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Agreed with a lot said here. I'd also like to add, that a C3 requires a good amount of attention over a C4 and up. There is no 'idiot light' in an early C3 (at least through '74, that I know!). You have gauges and that's what they're for, to check oil pressure, water temp and alternator output. If you own one, you should either have a really good, trustable repair shop or be prepared to work on it yourself. They always seem to need something and are not easy cars to work on. Sure it's a Chevy engine, but there's a lot, that's definitely not as easy as a regular Camaro, Chevelle or Nova. The dash is particularly a PITA, as well as the door panels and the power window setup. The engine compartment is pretty small, compared to it's Chevy siblings. Luggage space, is very limited through '77, with only 26 inches of horizontal space behind the seats. If nobody has replaced the seals in the T-tops, they will leak, count on it. For some odd reason, you'll find more door latch and lock problems on a C3, than any other of it's siblings, I don't know why, but I've had dealings with a lot of the other Bow Tie products from that age and they don't seem to be nearly as susceptible to this, as the C3 (I had a shop for five years, restoring C2's, C3's, Chevelles, Impalas, Camaro's and Nova's among other things).
That being said, you have to be dedicated to own one, but they are sexy as hell. Mine is a factory four speed car (recommended!) and I've replaced nearly every single part on this car, except for the paint. The small block puts out a little over 300 hp and another one is being built up, as we speak to replace it. It is primitive, but that's the appeal. I replaced the beat up carb, years ago, with a brand new Holley 650 mechanical double pumper (stick only for that carb or built automatic) and that carb hasn't given me a lick of trouble. Three pumps to the floor, hold the gas pedal down a half inch and it fires right up. The MSD ignition has been flawless for five years. One of the best things I did to it, was put in a serpentine belt drive from the '87-91 Chevy Caprices and an electric fan set up to replace the squealing little belts. I put way more money into it, than it's worth, but I'll never sell it. We have a solid relationship. I love her and she loves me. Nothing like rowing the shifter on a Muncie M-21 or Borg Warner Super T-10 on a Saturday night.
That being said, you have to be dedicated to own one, but they are sexy as hell. It is primitive, but that's the appeal. Nothing like rowing the shifter on a Muncie M-21 or Borg Warner Super T-10.
F22, Well Said.
The C3 for me. I do not own a C5 and likely never will. The C5 is no doubt a wonderful car that I would certainly enjoy but the allure of the C5 does not exist for me, it doesn't take me where the C3 does, which is to my youth.
Sexy and Primative, it takes me back in time, makes me smile every time I drive it. Most likely different for each and every one of us. FWIW...
Eddy
F22, Well Said.
The C3 for me. I do not own a C5 and likely never will. The C5 is no doubt a wonderful car that I would certainly enjoy but the allure of the C5 does not exist for me, it doesn't take me where the C3 does, which is to my youth.
Sexy and Primative, it takes me back in time, makes me smile every time I drive it. Most likely different for each and every one of us. FWIW...
Eddy
I never got to experience the era the C3 hails from, but every time I pull mine out of the garage and take it for a spin, I get a little idea of what it may have been like
I’ve got a ‘69 and a ‘99. The ‘99 I use to run track days. If I had to drive one every day it would be the C5. The AC will freeze you, the cruise control works and it gets almost 30 mpg at 75mph. It can be repaired or replaced should some idiot run into me.
My survivor ‘69 big block is an amazing driver, but the AC is marginal. I’m old, but not so old that I think the C3 is a better car than the C5. I got my driver’s license in ‘72 and owned a bunch of muscle cars over the years. Newer cars are just so much better than the old ones. It’s a heck of a lot harder to replace my ‘69 and having to repair accident damage would really hurt it’s value.
I grew up around my parents 69' and got used to loving the C3 style. At 30 I bought my 74' in 2015. In 2016 I bought my 02' Z06. They both have their high points as others have said. I can't choose so I keep them both. Gun to the head I would sell the Z06. I just can't abandon that look out over the nose of the C3....
Last edited by LemansBlueStingray; Jan 4, 2019 at 11:41 PM.
I had a 1999 convertible. It was a nice sports car. Fast reliable and got good gas mileage. The C3 is a Corvette. I have owned C4's and the C5 and have always gone back to a C3. I sold the 99 to buy an 80, then sold that to get my 72. I just love the looks of them. I also do all my own work on them. I also find them easy to work on, the dash is a pain.
I came across this (my old) thread and figured I'd post an update.
So as it sits today, I own a 2004 C5 and a 1979 C3.
Now that I own both, here is what I've learned: The C5 is an INFINATELY better car than the C3. If I could only have one, I'd keep my C5. ZERO question. It's faster, handles better, is more comfortable, more reliable, more cargo space, etc.... the list is pretty much unending. If I could only have one, the ONLY way I would take a C3 over a C5 is if the C3 had a C5 chassis under it. I fully believe the C3 is going to be a fun car (plans call for a BB and a T56 swap here soon), but at the end of the day it will never replace my C5.
side note: I actually almost bought a C5 coupe new back in 2001, but ended up going with a 2001 Z28 due to cost. Back then, it was a good decision because the difference in cost went to mods and I had a really fun car. Now 20 years later, I wish I had bought the C5 and kept it (though it's probably good I didn't because I would have hacked it up in my adolescent need to chase speed).
I came across this (my old) thread and figured I'd post an update.
So as it sits today, I own a 2004 C5 and a 1979 C3.
Now that I own both, here is what I've learned: The C5 is an INFINATELY better car than the C3. If I could only have one, I'd keep my C5. ZERO question. It's faster, handles better, is more comfortable, more reliable, more cargo space, etc.... the list is pretty much unending. If I could only have one, the ONLY way I would take a C3 over a C5 is if the C3 had a C5 chassis under it. I fully believe the C3 is going to be a fun car (plans call for a BB and a T56 swap here soon), but at the end of the day it will never replace my C5.
side note: I actually almost bought a C5 coupe new back in 2001, but ended up going with a 2001 Z28 due to cost. Back then, it was a good decision because the difference in cost went to mods and I had a really fun car. Now 20 years later, I wish I had bought the C5 and kept it (though it's probably good I didn't because I would have hacked it up in my adolescent need to chase speed).
I own the most modern of the C3’s, an 82CE. My wife has a 99 convertible. I really, really like the 99. However, I would never surrender the C5 for the C3 for the following reasons:
”The C5 is an INFINATELY better car than the C3. If I could only have one, I'd keep my C3. ZERO question. It's slower, handles worse, is less comfortable, less reliable, less cargo space, etc.... the list is pretty much unending. If I could only have one, the ONLY way I would take a C5 over a C3 is if the C5 had a C3 chassis under it.”
I own the most modern of the C3’s, an 82CE. My wife has a 99 convertible. I really, really like the 99. However, I would never surrender the C5 for the C3 for the following reasons:
”The C5 is an INFINATELY better car than the C3. If I could only have one, I'd keep my C3. ZERO question. It's slower, handles worse, is less comfortable, less reliable, less cargo space, etc.... the list is pretty much unending. If I could only have one, the ONLY way I would take a C5 over a C3 is if the C5 had a C3 chassis under it.”
See...we think alike!!
A CE? As in a collectors edition (with the opening hatch)? I wish all of the later (streamlined) C3s had the opening hatch as it sure would make putting things in the back easier.
Last edited by ChrisLSx; Sep 24, 2020 at 08:08 PM.
Yes, the 82 Collector Edition with the Cross Fire throttle body fuel injection. Completely stock. NCRS Top Flight in 2015.
I like it a really whole bunch lot.
That is not to say I don’t really like driving my wife’s 99 Vert. It is one fine-*** car, no doubt.
What makes the C3’s special to me is how much performance GM got from these cars given the fuel/air service technology and emissions restricting technology at the time. The ECM computer in the 82 is huge and reminds me of the early 80’s desktop computers. I swear I can see a few vacuum tubes up inside that thing.
I love all the Vettes though. My bud has a 2014 with engine mods pushing 650 at the wheels. Amazing, but give me my little 200 hp, choked down C3 putting around town any day!
I wanted both a c5 and c3. I have space but my wife was against owning 2 expensive fun cars. So I got a really nice 72' c3 convertible. Then my neighbor was selling a clean high mileage 00' mustang gt 5spd for just $2000. Got the mustang too. Now I have a relatively modern v8 drop top and a nice c3. I barely drive the mustang. Makes me wonder if I would be leaving a c5 sitting around had I followed my plan to own a c3 and a c5.
