Vette to consider
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 26
From: Prague
Vette to consider
Hi, newbie here, just signed 
I'm about to buy a '69 Vette, I'm pretty excited! Here it is http://sites.google.com/site/2wow2wow/Home/vette. Good condition and already in EU. But by looking at the pictures, you can see the louvre doesn't match for '69 neither the front grills. Should I be worried? Does it really pose a problem if I ever wanted to sell it and should I press the price down?
Thanks a bunch!
I'm about to buy a '69 Vette, I'm pretty excited! Here it is http://sites.google.com/site/2wow2wow/Home/vette. Good condition and already in EU. But by looking at the pictures, you can see the louvre doesn't match for '69 neither the front grills. Should I be worried? Does it really pose a problem if I ever wanted to sell it and should I press the price down?Thanks a bunch!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 25
From: Boynton Beach Florida
I would stay clear of this butchered car. That front end has been changed and modified. No hidden wiper arm door that the 1969 has along with the missing gills you noticed. The engine shows a HEI distributor instead of points and a tach drive. The radiator has an overflow tank from later year cars (matches front end style)
Best guess is this car was in an accident and they saved the front bumpers but used a 1974-77 front clip. If you can pick it up for $2,500.00 then it would be worth owning but buyer beware.
Eric
.
Best guess is this car was in an accident and they saved the front bumpers but used a 1974-77 front clip. If you can pick it up for $2,500.00 then it would be worth owning but buyer beware.
Eric
.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 26
From: Prague
It's really pricey to get a reasonable Vette to EU. The price almost double. OK, I guess I will need to look elsewhere 
. But, if it wasn't hit, would you buy it? I want to mainly drive it and I do not mind unoriginal parts...
. But, if it wasn't hit, would you buy it? I want to mainly drive it and I do not mind unoriginal parts...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Welcome. The car would be over priced in the United States. That said, you have to work with availability in Prague. The question you need to answer is whether you want this car and the changes made to it.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
And the alternator arm is... interesting.
The engine bay is pretty messy, coupled with the Frankenstein nature of this corvette and lack of interior pictures, I do not see much incentive to visit this car in person.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1
From: Belle River Ontario
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
I agree with everyone , first off it seems pretty pricey and with the modifications done which are visible , what has been done \ rigged up that you can't see?
I'd be careful of this one.
I'd be careful of this one.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 26
From: Prague
Thanks guys! See, how desperate we are here in Europe? Unfortunately, the price range of better looking cars is for example $30-35000. So I will at least have a look at it and if the car wasn't hit, i will try to shake off thousands of dolars, otherwise walk away.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
I don't know what you want and how much you're willing to spend, there are plenty of fine cars around in EU as well
autoscout24
The car from your link seems like a money pit
Nick
autoscout24
The car from your link seems like a money pit
Nick
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,597
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Being a rookie, I understand how much you could want that car, even with the high price in Europe.
For the price they are asking, they are selling it as though it is in perfect mechanical condition. You have to consider if there are mechanical problems, you could easily spend several thousand dollars in the next six months just to have a dependable car to drive. Are you willing to do that?
As for resale.....maybe only in Europe could you break-even or make a profit on that car.
Do you have other car choices that you can "check out"?
After saying all that, you know what is available and what the "going rate" is in your area.
If you truly want a Corvette/any Corvette and you are O.K with an unoriginal car, buy one and be happy. If it is a "daydream" that you are entertaining.....be careful!
Keep us updated in this thread.
For the price they are asking, they are selling it as though it is in perfect mechanical condition. You have to consider if there are mechanical problems, you could easily spend several thousand dollars in the next six months just to have a dependable car to drive. Are you willing to do that?
As for resale.....maybe only in Europe could you break-even or make a profit on that car.
Do you have other car choices that you can "check out"?
After saying all that, you know what is available and what the "going rate" is in your area.
If you truly want a Corvette/any Corvette and you are O.K with an unoriginal car, buy one and be happy. If it is a "daydream" that you are entertaining.....be careful!
Keep us updated in this thread.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 26
From: Prague
My initial interest was this:
http://www.mobile.de/cz/zna%C4%8Dka/...188091271.html
Still available and I saw it in person. No matching numbers, bad paint, bad interior, but looks original. The frame is really OK, but lots of work. For me, really bad combination, not original engine and colours but nothing else is new. It's closer to the project than to a drivable car. I am ready to get greasy, but my inital approach was to drive the car. And it costs $ 18500.
You can check out the actual offers here, so you have an idea, what I have to deal with...
http://www.mobile.de/cz/kategorie/os...01,frx:1970-12
Edit: if the car in US cost around $15000 and was in a similar or a better condition than the messed up yellow one and aomeone would be able to inspect it for me, yeah I would definitely be interested :-)
http://www.mobile.de/cz/zna%C4%8Dka/...188091271.html
Still available and I saw it in person. No matching numbers, bad paint, bad interior, but looks original. The frame is really OK, but lots of work. For me, really bad combination, not original engine and colours but nothing else is new. It's closer to the project than to a drivable car. I am ready to get greasy, but my inital approach was to drive the car. And it costs $ 18500.
You can check out the actual offers here, so you have an idea, what I have to deal with...
http://www.mobile.de/cz/kategorie/os...01,frx:1970-12
Edit: if the car in US cost around $15000 and was in a similar or a better condition than the messed up yellow one and aomeone would be able to inspect it for me, yeah I would definitely be interested :-)
Last edited by Vogast; Feb 6, 2014 at 10:28 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,850
Likes: 142
From: Tampa, Fl.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 26
From: Prague
Would have liked the colour and T-top
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
As mentioned, the front clip has been replaced. But if you don't mind not being original, then I wouldn't make that a deal breaker.
I image that the reason for the change is because it was much easier to get a higher production front clip, than a much rarer chrome bumper clip. Whoever did the work would have had to do quite a bit of work to get the clip to work with the chrome bumper, so if that was done nicely, then it might indicate other work was done well.
If possible, I would have the car checked out by someone who knows what to look for, the main thing being rust.
I image that the reason for the change is because it was much easier to get a higher production front clip, than a much rarer chrome bumper clip. Whoever did the work would have had to do quite a bit of work to get the clip to work with the chrome bumper, so if that was done nicely, then it might indicate other work was done well.
If possible, I would have the car checked out by someone who knows what to look for, the main thing being rust.
Last edited by Mashman; Feb 6, 2014 at 02:09 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Pro
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 672
Likes: 31
From: Rapid City South Dakota
Keep in mind you're probably looking at a car with any original rubber parts and seals questionable at best. But at least you have a known quantity. I see cars with 40k miles getting a premium but they also likely need a nearly full rebuild of suspension and a fair amount of work on the drivetrain. Just my .02 cents from someone who just went through his '69
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 26
From: Prague
Just curious, how much does it cost to get a corvette over there? I think if you start off with an original daily driver, even if things need to be replaced at least you aren't redoing someone else's hack job. That's more frustrating and the costs are unknown.
Keep in mind you're probably looking at a car with any original rubber parts and seals questionable at best. But at least you have a known quantity. I see cars with 40k miles getting a premium but they also likely need a nearly full rebuild of suspension and a fair amount of work on the drivetrain. Just my .02 cents from someone who just went through his '69
Keep in mind you're probably looking at a car with any original rubber parts and seals questionable at best. But at least you have a known quantity. I see cars with 40k miles getting a premium but they also likely need a nearly full rebuild of suspension and a fair amount of work on the drivetrain. Just my .02 cents from someone who just went through his '69
Also regarding the status of the car, the guy says his uncle lives in US and has two body shops for Chevys. I think that's why the car is a puzzle and can be more easily sold in Europe. It would stand a little chance in America with the supply and the competition for this price tag.
Would you consider buying a Vette from forum mebers a rather safe way and affordable? In my opinion, sites like classiccars.com have Vettes really over priced.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 992
Likes: 28
From: Sutton MA
If you are willing to expand your year selection, you can but a decent C3 for around 5k. there is a very decent 79 L82 right about a mile from my office for asking price 5500.00
paint is good, needs valve cover gaskets and has a small transmission leak but runs real nice, is all original with 63K miles on it. Been garaged for about 20 years.
paint is good, needs valve cover gaskets and has a small transmission leak but runs real nice, is all original with 63K miles on it. Been garaged for about 20 years.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
Hi, newbie here, just signed I'm about to buy a '69 Vette, I'm pretty excited! Here it is http://sites.google.com/site/2wow2wow/Home/vette. Good condition and already in EU. But by looking at the pictures, you can see the louvre doesn't match for '69 neither the front grills. Should I be worried? Does it really pose a problem if I ever wanted to sell it and should I press the price down?
Thanks a bunch!
I'm about to buy a '69 Vette, I'm pretty excited! Here it is http://sites.google.com/site/2wow2wow/Home/vette. Good condition and already in EU. But by looking at the pictures, you can see the louvre doesn't match for '69 neither the front grills. Should I be worried? Does it really pose a problem if I ever wanted to sell it and should I press the price down?Thanks a bunch!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 26
From: Prague
Seems to me way over priced. I would consider buying one in the US and have it shipped. You will have a larger choice of vehicles, it will be in better shape. I 'm not sure of shipping price but I'm sure it will be cheaper then buying that car. When I lived in Germany finding parts for us cars was a PITA. So its worth finding one in great shape.
Side note: If you have any tips I would very much appreciate it. Moreover, I will keep watching forum for a new Vette anyway...