1973 eckler model help
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
1973 eckler model help
I am considering purchasing a 1973 eckler model corvette and I need help on what a good price would be, it doesn't have the carbs working so it won't stay running without starter fluid, the paint job needs a TON of work, part of the front right fiberglass is broken from when the previous owner hit a curb, the convertible roof needs to be fixed due to it being in pieces, the interior needs major work, the head lights need to have new plexiglass installed, the only good thing is the engine as it was highly modified and matches the car numbers and there is a new gas tank. If you could give your opinion that would be great, thanks!!!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
How about some pictures, so we can get a good idea of what you're looking at? Secondly, what does the current owner mean, when he says "an Eckler's Model Corvette"? If you're not aware, Ecklers is a Corvette supply house, in Florida, that did, or still does, make a large number of body modification parts/kits for C-3 Corvettes. In some cases, I believe that they may have also done the actual install work, at their shop, at one time.
However, depending on what you're looking at, it might just be an old Corvette that somebody slapped Ecklers body panels on, so the work may or may not be "acceptable", therefore the car may be ultra cool, or a POS.......and that also applies to the remainder of the car. As already mentioned, the frame and "birdcage" need to be examined very closely, for rust issues.
However, depending on what you're looking at, it might just be an old Corvette that somebody slapped Ecklers body panels on, so the work may or may not be "acceptable", therefore the car may be ultra cool, or a POS.......and that also applies to the remainder of the car. As already mentioned, the frame and "birdcage" need to be examined very closely, for rust issues.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Regardless of the actual value of the car, the work you describe will total more than it’s worth at the end of the restoration.
If you really want the car for whatever reason, you need to get it for as little as possible. If he sticks to his story and his pricing, walk away.
If you really want the car for whatever reason, you need to get it for as little as possible. If he sticks to his story and his pricing, walk away.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Any c3 corvetre could be called a piece of history this one might better be called a pos, but i havent seen it
Ecklers when ralph ( rip ) was doing his thing did some cool stuff but eckler never got a name or rather his cars never go to the big values of car built by places like motion or greenwood and even then a custom has to have good documents a provenance to be worth something,
Ecklers sold a lot of parts and built a fair amount of cars, but c even the really nice ones do not seem to fetch more than any other camparable custom,
A basketcase custom is what it is,
Ecklers when ralph ( rip ) was doing his thing did some cool stuff but eckler never got a name or rather his cars never go to the big values of car built by places like motion or greenwood and even then a custom has to have good documents a provenance to be worth something,
Ecklers sold a lot of parts and built a fair amount of cars, but c even the really nice ones do not seem to fetch more than any other camparable custom,
A basketcase custom is what it is,
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
That doesn't look half bad!!
YES, there are a LOT of Ecklers body parts, that have been added to that car. If you can verify that there aren't any rust issues with the underpinnings, I personally think that it might be a possible candidate for a wild street car. In other words, at least in my opinion, it shows a lot more promise than your original post led us to believe...........
YES, there are a LOT of Ecklers body parts, that have been added to that car. If you can verify that there aren't any rust issues with the underpinnings, I personally think that it might be a possible candidate for a wild street car. In other words, at least in my opinion, it shows a lot more promise than your original post led us to believe...........
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
Google is your friend if you don't know what you should be looking at ,
Google - "c3 corvette birdcage rust repair " click on images as well , that will bring up some horrifying pictures of what these cars can look like UNDER the fibreglass. That's the problem with these cars , they hide the rust so well.
If you can establish that car has no rust problems , then the rest can be fixed and you would have a nice safe car to cruise around in.
You need to get some pics of the chassis from under the car to see what its really like.
Google - "c3 corvette birdcage rust repair " click on images as well , that will bring up some horrifying pictures of what these cars can look like UNDER the fibreglass. That's the problem with these cars , they hide the rust so well.
If you can establish that car has no rust problems , then the rest can be fixed and you would have a nice safe car to cruise around in.
You need to get some pics of the chassis from under the car to see what its really like.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
That is the early and in my opinion best looking of the eckler wide bodies, l8kely customer built,
The hood scoop is not ecklers but builder made,
If it wasnt too rusty i would pay perhaps up to 6500 as i love this style wide body on a convertible, but 4500 to 5k is likely more realistic considering what we do know about it....
If rust is bad at all i wouldnt want it for free as i still would be uphilling and too upside down in it,
There is a sticky thread on buying vettes where to look for rust, it will have some but hopefully not too much
The hood scoop is not ecklers but builder made,
If it wasnt too rusty i would pay perhaps up to 6500 as i love this style wide body on a convertible, but 4500 to 5k is likely more realistic considering what we do know about it....
If rust is bad at all i wouldnt want it for free as i still would be uphilling and too upside down in it,
There is a sticky thread on buying vettes where to look for rust, it will have some but hopefully not too much
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Do you have any idea about how many miles are on the car? Is it currently in drivable condition.....if not, do you know when it was last driven? Again, the rust issues that have ben mentioned, would be the key, as to what this car might be worth. Another "issue" that C-3 Corvettes face, is leaking brake calipers. That's why I mention when the car was last driven. If the calipers are bad, it's not a show stopper, as there are several reputable sources for "re-sleeved" calipers. It just becomes an added expense, in getting the car roadworthy.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Do you have any idea about how many miles are on the car? Is it currently in drivable condition.....if not, do you know when it was last driven? Again, the rust issues that have ben mentioned, would be the key, as to what this car might be worth. Another "issue" that C-3 Corvettes face, is leaking brake calipers. That's why I mention when the car was last driven. If the calipers are bad, it's not a show stopper, as there are several reputable sources for "re-sleeved" calipers. It just becomes an added expense, in getting the car roadworthy.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Do you have any idea about how many miles are on the car? Is it currently in drivable condition.....if not, do you know when it was last driven? Again, the rust issues that have ben mentioned, would be the key, as to what this car might be worth. Another "issue" that C-3 Corvettes face, is leaking brake calipers. That's why I mention when the car was last driven. If the calipers are bad, it's not a show stopper, as there are several reputable sources for "re-sleeved" calipers. It just becomes an added expense, in getting the car roadworthy.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Btw,
I love it, im jealous and hope it works out and isnt too rusty, makes me wanna wide body my 69 convertible
Last edited by The13Bats; Oct 11, 2017 at 07:36 PM.