C4/c3
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 76
From: leesburg fl
St. Jude Donor '12
C4/c3
This weekend I'm going to go look at a 79 C3 that needs some work. The asking price is 3200. The owner said that he will entertain guns for trade. Well I have a nice custom built colt H3 elite that I dont use anymore. Its a sniper rifle with a scope. so I may make an offer of 1500 and my colt. What do you guys think about C3s
Dont get me wrong I will never let go of my 90 vert. but that car is complete it only needs floor mats. So I would like another toy to play with that dont cost a lot of up front money.
Dont get me wrong I will never let go of my 90 vert. but that car is complete it only needs floor mats. So I would like another toy to play with that dont cost a lot of up front money.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Love 'em. The C3 was the Corvette that started the fascination for me. Someday I'd love to add one to the herd. You might want to drop over into the C3 section and pick their brains about what to look for. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
I always thought that the 79 was the best of the C3's. A lot of northern cars get brought down to Fla. along with retirees and EBAY, so be very carefull about looking for rust. They made a lot of the later C3's and they were a little slow and unreliable (both of which are fairly easily remedied) so the market is real soft on them. $3200 sounds like a pretty good price.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Nice thing with the C3's is that you have a blank canvas drivetrain wise. 82 notwithstanding, they're not EFI, so the electronics are much simpler. No digital gauges, no ABS, no computers....a plethora of crate motors will drop right in. I'm with ZR1 Fred...pick up a later one and put the performance wherever you want it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
I always thought that the 79 was the best of the C3's. A lot of northern cars get brought down to Fla. along with retirees and EBAY, so be very carefull about looking for rust. They made a lot of the later C3's and they were a little slow and unreliable (both of which are fairly easily remedied) so the market is real soft on them. $3200 sounds like a pretty good price.
OP: Rust! These cars - the frames - have a problem with rust. The guys in the C3 section can tell you all about it. The frame over all, and the weld on the section that is welded to the frame and goes up over the rear axles - that area is a critical stress point; one to be sure to look at too. Then the frame around the windshield, aka "the bird cage".
P.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 9
From: Minneapolis MN
I love the look of the C3's for sure and would love to own one someday. But with one that cheap...as others have mentioned...look for rust and all the other stuff because they can become real money pits if they need too much restoration.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
I would love a C3... IMHO the chrome bumper ones look best.
Aside from my existing C4, there are only 2 other Corvettes that I just dream about.
1. Triple Black Chrome Bumper C3 Convertible with Side Pipes and a 427 with 3-2bbl's. Dunno if this particular configuration ever came from the factory or not.
2. 1993 Black on Black ZR-1.
Sure the '63 split window would be nice, but I honestly would rather have either of the above.
The C3's were some of the sexiest looking Vettes ever made in my book.
Aside from my existing C4, there are only 2 other Corvettes that I just dream about.
1. Triple Black Chrome Bumper C3 Convertible with Side Pipes and a 427 with 3-2bbl's. Dunno if this particular configuration ever came from the factory or not.
2. 1993 Black on Black ZR-1.
Sure the '63 split window would be nice, but I honestly would rather have either of the above.
The C3's were some of the sexiest looking Vettes ever made in my book.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 2
From: PA
I looked at a bunch of C3s. Every one under 10k was either a rustbucket or a parts car. Check carefully!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
Every C3 that was worth anything was $12k....the cheaper ones needed a "lot" of work....Hence I wound up with the '84 I have now.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,115
Likes: 282
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Having owned both on several occasions, I can tell you that a C3 is a cheaper and easier resto than a C4 as long as you stay away from the 81 & 82 models with command control and EFI.
Good luck!
My last C3 resto;
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,115
Likes: 282
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,896
Likes: 143
From: Manalapan New Jersey
As mentioned .RUST! I have a 71 C3 which is almost complete with a frame on resto. The birdcage is the rough area and mine was in worse shape than I thought it would be. The frames were made by AO Smith of the water heater fame. Be wary of cheap priced C3's.may sound like a bargain but it may not be!!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
This weekend I'm going to go look at a 79 C3 that needs some work. The asking price is 3200. The owner said that he will entertain guns for trade. Well I have a nice custom built colt H3 elite that I dont use anymore. Its a sniper rifle with a scope. so I may make an offer of 1500 and my colt. What do you guys think about C3s
Dont get me wrong I will never let go of my 90 vert. but that car is complete it only needs floor mats. So I would like another toy to play with that dont cost a lot of up front money.
Dont get me wrong I will never let go of my 90 vert. but that car is complete it only needs floor mats. So I would like another toy to play with that dont cost a lot of up front money.
