C3 Rookie
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 949
Likes: 105
From: Cleveland Ohio
C3 Rookie
Hello everyone! This is my first post on the C3 boards, as I normally cruise the C4 and C5 boards. Anyways, I've been a Vette Fanatic since I was about 10, and the bug is getting to be overwhelming. If I don't purchase one soon, I might come down with hives and a fever. As a college student, money is a little tight, and I'm looking for a 77 - 82 C3. I'm hoping to find one that's in need of some TLC and a little work, and that might fall near $5,000 bucks. Am I crazy for thinking I'm going to come across a deal like this, or is it attainable to find a nice little project car that's not going to need everything and the kitchen sink? Thanks for youtr input everyone! :seeya :chevy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: C3 Rookie (MeHeartCorvettes)
Here's good news. I live near Akron, and I bought my Vette for $4900. The good news was the price. But I've since put way more into it, by way of paint and an engine, new front end, tires, frame work, the list goes on. From a learning standpoint, it's been worth it. I can do stuff on cars now, that I never thought imaginable.
I'm now looking for a C-4 (to add to the C-3 not replace), but my new motto is "buy the best you can afford!"
Good luck with your search. I just saw a 77 down the street, and I would say it should fall right into your price range, maybe less. From a distance, it looked rough. I'll keep my eye out.
If you should find a candidate, and need help looking it over, let me know. There are quite a few of us in the area who know a thing or two about these cars, and can tell you if the car in question is worth the price.
Go Tribe!
I'm now looking for a C-4 (to add to the C-3 not replace), but my new motto is "buy the best you can afford!"
Good luck with your search. I just saw a 77 down the street, and I would say it should fall right into your price range, maybe less. From a distance, it looked rough. I'll keep my eye out.
If you should find a candidate, and need help looking it over, let me know. There are quite a few of us in the area who know a thing or two about these cars, and can tell you if the car in question is worth the price.
Go Tribe!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest CA
Re: C3 Rookie (joeveto)
my new motto is "buy the best you can afford!"
I know too many of us college students who have bought rough vettes so that we would have a little cash left over to work on them. Of about 8 that I know, mine is the only one running... mainly because I got it just before a divorce, so the guy really wanted to get rid of it. I got lucky...
Again, get the best you can, then work on it when you get some extra cash.
Berserker
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,508
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Re: C3 Rookie (MeHeartCorvettes)
You're probably better off buying a more expensive one that has already had the suspension, brakes, and steering gone through, otherwise you'll be doing it and spending more than what you would have paid if someone had already done that. Then you can worry about making it faster and look better.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: C3 Rookie (Schmucker)
for $5000 you may want to look in the 74-77 range. Not many 78 and newer are going that cheap, unless they are just about beyond repair.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Area Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: C3 Rookie (MeHeartCorvettes)
MeHeart, There is a "77"sitting for sale about 3 miles from me. The price was either $5500 or $5900 I know the paint looks rough, it's silver colored, can't remember the interior it's either red or saddle colored(I think, don't hold me to the color). If you might be interested I'll stop and get the number for you. I live about a 1/2 hour Northwest of Dayton. Good luck in your search :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 315
From: Belmont Michigan
Re: C3 Rookie (guppie)
Welcome to the Forum! :cheers:
The cars are out there, just a little hard to find sometimes. In the local paper right now is a '75 that needs TLC for $6000. A month ago there was a '79 for the same price. Definately bring someone along who knows Vettes to look at a car. A car needing a tune-up and u-joints is a much different story than one needing the rear end rebuilt, wheel bearings, etc. The only problem with those types of cars is that sometimes you don't know until after you've bought it that it needs more done to it than you realized. This is normal! :lol: So always plan for more expenses than you first thought. Good luck with your search!
The cars are out there, just a little hard to find sometimes. In the local paper right now is a '75 that needs TLC for $6000. A month ago there was a '79 for the same price. Definately bring someone along who knows Vettes to look at a car. A car needing a tune-up and u-joints is a much different story than one needing the rear end rebuilt, wheel bearings, etc. The only problem with those types of cars is that sometimes you don't know until after you've bought it that it needs more done to it than you realized. This is normal! :lol: So always plan for more expenses than you first thought. Good luck with your search!
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 949
Likes: 105
From: Cleveland Ohio
Re: C3 Rookie (MidShark)
Everyone, thank you for the replies and offers of assistance!!! You C3 guys seem to be a great group of helpful people, and I'm sure I'll be spending some quality time here, especially once I find the right car. As much as I want one right now, I'm going to try to be patient and find the RIGHT car. There's a 78' Silver Anniversary (silver/black, not pace car) which looks like it's been outside for years. Dirty as heck, needs paint bad, interior is shot, and as for mechanically, I may not want to know. But this is a collectable year, and if the price was right, I'm very tempted. As far as everyone offering to take a look at cars for me, I really don't want anyone to go out of their way for me. If it's on the way to work or something like that, if you stop and get the price/ #, that'd be great! Once again, I appreciate greatly all offers of assistance. From the looks of things, I would be proud to call myself a C3 owner if this is what the crowd is like! :chevy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Re: C3 Rookie (MeHeartCorvettes)
Do yourself a favor -- if these guys want to help, take them up on it! There are several problem areas specific to C3's and most of us know where they lurk. And I don't know about the others but I really ENJOY helping folks check out cars.
Good luck! :seeya
Good luck! :seeya
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: New Hill NC
Re: C3 Rookie (MeHeartCorvettes)
I can only hope that you have a garage and the tools that will allow
you to do the work yourself. Those 2 items are as necessary as the
car to use them with.. :smash:
Good luck, and you came to the right place.
you to do the work yourself. Those 2 items are as necessary as the
car to use them with.. :smash:
Good luck, and you came to the right place.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: C3 Rookie (rreavis)
:iagree:
These are not "shade-tree" cars, although I have yet to find one that is.
The only thing that save my sanity, was knowing I could pull down the garage door, and forget about the car for a week or two, while sorting out the b.s.
These are not "shade-tree" cars, although I have yet to find one that is.
The only thing that save my sanity, was knowing I could pull down the garage door, and forget about the car for a week or two, while sorting out the b.s.
