'76 corvette, is it worth it??
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
'76 corvette, is it worth it??
Hey guys im new to the forum and Ive been trying to sell my '78 Firebird Formula so I can buy a C3...So I was talking to my uncle yesterday and he said he knows where one was for sale, so we went out to look at it and it was a stock 77 L92 and it wasnt all that nice and I really wanted a 4speed this one was an auto. So the owner says he has another one in his garage thats a 4speed, So we go in to look at it and its a '76 350 4speed, I dont know what all was done to the engine but it had headers, edelbrock intake and carb and it had some kind of mild cam that I could hear when he cranked it up...the body was actually pretty good looking except it had a 1 piece front end with the exposed headlights(which im not too crazy about), and the interior of the car is near perfect, So the car need news tires, a new waterpump, and an alignment and its good to go, and hes asking $4500
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Is that the car you want? If so buy it but beware.
Some Red Flags that I see. 1 piece nose could be just a custom look or could be because someone wrapped it around a solid object like a pole?
You may find some surprises during alignment. 74-82 are abundant and for $4,500 you're not far from finding a decent one with the correct front end. I'd look very carefully and learn a bit about these cars before dropping any cash. Myself I would walk away from that one.
Good luck
Some Red Flags that I see. 1 piece nose could be just a custom look or could be because someone wrapped it around a solid object like a pole?
You may find some surprises during alignment. 74-82 are abundant and for $4,500 you're not far from finding a decent one with the correct front end. I'd look very carefully and learn a bit about these cars before dropping any cash. Myself I would walk away from that one.
Good luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I honestly think you would not be taking any great risk
at buying the 76 for $4.500 bucks....at least after you
look at the frame etc and see that it was not bent etc...
Worst case I can think of is that you would take at most a $1,500 loss if you turned around and solld it for $3,000
which unless it was completely wrecked should be possible in the middle of a snowstorm 15 minutes after the morning newspaper hits the doorstep..
I do own a 76... and the 4 speeds were quite rare Thats the main reason I bought this car...that and the fact that it was the last Corvette to be Badged as a Stingray
One piece froint ends were at one time much much cheaper then piecing together and gluing up an entire front end... and labor may have made the one piece replacement much cheaper rather then do the repair correctly... you just have to look..
Major downside as far as I can see is the headlights...
major big $$$ to return to stock type...
Bob G.
64 72 & 98 Convertibles
76 & 79 Coupes
btw...where is this 76....? parts is parts...LOL
at buying the 76 for $4.500 bucks....at least after you
look at the frame etc and see that it was not bent etc...
Worst case I can think of is that you would take at most a $1,500 loss if you turned around and solld it for $3,000
which unless it was completely wrecked should be possible in the middle of a snowstorm 15 minutes after the morning newspaper hits the doorstep..
I do own a 76... and the 4 speeds were quite rare Thats the main reason I bought this car...that and the fact that it was the last Corvette to be Badged as a Stingray
One piece froint ends were at one time much much cheaper then piecing together and gluing up an entire front end... and labor may have made the one piece replacement much cheaper rather then do the repair correctly... you just have to look..
Major downside as far as I can see is the headlights...
major big $$$ to return to stock type...
Bob G.
64 72 & 98 Convertibles
76 & 79 Coupes
btw...where is this 76....? parts is parts...LOL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by 24695bob
Major downside as far as I can see is the headlights...
major big $$$ to return to stock type...
I think the hideaway headlights are one of the coolest and most recognizable features of the C2-C5 Corvette
Although they can be troublesome I believe it's worth every bit of it... I love the way the look
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Thanks for the advise guys. I really want this car, Im not just settling for it...I live down in Tennessee and Im on vacation up here in New Hampshire where the car is located. I think im gonna post my car up on ebay and when it sells Ill send some money to my uncle so he can buy and store it for me until I come.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 0
From: Salina Kansas
I have a '76 L82 (originally a 4-speed). I really like the car but have sunk some serious cash into the drivetrain. I would spend quite a bit of time looking at the frame, trailing arms, tie rods, stearing parts, spring etc. and would definitely drive it before u buy it. Also look for rust on the floor pan. Pointing any of those things out alone could cause the guy to drop the price, but be aware that getting into the drivetrain repairs/upgrades can get quite expensive depending on what you want.
Also, check the pedestals for the body mounts, they rust out pretty frequently.
DW
Also, check the pedestals for the body mounts, they rust out pretty frequently.
DW
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Wellington, New Zealand
checking the underside
Take it to a local garage and pay the guy some lunch money to put it on his hoist and have a good look at it with him. As the others suspect this car has probably had a good whack to its nose.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by CorvetteDave01
I would spend quite a bit of time looking at the frame, trailing arms, tie rods, stearing parts, spring etc. and would definitely drive it before u buy it. Also look for rust on the floor pan. Pointing any of those things out alone could cause the guy to drop the price, but be aware that getting into the drivetrain repairs/upgrades can get quite expensive depending on what you want.
Also, check the pedestals for the body mounts, they rust out pretty frequently.
DW
Also, check the pedestals for the body mounts, they rust out pretty frequently.
DW
Will this be your first Corvette?
Theres a lot to know,
I wouldnt buy it (even at the price its offered at) until you can see it in person and take about 50 pictures of the entire car and post them on this forum.
I believe there is more knowledge on this C3 forum than the actual engineers of the C3 had at GM at the time of its inception
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
I would not buy it if you only have $4,500 for the car. At that price, you know that you are going to have to do some work to it.
On the other hand, if you have another $2,000 to spend on the car to make any repairs that are needed, then you have a dependable Corvette for $6,500.00. That's not bad.
On the other hand, if you have another $2,000 to spend on the car to make any repairs that are needed, then you have a dependable Corvette for $6,500.00. That's not bad.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Alright well, Im probably going to have a chance to go back and take pics today...Im gonna look it over the best I can with disassembling it lol...If I get the pics Ill definatly post them on here when I get back