Looking for C3
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
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Looking for C3
Hello all, I'm looking to buy my first corvette. I've done a lot of research on the C3s but it's time to start looking for my own. I'm not picky at all, as long as it's driveable and isn't too big of a project (my funds are limited for right now)
On that note, I dont have too much to spend, probably maxing out around 5k but like I said by no means does it need to be perfect, I just need to be able to drive it about 5 miles a day for a few months before I can invest more into it.
If you don't have one to offer but advice, that's well appreciated too.
On that note, I dont have too much to spend, probably maxing out around 5k but like I said by no means does it need to be perfect, I just need to be able to drive it about 5 miles a day for a few months before I can invest more into it.
If you don't have one to offer but advice, that's well appreciated too.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
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I'm located in New Hampshire and Miami, and my willingness to travel depends on how likely I feel I am to buy it, if I know as a sure thing it's what I need then I'd be willing to travel quite a bit more than if it was something not as certain, if that makes sense
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
You may stumble across something half decent for $5k, but generally speaking the more money you spend on a nicer car up front the better off you will be. A $5k budget most likely limits you to a mid - late 70's vehicle. These vehicles are 35-40 years old now and most likely haven't been well maintained considering your price point.
Most $5k Corvettes will probably need another $10k worth of repairs/work done to it to make it nice.
Corvette math,
A $5k Corvette will cost an additional $15k to make it worth $15k.
A $10k Corvette will cost an additional $10k to make it worth $15k.
A $15k Corvette will cost an additional $5k to make it worth $15k.
Most $5k Corvettes will probably need another $10k worth of repairs/work done to it to make it nice.
Corvette math,
A $5k Corvette will cost an additional $15k to make it worth $15k.
A $10k Corvette will cost an additional $10k to make it worth $15k.
A $15k Corvette will cost an additional $5k to make it worth $15k.
Last edited by Revi; Jul 22, 2015 at 08:16 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 91,518
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From: o|||||||o
CI 4-5-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '11
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
You may stumble across something half decent for $5k, but generally speaking the more money you spend on a nicer car up front the better off you will be. A $5k budget most likely limits you to a mid - late 70's vehicle. These vehicles are 35-40 years old now and most likely haven't been well maintained considering your price point.
Most $5k Corvettes will probably need another $10k worth of repairs/work done to it to make it nice.
Corvette math,
A $5k Corvette will cost an additional $15k to make it worth $15k.
A $10k Corvette will cost an additional $10k to make it worth $15k.
A $15k Corvette will cost an additional $5k to make it worth $15k.
Most $5k Corvettes will probably need another $10k worth of repairs/work done to it to make it nice.
Corvette math,
A $5k Corvette will cost an additional $15k to make it worth $15k.
A $10k Corvette will cost an additional $10k to make it worth $15k.
A $15k Corvette will cost an additional $5k to make it worth $15k.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,216
Likes: 665
From: Northeast
Get the feeling you understand if you buy for $5000 there must be something to fix 
Perused NH craigslist and got this. Know nothing about the car. Good luck in your search: http://nh.craigslist.org/bar/5121137809.html
Perused NH craigslist and got this. Know nothing about the car. Good luck in your search: http://nh.craigslist.org/bar/5121137809.html
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 530
Likes: 10
You may stumble across something half decent for $5k, but generally speaking the more money you spend on a nicer car up front the better off you will be. A $5k budget most likely limits you to a mid - late 70's vehicle. These vehicles are 35-40 years old now and most likely haven't been well maintained considering your price point.
Most $5k Corvettes will probably need another $10k worth of repairs/work done to it to make it nice.
Corvette math,
A $5k Corvette will cost an additional $15k to make it worth $15k.
A $10k Corvette will cost an additional $10k to make it worth $15k.
A $15k Corvette will cost an additional $5k to make it worth $15k.
Most $5k Corvettes will probably need another $10k worth of repairs/work done to it to make it nice.
Corvette math,
A $5k Corvette will cost an additional $15k to make it worth $15k.
A $10k Corvette will cost an additional $10k to make it worth $15k.
A $15k Corvette will cost an additional $5k to make it worth $15k.
Specifically starting with a $5k base line...
Any $5k C3 that is mechanically sound enough to be reliable chances are it will be rough cosmetically, otherwise it would be a $10k car... To make it a $10k car will most likely cost another $10k. Any $5k C3 that looks good probably has mechanical issues otherwise it would be a $10k car... To make it a $10k car will probably cost another $10k.
FWIW, there are more bargains to be had right now in early C4s than even late C3s. But the same dynamic still applies although perhaps not quite as severe.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Get the feeling you understand if you buy for $5000 there must be something to fix
Perused NH craigslist and got this. Know nothing about the car. Good luck in your search: http://nh.craigslist.org/bar/5121137809.html
Perused NH craigslist and got this. Know nothing about the car. Good luck in your search: http://nh.craigslist.org/bar/5121137809.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
This +1. I've got $15k into my 1980 that is probably realistically worth $10k. It still needs another $5k at which point it will probably still only be worth $12k-$15k.
Specifically starting with a $5k base line...
Any $5k C3 that is mechanically sound enough to be reliable chances are it will be rough cosmetically, otherwise it would be a $10k car... To make it a $10k car will most likely cost another $10k. Any $5k C3 that looks good probably has mechanical issues otherwise it would be a $10k car... To make it a $10k car will probably cost another $10k.
FWIW, there are more bargains to be had right now in early C4s than even late C3s. But the same dynamic still applies although perhaps not quite as severe.
Specifically starting with a $5k base line...
Any $5k C3 that is mechanically sound enough to be reliable chances are it will be rough cosmetically, otherwise it would be a $10k car... To make it a $10k car will most likely cost another $10k. Any $5k C3 that looks good probably has mechanical issues otherwise it would be a $10k car... To make it a $10k car will probably cost another $10k.
FWIW, there are more bargains to be had right now in early C4s than even late C3s. But the same dynamic still applies although perhaps not quite as severe.
And I don't mind mechanically sound but cosmetically lacking
Another note, spending 15k on a car worth 10k now, with potential to rise in value is a lot better than spending 10k on a car that will be worth 2.5k in 10 years
Last edited by 96Engineer; Jul 22, 2015 at 06:13 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
C3's just don't come cheep anymore. An early steel bumper car for $5k (if you can find one) will need a total rebuild and thousands to do it. A later car may be found but at $5 it also will need a lot. A driver say 74 to 82 will need closer to $10. My 78 was a fairly depenable driver when I purchased it last year. It was rust free (very important with C3's) and a complete car. I paid $7500 for it and had it shipped to Kansas from California. I'm doing a body on build. Front/rear suspension, engine and trans. I don't even want to say what I have spent in parts. I'm doing all the labor myself. Good luck on finding a driver. We are all here when you need help.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
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Have you read this?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
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C3's just don't come cheep anymore. An early steel bumper car for $5k (if you can find one) will need a total rebuild and thousands to do it. A later car may be found but at $5 it also will need a lot. A driver say 74 to 82 will need closer to $10. My 78 was a fairly depenable driver when I purchased it last year. It was rust free (very important with C3's) and a complete car. I paid $7500 for it and had it shipped to Kansas from California. I'm doing a body on build. Front/rear suspension, engine and trans. I don't even want to say what I have spent in parts. I'm doing all the labor myself. Good luck on finding a driver. We are all here when you need help.
(Also being a mechanical engineer, with some pretty solid contacts when it comes to engines and the sorts will help significantly)
I'd be happy to spend 5k now and then 10k over the next 5-10 years slowly making it perfect and doing what's needed
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
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A $10000 car will still need work though, plus if I wait too long a $10000 car might barely be better than a $5000 car because with each year more and more of the save-able cars die out, thinning the options and supply/demand and all that business stuff, obviously speculation but point is if I can get a solid one now I will, if I can't then I can't and I'll try again in the future
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 128
From: Rhine Georgia
You can still buy a nice daily driver later model c3 for 10K or even a little less. It won't have a chrome bumper or a high HP original engine but it will still have that C3 style that your looking for. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
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Yeah I might end up needing to wait, but if I can find a solid one now I'll pull the trigger, I won't buy a p.o.s. one that's a lost cause and better off as a parts car, there needs to be some nice potential
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 706
Likes: 30
From: Pitman NJ
My advice is to find a car that you can live with, and go for it. Sounds like you are willing to some of the work to keep it going, and are not too worried about a perfect car.
Good luck in your quest.