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Hello to my American cousins, TBH ive cheated a bit I haven't purchased a corvette yet but looking for pointers, ive always loved the great looking early vettes as a kid one of my neighbours had one and I fell in love and apart from the e-type at the time most british cars looked like something from an eastern block country and id say the Trabant at the time was more reliable
ive seen this corvette 78 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CORVETTE-1...4AAOSw8KpZejS1
At nearly 17k = 22k US I'm wondering if id get a better deal buying from the states and shipping to the UK
Join a local Corvette club, you will get help from them and maybe someone knows someone with a car for sale.
I looked at the local corvette owners club they seem to all have C4's onwards no C£'s and anyhow I'm sure there's many more corvette experts in the good old US of A
Also my question is would I get a better deal in the US and ship to the UK rather than maybe buy a problem car already here
Welcome to the forum. I own a 78 S/A paint car. The one in the ad has Pace Car seats in it. It has the two tone optional Silver Anniversary Paint but silver or grey interior was not an option in the S/A Paint cars.
I paid $18,600 for my L82 4 spd car. 1 owner always garaged, the silver on top has been repainted, the gray on the bottom is original.
I'm not sure what shipping costs but I'm sure you could get one like in the ad for about 12 grand here.
Whatever route you go, enjoy your new Vette!
I first would read many more forum threads here prior to determining the competence of potential advice!
The math on this should be easy, the hardest part being the shipping since the US isn't all coastal and many many ports! You would have to select a candidate car first and figure out how to get it to a port first and where! PS the US is a pretty big Country!
My honest best best advice is to avoid adding unknowns and complications to the equation for just a few thousand dollars vice headaches and troubles! Take the 1978 down to your Trabant guy and have him check it out for you! Any competent mechanic should be able to check out a car to see if it is sound, not deteriorated, mechanical working, an educated guess at the health of the engine, etc etc etc
We/you would have to know what the actual shipping/importing costs are, along with considerations for damage that may occur (if you do insure it immediately).
You obviously would have a larger inventory to make your choice with.
Good luck.
All good advice guys I'll go and thoroughly check out this 78 vetted in the uk a very experienced machanic has agreed to come and take a peek although it's not just up the road 5 1/2'hours to where the car is. O well in for a penny in for a pound ( or dollar thanks for your valuable advice, you smashing Vetters �� Not sure if that's a word
All good advice guys I'll go and thoroughly check out this 78 vetted in the uk a very experienced machanic has agreed to come and take a peek although it's not just up the road 5 1/2'hours to where the car is. O well in for a penny in for a pound ( or dollar thanks for your valuable advice, you smashing Vetters �� Not sure if that's a word
Smashing! I have just formally added it to my vocabulary, because it is a cool word! 5-1/2 hours is Los Angeles to San Francisco for us! Heck practically in your backyard! I bet someone who has a Corvette in Europe, is probably someone who has taken care of it! The Corvette Rat Rod fad probably hasn't made it over the "pond" yet. $hit (blyme) look at me, two English words in one post!
Did he say why he is selling? That a lot of times is the deciding factor for me (psychology check of the reply) as to whether I go check something out!
In the car picture shown, heck the seller does a better job of keeping the raised white letters cleaner than many of the NCRS guys can on here!
On a trip like that, I break it up with stops! I will throw in a smashing historic site, a smashing pint (English words just flowing from the brain), some smashing laddies (ladies I assume or hookers), etc. By the time I arrive to look at the car, I already have had a smashing adventure to tell!
Last edited by TCracingCA; Jul 31, 2017 at 09:40 PM.
Smashing! I have just formally added it to my vocabulary, because it is a cool word! 5-1/2 hours is Los Angeles to San Francisco for us! Heck practically in your backyard! I bet someone who has a Corvette in Europe, is probably someone who has taken care of it! The Corvette Rat Rod fad probably hasn't made it over the "pond" yet. $hit (blyme) look at me, two English words in one post!
Did he say why he is selling? That a lot of times is the deciding factor for me (psychology check of the reply) as to whether I go check something out!
In the car picture shown, heck the seller does a better job of keeping the raised white letters cleaner than many of the NCRS guys can on here!
On a trip like that, I break it up with stops! I will throw in a smashing historic site, a smashing pint (English words just flowing from the brain), some smashing laddies (ladies I assume or hookers), etc. By the time I arrive to look at the car, I already have had a smashing adventure to tell!
Funny
hadyn. Have you checked out the sticky in C3 general - 10 rules for buying your first Corvette. It explains the problem areas to look out for ?
It looks like a nice car to me although I have no experience with anniversary models.
If it doesn't work out send me a PM so I can help with importing if you go that route.
Hi hadyn. I live over here in Wales in the Uk and have had my C3 for 8 years ,i had to travel 5 hours but i'd rather do that and see what i am buying than take a chance with importing something unseen from the states ,with the exchange rate as it is and import costs at what ever they are now i cant see much advantage of blindly buying over in the states ,put the same question on the uk corvette forum ,there is a fella near me in Pembrokshire who imported his car about 18 months ago and he would give an honest opinion ,also check out EMC performance cars if you want to buy from someone that you can go back to with a problem ,I think he is named Kevin,nice fella ,has been importing cars for years and does a good job of preparation on them before selling them at reasonable prices ,i never bought from him so i i cant talk from experience but have spoke to him on occasions for parts and advise and his cars always look great ,The most important thing with these cars is that you have to remember they are around 40 years old and even a well looked after or low mileage car will give problems ,its useful to know how to do the basics yourself ,like oil and filter changes and keep checking you car as things will crop up all the time so by the time you have owned it a few years you should know them inside and out or will have spent a load of cash with a mechanic .good luck and let me know if i can help any more
Last edited by longtimedead; Aug 1, 2017 at 12:08 PM.
New UK Member
thanks for your valuable advice, you smashing Vetters �� Not sure if that's a word
