How did people drive these cars years ago??! After spending two months doing a variety of repairs on my 68 BB 4-speed convert with manual steering and manual brakes, I finally got out on the road yesterday for a drive at speed, in traffic, on a normal road. I felt like I was in my very first car, a 1951 Pontiac with straight 8 and manual steering and brakes. Boat anchor motor and manual steering that requires both hands to make a turn, steering that wants to follow every little crack in the pavement and a variety of squeaks, rattles and road noises that drown out the radio. It took me back to 1964 again. That was until the throaty snarl from that BB engine and the wind from the top down made me remember why I bought this thing in the first place. Also, the satisfaction of sound-blasting the tail-gating Hondas when you step on the gas, the envious looks from older drivers who wish they had a C3 and the satisfaction of hours of busted knuckles and dirt under the fingernails. RA

 

Sounds like you answered your own question.

Jack

 

Sounds good........after another two months of adjusting all of those parts that squeak/rattle/wandering-steering will disappear.........the snarl from the engine will not, though.................

 

When I was looking at purchasing my 79 I took it for a test drive and it rattled like a bucket of bolts. I almost didn't buy it for that reason and questioned my decision after I did until we took the driver's door panel off and found several pieces of metal in the bottom of the door. Removed those and all the rattles were gone.

 

The most fun you can have with your pants on!

 

"The most fun you can have with your pants on!" No- that would be spinning my 1966 Mustang fastback 720 degrees at well over 100 mph and living to tell about it. Or... driving thru a herd of deer at triple digits and not hitting a single one of them and seeing the look on my passenger's face. It's always fun when you walk away from a brush with death. Not so much if you don't. I think you're right about the pants thing. Most of my other recollections seem to be pants off. RA

 

If I did a 720 at 100 MPH, I'd definitely have to change my pants.

 

What is interesting is the more I restore my 70 to get as close to factory as I can get the better the driving experience. Mine is a convertible and I was amazed at how tight it was once I finished the interior and steering box. This was with bad rear suspension and worn out front suspension which are being addressed. Cannot wait to feel how tight it drives when finished.

Kind Regards,


Bill

 

Once these cars are properly sorted out they drive remarkably well considering their age. While it doesn't drive like the newer Corvettes I don't find that my 68 BB rattles or causes me any problems steering it. I do have PS which helps with a big block but they actually drive reasonably well IMO. Hard to beat that feeling a big block gives you when you put your foot down

 

I bought my 71 last July. While driving it home from Fl., I lost the motor. Had it shipped to Ct. and didn't touch it until April. I pulled the engine and transmission. Had both rebuilt and I then reinstalled them.

Finished up everything I thought I needed to make my trip to Carlisle. Jumped in it and proceeded to travel 2700 miles in a week.

I would do it again tomorrow!

Don't be discouraged, keep fixing the little things. You WILL have a car you will enjoy!

Russ

 

Ron, you need to put power steering in your car. I went from a new 69 Camaro to a 68 coupe with manual steering. It is also harder to change lanes on the freeway fast with manual steering. You are so fortunate to be able to buy a complete kit now, to do that. I had to buy all used parts from a corvette junk yard in 1973.
You have an extra 100 pounds up front with a big block, that a small block doesn't have. It is not going to handle as nimble as a small block.
Manual brakes are okay. What type of tires are on the car? It almost sounds like it has the old bias-ply tires, but you do get some road wander with radials. Lou.

 

Very well said...

 

My '69 350/350 4 speed coupe was my daily driver in 1974 and 1975. Then I bought my '71 LS5 Conv. in 1975 and it was my daily driver until 1981. Now it just sits in the garage crying for attention.

 

And that's not talking about how long it'd take to get the seat cushion back- or how big a pry bar it would take.

 

"you need to put power steering in your car" Lou- I am actually looking at adding the rack and pinion steering kit made by Steeroids when I get some of the other issues fixed. After driving a couple BMWs for daily drivers and four RX-7 for my faster drivers, I have gotten used to the precision that R&P steering has. The kit is less than $1500 and is bolt-on, so it should be a good winter project. Tires are radials, but I suspect there is significant toe out on the alignment. One more thing to get done. Manual brakes are actually excellent. I have drilled, slotted rotors, SS brake hoses and the street/track Hawk pads, RA

 

Not directed at any one person or trying to offend but when I see posts about old in this case Corvettes not making good daily drivers or a statement like "how did people drive these cars years ago?"
My first thought is why does this person own some old car?

I do understand many people are very spoiled to the creature comforts of a new car for them perhaps a long look at a late model whatever would better suit them, when I told my wife next big cost is I gotta buy an AC kit she asked ( joking, knowing I hate them ) wouldn't I rather buy a new vette.

C3's are old cars some are in poor shape not maintained well so they are what they are however,
Some C3's are pristine restored to factory specs others are modified to better than they were new so lets look at the cars that are up to par, it's not fair to critique some old 40 plus yo car that is in poor condition.

My 69 for example did not come with ac or power windows a base model small block car, it's a convertible and in 69 when it rolled off the showroom floor it could have been a great daily driver IF the owner maintained it as such.

Now my 69 is well on it's way to be far better than it was in 69 like others who mod their c3's I am taking advantage of some better equipment like adding AC which in florida with my health is pretty much a must, I have power steering but could live without it and now crank windows are cool to me, kids never know how to work them,
I got lucky with a basically free VBP transverse suspension set up and dropped in a "mild" 454.

I have always since 16 owned vettes sometimes more than one or more than one car at a time,
I used a 66 hard top only, no ac, no heat, stick for a daily driver for years, never once thinking how did people do this in 66 or am I crazy for driving this car daily,
The 66 didn't have power anything and had a 327 for a while and a 454 for a spell.
It was a loud hot/cold beast....I loved that car, wish I never sold it.
As much as I love the auto in my 69 and hate hunting gears I very well might swap in a 4 speed, nothing new something removed from an old c3, I watch for complete kits for sale.
Why?...because it adds to the reasons I love old cars.

I really do not care what other cats think of me or my car, I will leave being all thrilled someone is jealous of me to the AC cobra clowns who use their cars to gauge their self worth, ( nothing to be envious of here )
My wifes ex an older cat than me longs for a vette, looks at them every Sunday has the funds yet will not pull the trigger, so sad to me.

I fell in love with vettes for the simple reason of how the car made ME feel, I do not care if it rattles is loud, cramped and hot it "fits" me and I fit it..okay, I admit GM didn't build the perfect for me c3 but I am doing that myself.
Now, this thread has me all a tingle I will have to give mike a ring and tell him get done on my car so I can get it back,

Perhaps I missed your real point of the thread and that being you love your beast too....

 

"Perhaps I missed your real point of the thread and that being you love your beast too"

You did miss the point. I chose a C3 because in my opinion they are the hard core example of what a Corvette should be- but still joke about its shortcomings. (For a moment I thought this was the BMW forum. Those people have zero sense of humor.) RA

 

I love mine. This car is going to get me in trouble.

 

"This car is going to get me in trouble"
COOLTED- That sounds like the title to a country/western song. Hope you stay speeding-ticket-free. RA

 

Wide range of C3 owners/fans for several different reasons.
Some of us owned them years ago, and did use them as daily drivers..some still do.
Not all C3 owners desire/expect it to handle like a track car, or perform like a bracket car, while still others prefer to have a museum piece..that is what makes ownership an individual experience, that has no set boundries/rules.
Most C3 owners have other cars in which to drive, all of which serve a specific function.

To each their own..unless it adversely affects me.