C3 prices
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,311
C3 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C3 prices
I apologize in advance if this subject has been beat to death in the C3 area.
Similar annoying posts appear in the C5 section (I didn't author those).
At least I'm not asking which is the best oil to use.
I just have to bring this up with C3 guys hoping to avoid more disappointment.
My budget is between $6.5K - $8k
I am interested in a 1976 or 1977, L48 or L82 doesn't matter, with auto trans.
Preferably no red interior.
Paint job as a 10 footer is ok, and no rusty frame nonsense.
And I would expect whatever came with the car to be there, and be operational.
If I reach a dead end after a while looking for a '76 or '77,
I probably would expand my search to include the '78 thru '82 model years,
although I'm not a fan of that hatchback look.
Am I dreaming? Seems like when I wasn't looking for one they were finding me.
Similar annoying posts appear in the C5 section (I didn't author those).
At least I'm not asking which is the best oil to use.
I just have to bring this up with C3 guys hoping to avoid more disappointment.
My budget is between $6.5K - $8k
I am interested in a 1976 or 1977, L48 or L82 doesn't matter, with auto trans.
Preferably no red interior.
Paint job as a 10 footer is ok, and no rusty frame nonsense.
And I would expect whatever came with the car to be there, and be operational.
If I reach a dead end after a while looking for a '76 or '77,
I probably would expand my search to include the '78 thru '82 model years,
although I'm not a fan of that hatchback look.
Am I dreaming? Seems like when I wasn't looking for one they were finding me.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,459
Likes: 13
From: Phoenix
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'09
Your range is do-able...just don't expect anything pristine. You may have to do a lot of work on one in that range, but you may get lucky, just be diligent in your search. 
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
"And I would expect whatever came with the car to be there, and be operational."
In that range I would not count on this. Auto transmission should help keep the price down a bit. I think a shade north of that range, say at 10k, you'd get much better cars.
In that range I would not count on this. Auto transmission should help keep the price down a bit. I think a shade north of that range, say at 10k, you'd get much better cars.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,698
Likes: 9
From: Johnson City TN
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,274
Likes: 6
From: Corvetteville USA
I apologize in advance if this subject has been beat to death in the C3 area.
Similar annoying posts appear in the C5 section (I didn't author those).
At least I'm not asking which is the best oil to use.
I just have to bring this up with C3 guys hoping to avoid more disappointment.
My budget is between $6.5K - $8k
I am interested in a 1976 or 1977, L48 or L82 doesn't matter, with auto trans.
Preferably no red interior.
Paint job as a 10 footer is ok, and no rusty frame nonsense.
And I would expect whatever came with the car to be there, and be operational.
If I reach a dead end after a while looking for a '76 or '77,
I probably would expand my search to include the '78 thru '82 model years,
although I'm not a fan of that hatchback look.
Am I dreaming? Seems like when I wasn't looking for one they were finding me.
Similar annoying posts appear in the C5 section (I didn't author those).
At least I'm not asking which is the best oil to use.
I just have to bring this up with C3 guys hoping to avoid more disappointment.
My budget is between $6.5K - $8k
I am interested in a 1976 or 1977, L48 or L82 doesn't matter, with auto trans.
Preferably no red interior.
Paint job as a 10 footer is ok, and no rusty frame nonsense.
And I would expect whatever came with the car to be there, and be operational.
If I reach a dead end after a while looking for a '76 or '77,
I probably would expand my search to include the '78 thru '82 model years,
although I'm not a fan of that hatchback look.
Am I dreaming? Seems like when I wasn't looking for one they were finding me.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3s-...rage-kept.html
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,311
C3 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,311
C3 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
You should try for this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Expand away!!!!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3s-...rage-kept.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3s-...rage-kept.html
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
Your price range is reasonable - there are tons of those years available... especially search in California.... even though it's $1000 to ship it cross country, 76 and newer cars are a tough sell because of their emissions laws (older than 76 is exempt)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,311
C3 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Thanks, that's encouraging to hear. It's not just the $1k shipping, it's the sight unseen aspect of it.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,274
Likes: 6
From: Corvetteville USA
You ain't kidding! Even though the asking price, year, and interior color is a tad off from my criteria, that's definitely a beauty. I even posted in that thread that I thought so. And honestly, that OBO with the price got to me- got me close to sending a PM to the seller. One problem is the car is in TX and I am in FL so it would have to be a sight unseen transaction, plus transportation expense, blah blah blah.
I am in also in FLA and looking to get a C3 as well. We can meet up with our new rides. And if you get that white 79 I want play time on that CB radio!!!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,311
C3 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
If I can get my 1970 for $7k, you can get a '76-'77 for the same price and in better shape.
After registration, new seatbelts, a carb rebuild, and new plugs, I put probably 2,000 miles on mine over the summer and had a blast. It is not perfect. Yes it has SOME rust, but not horrible. More damage was done to the car by NOT driving it and not putting the correct oil/additives in the engine than anything else. But it is soooooooooo cool.
Of course, I was looking for my car for about a year and looking VERY, VERY HARD for a couple months...literally THOUSANDS of ads...before this one single ad came up and I happend to hand the money over first. It takes a combination of time and the ability to strike when it comes along (cash in hand and a trailer to load it onto).
Patience, Grasshopper.
After registration, new seatbelts, a carb rebuild, and new plugs, I put probably 2,000 miles on mine over the summer and had a blast. It is not perfect. Yes it has SOME rust, but not horrible. More damage was done to the car by NOT driving it and not putting the correct oil/additives in the engine than anything else. But it is soooooooooo cool.
Of course, I was looking for my car for about a year and looking VERY, VERY HARD for a couple months...literally THOUSANDS of ads...before this one single ad came up and I happend to hand the money over first. It takes a combination of time and the ability to strike when it comes along (cash in hand and a trailer to load it onto).
Patience, Grasshopper.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,311
C3 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Arizona
I just picked up my '74 auto trans running with all good original interior and motor for $5k. granted it had a lifter ticking sound, but it was a steal. So It is possible, but I have been looking for a deal like this for years! Don't give up and keep looking!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 91,518
Likes: 173
From: o|||||||o
CI 4-5-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '11
About a year and a half ago, I bought my '76 for around $4k. It runs, drives and stops. It's a 10' car, and I'm OK with that. I wanted a driver and that's what I have. It's not perfect, and I've thrown some parts at it, and that's OK. I wasn't looking for a $10k plus show car that I'd be afraid to drive.
G'luck!
G'luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
It seems there's a huge difference between an $8,000 car and a $10,000 car in that year range. I was looking for an '80-'82 hoping to spend $8,000 max. but it seemed like for $2,000 more I could get a car that was complete and needed nothing (major). So I saved up a little more money and got a great car.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Austell Georgia
You shouldn't have any problem finding what you're looking for in that price range if you have patience. Expand your search a little to include Ala, Ga Tn North and South Carolina. Not bad trips from Fla....unless you're down near Miami. Good luck