Wade Wilbur

After about 15 years without a Vette, I'm thinking about going back in. I had a C4, but really wanted a C3. After reading the "What to know before buying" thread, I'm a little concerned. It would be my daily driver, but I work from home, so I only put about 5,000 miles a year on the car. I cannot work on cars myself, but a good friend's son in law is a full time mechanics who would work on the car for me (for compensation of course). I have other vehicles, so it wouldn't be a problem if the car was down.

I've seen a few vehicles listed on Craigslist that look legit, is there any way I could post the ad and ask for opinions? Probably not, but I thought I'd check. Also, I do not have a garage, I have a Concrete slab next to my shed. Could I keep the car covered when not in use, or is that a bad idea?

Big question - is this just a bad idea? My budget is up to $15,000. I realize that any older car will need maintenance; are the C3s worse than most?

Thanks for any and all feedback.

Tonio

If your budget is $15,000 that puts you in a nice place for a very good quality rubber bumper C3. Many very nice '74-'82's are available that will need very little to no work done to them.

That said, storing one outdoors or under a cover isn't a great idea. It'll turn to sh#t in no time. T-tops tend to leak water, mice tend to take up home in them, corrosion from condensation, UV deterioration on the older paint, etc.

So unless you live somewhere with a lot of shade and little to no rainfall and vermin, I would not recommend a classic car unless you have an indoor space to store it when not in use.

Just my $0.02

Easy Mike

No.

mrvette

Depending on your wind/weather you need to build a shelter over the vette, since you have a slab, and a shed already, a simple 2x4 frame walled and ceiling covered with plywood and cheep plastic corrugated roofing will suffice....the door can be arranged the way you like, sliding, lifting, or even swing out pair of doors....ALL siding should be of HARDIBOARD......~3/8 thick concrete board, NOT WOOD!!!! no T-111

DavidandJoansVette

Agee on enclosed storage. When I had my C-4 in Staunton it was outside and covered. Mice took up residence in my a/c controls and made a mess of it.

Mark Otnes

I agree with "Chapter2," no garage, no Corvette. Seriously. As Chapter2 stated, "it will turn to sh#t in no time."

Stev-o

+1, you need a garage. If you have a slab, the hard part is done.

You didnt mention if you want a convertible but I've seen nice C3 coupes in the $10-15K range [was trying to talk a buddy into one]

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/c...718506794.html

Post links to any in your area.


You can also post a want ad in the proper section of this forum, my friend found his car that way...




[this one was more than $15K]

Jstan2014

Torqued Off

Why would mice be a particular problem with a daily drive Corvette versus any other car parked outside? Doesn't make much sense.

Wade Wilbur

I was wondering the same thing.

Wade Wilbur

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply. It sounds like this might not be the best idea right now. I'll just keep lurking until I can talk myself into this!

GregX1

seems they like the smell/taste of old hoses and old rubber.

I had a mouse in a my 1996 Jaguar.
And I do park the car inside, but it should have entered the engine bay somewhere, when the car was parked outside for a few hours.

It was winter, the car slept under a cover (in the garage) and the mouse ate lot of rubber, including hoses and electric wiring...
The smell in the garage made me think something was happening.

I was lucky, it did not eat vital stuff, but mainly covers and not vital stuff. But this engine bay was stinking like hell!

Now I have mouse traps in the engine bay of my Jaguar, and the one of my C3

ho, by the way, the mouse also ate some electric wiring inside my garage... new stuff, not old-smell rubber...

RMVette

Hate to say this, but a nice C5 would be the ticket for a daily driver at your price point.

I have a C3 and a C5 and enjoy them both when I have time but I would not drive my C3 on a regular basis. And as my kids get closer to college age, I may sell both along with my lift. Life sometimes gets in the way doesn't it?

Wade Wilbur

Great minds think alike. As much as I love the C3, it probably isn't the right time to buy one.

Stev-o

My wife has two cats, I never see/smell live mice around here! I do occasionally see a dead one though...