Do I need a donor car?
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Do I need a donor car?
Can you build an entire c3 corvette with new and/or reproduction parts?
Do I really need a donor car to do a restomod?
Can I get everything I need with new and/or reproduction parts?
Thanks
Do I really need a donor car to do a restomod?
Can I get everything I need with new and/or reproduction parts?
Thanks
Pro
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 728
Likes: 346
From: Smyrna, TN
What year are you wanting to build? Budget? Goal?
Do you have anything to start with? Body? Frame?
It is all the little parts you need that will eat your lunch if you don't have them...
It is always best to start with a complete car in the best condition you can find / afford, if you can, even if it is missing engine and trans...
Do you have anything to start with? Body? Frame?
It is all the little parts you need that will eat your lunch if you don't have them...
It is always best to start with a complete car in the best condition you can find / afford, if you can, even if it is missing engine and trans...
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I have nothing right now. My goal is to build is a custom C3 car with a frame that's 3" wider than a standard frame. So I will need a bunch of custom parts. I also want it to be electric, so yeah, don't need an engine or trans. I can throw a lot of cash at it but maybe not enough...? That's what I'm exploring. Good point about the little parts, so yeah, I guess a donor car makes sense there, but most of the thing will be useless to me. Sure I can sell them off but is it worth the trouble, or just buy what I need? Of course getting a donor will solve the title problem...
I want a bumper car look but also want to use the best parts from later models. I also want a retractable rear window, a breezeway window it's sometimes called.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
I want a bumper car look but also want to use the best parts from later models. I also want a retractable rear window, a breezeway window it's sometimes called.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 1,196
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
While most parts are available in the aftermarket including new and updated frames an entire body is not.
You can get most of the glass as parts but not a complete shell like you can for many steel cars like from Dynacom for the Mustang.
a donor car would not only give you many of the bits and pieces but could give you a solid body body to cut up to widen etc.
keep in mind there is a metal birdcage inside a corvette shell that would also need widening.
i recall seeing posts about someone who had used a c5 or 6 chassis and stretched a c3 body to fit. Was in australia and the had built a couple of them.
You can get most of the glass as parts but not a complete shell like you can for many steel cars like from Dynacom for the Mustang.
a donor car would not only give you many of the bits and pieces but could give you a solid body body to cut up to widen etc.
keep in mind there is a metal birdcage inside a corvette shell that would also need widening.
i recall seeing posts about someone who had used a c5 or 6 chassis and stretched a c3 body to fit. Was in australia and the had built a couple of them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 1,196
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 579
From: Pittsburgh PA
well the first thing would be- without a car how are you going to title/license it when its done?
second, yes i would say you need a car. all the small parts you are thinking about will nickel and dime you to death.
second, yes i would say you need a car. all the small parts you are thinking about will nickel and dime you to death.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
With the fit of most repro parts I can only imaging how bad the end product would be if it was all built from individual repro parts 
A guy I know did a camaro and they used repro doors and fenders, the body shop set the gaps correct from the quarters but when they put the hood on they found out one side of the car was over 1/2 longer than the other...
M
A guy I know did a camaro and they used repro doors and fenders, the body shop set the gaps correct from the quarters but when they put the hood on they found out one side of the car was over 1/2 longer than the other...
M
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I’m thinking of doing the windshield like the Aerovette, wedge-shaped with a sharp angle running down the middle.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
But I really appreciate everyone comments and assistance in this inquiry. You guys are the best.
Thanks again.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,095
Likes: 4,449
From: Marlton NJ
Donor car?
FYI Several of us have bought 6-12k complete but project cars. And then buying what we need to make it look new again I still spent 45k just in parts. Lots of "free" labor not included LOL. You could easily spend 5k freshening up the interior, 13k on the frame, 13k on the engine, 5k on a transmission, 2k on AC, and I am sure there will be 5k for all the little bits like a new wiring harness, 2K tires/wheels, and then there's paint, some say 10k there. There are quite a few parts that are not reproduced at all, but most of the common wear items are. The basic body shell and frame alone would save you a lot of time, even if you mod it up.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
FYI Several of us have bought 6-12k complete but project cars. And then buying what we need to make it look new again I still spent 45k just in parts. Lots of "free" labor not included LOL. You could easily spend 5k freshening up the interior, 13k on the frame, 13k on the engine, 5k on a transmission, 2k on AC, and I am sure there will be 5k for all the little bits like a new wiring harness, 2K tires/wheels, and then there's paint, some say 10k there. There are quite a few parts that are not reproduced at all, but most of the common wear items are. The basic body shell and frame alone would save you a lot of time, even if you mod it up.
From the discussion here I decided I need a donor. $12K for that. $20K for custom frame and bird cage. $3-5K for a Tesla 3 motor and components, plus all the other stuff you mentioned. A big expense will be the batteries. They are expensive enough as is, but for an EV conversion of a classic car you have to move the battery from the floor and split it into 2, 2/3 in the front and 1/3 in the back. The battery boxes will have to be custom made to fit the available spaces. It means double some components and double the cost. Plus the custom glass. and windshield. I might be better to spending the cash on something else, but I want to work it up just the same.
Thanks the the reply
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
But I feel like some in the thread, that donor is too nice to F with. What, a ‘71. I would like to get a good body off frame to cut-up, and some bits and bobs. Everything else will be custom/fab.