It wasn't smogged between 2001 and 2017 ... so not sure where it's been???? Had a couple of failures along the way. You want to ensure all the smog stuff is there because you will have to be smogging it every 2 years.

https://bar.ca.gov/pubwebquery/Vehicle/PubTstQry.aspx


BUT... that "total loss" record in salvage records is something you want to look at.. If they have historical smog paperwork with that vehicle you should be able to ascertain whether that mileage is valid or rolled over..... but I'd be more concerned with the "salvage" issue.

 

THANK YOU for all the information - Again stuf I would have never thought to look at or ask about. I'll be calling with a list of all of these issues. Sounds to be like that 8,900 price tag is mighty elevated the more I read from this forum !

 

Hello, Thanks for your reply! I do NOT intend to make this my daily driver. I have a 2018 lease I currently drive for all my major needs. This is really just a weekend driver at most. A vehicle I would most likely retro-mod at time and money allows. Don't really wanna change the look or feel of the car TOO MUCH, but just make it slightly safer, better to drive on my weekends off. I did not notice anything particularly awry with the brakes - it just felt 'different' for me as I've never driven anything older than a 2000 before... No weird noises, screeching or otherwise that I noted in the test-drive. I was not going to pay cash, since the amount is rather modest I was just going to take a loan out and pay it over a few years as I would intend to keep the vehicle and "work on it" over the years anyway - and use the cash I DO HAVE on hand on any necessary repairs.

 

To me that all sounds somewhat reasonable except "work on it" when you say you have zero experience/tools/etc. with regard to working on cars. Frankly I wouldn't want to be making payments on a "weekend" car with the very real potential to need thousands in repair costs just to keep it usable, safe and reasonably reliable. As others have said your $3,000 budget for repairing the A/C system can easily prove inadequate.

IMO if you have to finance a decades old "weekend car" certain to need significant repair to make it suitable you really can't afford it...

And with all sincerity the brakes should feel pretty much like any car you've ever driven. There are certainly differences in the feel of the brake pedal among cars but you should be able to adapt to such immediately even in a quick test drive.

 

Hello All -

I called the dealer to inquire based on the issues that have been presented to me on this forum (THANK YOU ALL).

Apparently, the dealer stated that he " knew nothing about that" when I pointed out that the vehicle title was popping up as a Total Loss/ Salvage.
He then went on to say that he received the car on his lot about 1-2 years ago and it DID NOT have an engine in it. (?!?!) either way both things he failed to mention when I first took a look at the car as I've been to his lot twice.

I inquired as to the reason for the A/C malfunction and he said it needed a condenser and hoses... I asked how much he estimated a replacement to a R134a would cost with parts and labor and he said it would be anywhere from 400-500$ to get it replaced and working properly.

In any case - clearly, at this point, I would like to have the car inspected by a professional to ensure there is no major damage on the birdcage or frame. . .
But NOW, I am starting to think perhaps I should look for my dream car elsewhere???

 

Just run away from this POS. Dealer doesn't seem to know much, eh? Why did it need a new engine in it if it successfully passed smog in 2017? Go find another car. There's a ton of rubber bumper C3s and you can find a better one with better history. There is no reason to get involved with this junker or this dealer.

And I'm suspecting that estimate to replace the condensor and hoses and getting recharged is way on the low side......

Just go find something else.... there are a ton out there. Maintain awareness of the smog hassle..... it's a pain.

 

Given your situation RUN!!! You WILL be disappointed and it wouldn't surprise me that you'd face thousands just to license as it still has to pass true emissions testing.

 

Thank you guys - I guess the search continues. **big sigh**

Maybe I can find something better that has already had some tiny bit of restoration done on this website!
My ballpark budget is still between 8K-12K ... except now I'd likely have to pay shipping costs too as the Southern California market seems a bit thin.

At least now I know what to look and watch out for!

 

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/...969018680.html

Look at LA and IE cl enter different keywords. Wait for that 1-2 owner car someones had a long time and been over the top with maintenance. Shopping by price or odometer (which doesnt mean much as most them have broken or been fooled with) reading can land you in hot water quick.
Be patient there are still tons of these out there, just have to wait for the right one.
76 and up make sure it smogs...the seller is required to do it by law now. I bought a1 ton few yrs back and tried to have it smogged they rejected it. Had to drive back and have the seller do it.

10-12k should get you a nice C3...look at the 4 sale section here theres some decent ones.
Corvette Mike is in Anaheim, his cars are usually decent but you pay for it.

 

If you are ok with rubber bumper c3s and want to avoid smog hassles then look for 73-75 models. They pretty much look the same but I'd rather have rubber on both ends rather than just chrome on back 73(just me).

Your call on that, but as of now (Sep 2019) you do NOT have to smog 1975 and before vehicles. If you can find a 74 or 75 rubber bumper that has been well maintained, with history, and meets your other requirements, then you can always upgrade the power with less smog hassles. I mention that because in your opening statement you said something about a different/new engine. Just something to consider.

Don't import something from out of state unless you are absolutely sure it has all the smog stuff. It gets expensive fast.

 

I'm actually not super picky as to the specific year as long as it is C3. I do need it to be automatic (womp womp I know) as I'm notoriously bad at stick.
Other than that, an interior that isn't ripped to shreds, and a coat of paint thats decent andwon't need a coat for another few years. Other than that good bones and a working AC are really my only must haves!

I've tried Craigslist and every time the vette has already sold - typically within MINUTES of it having posted. So frustrating! lol Thats why i got excited when I found this white one initially.... But y'all are right. I dont want to start off on a bad foot with a SALVAGE title. Too risky

 

The old saying goes , How can you tell when the car salesman is lying? HIS LIPS ARE MOVING. Now why would a car dealer take in a car and let it set for 1 - 2 years before putting a engine in it? $4-5 hundred for parts and labor for A/C to work properly? Where do we line up? A lot of good info came up on your posting about this Dealer and the car. You just have to remember that any car 40-50 years old will need work of some sort as time goes on no matter how good it looks or how good it has been taken care of. Be aware also private sellers might try the same shady deals. Use the facts you have learned and do more to educate yourself on these cars . As you have found this forum has a lot of knowledge that can help you. You don't want to buy your dream car that will set in your garage broke down, that will get old fast. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

I had a nice day off and joy ride to Anaheim today at the suggestion of a fellow poster on this thread to check out Corvette Mike. It's a 90 min drive from me, so it was a full day! I was pleasantly surprised. The had exactly 1 vehicle on the lot that fit my "parameters" and i took it for a test drive around the block of few times.
The ride was smooth, the brakes were great and the car is CLEAN. Both aesthetically, and literally VIN shows a clean title, and pass all recent smog tests.
The A/C is working and blows cool and the salesperson I spoke to even stated he would have his mechanic check on it before it left the lot. . . Meaning he would verify if the car still had a R12 and if so would change it to an R134a without an upsell which I thought was somewhat remarkable. The edges of the wheel wells all felt smooth to me (no bondo bumps) and found no evidence of rust where I could see. Took of the glass tops, and checks the headlights were working well. The engine bay looks like a whistle (to me anyway)... AND they have receipts for the recent work done in June 2019 and earlier. Apparently its a 2 owner vehicle that was most recently used as a weekend ride and given up because they weren't using it enough.

i feel like this is a great buy... It isn't completely STOCK... theres an aftermarket radio, but TBH honest I am not much of a purist so I'm 100% ok with that. A little out of my original price range of 8-12K but i think it's condition speaks for itself now that I've seen it up close. . . The listed price is $15,500 - but would need NO immediate work for now which is ideal for me.

Here it is for anyone who cares to take a gander and or comment
https://corvettemike.com/used-corvet...vette-coupe-2/

I'm waiting on "the OKAY" from my husband (hehe) to put a deposit down on it tomorrow morning over the phone so they can hold it for me until I can go back up on Friday or Saturday to pick it up.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN MY LITTLE THREAD, I GOT SO MUCH GREAT INFORMATION IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

 

I could be wrong, but I get the impression you're not aware that the body panels on these corvettes is fiberglass, not steel, therefore you would almost never find "bondo bumps" in the wheel well. There are fewer areas that can rust on these cars, but many of the critical steel parts of the body are not readily visible without removing some body panels and using mirrors and so on.

Very nice! I in particular love the relatively rare silver C3 interior. I've spent perhaps $3k Cdn to change what of my excellent oyster interior that wasn't silver into a silver interior. You're a woman after my own heart

 

They should have it smogged before you take posession. You do realize that is one of the first computerized engine corvettes and that those throttle bodies require specialized tuning/calibration/adjustment etc? You're going to have to keep smogging it every 2 years for the forseeable future.

Don't skip the 10 rules for buying.
Think about that. If you're ok with that and what that entails then there you are. DON'T BE TOO EAGER--- there are a million c-3 corvettes out there.

 

Thank you for the reminders - I did take a peek at this video again prior to leaving to check the car out!
and Yep - I definitely asked what are some of the foreseeable costs associated with proper maintenance, and I was alerted to the smogging every 2 years as well as the calibration aspect. I'm okay with that, didn't think it was too bad. I intend to drive this a couple of times a week as I only work 3 days a week (Registered Nurse).

Ideally, I'd like to keep this car until I die (hopefully a long time from now - knock on wood) LOL ... I will WANT to put money into it - my only concern was an instant money pit with major issues related to driving it. The price seems pretty on par with some of the valuations I've stumbled upon on the internet related to "good" condition vehicles. So I'm pretty happy with it as of right now. I've never really bought anything so purely selfish for myself to this scale before. I'm the pennypincher of the family- So I'm kinda excited to turn that page. haha

 

Looks like your penny-pinching ways have paid off My sister was a penny pincher and had a new car at a young age. I've never had a new car (I'm 58). I'm the "money burning a hole in my pocket" type. Over the years I bought about 30 beat up cars I bought that were going to be super nice once I got them fixed up, lol!

 

offer them fifteen and the car looks pretty sweet

 

Looking through the photos of the car at Mikes I noticed on the interior gauge picture that the oil pressure gauge was at 40 , the car isn't running !!! Ask why. If the salesman says it was running while the picture was taken then ask why the amp gauge is at O . Remember those MOVING LIPS . As for the A/C, changing from R12 to134 is not as easy as changing the oil in the engine. The system must be flushed , filter and new seals installed. There might be a sticker in the engine bay that shows it was converted over to 134 showing date and who did it. One BIG thing about C3 Corvettes you have to remember: You can't see the 4 feet in front of the wheel bumps in the fenders . So , be real careful parking. Nice looking car, enjoy the ride. Hope it meets your expectations .

 

Thank you for the tips! I will make these inquiries. I did ask repeatedly for confirmation that they were stating this change from 12 to 134a would be made prior to be taking ownership of the vehicle and at no additional cost over original price tag being quoted to me. They wrote it and signed it on the purchase agreement that was given to me as a copy to review at home. I know it ain't that simple which I guess is why I was impressed with the offer.

YES - I'm a bit nervous about that loooong front end. So I plan to drive it just around the block the first couple weeks to get used to it and practice parking situaitons and such before I really take it anywhere where I am more likely to damage it from not knowing my surroundings.

ANOTHER NOTE -- I was told this car was slated to be put up for auction ... Which I ASSUME means that they didn't think they'd be selling it for the full 15,500 they were asking for... So, should I try to negotiate for a lower amount??? Pretty new at this so I am not sure what is acceptable, and what is downright offensive to ask for.
I was going to put a holding deposit on it today with the following requests:
---
1) Request the vehicle be smogged before I take ownership
2) New Buyer's order that specifically writes out "AC R12 to AC R134a conversion will be completed if necessary and AC will be serviced" prior to pick up of the vehicle
3) I would like to be able to remove the plate and kick panels prior to payment to ensure no rust on the bird cage.
4) Possibly asking for 14,500 price? (they quoted me at 15K yesterday)
Too much? Thoughts?