I have been a member for a couple of years but am now getting serious about getting an early C3 car. This site has educated me so much on what to look for either in a project or a finished car. I know this is a subjective question depending on the shape of the car. But what is a general price of say a 72 project car that needs a lot of work? I found one for around 3k but have not checked the car for the usual bad spots yet. I would say the car needs restoration but is said to be solid. I will find out soon enough! Thanks for the input.

 

You have to look at it in two different lights. I have built enough of these cars over the years to know, first off, if a 1972 is $3,000, it must need $20,000 to bring back to life.

It costs three times as much to do everything that you think it will. If you pay someone to do the work, it will cost five times as much as you think it will.

The last project car I bought was a &2 LT-1. It was painted and the paint did not stick in a few places. I had to put all the trim on it, the bumpers, wiper door, door panels and so on.

The only reason I bought it was I could see exactly what was missing and what was in the pile of parts. Plus it was a really good deal at $12,000.

I did not care that there were a few blems in the paint. Four years later when I could afford it, I took off all the same stuff I had put on a few years before.

Huge projects can be had sometimes for a very good price. But get ready to open your wallet.

If your finances are in the $3,000 range, maybe chrome bumper cars just might still be a little out of your league for now. Yes, it is two different groups all together, but there are a ton of good guys out there that own rubber bumper cars too.

You just have to decide. I have bought two of the many Corvette's I have owned on great deals. To get a great deal, you have to know what you are looking at, and you MUST have cash on hand. The only reason I got my two cars at such a great price was, I had car in hand and I was the very first one to look at the cars.

Best of luck in you searching. Happy to help in any way I can.

 

If you've been around long enough, I'm sure you realize what you can reasonably expect to find for a 72 priced at $3K.

Be objective when you see the car.

Good luck.

 

Thanks going to look at the car Saturday!! Will keep report back.

 

Just purchase a car that is in 'poor' condition on the things that you CAN do, and in 'good' condition on the things that you CAN'T do.

 

Remember to take lot of pictures!

 

It is really difficult to not start with a 'complete' car unless that's what you really, really, really, really want to do.

At $3k, let's say it is missing its front egg-crate grills, a few interior panels here and there, and it needs new trailing arm bushings...doesn't seem like much is missing, right?

With just a few missing parts, you could get, say, a $8k or $10k car and be AT THE EXACT SAME STARTING POINT as getting the "inexpensive" car for all the hard-to-find parts you're going to have to replace.

 

Hi r,
When looking at a 68-72 car in the $3000 price range you have to realize there can't be much of the 68-72 sitting there or it would be worth more money.
You need to check out the car carefully and estimate how much cash it will take to get it to what you'll want it to be... and then double that figure; then estimate how much labor it will take to get it to what you'll want it to be... and triple that amount.
I believe many people who have done serious work on old Corvettes think this way.
Rust is your biggest enemy in terms of both money and labor. Many cars in that $3000 range will need a birdcage or frame.
Good LUCK! Think sanely while the money is still in YOUR pocket.
Regards,
Alan

 

My 71 was a project in the $3000 range. On the plus side, it was from the second owner, and had the original engine & drive train with 100,000 miles on it. Southern car, in a shed most of it`s life (minimal rust). On the minus side, NO interior, half the exterior trim gone, and front end fiberglass damaged.
Much of what was gone would need to be restored or replaced anyway, and we`ve built several cars before, so it was a simple decision for us.
But all of what you read above, before my post, is true. If you pay $3000, you`ll need $20,000 to finish it. If you can do the work, and know what you got going in, you`ll have a blast.... like we are!
(See thread about "beater building")

 

Very good info guys. I know going into this thing that 3k for a 72 means its going to be bad. I don't want to send the wrong message that 3 k is my price range. I have restored a couple of Mustangs and know that the further along the car is as far as rust and parts overall you save a ton. Just not familiar with C3 cars that are projects and wanted a idea. I plan on taking pics Sat and will post them and see what you think. Thanks so much thus site is so educational!!!

 

I'll be more than interested in your findings. I bought a '72 convertible in May. Trust me, it was not for $3,000. Nope. $16,500. It had a good engine (5,000 miles since overhaul) and a new convertible top. BUT: Master cylinder, brake booster, tires, shocks, steering box, seat covers, seat foam, carpet, door panels, outside mirror, carb rebuild, parking brake console... You get the idea. Right now I've got windshield frame rust to fix. Also, a few minor fiberglass cracks then a paint job. Oh... and new bumpers all the way around. (It's cheaper to get new ones from Paragon than to re-chrome the old ones. And Paragon bumpers are show quality... or so I'm told.)

Then I found that Bubba had pulled the transmission shifter rod out using a chisel or screw driver. He replaced the seal then tried to stop the leak he caused with epoxy. $1,200 later I'll have a rebuilt tranny. So don't be surprised if you are surprised by some Bubba footprints here and there. And they're expensive to fix some times. Bubba has left fingerprints all over mine but mostly they're fairly harmless.

And this is on a $16,500 car mind you!

I think I'll have about $12,000 in it by the time I have it ready for public viewing. So my total will be about $28,500. Fortunately, I found a very good paint and body guy who will put an excellent "driver plus" paint job on it and fix the cracks for $5,000. That saved my bacon. And yes, he has a great reputation here and he regularly works on Vettes. Without this find I would have been looking at some serious cash just for the paint and fiberglass work (not that $5,000 is cheap).

So if you can get within shouting distance of the condition of my car for $3,000 you have struck gold. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

good luck

 

A couple the guy sent me. Will get more this weekend.

 

Looks like ya got more there than I started with!
How recent was the tag on it?

 

Wow...that's actually pretty impressive.

The panel and headlight alignments are better than on my car, for pete's sake.

Passenger's door handle spring looks AWOL, but the front gills are there. Can't see the sides. Hole in the hood is no big deal. Looks pretty darn straight.

Is there an engine/transmission in there? Front end looks squatted down like there is...

I've definitely seen worse from a bodywork perspective. If all the PARTS are there (whether it's running or not), you're probably looking at a fair starting point if you're willing to put the work into it.

Good luck!

 

Pop!!!

 

Looks like it's certainly worth your time to drive over and take a look.

 

Ask if the Plymouth is for sale? Seriously I paid 4 k for a 72 with no engine and in a lot worse shape than that the only reason I bought it was because it came with 2 truckloads of extra parts. If you take your time you can make that a pretty car.

 

Can't wait to go see it sat!! But I am sure the birdcage and other areas will be rusted. It does have a engine and Trans in it and was cranked recently.

 

Got a lot of pic!!!! What you think?