Astro Vette ???
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Astro Vette ???
G'day,
aussiejohn and I were looking at my November '68 built C3 that I bought a few years ago from a gent in California, who claimed to be the second owner. Under that black paint that he applied in 1991 there appears to be Riverside Gold paint. He said that the original owner was a rocket propulsion physicist working for NASA on the Lunar Program.
He claimed that he bought it brand new and that it was a special low production car. It has 1970 side gills, wheel arch flares, 1969 small side indicator lights and a 1970 valance for the twin system exhaust.
It is a manual steer, air conditioned manual trans car with 350 hp on the console. There are hoses indicating that it had headlight wipers. The trim tab has code Z04 and D09.
What do you guys think I have?
hoso
aussiejohn and I were looking at my November '68 built C3 that I bought a few years ago from a gent in California, who claimed to be the second owner. Under that black paint that he applied in 1991 there appears to be Riverside Gold paint. He said that the original owner was a rocket propulsion physicist working for NASA on the Lunar Program.
He claimed that he bought it brand new and that it was a special low production car. It has 1970 side gills, wheel arch flares, 1969 small side indicator lights and a 1970 valance for the twin system exhaust.
It is a manual steer, air conditioned manual trans car with 350 hp on the console. There are hoses indicating that it had headlight wipers. The trim tab has code Z04 and D09.
What do you guys think I have?
hoso
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,133
Likes: 477
From: NM
Since it has 1970 side gills, wheel arch flares, 1969 small side indicator lights and a 1970 valance for the twin system exhaust and since those did not exist when it was built in 68, I would guess that someone did some custom work at some point in time.
Tom...
Tom...
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
hoso
hoso
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Car was originally Riverside Gold which can be found in small areas if you know where to look also a color i dont mind
hoso
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 722
Likes: 58
From: Karlsruhe (Germany)
These are the same guys that bet their complete home that there have been some special C3-Corvettes with the aluminium body.
I have experienced many guys with various cars just talking bullsh*t about history and mostly about "special things" of their cars. Mostly to feel better I guess.
Bottomline:
Your C3 ist nothing special, sorry for that. There were tousands built, even with this color. And the reworked body parts are reducing the value of the car a bit because it´s not original anymore. If he sold it to you for a higher price he did a good job in selling this car
The car could only be something special if a previous owner was a rock-star. There were tousands of people working for the NASA back then. Only the real astronauts C3s are valuable, but still not as much as you would expect.
So, sorry for you. For me your C3 is less worth than a normal not modified ´68.
My personal taste: leave the exhaust as it is, but think about getting the side louvers back. Or at least paint you gray grills black. It´s possible that you car had a crash and the complete front clips was replaced by a later model. I can´t recognize if it has the wider lower fenders like later cars had.
I have experienced many guys with various cars just talking bullsh*t about history and mostly about "special things" of their cars. Mostly to feel better I guess.
Bottomline:
Your C3 ist nothing special, sorry for that. There were tousands built, even with this color. And the reworked body parts are reducing the value of the car a bit because it´s not original anymore. If he sold it to you for a higher price he did a good job in selling this car
The car could only be something special if a previous owner was a rock-star. There were tousands of people working for the NASA back then. Only the real astronauts C3s are valuable, but still not as much as you would expect.
So, sorry for you. For me your C3 is less worth than a normal not modified ´68.
My personal taste: leave the exhaust as it is, but think about getting the side louvers back. Or at least paint you gray grills black. It´s possible that you car had a crash and the complete front clips was replaced by a later model. I can´t recognize if it has the wider lower fenders like later cars had.
Last edited by zuendler; Mar 3, 2015 at 06:03 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
Unfortunately I think you have a car that has been modified or pieced together.
Post a picture of the Trim Tag. Z04 may actually be ZQ4 for base trim (black vinyl). D09 could be a November 9th build date for 68 or 69. The Paint code should be three digits, Riverside Gold would be 980.
What is the VIN on the windshield pillar?
What is the VIN stamped on the rear frame? (photo courtesy of Alan 71)
What is the VIN stamped on the engine?
Post a picture of the Trim Tag. Z04 may actually be ZQ4 for base trim (black vinyl). D09 could be a November 9th build date for 68 or 69. The Paint code should be three digits, Riverside Gold would be 980.
What is the VIN on the windshield pillar?
What is the VIN stamped on the rear frame? (photo courtesy of Alan 71)
What is the VIN stamped on the engine?
Last edited by Revi; Mar 3, 2015 at 12:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Hi well no need to feel sorry for me and for what i have and no i didnt pay too much for the car .
Also if you look at the pics closely you will notice it has the correct size side markers front and rear it also does not show any sign signs of cutting and bonding of extra parts nor does it show and signs of being in a crash or having a front clip .Anew clip wouldnt have the latter features with 69-69 side markers , the vin indicates a Nov 68 build . So what ever you feelings are about my car Tuff
hoso
Also if you look at the pics closely you will notice it has the correct size side markers front and rear it also does not show any sign signs of cutting and bonding of extra parts nor does it show and signs of being in a crash or having a front clip .Anew clip wouldnt have the latter features with 69-69 side markers , the vin indicates a Nov 68 build . So what ever you feelings are about my car Tuff
hoso
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 484
Likes: 43
From: NJ
These are the same guys that bet their complete home that there have been some special C3-Corvettes with the aluminium body.
I have experienced many guys with various cars just talking bullsh*t about history and mostly about "special things" of their cars. Mostly to feel better I guess.
Bottomline:
Your C3 ist nothing special, sorry for that. There were tousands built, even with this color. And the reworked body parts are reducing the value of the car a bit because it´s not original anymore. If he sold it to you for a higher price he did a good job in selling this car
The car could only be something special if a previous owner was a rock-star. There were tousands of people working for the NASA back then. Only the real astronauts C3s are valuable, but still not as much as you would expect.
So, sorry for you. For me your C3 is less worth than a normal not modified ´68.
My personal taste: leave the exhaust as it is, but think about getting the side louvers back. Or at least paint you gray grills black. It´s possible that you car had a crash and the complete front clips was replaced by a later model. I can´t recognize if it has the wider lower fenders like later cars had.
I have experienced many guys with various cars just talking bullsh*t about history and mostly about "special things" of their cars. Mostly to feel better I guess.
Bottomline:
Your C3 ist nothing special, sorry for that. There were tousands built, even with this color. And the reworked body parts are reducing the value of the car a bit because it´s not original anymore. If he sold it to you for a higher price he did a good job in selling this car
The car could only be something special if a previous owner was a rock-star. There were tousands of people working for the NASA back then. Only the real astronauts C3s are valuable, but still not as much as you would expect.
So, sorry for you. For me your C3 is less worth than a normal not modified ´68.
My personal taste: leave the exhaust as it is, but think about getting the side louvers back. Or at least paint you gray grills black. It´s possible that you car had a crash and the complete front clips was replaced by a later model. I can´t recognize if it has the wider lower fenders like later cars had.
Cut me a break! Sometimes you guys come off as a bunch of primadonna's. Hoso, You have a beautiful car, enjoy the living daylights out of it.
