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My neighbor has an old 69 stingray that has been sitting in his yard for years untouched. it is in crap condo, with rust around the entire frame, broken windows, etc. I have not yet gotten a look at the engine and interior, but im guessing they are full of rust and it will need a complete frame-off restoration. I am only 18 and have no clue how to approach the family about the vette, any suggestions on how to talk to them?? and how much would the resto be. This would be my first big project so i need alot of help
If possible get lots of pictures all around inside and out and post them. Hard to figure out without seeing the condition. As far as approaching the neighbors i would just casually ask about it if you see them out. Depending on the level of rust it might be a lost cause unfortunately.
My neighbor has an old 69 stingray that has been sitting in his yard for years untouched. it is in crap condo, with rust around the entire frame, broken windows, etc. I have not yet gotten a look at the engine and interior, but im guessing they are full of rust and it will need a complete frame-off restoration. I am only 18 and have no clue how to approach the family about the vette, any suggestions on how to talk to them?? and how much would the resto be. This would be my first big project so i need alot of help
My 2 cents:
Many are upside down on their Corvette, in other words, more invested in it than what they could sell it for. No issue with that, just good to know up front how this might likely turn out. And many started with a better condition Corvette than the one you describe. This one particularly since sitting outside is almost certainly a "parts" Corvette unless it has some super rare original engine. So, my suggestion is that you might consider buying it for cheap, take it apart which will be educational, and sell all of the parts which would get you some coins to invest in a better starting point Corvette to fix up. Good luck with whatever you decide. Also sometimes sellers think they have a gold mine with that 69 Corvette that sat on cinder blocks in the backyard for 25 years that belonged to uncle Bubba so you might have a big opportunity explaining to the owner what it is really worth, LOL's!
...sitting in his yard for years untouched. it is in crap condo, with rust around the entire frame, broken windows, etc. I have not yet gotten a look at the engine and interior, but im guessing they are full of rust and it will need a complete frame-off restoration...
Pass on this one. It sounds as if it's too far gone. Look for something in better condition.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Nov 1, 2018 at 12:30 PM.
Take pictures of this car and post them here so we can all look at this car. In the mean time don't even consider buying this car you will never get it on the road unless you are a trust fund baby. I was serious about the pictures.
Unless I have the wrong image from your description, you might be wise to look at a 69 in better shape first, particularly since a rusted frame is expensive to
fix. What looks like a bargain initially could quickly drain your bank account and enthusiasm instead of rewarding your with the pleasure of driving a nice machine.
Maybe the car you are looking at would be a parts donor, but then again if it's been sitting for so long in the elements, how good would the parts be?
I started my 68 vert project 3 years ago (drive-able, but not even close to done), the car spent it's last twenty years stored indoors (my frame is solid but not nice like a SW US Car). I wouldn't even consider an outdoor stored car from the rust belt (maybe it never saw winter on the road, still lots of moisture year round), it only takes a few years to get frame rust if it's not sitting on a concrete/asphalt surface.
I hope you do find a Vette to build, not a lot of people your age are interested in this hobby. I'm way under water on my Car and would have been better off buying one with a restored/cleaner Frame and Body (my bucket list required 427 tri-power, so I paid more and got less).
I'm not saying "don't do it", the folks that are saying post pictures here are spot on. They've seen/worked on many levels of restorations and will give you an honest/painful opinion. Good luck.
I could have bought 3 like mine for what I have in it. Buy the nicest one you can afford not the first one you find. If you can't afford something better than what you're looking at then now is not the time to buy one anyway.
Sure the car could in all livelihood be a lost cause with only a few parts worth recycling,
But i would not discourage you i think its cool as all hell you like the car and are a younger cat,
If it were me i would approach the owner and be up front and ask them their plans for it, be real explain your dreams and desires you simply never know they might think its rare and made of gold and ask a ridiculous price or they might like you and give it to you for free, i have seen a lot of cars like this just given to an enthusiastic young person,
Even free doesnt mean you can make a driver out of it but you will have a blast trying if you are a gearhead at heart.
Thanks for all the advice!, i will talk to the owner this weekend and see what price i would be looking at. from what i understand unless it has an L88 or something crazy it wouldnt be worth my time and i should hold on to my money and wait. I will post pictures tommrow most likely
L88? a basketcase l88 with fetch over 100k, i cant afford that, nor do i want an l88 as my street cruiser.
While many c3s are in ruin to the point of realistically being parts cars many members here have taken a car the peanut gallery said run from and turned a sows ear into a jewel.
No, they will not make $$$ on it in fact short of rarer more sought after c3s like 68 to 72 bb 4 speed convertibles most people here have far more invested than the car would sell for.
The return is the pride if building it ones self and fun playing with it,
That doesnt mean waste money, buy savvy get as much c3 as you can afford, or just save up and buy one restored, turn key ready to rock...no one right answer for each of us.
1969 stingray resto
