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1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2021
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Hi! I just had a quick question. The C3 corvette is my favorite car and I am heavily considering buying one for my second car. My budget is around 10k and I live in Colorado. Do you think this is a good idea? Can i get a decent car for 10k? Is colorado a realistic place to own one of these. I would daily it about 10 miles a day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,151
Likes: 294
From: Opelousas, Lousiana
CI 6-7 & 9 Veteran
I assume you are talking about a daily driver. If that is the case, I would say it would probably not be a good idea to drive a C3 in the winter in Colorado. It is not a particularly good winter car. Some of these cars are susceptible to rust on the frame and birdcage and I assume roads are salted regularly there in winter. These cars also sit pretty close to the ground which might also cause issues.
You can probably find a post 73 in decent shape for 10 grand, but there may be things to fix on any C3.
You can probably find a post 73 in decent shape for 10 grand, but there may be things to fix on any C3.
Last edited by crawfish333; Feb 16, 2021 at 06:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 789
From: Chapel Hill NC
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I think you can get a decent soft bumper C3 for $10K. Not a snow car and you may have reliability problems with a car that old being driven daily.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
You can find some decent 1975-1977 C3's for $10K. They likely won't have a recent paint job and may have some quirks and need work to make it reliable. Just don't buy ANY car with rust issues!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,390
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From: Tampa Florida
Last edited by 71 Green 454; Feb 17, 2021 at 11:13 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,163
Likes: 7,943
From: Napa Valley California
One thing to consider are the smog equipment laws in Colorado.
Many C3’s have been modified and you may not be able to license one if the engine or smog equipment has been removed or modified.
In California anything 76 and newer must pass a semiannual smog inspection before DMV will renew the license.
Do your research before you buy, and make sure you can register what you buy.
Also keep in mind that C3’s are all going to be 40-50 year old cars and you will need to do some repairs and general maintenance.
Although if you are only going to be using it as a second car, not driving it in the snow or bad weather and only putting about 10 miles a day on it, your maintenance should be minimal.
They are cool to own.
I say go for it.
The one posted above is an excellent example of what you can get for $10k and I’d love to have it as a daily driver.
Many C3’s have been modified and you may not be able to license one if the engine or smog equipment has been removed or modified.
In California anything 76 and newer must pass a semiannual smog inspection before DMV will renew the license.
Do your research before you buy, and make sure you can register what you buy.
Also keep in mind that C3’s are all going to be 40-50 year old cars and you will need to do some repairs and general maintenance.
Although if you are only going to be using it as a second car, not driving it in the snow or bad weather and only putting about 10 miles a day on it, your maintenance should be minimal.
They are cool to own.
I say go for it.
The one posted above is an excellent example of what you can get for $10k and I’d love to have it as a daily driver.
Last edited by OldCarBum; Feb 17, 2021 at 11:57 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 136
Likes: 28
From: Liberty Island
Do they use salt on the roads in CO?? My father lived there and loved how they used sand and did not salt. Maybe that changed??
would stink to chain a c3 lol
I live in New England and always thought a c3 could be great for a winter car because of the fiberglass body. IfI could keep the frame oiled and run some good tires... but I could not bring myself to ruin one... they do sit up higher then a lot of other corvette years. The only thing that kills it for me is the lack of cargo space.
For what the original poster asked as a second car that could be daily driven that you do not need to absolutely rely on a C3 could be great.. IF you know how to turn a wrench or want to lean, AND your up for the adventure of owning an old car.
for 10k you should be able to find a daily driver level 75-82 with your choice of options and probably a nice and clean 77-79
would stink to chain a c3 lol
I live in New England and always thought a c3 could be great for a winter car because of the fiberglass body. IfI could keep the frame oiled and run some good tires... but I could not bring myself to ruin one... they do sit up higher then a lot of other corvette years. The only thing that kills it for me is the lack of cargo space.
For what the original poster asked as a second car that could be daily driven that you do not need to absolutely rely on a C3 could be great.. IF you know how to turn a wrench or want to lean, AND your up for the adventure of owning an old car.
for 10k you should be able to find a daily driver level 75-82 with your choice of options and probably a nice and clean 77-79
Last edited by The Grinch; Feb 17, 2021 at 12:15 PM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 575
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From: colo
I had a 1979 that I drove as a daily driver for almost 10 years, but I didn't take it out in snowstorms over 4" due to drifts, ice and other drivers.
They were using sand back then, but have changed to chloride based treatments due to the dust from sand. And drivers have gotten a lot more crazy since then
It's a great late spring through early fall car though.
They were using sand back then, but have changed to chloride based treatments due to the dust from sand. And drivers have gotten a lot more crazy since then
It's a great late spring through early fall car though.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2016
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I’m in The Denver area and wouldn’t really consider a C3 a good daily driver in the winter. Salt and sand are a thing of the past, but the magnesium chloride they use on the roads would make a real mess of a Corvette. I would be really leery of driving one on ice and snow. There are just too many transplant residents who don’t know how to drive on slick roads. You really don’t want to be the one they run in to while they learn that there is a difference between a rain storm and a snow storm.
Any vehicle over 25 years old can be registered as a collector vehicle, so you only need to have emissions done on it the first time you register it. Collector registrations are good for 5 years.
Any vehicle over 25 years old can be registered as a collector vehicle, so you only need to have emissions done on it the first time you register it. Collector registrations are good for 5 years.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,353
Likes: 1,054
From: Virginia USA
From my Dads home video collection circa 1973!
I crack up when I see comments that they don't make a good daily driver. So in 1971 they weren't good daily drivers? I daily drove my '71 for a few years when my first son turned 16 and I gave him my commuter car. Rain or shine I loved every second. As for the snow, I don't even drive my current commuter car (2016 Fusion Titanium) in the snow. That's what I bought a 4x4 for.
$10 grand should get you a nice rubber bumper driver.
I crack up when I see comments that they don't make a good daily driver. So in 1971 they weren't good daily drivers? I daily drove my '71 for a few years when my first son turned 16 and I gave him my commuter car. Rain or shine I loved every second. As for the snow, I don't even drive my current commuter car (2016 Fusion Titanium) in the snow. That's what I bought a 4x4 for.
$10 grand should get you a nice rubber bumper driver.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,002
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From my Dads home video collection circa 1973!
I crack up when I see comments that they don't make a good daily driver. So in 1971 they weren't good daily drivers? I daily drove my '71 for a few years when my first son turned 16 and I gave him my commuter car. Rain or shine I loved every second. As for the snow, I don't even drive my current commuter car (2016 Fusion Titanium) in the snow. That's what I bought a 4x4 for.
$10 grand should get you a nice rubber bumper driver.
I crack up when I see comments that they don't make a good daily driver. So in 1971 they weren't good daily drivers? I daily drove my '71 for a few years when my first son turned 16 and I gave him my commuter car. Rain or shine I loved every second. As for the snow, I don't even drive my current commuter car (2016 Fusion Titanium) in the snow. That's what I bought a 4x4 for.
$10 grand should get you a nice rubber bumper driver.
Given the difference in comfort levels between the two I am guesssing it was not a very comfortable Daily in Columbus / Cinci. Ohio.
It still hasn't racked up anywhere close to an additional 27k miles in the ensuing 48.5 years.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,800
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From: Virginia
My wife has a fair-weather daily-driver 79. She commutes on nice days, and usually doesn't get caught in the rain. If there is salt on the roads, the car stays in the garage.
You should be able to find an acceptable rubber bumper car for ~$10K, but expect to drop a few more $K- as you fix things that break. And that assumes you do the work yourself. If you farm out the work, you'll need to double your budget.
You should be able to find an acceptable rubber bumper car for ~$10K, but expect to drop a few more $K- as you fix things that break. And that assumes you do the work yourself. If you farm out the work, you'll need to double your budget.