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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by Cam33
..i do own one a 70 350/350 4speed project that I have been working on and will be selling soon . My first and last vette I will own . Back to the good old reliable muscle cars .This car is a train wreck to work on and a total debacle, I’m just being honest.and not convincing myself they were good cars They were built with no planning whatsoever. You can’t even do a simple break job bleed…C”Mon there junk but they look good
If you cant wotk on a corvette, you cant work on a muscle car.....the only hard part about a vette is getting under the dash. You obviously arent a mechanic or a builder, just an assembler. If you cant bleed the brakes you should have bought a power bleeder.
I personally wish the panels were bolt on, not glued on, but thats my only gripe.
Good luck in your endeavors
I in the mean time will be getting this working....
Mr. Duntov only provided concept ideas. Chevrolet & Corvette Engineering folks did the detailed designs. Duntov probably "signed off" on the substantive areas of the design. He provided NO input regarding reliability or the ability to perform needed maintenance and repair on these cars.
When designed, the "effective life" of these cars was 5 years. And here they are 60+ years later still running. What more can you ask for.
All american cars were based on "planned obsolescence ". Then Honda and toyota broke into the US market in the late 70s....
Always funny when people tell me that cars were made to last forever back in the “good old days.” There’s definitely pieces that are meant to be serviced rather than replaced, and working on it is a little bit easier than on modern cars most of the time, but they were definitely made with profit margins in mind. That being said I don’t mind the quirks like the brakes or vacuum systems, because the reward is driving a beautiful car.
Mr. Duntov only provided concept ideas. Chevrolet & Corvette Engineering folks did the detailed designs. Duntov probably "signed off" on the substantive areas of the design. He provided NO input regarding reliability or the ability to perform needed maintenance and repair on these cars.
When designed, the "effective life" of these cars was 5 years. And here they are 60+ years later still running. What more can you ask for.
(This is a really tough crowd!!!!)
First I have heard of this 5 year effective life. Sounds like BS to me. Anyone got a reference to back that up?
Also, doubting Duntov thought to himself...ya lemme design a sexy looking POS so I can make millions....yet it becomes the most iconic American sports car....something ain't right there. Pretty sure that was not the mindset. Seems to me it came more from automobile passion.
If you cant wotk on a corvette, you cant work on a muscle car.....the only hard part about a vette is getting under the dash. You obviously arent a mechanic or a builder, just an assembler. If you cant bleed the brakes you should have bought a power bleeder.
I personally wish the panels were bolt on, not glued on, but thats my only gripe.
Good luck in your endeavors
I in the mean time will be getting this working....
I tend to fall in this camp. I don't find them all that more difficult than other cars of the era. Sure the vac system can be wonky. I love working on mine.
Besides...the vette had no trunk for the beer and no back seat for fun. Alan struck out with the prom queen...
Back in "those days' I had a C1, then a C-2. Where there's a will, there's a way! Guess it's no longer possible for me - the "equipment" still works, but if I tried some of the body contortions involved I'd probably break in half.
Well, it's not B.S. I worked for GM for 40 years and grew up in the 50's - 60's era. In that period, cars were utilitarian and most started to show significant rust after 5 years. People who bought new cars, sold them after 1-2 years, then bought another new one. "Old" cars were no more than 10 years old. It was different than what is happening today....just like everything else!!!
Well, it's not B.S. I worked for GM for 40 years and grew up in the 50's - 60's era. In that period, cars were utilitarian and most started to show significant rust after 5 years. People who bought new cars, sold them after 1-2 years, then bought another new one. "Old" cars were no more than 10 years old. It was different than what is happening today....just like everything else!!!
I might be just a shade "younger" than you...or not...so I get all you are saying in general. My first car was a 68 Chevy BelAir wagon..rusted to chit...engine might be still going til I bent a rod in a January New England night.. What I am challenging is that the specific comment that the C3 vette was INTENTIONALLY designed for a 5 year effective life. Anybody?
Mosr American cars were designed to have a ten year lifespan. Without overdrive transmissions they were considered junk when the odometer rolled over at one hundred thousand miles. My parents bought a new Charger R/T SE in 1970, The first time i noticed a rust bubble on the car was 1979. The car was driven year round in the New England rustbelt. Corvettes were more of a seasonal car. Rarely was one seen out driving in the snow.
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
Originally Posted by 72 Steel Cities 454
My parents bought a new Charger R/T SE in 1970, The first time i noticed a rust bubble on the car was 1979. The car was driven year round in the New England rustbelt.
I bought a new Camry in '87 that had rust repair done under warranty when it was 4 years old..
Mosr American cars were designed to have a ten year lifespan. Without overdrive transmissions they were considered junk when the odometer rolled over at one hundred thousand miles. My parents bought a new Charger R/T SE in 1970, The first time i noticed a rust bubble on the car was 1979. The car was driven year round in the New England rustbelt.
Back in those days I used to roughly equate 1,000 miles as a human year. By the time a car reached 70,000 it was getting old, and by the time it rolled over it was like living to 100.
Corvettes were more of a seasonal car. Rarely was one seen out driving in the snow.
Not necessarily. At age 18, my '59 was my DD and I couldn't afford a beater, so it was recap snow tires and press on regardless. After getting a '67BB in 1968, I drove a Corvair for 1 winter but then next winter drove the 427 all winter. And I certainly wasn't the only one, they were just cars back then.
I love the period pictures of cars thread. It shows when these cars were brand new nobody was concerned about their collectability or rarity, they were just cars, that you drove every day.
I drove my 69 every day in CT, it handled fine in snow with good tires and experience. I did so because it was a 69, very common at the time and a $3000 car all day long. A good driver, turn the key and go. I didn't drive my 67 or 72 in the snow though. I enjoyed the 69 the most because I didn't care.
Guess it's no longer possible for me - the "equipment" still works, but if I tried some of the body contortions involved I'd probably break in half. 
