The only thing better than one Corvette is ...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 2
From: Toronto
The only thing better than one Corvette is ...
... two Corvettes.
So, here's the story. The lease is running out on my nice 1999 non-Corvette convertible, so I started thinking about what to replace it with. Long story short, I turned my back on the new car world and got the C3 I had always wanted. (Picture of my pretty '74 ragtop below.)
Obviously, however, this sweetheart is never going to see the salt and slush of an Ontario late fall, winter and spring. She will be safely tucked in the garage.
The question that arises, then, is what to get as my winter car? I've begun softening my wife up to the concept of a 'beater' Vette as the winter car. (The alternative is a Jeep TJ, and she *hates* Jeeps, and, after all, she has her own car for the winter.)
Because I just don't like the looks of the C4s, and none of the C5s yet qualify as beaters, I'm thinking of picking up something in the '78 to '82 era with a solid frame and making it my girl for the winter.
It seems sacreligious, but driving a Corvette all year, even though it's brutal to the winter Vette, seems better than not doing so.
Any thoughts?
So, here's the story. The lease is running out on my nice 1999 non-Corvette convertible, so I started thinking about what to replace it with. Long story short, I turned my back on the new car world and got the C3 I had always wanted. (Picture of my pretty '74 ragtop below.)
Obviously, however, this sweetheart is never going to see the salt and slush of an Ontario late fall, winter and spring. She will be safely tucked in the garage.
The question that arises, then, is what to get as my winter car? I've begun softening my wife up to the concept of a 'beater' Vette as the winter car. (The alternative is a Jeep TJ, and she *hates* Jeeps, and, after all, she has her own car for the winter.)
Because I just don't like the looks of the C4s, and none of the C5s yet qualify as beaters, I'm thinking of picking up something in the '78 to '82 era with a solid frame and making it my girl for the winter.
It seems sacreligious, but driving a Corvette all year, even though it's brutal to the winter Vette, seems better than not doing so.
Any thoughts?
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
>>The only thing better than one Corvette is ... two Corvettes.
I agree!
:yesnod: :) :)
:cheers:
Olivier
I agree!
:yesnod: :) :)
:cheers:
Olivier
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From: Paducah KY
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Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :cool:
Dave
[Modified by Rolling Thunder, 8:14 PM 3/28/2002]
Dave
[Modified by Rolling Thunder, 8:14 PM 3/28/2002]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Toronto
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (SharkAttack)
Thanks for the positive vibe. (You don't have the same salt and slush issues in Houston that we have to deal with up here ... but it's the thought that counts!)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Newport Michigan
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Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
Excellent plan, no arguments here :D
[Modified by 70L46, 10:03 PM 3/28/2002]
[Modified by 70L46, 10:03 PM 3/28/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Maryland
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (70L46)
Only thing better than two vettes.... Is three! :jester
I got a C4 for my daily driver. I take good care of it and wash off the undercarriage regularly. Plus when it's down for maintenance, I get to drive the shark. And when it's down, I pray the C4 keeps running long enough to get the shark back together. :lol:
I got a C4 for my daily driver. I take good care of it and wash off the undercarriage regularly. Plus when it's down for maintenance, I get to drive the shark. And when it's down, I pray the C4 keeps running long enough to get the shark back together. :lol:
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,193
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
I guess I'm the only one who disagrees. :boxing There are a million cars out there that you could fall in love with driving, that would be great for the winter. Why help another Vette get rusted out...? Maybe you have the money to just replace it in a few years, but it's someone like me who's going to buy it for a summer driver. Besides that, I think anyone driving around a Vette in snow looks plain stupid. Don't take it personally, just my opinion.
Ever drive a Buick Riviera...? They're nice... :D
Ever drive a Buick Riviera...? They're nice... :D
Team Owner
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Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
"...two Corvettes" Maybe 4?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,468
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From: Kirkland WA
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (Paul Borowski)
Two corvettes are fun.
Not sure that another C3 will be all that winter friendly. They're not real good at keeping the water/wind out, and unless you're going to frame-off and powdercoat everything, you're asking for trouble at some point.
Get a cheap, late-model C4 (1992 and up). They should hold up nicely :)
Not sure that another C3 will be all that winter friendly. They're not real good at keeping the water/wind out, and unless you're going to frame-off and powdercoat everything, you're asking for trouble at some point.
Get a cheap, late-model C4 (1992 and up). They should hold up nicely :)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,453
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From: Toronto
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (jerryjfunk)
There are a million cars out there that you could fall in love with driving, that would be great for the winter. <snip> Besides that, I think anyone driving around a Vette in snow looks plain stupid. Don't take it personally, just my opinion.
I've promised myself that I'll never own another boring car. Life is too short, amigo.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: NC,USA
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
I say buy a car, do a frame off in time for winter. New brakes, Suspension... fuel injected etc
As the other guys said... Powder coat everything. rust is bad :smash:
As the other guys said... Powder coat everything. rust is bad :smash:
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Vernon, BC BC
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
I agree that two are better than one ( '66 & '99), but as a winter beater - no. I drove a '78 for one winter. It was the worst pig in snow, slush or on any type of slippery road. Also a friend of mine had the same thoughts as you. He purchased a '76 and lasted one winter. They are definitely not the car for Canadian winters.
Save the :seeya
G...
Save the :seeya
G...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
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From: Palm Harbor FL
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
A 3500 lb rear wheel drive V8 for a winter driver? :confused: I can't think of anything worse (well, maybe a few). Find yourself a good reliable front wheel or 4 wheel drive vehicle. When you're not driving the Vette, you can be working on it instead of working on keeping your winter vette running all winter. It would be one thing if you lived in Florida, it's completely different WAY up north where you are. I also agree with the above post, not only is it a little bold thumbing your nose at the winter gods in a RWD V8 car, but why send another Vette to the rust graveyard? I think that is why you don't see as many 78-79's as you would expect to, because too many people view them as "disposable" because there were so many of them made. However, I bet there are probably far fewer around than you might think. I see more earlier sharks around than I do 79's, and that was the record year for Vette production. The later sharks are NOT disposable.
[Modified by 79MakoL82, 10:25 AM 3/29/2002]
[Modified by 79MakoL82, 10:25 AM 3/29/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Roanoke Virginia
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (Sharky Guam)
He who dies with the most vettes wins! :cool: :cool: :cool: :seeya
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Wildwood IL
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (mg62)
Go for it!! :yesnod: Just spend the summer splashing POR-15 all over that frame and you'll be ready for next winter... better yet, just dip the whole thing in Por-15 :cheers: :cheers:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Toronto
Re: The only thing better than one Corvette is ... (79MakoL82)
A 3500 lb rear wheel drive V8 for a winter driver? :confused: I can't think of anything worse (well, maybe a few). Find yourself a good reliable front wheel or 4 wheel drive vehicle. When you're not driving the Vette, you can be working on it instead of working on keeping your winter vette running all winter. It would be one thing if you lived in Florida, it's completely different WAY up north where you are. <snip>
My perspective on this is that my second car is going to be not just my winter car, but an all-year-round driver for days that are not perfect conditions for the '74 convertible. On those days, I want to be behind the wheel of a C3, not a truck.
I acknowledge that I'll be spinning around a bit on a few days during the winter, but I learned to drive in Saskatchewan, so I'll manage!