[C3 road trip stories] How confident would you be driving this '79 L82 450 miles?
01-05-2019, 01:09 AM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2002
Location: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
Posts: 135,729
Received 168 Likes
on
101 Posts
[C3 road trip stories] How confident would you be driving this '79 L82 450 miles?
Finally scratched the C3 itch and bought this '79 L82 numbers matching 4-speed with 36k original miles (claimed). I've already paid for shipping but after waiting for a week I want to go get her!
It's being sold as mechanically solid but I've never owned an older Vette, only C5's and 4's, so have no idea what to expect on a long road trip.
So maybe some good C3 road trip stories can help ease my anxieties, cause I may be booking the rental tomorrow.
Any questions I should ask the dealer, besides the obvious?
EDIT; vehicle was delivered, tangent discussions follow.
It's being sold as mechanically solid but I've never owned an older Vette, only C5's and 4's, so have no idea what to expect on a long road trip.
So maybe some good C3 road trip stories can help ease my anxieties, cause I may be booking the rental tomorrow.
Any questions I should ask the dealer, besides the obvious?
EDIT; vehicle was delivered, tangent discussions follow.
Last edited by UniqueDoug; 01-14-2019 at 12:43 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Voytek (01-15-2019)
The following users liked this post:
Voytek (01-15-2019)
The following users liked this post:
Voytek (01-15-2019)
The following users liked this post:
Voytek (01-15-2019)
01-05-2019, 06:27 AM
#5
Road Trip? Go for it! Will the car break down? Maybe, worst case, call AAA. But if you don't do it, you'll miss out on the best part of owning a C3. We've done over 3000 mile road trips in our 69 all over Europe and three years ago in the US and man, was it worth it. Best trips of our lives for my wife and me. Here's a taste:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...itzerland.html
Martin
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...itzerland.html
Martin
The following 2 users liked this post by Yankeededandy:
ajrothm (01-05-2019),
Metalhead140 (01-06-2019)
01-05-2019, 08:24 AM
#6
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Mar 2014
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,222
Received 795 Likes
on
387 Posts
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I would not think twice... By the time you get home you will know much more about your new car! Congrats and enjoy.
01-05-2019, 09:23 AM
#8
Melting Slicks
I would not hesitate. Purchased 2 79s, at different times of course, at Blooming in Chicago and Bloomington and drove them both home to St. Louis with no problems. I also purchased a 1974 vert in Carlisle PA and drove it to St. Louis. Had been sitting for 33 years. Had a few problems along the way but made the trip.
01-05-2019, 10:01 AM
#9
Le Mans Master
I would not hesitate. Purchased 2 79s, at different times of course, at Blooming in Chicago and Bloomington and drove them both home to St. Louis with no problems. I also purchased a 1974 vert in Carlisle PA and drove it to St. Louis. Had been sitting for 33 years. Had a few problems along the way but made the trip.
01-05-2019, 10:19 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
Hop in it and go... I wouldn't bat an eye. The car looks like its in good shape, and the good thing is, if you can make it to an O Reilys or Auto Zone, in the event of a failure, you can basically rebuild the car...(other then maybe trailing arms or a diff failure). 450 miles isn't a road trip, that's a warm up. Get er done.
01-05-2019, 10:38 AM
#11
Safety Car
I bought my 70 Corvette 800 miles away and drove it home. The good news is by the time I was home I knew everything that needed fixing and the order in which I wanted the items fixed.
01-05-2019, 11:59 AM
#12
Le Mans Master
Drive that puppy home! Looks good in the video, I would chance it.
Don't forget to check the spare tire and make sure the jack is there just in case.
The C3 is a go kart, lots of fun to drive. Best of luck with the car.
Don't forget to check the spare tire and make sure the jack is there just in case.
The C3 is a go kart, lots of fun to drive. Best of luck with the car.
01-05-2019, 12:23 PM
#13
Dr. Detroit
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: New Braunfels Texas
Posts: 9,963
Received 3,892 Likes
on
2,564 Posts
Credit Card and AAA card and go! 450 miles is not all that far........stop off every hour or two to inspect underneath for leaks and underhood for any weirdness.
Looks like a pretty nice car......is it an Auto? If so......check and smell the trans fluid before you take off.....that would be the only thing that you cannot really tell from driving around the block before you go........
Have fun and tll us how it went
Jebby
Looks like a pretty nice car......is it an Auto? If so......check and smell the trans fluid before you take off.....that would be the only thing that you cannot really tell from driving around the block before you go........
Have fun and tll us how it went
Jebby
01-05-2019, 02:26 PM
#14
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2002
Location: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
Posts: 135,729
Received 168 Likes
on
101 Posts
Thanks for all the encouraging posts! I just texted the seller to inquire about the credit if I come pick it up and he says it's going on the truck tomorrow morning.
Looks like I may have missed my opportunity for this road trip but given all these stories I can't wait to get her up in the mountains, that will be about a two hour trip, baby steps.
Looks like I may have missed my opportunity for this road trip but given all these stories I can't wait to get her up in the mountains, that will be about a two hour trip, baby steps.
The following users liked this post:
Voytek (01-15-2019)
01-05-2019, 02:49 PM
#15
I would not hesitate. Purchased 2 79s, at different times of course, at Blooming in Chicago and Bloomington and drove them both home to St. Louis with no problems. I also purchased a 1974 vert in Carlisle PA and drove it to St. Louis. Had been sitting for 33 years. Had a few problems along the way but made the trip.
On THAT note, I would do it also.
01-05-2019, 02:50 PM
#16
Team Owner
When I bought my '71 in 1999 I drove it from St. Simon's Island, GA to Round Rock, Tx in one shot. Didn't stop to sleep. This was before I knew the car very well and it had an old, tired 1970's truck 350 in it. Did great. A few months later it spun the #6 rod bearing so I guess I was "lucky".
01-05-2019, 08:44 PM
#18
Burning Brakes
i would check would be the radiator and front control arm bushings, if are stock i would trust them to go out very quickly with the heat these things put off
Last edited by naramlee; 01-05-2019 at 08:44 PM.
01-05-2019, 09:08 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
When I picked up my '69 in 2010 I drove it from Melbourne to Brisbane, almost 1700km's without any trouble. That '79 should be able to handle anything you throw at it. Very nice vette. Pity they didn't give you any footage of the underside of the car.
Last edited by M A Fry; 01-06-2019 at 08:54 PM.
01-05-2019, 09:32 PM
#20