'76 Time Capsule
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,428
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From: Napa Valley California
Have judged many original low mileage Corvettes over the years from 2 digit to 3 digit mileage. The people who have this Corvette why would you have to totally remove and refinish the front and rear suspension? Along with many other items. Plus then do it totally incorrect with all the information from other sources and the the information available from a 16 mile car to do it correctly. What 16 mile car needs all 4 ball joints replaced? This is a very poor suspension restoration done by amateurs.
The Moog rubber kit I purchased included new ball joints, so why not!
The fact remains that if this car has only 16 original miles that it would have needed some work.
Done by amateurs or not, it’s still worth every penny they get and I would pay it for this car.
I’ll bet good money, that if I inspected your car, I could find numerous things that aren’t to my liking and could find poor quality parts or workmanship.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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I think it's a 16 mile car. Just overdone underneath....too clean if that's possible..
Taking this Vette down the road for the first time would really be something.
You would be the only person on earth driving a new '76 Corvette...
Taking this Vette down the road for the first time would really be something.
You would be the only person on earth driving a new '76 Corvette...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 756
From: Laporte, IN
Any 76 with all the original rubber would need it all replaced and why not replace the ball joints while you are in there.
The Moog rubber kit I purchased included new ball joints, so why not!
The fact remains that if this car has only 16 original miles that it would have needed some work.
Done by amateurs or not, it’s still worth every penny they get and I would pay it for this car.
I’ll bet good money, that if I inspected your car, I could find numerous things that aren’t to my liking and could find poor quality parts or workmanship.
The Moog rubber kit I purchased included new ball joints, so why not!
The fact remains that if this car has only 16 original miles that it would have needed some work.
Done by amateurs or not, it’s still worth every penny they get and I would pay it for this car.
I’ll bet good money, that if I inspected your car, I could find numerous things that aren’t to my liking and could find poor quality parts or workmanship.
Your assumption is incorrect what ball joint needs to be replaced at 16 miles. I have judged corvette with the same or a few miles more and the bushing and rubber were in acceptable condition. Zero deterioration with very slight cracks in them if any.
Last edited by PJO; Mar 23, 2023 at 01:02 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,428
Likes: 8,232
From: Napa Valley California
I would have no problem driving this car and getting a little dust and road dirt on the underside.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,428
Likes: 8,232
From: Napa Valley California
If I purchased a 16 mile 76 with the original rubber, I would replace it all, even if it looked perfect without any cracks.
I would also go through the brakes, replace the hoses, replace the tires, change the fluids, put it on the road and put some nice cruising miles on it.
It would never be judged by anyone except for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 756
From: Laporte, IN
Again that's your opinion. I am not assuming as I have judged/viewed hundreds of super low mileage Corvette over the years. Had a 1981 with 51 miles on it at Bloomington Gold a few years ago and all the rubber items were pristine. This is just a badly done restoration.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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The owner has spoken.
It's a real 16 mile car.
That's that...
I believe the leaky shock. My right front went bad under warranty...
It's a real 16 mile car.
That's that...
I believe the leaky shock. My right front went bad under warranty...
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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The story of this '76 might be unusual but it's not unheard of. A dealer here in Omaha did the same thing as this dealer in Kentucky.
Huber Chevrolet which is still in business had a new black '78 sitting on their showroom floor with a rope around it for at least 25 years. The last time I remember seeing it was at a C5 unveiling I was invited to, and I know it was still there in the early 2000's. There were two other things besides lack of mileage that stood out though...
First, it was the last '78 built. Second was it had '79 seats!
I've always wondered....did they run out of '78 seats? Was it the only one like it? Only the shadow knows...
I can't wait to see how this new/old '76 ends up. Watch party Friday at 1:00 central...
...
Huber Chevrolet which is still in business had a new black '78 sitting on their showroom floor with a rope around it for at least 25 years. The last time I remember seeing it was at a C5 unveiling I was invited to, and I know it was still there in the early 2000's. There were two other things besides lack of mileage that stood out though...
First, it was the last '78 built. Second was it had '79 seats!
I've always wondered....did they run out of '78 seats? Was it the only one like it? Only the shadow knows...
I can't wait to see how this new/old '76 ends up. Watch party Friday at 1:00 central...
...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 805
Likes: 260
Yeah....some say that.....others like me thing the rubber bumper Corvettes have the styling lines the car was meant to have......especially 80-82 when the length and aerodynamic styling was as sleek as a jet.
The whole "chrome bumper" nonsense and fanaticism is made up by people who own chrome bumper Corvettes who just love to hate the others. Not everyone sees it that way.
For me....I like them all, and don't exclude a group of cars over the nonsense about bumpers. As I say all the time.....the entire C3 generation is 90% the same car, with very minor cosmetic differences, and some power differences as a result of the federal government and their EPA nonsense.
The whole "chrome bumper" nonsense and fanaticism is made up by people who own chrome bumper Corvettes who just love to hate the others. Not everyone sees it that way.
For me....I like them all, and don't exclude a group of cars over the nonsense about bumpers. As I say all the time.....the entire C3 generation is 90% the same car, with very minor cosmetic differences, and some power differences as a result of the federal government and their EPA nonsense.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 805
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No squeeze no rattles just like it came from the factory.. The confidence I feel when I drive her is unmatched and I go on many long trips.. Another thing most people don’t realize is when you buy an original car is it’s an absolute pleasure to work on her , everything is in the right place and bubba has been there !! A lot of the haters say it’s only a 75 with no power, well let me tell ya, you keep on sinking money into ur “ chrome bumper car” that you will NEVER get back and I will keep driving my original maintenance free 75 that I payed half of what you got into yours..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 805
Likes: 260
It's not a fantasy about the power chrome bumper corvettes had back in the day no more than when the corvettes came out with fiberglass bumpers and had a whopping 220 hp I can be off a little there but their were no power options on those cars and were gutless wonders so that's why I like chrome bumper corvettes and I don't hate the others it's just not my cup of tea hell it takes at least 650 hp to even get me remotely excited .
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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And still get cooked like yesterday's dinner by a Tesla...
Grady, everything you said is spot on. I bought my '76 new when I was 18 and I'm at 78k on the clock now.
I've never had one single major repair in almost 47 years of ownership. Bubba? Who's that?...
There's two ways of buying these cars. Nice original or restored for more $$$. Or needing repair for less $$$...
Grady, everything you said is spot on. I bought my '76 new when I was 18 and I'm at 78k on the clock now.
I've never had one single major repair in almost 47 years of ownership. Bubba? Who's that?...
There's two ways of buying these cars. Nice original or restored for more $$$. Or needing repair for less $$$...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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SOLD! $40,454....but that was boring. No final shootout...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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