Should I buy this 74?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 111
From: Oakland, Maine
Should I buy this 74?
I usually hang out on the C1/C2 forums but I have been approached about buying a 74 blue coupe. It has PS, PB, PW, 4 speed, AC, and base engine. The carb was swapped for a Holley that back fired in 2007 and has not been started since but simply has sat in a garage. The rear valance panel is junk and mostly missing. It is owned by the original buyer and has about 38K on it. It was a Sunday driver type and garaged all of the time so I assume that frame and birdcage are OK. I'm guessing that buying and installing rear panel with paint to be $2000 and another $1500 for carb replacement and brake freshening. With those numbers I'm thinking that an offer of $3500-$4000 would be reasonable. Any thoughts?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,159
Likes: 4,236
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MD,
Why does someone park a car because it back fires and then decide to just let it sit for 10 years?
Your numbers 'probably' work.... BUT.... do YOU want a 74 coupe that you'll have $10,000 in?
Regards,
Alan
Why does someone park a car because it back fires and then decide to just let it sit for 10 years?
Your numbers 'probably' work.... BUT.... do YOU want a 74 coupe that you'll have $10,000 in?
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Don't guess about frame and birdcage. Study the 10 rules sticky for details then go find out what rust issues it has or hasnt. 74 has urethane front and rear bumpers that dissolve and fall off in pieces. You can buy 2 new bumpers for 4 to 500 and fit and paint yourself, or drive it into a body shop and spend more than the car is worth. Same with mech issues. If paying somebody to do all the work, I strongly recommend you get a car that is pretty much rehabbed...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 111
From: Oakland, Maine
While we have been emailing, yesterday we talked by phone for the first time. He was pretty firm at $7600 so I thanked him and will move on. A 74 has never been on my want list but I thought if it could be bought right it would be possible to enjoy a project and make a dollar or two. Not to be.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 111
From: Oakland, Maine
I agree but what else can I think about when I have snow outside measured in feet and warm sunshine seems never to return. Perhaps when Spring arrives I will return to my senses.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 314
Likes: 50
From: Woodbury NJ
Good decision. I bought my base coupe 74 auto 3 years ago from an estate. It was sitting for 10 years or more. (Last inspection sticker as 1999). The good news is the price was around 1700. I got it running in a weekend. But thats it. Since then, about 10k BEFORE body and paint so far, and i did all the work. Body and paint will double that price. (I'm not doing that work...leaving that to the professionals. )
so yeah, based on my experience, you made a good choice. Keep looking. Alan's sage advice helped me avoid a 1970 vert with terrible rust issues. As much fun as i have with restomod efforts, i'd rather be driving at this point.
so yeah, based on my experience, you made a good choice. Keep looking. Alan's sage advice helped me avoid a 1970 vert with terrible rust issues. As much fun as i have with restomod efforts, i'd rather be driving at this point.
Last edited by Cool bean; Jan 28, 2018 at 08:39 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
I only have a few days where it`s too cold to work in the garage here in Florida. But I have the same problem waiting for the budget to catch up with the parts list..... so in between, I enjoy smaller projects, like restoring Coke machines & gas pumps.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 778
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I`m sure I`m not alone in thinking that fixing up and "flipping" Corvettes is a poor financial idea. These cars are money pits, as you must know from your experience on the C1 and C2 forums. C3s are just as prone to bringing you "upside down" as other generations. I`m not saying it can`t be done.... I`m just saying it`s unlikely.
From posts i see Lots of guys would like to grab an unloved c3 and fix it up play with it then flip it for tall or any profit,
And we know those times are long behind us,
Ive also become pretty darn jaded to big mouth pos shops, and of course you know my other issues
I see some very talanted down to earth guys on this forum they love to build the cars and seem to get bored when their car is finished,
Perhaps they should offer to help others who are dragging *** on their own projects, for pay of course that might be a way building a c3 would yield a profit if they didnt get all pompous and greedy,
They would get a pay check for something they love to do and some cat would get his stagnant project finished.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
Jim, ive been thinking about this,
From posts i see Lots of guys would like to grab an unloved c3 and fix it up play with it then flip it for tall or any profit,
And we know those times are long behind us,
Ive also become pretty darn jaded to big mouth pos shops, and of course you know my other issues
I see some very talanted down to earth guys on this forum they love to build the cars and seem to get bored when their car is finished,
Perhaps they should offer to help others who are dragging *** on their own projects, for pay of course that might be a way building a c3 would yield a profit if they didnt get all pompous and greedy,
They would get a pay check for something they love to do and some cat would get his stagnant project finished.
From posts i see Lots of guys would like to grab an unloved c3 and fix it up play with it then flip it for tall or any profit,
And we know those times are long behind us,
Ive also become pretty darn jaded to big mouth pos shops, and of course you know my other issues
I see some very talanted down to earth guys on this forum they love to build the cars and seem to get bored when their car is finished,
Perhaps they should offer to help others who are dragging *** on their own projects, for pay of course that might be a way building a c3 would yield a profit if they didnt get all pompous and greedy,
They would get a pay check for something they love to do and some cat would get his stagnant project finished.
Oh HECK yes! I LOVE that idea! It would have to be modest pay though, because many of us who are building our own can`t afford $100 an hour shop that`s just going to steal my correct "good" parts, replace it with junk, then pack my car full of bondo.
OOPPPS.... I got side tracked! But yeah, helping out a fellow enthusiast for pay sounds like a win--win situation!