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Hello Gents, thinking about buying a 74 with 107, 000 on odometer, current owner says engine was rebuilt several years ago , but doesn't know for sure. He has had the car for about 6 months. I figure he got it cheap and is try to flip it and make a little money. The paint is excellent, interior is good, head lights work fine, a/c is cold (134a) drives and stops excellent, engine sounds strong, no leaks, decent tires. Asking price is 12,000 or best offer. Thoughts, ideas, suggestions. I'm a C4 guy and don't really know much about the C3 model, any help would be great
I'm not familiar with the "usual rust issues" you mention. That orange 74 is awesome!
Rust can total a C3. The birdcage around the door pillars, the windshield frame (including the t-top center support) and lower frame near trailing arms are the areas I've seen the most trouble with. There are plenty of threads about it and repairs.
Your doing a very wise thing by looking here before buying. I didn't when I bought my 74 3 years ago. I saw an add, checked out the car and bought it. I figured I could fix anything wrong with it. You know your skill level, you have to decide what you are going to be using the car for....weekend toy, daily driver, etc.
I have never owned a corvette before. Mine was only going to be a Weekend fair weather car. It wasn't a lot of money (7500, which I didn't have), I knew it needed some work just to get it on the road. The car had been in a barn with 4 other C3's for years...it was Ripe inside. The seats were cracked old vinyl, it had 1/2 of dust all over it, the engine looked like crap (for the most part it still does), it ran rough, etc.
But as soon as I looked at it, I said "she's perfect". As soon as he fired it up, my wife said SOLD.
3 years later, I just finished the interior (insulation, new steering wheel, new 1200 watt stereo, New leather Fiero seats, LED dash lights, etc). Oops, I still nee new door skins and I want to install keyless entry. When I pulled open the lower kick panels, I found lots of rust. Went to work on it with a wire wheel, got it all out, no holes. I painted it all up, and coated it with lots of oil. It will be fine for the next 10 years. Maybe in 10 years I will do a body off restoration, we'll see.
I got a set of used slotted corvette rims and bought brand new rubber for them. She looks sharp from the outside now.
This year I am pulling the rear differential out to have it rebuilt and maybe change to 373's. Maybe install steeroids cause I tried replacing the control valve and it leaked out again...what a waste of $250.00.
The point is...you have to decide what you want to do with it once you have it. If you can afford it (purchase price, repair cost and/or your time) go for it. You will have to work on these cars, they are old but, unlike today's cars, easy to work on. Parts are everywhere, some cheap, some not so.
I smile every time I open the garage and every time someone gives me a thumbs up as I drive by. That part is PRICELESS. I am by no means weathy, I live pay check to pay check like most people. I try to put aside 200.00 a month for parts.
I LOVE my car. My daughter loves my car and she is a truck/mud girl, she has asked me to put it in the will for her. This year I am planning on putting the car in some local shows just for fun and to meet others with the same appreciation.
Does the trim plate being screwed on mean it was repainted?
The car has been resprayed the original color, the paint is excellent, smooth as glass, no overspray, no orange peel, all you could ask for in a repaint job!
See if you can get it for 10K or so, it would be a better deal. These are big $ cars.
The trim tag does look shaky. I have a 75 34 K miles, bought cheap restored it $ amount was under 10K now installing a 700r4 just for fun.
I agree that orange 74 looks very nice.
Yes they did use rivets, perhaps the door had been replaced and the person who repaired it done a crap job reinstalling the tag? The car wasn't advertised as a museum quailty, all original and the current owner has been upfront about everything. If I buy the car I will reattach it correctly.
02-06-2016, 08:46 PM
Thinking about buying a 74
