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Looks like an easy fix. New rear fender/bumper. They're easy to replace!! Looks like someone put some time into that car.
Ecklers sells SMC fenders which are made on original GM tooling. (or you can buy original). I've purchased SMC restoration body parts from them. The quality was great.
BTW, there are agencies which will re-title your car in NJ and then provide you a 'clean' NJ car title (in their name). THEN you transfer that title to yourself in the state you live in. Waa-laaa -- Clean car title! I've personally known a few people (who weren't me) who've done this. Works if you have a legit car with no or lost title. It's a great solution for something like a real old car or parts car from the 30's-70's or any real old car yer going to restore or make a street rod out of that has been passed around, and you have no idea where it's from or who the owners were. IDK if it works for Salvage titles. Something about NJ laws. You used to see such services offered in Hemmings. I haven't looked in a while to see if they still exist, but they did a couple yrs ago.
Looks like an easy fix. New rear fender/bumper. They're easy to replace!! Looks like someone put some time into that car.
Ecklers sells SMC fenders which were made on original GM tooling. (or you can buy original). I've purchased SMC restoration body parts from them. The quality was great.
BTW, there are agencies which will re-title your car in NJ and then provide you a 'clean' NJ car title (in their name). THEN you transfer that title to yourself in the state you live in. Waa-laaa -- Clean car title! I've personally known a few people (who weren't me) who've done this. Works if you have a legit car with no or lost title. Esp something like a real old car or parts car yer going to make a street rod out of. Something about NJ laws. You used to see such services offered in Hemmings. I haven't looked in a while to see if they still exist, but they did a couple yrs ago.
BTW the previous poster was right: a salvage title just means it was considered a Total Loss by the insurance company. A lot of guys who work at bodyshops buy 'salvage' cars from auctions, usually ones with fairly light damage and fix them up. Or owners who've had damage to their cars and bought them back from the insurance compay. I've personally bought and fixed up a few. They can be a great way to get a decent deal on an otherwise nice (generally pretty new) vehicle. Bodyshop guys generally have the skills and tools to do the work, so they're trading time to fix up a vehicle. The cars I've repaired, I either drove myself, or gave or sold cheap to my inlaws or family members.
Corvettes have been a common segment of the re-builder scene since as far back as I can remember. Back in the 70/80's body guys would buy wrecked (sometimes badly) cars and save them from the jaws of the crusher. Or make Custom Corvettes out a damaged car. I'm sure a lot of guys on this form knew of a wrecked Corvette being rebuilt back in the day, a-la ...Corvette Summer!
My current DD was considered a total loss in Tx after enduring a major hail storm (baseball sized hail!) when it was fairly new and has a salvage title. It was purchased from the insurance company (or auction), by a previous owner, and a new roof/sunroof/ hood/fender/windshield and trim were installed. There hasn't been any accident wreckage, it was all cosmetic. But for anyone who's seen hail damage in the southern plains (tornado country), you know every surface can be damaged. Some 'rebuilders' can be light crash work which is fairly easy to repair. Some projects can be very involved. I've also known guys who've bought wrecked, fairly new, pickups and dually trucks and cut the frame in half and sectioned in a new front (or rear), put on a salvage yard cab (or straightened the old one out) and new sheetmetal. But then yer talking about a new truck that can cost 80K and up.
A lot of times when ya buy a project that has light accident damage, what you're doing is assuming risk. The insurance adjusters can't always tell what collateral damage might be lurking inside (say, a front drive transmission) after a front end collision ..and therefore will consider worst-case and may total a car out. Using that example, there's a case once you've fixed up the car, you could find the transmission is damaged internally and require replacing. I've personally gotten lucky and never ran into severe hidden damage when I've bought rebuilders. A lot of times yer not that far ahead when you figure all the parts, materials and your time.
But this corvette looks to be a fairly simple job ...assuming there isn't any hidden rear suspension/frame damage. Even if there is, a person with access to all the necessary bodyshop tools can straighten a frame, etc. You're doing a good service by keeping it from being another 'parts-car'. OP, show us pictures and AFTER photos once you get this Corvette repaired!!
For the price of shipping a car to Europe and the cost of shipping parts, buy a good car. If people won’t pay more than 2 or 3k for a hit corvette it is because it is not worth the money. At their 3 to 600 ship cost for a few hundred miles.
the car looks pretty good in the new photos.
If you can conrfirm that the rear bumper is a fiberglass replacement, any experienced fiberglass body man should be able to rebuild that end with a new quarter as a guide.
might be something to consider for the price of buying a new one, since that usually involves extra work to fit it properly anyway. Also, toss a quart or 2 of vette panel adhesive to the parts list.
For the price of shipping a car to Europe and the cost of shipping parts, buy a good car. If people won’t pay more than 2 or 3k for a hit corvette it is because it is not worth the money. At their 3 to 600 ship cost for a few hundred miles.
I must agree with Derek. No matter how talented and skillful your local shop, or even yourself, you are better of buying a car than needs "minimal" repair. Because even "minimal" snowballs. If you can get out of this one I would strongly advise it. We can help you find a much better deal. And I don't mean my friend's car. Seriously, there are way better cars for $5-6 K than that one!
All depends on the buyer's mentality. We all know that C3 owners come at the hobby from different angles. We don't know what the buyer's perspective is.
Some guys put the pride of ownership as their highest priority, and don't really want to do hardly any repairs to their car other than maintain it. Drive it to shows. Have comradare with other owners. Other owners like to customize a car in various ways. Some guys like myself (and I know quite a few people like this), get a charge out of finding a 'project' and putting work into bringing it back. Even if it's a LOT of work. The guys in the first camp generally think the guys in the 3rd camp are nuts! ha ha. The repair work *IS* the journey. The craftsmanship. Sometimes more-so than driving it around and to shows. You'll see a lot of guys in the 3rd camp often sell their cars shortly after they get them finished. And go out and find another fix-er-upper project. When ya find a car ya just have to go with it. There's always a 'better deal' ya probably missed out on the more ya keep looking.
So, there's something for every kind of owner in this hobby.
That right rear tire looks pretty fresh. I’m thinking blowout shredded the fender and someone grabbed the flopping ‘glass and ripped it off at the bonding strip. Most body shops wouldn’t want to tackle it (not in their money-making wheelhouse), so they probably quoted it real high to scare it away, resulting in it being totaled.
It depends on the buyers wishes. To me, this is a great looking C3, and if someone just wants to get into a driver C3 for cheap, and can do some of the work, this would be a decent candidate at sub- $4k. (assuming solid frame, birdcage, and the rest of the car).
Anyone notice the “383” on the air cleaner? Might this car have a nice motor in it?
Hello guys, i would like to purchase and import to EU cheap C3..
Looking at this one, little crashed, i would love to purchase parts in US and ship them with the car at once, could you C3 experts help me identify which parts would i need? I know it is impossible to tell from the picture:-) just rougly..
Of course rear fender panel and rear bumper cover, what else do you think will be necessary?
And, by any accident, anybody at NY - Long Island who would check it for me for some beer money?-)
I live on Long Island NY and would be happy to take a look at it for you if you want.
I live on Long Island NY and would be happy to take a look at it for you if you want.
Wll if you dont mind, you can check it, the car still at Copart facility LI, but i have already purchased it and it´s going to be picked up by transport company soon:-)
If he hadn't already bought it, my friend as an '82 with overdrive trans, rebuilt engine WITHOUT the Crossfire injection, a little rough but NOT smashed, could be had for $2-3K. Too late now.
I would be interested in that car? Where is it located? Can you PM me?
Wll if you dont mind, you can check it, the car still at Copart facility LI, but i have already purchased it and it´s going to be picked up by transport company soon:-)
I would be happy too. I am very close to there. PM me with info. Can I just stop by and take photos? Or do I need to meet with someone there?
If the price for "your" car is $5k - $6k and after internal transport cost in USA, plus shipping to EU, VAT, parts ec ec, then maybe it would be better to look local?
The below car must be very close to you :- ))
Hi, thanks for find, yes this is very close to me actually:-)
But the car in first post purchased in NY (it was already picked up by transport company, waiting for documents and container:-) looks soooo much better then this you posted - this looks like a total crap and will cost fortune to put to some decent condition.. And final cost of my car will be under €10k, hopefully, including repair of the damage (i purchased just quarter panel, we will fix bumper cover here). And i still hope it has 383 engine:-)
I will avoid VAT as i purchased it on my company..
Ok so i got Corvette in transporter warehouse with bunmch of new photos, the car looks lovely and i can´t wait for it:-)
But, i have last few days to order "cheap" parts from us with no shipping cost, i have ordered reae quarter panel and rear marker light so far, but i guess i will need also splash shield or maybe this "wheel well"..? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-Or...ehJSFpNV2mJ7Nk
,,,
