Hey guys I am looking to buy a 1975 corvette and am worried about the famous bird cage rust and if the frame looks good, I have several pics of the car that was sent to me I do not have access to the car since the car is located several hours away, if anyone could tell me if this car is good
thank you,

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8ce17232.jpg

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...psbefc7e82.jpg

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...ps082be657.jpg

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...psadab979d.jpg

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...psf0178403.jpg

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6ca5a8be.jpg

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...pscf63be75.jpg

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5a02e20b.jpg

 

cant tell much from these pics.. look like lots of surface rust and needs a lot of work.. paint.. rotted rubber bushings..
depends on the price.. do you require no rust and will you pay accordingly?

 

the price on the car is 4500, i would be willing to pay for a lot less rust, just seems like a lot of work and rust for a car that was stored its whole life and only has 60,000 miles on it

 

 

You said it right here: "stored its whole life and only has 60,000 miles on it". It has sat stored and has what looks like surface rust from sitting. Was it stored inside or out? That will have a lot to do with wether it would have bird cage rot or not.

 

Not enough detail in the pictures. You need good shots of the kickups in front of each rear wheel.

Id also be curious about the custom louvers added to the top of the fenders in picture 3. The entire car has had a color change, and those add ons could have either been grafted in or the whole front end could have been replaced. You need to know which.

The fact it was stored and only has 60k doesnt mean it hasnt been messed with extensively.

 

More like 160,000 miles.

 

I LOVE that interior color!!!!

 

That car is worth $4500 easy in just parts if nothing else. Of you want it for a nice resto project buy it. If not spend $9,500 an get a car that is done. This car will need ALLOT of work. Sitting for over the years will have rotted out bushings means a full suspension overhaul. All new upper and lower a arm bushings. New tire rods, ball joints, brakes, trailing arm rebuilds, fuel lines, ALL new vacuum hoses the list of things that car will need if it hasn't already been addressed will put you into the repairs for double purchase price IF you don't do the work yourself. I hope you buy it rebuild it an love it but if that is not your thing or you are gonna have resale value on the brain walk away

 

You need to have somebody have a good look at the car. It is usually pretty much impossible to do these things based on only a few photos.

If you want more detail before you take the inspection fee... have them remove the body mount plates (inside rear wheel well as mentioned) and then photograph in there. You can tell a great deal by what shape those bolts are in. You also need to photograph the bottom of the A pillars. Where the door bolts are. At the bottom of this is another body mount bolt. Again, photograph up and down here but the bolt tops will tell you a great deal. Lastly have them photograph the A pillars where they meet the windshield. Where the VIN is (the passenger side as well). Have them take a few shots there. Close up to the pillars. You will see if there is any rust coming up. If you see anything at all... be careful. If you see anything... it is 10 times worse where we cannot see.

The frame, in the few shots we see does look OK. Needs to be blasted and painted, but good. If you check my build thread, you will see my frame before the cleaning and paint. Mine looked like yours and was fine, structurally.

In the end, the 1975 is not a chrome bumper. It seems a bit steep to me for the condition it is in. I assume it is running. As a reference, I bought my car with the intention of a resto-mod. We paid $3000 for a 1977, essentially the same car. My engine was not running.

 

When the hood is open look down the front for a rotting radiator support bracket along the front edge of the radiator.

 

For $4500, that POS isn't worth the several hour trip.

74 on up are inexpensive. Bump up your budget to $7K and you'll be able to find a car that looks great inside/out and can be driven anywhere.