Hi, my name is Sheri and I'm from Columbia Missouri. Is there anyone else in my area? Also, I'm looking to buy a c3, but don't have a ton of cash to spend. What year would you recommend to get the best bang for my buck? (that is, before '78)
Thanks!


[Modified by c34me, 12:41 AM 9/11/2001]

 

well good luck and welcome to the forum there are plenty of people here to help you just ask.

 

If you watch there is still some good deals on C3's. I paid $7500 for my 75 L82 4 speed. I see good vettes that need TLC for $5000 to $6000. Welcome aboard.

 

Welcome to the forum.

If you buy a C3 and are careful you will have a lot of fun.
First let me ask why you limit your choice to pre 1978 ?

Then the next thing is to get one that has a good paint job and is mechanically sound,
I believe the paint is very important because if you have to paint it your looking at $5000 +
for a good job so if you don't have to worry about that then you are way ahead.

Second take it to a mechanic and get him/her to look it over and tell you what it needs,
pay special attention to areas that rust like the frame and windshield pillars.

As to the year then I would say any year is OK but get the body style you like, you don't
want to see another C3 after yu bought yours and say "Geeze I could have bought one like that" also early
C3's with big blocks tend to be a little more expensive.

 

Hello and Welcome... my advice is to really shop around. There are a lot of great cars out there and a lot of junk. Here's a great site to help you get a good idea on prices. Use the search engine to narrow it down to your state.
http://www.collectorcartraderonline.com

For mid-70s, 8-10k should get you a real good driver with decent paint. 6 or less and you'll spend more time in the garage than on the road. Over 12 and you'll probably be paying for excellent paint or prior resto.

If you want to see thousands of vettes in one place, take a few hours and drive to Effingham, IL THIS WEEKEND to the Mid America Designs Fun Fest. MAD is one of the big parts vendors. http://www.madvet.com/

Personally, I like the 76-77 years. A little more bang than 74-75 and a lot less bucks than chrome bumpered 68-73. 77 has a better center console (much easier to install after-market radio). You can also find cloth seats in a 77 (an option over the standard leather, but I think thats pretty rare).

good luck!
tom

 

Hi Sheri, and welcome to the shark waters. Your search for that (special first?) Vette will be interesting and hopefully rewarding. Maybe Juliet will see your post and give you the link to the buyers guide to inform you of all the things to watch out for. I don't want to scare you off, but prepared for some some surprises when you finally select one. There are still bargins out there, but do your homework before you decide. I happen to like the chrome bumper cars, but the best bargains appear to be the 74 to 77 years.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.
Dave

:seeya

 

Sheri:
Welcome Sheri! I don't live too far from you! I live across the river in O'Fallon Illinois. I just bought my 80 Coup about 3 months ago and immeditely joined a Corvette Club. I'm sure you can find a club close as they are a very valuable group of people and will help you immensly. I would have to say, stay involved in this forum as I have found more information here than the next 5 places combined. They are a great bunch of guys and gals. Mid America in Effiingham would be a great adventure for you this coming weekend. I know several enthusiest are going as they are meeting at exit 30 on I-70. Let me know if you are interested.
As to your choice, isn't it great that you have so many choices. Personnaly, I think the Stingray body style is the most eye catching of all. I still get tons of lookers hollering "Cool Car". But, they all look good! Again--Welcome aboard! Kloppy :seeya

 

Welcome... Check out Juliet's links here:
http://www.annapolis.net/members/jul...Buy&Price.html

Read all you can. Spend a lot of time looking and deciding exactly what you're looking for and buy the very best car you can afford. "Fixer-uppers" can cause a lot of grief.

 

Welcome to the shark pond. Please repeat these words everytime you look at a Vette. "I will always buy the best Vette I can with the money I have. I will not buy with emotions but with logic. If I can't find what I want today, I will save my money and look again tomorrow, next week, even next month." Now with that said, good luck on your search. You and the right Vette will cross paths when the time is right. You'll know the right Vette cuz it will be an instant love affair. But, do as other have said, look at it very close and have another C3 owner look at it too. We all pretty much know what goes wrong with these cars and what you can live with and what will be very expensive to repair.

In my opinion, buy a car that is mechanical safe and sound. That should be the first priority. Then look at the interior and paint. Interior can be a little expensive, but all the vendors have all the parts you will need. Paint and body work can be very expensive. If the body doesn't need work and it just needs a repaint, you can find fairly good painters at a reasonable price.

Good luck and keep us informed as you look at various Vettes. You might want to buy a digital camera and photo the cars you are looking at and post them on this forum. There are a lot of experts in this pond that can spot good and bad things even in photos.

 

Greetings, like other have said - don't get in a hurry. I drove a few C3's, checked out and priced dozens of others - then got luck with the "nothing fancy"'77. I had alos limited myself to the flat back window of the pre-'78.

I found by the time they make it to a car lot (usually repainted) they are over priced. The rubber bumper cars are cheaper than equal chrome bumper cars. If the owner offers up receipts sit down and take the time to read them and listen to what the owner had done and why. There are plenty of good buys still out there.

good luck

 

Welcome aboard Sheri!

A C3, eh? Fine choice! Pre '78. Well, the simplest thing to tell you is that 74-77 are going to be the least expensive. They were produced in the greatest numbers and they were smack-dab in the middle of the emissions choking, so power was down as well, making them somewhat less desirable and leass expensive as a result.

Then you'll get into your chrome bumper cars which tend to fetch a little bit more with the '73 being in-between.

First of all, what are you planning on doing with the car? Are you looking for a nice driver that you can drive daily and not worry about spending a fortune on maintenance and repairs? Are you looking for a nice weekend cruiser? And how adept are you at doing your own repairs? That kind of stuff will help steer you in the right direction.

But in the meantime, welcome to the forum!! Hang out, read, learn and have a great time!!

 

Welcome to the shark pond

My motto is buy low sell high or buy low and restore it for a little more

ZD

 

I'm West of St. Louis (where they were built from '54-'81 :seeya).


[Modified by Neo Fender, 7:30 AM 9/11/2001]