Ok, I really really want a c3 for my next car but the problem is I am still in high school so my parents still have control over that stuff. My dad is worried that the fiberglass bodies are not as safe as the metal bodies on similar year cars. He said he would be ok with a mustang, fire bird, etc. because they were metal bodies so he's not worried about the airbag. He has also heard stories of the fiberglass melting onto trapped passengers in the event of the fire. So my question is, are they really that much more unsafe than other cars from the 60s-80s?

 

Classic cars are great to look at but low on safety features -- some worse than others. I worked at a bodyshop for years, have done quite a bit of crash work, frame straightening ...and also restorations on the side and for me/others, including; F-bodies, 67-69 Mustangs, Corvettes, A-bodied, B-bodied and lots of classic pickups ...stripped to the shell and rebuilt. And I have owned and driven many different classic cars. So I've seen the 'bones' of them from the inside and sort of analyzed them from a crash perspective. Plus have seen many lightly and badly crashed cars at junk yards and salvage auctions for the last 30 yrs.

Most classic cars before 1975 lack basic safety features like high-back seats, inner door beams, knee protection ...and 'crush zones'. I would avoid a car that doesn't have these ...as a DD. Not only for the reasons listed above, but young drivers are more prone to make mistakes and do stupid things (like my buddy going airborne over railroad tracks (with me inside) in his 78 Camaro back in the day! (and I bet guys on this forum can produce a long list stupid things we've seen/done)). And even if you're a really good driver, there are the other drivers out there. I'm reminded of the father of my daughter's best friend, who 2yrs ago was T-boned in his relatively new Accord by a young kid monkeying on their cell phone (in a full-sized 4x4 pickup). The whole pass side was caved in (he showed me the pics). He survived the crash ...after about a month in the hospital and 6-7 months of intense P/T ...a few back surgeries, etc. Who know's how things would have turned out if it had been a classic car from the 60's or early 70's. My point isn't to scare you but to impress that you never know what can happen.

That said, the best crash protection is NOT getting into an accident in the first place. Being an ultra-defensive driver and using good judgement helps a lot (but no guarantee). As for C3's, I've seen many C3 crashes both on this site and a few in person (and at salvage yards). Some very nasty crashes (you can do a search). You'd think they would completely come apart, but they really don't -- as much as one would think. The steel bird cage (inner structure) seems to be very protective. The later cars, esp 80's have really robust door impact beams and high-back seats (to prevent whiplash, protect the neck). The body panels on later C3's made of SMC (Sheet Molded Compound -- the unique 'fiberglass' they used on later C3's) is thin but incredibly freekin' strong. If I handed you a 8"x8" piece and challenged you to break it with your hands I bet most couldn't break it (probably not even with a claw hammer). That sort of creates somewhat of a crush zone. But if you ran into a jacked-up pickup ...that probably won't turn out well in any car. But the metal T-top hold-down clamp would probably leave a nice dent in a person's head.

F-body cars ...the later 2nd generation ones are steel-bodied. Yeah they might not be too bad either, for a classic car. But don't get one with a T-top or sunroof. Cutting the top badly compromises the structural integrity (they 'creek' badly going into gas station and store driveways). I've had some Fox body Mustangs and they aren't too bad (and kind of collectible nowadays). 3rd gen F-bodies (and later) are even more protective.

Have you driven a newer 'retro' Camaro or Mustang? The newer Camaro's I've driven, I was impressed how much it felt like sitting inside and driving so much like a 70's F-body car. Even looking over the hood was eerily similar. But of course they're SO much more comfortable and newer ones have all the cool tech ..and are safe to drive.

That's my honest perspective from a father of a teenage driver who wants their kid to have some fun but also be safe. I'm interested in what other forum members say. Good luck. Drive safe whatever you decide.

 

C3 Corvettes are built on a full ladder style frame. like a pickup truck. almost all those other cars are unit construction. tell that to Dad. 75 up cars have a steel beam in the doors for side impact protection. All C3's have a steel bird cage, (Framework around the cabin) C3's have very good front end crush capabilities. which helps absorb impact so the occupants take less of the blow. all have high back seats. good seat belts and great (for there time) brakes.

 

They all had to pass the federal crash safetytests of the year they were built , especially after the corvair and Ralph Nader. You should grab that book, "Unsafe at any speed", it will give you knowledge and information/ ammunition in your quest for your car. If your Dad wants to help you out he should learn as much about these cars as you will, get the car, get it running and stopping perfectly, then enroll both of you in an autocross course / driving school . Knowing what your car is capable of and what its limits are, are the keys to being safe. Its like riding a motorcycle. Its not you that is going to cause the accident, its the idiots out there on their cell phones that will. You have to be hyper aware and be ready for them to cause the accident that you can avoid. Get teh car you want and involve him, He will come around after a test drive.....

 

"That said, the best crash protection is NOT getting into an accident in the first place." Mark G

Tell your dad you want a Tesla- all the latest technology -and safe.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/18/b...ash-texas.html

 

As some one who was in high school at one point and who had a classic all through it I can tell you this

pass on the classic for a daily.
Skip to the bottom if you wanna pass all my option stuff. I’ll post my recommendation there.

I know that sucks to hear but as a high schooler it’s not worth the headache. I would say third gen f body, I’m a fire bird guy but that’s just me.

the problems with muscle cars and kids.

they cost a ton to buy up keep and insure.

You will get pulled over and you will get tickets.... that’s just part of it. It’s hard not to drive fast as a kid especially in a car like this and even if your not cops will see you as going fast.

I bought my first car at 14 because I had a job it was a 69 firebird. It was a constant game of do I pay for gas this week or that next part I need , should I go to my friends tonight or stay home so I can afford those door panels actually scratch that I didn’t skip going out during saving up for door panels because I had to get a second job to swing that and between school foot ball and 2 jobs I had 0 time. gas had just broke 2.20 and we all flipped.

insurnce. Ohh boy I was paying 250 a month for minimal coverage liability only. That was after the mountains of tickets I got.

I come from a small town the cops loved to nail hischoolers they would hang out near the school and all the hot spots just sit and tag kids one after another.

by the time I was 18 I bought a 74 f100 4x4. At 4 mpg I still to this day have no idea how I afforded to drive that as a daily.


so the third gen f body. I have a 90 firebird and I love it. It’s got a ton of room ( 6’2”) it handles on rails. They used the same suspension till 02. Like I mean I can’t believe how great it handles. T tops are awesome. Mines a v6 but I get 32mpg. Try to find the v8 or pick up the v6 and ls swap or 350 swap These cars are still cheap to buy cheap to maintain get ok fuel milage are super buildable and if you wreck it the later ones have air bags and they all have shoulder belts. That’s just my opinion

 

I am thrilled you want a classic car, even more a C3 Corvette. Hold onto that desire. But in reality, these older cars are not even close to being as safe as a modern car, and I have no love for modern vehicles. But its just the truth. There are obviously many differences, including no airbags, very little door protection, very little bumper protection, etc etc. Even the smallness of the car makes it less safe. Your butt is only five inches off the ground, you are looking UP at tractor trailer tires.

And remember that no matter how responsible you are, you are still young, naive and inexperienced. That is not an insult, it is just the truth about being young. Believe me, I know. Hold on to your desire for a classic car, and get experience driving for a few years, meanwhile find a car that needs work and you can work on that. At some point in your life, down the road, when you do have some years behind you, and experience, please join us in our love and passion for owning and driving these cars. They will NEVER be as safe as a modern car, but with proper experience, and defensive driving tactics, the risk is worth the reward. I ride a Harley motorcycle about 6000 miles a year......and it is NOT safe today, but I try in every way to be responsible and safe, with very defensive riding tactics, and I hope I never die on the bike. But realizing the dangers is a very big part of avoiding the dangers. You have to be smart, and you have to be careful. Doing stupid things, like many do, will kill you.

And lastly, in the risk versus reward calculation, realize that some of the very best experiences in life DO require some risk. I fly airplanes, ride motorcycles, and drive a classic C3 Corvette and my life would be far less if I had not done these things.. For me, it makes life worth living.

 

Have you talked to your insurance agent yet, to see what insurance would be for a Corvette? That may change your mind right there.

I was a car crazy kid (I'm now a 66 year old car crazy old fart). Every penny I got went into my cars. At 20 years old, in 1974, I bought a new Trans Am. At the time I also had a 47 Buick, a 60 Impala convertible and a 71 El Camino. I was also still living at home. I got out of college in 76, got a job that included a company car, and immediately sold the Trans Am and bought my first Corvette, the 62 in my avatar.

I'm not about to say your father is wrong, he's your father, he loves you, and he's responsible for raising you, protecting you, and doing what he thinks is best for you. It doesn't really matter if I think they're safe (though I will say I think they're as safe as any other car from that era), what matters is what your parents think, and what they want for you. I will say that I don't think a 70's Corvette is the best choice for a daily driver, but then I don't think any car from the 70's is the best choice for a daily driver, partly because newer cars have far more safety features, but also because of reliability. All you have to do is read over this Forum a little, to realize just how much time, work and attention an old car requires, to keep it on the road.

Even though I'm a collector of old cars, and own a collector car oriented business, when my kids got their licenses, I made sure they had newer, safe, reliable cars. My son (who's now 36), had a 96 Camaro with the 3.8 V6 for his first car. He was involved in a bad accident in it where he went nose first into a ditch, and then backwards into a pole. The car was totaled, but he walked away. After that, he had 2 more 90's F-bodies, a 97 Camaro RS convertible and a 99 Firebird. My daughter's first car was a Cavalier Z24, with air bags and all the other modern safety features.

I think your best option, if it's something that's financially viable for you and your family, is to buy a nice, reliable newer car to drive, and find a 70's Corvette project that you and your father can restore together.

 

Having raised two boys who both learned to drive in manual trans cars, this inner family type of decision should not be made from what this forum offers. Your parents are who you should be respectful of and thankful for. As you get older and grow your own wings, you can fulfill your wants and desires.

 

the fiberglass body on c3's is way tougher than people think. can take a shot and leave pass compartment intact better than most of it's contemporaries. that being said, an 18 year old's first car should be a 10 year old accord. grey, dark blue, maroon. cheap to run and fix. tough body with lots of airbags and cheap parts from bodymaster room for more than 1 passenger and INVISIBLE TO COPS!!! looks like a mom's car. no flag colors. red, bright blue, yellow... i also feel a kid's first car should be a clutch. cuz his-her friends that can't drive can't wreck it. anybody can put an automatic in drive and create mayhem inside of 5 seconds.

 

GM began putting side impact door beams in C3s in 1973. That's one of the reasons I chose my '73.

DC

 

Thank you every one for the info and advice! I passed some of this info on to my dad so we will see, but I also am willing to compromise with something a little safer! One last question though. Would a roll cage make them any safer?

 

Only your Dad can make that analysis,,

 

Roll cage sounds extreme unless you are running it on a track somewhere.

Mark G is 100% on the money. I have no idea what your driving skills are like now, how long you've been at it or if you have driven any of these older cars but the best safety is built into the driver not the car. Tiger Woods would probably agree. Old cars like this are very different than modern vehicles to drive and might catch you by surprise or not even be to your liking. C3s are weird animals - first time sitting in one looking over those big Batman fenders took a little getting used to. Of course, that also got a lot of people hooked on them, me included

A suggestion? Look at one of the late C3s. Whatever safety features were afforded to that model will be in those. Plus, they are going to be more affordable than their chrome bumper predecessors. Maybe even start with something else more modern that's still cool and fun and see if you like working on it, driving it, etc.The newer Mustangs and Camaros sand Challengers are pretty slick.

 

Just my two cents as a father of two boys and someone that had several Muscle Cars and a Corvette in High School. I FULLY understand the desire to get a Vette! The looks, performance and just WOW factor. Having said that I still remember parking my 68 Vette next to one of my best friends 68 Vette on his driveway. His Mom backed up her VW and bumped into the door of his car and cracked the whole door in. that got me thinking about the way we drive and what would have happened if someone hit into the side of us at even 25mph. The good news is back then I was ten feet tall and bulletproof! As others have said some years have little to no side protection. My recommendation would be wait until you can have the Vette as a second car. That way you will have your daily driver and then be able to drive the Vette on nice days. Both of my boys are very good drivers. But as said before it’s the idiots that are of concern to parents. My youngest son got T-Boned just behind the front wheel by a Lexus going about 45-50mph at the time of the impact. (Speed according to the Police officer) Both cars were totaled. The other car had people going to the hospital. My son and his two passengers were fine with no injuries. The car I had him drive was a 2011 V6 Charger. Good looking car Similar to the old Charger Muscle Car, (subject to opinion) great gas mileage compared to a Vette or Muscle Car, Performance that would rival some Muscle cars and even some Vettes and most important built to take on a battering ram and walk away. The other thing he informed me of years later was it had a “GREAT” back seat! Darn, I should have known to remove the rear seat and put down a bed of rusty nails. LOL

As for a roll cage:

That is NOT a good idea for a street car when you are not going to be wearing a helmet. Your head can impact the roll cage causing significant brain injury. BUT: I have another story. Back in the day I knew of someone that had a first gen Camaro that was hit head on by a drunk driver going over 100mph. He had a full race car cage and also had the 5 point safety harness. The drunk driver was killed but he was ok. Had to go to the hospital but was released the next day. The officer said that he would have ticketed the Camaro had he seen it not in the accident. The law was the cage was not DOT approved and the 5pt harness was also not DOT approved. The officer also said had it not been for the cage and harness he likely would have also been dead at the scene. So yes the cage can help but that is only one case that it helped. I have heard of many more with street cars and cages where they driver and or passenger was significantly injured and even pronounced brain dead because of impact to a cage bar. Cages should be used with a helmet and harness not just a seat belt. You should also have full race seats to help hold yourself in place in the event of an accident.

Don’t give up on getting a Vette! Just wait until you can afford to have it as a second car.

Sorry for the long post but as you can see I am passionate about this. I have seen way too many bad situations and when my kids were your age I had a similar talk about cars with them.

 

Is a C3 Corvette any less safe than any 60’s to 80’s steel bodied vehicle?
Probably not.
Buying a safer vehicle won’t make you a safer driver and buying a safer vehicle won’t keep you safe if you don’t drive it safely.
Throughout my career in law enforcement I investigated many horrendous traffic collisions involving all different year and type of vehicles.
Traffic collisions are basic physics, mass, speed and force.
New vehicles with air bags and modern safety equipment will help in mild traffic collisions but provide little additional safety in a major collision.
Older vehicles were manufactured using heavier gauge steel and help protect you more upon impact than today’s lighter thinner bodied vehicles.
In my experience, If you are trapped in a burning vehicle, it doesn’t matter what material it’s made of, you are still toast.
Bottom line, drive defensively, watch what is going on around you, always keep an opening you can slip into, obey the speed limits and the rules of the road.
Good luck in your vehicle purchase and enjoy your teenage years!

 

I started driving in 1972. Classic cars back then were just regular cars. My God, how did we survive rolling around in those death traps!?

Safety and technology certainly has come a long way since then but I still drive old cars (my oldest is a 1934) and never worry about the safety aspect. Of course, I ride motorcycles as well so maybe I'm not the best guy to ask!

Like previously posted, I promote accident avoidance over accident survival. Take a high performance driving course. Most high performance schools have classes specializing in new drivers.

That said, in my opinion, unless you are already a hard core old car freak I'd recommend something newer and more reliable for a 1st car. My first car was a '66 GTO in 1972. I paid $50 for it from a friend and it was pretty clapped out but I had been a car nut since an early age so working on it wasn't a big deal.

On the other hand, I just picked up a cheap '79 automatic that just needs some minor maintenance items. I think a car like that would be fine to drive back and forth to school and run around town and wouldn't require a lot of time and money to keep on the road. Plus, late '70s / early '80s C3s aren't exactly power houses. I'm sure a late model Civic could blow its doors off and get you in a lot more trouble. I only paid $4500 for it so if you can find a cheap one like that and even if you have to pay a shop to get it in reliable condition I think you'd be into it for way less than a newer "safer" car. Maybe have your dad drive one and he can see that just because it is a Corvette doesn't mean it is a racecar.

One more thing coming from an old guy, many of us would love to have our first car back. I know I would love to have the GTO again. If you pick up a cheap C3 now you just might be able to keep it forever. There are many stories on this forum of C3 owners that inherited their fathers cars and will pass them along to their sons (or daughters) eventually. I think that is pretty cool too.

 

I was an 18 year-old kid one year out of high school when I bought my Vette.
New. That was 45 years ago & somehow I made it.
I went off-roading twice in the 1st year showing friends the handling capabilities of a Corvette.
Lucky for me it only cost two alignments & one bent rally wheel. But I learned my lesson....
Like everyone has said...just drive safe. Classic Vette or not.
I guarantee It'll make your old-man happy......

 

Saw his in a local tow yard back in the seventies It is a 1971 Car

 

I'm a highschooler myself, so I definitely know the difficulty of convincing parents. I would second what other have said before me. A safe driver is better than a safe car. I also believe it is very important to nurture a love of cars, especiallly if you are going into an automotive field (e.g. Mech Eng major, technician, etc). Working on my Corvette has definitely given me important skills to get scholarships/jobs. Heck, I did my senior project on cylinder flow dynamics to order to optimize my Vortec heads.

Despite this, I would always have a backup plan. I daily my '77 from May (when all snow melts) to whenever snow flies (usually September around here). In the winter, I drive my '08 Trailblazer 5.3L. Having the Trailblazer also gives me freedom just in case something on the Corvette goes. Although I am prepared for it, that has never happened to me. Once you get the car sorted, if it is well maintained, there won't be anything too serious. It may take a few years to get it completely sorted though

In conclusion, my recommendation would be this: buy yourself a "regular" car that you will be okay with driving during winters or in a pinch. Then when you have enough money or have enough left over, buy yourself a C3. At the end of the day, it is really up to your parents. Just make sure to sit down and talk with them about this as a serious possibility and what happens happens. What's nice about stock late C3's are low power. 180 hp doesn't exactly shred tires. You could bring this up and make an agreement where you are able to prove yourself before getting too far into mods. As far as police go, I've never got a ticket in almost 2 years of driving on my own and 1 year with my parents (Corvette and otherwise). Just realize the car is flashy so don't speed at all, don't roar past cops, and don't look like a hooligan and you'll be fine. Perhaps make a deal that the if you get a ticket you sell the car? I have a similar deal with my parents. As long as you are careful, wear your seatbelt, etc, driving a cool car is probably a lot better than a lot of other dangerous things we could get into as teens.

Good luck man. We'd be happy to have you here on the forum as an owner as well as just an enthusiast!