I would run from all the work that this car seems to need. As far as the side pipes are concerned that is 100% personal choice. Some guys love them, others hate them. I personally do not have them but if they magically showed up on my C3 I would not complain. If you like the look of side pipes do not let someone else's opinion sway that!!! Further, it would only matter if they are factory or not to a purist... and you can argue all day about that on this forum. I think the chrome bumper C3's look awesome with the pipes and am not a fan of the rubber bumpers with them. My simple opinion.

 

I have ORIGINAL sidepipes on My 69. The only year that FACTORY sidepipes were available.

Look at the pictures....the sidepipe mufflers are totally 'bubba'd' and are made out of connected cheap-*** bullet mufflers...with multiple clamps.

There is nothing wrong with side pipes, and they are a preference item. However bubba'd side pipes or cheap *** 'chromey-JC WHITNEY' sidepipes will devalue the car and are a pain in the leg!

If you tell us what you are looking for, we will help. I obviously live in AZ...the land of virtually no rust. Perfectly good Chrome bumper cars are available here.
It's a reasonably quick drive to So.Ca.

I lived for half my life in northern VT...and so I have seen my lifetime supply of rusted Corvettes. You would not buy a house with the foundation crumbling away...not would you or should you buy a Corvette with the same.
Now if the car in question was (say) $8000...that would've been a slightly more difficult call.

I wanted to add a 82 CE to my collection..short form...I looked for 7 years until I found what I wanted at the price I wanted to pay. I burnt up 20,000 frequent flyer miles looking at CE's. I felt disheartened because the car I was flying to see were 'delusional' when I saw them.
One fine day on Craigslist...THERE IT WAS!, IN THE NEXT TOWN....needless to say it's mine NOW.

This is an endurance race, not a sprint!

Unkahal

Good luck! BE PATIENT, forget the 'go-fever'. My last advice is; Buy a Corvette when it is thrust upon you, not when you 'need one'. Something will pop up.

 

you can do better for that money. remember fiberglass dont rust but everything else does and this one looks like it has its share.

 

I very much appreciate all the advice.

 

other considerations:

where there is rusty frame. i have never NOT seen a rusty birdcage.. you talked about having the body lifted and frame gone thru and repaired, if you pay someone it will cost 5 figures and they will find more rust and require more money. bolts will break and the shop won't guarantee their work if they find other needs and you don't authorize it..
thats why it needs to be an open checkbook if you take it to a shop.
this car is for a knowledgeable project guy that knows theses cars and can do the work himself
23K for a 69 convertible is a rusted, needing lots price. anything in better condition is going to have a 30K asking price. there are exceptions of course but the exceptions are sold quickly before you can even react... ask me how I know!

 

Okay...just as an example. ACKNOWLEDGED, we can't see the bottom. This is an ASKING PRICE $24k car.

Can the poster SEE the difference IMMEDIATELY! Even tho there is no direct correlation between pristine on the top and pristine on the bottom...IT'S A BIG CLUE.

Enjoy!

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/c...176752126.html

Unkahal

ps Don't the GARAGE PIX tell a story!