Newbie seeking advice on C2 as daily driver
 

Greetings, all, I'm a noob to the forum, but have loved Corvettes ever since my mother(!) owned a mid-70's C3, that she bought strictly for its looks alone, not knowing anything about Corvette history. It was her daily driver and was trouble-free in the half-dozen years she owned it. Fast-forward 30+ years, and I'm lusting for a C2, also for a daily driver. I live in Southern California,have a short commute (23 miles RT, mostly slow and go freeway), and put on only about 9K miles a year. I would probably be looking for a 64-66 convertible, SB, restored at some point, don't care about numbers matching or engine originality, but wouldn't want an extreme resto-mod, $50-60K price range (I've seen a couple listed here that look very nice but are just outside my price range). Anyway, my questions:

1. What are the main reasons for or against a C2 as a daily driver? Comfort? Reliability? Depreciation (I'm not looking for an investment, just something to enjoy as I near retirement)? Maintenance? (I am not mechanically inclined but willing to learn, and my brother, who is, lives in the same city)

2. I am curious as to which forum members do use their C2 as a daily driver, and what their experiences have been. Were you hypervigilant driving such a nice vehicle around? How did you handle parking at work? (I park outside with 1 side against a curb, and would probably use a car cover) How did you handle the extra scrutiny? (I am NOT a social butterfly, so I do not welcome the extra visibility)

Thank you for any responses; my current vehicle is technically advanced and comfortable, but its seamless competence makes me feel like I'm in an appliance. The C2, on the other hand, takes my breath away. -Fred

Welcome;
You will see many faces on the forum. Those that collect, investors, number crunchers, part number searchers, as well as a few hobbyists / gear heads that enjoy the car for its main purpose. I can't say I drive a C-2 daily although I have four coupes. Being on the tall side they don't really fit properly . I enjoy wrenching on them and scanning the storage space for their earlier cousins. Nothing wrong with a daily driven type. The drive train is basically non computerized therefore simple tools keep it in tune and repairable. California should provide a rust free frame unless it lives near the ocean. A basic average condition body with a coat of paint should suffice as a traffic stopper and great hobby. Take time to search for the right example staying focused on the mechanicals, not the history stories designed to add value. Welcome to the disease. Hope your garage has a space for your future dream . Many good printed articles on development and maintenance are available. Buy, read, and enjoy !

I've been as many miles on C1s and C2s as most anybody on here with the possible exception of 2-3 people. These cars can be made uber-reliable and comfortable with a few upgrades. The biggest, recurring issue to me is fuel percolation with modern gas - it can be a PITA to overcome. Radial tires, and A/C are nice additions.

Having said that using the car as a daily driver will exclude you from most classic car insurance companies (maybe all of them) which provide 'agreed upon value' for your $50K investment. Regular car insurance will most likely be 'stated value'; meaning your insured like and old, funky, used car without modern safety equipment. Bad news.

And yes, you better damn well keep your head on a swivel and drive defensively as hell when in traffic. Your life depends on 50 year old brake and seat belts; no ABS brakes, crush zones, side impact reinforcement, air bags and what-have-you..

As far as attention, if you don't like it then you're considering the wrong car. Its so bad I had some wannabe with a cell phone glued to his ear hang around within two feet of my 61 in a restaurant parking lot pretending it was his while he talked - for about 20 minutes. Patrons were giving him thumbs up and he grinned back and waved as he stood by the driver's door. I would have gone out and jacked him up (especially if he so much as touched the car) but he was entertaining as hell...watching from inside the eatery.

Hello Fred. Welcome to the forum.

One major issue you will have to deal with is insurance. You will want to have an "agreed value" policy for your car and none of the carriers I know of will cover you if you drive your car to work or use it in any other daily driver type of use. Seems like I've heard that some companies might let you drive to work on an occasional basis for an additional cost but I'm not sure about that. Maybe someone else can chime in with more information about that.

Steve

Hello

Here is my .02 opinion. A lot of people drove these cars everyday so if you have a car that's "sorted out" its more than possible.

However, these are 50 plus year old cars. Things happen and they will need more attention than a new car if driven for everyday use. You have to be tolerant of their quirks so to speak. I have a friend who wanted a 1967 Mustang Fastback since he was a kid. He finally had and opportunity to buy one. The owner of the car started asking him questions about how "mechanical" he was (he not a fiddler or mechanical at all) Basically the owner of the Mustang talked him out of buying his car. If you aren't mechanically inclined to a certain extent it will get $$$ to own a Corvette bringing it to your mechanic a lot.

If you get a rag top it will more than likely leak. Being in Florida with rain. My girlfriend never too happy to have water dripping on her thigh or pouring down (If raining hard). I put a new seal in windshield that helped alot. Yeah she loves my car. My girl thinks of cars as something to get you from point A to point B. We went on our first date she thought it was and OLD CAMARO. Yeah she didn't have a clue what it was and still not crazy about my car. She asked me one time if it was between keeping her or my car which one would I chose. I told her I would miss her a lot when she was gone :)

I have a 1963 Corvette with original drum brakes. I seen the way people drive out in California its similar to Florida. If you are use to having your 4 wheel disc brakes on your car and riding someone ass down the freeway. You will be sadly mistaken if you think this will stop on a dime. Mine drive, rides, and handles like a 1963 Corvette.

I guess the bottom line is you have to LOVE this car and be tolerant of all its little quirks and problems a newer car wont have.

I finally put AC in my car. I got tired of sweating my ass off (I have plenty of ass to sweat) My girl like my car little more because it has AC. You have to realize all those modern conveniences you are going to lose when you buy this Corvette.
:cheers:

living in taxachusettes i only get to drive mine in the spring summer and fall and i cant get enough of it . I am retired but if i wasnt and i lived in ca or fla or somewhere the weather was nice year round i'd definitely use it as a daily , but would have to have some of the upgrades like a/c power steering and disk brakes , all of which are obtainable . Get one , do the upgrades and drive the wheels off of it , but like others have said you will get attention. I was driving down the highway when this dizzy broad came right up next to me and blasted her horn only to compliment me while driving by , scared the hell outa me , but nothing wrong with a sweet young thing in a convertible beemer paying attention to an old geezer like me !

daily driver
 

I guess I'm a little different than most of the collectors that engage in the older cars. My theory is they are cars and their highest calling is to be a car, therefore meant to be driven. I grew up with no AC Vista Cruisers on cross the US road trips so well aware of the lack of creature comforts these cars have. Also grew up working on them with my Dad so the "tinkering" isn't a surprise to me either - had a '72 Cutlass that literally ATE water pumps for a while. But hey, it only took 45 minutes to replace so what's the big deal - except maybe if you're more into TV than working with your head and hands... I'm restoring my '67 to be a driver and that's exactly where you'll find me, out driving it. Already had my first "car show" the day I drove it home from the tuner shop, two guys on cell phones that just had to walk around it for 10 minutes in front of the restaurant.
Basically, if you know what you're getting into and WHY you're doing it then you'll be the happiest guy on the road with the biggest smile - especially compared to all those that forked over $60-70k for a german sport sedan that just happens to look like every other Kia and Hyundai on the road! Absolutely NOTHING can compare to the looks of this!!!


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...fe30faeba5.jpg

I see no reason not to daily drive a C2. Plenty reliable if you make it so. You will however pay higher insurance premium if you insure it as such. I, like many members here, have Classic Car insurance and the premiums are very low because we chose not to carry every day coverage. You can insure it for an agreed value and drive it every day but expect to pay for it. A $50K car is a $50K car be it a newer Corvette or an older one. You will pay the premium on $50K. My agreed value insurance would be approximately 2.5 times more expensive as a daily driver. I checked.

Tom

Simple...great daily driver as explained in posts....300,000 miles...so you can drive it a lot.

Insurance as a Classic with all the restrictions $400 a year

Insurance as a daily driver with agreed value about $1,000 to $1,500 same as a normal $50,000 car

The more you drive the less the car acts up

Jack

Well ALL of the above advice seems prudent to heed, but let me add one more. I'm not against you driving these fine cars on a daily basis but do be aware of the thief's that also will like your vehicle. Therefor be SURE it is parked in a safe place while you leave it unattended.And remember PARTS can be removed as well as the whole car.Good luck:thumbs:

Hey Jack - I'd be thrilled to pay $1,500 a year for an agreed value daily driver policy. What company offers that?

Steve

you got that right !

I have had my 60 Vette for 37 years, it is truly a daily driver, I drive it every day the weather permits, I drive it where ever I want too and when I want too, I take it to my second home in NY and back without hesitation.

I do normal and routine service on it as it requires and it has proven to be very reliable.

I enjoy driving the old cars even with their bias ply tires and antiquated suspension and lack of creature comforts.

What the folks are saying about classic car insurance is very true, I do not have classic car insurance on my cars because I drive them to much and I don't cotton too much about someone telling when and for what purpose I can use my property as long i am within the confines of the law.

If I took time to worry about it getting scratched up or dinged it would take a lot of the fun out of driving it. I enjoy the hell out it and don't answer to anyone, all in all it's just another car.

Bill

You stated you would be driving in a "mostly slow and go freeway" situation, which brings a couple other things to mind as you contemplate a C2 as a daily driver. You may want to consider an auto transmission vs dealing with a clutch every day in traffic. Also, C2s tend to overheat when driving in traffic on hot days, such as SoCal.

What brothers me the most would be theft and you not being mechanically inclined. While these cars can be reliable they are still 50 years old with sketchy replacement parts that may or may not be any good. I feel after about a month your going to learn to hate it unless you you modify a lot of things.

Daily Driver
 

If not done so already, I would drive a C-2 before giving up my daily driver. The cars are, without a doubt, great to drive. However, once you get used to driving a modern car, you may be in for a let down. Has anyone mentioned the smell of unburned hydrocarbons? No really, my wife can always tell when I have driven my side piped 66. I don't know if I could dive it every day. Jerry

Thanks!
 

I totally agree; most modern cars look like soap bars. Just looking at your beautiful car puts the biggest smile on my face! -Fred

My 65 was my daily driver for a few years back in the early 70's and it was alot of fun. However, I just can't see driving one as a daily driver today. They are magnets wherever you park them, not nearly as comfortable, reliable or fuel efficient as newer Corvettes or regular cars for that matter. In the snow belt, which I daily drove mine in for years, they are not too great. I drive mine all the time and really enjoy it, but to daily drive it, well, I just think there are better choices.

For those that do, I get it. It's a blast to be in. Just alot of better choices now.

I stopped reading the responses after this one. Absolutely spot on. If you don't like attention, don't buy a C2.

Fred:

You should be able to find a nice, non-matching convertible with a Powerglide and aftermarket A/C within your price target. The Powerglide is a must for the type of commute you describe, IMHO.

If you find the perfect car except for A/C, just get Vintage Air added.

Good luck with your search. Be patient! Resist the fever.

Mike