I've got my money saved up and now I'm in the market for a Corvette. What I really want is a C3 Vert, preferrably a red one. I've searched the net and found one that looks pretty good for me. If anyone has any input for me on this please chime in. Here is a link to the car. It was recently lowered from $17.9K

http://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/di...5&location=STL

My plan now is to go in with $14K in cash and make a deal. What do you all think???

 

Looks good, and welcome to the family. I see you're looking at a car in St. Louis. I live in Columbia...where are you from?

A couple things. I see you are probably a numbers guy when it comes to a Corvette, and stock everything is important. The tires on the car are very old, and they don't make those any more. I would be wary of driving that car very far on those old tires.

Also, have a look under it for frame rust. Right behind the front and rear tires is usually the worst. If you have a jack handy, or the seller doesn't mind jacking it up, check for bearing wear, and suspension. Check the brakes. Older cars usually have stock brakes and suspension, that will have gone bad over the last thirty years.

Good luck, let me know where you are. It's good to see another local forum member.

One last thing...go ahead and fill out your profile, and pick a cool avatar too.

 

Thanks man. I'm on a dial-up connection while home for the holidays and loading anything takes a LOOOONG time but I'll get everything ready once I get home.

 

Cool. Good luck. Where are you from?

 

Nice car. The only thing I notice and it may just be the lighting, is that the drivers side door looks to be a different shade of red from the front end. You may want to look for evidence of body damage.

I hope it is just the lighting............

 

Its a good looking car and has a boatload of options. I'm not too sure how much a dealer is going to be willing to wheel and deal, but its always worth a shot. Do some homework on your 75's and know exactly what is suppose to be in one if thats whats important to you. Verify numbers. Unknown miles is alittle scary, and I'm currious as to why someone would put a C4 corvette badge on the bumper of a 75. So much of the car appears to be right, it doesn't really make since to do that. Good luck

 

I would definitely check this door. If the color doesn't match, this could result in the entire car having to be painted for a proper match, not to mention the possibility of inferior body work being done. Also, check the tires as indicated above. I restored a '75 Vert and it had old tires on it that had cracks in the rubber. Before I had a chance to replace them and complete the restoration, a friend of a friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse ($19k 9 years ago). I told him to replace the tires but, unfortunately, he didn't. On his way back from the Vette show in Carlisle, a tire blew on the PA turnpike and he went into the side railing and really tore the car up. He's lucky he and his passenger weren't killed. Anyway, take your time and look at several cars before deciding. There are plenty of nice Vettes for sale for the money you want to spend. Good Luck!

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Like any used car you need to look it over carefully. There are more things to look over on a C3 than most. Frame rust, rust in the windshield frame, and the IRS rear end (torque arm bearings, excessive yoke end play, and u-joints).

While cost is dependent upon originality and condition, unless you think a '75 convertible is a serious collectable (IMHO possible, but unlikely) I would consider how you plan to enjoy the car. If you plan on driving it for pleasure, you may want to modify it for more power, as '75s, the first year with catalytic converters, featured 205 HP or less. Otherwise use the mods to lower the transaction price or formulate a value based on how good the mods are and if they serve your purpose. (I have two heavily modded Corvettes and know the mods reduce their sales value, but I have and plan to enjoy them many more years (above their 30 and 28 years already with me).

They are both VERY solid mechanically and look great, so if I did need to sell them, I would still come out well - of course keeping them each over 25 years and driving a total of nearly 200,000 miles helps that value equation!
Another point, is with a 30 year old car, you should expect that some bodywork has been done at some points of its life!! I wouldn't eliminate a car just because it was hit in the last 30+ years. I WOULD make sure the frame was straight and solid, and that the doors, hood, and deck fit and closed well.

 

When you buy the car, are you going to be driving it away or trailering it?

 

Wow.
Hood lines are off.
Piant doesn't match.
Right door also out of alignment.

If it doesn't show any better than that I have to say 1 2 3 not for me.

Keep looking there is a better deal for the money for that model.

Good luck.

 

No Corvette for you, come back one year

 

to some degree...look at that car very carefully, and watch for other deals.

 

This thread really makes me wish I were in the market for my next Vette. I'm jealous that you're in the hunt, and I have to wait a few more years for my next one.

 

Have someone, who knows C3s well, check for RUST on the frame...

 

You can see the difference in two of the photos. I don't think it's the lighting. Also, for a 75, I wouldn't give em 14k either. Just my dos centavos

 

Thanks for the replies from everyone. I definitely notice that color difference. After browsing these forums it also seems that I have a lot to learn before I purchase a Corvette. Thanks again for all the help.