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There is a 1970 that I’m looking to buy. All the gaps in the car look fine except for the two main doors which have a bit of a weird gap. Does that look like a something concerning?
Rookie guess: the chrome trim along the rear edge of the hood is missing. When installed it makes the hood rear edge appear to be level with the top of the door edges. You can barely see the chrome trim in the pic below........
Other than the trim. If your wondering about the vertical gap. None of them are perfect. These are hand assembled fibreglass cars. The fit and finish was awful. Some cars are better than others, but what I see looks pretty normal.
Other than the trim. If your wondering about the vertical gap. None of them are perfect. These are hand assembled fiberglass cars. The fit and finish was awful. Some cars are better than others, but what I see looks pretty normal.
I agree. My wife owned 2 C-3s, in the past, a '76 and a '79. Both were bought brand new, and sadly, to say that the "fit and finish" on them was acceptable, was quite a stretch.....
I agree. My wife owned 2 C-3s, in the past, a '76 and a '79. Both were bought brand new, and sadly, to say that the "fit and finish" on them was acceptable, was quite a stretch.....
fit and finish from the factory were horrible. They were assembled by hand and sent down the line. Your gaps look normal for the time period. My 1 owner car was never hit and hood gap looks like this . I would be cautious if all the gaps were perfect.. hope that helps
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I bought mine new, it's never been hit & the paint is factory.
This gap looked the same the day I took delivery. The door still just clicks shut, so I've never messed with it...
I have two of the same year , white and black , black cars get the better bodies I’m convinced and I had a buddy long time GM employee say the same thing , my white is a low mile no hit car factory paint and the gaps are terrible , my black is a no hit high mile original and the gaps are perfection, cars are two months apart . Some bodies don’t come out of the mold correctly and they get painted colors that don’t show off the body lines like black does . Strictly my opinion
There is a 1970 that I’m looking to buy. All the gaps in the car look fine except for the two main doors which have a bit of a weird gap. Does that look like a something concerning?
The gaps you show are of minimal concern. C3s have heavy doors, especially after the steel crash bar was designed in after '73 (?) - their long length and cantilever effect exacerbates the issue. The weight wears on the hinge pins and bearing sleeves. This car may be merely showing the wear in the upper hinge. The way to check is to open the door to various degrees and lift up; a worn hinge pin/sleeve will have movement that you can feel (and it's possible you may hear a clunking sound – though these don't look that sloppy). Replacing the pin and sleeve is pretty easy and quite inexpensive.
Last edited by barkingrats; Sep 24, 2022 at 08:13 PM.
Reason: added an important word!
I have two of the same year , white and black , black cars get the better bodies I’m convinced and I had a buddy long time GM employee say the same thing , my white is a low mile no hit car factory paint and the gaps are terrible , my black is a no hit high mile original and the gaps are perfection, cars are two months apart . Some bodies don’t come out of the mold correctly and they get painted colors that don’t show off the body lines like black does . Strictly my opinion
Rookie guess: the chrome trim along the rear edge of the hood is missing. When installed it makes the hood rear edge appear to be level with the top of the door edges. You can barely see the chrome trim in the pic below........
Wait for experienced members to advise you
the trim is there but was painted black smh. I intent to remove all the black paint and go back to the chrome.
A black, or dark colored car, would better disguise large gaps because gaps are black, the lighter the paint color the more noticeable the gaps. If there is any truth to that, you have it backwards.
A black, or dark colored car, would better disguise large gaps because gaps are black, the lighter the paint color the more noticeable the gaps. If there is any truth to that, you have it backwards.
I say you're correct, dark paint hides bad gaps but makes bad body work more noticeable where as lighter colors hide bad body work but make bad gaps more noticeable.
You can always pay an experienced corvette speciality paint and body shop to make the gaps and seams perfect.
It will cost a ton of $100.00 bills, but it can be done.
A black, or dark colored car, would better disguise large gaps because gaps are black, the lighter the paint color the more noticeable the gaps. If there is any truth to that, you have it backwards.
How many bad bodies have you seen with good gaps ? You won't either because the two go hand in hand , bad bodies have bad gaps , there's no adjustment that will ever make my door gaps fit on my white colored Vette because that's how it came out of the mold while the better black body just happens to have perfect gaps every where , not just the doors to door pillars , just 8 weeks apart between the two .
Door gap question
