C3 Milage / Odometer question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 2
C3 Milage / Odometer question
At the risk of asking an dumb question, whats the general approach to verifying the mileage of a C3 given that the odometer only has 6 numbers? What happens when the car's tick over form 99,999miles? Do they magically become new again and reset to 00,000, Back to the Future style? 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 4
From: Okinawa Okinawa
I'm sure mine has 76K and not 176K. Actually, since I put in all new gauges, my vette has 1,400 original miles on it.
No way to verify unless you have paperwork from PO that shows mileage at 99K then others w/ a later date that shows 12K.
No way to verify unless you have paperwork from PO that shows mileage at 99K then others w/ a later date that shows 12K.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,287
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi S,
I think a good way to judge mileage is to look carefully at the car.
Low mileage cars often have much/some of their original interior parts. For example the brake and clutch rubber pads will show some, but not a lot of wear.
Also on the chassis, a low mileage car may still have it's original springs, ball joints and shocks.
On the exterior a low mileage car may well have it's original glass and show minimal stone nicks.
If you stand back and let the car speak it'll often tell you if it has gone 31,000 miles or 131,000 miles.
Things tend to look worn, but not worn out. Be aware of parts that seem to be quite new, and consider why they may have been replaced on a relatively low mileage car.
Regards,
Alan
I think a good way to judge mileage is to look carefully at the car.
Low mileage cars often have much/some of their original interior parts. For example the brake and clutch rubber pads will show some, but not a lot of wear.
Also on the chassis, a low mileage car may still have it's original springs, ball joints and shocks.
On the exterior a low mileage car may well have it's original glass and show minimal stone nicks.
If you stand back and let the car speak it'll often tell you if it has gone 31,000 miles or 131,000 miles.
Things tend to look worn, but not worn out. Be aware of parts that seem to be quite new, and consider why they may have been replaced on a relatively low mileage car.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
At the risk of asking an dumb question, whats the general approach to verifying the mileage of a C3 given that the odometer only has 6 numbers? What happens when the car's tick over form 99,999miles? Do they magically become new again and reset to 00,000, Back to the Future style?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,684
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
Personally, I don't believe the miles showing on most old Corvettes, is accurate.
Just about any car that was traded into a dealer, in the 60's, 70's or 80's; got "clocked". It was very common for dealers (and private sellers) to roll back odometers. It use to be that a year old car, traded in with 20,000 miles on it, would show up a week later on a dealer's lot showing 15,000 miles.
In the 70's, some states started recording the mileage on titles, when ever ownership changed. It took other states another 20 years, to start tracking miles, and many still don't on older cars.
30 years ago, you never saw a used car with over 100,000 miles on it. Go look at a car lot today, and it's common to see cars with 125,000 or 150,000 miles.
An old Corvette, showing 75,000 miles, may not have 175,000 on it, but very likely has 125,000 on it.
Just about any car that was traded into a dealer, in the 60's, 70's or 80's; got "clocked". It was very common for dealers (and private sellers) to roll back odometers. It use to be that a year old car, traded in with 20,000 miles on it, would show up a week later on a dealer's lot showing 15,000 miles.
In the 70's, some states started recording the mileage on titles, when ever ownership changed. It took other states another 20 years, to start tracking miles, and many still don't on older cars.
30 years ago, you never saw a used car with over 100,000 miles on it. Go look at a car lot today, and it's common to see cars with 125,000 or 150,000 miles.
An old Corvette, showing 75,000 miles, may not have 175,000 on it, but very likely has 125,000 on it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 2
I thought this would be an interesting, somewhat humorous topic of conjecture.
I would think that a Vette with 30,000 miles would be noticeably "fresher" particularly in the interior than a 130,000mile Vette but it's an interesting conundrum none the less. What's to say some of the wear isn't from 30+ years as opposed to 100k+ miles.
The Vette I'm looking at is in very good condition for a 33year old car. Appears to have the original paint and minimal stone chips for example. It's had it's exhaust replaced (which I guess could be 30+ years of rust) and the front shocks have also been replaced but otherwise it seems original and well kept.
So items to check would be handbrake, clutch pedal (mins an auto), I'd imagine at 100k+ the steering wheel would have that smooth feel to it.
Under the bonnet I'd also imagine that a 100k+ car would show some signs of thermal baking on certain parts (eg: the under side of the bonnet)?
Anything else you experienced Vetter's look for when validating the odometer on a C3?
I would think that a Vette with 30,000 miles would be noticeably "fresher" particularly in the interior than a 130,000mile Vette but it's an interesting conundrum none the less. What's to say some of the wear isn't from 30+ years as opposed to 100k+ miles.
The Vette I'm looking at is in very good condition for a 33year old car. Appears to have the original paint and minimal stone chips for example. It's had it's exhaust replaced (which I guess could be 30+ years of rust) and the front shocks have also been replaced but otherwise it seems original and well kept.
So items to check would be handbrake, clutch pedal (mins an auto), I'd imagine at 100k+ the steering wheel would have that smooth feel to it.
Under the bonnet I'd also imagine that a 100k+ car would show some signs of thermal baking on certain parts (eg: the under side of the bonnet)?
Anything else you experienced Vetter's look for when validating the odometer on a C3?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
A careful look at the undercarriage can often give you a very rough idea of the amount of miles on the car. A high milage car will have more dirt, rust, scratches from the service lift, etc. If you look at a bunch of cars, after a while, you will be able to make an educated guess.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
A careful look at the undercarriage can often give you a very rough idea of the amount of miles on the car. A high milage car will have more dirt, rust, scratches from the service lift, etc. If you look at a bunch of cars, after a while, you will be able to make an educated guess.
You can't poke a finger through the rust in the rocker channel of a low miles C3. But you sure can if you add another 100,000 miles to it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
From: pensacola fl
I was always told by an uncle in the car business that the numbers would not line up correctly after the odometer turned over. I don,t know how true that is, coming from a car dealer or salesman but it could be something to look at.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
yup, hard to believe some of the low milages.
I have 84k, orig owner.
when you consider the maint req'd, high cost of repair, narrow
field of qualified mechanics, it is not hard to believe they are parked a lot of the time.
I guess the important thing is if the motor looks unmolested and
testing shows good compression and clean plugs.
I don't know any other way to validate the milage.
I have 84k, orig owner.
when you consider the maint req'd, high cost of repair, narrow
field of qualified mechanics, it is not hard to believe they are parked a lot of the time.
I guess the important thing is if the motor looks unmolested and
testing shows good compression and clean plugs.
I don't know any other way to validate the milage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
The general approach IMHO should be to pretty much ignore odometer readings on old cars, unless backed up with ample documentation. Besides, vehicle condition trumps low miles anyway, no?
Caveat emptor.
Caveat emptor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 331
From: Clear Lake Shores Texas
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Mileage
It's a really interesting question. I just bought a 72 with supposedly 28,000 miles. It came with service records dating back to 1980 at which time it had 19,000 miles. The interior seems to be all original, and it is in excellent condition except for some minor cracks in the door panel arm rests. The console and center gauge cluster are flawless, and the seat covers are original and virually perfect. The seat foam is pretty flat, which also is to be expected. I have owned numerous C3's, but his one is tighter than any one I have ever owned. Things like the way the turn signal stalk works - no slack- and the (relative) lack of squeaks and rattles all seem to add up. Can I swear the mileage is correct? No, but they are only original once, and you can tell the difference between a low mileage preserved car and higher mileage rebuilt car.
