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Hello, Everyone! I'm in the market for a 1969 convertible and I've been spending a lot of time on the classified forum. I recently became aware of a 69 vert, 350/350, 4 speed for sale in Watertown, NY (Craigslist), but I live in California. The asking price for this car is $23,500. Seems like a fairly decent price. It needs some work and I'm okay with that. I received some pictures and the undercarriage looks pretty rusty, but it might be just surface rust. I'm not experienced enough to tell. I'm not opposed to separating the body from the frame and having the frame blasted and painted, but not if it's too far gone. I'm also concerned about the birdcage. So far all I have are a few photos. I'm hoping you guys can take a look at these photos and give an opinion as to how bad the rust appears on the underside and also take a look at the way the trim fits around the windshield. It appears to not fit the windshield properly and I'm concerned that rust has caused the windshield frame to swell under the trim. Thanks!
Nice looking car, but I'm partial to blue roadsters. The pics you posted don't show us much as far as checking for rust. Pictures of the frame where the trailing arms are, have the kick panels removed and checking the bird cage, along with the windshield post, if there is rust showing there. The frame looks like just surface rust. T
I lived in Watertown, NY for many years and this car is nice, but the rust that you can see is typical of a car that’s been in that area for a long time. I would be concerned about the rust that you can’t see. The winters are hard there. Lots of snow and it’s an area that sees plenty of rain and high humidity during the summer. IMHO you could do better by looking for a car closer to you and end up spending less money since you’d be saving on shipping the car. I bought my 68 in Petaluma, CA and found a rust free car. Good luck in your search.
Figure the birdcage looks at least that bad if not worse. Being in Ca think you can do better.
Sounds good on price but to spend that much then do a frame off I dunno...
This may be a decent car for the northeast U.S. -- but you can do a lot better on the west coast. Rust is a "killer"!!! I don't see the rust on that NY car as being super bad....it's just that there are LOTS of rust-free [or surface rusted] cars in the SW. It would cost you several thousand $$$ to have that car shipped from east coast to west coast. Just keep looking in your vicinity and raise your buying price accordingly.
I lived in Watertown, NY for many years and this car is nice, but the rust that you can see is typical of a car that’s been in that area for a long time. I would be concerned about the rust that you can’t see. The winters are hard there. Lots of snow and it’s an area that sees plenty of rain and high humidity during the summer. IMHO you could do better by looking for a car closer to you and end up spending less money since you’d be saving on shipping the car. I bought my 68 in Petaluma, CA and found a rust free car. Good luck in your search.
Funny, I live 15 minutes north of Petaluma. Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it! I've been looking solidly every day for three months for a LeMans side pipe convertible and have not seen anything in California. Many are at dealerships in Florida that want $40k for base models that were repainted red in 1987. I neglected to mention that the car being discussed here needs paint and bodywork as well.
Be patient and keep looking for cars closer to you.I don’t think it makes sense to have a rust belt car shipped across the country.If your mind is set on buying this car you better have it looked at by someone knowing the issues of the early c3s.That would be money well spent.
Be patient and keep looking for cars closer to you.I don’t think it makes sense to have a rust belt car shipped across the country.If your mind is set on buying this car you better have it looked at by someone knowing the issues of the early c3s.That would be money well spent.
Agreed. I believe I will pass on this one. I'll just keep looking. Thanks.
I'd keep looking. I found my car in Portland and had it shipped to me when I lived in San Mateo. Took me 6 months and I didn't even care about the color.
Run away very fast. I have a 1969 Convertible for 42 years. This car is HORROR-SHOW.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
Run away very fast. I have a 1969 Convertible for 42 years. This car is HORROR-SHOW.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.
Hate to be a forum member selling my car and see these comments
Good to sell to the rust belt areas, I avoid buying period.
Even out here in CA you can get rust, esp coastal areas.
Corvette Mikes has primo cars that come in, call him and see if he has or knows of one.
Hes a little more than most but the quality is usually there (meaining noone rattle canned over rust)
If you settled and bought....if your lucks anything like mine 2 weeks later youd come across THE one lol
\Cant help but wonder if the seller is a member...2 yrs ago saw a link for many trashing mine due to price...it was fun jumping in the thread. lol
Run away very fast. I have a 1969 Convertible for 42 years. This car is HORROR-SHOW.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.
This is the kind of post I really appreciate and was looking for. It looked to me also that there were a bunch of little things wrong with the car, but I wasn't sure. BUT, why are the side pipes stupid? Just curious about that. Do I have it all wrong?
Looking for Opinions
I don't see the rust on that NY car as being super bad....it's just that there are LOTS of rust-free [or surface rusted] cars in the SW. It would cost you several thousand $$$ to have that car shipped from east coast to west coast. Just keep looking in your vicinity and raise your buying price accordingly.
