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I'm new to the forum and look forward to learning from everyone.
My question is I'm looking at a 72 C3 all original, low milage, all the documentation, original paint, etc. except a carb and intake manifold and headers added. No work done to the motor. How much, if any, does this devalue the car? The original parts are not available with the car. Is this a big deal?
If it's running well. not to me. but some get real **** about every nut and bolt being original. If your buying it to drive it. Shouldn't matter much. if you want a museum piece, well maybe a little.
I had an internal rule; If it's un-bolt/re-bolt back on....no harm, no foul.
Things like color changes and upholstery 'abortions'....= no accounting for taste $$$-wise so 'devalue'.
Fender-flares and etc ditto. You can't 'un-bolt' fender flares.
I always say, If you're replacing manifolds and going to FI and ETC... it's no big thing to put those parts in a box with the original fasteners and say "here you go"! To the next owner.
I remember back in the day, people pulling off Duntov FI systems and bolting on new manifolds and carbs.....HUGE DEVALUE. (if you give the guy the FI, see above.)
I keep everything on my car as original as possible. That’s what I like. Then there are people who want everything updated. It depends what you want but as for value, I would be discouraged by not having the original Quadrajet.
However it sounds like these are not too drastic changes. If you like you could figure out your build date then sometime in the future you could create some saved searches on eBay for original vette parts and look for your date codes. You might have fun working on the car bringing it back to original and at the same time possibly increase the value a bit. Just my opinion.
Thanks for the replys guys. That's kinda the page I was on, depends who's looking, but over all shouldn't hurt the value. I don't have the original parts, but should be easy enough to find period correct replacments.
Gee, the '72 you describe sounds like a nice find. Each of us has our own reasons for owning a C3 chrome bumper car. The mods you describe are not difficult to undo if you want a reasonably close to original car. Depending on who the seller is you could use your preference for originality as barganing leverage. Like you, I like to keep my '71 pretty close to original, but as you may suspect that is hard to do since parts wear out over time and need to be replaced and who know what changes previous owners have done to the car. I think if the car runs good, the undercarriage and birdcage are reasonably rust free and the body is in good shape you'll have a fun ride. There are plenty of smiles per mile left in the car you describe.
Non-NCRS potential buyers are MANY; purist NCRS buyers are FEW.....especially when your are dealing with a 'driver' vehicle. Your car's value will NOT suffer because of those small differences. Enjoy the car.
I have the original carb with intake and exhaust manifolds i took off from my 72 sitting on a shelf. That car is never going back to original and you are welcome to the parts at a very reasonable price should you ever need/want them and I am sure there are several others here who also have this stuff laying around. Unless you intend to show the car you will probably like the changes that have been made better than messing with an old quadrajet.
I have the original carb with intake and exhaust manifolds i took off from my 72 sitting on a shelf. That car is never going back to original and you are welcome to the parts at a very reasonable price should you ever need/want them and I am sure there are several others here who also have this stuff laying around. Unless you intend to show the car you will probably like the changes that have been made better than messing with an old quadrajet.
wow..cool..
op, you noted the non original parts so it mattered to you to some extent…
buy it..buy this…
and post pics!