I'm finally in the market for a sports car and have always loved Corvettes. I have my eye on my neighbors car who is thinking about selling. I've looked at it acouple of times and had a corvette knowledgable friend check it out. So I'd like to know if this is a decent car for the price. Owner wants $20k and I don't think he will negociate. So between the owner and my friend here is what I have learned:
1. 1971 Coupe, 56k miles, 350/270 hp, Turbo 400 auto, PS, PB, PW, tilt, custom interior
2. Car runs good, wipers and headlights work fine
3. Matching numbers on block and tranny
4. My friend says the frame and birdcage look good
Now heres my rub
1. Not original paint - was ontario orange, repainted sunflower yellow, side pipes (look cool but loud)
2. Owner believes the seats were recovered in vinyl, not leather by a previous owner
3. Owner says the alternator and carb were replaced with Delco and Rochester appropriate ones, whatever that means
4. Owner believes that the 71 hood was replaced by a previous owner with a 69 hood because of some (3) hood insulation pins
5. There is paint chip near the passenger head light about an inch long and frint bumper looks like it pushed in about a quarter inch

Anyway, I'm on the fence thinking the owner is asking too for this car.
Larry

 

you were afraid owner is asking too what for this car? it is NOT overpriced. if you don't want it, many on here will happily give him 20k for it. assuming frame and cage are good as stated. interior pics?

 

Hagerty values this Vette in #3 good condition at $21,400. #2 excellent $46,200.

Jump over the fence with your checkbook.

 

looks better than my car did when I got it for $19K

 

Wrong paint, hood, interior and added on sidepipes? What does the rear valence section look like… glassed in?

I can see someone paying $20k if they really love the paint color but I wouldnt jump over any fences for it.

 

Interior pics. Inside door panels look like they need to be replaced.

 

Hi Larry, welcome to the forum!! Lots of knowledgeable, helpful people in here. From the few pics you have here are some thoughts:

• Engine code checks out for a '71 base 350/270. Looks like the rest of the engine pad matches the VIN, you likely have the born with engine.
• The few pick from underneath look really good.
• Lots of options, including A/C

Here are some comments on the items you mentioned:
1. Not original paint - was ontario orange, repainted sunflower yellow. Ontario orange is a great color. But - from the pics - the current paint looks good and I personally like the yellow. There is some over spray I see, but that's fixable.
side pipes (look cool but loud) I don't think side exhaust (N14) was an option in '71, but they're cool and expensive. Not too hard to go back to stock if you wanted (rear valance, etc.). Loud? Ear of the beholder.
2. Owner believes the seats were recovered in vinyl, not leather by a previous owner Meh. And from the interior pics you just loaded, the interior looks very nice. Door panels don't need replacing IMO - window felts are available and it's 50 years old.
3. Owner says the alternator and carb were replaced with Delco and Rochester appropriate ones, whatever that means Wouldn't worry about it. Does it run well? A lot of these items are available if you want/need.
4. Owner believes that the 71 hood was replaced by a previous owner with a 69 hood because of some (3) hood insulation pins Doesn't make sense to me.
5. There is paint chip near the passenger head light about an inch long and frint bumper looks like it pushed in about a quarter inch If no real body damage, easily fixed

Anyway, I'm on the fence thinking the owner is asking too for this car. As others have stated, if the frame/cage check out and it runs decent, this is a good deal. Automatic? generally not as desirable as a stick, but that's up to you - some prefer the auto. You'll need to spend some $ along the way - just the nature of owning a 50 year old car. But a bumper car in good shape for $20k? If you like the car I would write the check. If you don't want it, the owner should list it in the C3 FS section. AND....if you don't like the color (or the auto), take a pass. It will cost $10-15k+ to get it painted. Best, Paul

 

That's what I was thinking, so much wrong with the car from an originality standpoint. I do have a pic of the rear end. It looks normal to me. I can ask the owner if he knows where the original valance is. I was thinking if I buy it I'd put regular exhaust on it.

 

Paul, Thank you for the thoughtful reponse. I was thinking some of these items were a way for me to negociate. I did check with the owner about the alternator and carb. The owner said the alternator must have been replaced by a previous owner and is a Delco 55 amp equivalent. He said it doesn't have the original 71 Delco part number. The carb is a Rochester Quadajet and is correct for the car, but not the one that came with the car. He said something about a missing solenoid that keeps idle up when the AC is on. Not sure what that means or even if its important. But if its supposed to be there I'd like to be sure.

Edit: I actually like the color, was hoping it was an original color. I also have to have an automatic, wife and health issues mean no clutch for me or her.

 

Hey Larry, you're most welcome. I agree with the attempts to negotiate. Since the car is the not the factory color, I wouldn't worry about the original alternator unless you really want to (they can be found). On the carb, if it's supposed to have a QJ with a solenoid for the A/C, that is definitely a point of negotiation - you'll want that. Those carbs are available, and we have a QJ expert as a member of the forum (Lars) who rebuilds them if needed.

If it were me, if I didn't like the color or the auto, I'd pass. If I like the color and was good with or preferred the auto, I'd strongly consider it. Keep us informed! Paul

PS: just saw your edit on the color and auto. Looks like you may want to seriously consider!!

 

Get the owner to meet you halfway on the cost of a 5-speed swap ($5K minimum). At $17,500, it would be worth jumping a fence for.

 

Here is the damage I was talking about. I looked underneath and the front looks ok to me but I'd feel better if my buddy checks it out. The car starts up and runs


great, but loud, and handles good.

 

I probably won't do that, but I like your price better. That's the price I had in mind.

 

Here's my cut on all this, the car is worth $20K if it presents itself in person the same way as the pictures indicates. You like $17.5K but don't like $20K, that's a difference of $2,500, I would never walk away from a chrome bumper Vette I wanted if it was the right car for me over $2,500. These cars are getting hard to find and good examples are far and few between.

 

That's a good looking C3

 

That's good advice. I was wondering if the car was really worth $20K. As a newby I didn't know if the owner was pricing it too high just to make a killing on me. I'll ask him if I can take it for another spin on the highway, if I like it it I'll make him an offer.

 

This.
And at this price point, you're more likely to find a basket case. This does not seem to be the case here, someone will certainly pay 20k for that car. That said, if the color is an issue, probably best to pass. Between the cost of a repaint and other repair/upgrades, you'll be north of 35k. If I were going to spend that, I'd probably be more apt to find a car that's already done.

 

Being a newby can mean a lot of things, have you gotten a sense of pricing yet? That can be tricky. Unless there are serious frame/birdcage issues, that price is not bad. As I mentioned, you could easily spend 20k on a car that is a complete disaster. When you take it out, pay attention to how well the car brakes. Make sure to check the operation of vacuum operated devices... hide away headlamps, the shroud that conceals the windshield wipers.
If you're serous about this car, to the point that you want to make an offer, I would strongly suggest getting an inspection by an individual who is intimately knowledgeable with the unique nuances of these cars. You will not regret that move. Best of luck.

 

Good thoughts, this car is not a basket case by any stretch. It runs good, everything works, well I say everything except the clock. But the radio, horn, headlights, actually all the lights, wipers, AC, tilt, PW, PS and PB all work as they should.

The re-paint job looks good and shiny up close, except for the chip above the headlight door. I guess for a 50 year old car it looks pretty darn good. My buddy who is pretty knowledgeable about these cars kept telling about all the things that aren't orignial. I guess you'd call him a purist. I think the owner is a purist as well because he would keep pointing things out. He was not happy with the interior and says he's looking for another corvette project. Kept referencing a 69 he has his eye on. I'm guessing he needs a certain amount out of this car to fund his next one, but that's just a guess.

I appreciate all the excellent input.

 

How much could you possibly lose if you buy this, drive it for the summer, and want to sell it? Show us another car for $20 in this condition - with A/C and PS that works and original engine.
Somebody is going to buy this from under your nose. .Its driving season now.