a car fully documented since new with repair receipts.
Last edited by Clubby99; Feb 11, 2012 at 08:20 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 476
Likes: 6
Have someone you trust go over the car completely on a hoist.Take the time before you buy.A little money spent now can save a great deal later.In the Corvette world there are very few deals that you do not pay for a few weeks later.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Uhhhh.... The interior wouldn't be worn out if it only had 41K miles on it. 
But, with 40 years on the clock, 141K isn't all that bad....unless nothing has been done to maintain the car. A car with high mileage needs to be checked out for mechanical issues (engine, trans, steering, suspension, brakes, etc.). If those items haven't been maintained, you have a lot of expensive and/or time consuming work on your hands.
But, with 40 years on the clock, 141K isn't all that bad....unless nothing has been done to maintain the car. A car with high mileage needs to be checked out for mechanical issues (engine, trans, steering, suspension, brakes, etc.). If those items haven't been maintained, you have a lot of expensive and/or time consuming work on your hands.
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 8
From: Atlanta Ga
I am wondering if the car is blue,with the front bumper off(but has a new one ready to install) with interior that isn't installed...located in North Carolina... if so... The car does look good and was a good purchase... if not...I would love to see the car...PICS!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
When I bought my car, the clock read 36530 miles. The seller swore those were the "actual" miles. Now mine has 41375, and I swear, those are the "actual" miles. The one thing I don't know is, how many times that thing rolled over, but I'm guessing at least once.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
No thats not the car...
It currently painted black. Original color was corvette orange.
Im picking the car up on friday n will get a bunch of pics....
Then you all can tell me if I did good or bad...lol
It currently painted black. Original color was corvette orange.
Im picking the car up on friday n will get a bunch of pics....
Then you all can tell me if I did good or bad...lol