tomtom72

But I'm very prejudiced because my first vette, back in '77, was a 72 LT-1. It was a track rat that I almost brought home in boxes... Took me 10 months to put it back together, but when it was done I drove the wheels off of that car, absolutely loved it. It was a factory A/C car, t-top and it had the 68 side pipes which were obnoxious....yea I loved that car!

That car was fun, and I'll always have a spot in my heart for her!

MRANT212

I consider myself lucky having both. My 71 BB is a rip to drive. Has all the right smells and makes all the old car noises. Turns more heads than my C4 but the C4 is a helluva lot more civilized and going thru turns its no contest...C4 kills the C3 in handling!

Bitburgslim

C3s are awesome. Period.

As a child when I had a hot wheels Corvette it was so distinct with its cool shark look. That look made it unmistakeable.

And Im happy that the C4 was able to keep a good dose of that shark look to it. To me when I see a C5 it just looks like the Vette got away from its roots a lil bit - but C5s are awesome in their own right and Id love to get my hands on one someday.

to the C3 - an American Classic Forvever.

iamfine2

I just sold a 1981 and bought a 1995 6 speed.
I have to say I like the ride better, more power and more interior room.
But, I really like both styles, if I had the $$ i would own both.

auavette

Bought myself a 76 21 yrs ago.
Was my daily driver untill this spring when I completed the project of putting a bb with a 8-71 weiand blower and also changed the steering to a rack and pinion and the front suspension to the monoleaf suspension.
Now it is my sunday driver

KBRVETTE93

Gorgeous styling. Gas crunch of the 70's sabotaged the performance of the later models.

RacerX70CC

Late '70's early 80's C3 lived in the era of


Thus... the derisive nickname "Disco Vette"...

Love the early ('68 - '72) C3's, even though they don't fit us tall guys very well.. My preference for "classic" Vettes would be a '63 - '67.. fits us big guys a lot better than C3's, and the suspension's are the same.

timscott

I LOVE them......... I own one of each. Black '79 and a '96 Collector Edition. The are both wonderful cars.

MRHTRD

I have owned the following:

1 - C1
1 - C2
8 - C3's
4 - C4's
1 - C5

The best of the bunch was a 78 at coupe that I customized for large $$$$$ and put on the show circuit for a year......

The absolute best of the bunch was the C5..... man those cars just have it all !!!!

But I truly love my Ruby 6 spd coupe..... I will own this car until I die.

MRHTRD

ETM

My first Corvette was a beautiful 1980 that drove me crazy. I loved the car and put my heart and soul into fixing it up and trying to make it perfect.

I ended up selling it and getting a `95 Convertible that is better in every practicle way. Though it doesnt get the same looks, comments and questions that a C3 like that will get almost daily.

I miss having a Shark in that way. I would like get one again in the future. I still think the C3 body style is the most stunning Corvette Generation.

'Shifter

I love 'em all, I have since I was a wee 'Shifter....

zr1fred

C-3's are like a lesbian super model.........

Jon Hekking

Say what you want, but my "disco Vette" gets far more interest and looks on the street than my C4. They are from a unique period in time and are definately underpowered, but IMHO the early 80s cars still have the sexiest lines ever put on a vette. At least the inspiration for a C3 wasn't a shoebox like a C4

Final Effort

After owning a 61, 63, 74 & 88. The C3 is the last of the real Vettes.

vader86

After I buy a C6, a chrome bumper shark is my next purchase. I'm getting a high-mileage one and restoring it and drivin it til the wheels fall off.

SnoopyCool

My first car was a C3... an 82 CE. Traded it for a 74 after just a year (I was young and restless)... regretted it ever since, actually. The 74 was totaled by an idiot in the school parking lot and I spent a little more and got a 94 to replace it. Had that car for a little over 8 years now (I'm currently 26). Honestly, I've had one for 80% of my driving life... but I don't like C4's. I bought the car intending to trade up to a C5 when I had the money, but I got busy with school and life and just always had more important things to spend money on than upgrading a car that worked perfectly well. Now I'm back into the mindset of trading up, but I'm saving for the down payment on a C6 instead. Sure, the C4 is great fun to drive, and once I'm inside, I like it. But walking up to the car every morning, all I think about is "man... I drive an ugly car."

For the C3's, they were pains in the ***... whenever something was fixed, something else seemed to go wrong. Such awesome cars, though... nothing gets waves and second looks like a nice C3. Someday I'll own another one... I've always said that a C3 with modern running gear and power is my dream car. Someday.

SunCr

The styling is great - but I'm a bit surprised. Having been around for the '70's, the dramatic drop in power and figuring out how to live (disable) mediocre emission controls wasn't anything my peer group went gaga about, but I'll have to admit it was better than anything else that was out there. I almost bought a '73 and then a '76, but other than the look, I couldn't see paying the price so I bought a boat instead (probably a bigger mistake). After the C4 was launched, there were plenty available but maybe like a lot of C4's today, the C3's I saw looked pretty tired out. I wouldn't buy beyond '73 today, but only because that's the last year still exempt from emissions out here.

shakedown067

Just the 76-82's need engine transplants due to the fuel crises during that time period.

cv67