Jaykhjr

Hey all, first time posting. I am not lucky enough to own a Vette yet, but it was the first car I ever took over 100mph about 10 years ago and I've wanted one ever since.

Anyways, I bought a house 2 weeks ago from a family who had 3 brothers, 2 of whom had Vettes and made sure every wall of the garage and workshop have the symbols and paintings to prove it.

I was up in the Attic tracing a wire and under the insulation I found what I think is a C3 door. I don't know if its a coupe or a convertible, no clue how to tell which year its from, but once I do, unless the woman allows me to hang it on the wall, I'll be posting it for sale.

Im attaching a picture, can anyone help me out in identifying it?

Thanks!


Jay

Easy Mike

Looks like a C3 door. Sport mirrors were introduced for the 1977 model year, but that may not mean much. The mirrors could have been added to any C3.

Alan 71

Hi Jay,
Welcome!

"I don't know if its a coupe or a convertible,"

There's no difference in a door used on a coupe or convertible.
But the configuration of the glass is a bit different.
The rear edge of the glass for a coupe is quite vertical while the rear edge for a convertible slopes forward slightly.

Regards,
Alan

lvmyvt76

it is painted two toned, so might be a later year, if paint is stock? BUT, why would you have a door in the attic off of your car, UNLESS, it is an extra, then WHO knows???

69Vett

C3 coupe glass is straight up and down on the back edge.
convertible glass the back edge is angled toward the front,
on the top back corner.
2 tone and sport mirrors indicate later C3, unlikely convertible.

Jaykhjr

Thank you all. I dont think there is glass in the door. I didn't look much past "it's a door" but I think there is a door shell and a rubber gasket next to it. ill clean it up and get some better pics and info.

gbvette62

It's hard to tell from the picture, but if the paint is original, depending on the colors, it's likely either a 78, 81 or 82 door. Factory two-tones had a tape stripe between the two colors. If it has a tape stripe, and is silver over charcoal, it could be either a 78 Silver Anniversary or an 81-82. If it's silver over dark blue, it's probably an 81.

Seeing the other side of the door, might help identify the door, as the inside release is different on 78-82 doors.

Actually, 70-75 convertibles doors are different than coupe doors. The convertible door has a notched area at the top of the frame for an alignment pin, above the latch mechanism.

There are four different doors used between 68 and 82.

68's, which are one year only because of the push button release. Coupe and convertible use the same door, just the glass is different.

69 all and 70-77 coupe doors. 69 coupe and convertible use the same door (except for the glass), as the 70-77 coupe. In the mid 70's, a side guard door beam was added inside the door, but the basic door remained the same.

70-75 Convertible doors have the above mentioned notch for the alignment pin. Like the coupe doors, they also received the side guard beams.

78-82 doors have a different inner structure, because the inside door lock, inside release mechanism and arm rest/door pull, were redesigned and re-positioned.

All of the doors are interchangeable.

derekderek

Well, now you own 5 to 10% of your first corvette. Just need to find one that Need's a door!

Greg

My guess would be 1982 Paint Code 13/99 Silver over Dark Claret, but I'm not certain about the stripe.
Another mystery.....

tzeller

My guess would be 78 Silver Anniversary

Bikespace

You beat me to it! Welcome to Corvette ownership. Keep digging in the insulation, perhaps you'll find the rest of the car.

Tonio

Congrats! That's more Corvette than most people ever own!

Jaykhjr

Anyone have the matching car they are looking to get rid of? LOL

62corvette

Excellent breakdown!