I got a car that needs paint. Will they do the same deal for me?

 

I have not said anything bad about those who disagree. I feel that most people here feel that I won't be able to turn around and sell it for what money has been put into it. If I got the car for free, then I still probably would not. I some of my other projects are coming to stopping point so I decided to that I would look into something that is sporty and fun to drive. C4 corvettes are in my price range and it has a lot going for it at that price. A guy, I know, has a C4, so I take a look. With the information I gathered, I proceed to as you guys, people who know corvettes, how bad is that for the money. It's 5 miles from my house, I know the owner, I know the history
If I can get my hands on a corvette, then I may drive it everyday or once a week. I don't plan to ever sell whatever it is that I buy.

I'm getting your guys' feed back and clarifying where there is confusion. I am sorry if I insulted you because I didn't say that I like your feedback.

 

We're just telling you that this is a losing proposition almost at any price. You asked. That's the answer

It's your money and it's your friend and it's 5 miles away.
1st rule is you never buy a car from family or friend. Enough said

 

Never sell one to a friend either. Or a lawn mower.

I might make a low offer and plan on getting none of it back. Won't take much mechanically wrong to tank the project before you get started. But....they are a blast to drive and if you can afford to gamble......

 

that's why I said no more than $1000.

worst case scenario, you decide not to throw money at it, you can part it out, Should be able to get approx $1k for the D44 & rear axle assembly, at least you have your money back.

 

That is a good point. I did not think about what it is worth in parts.

1. I do know not to buy from friends and family. I now this guy because he is a regular at work and he graduated with my boss and they are decent friend. Still a valid point I didn't consider.
2. I have done the whole travel around to look at cars, and it gets old after a whole day wasted on one vehicle that was not as advertised. Then do that a couple of times, and I loose interest.

 

I feel we're a kindred spirit. It ain't always about the sale price vs. investment. For some, it is the fun of the project itself that is worth more than it might fetch at sale. (I budget it under RECREATION!).


Always wanted Corvette...but needed a truck too. So when I saw an El Camino that needed a new home - listed for $200(!), I bought her!

$200 was prolly too much! !/2 was in red primer, the bed was rusted through the bulkhead to the cabin area, motor was shot, trans (auto) was toast, tires, suspension...all needed. But, best surprise was the bench seat. Fire ants had come in via that hole in the bulkhead between the cabin and the bed and built a nest IN the foam of the bench seat. Talk about insult to injury!! My wife (at the time) had a total cow when the flatbed truck dropped this wreck off in the driveway!

Took a year to strip it bare and gut it and then piece it back together, in full El Camino "SS" regalia! In all it got new interior, engine/trans, suspension, and paint. (I always wonder if I was the one that started the spray-in bedliner craze. People loved it! So did I.)

When the day came for its debut (My kids named her "Miss Ellie"), she was a beauty! And, there's NOTHING that sounds like a solid lifter, big cammed 427 L88 clone!

I ended up trading it for a 4x4 Jeep Cherokee. After 2 years of commuting and riding the clutch in Atlanta traffic driving a barely streetable car (and getting maybe 8 mpg?), it was time. Did I get what I put into it? That depends on how (I) valued it: money wise - you know the answer, but for the experience, much of which was my first (e.g., painting, body work, etc), it was well worth it!

20 years later, Miss Ellie is still on the road with her new, loving master... She still makes me smile.

So, my point is, a car hobby isn't always about the money, as you know!

.

 

You would most likely need to marry my son's BIL. He's 22 and not a bad looking young man.....

 

This guy gets it. There is a certain amount of pride, accomplishment, and not that comes from working on project cars. I one day I want to be able to do a complete restoration like that. Right now, I may be able to purchase a corvette that may run with 5 minutes of work and some TLC to make it an acceptable everyday driver. It is unfortunate that you had to sell something you spent so much time on, I hope to never have to do that. In the event that I do, then it's good to be able to have that option. Some of you guy are right. It's a complete gamble, it may run in 5 min or it may be dummed before it has begun. Right now I'm tempted to gamble. Also, a car that doesn't start is a fun little challenge in my eyes. I have revived many cars, in the past few year, that have been sitting for a while, so I k ow what may entail.

Don't c4 corvettes have to go in in value eventually? It may not for another 10 years or so, but still.

 

Back in October I purchased a 95 convertible that had been parked since November 2016. The owner had lost the keys. The car was locked and dead. I bought it and after replacing the lock cylinder and charging the battery it fired right up. It was a big gamble but luckily it worked out. Sometimes the admission price is worth the experience.

 

If future resale is truly a concern dont buy it youll never enjoy it

A new car costs what, 40k plus? So dump 20k in a C4 keep it for many years at least you know what you got and can fix it. Not everything has to make financial sense, if that was the case nobody would get married

Did the "collecting" thing in my 20s all first/2nd gen camaros, in perfect condition. If I did nothing but insure maintain and store them all these years Id still have lost money.

 

I bought a running 89 stick for $2,500, 117,000 miles had top put a new convertible top on it and some sensors

 

1500 paint job

 

I may be new here but i just paid $3250 for a running and driving 87 c4 vette with minor problems. if its not running i probally would not pay more then $1000 for it but that's just my 2 cents.

 

im on my third c4 refurb project. because i like doing it. my personal rule is they have ro be driveable while being refurbed or i walk.

lasr one was good paint, dirty as f under the hood and leaking like mad everywhre, and interior was trashed.

id walk from this car u describe for anything more than 250$

if u do buy it we will help u but if u cannot even get into the door u have alot of finniky work ahead of u already.

 

Vt stop looking at those cheap ZR1s. That red one is a total pile of chit

 

 

 

Well I did get in it Saturday. It just took a sec to break into it. The interior is complete, but the carpet on the doors is coming off. I checked all fluids and they are all full. I am actually surprised that nothing has leaked out, or evaporated. I also made sure the engine is still free and not locked up. I don't think that he is going to come down. The problem is, the car is exactly what I want in a C4. Personally I would like to hear it start before I payed for it, then that would involve me making that happen, which probably won't take much.

No matter what, I know it is to much for this car.

 

OP, it's your money, not mine so do what you want, but I totally agree with Paul Workman, it' what YOU get out of it. Doesn't really matter what the rest of us think. Anybody that has been a 'car guy' for any period of time knows it's a money loser.

Is this car overpriced? Probably. BUT if it meets your desires and requirements, it ain't that high, especially if it is Z51 with the stick. As to the OD unit they can (are) problematic, but the 4-speed box is rock solid and the car is very driveable even if the OD is finicky.

Remember you are on a Corvette forum where paint is supreme, hence the many comments on cost of painting. But I see this is not a deal breaker for you and I agree. Nothing wrong with a primered car in my bock either.

The way I see it you apparently have at least some idea of the service the car has had in the past. I think you said the owner had it serviced at your boss' shop. It's close to home vs traveling 100s miles to find a cheaper car with even less knowledge of service history. It meets your requirements, L98, manual trans, early C4 body. Since you appear to have the ability to do virtually all the mechanical work to get it up an running, I would buy it, but then I like projects.

So if you pay more than the 'experts' here, consider it an extra 'tax' on the car that speaks to YOU.

On a side note I think I'll book mark this thread for reference the next time the "are C4s going up in value" thread. Apparently not! There are, according to this thread, a lot of running driving, good paint C4s for $5K.