C3 Purchasing Advice
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 90
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From: Moore SC
Kevin,
Thanks I'll keep that in mind definetly not getting this 77. HBI pointed this one out earlier and the more I think about it the more I want to spend the extra dough but I having trouble convincing my wife to make the trip... http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4742113771.html
Thanks I'll keep that in mind definetly not getting this 77. HBI pointed this one out earlier and the more I think about it the more I want to spend the extra dough but I having trouble convincing my wife to make the trip... http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4742113771.html
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4749634801.html
Here is another in St Louis approaching the aforementioned 10K number. I think this car was just reduced from $10,900, not sure. Relatively rare green. I've never seen a 74 this color in person. I ordered a car exactly like this one in June 74 but the strike prevented its birth as the car never arrived at the dealership. Absolutely beautiful car. No A/C and where I live you wouldn't survive very long
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4753746352.html
Here's the same green car over in the For Sale Forum...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...pe-9800-a.html
Last edited by HBI; Nov 11, 2014 at 10:20 AM. Reason: add another link
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville Tennessee
Finding the right C3
Aquitard,
Good luck on your search for a C3. I would have to agree with Kevin and all the advice in this thread. We all have budgets to adhere to. I found my 77 Corvette in Jul 2012 and have good mechanical and body skills. I found mine on Craiglist about an 1 hour away. I have never worked on Corvettes and got a good lesson on making them better. This C3 needed some TLC and bought it for $7500 and have spent about $5000. The paint was ok, but not perfect. It has been fun to fix it up and make it better. There are plenty of parts available for these cars. Mine is a driver and not numbers matching. I drive it to work on pretty days and get all kinds looks. Read, and read some more on these C3s. Assembly, shop, & parts manuals are a must. With the internet all of these are readily available. With this Corvette forum there are plenty of Subject Matter Experts(SMEs). It has been very helpful for me. One thing is an understanding wife for you to enjoy your passion on old cars!
Rob
Good luck on your search for a C3. I would have to agree with Kevin and all the advice in this thread. We all have budgets to adhere to. I found my 77 Corvette in Jul 2012 and have good mechanical and body skills. I found mine on Craiglist about an 1 hour away. I have never worked on Corvettes and got a good lesson on making them better. This C3 needed some TLC and bought it for $7500 and have spent about $5000. The paint was ok, but not perfect. It has been fun to fix it up and make it better. There are plenty of parts available for these cars. Mine is a driver and not numbers matching. I drive it to work on pretty days and get all kinds looks. Read, and read some more on these C3s. Assembly, shop, & parts manuals are a must. With the internet all of these are readily available. With this Corvette forum there are plenty of Subject Matter Experts(SMEs). It has been very helpful for me. One thing is an understanding wife for you to enjoy your passion on old cars!
Rob
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 1
From: Quincy IL
Thanks HBI,
That is really nice but yea that's just too much. Maybe if its still for sale in a couple years? Lol. I'm banking on a bunch more coming across the table between now and then to look at.
That is really nice but yea that's just too much. Maybe if its still for sale in a couple years? Lol. I'm banking on a bunch more coming across the table between now and then to look at.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville Tennessee
HBI,
Sounds like you are coming from experience too! Thanks so much for your kind words. I am very lucky to have a wife that lets me spend money on my toys, a 56 Chevy and now this 77 Vette. I feel young when I drive my toys!
Rob
Sounds like you are coming from experience too! Thanks so much for your kind words. I am very lucky to have a wife that lets me spend money on my toys, a 56 Chevy and now this 77 Vette. I feel young when I drive my toys!
Rob
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 1
From: Quincy IL
Sorry 2 year old and 1 month old make it difficult to do things at night sometimes lol! It wasn't bad but I'm know there's better. It just had a lot of little things wrong. Headlights didn't come up, interior looked like it got wet (rust on steering wheel, vin, one seat had signs of water damage) there was fiberglass repair behind front passenger wheel, front valance cracked, and wheels had some rust. Paint wasnt as bad as I thought it would be but it did have some cracks and bubbles along the edges of the panels. Things that were different but don't necessary bother me...aftermarket stereo, something new on carb, looked like new intake manifold, pulleys, fan, fuel pump, and a cat back exhaust system (pretty loud). It ran and drove fine and the frame and suspension were actually solid and mostly rust free. It sad because I believe the guys dad was in trouble so it was left outside for an extended period and that's where most of the damage came from. In short I think he's asking too much thanks but no thanks. By the way thanks everyone because I knew exactly what to look for and where to look!
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 1
From: Quincy IL
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 90
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From: Moore SC
It has PS & PB. No ac. It has the lines but is not set up. The hvac has a matched plate block. I have the hvac control module with a bunch of other extras.
If you look closely at the interior photo it appears that the heat/air control is missing and a blank plate is covering the spot where it was
just above the gear selector. The right blank is the ashtray cover but the left blank is where the heat/air control should be. This may or may not be a big deal to you. Can't really tell from the engine bay photo if the compressor is there or not. Maybe some of the other folks on here can tell you how much trouble installing (and getting to work) the control module would be. Just passing along some info.
Just be as careful as possible. A fatally flawed C3 can look like a million bucks.
Good luck with the car!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 1
From: Quincy IL
I e-mailed the seller a couple of weeks ago and asked about A/C. Here's the reply...
It has PS & PB. No ac. It has the lines but is not set up. The hvac has a matched plate block. I have the hvac control module with a bunch of other extras.
If you look closely at the interior photo it appears that the heat/air control is missing and a blank plate is covering the spot where it was
just above the gear selector. The right blank is the ashtray cover but the left blank is where the heat/air control should be. This may or may not be a big deal to you. Can't really tell from the engine bay photo if the compressor is there or not. Maybe some of the other folks on here can tell you how much trouble installing (and getting to work) the control module would be. Just passing along some info.
Just be as careful as possible. A fatally flawed C3 can look like a million bucks.
Good luck with the car!
It has PS & PB. No ac. It has the lines but is not set up. The hvac has a matched plate block. I have the hvac control module with a bunch of other extras.
If you look closely at the interior photo it appears that the heat/air control is missing and a blank plate is covering the spot where it was
just above the gear selector. The right blank is the ashtray cover but the left blank is where the heat/air control should be. This may or may not be a big deal to you. Can't really tell from the engine bay photo if the compressor is there or not. Maybe some of the other folks on here can tell you how much trouble installing (and getting to work) the control module would be. Just passing along some info.
Just be as careful as possible. A fatally flawed C3 can look like a million bucks.
Good luck with the car!
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Moore SC
.Let us know how the car works out. It sure looks good.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
nice looking car. 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Quincy IL
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Not Original Frame/Body.....
Which is all meaningless crap anyway....as the guys who remember tese ~40 y/o cars new, either have one, or outta the market already, one way or another.....prices will start falling like mad in a few short years....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 101
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From: Quincy IL
Wonder when they come up with *** or NOF.....
Not Original Frame/Body.....
Which is all meaningless crap anyway....as the guys who remember tese ~40 y/o cars new, either have one, or outta the market already, one way or another.....prices will start falling like mad in a few short years....
Not Original Frame/Body.....
Which is all meaningless crap anyway....as the guys who remember tese ~40 y/o cars new, either have one, or outta the market already, one way or another.....prices will start falling like mad in a few short years....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 1
From: Quincy IL
Well I got my rental and a check to look at http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4749634801.html tomorrow. Providing it has been adequately advertised and I don't find any nasty surprises I'm probably coming home with this car. Any thing 74 or not numbers matching specific I should be on the lookout for?
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Moore SC
Well I got my rental and a check to look at http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4749634801.html tomorrow. Providing it has been adequately advertised and I don't find any nasty surprises I'm probably coming home with this car. Any thing 74 or not numbers matching specific I should be on the lookout for?
How did it go?