Sell me a CORVETTE!! (Vette owners only..)

[Shadowdog500]

I thought this was a picture of your wife sitting on your vette in the picture from your website.

That isn't your vette?

BTW, great picture.

Chris

 

[BetterDays]

His wife, not his vette.

His vette:

 

[e-tek]

That's not my Vette either!! LOL!

However, I think today I FOUND my Vette!!!

I stopped by a local bodyshop today to discuss the painting of my latest project, when I glanced across the street and saw a guy pulling an Escalade out of a building. Way in the back, a strange colored car caught my eye. I asked him if I could come in and take a look and he said "sure". What I found was one of the most eclectic collections of automobilia I've ever seen! I mean the guy had Choppers, a BSA, cab over engines, a 34 Ford, a 54 T-Bird - and.....a 1970 nearly "one-owner" 350-300HP CONVERTIBLE Vette!!!!

Here's the story he told me (which he says he can corroberate): It was purchased by a lady in her early 50's, new, in 1970, in Illinois. That's the lowest production year as GM was on-strrike for 5 months. She only drove it nice days and it was never even rained on. Never been apart or painted. When she was 85 she traded it to the original dealership in Illinois, for a Z06! A partner at the GM dealership here bought it in Illinois and brought it up in 2006 and the current owner bought it in 2009.

The car also has a couple oddities (making it even more rare I'm sure): it's PEACH in color (kinda yuk...) and has power steering but not power brakes.

So anyways, I told him it was mine, I just needed to sell my Challenger first. He's apparently moving back to Nova Scotia in November and will take it with him if it isn't sold by then. So I made sure to tell him I'd take it either way!

I'll stop by again tomorrow and take some photo's to post!

 

[gsport]

cool..... sounds like a great car. can't wait to see some pictures of it.... good luck

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

I own an '04 C5 coupe. My wife and I bought it before while we were DINKS (dual income no kids) figuring it would be a car that we could enjoy for a long time.

If money were not object, I would have definitely preferred a mid-year (1963-1967), but buying an older car really wasn't much of an option for us at the time. The dependability of the modern Corvette won out --- not to mention the fact that it's a comfortable vehicle to take trips in. Truth be told, for a long time it was the most comfortable car that we had for trips (a Vibe and Blazer were our other cars).

Last summer, my wife and I took the car cross-coutry (our last hurrah before having our first child). The car was great for the trip; comfortable, plenty of room for our luggage, respectable fuel economy, and more than enough power for the mountains.

Right now, prices are rediculous on the late model cars (the C5 and early C6) making them, IMHO, a great value.

As other have noted, which year you go with should be what you are looking for. If you want to see the purchase increase in value, then I'd suggest a C2/C3 (C3 prices are starting to go up). They will require more maintenance, but if you like wrenching, perhaps that is an added bonus. On the other hand, if this is a car that you just want to get out and drive in the nice weather, then I'd definitely suggest a clean C5 or C6.

A friend of mine has a spotless '57 that he is paranoid about leaving out (at car shows, he won't let it out of his sight and he doesn't cruise around in it much). He also had a C3 that he was trying to decide if he was going to restore, or if he should sell it. I encouraged him to sell it and pick up a newer car to enjoy. He did and couldn't be happier. He actually drives it around and enjoys it far more frequently.

As a side note, I'm not surprised to see people who prefer other vehicles --- hey, that's what makes the world interesting; it would **** if all you saw were one make/model of car. I am surprised though to see some of the harsh words, though.

 

[Bender78]

Good for you, e-tek. That is certainly one of the more desirable C3's IMO. I'm looking forward to seeing some photos and hearing about your plans for it. I'm presently deep into the resto-modding of my '78 and as such have learned a LOT about how C3's go together.

You'll have fun with that one, I'm sure.

 

[strelnik]

That's not my Vette either!! LOL!

!

E-tek, I own four Citroens, including a convertible. The four-door is dark blue and the drop top is light yellow. Consider them, they sure do have style.

 

[IROCZ]

I love my C4, Me and the Mrs. took it on our honeymoon. You really should own one. Oh, she's a Black on Black 6 speed.

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

Our departed friend Autoist Tony B. was in the middle of a really well done resto-mod of a 1977 coupe. I believe he posted quite a lot on this on the corvette forum and maybe some here as well.

I just read this this morning. I had no idea he had passed. Sad to hear.

 

[e-tek]

cool..... sounds like a great car. can't wait to see some pictures of it.... good luck

OK, here are the pics. Now I'm still ON THE FENCE - so I NEED a push either way!! Like I said, "mostly" one-owner, unrestored survivor, numbers matching, never apart. Odd color - though I "think" it's Ontario Orange (fitting now that it's up in Canada), but maybe someone knows otherwise. It has Power Steering, not brakes. Manual Windows. Only thing not original are the tires I would guess.

Dusty yes, but otherwise clean and ORIGINAL! Finance-wise, I wanted to sell my challenger before buying it, which would be a near straight-trade, but the vette-owner is pushing me a bit now....My pragmatic side says there's always another car. Just a month ago I almost bought a 69 FuryII Convertible for my next project, but it got away.

 

[gorilla]

That car looks to be in remarkable shape and original. A 70 Vette is easy to work on compared to a C-4 or C-5 no ware near the electrical nightmares. Power brakes would be easy to add if you wanted them and if you wanted to up the HP it's also easy. You are not going to find too many 70 Vettes around but C-4's and C-5's will be around for a long time. I'd buy it.

 

[tdkkart]

Only thing I see wrong is that it's an automatic. No self-righteous "sports car" should have an auto trans IMO. If you can buy it right tidy it up and turn a bit of profit.

 

[gsport]

to me, it looks like a great find... especially if the price is right. doesn't look like it would take much to clean it up and have one fine looking vette... automatic is no big deal (out of the six vettes i've owned, two were automatics) automatics sure make good cruise cars.. if i were going to plan on racing it around a stick might be a better choice but for being what it is.. i think you've found yourself a great car...

 

[e-tek]

I should have said the price: $25,000 (CDN). I've seen them for everything from $14,500 in rough shape, to $35,000. The 454's go for $50-70K, but it's a 350ci - 300HP. It's dusty as hell, but yeah, looks like it'd clean up well. I really want one for a crusier, but I don't really want to put out an "extra' $25k (since I haven't sold the Challenger yet).

Still on the fence!!

 

[Shadowdog500]

If the price seems right and you have the money I would say get it. That looks like a good clean non molested or abused car that would only need a little TLC. See if he will do a partial trade for your other car. If not can you get it now and get by until the other car is sold?
Chris

 

[Bender78]

e-tek,

That car appears to be in very good condition in the photos, and if it is as good as it appears it is probably worth the asking price. I think the price is OK in this market, but just OK. At that price, you really have to be sure that there is no rust lurking anywhere in the frame or body structure. If you haven’t researched the rust issues on these cars yet now is the time. Google “C3 birdcage rust”. It is possible for a low mile, garage kept C3 to have a surprising amount of rust in the windshield frame and rocker channels.

Since the car has been sitting for a while, you will also want to know how much you’ll have to put out to get back in reliable driving condition again. Tires, brakes, (C2/C3 lip seal calipers tend to leak like hell after they sit unused) and power steering leaks. 40 year old suspension bushings will probably need attention, especially the trailing arm bushings. It WILL eat up a grand or two in short order.

The good news is that C3 values are down right now, and that car will be among the C3’s that will appreciate the fastest when the car market recovers. Original, unmolested chrome bumper convertibles will always be in demand IMO.

Now, I’m not a qualified appraiser just an informed hobbyist, but it seems that the Mopar market has cooled off some recently (of course, so have most cars). If you plan to keep it for at least a few years, that car can probably increase the value of your “collector car portfolio” more than the Challenger. On the other hand, the Challenger was your creation and that’s worth a lot in my book. I have a hard time letting them go when I’m done.

I’m not trying to be a wet blanket here, just offering up a bit of what I have learned from playing around with these cars for more that a few years now. I like the car a lot and I hope it is as good as it looks in the photos. And if it is, I hope you buy it.

 

[what have i done]

im on the fence if I like the car or not. Could you take some other pics with say Mrs. Etek on the hood to help me decide???

Looks like a nice find...Keep us posted ...good luck

 

[Poppa Bud]

Two vettes here, I have a 68 convertable and an 08 coupe.

The 70 looks real nice, looks like it's been sitting a while but it should clean up nicely. Check the frame and birdcage for rust!

How are you going to use it?

Cruise ins, shows, Sunday afternoon drives - go with a the C3. A nice car that will hold it's value.

Cross country tours, commuting - go with a C5 - C6. Two hours driving a C3 is a LONG time.

You should be able to find a C5 for about the same price as a C3, but the C5 will be going down in value while the C3 (especially a bumper car) will be going up.

 

[70 chevelle]

You should drive a C5 before you buy anything I love mine

 

[jgoglick]

X2 on checking the birdcage for rust. Remove the kick panels and look at the body mounts for rust - easy to do. Also remove the trim around the birdcage - easy to do and owner shouldn't have a problem with it - to see if there is any major rust.

 

[vette-kid]

Looks like a beautiful car! I own a 78 that I have never driven (project car) and an 02 Z06. The Z is an absolute beast! But able to be tame on the interstate. I dont notice any of the negatives that others seem to state. I have had no electrical problems, good gas mileage (as long as you behave...nothing gets good mileage with you foot planted to the floor!) and handles AWESOME! looks **** as hell to boot! The 78 is even sexier looking IMO. I love the C3 lines! But if you really want a car to cruise in for any distance I recommend a C5 or 6. You can cruise in the C3, but it will cruise like a 40yo sports car!

The Corvette is a great car any year. They have a huge following and great heritage. Get one and plug yourself into the community! and dont foget to wave!

 

[e-tek]

Some really good info here guys - thank you. As far as use, it'll be a weekend cruiser (I have several other cars, plus daily drivers). I would keep it in original shape, save for any issues that needed repair. I'll be going over again this weekend to check on the items you mentioned. Once again - really appreciate the info - just another reason I'm a GJ-guy forever!

 

[gsport]

<<<< is pushing you off the fence.... to the buy side of course

 

[Rte66Charlie]

BUY IT - check the cowl tag, or the tank sticker - the paint code for Ontario Orange was 991.

Looks like it would make an excellent driver E - go for it.

When you buy it and get it shined up, we want a NEW pic of Mrs. E on the hood of YOUR Vette!!

 

[dawg]

im selling my 69 corvette!
bought it for the wife years ago and she is afraid to drive it.
its all original unrestored survivor car.
bought it for 25 grand 4 yrs ago and that is the selling price.
btw date stamp is wrong pics were taken last fall.

wife with trophy she won at carshow

 

[Kevin54]

I'd jump on it. One for the fact that it is unmolested, another for the fact that it is a convertible. Once you put some TLC into it and get things your way, you can always use it to go for a different one if that's what you want. If the owner is moving and he is not wanting to take it, make him a lower offer within reason so both are happy.

 

[brownbagg]

just buy it quit worring about the detail and pay the man

 

[73 stingray]

don't buy that vert for that price in this eco. that car is only worth about 15-17 on todays market. the automatic and 300 horse does not help.
look on corvette forum *c3 * to get good info there.

Have them take the rear tires off and look the the frame where the trailing arm attaches!
If there is alot of rust Run!!!!!!!!! alot of work and body off rest.

 

[tommyxgun]

there is something **** about a white frc. wow

I haven't had any regrets in looking for my car for 2 years and finding it on Ebay in Topeka, KS of all places.

2000 White 1 of 315 FRC. I've had her for 5 years and the car has brought so much joy, I can't even begin to describe the joy. This past weekend, after cussing her the last month and half of replacing the clutch and putting the 3.90 gear back in, it just seemed like anything that could go wrong, it did, but that doesn't mean its a bad car. I just am so particular with the car, I feel like everything I do to it isn't good enough.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=338337878975
The cam is a 240/244 112+3.

This is a crappy video of the car running like **** b/c I was getting the p0101 code because the air line on the back of the intake manifold that goes into the brake booster wasn't plugged in, but you get the idea of what she sounds like.

 

[70 chevelle]

e-tek did you buy one?

 

[A1an]

I'm not a Corvette owner but my 60-year-old mother sports a somewhat modified '06 Corvette vert w/manual transmission (she traded in her '03 10th Anniversary Cobra for this car a few years ago). The car currently has SLP exhaust and a tune...both were done pro bono by a magazine for a couple articles. They are trying to talk her into a turbo installation or an n/a package (cam, full exhaust, retune). She is thinking about it and I am trying to push her over the edge and go with the n/a package.

That Cobra was a screamer and was the classic example of brute/obnoxious power you would expect from an American muscle car. The Vette is something completely different. Power delivery is so smooth and the car is deceptively fast yet still manages to get rediculously high mpg (same can't be said for the 12mpg Cobra it replaced). All I can say is if anyone has the means and doesn't care about having a practical car, then he/she should buy one of these.

 

[Cobra4B]

Didn't read the whole thread... but here's my current "collection".... can you have a collection with 2?!?

My 2003 Torch Red/Tan/Tan 6-speed vert which is a nice weather daily.... have allready put over 11,000 miles on it since purchasing it in late January this year.

Here's my 2001 Z06 that I recently turned into a dedicated racecar prepped for NASA TTA/PTA racing...

 

[e-tek]

e-tek did you buy one?

I was SOO close, but couldn't pull the trigger! I'm pretty sure I can find a decent one for a little less in the next while, so I'll keep looking. If he still has it in a few months I'll go back in with $17K....

Also, Mrs E-tek still wants to trade to a Mini-Cooper, but we haven't been able to sell the Ford Freestyle/TaurusX - goes back to my thread on how I think there's TOO many cars on the market (here anyways). Funny thing, 'cause after that thread, the city here said there are more cars than people now....which is obvious since everyone has at least one, and people like me have 6!

I'm likely gonna have to buy her the Mini-Cooper first - hard to say no to that girl!

 

[drivinhard]

I know right where that is, Talmo/Pendergrass old downtown

 

[saabman]

My wife is on her second Mini Cooper. She absolutely loves them. We got an S this time around, and she likes that even more than her first one.

 

[SPDMETL]

Those who have them-for a 6' 200++pounder with wide shoulders and long legs, is there any version that offers an advantage in comfort ?

 

[xs-style]

Those who have them-for a 6' 200++pounder with wide shoulders and long legs, is there any version that offers an advantage in comfort ?

Im 6'3 280lbs and my 75 is a little tight. However I got to test drive an 08 c6, and man, I tell ya that thing was comfortable. Maybe its just me compairing it to mine, but test one out for yourself. It was comfortable and had all the power I need.

 

[thomask]

I was SOO close, but couldn't pull the trigger! I'm pretty sure I can find a decent one for a little less in the next while, so I'll keep looking. If he still has it in a few months I'll go back in with $17K....

Also, Mrs E-tek still wants to trade to a Mini-Cooper, but we haven't been able to sell the Ford Freestyle/TaurusX - goes back to my thread on how I think there's TOO many cars on the market (here anyways). Funny thing, 'cause after that thread, the city here said there are more cars than people now....which is obvious since everyone has at least one, and people like me have 6!

I'm likely gonna have to buy her the Mini-Cooper first - hard to say no to that girl!

E Tek, I have owned three vets, c3 c5 and c6, and liked each one for different reasons.

I have a couple vet buddies who also own minis and say they run like "mini" vets.

Keep looking it will happen. Just remember to get one in good shape as you can spend double its real worth in restoration if not careful. I have seen that happen many times over.

 

[roboref]

I love my Vette. Always wanted one and until I drove a C5 had never found one to be comfortable enough to drive. The C5 electric seats fit me perfectly and it is plenty comfortable enough to drive 400 or 500 miles in a day. The mileage is better than any of my other vehicles too (I have averaged as high as 33 MPG at 80mph for a 230 mile trip).

My one warning is that they are targets. I have had mine stolen once and one other attempt, people tend to mess with them some. Mine is not parked in a garage, and today I just had to go out and clean a bunch of silly string off that someone thought would be fun to spray on it.

I keep thinking I will sell it. Many are right that it is just a fun toy. Boy are they right! It is fun. Every time I get in it I smile and just enjoy driving it.

 

[e-tek]

So, I missed out on that Vettte due to timing. I had to sell my Challenger and the Vette went first.....Oh well, life it like that. But now that the Chally is sold (check other thread), I'm on the hunt !

Here's my first spark of interest: 1998 C5 Convertible. Auto. 55K miles. New ZR tires...