Opinions Needed
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 7
From: Sherman Oaks CA
Opinions Needed
Ok, so I'm a NOOB here, and would like some opinions on purchasing a certain C3.
The seller is asking 28K for a 1970 roadster, 350/300, 4 speed, PS, PB, PW, Laguna Grey, All original, everything working and appearing pretty darn clean except the clock. I personally checked the car out and it LOOKS great, and runs great. But I'm no expert. I do have the ability to bring an expert mechanic to check it out, which I will definitely do. My question is:
In what condition should the car be to fetch 28K? Is this particular car even WORTH that if in mint condition? NADA is WAY over IMO.
The seller is asking 28K for a 1970 roadster, 350/300, 4 speed, PS, PB, PW, Laguna Grey, All original, everything working and appearing pretty darn clean except the clock. I personally checked the car out and it LOOKS great, and runs great. But I'm no expert. I do have the ability to bring an expert mechanic to check it out, which I will definitely do. My question is:
In what condition should the car be to fetch 28K? Is this particular car even WORTH that if in mint condition? NADA is WAY over IMO.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,108
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MG,
WELCOME!!!
If the car is as nice as you describe the price isn't too high. 70, 4-speed, convertibles, are quite desirable.
What do you mean when you say "all original"?
It's an excellent idea to have a mechanic look the car over, but even a better idea to have a person very familiar with 70 Corvettes look at it in detail. Even if you have to pay someone to do that it'll put your mind at ease about spending all that money.
If you could post some pictures folks could give you their impressions of what they see.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
WELCOME!!!
If the car is as nice as you describe the price isn't too high. 70, 4-speed, convertibles, are quite desirable.
What do you mean when you say "all original"?
It's an excellent idea to have a mechanic look the car over, but even a better idea to have a person very familiar with 70 Corvettes look at it in detail. Even if you have to pay someone to do that it'll put your mind at ease about spending all that money.
If you could post some pictures folks could give you their impressions of what they see.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 7
From: Sherman Oaks CA
Hi MG,
WELCOME!!!
If the car is as nice as you describe the price isn't too high. 70, 4-speed, convertibles, are quite desirable.
What do you mean when you say "all original"?
It's an excellent idea to have a mechanic look the car over, but even a better idea to have a person very familiar with 70 Corvettes look at it in detail. Even if you have to pay someone to do that it'll put your mind at ease about spending all that money.
If you could post some pictures folks could give you their impressions of what they see.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
WELCOME!!!
If the car is as nice as you describe the price isn't too high. 70, 4-speed, convertibles, are quite desirable.
What do you mean when you say "all original"?
It's an excellent idea to have a mechanic look the car over, but even a better idea to have a person very familiar with 70 Corvettes look at it in detail. Even if you have to pay someone to do that it'll put your mind at ease about spending all that money.
If you could post some pictures folks could give you their impressions of what they see.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
The car being original means it has not been restored, but is in very new-looking shape.
Here are some photos:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 50
From: Laguna Niguel California
Yes, have a Corvette specialist look at it. The seller is probably a very honorable person, but there are a lot of things that you may not be aware of being new to these old dinosaurs. Again, find a Corvette specialist, the best general mechanic may not know the things to look for.
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 1
From: Boca Raton FL
I have a '69 but I don't believe that the steering wheel is original and looks like from a newer year. Definitely have a corvette specialist who is very familiar with '70 year look at it for you. The car does look beautiful and I always loved Laguna Gray.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 7
From: Sherman Oaks CA
Yes, I mentioned the steering wheel to the seller, and he has the original along with a lot of other parts including the protecto plate in a box that goes with the car.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...Is this particular car even WORTH that if in mint condition?...
Ask the seller how the chassis stamps were verified? One cannot be seen with the body on the frame; the other is difficult to see even in the best conditions. Possible, but difficult.
Looks like a nice 70 to me. Good luck.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Sep 21, 2012 at 09:45 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 2
From: Nixa Missouri
Excellent and original with documentation. This car is close, but is not original. $28K is a bit high.
That is entirely up to you. Do you want this Corvette?
Ask the seller how the chassis stamps were verified? One cannot be seen with the body on the frame; the other is difficult to see even in the best conditions. Possible, but difficult.
Looks like a nice 70 to me. Good luck.
That is entirely up to you. Do you want this Corvette?
Ask the seller how the chassis stamps were verified? One cannot be seen with the body on the frame; the other is difficult to see even in the best conditions. Possible, but difficult.
Looks like a nice 70 to me. Good luck.
Very nice looking car but not for 28K. If it had a BB in the engine bay then maybe yes. You might ask the owner about the direct drive mounted flex cooling fan as opposed to having the original clutch fan for the radiator. He or they may have switch to that style for cooling reasons. Red flag maybe??Do your homework on this one.
I myself would be very interested in this car.
Keep us up to date on your findings.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 1,929
From: Temple Terrace Florida
70
I agree with the above. Have a specialist look the car over. At the very least, the upper control arm bushings should be changed. Depending upon your mechanical abilities, you could change them out yourself. Jerry
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
This term is meaningless as restamps have 'matching numbers' too. Just looking quickly at the underhood pics I see all sorts of incorrect replacement parts. Bubba has installed a flexfan and eliminated the clutch fan. 
The underbody and frame are not in top shape.
This is not a 28K car to me as-is.
The underbody and frame are not in top shape.This is not a 28K car to me as-is.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 7
From: Sherman Oaks CA
You guys are GOOD! Based on the little bit of information here (fan, etc) and after having told the guy that I was going to hire a mobile Corvette appraiser to come out to test the car, I got him down to 20K as the car is now. Not sure if I'll actually do that since I STILL think I'm going to have the mobile appraiser come out. But it's a good direction.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,108
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MG,
The car still looks interesting to me.
A drop in price of that amount, and that quickly, makes me curious to know just what the car actually is. Besides curious, it also makes me a little nervous.
This development is even more reason to have a person very experienced with 70 Corvettes look at it closely. This may be quite a good deal, so he'll be worth his fee, or it may be quite a bad deal, and he'll be worth his fee.
Still, a lot to like in 70 4-speed convertibles
A couple of pictures of the engine's stamp pad would be good to see.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
The car still looks interesting to me.
A drop in price of that amount, and that quickly, makes me curious to know just what the car actually is. Besides curious, it also makes me a little nervous.
This development is even more reason to have a person very experienced with 70 Corvettes look at it closely. This may be quite a good deal, so he'll be worth his fee, or it may be quite a bad deal, and he'll be worth his fee.
Still, a lot to like in 70 4-speed convertibles
A couple of pictures of the engine's stamp pad would be good to see.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 7
From: Sherman Oaks CA
Hi MG,
The car still looks interesting to me.
A drop in price of that amount, and that quickly, makes me curious to know just what the car actually is. Besides curious, it also makes me a little nervous.
This development is even more reason to have a person very experienced with 70 Corvettes look at it closely. This may be quite a good deal, so he'll be worth his fee, or it may be quite a bad deal, and he'll be worth his fee.
Still, a lot to like in 70 4-speed convertibles
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
The car still looks interesting to me.
A drop in price of that amount, and that quickly, makes me curious to know just what the car actually is. Besides curious, it also makes me a little nervous.
This development is even more reason to have a person very experienced with 70 Corvettes look at it closely. This may be quite a good deal, so he'll be worth his fee, or it may be quite a bad deal, and he'll be worth his fee.
Still, a lot to like in 70 4-speed convertibles
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
The reason the guy wants to sell so fast is that he first of all, is buying a house and wants money for down payment. Also, he realizes that with the impending holidays upon us, he's not likely to move this car any time soon even if it IS worth the $$ in the long run.... Simply put, he's motivated to sell at this point. I've seen the service records, and the car has been in his family since 1976.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,108
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MG,
I think an informed person's look is needed to establish a couple of things about the car... first, the legitimacy of the stamp pad, trim tag, and VIN tag.
And secondly, just how much of the car still has the SAME parts it left St. Louis with.
These things will have a big part in determining what you should pay for it.
Finally, someone needs to look at the rust situation. Even nice cars can have gotten rusty and that would spoil this.
Regards,
Alan
I think an informed person's look is needed to establish a couple of things about the car... first, the legitimacy of the stamp pad, trim tag, and VIN tag.
And secondly, just how much of the car still has the SAME parts it left St. Louis with.
These things will have a big part in determining what you should pay for it.
Finally, someone needs to look at the rust situation. Even nice cars can have gotten rusty and that would spoil this.
Regards,
Alan
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Everywhere US
Really nice looking rdstr ..... I too love the color .......unless your inspector finds something we can't see, you may be on to a pretty great find ......
I agree ... it does probably need underside attention, including suspension service ....
Good Luck !!!
I agree ... it does probably need underside attention, including suspension service ....
Good Luck !!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Is that fan shroud right? Looks like an earlier one. I'm starting to wonder is the car was hit in the nose. Fan, shroud, over spray...
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 329
Likes: 55
From: Winfield West Virginia
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
You guys are GOOD! Based on the little bit of information here (fan, etc) and after having told the guy that I was going to hire a mobile Corvette appraiser to come out to test the car, I got him down to 20K as the car is now. Not sure if I'll actually do that since I STILL think I'm going to have the mobile appraiser come out. But it's a good direction.
Jim