Hi everyone. I live partly in Norway, and partly in Spain, and want to buy an american classic again. I have no car right now, but neither family life or girlfriend, not even a dog .
I have owned and driven a lot of cars in my life, I'm 29 by the way. But I refuse to buy a new car for daily use.. new cars bore me to death. I'd rather take the bus.
So now I'm in between the choice of two different cars, the Pontiac Catalina 67 hardtop, and the Corvette 80-82'.
I have skills enough to do a frame off resto, but I don't want to do that again now.. I just want to buy one in drivers condition, and do some touch-up now and then.
I drive a lot alone, thats why a two seater could be nice. But those days when I need to pick up two friends but lack that third passenger seat.. I don't think it will happen often. But its all about the style of the late C3. It looks so sexy, one of my favorite car designs ever.
I would prefer it with a T56, since its a sportscar. But thats something I could upgrade later. Anyway, what would you do? I bet a Corvette even gets better fuel mileage because of the weight and smallblock, maybe even the 82' crossfire injection.
I want to upgrade everything by time anyway. Just not going to mess it up. Its beautiful stock, but I love that daytona hood, frontspoiler and sidepipes Even the stock wheels are nice.
I also want the best driving pleasure.. and I guess Corvette is the best choise for that. I have never driven a C3 before, I'm 185 cm , slim and wonder how much leg room and head room I would have in one. Especially when I plan driving this for long trips.

 

Your height should not be a problem (if I did the math correctly!)

Your choice of cars is a good choice....the Catalina is a well-styled car (my father owned a Bonneville--- a Powerful car!)....and the Corvette-----beautiful!

Keep us updated on what car you might purchase, and post photos when you narrow down your choices.

 

Thanks, thats good to know. I know somebody who has a chromebumper c3 vert I may could test the drivers seat in. I've seen some swap out the seats for added comfort.
The 10 rule before buying a C3 have been checked. I dont want to be surprised by a rusty birdcage..
I will be keeping the Corvette in Spain, where the mediterranean weather is t-tops off all year!

 

Open car all year!?

I can't stand it! (Only because I don't live there!)

 

i just looked up 185cm, and that is supposed to be almost 6-1 (a hair under it looks like). i am 6-4, and last week i test drove an 80 vette.
i fit in it ok, but then i also realized that every car i've ever owned i've had to bend my legs driving, so that's not much of a concern for me.
my head was pretty close to the roof, but it didn't bother me, hence i'm looking...i would say size wise you will be fine.

good luck!

oh, there is a thread in here about taller folks fitting in c3s...probably a few pages back....a lot of people chiming in on their experiences fitting in to their vettes....
i should add that i weigh about 190, and am pretty limber for my age (50), i would say that a lot of my friends who are close to my height, but much bigger than I (ex football players) probably wouldn't fit in a c3 vette as easily....

 

Find a girlfriend with a dog. Plenty of room in a C3 for the three of you provided she does not own a St. Bernard.

Good luck with the hunt.

 

Best advice ever

 

Also depends on your driveing prefrenses.

Got a 65 Bonniville and 82 crossfire. Bonnie is nice for crusin low and blowing away firebirds that you can hear are not tunned right. The vette is nice if ya like to take curves a bit faster.

Gas mileage may also be a factor. 20 mpg for vette, ys do good to get 13 with bonneville.

Parts fof the vette are easier to get. If you need door panels, carpet, or anyother things you can order them on line. The Pontiac you will be search long and hard to find oem stuff for restorations.

Pontiac is different than Chevy for tunning. Engines have a diffrence. A crossfire vette may be hard to find a good tunner also. There is a good sticky here on crossfires.

Either way each are fun in their own way. What could be fun is to have both. Ma is still cussin me as I was to be rid of Pontiac before vette. Ya still got both.

 

Buy the '80-'82 Corvette.

stay single.

rescue a dog from your local shelter if you get lonely

 

Yes to all of the above! I love my rescue dog to death, but she doesn't get in my Corvette, a C4. Have other vehicles for her to ride in.