77 Vette all original needs interior how much?
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 76
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From: Crisfield Maryland
77 Vette all original needs interior how much?
I'm looking at purchasing a nice looking dark blue C3, all original, nice exterior with minor work. 350 engine, automatic, with 69,024 original miles. It needs pretty much the entire interior redone. I have pics (leave email). What would be a good price for me to buy this car?
The guy is asking around ~$6000
Thanks
The guy is asking around ~$6000
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by CfieldVette
I'm looking at purchasing a nice looking dark blue C3, all original, nice exterior with minor work. 350 engine, automatic, with 69,024 original miles. It needs pretty much the entire interior redone. I have pics (leave email). What would be a good price for me to buy this car?
The guy is asking around ~$6000
Thanks
The guy is asking around ~$6000
Thanks
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
From: The Villages FL
Interior Price
I just ordered interior pieces for a 1979 complete interior. Most of the pieces were no longer usable, so I ordered just about everything in the catalog. We didn't, unfortunately, track prices for the project, but I would guess 2-3K for seat covers, door panels, carpet and some plastic pieces. A full interior restoration probably runs 5-6 thousand.
Spike
Spike
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 76
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From: Crisfield Maryland
details
These are the details about what the car needs:
battery, master break cylinder, brakes bleed down, tune up, tires, interior, (has 2 seats and luggage rag - needs re-chrome), chip of paint off nose, drivers side door linkage broke opens only inside.
I'm really thinking no more than $5500, hmm?
battery, master break cylinder, brakes bleed down, tune up, tires, interior, (has 2 seats and luggage rag - needs re-chrome), chip of paint off nose, drivers side door linkage broke opens only inside.
I'm really thinking no more than $5500, hmm?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,007
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From: Shoshone Idaho
I would look at the frame for rust and body for damage, fluid leaks and that kind of stuff. You can always fix the other suff later 
Seats that old.....sooner or later need to be redone anyways.
It sounds like the condition mine was in when I bought it a couple of years ago. I paid $6000 for mine, and have not looked back
Don't forget that the vettes in very good condition cost more then 6k, and besides what fun they are to fix up
Seats that old.....sooner or later need to be redone anyways.It sounds like the condition mine was in when I bought it a couple of years ago. I paid $6000 for mine, and have not looked back
Don't forget that the vettes in very good condition cost more then 6k, and besides what fun they are to fix up
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
It is always cheaper to buy the nicest car you can as opposed to fixing one up. thats just the reality of it.... now having said that i always buy basket cases for the challenge....make sure you know what you are getting especially with rust on the frame and the condition of the rear trailing arms and bearings, not to mention the steering gear box. have you driven this yet? sounds like it is not driveable....you need to have a big buffer built in if you have not taken it out at highway speeds
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by CfieldVette
These are the details about what the car needs:
battery, master break cylinder, brakes bleed down, tune up, tires, interior, (has 2 seats and luggage rag - needs re-chrome), chip of paint off nose, drivers side door linkage broke opens only inside.
I'm really thinking no more than $5500, hmm?
battery, master break cylinder, brakes bleed down, tune up, tires, interior, (has 2 seats and luggage rag - needs re-chrome), chip of paint off nose, drivers side door linkage broke opens only inside.
I'm really thinking no more than $5500, hmm?
Door linkages $100 minimum (includes clips etc)
Battery $50
Master Cylinder $40
Setup Brakes (for a shop) at least 2 hours labour = $140
Tune up for a shop at least 3 hours labour $210
Tires $500
Interior at least $2000 if you can salvage dash and repaint consoles (Door panels $400, Carpet $150, Seats $800, Centre console $120, Park Brake Console $80, Window trim $200 etc etc). If you take this to a shop then expext at least $500 in labour.
Luggage rack $250
Paint Touch Up $400 minimum and maybe more like $1200
So there are some numbers. $6000 is too much for a very easy to find car.
Also before you buy it drive it. Does it drive and stop OK? If not then maybe you should re-consider?
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
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From: Birmingham AL
The trick, be realistic. Whip out a spreadsheet and open a browser to an online catalog and start adding items from your spreadsheet to the shopping cart. Then press "check out" and get the sticker shock NOW (of course without actually buying the order!) 
Then start from the price you think it's worth when you're done and work backwards. Give it some margin for what your time's worth and there you have your offer price. I paid $6k for mine last year but the major mechanical systems that usually break were refurb'ed or replaced in the course of the person before me doing the resto and it was #'s matching, never hit, straight frame, no rust out spots. Mine needs limited interior work but must have a complete paint job which I plan to do myself to keep from blowing the budget and still leave a profit margin if I do sell it.
If was a #'s matching car as well which leaves you a wider audience for your resto price target than if you didn't. A non-#'s matching, well restored '77 Vette should be a final price somewhere in the $11-12K IMHO. But this means WELL restored, no 10 ft paint job or roached parts on the vehicle. #'s matching rebuilt engine, etc might fetch $1-2k more....of course just my opinion.
Then start from the price you think it's worth when you're done and work backwards. Give it some margin for what your time's worth and there you have your offer price. I paid $6k for mine last year but the major mechanical systems that usually break were refurb'ed or replaced in the course of the person before me doing the resto and it was #'s matching, never hit, straight frame, no rust out spots. Mine needs limited interior work but must have a complete paint job which I plan to do myself to keep from blowing the budget and still leave a profit margin if I do sell it.
If was a #'s matching car as well which leaves you a wider audience for your resto price target than if you didn't. A non-#'s matching, well restored '77 Vette should be a final price somewhere in the $11-12K IMHO. But this means WELL restored, no 10 ft paint job or roached parts on the vehicle. #'s matching rebuilt engine, etc might fetch $1-2k more....of course just my opinion.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Greenback TN
If you think it is a good deal then go for it. I am almost finished restoring the interior of my 77 to the tune of 4 months and about $2800...so far.
I have replaced the entire dash, center console, storage compartments, carpet, Heater controller, all vac lines, temp gauge, a few electrical gremlins, and the door panels are on order. All but two of the plastic trim pieces were in reasonable shape and I was able to restore them myself.
Warning. This thing can get away from you. Mine started with putting in a new head unit, then noticed the carpet was falling apart, then noticed this, that, and the other.
I have replaced the entire dash, center console, storage compartments, carpet, Heater controller, all vac lines, temp gauge, a few electrical gremlins, and the door panels are on order. All but two of the plastic trim pieces were in reasonable shape and I was able to restore them myself.
Warning. This thing can get away from you. Mine started with putting in a new head unit, then noticed the carpet was falling apart, then noticed this, that, and the other.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 76
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From: Crisfield Maryland
Transmission
Have any of you guys converted auto to manual? I'm looking at how much it has cost anyone - if there is anything I have overlooked.
The car is drivable btw, runs well. I'm thinking I don't want to get into too much work for myself, even though I can do a lot myself. Maybe I should just get a restored C3 for a higher price...
The car is drivable btw, runs well. I'm thinking I don't want to get into too much work for myself, even though I can do a lot myself. Maybe I should just get a restored C3 for a higher price...
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 40
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From: Ormond Beach Fl
I just ordered & received the interior for my 81',paid $1841 to the door.Leather seat covers,set of 4" foam,door panels,arm rests,full carpet set,insulation kit,dash overlay(all I can afford now),other misc BS.The rest of the interior will be painted.I still have to get a paint job,& pull the 383 & go through it.I paid $3500 for it & I'm sure I'll have 8-9 in it by the time I'm done.When I bought it I thought I got a hell of a deal,not so sure now.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Sometimes I wonder... why is that frisbee getting bigger? Then it hits me.
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Considering what it needs I would say that is a bit high, I paid 6 for mine and it has all new suspension, new frame, Interior was half done with all the rugs and other small things. The seats were in pretty good shape (needed minor repairs) and everything else is there on my ride and just needs freshening up.
Also mine had an LT1 and ZF6 with a new set of 3:73 gears.
But it needs a paint job, wiring is a bit bubba'd and the car needs a full retune and a few other small things, but after calculating it out I will break even if I sell it when I am done with what it needs to be a great and reliable car.
IMHO, I would pass on this one and either hold out for a better deal or by one already close to done for a bit more.
Also mine had an LT1 and ZF6 with a new set of 3:73 gears.
But it needs a paint job, wiring is a bit bubba'd and the car needs a full retune and a few other small things, but after calculating it out I will break even if I sell it when I am done with what it needs to be a great and reliable car.
IMHO, I would pass on this one and either hold out for a better deal or by one already close to done for a bit more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
To me he is in the ballpark, but on the high end. Depends on the car. Be careful on 77 interior though. There are several 1-year interior parts on a 77 and to do it right will drive the price up a bit. If everything checks out rust wise, then offer less and see what happens.
