I am positive that i want a corvette for my first car (im trying to follow in my dads footsteps). I am however trying to decide wheather or not i want a 1974-1975 C3 L82 $6000 or under. Or a C4 corvette for $6000 or under. What kind should i expect more mechanical problems from? And what would be a smarter choice for a first corvette?

 

It looks like you have $6K to spend and that is not going to get you much of a Corvette. I personally prefer a C3 but for that kind of money you probably will only get a non running project car. It will then take you month or years and mucho dinero to get it presentable.

I don't know much about C4's but they are not as old and not as collectible as C3's so you may be able to get more of an operable car for the dollars. In any case you have to understand that today $6K doesn't buy much in the Corvette world.

 

I have just been blessed with a 73. I love it, love it, love it. My dream car was a C2 convertible, but due to the cost I had been looking at a '79 or '80 C3. But...........I started to love that "Kamm" tail and chrome bumper look and now I am driving my "dream car". Picked it up for $10,900

 

i personally like the C3s better. i just picked up an 82 body for $1000 that im going to build. if you do decide to get a C4, beware of the ones in the 80s, they are known for electrical problems

 

not sure if your near Connecticut or not but heres one.................... 8 cyl, auto, new tires, Flowmaster mufflers, headers, new motor, T-tops, have all new ball joints for the front end, runs ok, looks good, needs some work and a new home, very fun to drive and will get you a lot of looks, $5500 OBO. (860) 919-1871 after 5pm (2X). southington

 

I just got my '78 with full exterior and interior plus rebuilt motor for $10.5k and i drove her for a day and my masterb cyllinder gave out on me. Alot of these cars are weekend warriors or have just flat out been sitting for awhile and you can drive old parts without them going bust but the switch to daily driving will send alot of those old parts to the junk yard. Just pick your car wisely. Anything that sits more then runs, in my opinion, is going to have problems arise from daily driving. Just make sure you have a good flow of income to support replacing possibly 200$ in repairs in each of the first few weeks. Maybe more. Make sure the important parts work... smaller thigns can be replaced for cheap.

 

Hi mraaron895, Heres the deal the way I see it, you'll spend between 5 to 10 thousand for your Vette, then you'll spend 5 to 10 grand more to get the way you want it. Then you'll have a car thats perfect.
Whats with the great desire for a L-82? Any engine is going to be on its last leg and will have to be rebuilt or replaced sooner or later, so just plan on that, were talking about a 32 year old car.
Eventually you'll replace the weather striping, the carpets, the seat covers and whatever else, seals leak. the calipers leak, power windows stop working but so what! It's my Vette and I'll get it right eventually.
The more you spend, the better the car. See what has to be changed, see what has been done already and Best of luck finding yourself a great C-3 PG

 

What kind of Corvette? Why, a "CHEVY" Corvette of course!
I got a running C3 for under 5g's. Needed and needs a lot of work, but, It is a C3.
Later years seem to have a lot of elec probs, too many gizmos!