I admit to only knowing what I read here about the C3. Tonight I looked at a 77 with a little over 70,000 original miles. I checked the frame and it looks real solid. I see no issues at all. When looking under it I noticed several dirt dobber nests that tells me it has been sitting for awhile before the current owner got it(current owner has only had it a couple months and not really a "Vette" guy. He got it cause he liked it.) Anyway, back to the car. The numbers on the motor match the VIN and although it does run, it runs like crap. transmission shifts and brakes brake. Thats about all I can say for them. I tried to check the bird cage by looking up the kick panel while laying in the floor. I just can not tell much...Is there a trick to telling if its good? I did also notice some thin cracks where the fenders meet the cowl and the paint is shot. Also when you open the door at the back side where the latch is should be some retainers that seem to hold the interior to the body. Every one of those is broken away. That said, the interior is actually decent. L82, auto. Any suggestions on checking the bird cage? How much do you think this car should sell for? Thank you for your help.

 

Can't do anything without pictures

 

What is the seller asking? If he/she has plans to buy a waterfront condo with the sale proceeds, pass on this one and keep looking.

 

 

Go back and take as many pics as you can, from different angles, including the underside and the rear suspension. The interior too. You'd be surprised what we can pick out. Don't buy it until you read the sticky at the top and get either an inspection or an experienced C3 guy to look at it. It will save you a lot of grief and dough.

 

we paid 3K for a 79 with 70K miles that ran like crap too, had the crack lines at the seems, interior decent. thought we did ok, with all the little crap, plus the cost of the car and a engine rebuild, we are about 8K into it now. That sticky post at the top has some great info on how to inspect the birdcage. if you can remove the glove compartment, you can get a good idea, as well as the plastic interior trim pieces around the windshield. In hindsite, if I knew then what I know now I would have tried to get this car a grand cheaper, but really the car was worth that just in parts. Good luck

 

Thank you for the input. He is asking 6,800. I felt that 5,000 would be a lot but wanted the opinion of those that know more than I do. With the low miles, solid frame and numbers matching motor I felt it best to come here for your opinions. I will reread the sticky on the birdcage. That is valuable info that I need to learn.

 

White, with the blue interior car? Not much to go by in those pics. Need it outside and see pics of the whole car, not just 2 sections of 1 side.

Although it don't look that terrible, it snowballs very quickly. Paint and bodywork, missing parts..retainers you mention, inner quarter trims, halo panels, t-tops? console sides, horn button, probably more. Whats under the hood like? Exhaust, suspension, steering, brakes, bearings and before you know it, its worth a fraction of what you have in it.

Unless you can supply all the labor yourself, I would have to get the car very cheap. Dont get hung up with the matching numbers, its a 77, not a 67. Personally I would rather have the wrong engine in a much nicer car, than the correct one in a car that needs a lot more work. Good luck.