M4A3E2

I have time to think about this. Might wait a few years, get some more driving experience and get my insurance to go down, then I'll look at these Corvettes once more.

Torqued Off

I think you should realize that people on this forum are not necessarily the right people to ask about this. While they all supposedly share a love of the car, they also enjoy talking about how difficult these cars are to maintain. Even though they are far simpler than any modern vehicle. If you want to live in fear, then buy a boring modern car. If you want to live.......with the requirement it takes effort, care money and determination, then you might think about taking on the challenge. Or, you could just take the safe way out......just don't lose the desire.

M4A3E2

I mean, I've worked on a '65 mustang with my friend, and that wasn't too much for me. I can afford the car and would love it, it's just outside voices always help my decisions, especially with something like this.

ronarndt

Smart idea. Most older folks like me look back at when they were 18 and wonder how they made it. The Corvette you are looking at would be a good choice if you were working a few years and could buy a car that would be a toy for weekends and sunny days. When I was young and stupid I bought a 1964 Triumph TR-4 to use as my daily driver for an 80 mile round trip commute from home in NE PA (snow in the winter) to graduate school. Fun car.......when it was running. I wisely switched to a Mustang and had to do far less roadside repairs.


You might also be better able in a couple years to buy a Vette with greater collector value. If you read this forum you will find that the plastic bumper C3 cars are less desirable than the 1968-72 cars with chrome bumpers. They cost a little more, but will probably keep getting more valuable.


Sounds like we will read about your first 'Vette on this forum in a couple years. Hope you find a good one.

Bloodzone

Sit down with your Dad and read over all the replies. Then you guys decide together.

M4A3E2

Sounds good! Might save the money I have, wait a few years, and get one of the 68-69 ones.

Andy Tuttle

You have an Uncle guiding you in this endeavor. He has some experience and knowledge of Vettes. You have gained some experience getting your knuckles busted and hands greasy. You have the finances to make the purchase. Sounds like it push came to shove you could buy a $1,500 back-up. It appears to be a very sound vehicle from the start. SO I would say: GO FOR IT!!! Keep your eyes open, knowing you will have to put money, time, effort, money, love, sweat, tears and MONEY into it. As I was once told anything with tires is gonna give you trouble sooner or later. There are times coming ahead of you when you may not have the opportunities before you such as you have now. Sometimes the grumpy old men are just jealous. Each eighteen year old is different. If I could I would buy my 18 y/o daughter without a second thought. My oldest son when he was 18 had a high performance Z28 . It "wore off" and he sold it. Now married, he drives a Suburban. Drive it respectfully, treat it like a queen (you will always remember her and wish you hadn't of sold her) but buy it. You will end up with a Corolla sedan and a minivan soon enough. Sometimes the grumpy old men have good insight, and don't ignore them (or rebel against your Dad if he is deadest against it) but they aren't always right either. There is good help here if you run into problems. Be careful, be aware of problems and difficulties you may run into, but don't be afraid to buy it and enjoy it.

Andy Tuttle

Torqued Off

Girls.

bj1k

He's 18 and is concerned about being able to afford insurance on a corvette , let alone another car too . Nice to dream about but a bad idea unless you have a rich daddy !

bj1k

I have to agree that if you wanted a dependable car for every day use it would not be a British car with Lucas electrics. I also had a Triumph TR4A and a Bug Eye Sprite and both would quit in a rain storm if you hit a puddle and the electrics would get wet. Dry it out and they would run fine until the next rain. Funny thing , doesn't it rain almost all of the time where these cars came from ?

M4A3E2

Money most certainly isn't an issue. I don't actually have to worry about insurance and the sort, it's just I've been raised to be more frugal so I think about stuff like that.

Metalhead140

You only live once, and you don't know how long you've got until it's gone. If you're really keen on it, and willing to work on it yourself then go for it. Every part you need and all the information you need to do any work on it is available on via google. Worst that can happen is it'll cost you a bunch and you'll sell it and know that it's not for you. Better that than always wondering what might have been!

Lakeside49

Well, you've definitely got exceptionally good classic car instincts. You have obviously thought it through. I wouldn't buy a POS Honda or Toyota but Please (twice) buy your favorite C3 in the future .,.as a first rate hobby car. Not now. You need more reliable transportation at your life stage. The C3 is relatively reliable, but not to the level that you need right now. Any classic car demands a lot of attention so don't tie yourself down in your still highly formative phase where you have s growing list of higher priorities as you get your life firmly on track. But when you are finally ready, there will be many exceptional cars for you to choose from starting with some of the guys/gals on this forum who sinfully spoil their beautiful cars in hopes that someone who appreciates them like you will come along someday.

You

jr73

Lets see here an 18 year old guy driving a C3 as a daily driver.
Why not?
All of us here was 18 once, optimistic and fearless. If I had a chance to own a Vette when I was 18 I would have done it, I certainly would have loved to have had that experience. Are they practical? Nope but who cares when you're 18. You deserve to find out on your own if it was a bad idea or not. Looking back I would have some pretty cool stories to tell. I hope no one talks you out of the adventure that every young American guy should have in his soul. If you learn it was a mistake who cares, you will bounce back. You have the rest of your life to drive a Volvo.

blk79nj

You only live once, enjoy life.

I say go for it!

Z06LMB

I was 18 when I used all of my savings of $3,000 for a down payment on a brand new 1980 Corvette costing $15,5XX. And this was my only car.
I soon learned how impractical his car could be. Only one girl at a time, tires and brakes wearing out more often then I care to admit. A constant insecure driveabilty in anything but good weather. Everybody wanted to take me on knowing of course these 'vettes are so weak, always finding trouble for me in more ways then one.

I don't care what anybody says, Corvettes in general are not the easiest cars to drive for people that are (what's the best way to say this?), not mature and respectful of this car's limitations and restrictions. If I had to do it all over again that purchase at 18 would have waited, and as a second car too so that it would get the care it deserved.

Metalhead140

Ok. Well at 17, I bought a car that was then a bit over 20 years old, lots of electrical and vacuum accessories, worked v8 with a carb, really not that dissimilar to a Vette. I'd never really worked on a car before, but I was keen to learn. I loved it, cost me a bunch and I could barely afford to put fuel in it, but I wouldn't change it for anything. That is the newest car I've ever owned. I now do all my own work, bodywork, paint, wiring, engine and gearbox conversions, everything. If you are passionate about old cars, you'll run them, fix them, patch them as needed and enjoy. If not, you'll soon work out it's not for you, but I'm sure you won't regret having given it a shot. I drive 35 miles (each way) to work every day, and I own 2 1970s vehicles, no newer car. It can be done, if you have the will. I'm 32, and could easily own a new car, but I have no desire to.

Z06LMB

Something to think about,

This is priced high for a base coupe. Maybe with more documentation, an L-82 and perhaps a four speed, this car could justify the current price as long as the exterior is like the interior for 15k miles.
Keep in mind the miles will fly by when you take it out for those beautiful weekend drives and soon your low miles '76 'vette will loose a big chunk and quickly becomes just a clean 76 worth about $9 to $11K providing nothing more has changed.

M4A3E2

Here's some images of the exterior. And you're right, even as a Sunday/perfect weather leisure drive car, those miles are going to quickly stack up.