The search for my C3 is quickly closing in on one year. Not any closer now than when I started; other than a list of mandatory must-haves. Due to limited mechanical experience and no real restoration experience I can't seem to pull the trigger on any of the 10 or so cars I have seen. I created this post to see if any central Georgia members are available to tag along on a visit to check out some cars.

Must haves:
68-72 (Lemans or Mulsanne Blue/ light blue interior)
350 / 4 speed / # matching not important
Recent suspension and brake work.
Willing to travel 5 hours from Macon, GA.
$20k Budget
Weekend Driver.

 

I understand your reluctance on "restoring" with out experience but remember...experience starts with without any. If you get the assemble manual on the year car you buy...you CAN remove and replace most anything if you can read. Its not as hard as most think. As long as you WANT to...you CAN do this. Any bumps in the road and there are guys here willing to help you with questions. To be honest ...you will enjoy your car more if YOU do some work on it. Don't talk your self out of letting a good car slip thru your fingers just because it needs something. A PERFECT car is near impossible to find and these are all OLD cars.

You can do it.

 

[QUOTE=joeba;1589185699]The search for my C3 is quickly closing in on one year. Not any closer now than when I started; other than a list of mandatory must-haves. Due to limited mechanical experience and no real restoration experience I can't seem to pull the trigger on any of the 10 or so cars I have seen. I created this post to see if any central Georgia members are available to tag along on a visit to check out some cars.

I am near Americus, Owned 1 C-2, son has 1 C-3 and 2 C-4 models.
You can request my cell number if you want.

 

Thanks for assist. I am down the road at Robins AFB. I've gone back and forth with a dealer up in Atlanta. I would feel better purchasing a car from a private individual that knows the car's history.

 

What about a 1992 ZR-1, manual, all options, black, less than 50K miles.You can PM me for conact data.

 

Triple-agree with the above. I had very little mechanical knowledge when I bought my car last year. I was the kind of guy who would take the car to a shop for anything more than changing a bulb or fuse. However with the help of this forum, an assembly manual and a service manual, I've already completed a few projects I wouldn't have dreamed of doing myself a year ago and am in the process of another one right now. If you can read a book and can physically turn a wrench, you can work on these cars. Compared to modern vehicles these things are dead-simple.

I'm going to be blunt here. If you are not inclined to do any wrenching yourself then having an older car is probably not for you. At least, not unless you're quite wealthy. Vintage cars always need something done, and unless you do the work yourself the shop labor fees will bankrupt you. It's just part of the game with these things.

And Dean is right: you will enjoy the car more if you fix things yourself, because you'll be able to say "I did that!" I really can't put into words for you how ecstatic I was when I adjusted my power steering control valve by myself. The car had a strong right-hand pull ever since I bought it and I thought it'd be something I'd have to have a shop fix. Nope! 5 minutes reading the service manual, 2 minutes turning a wrench and Bam! Done. And I did it all myself.

So yes, unless there is some physical reason you are unable to work on your car (disability, injury, etc) consider learning and doing at least some of the work yourself.

 

Great take on it. I expect to be busy and am looking forward to it. Everything you mention above is part of the challenge of owning something 45-50 years old. The satisfaction has to feel great knowing you fixed/restored this part of your car. Honestly each car I check out I focus on the two or three things I dislike and end up talking myself out of the car. I watched videos and read every post on here about things to stay away from and feel confident I will buy the best I can afford. Everyone once in awhile I'll see a birdcage picture and I change my mind about buying.

What is your take on buying from a dealer versus a private party?

 

I may not be the fellow you're looking for, but I am in middle Georgia - Macon Send me a pm and I'll give you my number. We can talk. I've had my 69 for nearly 7 years. Done nothing substantial to it - mainly "tinkering". I knew very little about C3's when I bought it (shame on me!); just wanted a chrome bumper vette. Sounds like you're ahead of where I was when I was looking, which should serve you well. Learned a lot since buying it by doing, reading and listening - the route most owners have followed. As has been previously stated, these cars are really pretty simple. And, you don't need metric tools!

 

Sounds great. Once I purchase one we'll have to cruise. I down the road near the Air Base.