Hello,

I am buying my first Corvette and wanted a little advice from the forum. I am looking at two C-3’s. One a 71 and the other a 72. I have a limited budget. Less than $15K. So convertibles are out.

Here is the info on the 71:

CORVETTE - 1971 Stingray: 270HP 4 spd., t-top, Ontario orange, refreshed brake calipers- not SS, all original car, numbers match, private owner. 3rd owner. Knows 25 year history of car. 10 year old paint ,rough. T-top, pop out window. All original, rip in driver seat. Black Interior, Frame is fine. No rust or soft spots. Numbers match. New rear bearings, new exhaust, chrome is great. Custom lenses. (stock ones come with car) Some spare parts. New door rubber, windshield is cracked. Fluids have all been changed. Drives well, has PS. Stock radio. 1 original rim, 4 Anson mags? 15 inch rims. Tires great. TMU, 70K on the car. New speedo, 8K on title. Fiber optics work, headlights work and wiper door works. All gauges work. Grill is fine. Can see all joints in body. $9,000 firm

Here is the 72:

1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 4 SPD, NUMBERS MATCHING, OVER $8000 WORTH OF WORK
Teal green/was yellow. Painted in 76. Interior black/pw, ps, pb, air. T-Top, Pop out window. $3800 in engine, crank is stock, entire engine has been rebuilt, trans rebuilt too, AC works. Tach works fine, new shifter (stock) , all gauges work. luggage rack, new mirror. T-tops are fine. Headlights/wipers work great. Could use paint, chrome decent. New SS calipers. 350 horse est. Bored .30 over. $15, 000 OR BEST OFFER

I asked the obvious from what I have read about asking. The frames are in great shape on both. The wipers and headlights work fine on both.

Obviously quite a bit of work has been done to the 72. I think the guy is a mechanic. But it is also much more expensive. Him asking $15K or even $12K, that’s 3 grand more than the 71.

I guess I am just trying to gauge the value of the two relative to the asking price and work done. Is it expensive to replace the windshield or hard to find one?

I want to drive the car every day in the summer/fall and I am not looking for a show car winner or perfect numbers matching car, or future investment. I just want something to drive and occasionally wrench when the mood strikes.

Thanks Everyone.

 

Buy the very best one that you can afford. Don't buy one and plan to "fix-it-up." Don't ask me how I know this.

 

SR7D1

both cars sound pretty good.
My opinion would be to drive both cars (as close as back to back as possible) and go with a gut decision. Just driving the car can tell you alot about what you want. The 72 costs more, but the engine improvements along with the rebuilt transmission might be more of what you want comparatively. Or you might find that the 71 does everything you ask it to, and it provides more opportunity (and money) for improvement. That 71 sounds like a good base to me for building.

run the numbers too, find out what blocks, heads etc are in each car. that might help you decide as well.

 

I can tell you straight up. If you buy a Vette, you WILL spend money on it. It's just a question of how much money will the Vette need. You said they both will probably need paint so that cancels out. I don't know too much about windshields because mine is fine. However, it will most likely be about $700 to $1000 dollars AT BEST I would think to get a new one with labor and all. Me, I may go with the '72 as it seems to not need as much work, and with the owner being a mechanic, that helps out a lot. If you want an all original car, then go with the '71. They'll be worth more money, but you will have to put a WHOLE LOT more in it to put it back into really good shape. But you said you wanted it just to drive around. If you don't drive it a lot, go with the '71. If it's going to be a daily driver, I might go with the one with engine and tranny work. You said you had $15K to spend. If they are asking $15K for the '72, you will find something you want to fix so you'll end up spending more. If $15K is your limit, then you'll have some money to play around with if you get the '71. I'm not trying to make a decision for you. I'm trying to bring up some things that I've dealt with being a 1971 Vette Vert owner. Just remember, even after you get the car, you WILL spend money.

 

the 71 says " Can see all joints in body" doesnt sound good to me.
Also, I am asuming you are looking locally (Cleveland) If the cars have spent their lives in Cleve they will have rust issues.
Try and get an experienced Vette person to look at the cars with you.

 

Thanks everyone. I would like to drive both, one is 100 miles away (71) and the other is 345 miles away (72).

I realize with at 30 year old car I will be spending money, and that's OK. But I suppose I was wondering if the more expensive car was worth it.

It would be nice to have all that work done already. And it's only fair to pay for it upfront. But like someone said about paint, they are both going to need it. Both drive and run fine right now. I could always save up for a paint job. I'm guessing about $3K or higher if they do all the prep work. If I knew how, I would do the prep.

Is the 72 "worth" $6K more given the items he listed? I would have no money left over, but with everything replaced or repaired, I wouldn't need it!

 

Where are the cars located.......have a forum member go take pics.

 

Buy the best you can afford. If you want a daily driver, numbers matching shouldn't be a consideration. You list both as #s matching, however, the '72 has had a color change, maybe an upgrade for interior and when engines get rebuilt, the nunbers can get milled off. Was the trans rebuilt or was it replaced?? All this only matters if you pay more for it and wish to gain it back when you sell.

Good advice above to get a knowledgable person to look at them with/for you.

 

That would be cool if someone would be able to do that. One is in Freeport, OH (71) and the other is in Utica, IN. (72)

Is anyone close to those locations? I especially could use a hand with the Utica car.

 

That would be cool if someone would be able to do that. One is in Freeport, OH (71) and the other is in Utica, IN. (72)

Is anyone close to those locations? I especially could use a hand with the Utica car.

 

frt window for my 77 was under $300 installed in my driveway.....sounds like you have two good choices...these cars suck up money....so buy the best you can afford, and if you have 15k, why are you ruling out verts? just keep looking....

 

Thanks Bob. I will try and buy the best I can afford. Just wondering if the 72 was worth the extra cost in this particular situation.

 

you really have to use your gut instinct....most people who work on cars spend way more then they ever get back which is a benefit for you.....

 

See if someone will look at them. Get some pictures. I'm never sold when a guy says he rebuilt this or that unless I know the guy or can see his work. Why are they selling them? Most true trun keys vette sell very quickly.
When I bought my 75 the owner wsa very honest and gave me recipts for the work done to the car. One of them was for $1,600.00 for rear bearings and bushings. I said that's a lot of money for 2 trailing arm rebuilds, he said that was for only one wheel!!!!
After buying the car I had to see what a $1,600 rear bearing job looked like. I found 2"x 2" chunk of the spindle flange missing, the PB shoes broked in 3 places and the springs held in with sheet metal screws.
Look close and remember even turn key C3's require work.
PM me and I'll get you my contact number to help you out.
Good luck,
Gary

 

I would like someone to look at the one in Utica if I can.

Thanks everyone.

 

Dude, then youre going to have to start a new thread asking for help in Utica and also put one in the region forum.

 

Thanks. I will.

 

That's a good price for that '71. Then again, A/C working in addition to the tach and other gauges is a big plus on the '72. I hardly ever see a C3 where the A/C works. Both are nice chrome bumpered cars. Do both have the removable rear window? I'm cheap, so I'd probably get the '71. Good luck and have fun with it this summer.

 

i had my 73's winshield replaced twice and each time it was $225.00 installed

 

I disagree with that. A lot of northern Vettes are in storage for the winter, and I find as Vettes get older, the owners are LESS likely to drive them in the winter. This means summer only driving, and most often not even in the rain. The road salt doesn't just float around in the air and land on your Vette in the garage and eat it up. If it was not a winter driven Vette, the chances are it has a very nice frame.

I would go with the car in the best overall condition, but I would much rather see the 72 in Yellow than a non stock Green. Yellow Vettes with black interiors look cool!