Hello,

I have a friend that has the following car:

- 1973 Corvette w/numbers matching 454.
- The car has been re-painted to be black (might have been tan originally?)
- He says it has a '74 rear clip on it (?????)
- The interior was completely restored and changed to black years ago.
- I think the radio doesn't work.
- It has 90,000 original miles.
- He bought it with 80,000 miles 15 years ago (or maybe longer).
- It has sat in storage most of it's life.

He said while it was in storage recently, the sun light from a window "distorted" or "melted" part of the rear rubber clip. He says it should be replaced.

The car starts, runs and drives. He says it is "tight" and runs great, might burn oil.

***UPDATE - NEW INFO!
-Vin # 1Z37Z35404478
-Trim #422 paint #953....
-PS PW PB
- Ttops
- Air conditioning
- LEATHER
- TILT TELECSCOPIC
- AM/FM
- 454 w/4 speed manual
- valve covers are not original
- RF shielding (???) is missing from engine compartment
- radio works (i was wrong)
- AC worked last time tried
- Original "cheap" wheels...
- Stainless steel calipers....
- Original weatherstripping - windshield was replaced a few years ago, and windshield place did some "epoxy" to keep from future leaks.
- Needs new paint.... spider cracking in some places. But, tolerable.

What's it worth?

Thank you,
Patrick


[Modified by Patrick96LT4, 8:20 PM 2/20/2002]


[Modified by Patrick96LT4, 8:21 PM 2/20/2002]


[Modified by Patrick96LT4, 8:31 PM 2/20/2002]

 

Pat-
What are the options, trans?

 

Hey Patrick, welcome over to the shark tank. :D I'm not really tuned into the 73 model year, so I'll have to pass judgement on pricing. I have a list of pricing guides on my web page though which might help some. http://www.annapolis.net/members/jul...Buy&Price.html
ALso, there's a MUST READ tech inspection article link. Make sure you check for frame rust and windshield rot. Those are common C3 cancers! Windshield rot can progress to birdcage rot in some cases and it's easy to miss unless you know to look for it.

If it's the original engine (generally that commands a higher price) there's a series of numbers on the front of the block under the pass head and you should see the last 5 digits of the VIN there. Mechanical things on the engine on C3s are pretty inexpensive to keep running if you're not concerned with originality. Interiors get pricey in a hurry (except carpet - that's cheap, just time consuming to install). There'll be a trim tag riveted to the body at the front of the driver's side door jamb. Get the numbers off that and we can tell the factory color scheme.

 

i can tell you what i sold mine for last june...it was a 73, 454, 3spd auto,p/s, p/b,p/w, tilt&telescopic, no a/c, needed to recover seats and new foam, a few cracks on door panel arm rests, other than that interrior good, paint was atleast 10 years old probably more, orange with med. saddle interior, needed brakes all around, very strong running motor, 101000 miles....10700 canadian....hope this helps some.. :D
i think it would be devalued a bit by putting the 74 rer clip on it..73 was last year for chrome bumpers...


[Modified by 1bad69, 8:37 PM 2/20/2002]


[Modified by 1bad69, 8:39 PM 2/20/2002]

 

Guys, thanks so much.

I got him on the phone, and got more info then I could believe. I will edit the first thread....

:cheers:

 

I have never heard the expression - Original "cheap" wheels.... What does he have plastic hubcaps on the car. The rear end being changed and the bad paint will hurt the value of the car a lot. The 454 and 4 speed help . It is a project car as it would need a new 73 rear clip and a good paint job , probably about 6K or more into the exterior. The fact that the car sat for the last 15 years isn't so good , it will need all new brakes and suspension. Burning oil is another bad thing. Probably another 6K or more in mechanicals. When it is all done it should be worth about 17K. So anyway about 5K would be a fair price right now.

 

'73 is the only year with split bumpers. Front being impact-absorbing urethane with rear chrome bumpers.

The '74 clip kills his re-sale. The right buyer might come along and really want a BB 4spd with what sounds like a good number of options....mmmaaaayyybbeeee $12-14k. That's stretching it. I'd say avg to be $10k.

 

Pat-
Assuming it's a #3 outa 1-5 condition. This rating puts it in a "decent driver" catagory. A couple of guides both come close. A '73 is basing @ $7,500 - $8,800. Options showing approx $4,900. End run = $12K - $14K (approx) I would also deduct anything it needs (incl paint) from final $$.
Check the entire car more throughly before desiding on value! -Good Luck - Rod :chevy

I should add that if the condition warrants a drop from good (#3) to fair (#4) that the base $$ chgs to $5250.


[Modified by ROD NOCK, 11:15 PM 2/20/2002]

 

Was this car in a serious accident? A 74 tail on a 73 car is a little out of the ordinary :crazy:
Jim

 

I don't think it was serious.... the original owner got the rear end damaged (I'll certainly get under and look it over good). Possibly it was cheaper to do the 74 tail vs. 73 tail.... I'm not sure... or he wanted it to look "newer"....

But... am I correct in assuming that it is easy to do the 74 rear on the 73.... that it doesn't require new rear quarters and such.... right?

 

Wrong, the rear quarters on a 74 are very different that the 73.

Unless they just hacked off the tail and Bubba'd the plastic bumper on :U

 

Hmm.......

 

sounds like about a 6 to 8 k car that will need some time and money invested....But being a big block 4 speed...probably worthy of both :cheers:

 

Sounds like a lot of work to me. Might want to start with one that has the original rear clip on it. Sat for years? That means replacement parts ...and alot of them. Big block 4 speed sounds good though.

 

Allow me another question.

For this thing to have a 74 rear clip, would this have been a LOT of work to do... and would lean towards a more serious accident?

 

I'd say yeah. The quarters are way different on a 73 vs 74. To be hit and make that change, unless it was very poorly done, would require new quarters at least. Sounds like a pretty serious hit to me.

It'll take some work and $$ to bring the value of the car up to where it could be even to make it a decent driver. Bastardized cars with swapped parts from year to year really take a hit when it comes to resale. Then again, if you just want a car to drive and can live with the different tail, then go for it. Check under it thoroughly first. I'd guess $7k or so assuming it has the incorrect rear & needs paint and all that.

Dave

 

According to the black book the car should be Metallic Yellow with Dark Saddle leather interior. The vin says it is a 73 vette. Someone went to a lot of trouble to put a 74 rear bumper on it. Maybe the chrome bumpers were just removed.

 

Thanks for the info!

I am going to take some pics of the car (hopefully) this weekend, for all to see.