The car is at one of those low end used car lots that specialize in bad credit sales, and POS vehicles. This is not where I would normally look for a car. But I was driving by yesterday and spotted this vette on the lot, so I had to stop.

First of all, the car is complete, everything is there. The motor is a 454 with weiand intake, holley double pumper, long tube headers, and it's NOM. Motor sounds good, with no unusual noises. Exhaust system from the headers back is totally rusted.

Body is in fairly good condition, but desperately needs paint, and a front bumper cover. I beleive the original color was yellow, paint code 56L. The car has been repainted four times that I can tell. Trim code 692.

The tires are nearly new with after market alum rims.

Now the worst part of the car. The floor pan on the driver side is completely shot, I can literally put my foot through it and touch the ground. Body mount under driver seat is also totally rusted away. Frame seems to be in very good shape, however I have not had it on a lift yet. If I get serious I will do a thorough inspection. There is no rust on the windshield pillars. Also, bubba did the install on the radiator, since the radiator support is rusted away.

Carpet shot, seats okay, interior need some work, but it's all there. Car has PW, PB, PS, no air, auto trans, don't know rear end ratio.

Price in window is $5,595.00. After I verbally tore the car apart, the guy said he would take $4,500.00. I would still offer less, cash of course, in small bills.

It's a project car for sure. But, I only want it for a daily driver, not a show car. Then I could put less miles on my 69 vert.

Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appriciated.

:cool:

 

Just check the frame for rust! I'm sure others can add in things to check but frame rust is a biggie. Good luck! :seeya

 

You want a 454 for a daily driver. :eek: For that application you might want to spend a little less money on somthing with a 350 that you can get a little better mileage out of (82 crossfire maybe? or C4?). But otherwise that sounds like a cool idea :yesnod: .


[Modified by 77Dream, 2:10 PM 8/21/2003]

 

Phil

Can't be 76 454 NOM since the 454 stopped in 74.

 

I have a 355 in my 69, with over 400 ponies, and it is a dailey driver. I'm not concerned with mpg, and I don't care for C4's. Just wondering if anyone else would buy this car in it's present condition, knowing the repairs that are needed. I can do all the work myself, over a two year period. I enjoy working on vettes, call me crazy, it's a hobby of mine.
:cool:

 

Uhm ... 76's never came with a 454 so it's certainly not a #'s matching car. And it's a slushbox. :nonod: A lot of these old sharks have disintegrated rad supports, it's not necessarily because it was bubbaed in. Also sounds like whoever owned it last let it leak water and let it sit there long enough to eat away the floorpans and seat mounts ... sooo you kinda have to wonder what kind of care they took for the rest of the car. If the frame is solid, I wouldn't go over 4k.

 

If you are willing to do some work, $4K wouldn't be that bad. :thumbs:

 

:iagree:

 

By the time you got all the issues fixed on this car you would have way too much money in it. Keep looking and you will find something better to start off with. Too many painful issues for me.

J

 

:iagree:
74 was the last year Stingray came from factory with BB

 

Chris......NOM, non original motor.

wcsinx....absolutely not # matching, and I do not care. I'm thinking $3,500.

Jmccreary....[quote] By the time you got all the issues fixed on this car you would have way too much money in it. Keep looking and you will find something better to start off with. Too many painful issues for me.

Major issues are floor pan and radiator support, not really that big a deal to me. If I can buy the car for $3,500 I wouldn't mind investing the time and money to put the car back on the road. I would do the paint myself too, so I don't think I would over invest in the car.

:cool:

 

It seems like 3,500 cash American Greenback Dollars isn't a bad deal for the car given the description and your desire/ability/enjoyment in doing the work.

Just check that frame very carefully. And do some noodling around in the birdcage area just to make sure you're not biting off more than meets the eye.

 

I believe the price is right even at $4500.00. Main reason, same reason I spent what I did on my 71, 454 parts are not cheap. When I bought my 71 there was another buyer I beat to the punch, his plans were to pull the 454 and use it else where, replace it with a 350 and resell the car.

 

i would pass.

 

Floor is shot, needs paint, rusted rad support. Have you checked the frame for rust? It's probably shot, too.

I'd be thinking no more than $2500 if the frame was decent. That's just me though :)

 

:iagree: :withstupid:

 

I bet the birdcage is toast! Take a good magnet with you and test the birdcage. Check your car first and then compare it with the 76. You should also pull the kickpanels and look up into them.
Good luck.

 

:iagree: