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I just bought my 78 s/a L82 4 spd on New Years Eve. It is as close to a daily driver as I have. I work out of the house and drive the car on inspections 2 or 3 times a month 200 to 400 miles per trip. It shares road time with my 80 Sunchaser.
Having just researched and decided on a car, I narrowed my search to 78 - 80 models. This gave me the extra space behind the seats created by the new rear window and avoided computer controls. The "sugarscoop" cars simply didn't have room behind the seats the 78 up models do.
While I don't intend to sell it, I wanted an L82 4 spd car for re-sale value. I went with the 78 Silver Anniv. car thinking it's re-sale may be further enhanced but I would have jumped on the right 80 L82 4 spd just as fast.
As your daily driver, I think you will appreciate the extra space and ease of entry into the extra space.
Good luck on your search. Nothing like a Corvette!!
Since you say that finances limit you to one vehicle I do suggest '73+ as you will pay a premium for earlier years and a great premium for those already in a condition suitable for daily driving. Given the rather poor market for C3 sellers at present it will be even more difficult for you to find a '73- in anything approaching daily driver condition because owners of such just won't sell them.
Since you want a daily driver (no matter the year) I also suggest finding a car very close to stock. DEFINITELY buy both a factory service manual and assembly manual for your year. It is FAR, FAR, FAR easier to diagnose and repair problems when you have instructions that apply to your car!!!!
I just bought my 78 s/a L82 4 spd on New Years Eve. It is as close to a daily driver as I have. I work out of the house and drive the car on inspections 2 or 3 times a month 200 to 400 miles per trip. It shares road time with my 80 Sunchaser.
Having just researched and decided on a car, I narrowed my search to 78 - 80 models. This gave me the extra space behind the seats created by the new rear window and avoided computer controls. The "sugarscoop" cars simply didn't have room behind the seats the 78 up models do.
While I don't intend to sell it, I wanted an L82 4 spd car for re-sale value. I went with the 78 Silver Anniv. car thinking it's re-sale may be further enhanced but I would have jumped on the right 80 L82 4 spd just as fast.
As your daily driver, I think you will appreciate the extra space and ease of entry into the extra space.
Good luck on your search. Nothing like a Corvette!!
She's surveying her domain!!!
Yours is GREAT looking. There is something special about a lacquer paint job that stands out above clear coat.
A C3 as a daily driver would be a lot of fun. However you WILL be working on them, they WILL leak and they WILL drink gas. IF you are good with all of this stuff, I say go for it. Life is short, it would be an adventure every day, and you would look forward to the drive home every day.
I think a 68-72 would be cool as hell to drive every day and youll always have something to do on weekends.
Don't feel that way. I saw the car in person and it took a few minutes to accept there was no way original paint would look that good after 75,000 miles and almost 40 years garaged kept or not.
That's when the salesperson told me the paint was new and showed me a few other C2's the same shop painted.
I don't know exactly how they do it but they manage to apply base/clear and it doesn't have that "plastic" look.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
