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I agree - impatience is getting the better of me given so few people respond to my enquiries. I'm betting I don't hear anything now I've asked for more pictures - I'm learning folk are allergic to taking more pics or dealing with buyers not on their doorstep.
I too regretted both my automatic trans purchases - a '92 and a '80 (many years ago), which is why i absolutely will not compromise on a 4 speed this time - no way, no how. To be fair, whilst probably priced right due to the mileage, it's also too far over budget.
'77 is my least favourite year out of my wish list due to the mix of mid and late year interiors, I prefer the '74-'76 console etc, but I'd compromise on that detail for the rest, but I think colour is just too important, the more I think about it, unless the car needs paint so badly it is cheap enough to disregard, which that car clearly isn't.
OK, now you stepped it up even more... the year of this car is your least favorite of the mix? Stop looking at that ad.
Theres a million 74-76 cars for sale and most of them are below your price point. Have a Guinness, settle down and resume shopping. The chase can be half the fun.
There's your answer, you don't want this car in this colour
That depends on who you ask. I couldn't give a rat's *** if the car is the original factory colour, for others they wouldn't consider a car that isn't the factory colour. Paint jobs are expensive, add that to the price of purchase and you have a big budget to get the car you want in the colour you want. You've got a long list of acceptable years, I think you should be able to find what you want in a colour that is more pleasing to you if you keep looking.
I agree on all fronts. Three things got me hooked - 1) Original paint. Not because of the colour, but because it can't hide accident damage, a big de-risker for me personally. 2) Low miles - no explanation needed. 3) The interior looks reay nice, especially the centre console.
Can I ask the owners amongst you - why, oh why does the centre console with all the gauges in, and the air vent panel area above always look to be falling out of the dash? So many I look at appear to have been removed and then only roughly shoved back in place in a kind of "That'll do, close enough" kind of fashion. It drives me nuts, bounces my valves and makes my teeth itch all at the same time. The first, IMMEDIATE job I'd do on any Corvette I owned, before I even adjusted the drivers seat or even thought about washing it, would be to ensure this pane was located securely and positioned correctly.
Or is there some horrible demon I don't yet know about that causes the centre console to just fall out and hang down at will? Are they not just screwed into place, neatly, tightly and securely?
Generally, a deduct of the cost to paint it the correct color. Essentially the same as painting it an incorrect original color, except that it may reduce the amount of potential buyers as well.
What’s the point of buying a survivor car if you are going to paint it, unless the price is significantly lower?
My desire for a survivor car comes from me trying to de-risk the purchase as much as possible. I could buy a shiny one that looks great, get it home, on the lift and then discover itls had a front end and the frame is slightly bent - this would break my heart. If I buy a car with all original paint, I'm more reassured that this won't be the case. It's not that I like old, flaking, peeling paint, full of crazing and hairline cracks - I much prefer a wet glass mirror, 12 weeks of the long block, almost looks fake or rendered paint job..... as long as I KNOW that the car was originally un-hit and not hiding any nasties prior.
OK, now you stepped it up even more... the year of this car is your least favorite of the mix? Stop looking at that ad.
Theres a million 74-76 cars for sale and most of them are below your price point. Have a Guinness, settle down and resume shopping. The chase can be half the fun.
Agreed - done deal.
Thanks!
Perhaps I could keep this thread going and share my journey as an enthusiastic Brit trying to buy his bucket list Vette?
I purchased my 1975 in June of this year. My preference was 1974-77 with 75 being my favorite year for a variety of reasons I won't go into. It had to be a manual, have no luggage rack, have rally wheels and centers and be driver quality and mostly original.
But most of all though it had to be red. I shopped and did my homework on what to know to look for in purchasing a car like this for months, for over a year actually. It is not easy to find a car with that many specific attributes but I was patient and looked at a million cars online and otherwise. I was looking at bright red cars and considering a black one if it fit all the other requirements but never considered dark red. So mine is red, it's just 47L dark red metallic. Not what I was looking for initially but when I saw it, I liked it. And now that I have it, I am grateful that it is not bright red as it gives a nice contrast to my '92 RS Camaro. I guess my point is that I was lucky to find the car that I wanted and held out until my criteria was met. I am fortunate that the dark red grew on me even more when I got it home and parked it next to the Camaro.
Best of luck in your search and hold out for what you really want! I figured that I had one shot to get a car like this so I made it count!!! Attachment 48341095
For the record. I'm willing to compromise more for a chrome bumper car as I know I'll not be able to afford a full fat survivor, original paint example anywhere near my budget.
Excuse the slight off topic post. I think the chrome bumper C3's look better in a darker color........the chrome highlights show off better. I saw a white chrome bumper C3 recently and I didn't think it looked very good.
Excuse the slight off topic post. I think the chrome bumper C3's look better in a darker color........the chrome highlights show off better. I saw a white chrome bumper C3 recently and I didn't think it looked very good.
Agreed - that dark met red one I posted to for sale looks gorgeous - scratches, chips, fading, crazing, overspray and all.... LOL
To be fair, I'd ignore colour completely for a chrome bumper car.
Three things got me hooked - 1) Original paint. Not because of the colour, but because it can't hide accident damage, a big de-risker for me personally.
That's a great point in favour of this car that I hadn't considered.
For the record. I'm willing to compromise more for a chrome bumper car as I know I'll not be able to afford a full fat survivor, original paint example anywhere near my budget.
Would prefer L-82 but not massively bothered. Numbers matching important.
I don't like the '78-'79 shape except the Pace car, which won't be within budget - prefer originality than shiny pain hiding who knows what, unless there is a strong story and history.
Would I consider a rough and tired (but rust free and no-hit) '70-'72 for a bit more money - absolutely.
You might consider adding the '73 to your list. Same nose as the '74 and same chrome rear as the '72. Prices are usually much better than the earlier cars with chrome on both ends. I originally wanted a '70 - '72 but found my '73 while looking and I'm glad I ended up with it.
Once option is to ignore the colour on the basis that I repaint it in my preferred choice down the line, however that would need to be reflected in the price. Does a non-original colour, i.e colour change cause a problem?
Thank you.
If you get the car you want, but the color is definitely stopping you from purchasing, you are not open to other color options, I would look elsewhere or you will not be happy. Custom colors should not bring the price down, but may bring it up if done uniquely in good taste. I guess when I was looking I was looking for a solid car with good bones and something I could fix, repair and bring back to OEM, but I was open to color. Remember, you may find the car you want in the color of your choice, but it may need more work than you are willing or want to spend after initial purchase. I rebuilt mine from front bumper to rear bumper mechanically, completed most work myself, the paint was the last thing on my list. that was my plan before buying. I saw too many sellers trying to sell their car and advertising rebuilt, but only to find out they spent all their money on paint to make the car look great, but the frame was rusted out and required major mechanical work. If you ask me, that is the wrong way to rebuild a car or buy one in that shape.
Last edited by Reaper19; Sep 17, 2020 at 09:24 PM.
In my search for a survivor, numbers matching mid year 4 speed coupe, I have potentially found the almost perfect car.... It most of the boxes - acceptable year, low miles/owners, history from new, original paint, rust free frame, L82 motor, good options list etc, etc..... what's not to love.... except.....
It's code 80 - Corvette Tan.
So, would you sacrifice colour for everything else being right, or potentially hold our indefinitely for the perfect car? (I'd prefer Silver, blue, red, orange, green, white, or black) I'm around the $10k budget so can't afford to be too fussy.
Am I the only one that goes cold over Tan, or is it a decent colour in the flesh?
An option is to paint it down the line, but then it's not the original survivor anymore....
down the road as you say.....a decent paint job will cost more than the car is worth. Unless you can do the hours and hours for a color change in a bc/cc expect at least 15k.
You might consider adding the '73 to your list. Same nose as the '74 and same chrome rear as the '72. Prices are usually much better than the earlier cars with chrome on both ends. I originally wanted a '70 - '72 but found my '73 while looking and I'm glad I ended up with it.
DC
For the longest time '73's left me cold as I simply couldn't get my head round the mis-match front and rear..... but then I realised I was very fond of the bull nose Trans Ams which have exactly the same thing going on....
I think you're right, if a suitable '73 turned up, I would be foolish to discount it. I do like the cleaner front bumper on the '73-'74 cars without the over-riders moulded in.
down the road as you say.....a decent paint job will cost more than the car is worth. Unless you can do the hours and hours for a color change in a bc/cc expect at least 15k.
Thankfully, I've painted a few cars at home previously and can handle the prep and strip down etc (although I detest every single stroke of the long block and regret ever starting the moment the 80 grit breaks the clear coat), however I'd get the paint laid on in a booth properly, which even then is going to be $2-3k+
I've no problem driving a survivor/patina car round with bad paint, as long as I like the colour - I appreciate the character. What I don't like is a a bad paint job that is failing - that would need to be re-done.
Thank you.
If you get the car you want, but the color is definitely stopping you from purchasing, you are not open to other color options, I would look elsewhere or you will not be happy. Custom colors should not bring the price down, but may bring it up if done uniquely in good taste. I guess when I was looking I was looking for a solid car with good bones and something I could fix, repair and bring back to OEM, but I was open to color. Remember, you may find the car you want in the color of your choice, but it may need more work than you are willing or want to spend after initial purchase. I rebuilt mine from front bumper to rear bumper mechanically, completed most work myself, the paint was the last thing on my list. that was my plan before buying. I saw too many sellers trying to sell their car and advertising rebuilt, but only to find out they spent all their money on paint to make the car look great, but the frame was rusted out and required major mechanical work. If you ask me, that is the wrong way to rebuild a car or buy one in that shape.
I agree. On the basis that no matter what car I buy will need some kind of work, I will be treating this as a rolling project, which means I want to be able to enjoy driving it as I improve it, which means I need to like the colour whilst doing so - a journey rather than a means to an end if that makes sense?
I will offer this thought on 'original' paint vs. fresh repaint:
I have a '65 Grand Prix which was original paint when I bought it. For original paint, it was bloomin' amazing....but only to me and about 2% or the folks who stopped to look at it. Everyone else just walked by, unless they were Pontiac fans who spent a bit of time looking the whole car over. The car stayed as original paint for about 5 years. I came to the conclusion that very few folks cared at all about the 'original' paint and other than being 'unique', the old paint didn't do much for me, either. So I got it repainted the original color. Now, EVERYONE looks at the car and gives compliments on it; and those who like Pontiacs go absolutely nuts about it. Me? I prefer the better paint job and on an overall basis, I am happier with it having fresh paint.
I loved my 77 and I should never have gotten rid of it, but I had visions of a steel bumper car, but that is another story. I picked this one because it was a color I liked and the other options all lined up for me except the four speed. This was a 24K mile car when I bought it, a 27K mile car when I sold it four years later. The car you are looking at is over priced in my opinion, even at $10K, due to the paint. From the front bumper alone I can see you will be painting it and unless you do that work yourself you are already under water. Be fussy, lots of cars out there. My two cents.
David Howard
AllVettes4Me
I've since upped my budget and am now seeking a chrome bumper car as ultimately, that's what I really want deep down inside.
I
'm documenting my journey here....
