heavy69

Hello everyone, just having joined the forum today, let me introduce myself again. My name is Mat and I am an Austrian living in Germany. As you can see in my Signature V8s are part of my life!

Since all ongoing projects are basically finished it was time to look for something new, so we decided to go for a C3 Chrome Bumper. As my job brings me to the US quite a lot, I have now started to look at different options and came across this one:

https://fostercarco.com/inventory/37...rolet-Corvette

Has by any chance someone looked at this car? It is near Atlanta and since I will be there next weekend I wondered if it would be worth driving up there and having a look at it!

Any feedback is appreciated!
Cheers
Mat

Raphiki

Welcome to the forum! Nice looking car. Seems like awfully low mileage for a '71. Probably mileage since the restoration. Try to make contact with a local Corvette club in Atlanta to help you inspect the car if you are not familiar with C3's. I'm sure someone will be able to help.

Mr D.

Nice looking car and fairly price, if a true Steel Cities Gray car they didn't make a lot of those. Not crazy about the Red on Gray but very clean car.

69FASTFUN

Nice looking car but they installed the luggage rack to far towards the rear window. It should be closer to the rear.

20mercury

Nice 71 Corvette!

IMHO, reasonable starting price to start discussion too for a base engine coupe automatic.

And yes, I always go look, always educational to go look. Suggest you look at a dozen or more before you buy. And if you can bring someone 3rd party and knowledgeable to go look with you that is much better. Examine carefully for rust is rule one for me.

Good luck and happy hunting!

jr73

Welcome to the forum
that car is immaculate

Makonut

Looks clean from what I see. I t depends on what you want from the car.It says numbers matching but carb has been replaced. That is fine if in general you want a car with the original drive train, but if you want a correct car the various items that are correct like carb,alternator, fan clutch etc can be pricey.
THE MAIN THING IS TO CHECK AROUND THE WINDSHIELD AND PULL THE KICK PANELS, CHECK FRAME WHERE REAR SPRINGS ATTACH FOR RUST.

heavy69

Thanks a lot too all for the initial comments!
Will get in touch with the guy tomorrow and take it from there!

Have checked out one here in Europe with a colleague who has restored one and fortunately got from him a lot of hints and good knowledge. Like Windshield, A-Pillars etc.

Well, maybe there is someone out there still who has checked it out!
Cheers
Mat

doorgunner

I hope it work out for you! If not.....keep looking and posting.

Alwyn678

I am in Augusta, Georgia. I will check the. Car out if it is not too far away.

Alwyn678

Waaaaaaay too close to the back window, but that can be easily fixed.

Raphiki

Only off by about 4 inches. Not bad for these cars!

RMVette

Welcome! That looks like a nice car for the money. Good luck!

BKarol

FWIW, the car was on ebay and the listing ended on 5/17. Only has a BIN. It is listed again. Looks nice and good luck.

I know dealers feel they need to post this but.... " Foster's Car Co. is not to be held responsible for errors in facts"

Wee

Mat....It wasn't at the last Corvette only car show just up the road a few weeks ago....If you can't find anyone else to look the car over with you I might be able to meet you there (I live about 20 miles north of this location)....I'm no expert but own a 72 myself and looked at a bunch in person before buying mine.

Good luck
Brian

heavy69

Was in touch with the seller yesterday, seems to be a texas car that they bought from someone who inherited it. No history though regarding what was really done. Apparently restored by Houston Corvette.
We agreed that if it would still be there on the weekend I would try to have a look at it!

Thanks for all your comments as well, I will keep you posted!
Cheers
Mat

heavy69

Hi guys, was able to check out the car today!

Generally in good condition, no history except that apparently some 7 years ago a restoration was done somewhere in Texas. It is a Texas car.
It must have been an on frame restoration, frame has some rust, could not see deep into it but looks like nothing urgent to do. Engine starts fine, it was driven warm already when I arrived so could not check out a cold start.
Seals are OK, T-Tops seem to be in good shape.
Interior is a mix of original (panel, seat covers, probable carpets) and new stuff (door panels) - Odometer is not working. Temperature gauge is not working either, sensor is missing - cable end is there though.
Interestingly the gaps between the doors and frames are not 100% aligned, on the drivers side there is a light bump between the door and the frame! Paint on front of hood shows part of the rivets between the headlamps. EIther they are corroding again or were not repaired when the car was restored.
One thing which I did not like and maybe one of you has an idea: apparently a "Shift Kit" was installed that now makes the shifting very hard. When you put the gear from P to R and then further to D the car really makes a loud noise and like sits onto the aft drive train. (hard to explain) as soon as it moves it shifts normally with no noise.

Will upload some pictures soon!
Happy for any comments!

Raphiki

I don't think I would buy the story about a shift kit. Shift kits normally affect the shifts between gears not when you first shift into gear. Was the car idling at a higher than normal RPM?

Door gaps could also be the result of accident damage. With odometer not working you really have no idea how many miles are on the car (of course you seldom can anyway.) Did you get a chance to check the VIN numbers on the engine and trans to see if they match? Ad stated that everything works but you've already found that not to be true. What other "errors" are they hiding?

heavy69

heavy69

VIN Number on Engine and Window A-Pillar do match - could not check the Transmission!
Actually the car was idling at +/-600rmp pretty smooth - so nothing to complain about that!