I haven't been a member of the forum very long and I have already come to the realization that it is a MIRACLE that there are any C3 Corvettes on the road....
It's unbelievable, all the horror stories of bizarre, twisted, quirky things that plague these mystical beauties. Now, if and when we make it home.....or are able to leave for a pleasant drive thru the country side and NOTHING has gone wrong, burned up, shorted out, fell off, broke, started rattling, squeaking, grinding, squealing, dinging or stuck...melted, cracked, chipped, came undone, leaked, ran over, or popped..... jammed, froze, stopped and then started working....started then stopped working, clicked, snapped, or shut off, if it hasn't failed, pinched or poked.... I am Thrilled, Surprised, Amazed and Thankful I don't have to get on line and go to the forum to see who has experienced the same fate and betrayal from our fiber glass chariots. And for the most part THESE are the nice ones.....the ones that get coddled and cared for.....I guess the rest are parts cars, abandoned along some lonely stretch of hiway.....or in your neighbors garage, heck in your own garage........... waiting for some sucker, wanna be restorer to come along with pipe dreams of having this wonderful, trophy car that will dazzle, and impress the daily traveler down lifes dismal, mundane road. WE are the insane ......doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.....it is what it is!
And we wouldn't have it any other way.......or would we?

PS....Is that why people buy C4, C5, and C6's? Just sayin...

Over 100 corvettes at the show last Saturday...5 were C3s Hmmmmmm?

 

nope we wouldn't it has been disgust before. Our corvette c3 addiction/disease has no known cure as of yet. If they do ever invent one i imagine that we would all band together and toss him off a cliff at the same time as we burn his miracle cure as if it never happened!

 

Some of what you see is self inflicted. Between "improvements" and prior "Bubba fixes" - save us from ourselves!

 

Well, I don't know what percentage of C5/C6 owners actually "work" on their cars (as opposed to taking it to the detailer to get ready for a show). Not nearly as high a percentage as C3 owners, I'm betting.

But, lots of that bunch go to the car shows. I was at a car show last year where 14 C5/6's drove in and parked together, showing their cars for 3-4 hours. Then, they just drove off...because NONE of them had paid an entry fee for a charity show. Now, that's just wrong!

Anyway, there is a difference between the average C1/2/3/4 owner and the average C5/6 owner, IMO. But I see the latter group as being more for social purposes...trips, parties, etc...and the former group as being 'caretakers' for their vintage cars.

 

 

C6 is my daily driver due to the fact that if anything happens the local dealership has more almost identical waiting to replace it. My c3 is the garage queen.

 

I understand. But which do you prefer to work on? I'm betting that you are a lover of the C3 but do your daily driving and go on weekend drives/overnights with the newer one. Nothing wrong with that at all; but that's the pattern I've seen with C3 vs. newer Corvette owners.

But, with both, you get to do whatever you want! And, as far as the type of person/attitude you have, I'm guessing you're more of a "C3-type guy" who also really likes the modern auto technology. Heck, if I had the buck$ (and the garage space), I'd get me a C6, too.

 

By definition, C5's and C6's are younger cars, and tend not to have as many age related issues.
That being said, I own a C3 because I love the way they look. And it provides me with a never ending list of projects to keep me busy and out of trouble.
Seriously, if I wasn't able to work on my car, I wouldn't be happy.

 

Hi,
Will ANYONE be able to work on a C6 in their HOME GARAGE in 35 years?
What will the parts availability be like?
Regards,
Alan

 

When I am out for a drive and I pass another C3 there is allways a wave or a nod, aknowlegment of respect for another owner with grease under his nails and bruised knuckles from keeping these beautifully unique vehicles on the road. My car has become like one of my kids, I celebrate its sucesses and mourn its failures, it makes me amazingly happy sometimes and drives me insane sometimes. I guess its because we are who we are we do what we do.

 

Where I live, it's nothing to see Ferraris, Porsches and whatnot on the streets and in the gas stations on the summer weekends, but I still get loads of waves, thumbs up and recognition from everyone from car freaks to 5 year old kids.

If I pass a C5 or C6 on the road there's rarely any acknowledgment at all.

I love my car with the same heat I had for it when I was too young or too poor to afford it and its about the curves, the smells and even the squeaks. A friend once described it as a "visceral" experience and I agree.

 

Hold on to your seats........this could be a bumpy ride.
I didn't mean for this to be a us vs. them thread...
Our C3's are the middle child.......of course the older ones are the "only" ones, the "golden child" and the younger ones are "spoiled" full of **** and vinegar.
Then here we are....still trying to find our identity, looking up to our 63 split window sister or our 67 Big Block brother.... looking at our spoiled little 500HP Z06 baby brother .... or the sleek little LT4 brat sister..
but, you know what we are FAMILY......Corvettes, and at the end of the day the FERRARI and PORSCHE family, the MUSTANG and MOPAR family can fuss and feud about whose is bigger and better but, we know deep down inside they all want to be part of the Corvette family......I love them all and think they are all cool.....(some cooler, than others) and what a gift to be able to own, work, and enjoy one......I am glad to be a proud guardian of a C3

 

[QUOTE=Gilded_Splinters;1580515877]
If I pass a C5 or C6 on the road there's rarely any acknowledgment at all.

It's hard to wave when you are hermeticly sealed inside your car...

 

[QUOTE=U17;1580515910]That's funny..wondered why they didn't wave or at least shoot me the finger?

 

i cannot get comfortable with the window closed so it makes it easier to wave to people.this is no excuse for the snob or those with issues.i find i get a greeting from almost all vintage car people.

 

When I was looking for my car (Birthday Gift From My Wife)there were a few things to consider...Do I want to hang with the guys at Cars and Coffee, drive without the t-tops on, get my nails dirty or is this a social GTG where the woman want the top on, the A/C or heater on ,comfort convienance and the certanty of no problems whilst cruising? My Wife in her Wisdom said " This should be about You and being with like minded MEN!" No woman , stuffed animals, pee breaks,or concerns about "Where will we Eat?" C1 and C2 were a bit out of the budget, C4 5 and 6 too common and computered...I'm Hardcore C3 youll never find me parked at Hobby Lobby while my Woman is buying stuff for Scrapbooking or parked at the Mall! ( you won't find her doing chick stuff either, she 's got her own fun stuff) Bottom line lots of Girls have C5 and 6's but it takes a man to handle a Shark ! I've been married for 31 years and My Woman and her Wisdom is the reason why!

 

I say "take your top off and leave it off" ... Of course sometimes I get slapped... But at least I can wave at other Corvettes ....

 

I refer to Cars and Coffee as a" Gathering of The Tribes" never confortable in the other Tribal areas, friendly with them but don't want to be mistaken for anything but a BowTiebsmen!

 

[QUOTE=73Corvette;1580515899]Hold on to your seats........this could be a bumpy ride.

Our C3's are the middle child.......of course the older ones are the "only" ones, the "golden child" and the younger ones are "spoiled" full of **** and vinegar.
Then here we are....still trying to find our identity, looking up to our 63 split window sister or our 67 Big Block brother[IMG]
but, you know what we are FAMILY......Corvettes, and at the end of the day the FERRARI and PORSCHE family, the MUSTANG and MOPAR family can fuss and feud about whose is bigger and better but, we know deep down inside they all want to be part of the Corvette family.

Great analogy... This vette family, disfunctional though it may be, is pretty dang cool.

 

I bought my C3 first. Wanted a car to fix up and put on the road. While gearing up to work on it I thought - hey, why don't I get a C4 or C5 for my daily driver and I can work on it too. So I did. Love driving the C5 and waiving to my Corvette Brothers and Sisters. It has quirks and does take a bit of work to keep everything working.

But I can't frikkin' wait to get the C3 on the road! The target date is July 4th and THAT will be a very special day.