#'s Matching 1973 454 4-Speed, not perfect, how much would you offer?
 

I've been looking into getting a project car for a while, and this one really stuck out, as the title said its a 73, 454, 4 speed (no A/C), but it needs a lot of work. First off, the engine is in pieces; the current owner said the previous owner had taken it out and apart and bored it 60 over, new cam, new lifters, refaced heads, new valves, pretty much everything as far as I can tell which I think would cost a lot if I had to get that stuff done, and I am fairly confident that I would be able to get the engine together correctly with the help ill have working on it. The owner also said he could add a 454 out of a pick up to the deal if that would help, and I think i'd take him up on that just to have in case. Another problem is the body in the rear, which the owner said had been hit by a motorcycle.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0ac1e6f79c.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...c047005616.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9850c6a9f8.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...15fac5c444.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...ba3f25c099.jpg
As you can see, the damage is pretty severe, and I am not completely proficient with fiber glassing, but I am willing to put in however much time and effort it takes to get it fixed myself. The biggest worry I have with the damage is whether it is structural or not, as far as I can tell, the lower bumper piece mounts seem fine, but there could be some that are supposed to be there but are broken off.
The last thing I was worried about was this firewall damage:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...29158d15b5.jpg
He said that it was from a carb fire from a previous owner, I don't really know how serious this is, but in my unprofessional opinion it really doesn't look that hard to patch back up.
The owner is asking 7000 for it, but I imagine the investment price will go way up when the repairs start, how much do you guys think this is worth? And how much would have to go into it to get it all fixed back up?

Even if you could get that car for free you would be upside-down on it so fast it would make your head spin.

YMMV

You may want to keep looking. $7000 is possibly on the high side when what will need to be done is considered. Can you do most of the work yourself? What does the rest of the car look like? Frame? Suspension. Birdcage? Any additional pics?

Wow that motorcycle must have went through the entire car to damage the firewall!

What would I offer for it? Exactly $0. Yeah, if I was going to invest the amount of time, labor and $ to resurrect a project like this, I'd pick a pre-'73 C3. Same amount of time, labor and $, but in the end I'd have something that is much more sought after/marketable should the need arise to sell it.

Just my $0.02.

Agree, too much money for too much work with little return.

If it's for free, it's for me! Unless it is that car. And you STILL have NO IDEA how bad the bad stuff is. Frame, bird cage rot. Rear suspension... Top of this section is a sticky thread. 10 rules before buying your first C3. Read it grasshopper.

:iagree:
This pretty much covers it. If the guy is asking 7 grand, I don`t think there`s any chance of getting him to a more realistic number....
this thing is gonna be EXPENSIVE to bring back!

Run Forrest Run.....

HH

If the car is complete, and you can do all the work yourself, and I mean everything, engine, mechanical, bodywork, paint, etc. It could be a fun project, and I am assuming there's no issues with the title, it would be worth $5000. If not, don't walk away, run.

Ok, seems like the general consensus is to steer clear of it, but at what price could it be viable, if any? And everyone is saying that the workload on it would be huge but what would it include exactly? As far as my mental list goes it includes:
-Engine stuff - put it together, throw it into the car, and hook up all of the wiring and hoses necessary.
-Interior - New carpet, door panels, lower center console, and possibly any busted gauges
-Body - Firewall hole, and that busted up rear, and paint

I know that I way simplified all of this, but each different part seems doable enough. What components/major steps am I missing? (I'm sure there are plenty). And what are the common repairs that every one of these cars needs that maybe aren't so obvious? (ie: suspension bushings, weather trim, carpet, etc)

Again - really appreciate the responses, I think I might have been saved some from a serious money pit already

$7K for that??? I've seen decent RUNNING complete cars for that kind of coin. I'd let it be someone else's project before I even gave it another minute's thought. Just my opinion. I'd take it for free, then sell all the parts.

Ok I understand where you guys are coming from, but would it help if I mentioned that I am doing this project for the experience of it? I'm not necessarily trying to make any profit off of it, but I would like to break even. Also having the corvette to drive around afterwords is a pretty appealing factor as well ;)

You have tapped into a lot of knowledge on this forum and you been told to run away as the car is a massive amount of work and a money pit...

How about you tell us what you would like to hear and we'll just tell you that...

You do not need this kind of experience. Ever experience a root canal, a heart attack, a night in prison with Bubba? (and I don't mean the guy who worked on all our cars before we got them.) And that melted heater box. How much damage to the wiring under the dash?

I've never forgot a quote from the guy that used to own ProTeam and he once said "That Corvette you buy someday is a Corvette you'll have to sell someday"
Unless you got quite a few VISA & Mastercards with very high limits, go for it. Estimate what it'l cost, then multiply X 3 and that's your more realistic "cost".
And you mention having the Corvette to drive around afterwards? Are you like talking 3-4 years from now OR 3-4 months from now? There is more work in that car than you 'll probably imagine. What about time? Are you retired or do you work a full time job? I'm retired now and even I wouldn't want to mess with that now. Too many other things to do in life.

Ok I give in, I'll give up on this one, thanks for the insight guys :thumbs:

Derek, im laughing a bit too hard at your "experience" reply, good one :cheers:



You seem a bit stubborn for this car, why?

Im seeing a near borderline basketcase That is over priced,

The engine in pieces, really?! You might get it together it might run, shake the dice and take a gamble,
A 454 truck engine is a low compression peanut headed smogger that fetch a couple 100 and are cores for budget builds,

You want to break even building a c3?
Even if this car was free you would have a hard not impossible time breaking even,

The car is a mess, the price is too high,

There are better cheaper ones out there,

How was that for me being a noisy negativist:shrug: