I've been looking for a nice chrome bumper in the $20K price range for about a year now that could be a fair weather daily driver.
Was hoping to find my convertible silver/gray with red interior, but no luck. However, I have found a nice, original '72 steel cities gray/black, auto, PS, PB, small block, coupe, with 66K miles from the second owner who is local.
Very nice body, 8/10 interior, motor is sound and runs nice. Has a few issues I know of now: needs distributer hoses reattached, needs the AC put back on, wiper door wants to open but doesn't, and hood release cable just snapped yesterday when the owner went to change the oil. I have an appointment with a local corvette shop to do a thorough inspection later this week to see if there is anything else I need to know.
My question to all of you with experience: Am I nuts to sell/trade my reliable and comfortable 2005 F150 Lariat (101K miles), which has been my daily driver, for this '72? I've had the truck since late '05 and I'm ready for something different. I do have an '04 Jeep Cherokee for bad weather days or days the vette needs a rest/repair, but I had planned on driving the vette as often as possible.
The way I'm trying to justify it: The truck is losing value everyday, currently KBB at between $14K and $16K, with expensive parts/repairs potentially in the future. The '72 is holding value if not gaining value.
What do you guys think? I can't afford to keep both.
Is the 'dream' of owning a classic vette and driving it daily, better than the reality of it?
Even though I'm crazy for the classic chrome bumper looks/style/rarity around here, should I think more realistically and look more into the C5? The C5 is a nice looking car, but I see tons of them around town and they really don't 'speak' to me like the C3.

 

I wouldn't advise trading a good DD for a C3 unless you have another DD...Just sayin' !

 

If the `72 checks out under scrutiny- sounds like a nice car with the normal little issues that a 40 year old car has. You've got the Jeep for bad weather days - - so why not?

 

I think the idea of using the c3 as a dd is better than the reality. I do think the car can handle it though. I have a C4 that I drive a lot. It's been extremely reliable but even at 20 yrs old, the cars age is showing. Lately, plastic interior parts breaking. I went thru the cars suspension and replaced the clutch, radiator, and gave it new ignition parts. This car still delivers 23+ mpg. But I find the novelty of the ride as a daily driver wears off and I'm perfectly content hopping in the Honda insight which gives 45 mpg for my 32 mile commute to work. I also own an 01 f150, it is a smoother ride than my C4 but way worse gas mileage.
Having your jeep as a backup is a real good idea. My 72 will never be more than a boulevard cruiser. Its for times when I just have to get my corvette thrill.

 

I think your justification may be a little optimistic. While the '72 may hold or gain value "as is", that doesn't necessarily hold true when you start racking up lots of miles on it. The wear and tear on a DD won't be any better on a C3 than on your truck, and the only way to offset that is time and $$$$ to maintain it's current state.

For the uses you describe, I believe you would be much happier with the C5. You'll have the creature comforts you're use to, and a well maintained LS will run dependably for a very long time ... and give you power on demand.

 

The vette will defiantly do something the f150 won't. Put a huge smile on your face.

 

The F150 is also going to be a disapointment when you find out 5-8K is the real value. Buy the Corvette anyway.

 

Trade it before he comes to his senses....

however, that does bring up an interesting question. If someone were to be willing to trade a Ford for a Chevy; are they in their right mind? and as they probably aren't (my assertion), perhaps there's something really wrong with the car


keep us informed

 

Thank you all for the replies.
I may have mislead by my 'trade' verbage. I have not asked the owner of the '72 for an actual 'trade', car for car. In my mind I was thinking of selling the truck to Carmax and then putting that money towards the '72.
To me, that's 'trading' one vehicle for another.

 

2005 F150 Lariat, 5.4 L Triton, Super Crew Cab, with all upgrades, leather interior, 6 CD player, GPS, 4x4, 20" chrome rims on new Pirelli tires, Ford spray on bed liner.....worth a bit more than $5-$8K.

 

Get the Vette and buyer a beater. [/thread]

 

I'd make the Jeep your DD and keep the Vette as a cruiser. I know this sounds "whacked" to people who don't understand Corvettes (my wife is included in that group ), but if you make the Vette your DD - the thrill of driving it diminishes accordingly. The eventual wear and tear will cost you money and drive you nuts.

I'll take the '80 out on beautiful sunny days when I'm off from work. Which isn't often. My DD is a Toyota Yaris. Don't laugh. Gas is almost $6.00 a gallon here and every time I drive it, I'm thumbing my nose at Big Oil. That is until the Vette is on the road.

 

Very true!
I've been driving the truck for 7 years now and time for a change. Ready to trade the trunk in for something else. Don't really need another truck (not hauling as much stuff as I used to) and the gas mileage is poor (although I know the vette won't be that much better in terms of mpg).
I'm thinking now is the time to try something totally different and the opportunity for this '72 came up at just the right time.
I've never owned a hotrod or sports car before and figured now could be the time. Chrome bumper vette is truly the only sports car I would want. Late model C5 or early C6 (only ones I could possibly afford) are a very distant second choice, and only because the are 'vette's, not because of their they're styling. Maybe its because there are just so many of them out there and most of the guys I see driving them are either old men or 'tools' (snobby looking preppy/lawyer types), no offense to anyone here of course .
Ideally, I'd love to be able to afford a restomod, body of the chrome bumper but the upgrades/conveniences of a newer drivetrain/interior.
I know I've enjoyed the test drives I've taken in the '72, but not sure how that feeling holds up day after day, week after week, and so on considering the nature/options of a car of this age, especially when stepping down from the 'luxury' of the fully optioned truck for so long.

 

You guys are definitely right. Driving the '72 vette sparingly makes most sense for many reasons. However, I promised the wife that if I traded the truck, it would be for something that I would drive, not a garage trophy.
I know ....a C3 is really not the right choice for this application then. But damn, its such a cool car

 

I really love driving my car. And I ESPECIALLY love it when I think of the alternative...my '05 Expedition. Not that my truck is bad...it is a little long in the tooth...but the car is just SOOOOOOO much more fun to drive.

Mostly because it's a CAR and not a big lumbering truck, but partly because it is simply awesome. A race car for the road.

That said, I could not FATHOM having to 'count' on my 1970 Corvette to get me to and from work. Rain or shine. Day after day. That just seems mean. Not to mention that my car, for one reason or another, has spent about half its life in some type of 'non-functional' state. Even when running, I'm chasing exhaust leaks, loose wires, and other little widgets that come with the 'pleasure' of owning this type of car.

I'm not complaining. I enjoy working on the car almost as much as I enjoy driving it. And everything I do to the car brings it one step closer to being totally awesome. My unexpected engine rebuilt is going on right now, so we'll see where this road leads me.

If you're hellbent on doing this, you'll need another car to drive. At the very least for when the 'Vette ISN'T driving. Either that or get a C5. Even a late C4 will hold up better in daily use. They aren't as cool, but they're still loads of fun.

 

I love driving my C3, but it'll never be a DD. It's not that it isn't 100% more reliable than any of the DDs in my first 15 years of car ownership, but I hate having to worry about my car when I need to focus on life.

So go for it! buy your dream car, let your wife mock (mine does) all the while she's mocking you'll be in a Corvette

 

We bought a C5 new, and while it was always a nice car, I could never compare it to a nice C3 as a "cool car" for pleasure driving. It said Corvette on it, but all it was was a dependable driver that was comfortable, fast and the air worked.

2 100% completely different uses. The C5 was a great car for driving, but it wasn't much different than an Impala or another used performance car. The C3 is all styling and cool, but came with it the obligatory old car unreliability.

Pick one.

I can't address the pickup. I've never even driven one.

 

I couldn't see myself using my '75 as a DD. I absolutely love driving it, but my experience is that no matter how good things are, you get used to them and can start to take them for granted. I drive the vette when the weather's good and I'm in a good mood, it's exciting every time I take her out.

I don't think of my car as a garage queen, quite the contrary - since getting it we've been loads more places and met loads of nice people. Just this past weekend my wife said "I'm glad we're taking the Corvette - we always have fun in that."

I say get the Vette and a cheap very basic DD that's going to be reliable. That way you always have a car to fall back on if one needs fixing. My rule of thumb is that no car is good at everything, but never ever buy a car that isn't really good at something - your DD will be good because its so frugal and you'll appreciate that. And your Vette will be good because its awesome and puts smiles on people's faces!

 

I would not rely on my 71 as a daily driver. My buick lacks fun as a DD, but its reliable and comfortable.

As you peel back the layers of your 72, you'll likely find it needs more parts and maintenance than you expect. Plus, you can't just go to autozone or napa to get them, they have to be mail ordered.

Buy the car, drive it alot, use the jeep for work. OOORRRRRRRRR sell the jeep, they retain value better than most cars, keep the truck, buy the 72.

 

Sell the pickup. The mileage is high and it's approaching steep depreciation. Use the Jeep for a daily driver. If the Vette checks out it will make a nice toy that will maintain it's value and be a nice occasional driver.