It sure is a big snail I wouldnt mess with that car Hell i didnt think you could get a irs off the ground like that,it has to be some thing sprecial in that rear.

 

Well, I just went through this decision process. I went all over the country looking for a 68-69 convertible. Initially wanted a 427. Saw several and drove. I have to say, I was underwhelmed. I guess my imagination was greater than the reality. My daily drivers have been Porsches and BMW's (993 S and M3), recently a simple Infiniti G35. These cars, even the Infiniti, feel faster than the best 427 tripower I drove, and handle infinitely better. I guess 40 years of technology trumps big cubic inches.
That's not to say that big blocks are not extremely cool for their uniqueness, and the fact that they are no longer produced, and never will be again. There is no doubt that "is it a big block?" is one of the most common questions asked about my 'vette. I have to answer "no, but...." Folks in the know will be much more impressed with a rat vs. a mouse motor.
But I now believe this is based more on perception than reality. Just look at 0-60 times and 1/4 mile times for the original big block cars. And remember HP and torque on these cars are gross not SAE net.
In the end I bought a 68 with a freshly rebuilt original 327/300. Runs great and has good power. Handles better than the big block, and I think it is a better driver. Also, much easier to work on due to space constraints on a big block. The 68 model year can be found for a better price than a 69, and I came to the conclusion that the knock against the 68 was also mostly perception, not reality. While I was fortunate enough to have the hard-earned funds for a big block 69, I just couldn't justify laying out so much extra money for what I felt was very little in return.
I bought the car for the classic body and nostalgia. It is beautiful. Everyone loves it, even those who don't know spit about motors and car stuff. It is not a performance car by modern standards, and neither are big blocks. If you want power and speed, buy a new corvette.
Just my opinion, of course, and we all come to different conclusions. They're all good.

 

What I dont understand is, why do you buy a 40 year old engine and just accept it in its stock form. Technology has followed the big block during its 40 years of life and can beat the **** out of any of the modern engines of today in power output. You just need to update it to todays standards with modern design heads, cam, and carb or efi and easily make 700 hp n/a. I guess different strokes for different folks.

 

Well, because it is the nostalgia and cool factor, not the performance. Yes, I'm sure you can modify a big or small block to put out gobs of power, but you really can't reasonably reproduce the technology of a modern engine. Variable valve timing, 4+ valves per cylinder, modern computer controlled fuel injection, etc. And then there is the suspension, which is a whole other bag of tricks. You can improve the old car, but you can't really (for reasonable $) equal the new car's handling. Our old vette's have body on frame construction. Even trucks are getting away from this now.
Again, you can do a lot to improve the car, and it is a lot of fun to do those mods, but you won't equal the new low end sports coupes, let alone the new corvettes or high end imports.
So, to me, spending lots more money on a big block wasn't worth it.

 

Is not just the motor that gives a car its performance. It is also the Transmission and it gear ratios and the number of gears. Also the relationship of the transmission to it’s rear-end gear choices. Not to mention tire design changes. It is impossible to compare a BB or SB to the cars of today because of these other components. The other reason for experimentation especially for C3 owners that were not luck enough to own a 68 to 70 is that even though the technology was around to advance the later C3s it was abandoned for pollution regulations. It intrigues me to think where the C3 might have went if not for these regulations and I understand those that want to see what they can do to get a sense of what might have been.

 

If you can afford the big block go for it...........in many cases you will regret not going that way & eventually wind up going that route sooner or later.


I have owned a 1/2 dozen C-3's & there is NOTHING like a "BIG BLOCK"

 

C3 vette owners dont swap transmissions or rear end gears?? one of the main reasons people are into cars is to modify them into something better then what they came from the factory with. You guys boggle my mind. You act like its not allowed to modify your car at all. Thats the whole beauty of owning a chevy corvette, the vast amount of aftermarket parts support and availability. A porche or bmw does not come close in aftermarket support.

 

Its why i bought mine,best looking cars ever made i think,but they do need improvements

 

I like the NCRS anagram.....
Not Correctly Restored Stingray

 

You are correct in the fact the Corvette in its factory built status can not really compare to modern cars but as said that is what 40 years of change. And at the time the Corvette was way ahead of many cars being built at the time. And unlike BMW and other makes of cars that you have mentioned the CORVETTE is an American Sports car.

Also I drove the snot out of these cars both SB and BB. Yes the Small Block would handle better and be a bit more nimble. Where as the BB cars would tend to push in the turns. You could still drive them at a good clip but you have to know how to use the car.

But as said above with the parts you can purchase today you can go from mild to WILD in both performance and handling. It does not take much work to get 500 to 550HP from a Big Block 454 CI and that is with modified factory Oval port heads. Not to mention you can go with the VBP Street and slalom suspension and gain a good handling car. Also the choice of what tires you use are very important. The sad part is they no longer make a good 15 in performance tire so one would have to step up to the larger sizes to get tires that stick. If you go to the VBP web site they have info on a Corvette C-3 I think at 1G in the skid pad.

And even though this is a personal thing lol. There is NOTHING like a built Big Block to SHAKE the earth. But all of this as said is a personal thing. The Older Corvette's are not a refined car THANK GOODNESS. Yes they can be noisy, Yes you feel the gears through the gear shift if you have a standard and hear the buzz of the gears,Yes you can smell the fuel, Yes the car when pushed will get out of shape. But with all of this you know for sure you are in and part of a MACHINE so no an older Corvette is not like sitting on a quiet sofa lol. SHAKE RATTLE ROLL

But from what you have said really is you were not looking for performance but a status car or something that just looks nice which is fine and dandy. But some that were around them and drove them or were just struck in awe by them back in the day wish to bring back those days and make them better with what parts are available today and try and keep them the type of car that many would fear.

Now I am going back out to work on mine lol.

 

Well, I'm upgrading my car with VB and P suspension parts, power rack and pinion, possibly the FAST EZ-EFI fuel injection, among other things. Nothing outrageous, still keeping the overall stock look. My first C3 was bought in 1979 (it was a 69), and I've done a lot of work to these cars over the years. As I said, it's fun, and definitely improves the 40 year old car.

My point was that, a big block, to me, was not worth it, from a cost/value perspective, and that if superior performance was your primary objective, then a newer corvette would be a smarter choice. I love the new vettes, too, and they are a blast to drive.

Now as far as a status car, no. A 1968 corvette is cool, but not a status car in the way a BMW or Porsche may be viewed. The old corvette is appreciated by almost everyone, and definitely draws attention, but I would not call it a status car. To me that implies something about a person's financial status. A $20K old vette ain't really that. It's something far better.

 

Now see to me a BMW or Porsche has no status whatsoever, to me they are essentially economy cars, a C3 on the other hand has prestige that a BMW or Porsche will never have. A porsche or a BMW is what you buy when you're concerned about fuel economy. The C3's and C4's are the only Corvettes that are good looking, the rest are butt ugly.

 

I beleive its all good Original or modified Vettes anyway are fine with me. I have a 6 speed and different rear gears then original

 

I can't agree with that. C4's are really, really ugly. This is a pretty nice butt.

 

 

I'd have to agree thats a sexy girl you have there

The current price difference between a '68 327/300 and '69 427/400 will increase tenfold in the yrs to come - just look at the '66-'67 models.

BTW, in Dallas, BMWs, Porsche's. and Hummer's are not status vehicles - they only signify that individuals ability to fill out the required lease paperwork

 

The point about the potential change in price differentials between big block and small block (setting aside for the moment the 68 vs. 69 issue) is a good one. If a big block is a better investment, that is a reasonable argument in favor of purchasing one. However, I've talked to several well known and long-time respected dealers/restorers who have told me that if the big block cars go up 20% the small block cars go up 20% and vice versa. If this is correct, then the investment difference still favors the big block because of it's higher baseline price (20% of 60,000 is more than 20% of 30,000). Both cars are good investments, however. I thought about this, but in the end, more money later (potentially) vs. more cost now (definite) cancelled out to me.
Let's get off the whole status vehicle, thing. Leave that to the Porsche boards. Corvettes are different, and they are for everyone to appreciate, not just the well-healed (although the well healed with taste certainly do invest in Corvettes, but I don't think it is for status).

 

When I said all Corvettes other than C3's and C4's are butt ugly its those cars in particular I was thinking of - that thing's hideous. If someone offered to give me one on the condition that I couldn't sell it and had to drive it I'd run the other way faster than Forest Gump.

 

I've read some bizarre statements on this forum but this raises the bar.

 

Did anyone even bother to clarify with the OP if he wants an "investment car" or a "cool car to drive" ??

-W