Hi guys, I'm new here. I fell in love with Vettes as a kid. I'm now in a position I can AFFORD to own a nice sports car. I've been looking at C4's but a couple C3's keep popping up that spark my soul. The C3 was the body style I originally fell in love with. So here's the thing. I want a NICE DRIVER. It might see a track day or an autocross but mostly it's about a visceral driving experience. I'll be doing most of my own wrenching so the less complex car has alot of appeal. I'm not asking which is faster. I'm asking if a C3 is going to be a good fun DRIVER sports car, not a show car, not an investment.

Oops Just realized I shoulda posted in General. Mods feel free to move this and flog me.

 

A C3 is a hell of a fun driver, can be a show car and if you get the right one can be an investment too!

 

No.

 

Two completely different cars my personal thoughts are C3's are cooler.

 

OLD hotrodder here, NOT ONE of my cars ever left my hands in stock condition over the decades, there is NOT ONE mentionable part on my '72 vert that is stock, not nuttin....

well, maybe the passenger seat....but the upholstery is aftermarket vinyl in the leather pattern....so not even THAT, come think of it.....

 

"Visceral" would be an excellent word for the C3, especially if you're looking at '68 to, say, '74. Later ones are very similar, but they started to have that word "comfort" more and more infused into the formula. My 1970 is as close to a 'race car for the street' as I care to get.

If you can't, or don't want to, work on your own car, I would probably classify a C3 as a massive money pit that you won't get full pleasure out of. It is NOT a new car and doesn't have computer controlled anything. If it isn't running well, it's because something is crapping out or because YOU don't have something adjusted properly.

If you enjoy tinkering, I'd absolutely pick a C3. Well...I like tinkering...and I picked a C3.

To the downside, by the time I get my C3 into decent shape (engine, paint, interior, and a few other things), I will have spent the same (if not more) money that I would if I just got a VERY nice used C5 or even a lower-end C6. Of course, I LOOOOOOOVE working on my car and for the same (if not more) money, I have an absolutely unique and awesome C3 that I've had years of joy tinkering with.

 

I plan on starting with a nice one and keeping it that way. I'm looking at a 76 4spd with 73000 original miles. Very clean based on the pics. It's listed at $9500.

 

Got pictures?

 

1976 Chevrolet Corvette, L48, 4spd manual, White w/ white and red interior, custom stereo, T-tops, original engine/ trans, restored interior, 73k orig. miles, 3rd owner, original owners manual, nice car that looks good and runs well

 

Wow is it that bad? Commentary dried up QUICK.

 

C4 does nothing for me. Nothing special about that car. You'll appreciate sexy, curvy and much better dash instead of digital crap they put in the c4. I also prefer non 85mph speedo C3 btw.

 

How much is the asking price?

 

9500 Just heard from him. Needs an AC compressor and blower motor. A thought occurred to me. Is there a trunk or any storage in the C3's?

 

With no AC and blower motor for 9500? No way man. That's gonna run you at least 1200 - 1500. There is storage behind the seats. Is not that big but okay enough to throw duffle bags.

Compare his car with this one near where I live where it's been restored fully with new motor and you tell me his is worth 9500. I would pay 6500 to 7000 at most. I'm thinking about buying this car for my daughter.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...721041003.html

 

Yep I agree. I want a NEARLY perfect car which is why I was looking at c4's. They tend to be cheaper.

Can someone answer that storage/trunk question? I was planning on doing road trips in it with the wife.

Oops you did, sorry. You're right up the road from me. I live in Shepherdstown. If you see a nice C4 or C3 manual transmission let me know!

 

You can find nearly perfect C3. Just like the one I just showed you. You have space behind the seats. It's good enough for couple of duffle bags or you can put a aftermarket luggage rack.

 

I should have mentioned under $10000.

 

Seems like you live near Washington DC area. There's a guy in Ashburn Virginia selling his 77 L82 with new motor, headers, side pipes, 4 speed manual for 8500. I still believe he still has it. I have his number. You want to call him. Body is also in good shape. It also has brand new rear suspension.

 

His name is PJ and email address is pcj77@yahoo.com

 

Regarding storage:

I took my wife to South Beach for a short weekend a few years ago. I thought I'd be cool and rent a sporty car to drive around. One of those 'Exotic Car' rental places had a convertible 350Z for $80 a day. Awesome!

We get there and each had a standard-issue carry-on roller bag with our clothes for the long weekend. I'll be gosh darned if those suckers didn't JUST make it in the trunk of that car. I don't think another pair of socks would have fit.

I'd say the storage area is about that big. It'd probably take those two bags, but nothing more.

I regularly get groceries in mine. I even got a Cornhole game (a southern outdoor thing...you need to be holding a Big Red Cup to play...) and it slid in there nicely along with a Badminton set I picked up ad Dick's Sporting Goods. Surprisingly good sale. It was a good thing it fit, too, since I had my Dad with me. Would have hated to have left him behind while I transported these things home...

So...it's not a huge amount of space and it is a little inconvenient to access, but it will suffice for most reasonable endeavours.

If you look at a later year car, you get the rear glass instead of the vertical rear window. It doesn't open and can turn the interior into an EasyBake Oven in the summer, but it has considerably more space.