M4A3E2

was walking and saw a 1973 corvette that at first looked great, black, no yellowing on the brake lights, but walked up to it and saw cracks all over the fiberglass, broken passenger side door handle, missing headlights, it was a wreck. Worst of all, it has been sitting outside for weeks, and the owner has left the keys in and driver door unlocked.

Rang the doorbell, apparently the owner can talk about the car Sunday. Maybe this Corvette can be saved, I'll provide pictures when I can.

7T1vette

If he's left the keys in it, he probably want's potential buyers to just fire it up and check it out!!!

v2racing

With the keys in it he's more likely hoping someone will steal it so he can get a nice fat insurance check.

Mike

Gold Dragon

The best cars to have are the ones that find us. Not the other way around. Could be a diamond in the rough. Pursue it and save it if you can. Good luck.

M4A3E2

Sunday or Saturday going to see if I can buy this Corvette low and turn it into a project car. It's a solid chassis, most of the work needed is cosmetic.

M4A3E2

Here's pictures of it, think it can be saved?

mardyn

Sorry to say, but it'll take $20K to make that a $10K car...

use caution

mardyn

M4A3E2

That's what I figured based on all the problems with its body and interior, wouldn't be worth it.

Gold Dragon

Hold on. Did we determine what the seller was asking $. I see potential here if it can be bought for a fair price. What's under the hood? What are the options. Do you have a garage, and can do most of the work yourself. Is it a true black car. Last year for chrome bumpers in back. Lots of questions before writing this one off.

M4A3E2

I have a garage yes, and can do most of the work aside from repainting myself. Haven't gotten a look under the hood, and I'm going to talk with the owner about the car tomorrow.

Gold Dragon

Take a flashlight with you, and look under the car at the frame. Pay close attention to the area in front of the rear tires. If there is rot or holes, maybe you should pass on it. Unless you're a welder. Another area to check for rot is in the interior. See if the owner will allow you to remove the kick panels. There are body mounts in this area that are notorious for severe rust issues.

Tom73

Could be a good project if the price is right and no major rust issues.

Tom...

Mr D.

If priced right and no rust it could be saved.

The13Bats

Lets see i need to try to fit in on the forum,

What a pile of dogmess,
Run, run fast,
That can never be saved,
Take it to the nearest landfill now,
Worthless

Geez, that just doesnt seem right to me, i have seen members here take a far worse car and make their dreams come true with it,

Two big questions, price and how much rust....

oldgto

Yes.... FAR worse! Take that 73, strip it, smash the front end, then lose 2/3 of all the parts you stripped.... and you`ll know where I started!
And I`ll never discuss what I paid for it.... `cause I don`t give a $hit what I "could have had" for that money, or how I should`ve bought a running, driving car. That`s just NOT what I`m into!
So for OP`s question.... can it be saved? YES! And it looks like a VERY good starting point! "It will take 20 grand to make it a 10 grand car".... did OP mention he was worried about value? Investment? No. He said he was interested in a PROJECT CAR. A "project car" is for people in the car hobby who like to build things. Building, customizing, or restoring a rusted, busted piece of crap into a beautiful machine is what a hobbyist does.
Writing a check and driving away in an old car is NOT a "car hobby"..... yet these seem to be the ones who often say "run away, it`s not worth it, etc. etc."

The13Bats

Jim, yours was one car i was thinking of as i posted that,

I double dog dare you post before and after pix

Easy Mike

Yep

Yep.

oldgto

M4A3E2.... if my 71 coupe could be saved, so can that 73. (Mind you, I had a very solid frame, & original number matching drive train to start with... but not much else. AND, it was already stripped, so I could easily see the "critical" areas. Also, front damage was glass only, no bent brackets or braces)
We`re still working on it, but here`s "before" and "so far"....

The13Bats

Ive seen jims car in person, believe you me its a stunner, mile deep wet looking paint he and his better half did right there.

chstitans42

These types of comments usually come from two types of members. 1. The types that either have bought an already restored car or do not work on their own cars themselves. They usually have no idea how easily something can be turned around. 2. The ones who all they care about is how much money they have in a car and how much it will be "worth". These types are usually the ones who watch too much TV and think the only satisfaction one can get from putting a car back on the road is how much they can flip it for. IF that is the main concern, then they are missing out on about 90% of the experience.