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Hello all, I'm looking at a 73convertable with 78xxxmiles. It had a frame replacement in 1992 as well as an engine rebuild in the same year. The seller says it needs a clutch and the power windows aren't working (seller assumes they're rusted). Other than that I know little about it and will be looking at it in a couple days.
Can you give advice on what to ask/lookout for? And if $15,500us is a good price?
350ci 4spd
Just looking at the pics I’d say this one was rode hard and put away wet. IMO, priced 2x-3x what it should be.
Before you look any farther, I would strongly encourage you to read up on these cars. There are many, many posts in this forum on specifics of what to look for. Rust, specifically the frames and the “birdcage”, are always high on anyone’s list. Just because the frame was replaced in 1992 is no guarantee it is in better shape than if the original was still underneath.
The fact that the frame was replaced is a strong indicator that the car was heavily damaged at some point in its life. If you don’t know anything about these cars, you are at a massive disadvantage. Often, there are more problems with a shoddy repair than if you can actually see the damage that occurred. It’s 49 years old and looks to have had a rough life. The list of what to be looking for would take up many pages, covering just about every aspect of the car.
What are you looking for in a C3? A driver? A restoration project? An investment?
Look at the C3s for sale forum. Lots of choices and you can get a better feel for what else is out there.
Thank you all for your replies, I will still go take a look but I am less likely to pull the trigger on this one.
thanks again to all.
Barret
Smart move, look but leave wallet and checkbook in your car! Not worth by looking at pictures the aggravation you will have getting to be trust worthy Corvette.
Go look at the cheap ones close to home. Not to consider. More like sitting in front of a methadone clinic to see what you do NOT want in a wife. And look at ones that are more expensive than you can spend. It is far better to regret the one you passed on 6 months ago than to regret having to look at that POS in the garage you now wish you had passed on.
Roll down to post 107. Read. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...orvette-6.html This is a good descriptor of the rust issues you need to avoid. That 73 may have a good birdcage in it and if frame was done right it might be worth 10. The thing I don’t like about the car is the front bumper is missing. Which means the owner did not spend a nickel on it since the front bumper started coming apart. So there’s going to be a bunch of other things also need attention. The power windows don’t work? It might just be that they need to be taken apart and greased. But they could also be way worse than that. For the most part the components in these cars are pretty much repairable. But you have to know how and you have to be willing to do your homework on figuring out how. And the way the car was put together it’s somewhat of a compromise so a whole lot of things that are fairly easy to repair are very difficult to get to in order to actually do the repair.
Roll down to post 107. Read. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...orvette-6.html This is a good descriptor of the rust issues you need to avoid. That 73 may have a good birdcage in it and if frame was done right it might be worth 10. The thing I don’t like about the car is the front bumper is missing. Which means the owner did not spend a nickel on it since the front bumper started coming apart. So there’s going to be a bunch of other things also need attention. The power windows don’t work? It might just be that they need to be taken apart and greased. But they could also be way worse than that. For the most part the components in these cars are pretty much repairable. But you have to know how and you have to be willing to do your homework on figuring out how. And the way the car was put together it’s somewhat of a compromise so a whole lot of things that are fairly easy to repair are very difficult to get to in order to actually do the repair.
Thank you for this, great points. I did ask if the frame was repaired properly (at a professional shop) and if the body mounts were done and he said yes. I was told the work was done at Coast Corvette in California, (their website looks professional but does anyone have a report?)
this work was done in 1992 and that's the same year as the engine was rebuilt so I am hoping they did that as well and it wasn't done in someone's backyard garage. I am told he has invoices for all of it.
I have always been a fan of chrome bumper C3s and where I live you never see them for under $20+
I do have a fellow experienced car builder coming to look at it with me so I will let everyone know how it goes and I will probably have more questions after seeing it as well.
Unless you like doing resto work buy as best of condition as you can afford. Resto work is not easy and you'll end up spending a lot more than if it was in good shape to start with.
Don't worry you'll still have plenty of things to fix even on a good one.
What state are you in? If you’re on the west coast, C3 pricing is higher than you would expect to pay elsewhere in the US. If the 5th digit in the VIN is a T then it’s a L82 engine car. It’s nice that it has a Four speed, A/C, PW, PB, convertible as they are all good options but condition is everything on these cars. The asking price is too high for the condition showing in the pics.
If you go look takes lots of photos.....It never hurts to look at as many as you can. Post those photos here and ask for advice about what is shown. I looked at 5 or 6 in person and many others via photos.
If you go look takes lots of photos.....It never hurts to look at as many as you can. Post those photos here and ask for advice about what is shown. I looked at 5 or 6 in person and many others via photos.
I've been talking with the seller and he tells me that he bought the car in 83, drive it for 10yrs then sent it to the shop for a replacement frame and birdcage (rust issues) he also put in a new rad, body mounts, and a rebuilt 350ci and the original is on a stand and comes with it. Since the work (1992) the car has been sitting in a non-heated garage where he started it 3-4 times per year and only put on 7000miles since (shop invoices to confirm) All of this sounds good to me. The bad is that it has a couple chips and the passenger door is delaminating. I know it's not worth the asking price but I do think it's a solid start.
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1st C3 purchase advice please.
