Is it possible to find a decent C 3 ( 1973 or about ) that hasn't Birdcage or chassis rust ? I've watched a few youTube videos and some of them are damn near impossible to recure ? and how to spot one, and a guy I know, Told me to find one and just open either door and let the door close on it own, If the door doesn't close properly then there is something not right about the hinges ?

 

 

Those that have been inside in museums, heated garages and in dry areas nowhere near any saltwater have a chance. But, after 50+ years, how likely is it that any of those are affordable.
If you are serious about finding one in decent condition and refurbing it, go searching for private owner cars that have been well cared for and in their possession for decades

 

I got one less than one year ago. garage queen, never driven in rain, never washed with water... It was not cheap. So yes, they exist, if you are willing to pay the cost they are worth

 

In the last 7 years I have bought 2 off CL in OR for under 5K. 74 and a 78 . Both drove , I didn't even know to look at the birdcages. The frames looked good at a glance. The bird cages were super nice everywhere. Ray

 

if you didn’t check birdcages, how is that supposed to be meaningful?
please be aware that car market before and after pandemic is VERY different

 

Most of the 68-80 cars I looked at had some rust-thru on the frame, but in my case the birdcage looked good.
Most Members advised me to remove the kick panels and hope for little rust so I got permission to do so. There was some rust, but no flakes falling down the channel onto the body bolts.
I took a chance and bought the car knowing a lot of body/frame work was needed.
I found the windshield frame had very light rust on the top corners which relieved my biggest concern since I was not afraid to do frame repairs, but had no idea how to do birdcage repairs.

I hope this helps you understand your situation.

 

Any car you look at tells you a story. That story may or may not jive with the story the seller is telling you. Do your homework. You should know what parts in good condition look like and what is obviously repainted trash. If the seller says the suspension was rebuilt but doesn’t have a dated receipt, look at the parts. Are they new or just painted over? These cars are 50 years old. Was the rebuild 30 years ago, or three years ago. Ask for paperwork and other records/restoration photos and any old parts that were saved etc. Check it against the story you are being told and what the car is telling you. Any car I look at that has zero provenance is assumed to be a polished turd.

If you show up to inspect a potential car armed with an inspection mirror, flashlight, magnifying glass, assorted probing tools, a floor Jack, a copy of the corvette black book and an old blanket to lay on the floor/ground and the seller gets upset or acts suspicious, simply walk away. Any honest seller I’ve ever dealt with appreciated my interest in seeing for myself just how good the car is/was advertised to be.

To the original question of severe rust, I’ve seen vettes with what appear to be nut and bolt restorations that retained the original frame where the frame was probably 30% lighter due to corrosion losses but reused because it was more important to the owner restorer that the original frame be retained than it was to be safe and roadworthy. Buyer beware and good luck.

 

i don’t know, this forum always seems detached from real world pricing to me. it is as if people we stuck to 20yrs old car market

https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-to...ette-1968-1982

 

My 70, was purchased new by my father.
He drove it year round and put snow tires on it during the winter here in the Northeast , even had studded snows for a couple of years.
After or during a snowstorm, when he came home from work, he would fire up the old kerosene bullet heater in the garage and rinse it down real good , after we had dinner.
This routine/ procedure seems to have saved both my frame and birdcage. (I don't think they used as much salt as they do now)
My friend has a 69 vert, he purchased in 79 and never drove in winter,, car looks mint from the exterior
Birdcage is shot, and he has attempted some repairs (windshield frame) , but without removing the nose and replacing the entire birdcage it's an ongoing issue.
Frame repair or replacement is one thing, but to replace the birdcage, you pretty much have to disassemble the whole car.

 

Yes it does, and I think that nothing will be the same as before Covid, the market for Corvettes is out of reality, even FB and CL. And even new are still hovering around $75.000, but the drawback with the birdcage is you need to remove virtually everything inside and even a lot of the fiberglass. I will keep looking, but Voidusa says is it is a cost issue and I would be inclined to believe.

Thank you !

 

imm new member of this community, don’t take my word for it. listen to all ideas and make your own. i was VERY lucky with my c3, unbelievably so, but i paid $$$ for it.

 

I have a one owner prior to me calif garage kept car never in snow, very little rain and not a spec of rust anywere that I'd like to sell.
But it aint cheap. If your interested contact me. Its in the classifieds.