C3 Build Shop Needed
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: New York NY
C3 Build Shop Needed
Have been surfing through the forum without finding a good answer...
I'm looking to get a C3 built for when I leave Manhattan and enter the world of open roads again. What's the best way to go about it? I would kinda like a shop to undertake a project so in a year or so the car will be ready.
Recommendations on shops? Things to consider?
Really appreciate any help!
I'm looking to get a C3 built for when I leave Manhattan and enter the world of open roads again. What's the best way to go about it? I would kinda like a shop to undertake a project so in a year or so the car will be ready.
Recommendations on shops? Things to consider?
Really appreciate any help!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
You'll never recoup the cost of rebuilding a C3. It sounds as though you aren't going to do the work yourself. It will be much less expensive to buy a car that someone else has restored. Decide what you want. A numbers matching show car, or a driver that you can hit the road with. Then start your search.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
You might as well figure on $100 per hour for a shop to restore a car for you. This will most likely cost you more than what the car is worth when finished.
You would be better off deciding what year(s) car you are interested in, Coupe, Conv., etc.. and go from there. Buy the nicest one that you can afford/find. There are several nice cars in the For Sale section of this forum.
What is your budget, $5k, $10k, $20k, $50k? A $5k budget is going to get you a pile of junk. A $50k budget can get you just about the best of any 68-82 out there.
Extremely clean, low mileage 78-82's are normally around $20k. The 68-72's in extremely nice condition are normally in the $25k-$50k range. (99% of them anyways. Some engine/special options make the 1% $50k-$600k.)
You mention "daily driver". That means different things to different people. Going cross country in a 68 big block vs an 82 CFI will be two very different experiences. Which do you prefer?
Read this for starters, https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
You would be better off deciding what year(s) car you are interested in, Coupe, Conv., etc.. and go from there. Buy the nicest one that you can afford/find. There are several nice cars in the For Sale section of this forum.
What is your budget, $5k, $10k, $20k, $50k? A $5k budget is going to get you a pile of junk. A $50k budget can get you just about the best of any 68-82 out there.
Extremely clean, low mileage 78-82's are normally around $20k. The 68-72's in extremely nice condition are normally in the $25k-$50k range. (99% of them anyways. Some engine/special options make the 1% $50k-$600k.)
You mention "daily driver". That means different things to different people. Going cross country in a 68 big block vs an 82 CFI will be two very different experiences. Which do you prefer?
Read this for starters, https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
Last edited by Revi; Mar 13, 2015 at 06:30 PM.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: New York NY
Looking for:
Early C3 Corvette (chrome bumpers) Coupe
Doesn't need to be #'s matching
Big block preferred, Manual transmission
Would like to make some modifications like side pipes and whatnot...
Daily Driver = To work and back. To movies and back. To dinner and back.
Budget = $50,000 total
I was thinking of buying a new C7 Z06 and then realized that I don't need a race car on the streets, I really just wanted a sports car with style. So why not get something with some curves and will be a classic for years to come? Hence my budget is high and looking for a quality car that I can drive for years and never get rid of.
Early C3 Corvette (chrome bumpers) Coupe
Doesn't need to be #'s matching
Big block preferred, Manual transmission
Would like to make some modifications like side pipes and whatnot...
Daily Driver = To work and back. To movies and back. To dinner and back.
Budget = $50,000 total
I was thinking of buying a new C7 Z06 and then realized that I don't need a race car on the streets, I really just wanted a sports car with style. So why not get something with some curves and will be a classic for years to come? Hence my budget is high and looking for a quality car that I can drive for years and never get rid of.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Just my .02......
With a budget of 50K ....I would look in the" C3cars for sale " page on the forum & search to find the car you want . Already turn key , ready to drive & Have fun with .
With a budget of 50K ....I would look in the" C3cars for sale " page on the forum & search to find the car you want . Already turn key , ready to drive & Have fun with .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
You'll get a very nice Corvette at that price. Before you buy it, you should have inspected by a Corvette expert. These cars are different than a Camaro, Nova or Chevelle of the same vintage.
I'd also have a competent shop lined up as well. I'd also have a good chunk of change set aside for any work, that it might need. That's because these cars can be a good deal more difficult to work on, then the aforementioned Camaro's, etc, especially the dash area. For the most, part, these cars always need something. Unlike a modern car, that's a drive and forget experience, things do and will come up. That's usually accepted around here as part of the ownership experience.
Good luck in your search, which should include cars for sale here in the C3 forum. Make sure you know what you want. For me, it had to have a stick shift.
I'd also have a competent shop lined up as well. I'd also have a good chunk of change set aside for any work, that it might need. That's because these cars can be a good deal more difficult to work on, then the aforementioned Camaro's, etc, especially the dash area. For the most, part, these cars always need something. Unlike a modern car, that's a drive and forget experience, things do and will come up. That's usually accepted around here as part of the ownership experience.
Good luck in your search, which should include cars for sale here in the C3 forum. Make sure you know what you want. For me, it had to have a stick shift.
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Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,680
Likes: 3,133
From: Shamong, NJ
With a $50K budget, I'd recommend buying a car that's already done. There are plenty of nicely restored, 68-72 big block cars for that kind of money or less. You'd be hard pressed to buy and restore a car for $50K, especially if you're paying someone else to do the work.
These Corvettes are all 4 speed, big blocks, and all appear to be matching number cars. They're all below $50,000. It would cost you more than that, to pay someone to restore a car to the level of these cars.
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/106
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/203
http://www.prestigecorvettes.com/197..._250830136.veh
http://www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/...9K-Miles-62473
These Corvettes are all 4 speed, big blocks, and all appear to be matching number cars. They're all below $50,000. It would cost you more than that, to pay someone to restore a car to the level of these cars.
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/106
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/203
http://www.prestigecorvettes.com/197..._250830136.veh
http://www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/...9K-Miles-62473
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 31
From: Pitman NJ
With a $50K budget, I'd recommend buying a car that's already done. There are plenty of nicely restored, 68-72 big block cars for that kind of money or less. You'd be hard pressed to buy and restore a car for $50K, especially if you're paying someone else to do the work.
These Corvettes are all 4 speed, big blocks, and all appear to be matching number cars. They're all below $50,000. It would cost you more than that, to pay someone to restore a car to the level of these cars.
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/106
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/203
http://www.prestigecorvettes.com/197..._250830136.veh
http://www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/...9K-Miles-62473
These Corvettes are all 4 speed, big blocks, and all appear to be matching number cars. They're all below $50,000. It would cost you more than that, to pay someone to restore a car to the level of these cars.
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/106
http://www.contes.com/en/for-sale/car/view/15/203
http://www.prestigecorvettes.com/197..._250830136.veh
http://www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/...9K-Miles-62473
Weather is starting to break, pick a nice Saturday morning and take a some cars out for a test ride.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 27
From: Norwalk Ct
Have been surfing through the forum without finding a good answer...
I'm looking to get a C3 built for when I leave Manhattan and enter the world of open roads again. What's the best way to go about it? I would kinda like a shop to undertake a project so in a year or so the car will be ready.
Recommendations on shops? Things to consider?
Really appreciate any help!
I'm looking to get a C3 built for when I leave Manhattan and enter the world of open roads again. What's the best way to go about it? I would kinda like a shop to undertake a project so in a year or so the car will be ready.
Recommendations on shops? Things to consider?
Really appreciate any help!
thanks
Nick