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Going to look at a 75 with a good friend tomorrow, it's for sale on CL and it appears to me to be a flip. Any thing jump out that I should look for....I know about the typical rust issues and own a 72 myself. Link to ad and some pics below. Asking price is $8000
Before the engine is started check the dipstick for clean oil or for sludgy/milky oil. Check the transmission dipstick for clean fluid or dark "burned-smelling" fluid. Then give it a good firm test drive to see how badly it squirms or squats in the rear on take-offs from a stop. Also check for brake-pull to the left or right, or squealing/grinding brakes. Listen to the starter for dragging/grinding......U-joints for popping when car is placed in gear. Date codes on all tires.
Whew!
Last edited by doorgunner; 03-09-2018 at 09:56 PM.
Biggie for me is check for rust, which you already know. I would pull the interior trim around the windshield and ask if the windshield has been replaced and when. With the understanding that you can still get rust under the windshield and still not be able to completely detect the problem with the glass installed. Also behind kickpanel, #2 mount, and a lot of time checking out the frame for integrity. The rest, fluids, compression, test drive would be the typical used Corvette checks. You could add up what you need to spend money on, add that to the 8k and see how that compares to the price of one in outstanding shape, but I am usually not that rational, ha! Also to provide some logical perspective, try to look at a half dozen before you plunk down your hard earned "toad pelts" as Bats says.
Good luck and hope it checks out ok.
Oh, I had a 76 white coupe with luggage rack just like this one, but the interior was buckskin. Rust runs always show up bad on the white paint and hopefully not as bad as it really is. Also you might warn the buyer that my first 76 C3, lead to a serious addiction problem and 5 C3's later still not cured.
Not matching colleges (front tag / rear window). Check trim tag as I can't recall ever seeing a white with silver interior before. Not bad though. Chip.
He decided to not go look at it today....It would have been pouring down rain and it appears to just be under one of those metal sheds. He said he might go next weekend....He isn't crazy about the fact that it doesn't have a title.
I don't think cars in Georgia require a title after 1985. I would call the DMV in the state i was going to title it in to see if a BOS and current registration is all i need to get a title.
Nice looking car though.
Just my 2cents......., I owned a '75 many years ago as my daily driver. White, auto, A/C pretty much like the one you're interested in. Just be aware that the '75 base model was/is the slowest (lowest horsepower) Corvette ever produced other than the Blue Flame cars. It was the first year required to use unleaded fuel and had alot of smog equipment. In fact, the exahust isn't a real dual exhaust. It has two pipes from the exhaust manifolds that go through one smothering cat and then out 2 pipes in the back. The A/C never got as cold as A/C should and I had the compresser rebuilt and fully charged with freon. It was probably due to the excessive heat (my opinion) under the hood and from the cat. Having said all that, I enjoyed that car alot and had alot of fun with it. Great highway cruiser.... It was my first Corvette. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Another two cents here,,,,, all great advice, look it all over closely ,,,, the add says cash talks,,, I would wave $5k cash under his nose, if no bites, walk away,,,, i can't tell you how many times when guys see cash walking away, they follow you to get it, ,,, find out why he needs to sell,, ( too many bills,, too many kids,, wife hates car,, just flipping car,,) and use that to your advantage in dealing price,hope this helps
03-09-2018, 09:26 PM
Looking at this 75 tomorrow....Any advice...?
Also to provide some logical perspective, try to look at a half dozen before you plunk down your hard earned "toad pelts" as Bats says.
hope this helps