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Hey guys, I just purchased a 1973 vette for 8500. I was looking for a nice car just for cruising, weekend rides, maybe some trips to the mountains. I was looking to spend about 5000-6000 over the span of some time slowly fixing some stuff myself.
I looked at a few and ended up purchasing this one, I wish I had came across this forum or read the 10 rules stickies. I knew the car would need electrical work, all new harnesses as gauges and some components did not work. As I’m spending more time reading the forums and inspecting the car better I’m finding some issues.
in regards to rust I check the kick panel and sure enough it’s rusted bad, the suspension is rusted and some areas under the car. No holes in floorboards, but removing the carpet I found the seats were bolted down with new holes and holes drilled thru the railing. Looks like previous owner painted something over certain areas. I can do a good amount of work myself as I worked on a 1987 camaro. I plan in doing all the wiring, and ripping up carpet to put in insulation and new carpet done right.
Any tips on handling the rust? Any thoughts on condition from the pictures I’ve attached?
Well, you got it cheap 🤷🏻♂️
Does it run, drive and stop? If the paint is ok and you’re concerned about the rust, detail it up and try to sell it for what you paid and walk away.
I inspected sone more, it looks like someone tried to
stop rust or prevent it. Some kind of material has been sprayed over bottom and certain areas that hardened up. On the bird cage I can’t tell, does it look like something was done to it or does that second plate belong there.
IF it was my car, I would do a complete body off restoration. Unless you do that, each individual problem will rise to the surface, a little at a time, and will always be a continous nagging issue till you get tired of it and sell it. These cars are old. Either way, if you are going to do it right, it will cost many times more than $5000 to have a reliable quality car to drive.....if that is what you want. IF you just want a garage queen to look at occasionally, and drive to parking lot car shows, you could milk it for a long time, if you have the patience and a tow truck company phone number.
Sorry to sound negative, but its the truth. And you should not consider the restoration a bad thing. I enjoyed mine. I would love to have your car to rebuild into a fantastic car.
I already ordered new wiring harnesses, certain interior stuff and some other wiring stuff. Perhaps I’ll put those in, clean it up and sell it again. With how much iv learned from these forums the past few days I feel more confident finding a new one and what to look for this time. Y’all think selling it for 8.5k is good price point ? Here are some more pics of the car
did you buy this from a dealer. if so, take it back. a dealer must disclose structural rust. did you buy from private seller? go to him and threaten to sue. pretty sure private sellers are not required to disclose this, but they may not know it.
did you buy this from a dealer. if so, take it back. a dealer must disclose structural rust. did you buy from private seller? go to him and threaten to sue. pretty sure private sellers are not required to disclose this, but they may not know it.
Most states do require dealers to disclose certain conditions, flood damage, salvage title, etc. Other conditions need not be disclosed if they were not observable the dealer (bad body work hidden underneath carpeting or coating). Private sellers is a whole different story. Does "AS IS" mean anything to anybody.
Probably not going to get anything from a dealer or seller now that he's "changed" the car as seen in his pictures.
Sell it ASAP.
Anybody looking at a 50 year old car needs to know what they are doing. If they don't they should read this thread first, because this is what happens.
that is what i think...flood..
depending on op plans...already knew wiring etc. needed..to me it hinges on
can you do metal work?
can you commit to removing body? That may help with other stuff..and truly assess what next steps are in rust..
sell it now ask what you paid..not sure i approve more cover-up and adding money for someone else..but not my car..I’m even ok with saying your dad gave it to you..
Heres the thing... if you store the car indoors and only drive it on nice days it will likely remain in that condition or close to it for many years.. and you can use products to coat and slow it down even further... so if your just looking for a car to have fun with an use as a sunday driver your probably fine (may want to have someone check it over for safety concerns though) If your looking for a car to restore and get resale value out of it that will be higher than what you paid then I dont think this is a good starting point. My 74 has rust but nothing close to that and I paid 2700 for it but the tradeoff is it needed everything else redone like engine,interior bodywork and paint.. It really is about what you want out of the car. some of your pics like the adhesive spray under the carpet are totally normal to see for cars like this and the "damage" is cosmetic.. other areas like the base of the birdcage in front of the doors look very rough from water leaking in at the base of your windshield (which is a common problem on these cars)
BTW the floors in a 73 (as well as a 74) are fiberglass... I believe they went to steel sometimes in 75 so at least your good there if its not rotted. again that brown stuff under the carpet is something that was sprayed onto the fiberglass as carpet glue or possibly sound deadening.
It doesn not look like flood damage to me.. just a car thats seen and sat out (possibly on a stone or dirt driveway) in rain and a leak at the base of windshield which caused the interior to act like a humidor..
Last edited by augiedoggy; May 28, 2020 at 09:08 AM.
He didn’t have as Is in his ad anywhere, but at the end it’s a private sale so I don’t think I can do anything. He told me his dad gave it to him.
on a scale of 1-10 how bad is the car?
tough spot here, If you are honest with potential buyers they are going to walk at that price, IMO.
Hard to to put a scale of badness, there is more that could be worse, or maybe not..but more likely bad.
I think there is enough stuff there to keep it as a parts car.
Heres the thing... if you store the car indoors and only drive it on nice days it will likely remain in that condition or close to it for many years.. and you can use products to coat and slow it down even further... so if your just looking for a car to have fun with an use as a sunday driver your probably fine (may want to have someone check it over for safety concerns though) If your looking for a car to restore and get resale value out of it that will be higher than what you paid then I dont think this is a good starting point. My 74 has rust but nothing close to that and I paid 2700 for it but the tradeoff is it needed everything else redone like engine,interior bodywork and paint.. It really is about what you want out of the car. some of your pics like the adhesive spray under the carpet are totally normal to see for cars like this and the "damage" is cosmetic.. other areas like the base of the birdcage in front of the doors look very rough from water leaking in at the base of your windshield (which is a common problem on these cars)
BTW the floors in a 73 (as well as a 74) are fiberglass... I believe they went to steel sometimes in 75 so at least your good there if its not rotted.
this will be a cruising car for nice weather days, weekends and around town. I have two other main cars, I plan on keeping it in garage. Engine and transmission are sound, the little repairs I can do. I was planning on removing interior next week to lay in insulation and and fix wiring. I drove it 2 hours from another city without any issues. I will probably make a decision once I remove more stuff to asses damage, but I was thinking of removing any surface rust and coating
this will be a cruising car for nice weather days, weekends and around town. I have two other main cars, I plan on keeping it in garage. Engine and transmission are sound, the little repairs I can do. I was planning on removing interior next week to lay in insulation and and fix wiring. I drove it 2 hours from another city without any issues. I will probably make a decision once I remove more stuff to asses damage, but I was thinking of removing any surface rust and coating
Sounds like a solid approach.. theres a lot of folks with c3s driving them for years in similiar condition. Many are discouraged from posting here because you have a wide range of whats acceptable to various owners. Some are trying to justify their own decisions with what they suggest to others..(Your will see this a lot when it comes to Body or paint threads) some people are more particular than others and only look at full body off restoration as the approach with everything... If you have the time and budget, great... If not I say enjoy it now and dont tear it apart only to get sick of looking at it in pieces in your garage a few years down the road when you get bored or discouraged and try to sell it. To be clear the only pics I was concerned about was the lower kickplate area under the dash... at the very least I would try to stop the leaks causing that rot. I would clean up the rust on the windshield frame and coat it with something too. Your bushings could use a replacement too but those look like typical 47 year old rubber bushings..
Last edited by augiedoggy; May 28, 2020 at 09:23 AM.
Sounds like a solid approach.. theres a lot of folks with c3s driving them for years in similiar condition. Many are discouraged from posting here because you have a wide range of whats acceptable to various owners. Some are trying to justify their own decisions with what they suggest to others..(Your will see this a lot when it comes to Body or paint threads) some people are more particular than others and only look at full body off restoration as the approach with everything... If you have the time and budget, great... If not I say enjoy it now and dont tear it apart only to get sick of looking at it in pieces in your garage a few years down the road when you get bored or discouraged and try to sell it. To be clear the only pics I was concerned about was the lower kickplate area under the dash... at the very least I would try to stop the leaks causing that rot. I would clean up the rust on the windshield frame and coat it with something too. Your bushings could use a replacement too but those look like typical 47 year old rubber bushings..
thanks for the reply. I am a huge DIY person, from building a complete high end water cooled gaming computer to home renovations, I love doing everything myself and have collected all types of tools. I budgeted myself 2k a year on parts for this car for the next few years as I fix stuff.
I just wanted to take a second and thank everyone in these forums, wow what a wonderful community. Thank you for your honesty, experience and advice.
New 1973 vette
