It's a sickness
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 769
Likes: 36
From: Goose Creek SC
I like the change in tides here,
I remember when people were told to run from nicer projects, and any and all projects were bottomless money pits,
I recall when rusty parts or a bad frame on a c3 was a death sentence,
Wasnt too long ago people would post how the simplest tasks are hard on a c3,
This change of mindset is is cool, frame swaps are now easy and cost effective, rust isnt a money pit or hard work to fix,
This certainly will save more c3s from the land fills.
I remember when people were told to run from nicer projects, and any and all projects were bottomless money pits,
I recall when rusty parts or a bad frame on a c3 was a death sentence,
Wasnt too long ago people would post how the simplest tasks are hard on a c3,
This change of mindset is is cool, frame swaps are now easy and cost effective, rust isnt a money pit or hard work to fix,
This certainly will save more c3s from the land fills.
Exactly! Looks like we have run the gamut from nervous nellies to damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Haha, it's what keeps it interesting for sure.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
I don't suspect that is a "water line" on the side. It is just a place where the body character line shields the side of the car from direct rainfall, so little bits of junk don't get washed off as efficiently. It's in the woods, so you don't get a lot of wind-blown rain...it all comes from directly over the car and drops straight down. That wouldn't worry me at all.
The condition, obviously, would be one of speculation without more pictures, but a purchase like this has EVERYTHING do do with price. On the plus side, the front bumper chrome doesn't look bad, and all the egg-crates are there. Being as the front egg-crates alone sell for a pretty penny, and good repro sill plates are IMPOSSIBLE to get, there are a few parts on there that would quickly and easily crest a couple/few thousand dollar purchase price. Not to mention if those are original 4-tab wheel rings without curb scuffs.
So that's what it would come down to. Price.
---If the engine turns over, the frame is solid, the interior is all there and not a rats nest, there's probably a decent amount of money there, birdcage notwithstanding. $5k? $6k tops?
---If the frame is shot, it goes down to $3k really fast.
---If the interior is a total loss, I'd wander down to $2k for those few parts alone.
---If by some MIRACLE you can pump up the tires, put on a battery, throw some fuel in it, and drive the car out of that hole, I'd still speculate that you'd have quite the rusty mess on your hands. No more than $8k even in those absurdly unlikely conditions.
Consider this: My brother just bought a front/rear hit 2001 Corvette Convertible from Copart. He disassembled a 2001 Hardtop for his kit car, so he had all the parts to fix. He and I spent 10 hours putting on a front cone, rear cone, one quarter panel, a muffler system, and straightening another couple of bits. 6-speed car WITH a ProCharger supercharger system and 2 intercoolers. 42,000 mile car. We pulled it off the trailer on Friday at 7:00 PM and drove it to Chick-fil-A for lunch at 10:30 AM the next day. Spins the wheels off the car in first AND second. Runs like a raped ape. His total investment? $6,000. Just one of those things to think about when considering dumping lots of money into a random car sitting on its belly in the woods...
The condition, obviously, would be one of speculation without more pictures, but a purchase like this has EVERYTHING do do with price. On the plus side, the front bumper chrome doesn't look bad, and all the egg-crates are there. Being as the front egg-crates alone sell for a pretty penny, and good repro sill plates are IMPOSSIBLE to get, there are a few parts on there that would quickly and easily crest a couple/few thousand dollar purchase price. Not to mention if those are original 4-tab wheel rings without curb scuffs.
So that's what it would come down to. Price.
---If the engine turns over, the frame is solid, the interior is all there and not a rats nest, there's probably a decent amount of money there, birdcage notwithstanding. $5k? $6k tops?
---If the frame is shot, it goes down to $3k really fast.
---If the interior is a total loss, I'd wander down to $2k for those few parts alone.
---If by some MIRACLE you can pump up the tires, put on a battery, throw some fuel in it, and drive the car out of that hole, I'd still speculate that you'd have quite the rusty mess on your hands. No more than $8k even in those absurdly unlikely conditions.
Consider this: My brother just bought a front/rear hit 2001 Corvette Convertible from Copart. He disassembled a 2001 Hardtop for his kit car, so he had all the parts to fix. He and I spent 10 hours putting on a front cone, rear cone, one quarter panel, a muffler system, and straightening another couple of bits. 6-speed car WITH a ProCharger supercharger system and 2 intercoolers. 42,000 mile car. We pulled it off the trailer on Friday at 7:00 PM and drove it to Chick-fil-A for lunch at 10:30 AM the next day. Spins the wheels off the car in first AND second. Runs like a raped ape. His total investment? $6,000. Just one of those things to think about when considering dumping lots of money into a random car sitting on its belly in the woods...
Last edited by keithinspace; Mar 5, 2018 at 11:13 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,679
Likes: 1,830
From: Huntsville AL
Unless the birdcage is toast it's a very doable restoration. Now I said restoration not doable value added restoration.
If restoration money is not a show stopper than this car is worth a look for sure.
Oh BTW dibs on the front end (front clip).
If restoration money is not a show stopper than this car is worth a look for sure.
Oh BTW dibs on the front end (front clip).
Last edited by Mr D.; Mar 5, 2018 at 11:28 AM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 302
Likes: 14
From: Northern Ca.
Looks like its been picked at already. rear bumper, side markers, emblems; amazing the center caps are still there. The egg creates and front grills are almost a couple grand alone for originals these days. Super thin paint as the bonding strips are quite visible. Depends on price and rust.
Let us know. I'd like to see it out of the woods.
Let us know. I'd like to see it out of the woods.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 556
Likes: 133
From: Eastern side North Carolina
Here is the back story.
Someone contacted me to see if I would be interested in this Corvette, a '57 Chevy 210 2 door sedan, and a '40 Ford coupe. The 'Vette and '57 would come with the window stickers and original bill of sale. I said I was and I waited patiently for a chance to travel the 120 miles to see them. It was on the "seller's" terms, but weather and March Madness NCAA scheduling (team related-on the other end) conflicted every attempt. The cars had belonged to a man who had passed away, and his adult son was helping the mother sell off these cars. Title transfers were being resolved with DMV so I was to get 3 clear titles.
Once a time was agreed on, things were set. I was going to travel with cash and a trailer in order to follow through. But a last minute call from the "seller" killed the deal. Unknown to him until that morning, his mother had agreed to let a family friend get all 3 cars. They were considered as sold.
So that's how this missed opportunity ended, my shot at a '72 Corvette, a '57 Chevy 2 door and a '40 Ford coupe.
For 5 grand.
Someone contacted me to see if I would be interested in this Corvette, a '57 Chevy 210 2 door sedan, and a '40 Ford coupe. The 'Vette and '57 would come with the window stickers and original bill of sale. I said I was and I waited patiently for a chance to travel the 120 miles to see them. It was on the "seller's" terms, but weather and March Madness NCAA scheduling (team related-on the other end) conflicted every attempt. The cars had belonged to a man who had passed away, and his adult son was helping the mother sell off these cars. Title transfers were being resolved with DMV so I was to get 3 clear titles.
Once a time was agreed on, things were set. I was going to travel with cash and a trailer in order to follow through. But a last minute call from the "seller" killed the deal. Unknown to him until that morning, his mother had agreed to let a family friend get all 3 cars. They were considered as sold.
So that's how this missed opportunity ended, my shot at a '72 Corvette, a '57 Chevy 2 door and a '40 Ford coupe.
For 5 grand.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,599
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I feel your pain. Now I have to pass up deals because I need the cash to finish my first Corvette......no more projects for me....it's going to be time to drive soon.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 1,181
From: La Mesa CA