Hey, just signed up with you guys, as i plan on buying a C3 corvette sometime soon. I was wondering if you guys thought this particular vette was priced correctly and was a good purchase, or should i look around more? (i really want a manual) Ive never bought an old car, let alone my own car by myself, as Im 16 years old. This will be a bday gift for my mom. I already have a 2012 Dodge Charger R/T I know you guys wont like that lol but i will say i am in love with the C3 corvette and will probably be the one driving it most the time

Here the link to the actual ad-http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/3807894767.html

Heres the craigslist ad description if the link doesnt work-
"Helping an older family member sell one of his cars this used 1975 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray L-48 Ttop convertible it's great car. Doesn't need much left to be fully restored and ready to have some one show it off. Engine runs strong overall great car only needs some interior and paint. It's perfect to make a custom car for yourself. This is the last year no smog was needed legal under hood. All original 350 small block all new brakes, rotors, calipers and master cylinders. Complete front end suspension rebuild includes upper and lower ball joints. All #s on engine, transmission and car match. Never wrecked and no frame alignment story it's CLEAN TITLE. 80,000 miles original. 1979 rear clip(scoop) L-48 automatic transmission. Just sit back and enjoy the cruise. Well taken care of T-tops. GARAGED MOST OF EXISTENCE. All electrical and mechanical working. 2 brand new rear tires. Starts on first crank. Very minimal surface rust as expected for a car this year. Only body damage is shown n pic at front bumper a $200 piece and by door driver side just a nick still have piece to bondo on. Definitely a vettehound or anyone looking for a great used corvettes any collectors must have and very valuable addition to any car enthusiast. You can double your money others sold for $30,000 restored this is a deal at this price.

$6, 500 obo "


Thanks!

 

30K wow, I am putting mine on the market! I had to snicker at the spoiler as I just had a convo on here yesterday about that mod on mine. OBTW thats a T-top, not a convertible and it cant be both. language like that lends me to think he doesnt know vettes. He does say its for a "family member", right, I bet he's flipping it. if the sellers name is not on the title that would be the tell tale.
Look around here for tips on buying, rust on the birdcage and frame are big ones. 6500 is probably about right I would guess. I'd offer 5800 and see where we end up assuming its driveable.
no engine shots so we cant guess how original it is. for me I really didnt care about originality but all the big stuff was there and matched. I wanted one in good enough shape to drive as I worked on it here and there.

The body damage concerns me, look at how bad it is. if it will require paint and you have to paint it you'll have several thousand dollars into it. now you will have 8500+ in the car. is it worth 8500?

Have a vette guy pick it apart if you want originality, otherwise just make sure its in good shape.

 

If you want to buy it, offer 4k to start, yawn when the counter offer comes, offer $500 more, look away when the next offer comes, meet some were in the middle. Don't let the fact that your 16 deter you from negotiating as anything over $2k should have wiggle room. Search bird cage inspection on this forum, that will give you an idea how to look for a vette that's worth starting with. If the rear bumper has been replaced, crawl underneth and look for wrinkling in the frame, some thing about bondo on a fiber glass car don't seem right as fiber glass don't rust, I would figure it could rot but haven't seen it my self, I would also crawl under the car while jacked up and inspect the floor pans from foreword to aft, any vehicle with t tops that's weathered out side stands chance of leaking this will show up in rusted floor pans. Good luck on your endeavors, be diligent and welcome to the corvette addiction.

 

75 floor pans are glass 76 and up are steel I believe. I suppose late 75's may have steel though. mines a july car.

 

Hi w1f,
First Corvette!!! Great!
From reading the info and looking at the pictures this car doesn't look to be a good choice for a 16 year old fellow's first Corvette.
I think it's going to take more $$ and work, (knowledgeable work), to make it into a car you can drive most of the time as you describe you think you will.
I believe it's a good price for a BETTER 1975 Corvette than this one is. I think this one will turn out to be very rough up close.
I'm afraid this car as a first Corvette could sour you on old cars for a long time.
Regards,
Alan

 

I agree and suggest you take a knowledgeable Vette person with you if you look at it.

 

Finally a smart person and only 16, asking here first before buying and then asking if the Chrysler slant 6 was the original engine. There are plenty of C3's out there that don't need any body work, it costs between $5-10,000 just for a decent paint job on a C3.

Find one where the body and paint are good and no rust or very little rust on frame and birdcage. Spend the extra money for a C3 that someone else has gone bankrupt fixing it.

Like I said you did the right thing by coming here first to ask, there are 50 year old guys who buy Vettes and then come here only to find out they bought a bucket of *hit. Look around and always take someone who knows a lot about C3's to go with you, that is mandatory

 

thanks for the info guys, really appreciate it. ill cont. to look around

 

I did not know that, iknow mine on my 76 are steel and rusted.