A restored 98 C5 with 70,000 miles that has sat idle outside for 9 years will never be worth $12K. Would you buy it for that? So do not expect to get your money out of it. That is what I am trying to point out. If you are willing to lose some time and money on this project, then by all means go for it. It very easily could become a money pit as you find more and more things wrong with it as you tear into it. Just go in with your eyes open and not rely on your emotions.

 

JR he is getting a vet for free. It has had a hard life outside, does not mean the mechanical s are shot. It is not a concourse car like yours, he knows it is not pristine. He wants a project car. I will bet you have never built anything from the ground up. Most fun of any project is looking back and see the improvements YOU have made. Even if he spends $1000 to get it home then $4000 on it after and has a drive-able Corvette in England he can recoup his money without a paint job. It is not about how much in dollars it IS about the fun of doing it. I can't see why spending less than a supercharger (of which you never get all of the 8k back) is not worth having some fun in the restoration. A couple of friends and i built 56 sedan delivery for drag racing years ago. It was wrecked and rusted but when we finished we had a nice car, won many races, and YES we sold it for LESS than we had in it But were happy as little pigs for a number of years.

Go for it silver50 have fun and keep us advised on how it is coming along.

 

Thank you TinkersVet, spot on.

@JR-01, I was referring to what the car is worth here. My exchange to dollars was just to give a reference point. Mind you, even on ebay.com even rough looking C5's with high mileages still seem to command a fairly high price. Being that a lot of these cars are circa 20 years old I'd say any for sale other than low low mileage mint cars could easily have been tidied with paintwork and will have had various other aspects attended to as well. I don't see any great divide as a far as restored/unrestored? Unless it's different in the US, value is surely just about general condition and mileage. The exception in a case like this would be an ability to show good regular maintenance records but on the other hand if a host of recent expenditure is evident old records wouldn't matter too much. JR, you might end up with the last laugh here (I genuinely mean that) but I'd like to think it might end up working out. I've put in a lot of effort already in relation to researching getting the car moved to the UK so if I want to move this forward I need to keep faith. Downing it is not helpful. If I do get this car home and it becomes evident it isn't worth saving I'll be cutting my losses sharpish. Equally if and when I get to Spain myself things look really bad I'll be seriously reconsidering. Again, hopefully not. There should be a fighting chance it shouldn't be too bad.

 

Sure..... it would be great if all he had to spend on it is $4000..but that could be just the beginning. Actually I have built several cars and trucks from the ground up, so I know exactly what I am talking about. I built a show winning 52 Ford Pickup starting with a cab on a frame 45 years ago when I was 21. I have also rescued several 1st and second generation Mustangs from the scrap yard and built several 4x4 Ford trucks and not to forget bringing a C3 back from the dead... I was just trying to inform him not expect too much with that C5 that has sat for 9 years. These cars can get expensive to make reliable. I hope he does take on the project, Just so he has an idea what he might be in for and not to expect to get his money back or that it may never become a reliable driver.. Seen a lot of projects end with bad results.

 

A year or so ago I bought a low mileage but not very nice 1999 Mercedes SL320. I worked on it over the course of a winter and had it fully resprayed (did most body work myself including new fenders). Spent about £4000 on it. I sold it to the UK’s premier classic SL dealer who doubled their money on it. There’s no need to fret about my approach. I’ll be taking care and if necessary will know when to quit.

Here’s my own one

For those that are interested they’re Brabus split rims I refurbished

 

I have a '64 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 that sat for almost 40 years. Granted, it wasn't outside but a true barn find. It was on dirt floor so bottom side is rusty but I have parts car to replace rusted panels. Anyway, had to replace the gas tank and battery and of course fluids but it fired right up and still runs great! 72K mile all original car. Still on old bias ply tires too!

This C5 could be a lost cause or it could need only minor work to get back on the road. No telling until you did into it. If the column is locked maybe you can get some wheel dollies to stick under the front tires? That way you can load it up on a trailer or flat bed.Good luck with it and looking forward to seeing photos of it.

 

Thanks. Cool car, very cool! Always liked 60’s American cars, very few of them here. The corvette is unfortunately looking like it’s on rough ground (see picture above). Hopefully the column isn’t locked not to release. A new battery sounds essential for this aspect alone but even that is something I’d have ideally not bothered with if it could’ve been loaded onto its trailer/transport over there.

 

It's unfortunate that it set without a garage but I would look at the car first and make the best of it. It's free to you so other than getting it home, I don't see any problem. It'll need the normal stuff any car that set will need. You can assess the total it's going to cost you later and decide if you want to sell it for parts or put back on the road. Good luck with the project!

 

I surround myself with positive people in life and it seems to have worked. I have no use for negative people and avoid them like the plague.

 

There you go again. What if the man is a multi millionaire and wants to spend as much at it takes to restore it or even if he can't but loves a challenge. Why do you care?

 

Not a Corvette, but...

My girlfriend's stepdad passed away, parked in the garage at least since 2006 is his 1992 Suzuki Intruder 800.

I checked fluids, hooked jumper cables on it with car not running (friend into motorcycles told me running engine would be too much) sprayed a little shot of staring fluid, fired up on 2nd try.

Gas and exhaust stunk, running kinda boggy (slow to rev up) most likely the old gas.

Put in a battery and took it for a spin, old 1992 tires are totally dry, downshifted and let out clutch too fast, back tire skidded some.

Parked it and it's leaking gas, thinking it's the carbs, gaskets probably dry rotted, or fuel line.

It got to running better after warming up.

It's free to me, but...

I'm scared of riding it and someone hit me, way too many bad driver's, in a car much much more safe.

I say try starting it up with good battery, pour in some fresh premium gas, hopefully it's near empty.

Mine sit for almost 5 years may 2013- September 2017, but was in garage in Phoenix Arizona area, I kept gas low, would pour fresh gallon in every few months or sometimes years and fire it up and let it idle.

Replaced lots of stuff when I put it back on road, battery, coolant tank (was leaking before parking it) new belts and pullies, idlers and tensioners, just got new tires a couple of months ago.

Flushed and replaced coolant, oil, transmission oil (manual trans)

Hope no mice chewed wires.

I once had a 1981 Z28 Camaro parked outside in the country, mice got in and ate interior and wires, wasps or hornets invaded it, and Black Angus cattle dented it up rubbing on it to scratch themselves, lol.

It went to a salvage yard.

 

I think that generally if a vehicle isn't sat in a horrid damp atmosphere or through snowy winters (or in Scotland sitting near the coast meaning salty sea air rusting out) then there's a fighting chance the majority of things will be ok. The worst risk is perhaps animals/rodents nesting and chewing wiring. That would be unfortunate. Otherwise as we're saying, considering fuel, major servicing with all belts/filters and brake work. There could easily be a host of other things, I know but my feeling is that a much longer length of time would pose a lot more risk than the 8/9 year period.

My worst fear is inability to tackle initial difficulties in Spain. At some stage I hope to fly out for a few days and ideally might try to arrange the transport for the same time. Obviously try to inflate tyres and see if I can get the car rolling and hope the steering column isn't stuck too. A question.

I was going to look this up, but if anyone can tell me anything about towing hooks etc, please do.

Am I right I will really need a battery in Spain, mainly to stand a chance of unlocking the steering ? Are these cars usually alright on jumper leads if say my transportation guy was to power it UP from his truck? I would perhaps take a battery but doubt an airline will allow it! It might not be all that easy to lay my hands on a battery out there, not knowing where to go and with language difficulties. Is there anything special about the battery I should know about?

 

I wouldn’t connect a battery untill you do a good inspection of ALL the electric wiring, may be shorted wiring from animals chewing on them. The last thing you want is a short circuit starting a fire!

 

That's a fair point. I'm of course thinking of steering column unlocking above all. I looked this morning for info on putting power directly to the column lock device having read about the LMC5 unlocker cables but didn't turn up much. Still need to read more here on sticky's etc. One not great youtube video
I've got this nagging feeling my uncle might have mentioned years ago the column being mysteriously locked but there's a very high chance this was with a low or bad battery. I will try to get my father to see if he can check if the steering is free or not when he goes out in a few weeks. I understand early recalls may have meant it might well be free.

 

It ,might be worth that, across the pond/

 

I'm obviously talking about in good order when I refer to what one is worth over here. Left hand drive cars seem surprisingly valuable in the UK. I think it must be that some people would buy one here to then take to europe where all are LHD. I suspect Corvettes are worth a little bit more here than in the US. Value isn't something I'm hung up on at all but I did of course want to look at some values to see if the idea was worthwhile if it were to end up costing a fair bit.

When I see the price of the likes of this in the US it doesn't look particularly cheap. I imagine to those stateside the USD price probably feels similar to how we would see the GBP price here.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1999-Chevro...on=3000%7C2500

One for sale here in UK

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chevrolet...IAAOSwFpNdHfmU

They're relative value may then be roughly the same which is quite interesting but you guys will get a fright when I say the red one with 97,000 miles translates to $17,000! You may want to start importing them!

 

A 98 C5 with 70K miles that has sat idle in the weeds for almost 10 years? Hard car to sell. So he gets it running and driving and later on it starts to burn oil or doesn't shift right? Does he put even more money into it? If he takes on the project, he should do it for himself and not to sell.
He has to figure out how much money to put into it and know when to call it quits. I hope he does do it. I am just pointing out the possible downside.

 

@JR-01 I’m sorry but I’m losing patience with your replies. The negativity is beyond comprehension. Cars aren’t rocket science they either work or they don’t and things can almost always be put right. You are right about balancing cost but I ought not to have to say again I am not stupid and would not further the project if it were to get uneconomical.

Its a big if at at the moment but if it were to work out, firstly it’s not getting done to profit but secondly and fore mostly, if it were to be fixed ok, would you like to explain why “later on” with fluid changes and use it would “start burning oil or not shifting right?”

Also, this “hard to sell sat in the weeds idle for ten years, hard car to sell” Do you think they would be the title for an ad? Of course not, it would be a car that has been gone through in good shape so would be attractive.

As I say, sorry, losing patience with the completely negative, unfounded input. Bizarre. You say you’d like it to work out well. Fair enough, but it truly doesn’t sound like it. Also, why should this necessarily be worlds apart from the chap on here who bought the yellow car which is essentially ok.

I say the above with trepidation because you might be the one with the last laugh but oh boy, if ever there was a doubter and downer of something.

 

LOL. It's not negativity. It's facing reality. Seals in cars that sit for long periods of time can break down causing oil consumption, leaking rear ends and transmissions.. Corrosion in the cylinders can also cause oil consumption. Many times engines and transmissions that have sat that long need to be rebuilt. I have seen it several times. Many years ago a local guy bought a 69 Mustang that had only a couple thousand miles that had been stored in a shed for 10 to 15 years.. He had to rebuild the tranny and engine due to leaks and oil consumption.. You don't seem to have a clue as to what you might be facing. I was just trying to enlighten you, because I have been through it before..
Not informing a potential buyer about the cars history would be dishonest, bordering on fraud. I guess if that's how you operate then you deserve what happens. I am done here even though I am one of the only ones here giving you an honest opinion. You don't seem to want to know the truth.
Good bye.

 

Phew.

I would not be dishonest if I retrieve and eventually may sell the car. It would be true and honest to say it belonged to my uncle who became ill and it sat unused for a long time. I am also aware I have posted information here can and will be seen by others. I staunchly defend the fact that current order and condition upon sale are what matters most on a 20 year old car.

I am not sure you saw my post above about the 1999 Mercedes, it had not been cared for well and needed a lot of tlc. I suspect I put in around 150 hours last winter. I am acutely aware of the kind of things that go bad. However, I am keeping an open mind and hoping for the best. My reason for coming on here is for support and information in preparation for the task ahead. My very first reply (being from you) saying every system will need refurbished and it might cost ten times what I expect was simply unfounded and unnecessarily discouraging.

I apologise to other forum members for this bickering but I did lose patience today with the other users input and remarks. However it was obviously the case other users similarly felt the input wasn't useful.