Hi, I am a new forum member. After realizing I am not getting any younger and that the only material thing I have ever really desired is a C3 Vette, have decided to buy. Would love a 72 or 73, but anything up to 77 will be great. Car will be garage kept and used a few times a week only in good weather. Have done a fair amount of reading, but feel I still have a lot to learn. Want to be an informed woman when purchase is made! I live near Cincinnati, OH - can anyone recommend a repair shop in the area? There is a possible 76 contender not far from here, not sure if I am ready to go see yet, but do you know of someone near me who could do an inspection? Thanks in advance. The forum is great, will be visiting often.

 

Is there a specific reason for 72 or 73? 73 only has chrome bumpers, while 72 has both front and rear. Have you considered 68-71 as well?

 

thanks for reply tjschraf ! For whatever reason, I started reading about the 77 and am working my way back to the beginning of the C3 models. Don't like the bigger back window starting in 78, so not researching beyond 77. Will consider the 68-71 models closely.

 

Prices are higher for the chrome bumper vettes. Check for a local Corvette Club, maybe they could help with an inspection for you.

 

If you don't care about chrome bumpers, or competing in Corvette shows, just buy say, a '76 in good mechanical order and call it a day. The prices are far more reasonable, in general. Or, if you like the chrome bumper cars, you might also be able to find something without the original motor for a reasonable price.

IMHO, #s matching money is money you don't need to spend if it doesn't matter to you, and you don't plan to a) show off how it looks factory correct just like all of the other perfectly restored factory-correct Corvettes, or b) put it on a shelf hoping and praying that it goes up in value faster than the S&P 500. I'm on the road in a '69 convertible with a brand new NOM big block for less than some people spend on date-correct windshield washer tanks, carburetors, windows, radiator caps, and what-have you. NCRS has the delightful side effect of driving prices for replaced motor "driver" cars into the absolute gutter compared to almost anything else from the "classic" period. Take advantage of it!

So far as inspections, any reasonably competent mechanic can go over the running condition. And make sure you test everything. Turn every ****, pull every switch, and make sure it does what it is supposed to do. What you and the mechanic might not be versed in is the rust inspection. This is critical--particularly in the Midwest. I took a crash course in it. You will need to pull off both kick panel covers and then pull the speakers, if present. There is metal back there with a body mount. Look for any rust. If it is whistle clean with nothing other than very minor surface rust (which they all will have), you are probably in good shape. If there is flaking, or chunks of rust down there, further inspection is warranted. The only thing present in mine was an old Dentyne wrapper and a dead bug or two. You can also look in the inspection holes which are behind a cover in the rear wheel well. Look in front of the rear tire and you will see a little 2"x4" cover held on by a couple of bolts. Pull them off and shine a bright flashlight to check for rust. Also inspect very closely around the windshield frame for any serious rust issues. Also check the radiator mounting bracket. Open the hood and look straight down by the radiator. There is a lower crossbar that will often be corroded by rust. Almost all of them have some rust unless they have been replaced, but how bad it is might give you a clue to what you can't see. If it's completely gone, odds are there are other problems you missed or can't see. Obviously, inspect the frame too, but this much more straightforward. Put her up in the air on a jack or have someone crawl underneath to take a look.

 

Since you are in OH, you are going to find rust. Unless your budget is 25K+ you are going to have rust issues. I paid 7500 for my 74 and I found lots of rust, just not bad enough to create to many holes.

If I'm not mistaken, up to 75 the floor pans in these cars are fiberglass. After that they were metal and metal floor boards are always bad places for finding rust also. Ryan is bang on, the bottom of the birdcage is one place I found lots of rust. I cleaned it out the best I could, drowned it in rust paint and then sprayed Rust Check all over there. It won't stop it, but it will by me a few years. The top of the windshield in the corners was another place inside the car.

When I first looked for a C3, I did not want chrome. Chrome always pits/rusts and looks bad....stupid me. Like I was going to drive the car on anything other than a sunny day. Now I wish I had of held out for a chrome bumper car...not that I could afford it, I was already at my limit.

In My Humble Opinion: you ARE going to have to work on these cars, if you are not mechanically inclined or have deep pockets, or a lot of patients, or a Spouse/Friend that will do stuff for you, I would not go the C3 route. I would go get myself a 2005+ Mustang and enjoy it. Since my car has been around for 1.5 years and we still have not trusted it for long trips, my wife is starting to talk about getting herself a Mustang as a toy.

As much as you may not be ready to go see that 76, I suggest you do, look at a lot of these cars and talk to the owners. If the are real car guys (or gals) and not out to rip you off, they will talk about the cars until your ears fall off and show you what is good and bad about them. You will learn a lot that way.

Just my 2 cents.
Ken

 

This is reasonably good:


This is good if you can find a copy at a realistic price. It is out of print but may still be available in ebook format.


Good luch with the hunt.

 

Thanks to everyone for your replies, appreciate the information/opinions you have provided. After reading through the forum, I am not feeling too good about buying a C3. While I think my expectations about the car needing repairs are realistic, the potential amount of repairs might wear me down. For as long as I can remember, I have thought the C3s up to 77 were the most beautiful cars on the road - still do - at least I don't have to think about getting another kind of car