Not at all. Cars after the C3s are fairly easy to prepare for emissions tests. It's the C3s that are the problem. They didn't have the type of calibration engineering in the mid 70s that came later in the (mid)-1980s. 1970s emissions cars are dialed in on a razor's edge with respect to emissions. You can tune it for emissions, drive to the testing station, and by the time you get there the "calibration" will have changed. Yes, they are that bad.

 

FWIW, Oregon, esp in metro areas has emissions testing as bad as California.
My '78 SA wouldn't pass even when tuned 'down'..tried twice.
Anyhow, I got passed that dumbass hurdle by getting what Oregon calls SP tags-registration.
Register once, 12 bucks.Never needs tag renewal so long as we own it.
NO emissions testing, no catalytic converters.
NO date sticker on the one rear tag

LIMITED to 3000 miles yearly..so not for a daily driver.Outings meetings, trips, rallys shows fine..
That goes along well ..with my collector's insurance specs from NCM.

I know many law enforcement folks statewide(retired leo) and the SP tags on a vintage car isn't a 'trigger' for them to stop you..assuming one is otherwise driving responsibly..
My old L48 has headers, sSS exhausts/mufflers(duals) no Y crossover.I could probably put electric cutouts on it for fun..but it already sounds great, runs strong.
Interestingly enough, when I filled out the application for registration/tags..the clerks at DMV didn't even know what the 'SP' plates were..I found out about them from other old car owners I met at events locally...SO check the local car clubs and many of your concerns about owning an older car( corvette or whatever) might have workable intelligent solutions..Jim

 

Emissions wouldn't even be the problem by then because the age of the cars would make them exempt in most areas but any machines that they are currently using to diagnose will be obsolete antiques if any exist at all so working on these cars even if you have someone that understands them will have their hands tied. Disagree if you like but I see major problems with these cars surviving as classics. That's why I put so much value in keeping my current 72.

 

California use to have a rolling 30 year old exception, Arnold killed that and every car after 1974 must be smogged

 

All cars in nz need to be checked. But they just do a visual check to make sure there's no more smoke than normal.

 

I see a lot of posts from west coast owners with concerns over emissions.....I also hear that the highest octane rating is 91? If so I guess there's always additives....

Here on the east coast ,NY someone knows someone that can pass your modified car....I guess we could care less about " smog rules"

 

Figured the front page would find this interesting too...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articl...orvettes-rare/

 

I guess our club is lucky with five chrome bumper C-3's in the club.

Regards,
Tom

 

Over time sure will decline some
There are plenty of nice ones out there they just dont get driven often.
Its been many yrs since I have seen anything older than even a C5.
Course I live in Prius PC ville

Ditto on smog
Anything 76 or newer gets forgotten about in Ca
They are getting real hard to get past smog even with all the stuff very few want them.

Keep what ya got and have fun I dont care if the younger guys want em or not kids will buy whats cheap like most of us did this hobbys cost is out of control.

They buy a 1500 Honda have mastered laptops get a cheap ebay turbo and have the same fun just a different way thats all.

Drive it into the ground while you can bet the farm at some point they will all be mandated to be electric of a hybrid that has to get 50mpg

 

As soon as the snow is gong and the rocks picked up ill be driving a lot again I sure dont want to chip paint

 

My "minty driver" low mileage '78 L82 Anniversary is for sale!!! Check it out in the "C3's For Sale" Forum! It's a STUNNER!!!!!

 

In NY and most states anything over 25 years old gets a SAFETY inspection only.

For the amount most of these cars are driven - one governors' helicopter ride pollutes more than the entire club in a month. Or the rich guys ride in his jet to the Hampton's.

The newest is the NY new tinted window rules.. I don't have them so I don't care.. But my neighbors mini van failed....

I did notice the Gov's car had tinted windows - hope he gets a ticket ....

 

Ditto ... the Corvette club here has a couple members that part out 74-82's unless they are exceptionally nice

On the up-side, he had the parts and knowledge and factory tools to rebuild trailing arms for my 72 ...

 

sounds as bad as California

 

I have two 1972 C3"s

A Convertible - base engine-4 speed only option is power steering, factory side pipes, 1982 wheels 22,000 miles

A T-Top-454-auto-every option, bought new, 468 original miles

Both are Elkhart Green with saddle interior

"Garage Queens"
................................... tom

 

nice!

 

The C3 population decreased by 2 cars last night and the C2 population decreased by 1. A body shop burned to the ground, the talk is a 66 and 2 C3's are gone.. along with another few cars.

Very sad...

 

For two such remarkable examples, it sure doesn't seem like you take care of them very well.

 

You beat me to the punch.
A couple nice in door car covers would protect the finish better than dust.
Most of the small blems on my original paint look like they happened inside a garage. Hey honey can you pass me that rake.....no not over the car.....drop.
Marshal

 

I'm seeing less on the road here in south east Michigan. I bought mine two years ago from an 81 year women, second owner. She had it parked in a heated garage and after reviewing the service records, she put 450 miles on it in 17 years. :/

Well after new tires and AC, and clear weather, i drive it weekly as soon as the salt is off the road and up till the threat of salt in November. I plan to have it out a lot this year, i bought it to drive it. And I do wave. Hope to see you all on Hines Drive or on a nice country road heading to one of the Michigan coasts.

Life is short, drive a corvette..