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A friend of mine’s daughters were given a Corvette by their grandfather when he passed away. Now they both can’t drive it at once and neither truly have the money to restore it. I’m helping them decide what it’s worth and trying to see if I can afford to buy it for myself and work on it as time and money allows. When I was first asked about it, their mom gave me a VIN which I checked and it came back to just a base 350 car. The Corvette has 454 emblems on the hood, so I popped it open, and holy hell, it is a big block in it. After doing some research, I finally go pull the VIN off the pillar myself and I’ll be damned, it is a Z code big block car. I still haven’t made sure it’s the original engine, but from the looks of the engine bay, I’m betting it is. It is an auto car, but just easier to drive. It does have factory A/C, power windows, tilt/telescoping wheel, luggage rack and power steering. When we thought it was just a base car, I had told them maybe $5-6000, if we could get it running and driving. It does need a nose and there are a few kinda rough spots in the body, but no huge repairs. The interior looks super nice and clean. It does have some non original parts, it has an aluminum radiator with electric fans, it has an Edelbrock Q-jet carb, and needs a battery. The A/C parts are all there but the belt, so I’m sure it’s not functional. I could hear a grind, sounds like a rear wheel bearing while we were moving it on the dolly. I have not tried starting it yet, but I know it was running last summer. I have kind of an idea on a value, but am looking for advice just so no one gets screwed.
that 454 is nothing special. truck motor. body beat. bad paint. mismatched interior parts. neglect under hood is gonna be repeated everywhere. front bumper flapping in the breeze. frame and bird cage will say whether it is 7 or 8k tops or a parts car. the money to restore it? this is not a car one pays to restore.
The car is well worth restoring. In case anyone hasn't noticed,....they are not making C3 Corvettes new any more. The "value" of a restored C3 is not only determined in dollars. But,......I don't value everything in life based on dollar bills. Most people do, unfortunately. So, I suppose if what you care about is the "dollar" value of this car,.....it will need alot of work and money to make it a nice car, probably more than you can sell it for, assuming that is what you care about. This nonsense that a C3 Corvette is a good "investment" comes from people who have never restored a C3 Corvette. This car should be restored because they all should be restored....IMO. But you have to want to, and you have to enjoy it. It's got nothing to do with dollars.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; May 1, 2022 at 05:30 AM.
If I get it, I probably wont “restore” it, but would make it road worthy and a nice driver. I’m not exactly all about 100% original at all. I have a 71 Camaro that was a 307/350 car originally, but the original owner raced it from 71-95. It now has a 468/400 combo in it and it is way more fun to drive. The Corvette would probably be the same way, make it road worthy, look decent and just do cruise ins and the such, not worry about winning big shows. As the girls are friends, I just want to make sure and not screw them by offering way under what they might be able to sell it for. I’m sure I will get somewhat of a break on it, since I helped them go get it, but I don’t want to take advantage much either.
that 454 is nothing special. truck motor. body beat. bad paint. mismatched interior parts. neglect under hood is gonna be repeated everywhere. front bumper flapping in the breeze. frame and bird cage will say whether it is 7 or 8k tops or a parts car. the money to restore it? this is not a car one pays to restore.
I did not know GM put truck motor 454s in corvettes,
I think your offer of $5-6k is generous unlessit has frame and or birdcage issues and in that case I would not touch it. 1973s don’t bring a lot of money in GOOD condition.
I did not know GM put truck motor 454s in corvettes,
they stopped making car 454's with the LS5. and the LS5 was borderline. what i meant was it is a nothing special engine except that it is large. low compression, mild cam. and LS4 is the RPO code for a 454 in a 73-up truck.
Last edited by derekderek; May 1, 2022 at 04:03 PM.
like i said. if frame and bird cage do not need welding and it is driveable, it looks like a 7 or 8 k car tops. if you paid em 5 and put it up here, that is about what you would get. some light reading. roll down to post 107. read rule 5. shows you what to look for and where to look. by drivable i mean the big stuff is reported to be good. not ready to drop it in gear. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...orvette-6.html
73 LS4 values
