How practical is your C3?
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 567
Likes: 5
From: bradenton fl
never used practical and my corvette in same sentence. I asked my uncle whom had one as a daily driver in New England back in early 70's. He was the one whom had a 71BB vert that i said i'd always have. Off track. But he said back then being single it was a chick magnet and gas was cheap. Winter time driving was a chore. Now today. I get about 10 mpg if i keep foot out of it. Can get 2 people 2 folding chairs for shows and a small cooler. Luggage rack has helped out when needed. When family comes down have to take 2 cars to shows, etc. Not practical but VERY enjoyable on occasions
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 66
Likes: 5
Not practical in the least - but then again none of my cars are really practical. My Corvette though keeps my wife asking why I keep it with all the issues I have with it and I start to think maybe she is right - then I take a drive in it. End of discussion
Bob
Bob
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
She made me laugh all the time. Gone eleven years and I still miss her.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
As for the practicality of a Corvette, the only thing that comes to mind is that as a non daily driver, its small size allows it to fit in a one car garage and leave room for a motorcycle.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The intended use for my vette was to put a big smile on my face. So if practical is defined as appropriate or suited for actual use, then the vette is the most practical car I've ever owned!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Mine is very practical for what I do....
Cruise the beach roads with the top down maybe 9 months a year . Rest with soft top up ......or run the Camaro.
No vacation. For my C3. It's on duty 24 /7.....
Coupe would cramp my view of the beach scenery
Cruise the beach roads with the top down maybe 9 months a year . Rest with soft top up ......or run the Camaro.
No vacation. For my C3. It's on duty 24 /7.....
Coupe would cramp my view of the beach scenery
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: East Greenbush NY
This is an older thread but I would like to bring up some actual practicality, sort of.
I bought my 74 in the fall so I pretty much brought it home and put it away. I just had it out for the frist time for about 20 minutes on Saturday.
So here is the question. Can I fit enough luggage in the cargo area for a long weekend for the wife and I? Will I be able to have the T-Tops in the back at the same time or do they eat up all the space? I do have a luggage rack but I am not sure how I feel about putting luggage out there.
I am coming from doing a lot of touring on a BMW R1200RT and I was hoping it would be a little easier to travel with this for two than the BMW was.
I bought my 74 in the fall so I pretty much brought it home and put it away. I just had it out for the frist time for about 20 minutes on Saturday.
So here is the question. Can I fit enough luggage in the cargo area for a long weekend for the wife and I? Will I be able to have the T-Tops in the back at the same time or do they eat up all the space? I do have a luggage rack but I am not sure how I feel about putting luggage out there.
I am coming from doing a lot of touring on a BMW R1200RT and I was hoping it would be a little easier to travel with this for two than the BMW was.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
This is an older thread but I would like to bring up some actual practicality, sort of.
I bought my 74 in the fall so I pretty much brought it home and put it away. I just had it out for the frist time for about 20 minutes on Saturday.
So here is the question. Can I fit enough luggage in the cargo area for a long weekend for the wife and I? Will I be able to have the T-Tops in the back at the same time or do they eat up all the space? I do have a luggage rack but I am not sure how I feel about putting luggage out there.
I am coming from doing a lot of touring on a BMW R1200RT and I was hoping it would be a little easier to travel with this for two than the BMW was.
I bought my 74 in the fall so I pretty much brought it home and put it away. I just had it out for the frist time for about 20 minutes on Saturday.
So here is the question. Can I fit enough luggage in the cargo area for a long weekend for the wife and I? Will I be able to have the T-Tops in the back at the same time or do they eat up all the space? I do have a luggage rack but I am not sure how I feel about putting luggage out there.
I am coming from doing a lot of touring on a BMW R1200RT and I was hoping it would be a little easier to travel with this for two than the BMW was.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Maui Hawaii
2 jokesters above. 
I place my 2 glass T-tops in the back (area behind the seats in my '82) with the Wifey on board and can still go grocery shopping.
Practical? Damn right a Vette is practical. The Vette forces me to use my king cab 4x4 to go pickup my new crate motor or my rebuilt diff or my new DeWitt radiator or any other big gizmo for my baby ... that's what I call extremely practical.
I place my 2 glass T-tops in the back (area behind the seats in my '82) with the Wifey on board and can still go grocery shopping.
Practical? Damn right a Vette is practical. The Vette forces me to use my king cab 4x4 to go pickup my new crate motor or my rebuilt diff or my new DeWitt radiator or any other big gizmo for my baby ... that's what I call extremely practical.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
I'll bet more than a few of us, deliberately made their C3's, even more impractical then when they were stock.
Engine wise, Sassy is now running a L48, with L98 aluminum heads and a Holley 4165 Mechanical Double Pumper (and it's a spreadbore too!). So for all this, and with a four speed, I get about 15 mpg on the freeway, if I totally drive nice.
Interior wise, I added a speaker box and that took away five inches out of the 26" total. Hung a large amp off've the top of that same speaker box, with two pieces of sheet metal. Now I've got nearly nothing for cargo space, but man, the tunes sure rock!
Engine wise, Sassy is now running a L48, with L98 aluminum heads and a Holley 4165 Mechanical Double Pumper (and it's a spreadbore too!). So for all this, and with a four speed, I get about 15 mpg on the freeway, if I totally drive nice.
Interior wise, I added a speaker box and that took away five inches out of the 26" total. Hung a large amp off've the top of that same speaker box, with two pieces of sheet metal. Now I've got nearly nothing for cargo space, but man, the tunes sure rock!
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Maui Hawaii
Just make sure that what you place on the T-tops are packed (as in backpacks) so that you can quickly toss them on the passenger floor & seat to get them out of your way to retrieve the T-tops in case it starts to rain.
Have fun on your weekend trip ... after all you'll be cruising in your Vette.
Last edited by 82CFI; Mar 25, 2014 at 04:46 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
):-Don't use 'luggage' - instead, pack your things in pliable carry bags which can be stuffed in the space remaining above/around T-Tops.
- Pray for rain so you won't have to pack T-tops in the first place
-Convince wife she doesn't need [fill in various blanks], then pack the remainder in a bag no larger than a purse.
-Buy no memorabilia you can't stuff in your pockets on the return trip.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40