Sold my harley and looking for new toy . Always wanted a vett when I was young . I have noticed prices are within my reach now I would like to pick up a fair shape 70 to 82 model . I don't want a perfect show car just something to fill the void left by no bikes left in the garage without breaking the bank .I haven't played with cars since putting engines and a trans in my kids firs tcars 12 to 15 yrs ago and back in the 70s when I was a kid with a gto but can do most task except total engine or trans rebuild .I 've always gotten a lot of valuable info from the harley forums so where a better place to get advice on a vett but here. So I'm comming up on 60 and I can put out 8000 to 12000 for a toy . i want to play out in the garage / to drive around with the wife once in a while /not race , just enjoy. And not loose my tail too badly when I sell . I see mid 70s to 82 s which I like best and are in my range for 5000 to 12000 on e bay and on craigs .Any years I should stay clear of . I'm sure some of you can tell me things to be careful of with these yr vetts . Thanks for any advice you care to give ,I'm in S N.J. if you know of something here give me a shout . Thanks in Advance Frank

 

Welcome to the forum.

Personally I'd avoid 68s, 74s, and 76s for various reasons. Best advice before you buy is to become educated about all things Corvette. Lots of books out there. Go to car shows and/or join a Corvette club. Take a knowledgeable Corvette guy w/ you when looking at one. Good luck.

 

Thank you, i looked at a 77 today . was taken care well , non matching numbers 350 rebuilt 23000 mi ago bushings and odds and ends done. motor sounded great lights worked air ,mechanicaly what i want .interior was tan (I would change to black )and needed work paint was redone at a buget and ok for me but not at this price 8900. I have an apt to see one (75) sunday that looks much betted with fairly new paint that looks to be well done but owner hasn't given me much history on the mechanical end . priced at 7500 . If the one I saw today was at that number I would have bought it . It would make a nice toy , But I guess should look around too see what is out for sale Seems to be a lot in my range in phia and jersey area . Thanks for any suggestions . FT

 

Well I looked at the car in Phia today . All i could think of is the post here about buying a c3 the one with all the rust pictures . this poor car had been left go so bad I wouldn't take it for a grand . And the guy wouldn't allow me to stick my camer underneath to take a pic ! I wasted my day for a mint rust bucket . It did look good on the craigslist pics !

 

You will want to put up on a lift any cars that you are serious about as frame rust is definitely a problem with these cars.

 

That will be difficult as with the one I'm seeing tonight is 2 hr ride from home
Also at these prices I embarrased to press that far, 8000 to 10000 . I 've bought and sold Harleys as my hobby the last 15 years .I 've bought on sight and sound without ever riding before buying. I rode each 10000 mi or so and never realy lost more than a grand when I went to the next . I've forgotton how much can need to be done to a car ! I'm stopping at a dealer on my way to look at this 75 that has a 97 for12000 with a 30 drive train warrenty . I realy wanted a classic to bring back childhood memorys of musscle cars but the 97 has nice lines and shouldn't be a rust bucket yet . Maybe that is the way to my first vett as I'm getting frustrated at shopping . I'm going today see a 75 that looks spotless in pics .was owned by this couple for 13 yrs and acording to the title drivven 4000 miles by them in that time. one owner prior to them . It has 98000 on it . He is loosing money at his asking price after shinning his baby for 13 yrs . I'm embarrased to even attempt to barter yet alone tell him I want to put it on the lift .

 

Remember that you are looking at an almost 40 year old car. The OEM calipers were known to leak after a few years due to pitting in the bores. St-st lined replacements are available for about $400 plus labor. As I said before, the frames can have serious rust problems and repair is seriously expensive.

An unevaluated old Corvette can/will be a money pit. I know from a friend's experience. Good luck.

 

I'm giving it a rest for now . I'm working tons of hours and don't want to rush it . I looked at 6 vetts for sale two in horrible condition .one was sold the others have their share of problems .And that is without putting them on a lift . Maybe at this point I will consider a 97 or above but not till I spend a lot of time reading about them . Till then I think I'll pick another bike for this summer and stick to what I know . Thanks Frank

 

[QUOTE=73shark;69939]Remember that you are looking at an almost 40 year old car. The OEM calipers were known to leak after a few years due to pitting in the bores. St-st lined replacements are available for about $400 plus labor. As I said before, the frames can have serious rust problems and repair is seriously expensive.

An unevaluated old Corvette can/will be a money pit. I know from a friend's experience. Good luck.[/ well when the pit is full youl be set but not to sell it couse I have seen nice vettes go for $8000 but you can save a lot of $$$ by e-bay I saved thousands of dollars and do all you own work I lerned not to say vette mutch unless you got to for parts reasons but motor wise its a 350 and trans 350 turbo in most cases OH ITS A VETTE ,,, that will be 400 bucks get my point mine sat in a feald 15 years got lucky no frame rust but almost every thing els was shot and it only has 50,000 org mile but sitting hurts them

 

Thanks , thats what started to worry me . I looked at this last car in pa and it was clean as they come .I had not traveled with the cash cause I would have bought it on sight ,looked that good.However the guy bought it 13 yrs ago and only ran it 4000 miles since so the tires shocks brakes lines everything is better than 13 yrs old .I will want to do some miles with the wife . like going to carlisle pa about 150 mi from me or even some of the bike events that I have gone in the past . I would have to go over everything which is going to set me back at least 2000 to 3000 added to price and tax and I'm at 12000 or 13000 and won't get it back I know I've had double that in bikes but also put 10000 mi to 20000 a year on them and got most back at the end.I used the bikes to commute and that is 90 mi a day . Couldnt afford the gas in the c3 car .So now I'm thinking of the late c4 models as I read that they can get 24+ a gal . Its not a stingray and I don't think the body is as nice but I could actualy drive it to work for a year an then sell or whatever .I have a pickup for the ****ty days so it wouldn't be every day they seem to be selling as low or lower .I have to look at that c4 forum to see what i need to know .I am a mechanic by trade also ,buildings not cars but was a equipment mechanic in the army and built a few cars to drag when I was a pup so i can do most stuff at home . My commuter car gets 28mpgand is due to be replaced so why not go in style? I look at all the new cars and they all look alike blah !! . i remember when they had style . I may be near the end of the line as far age goes also and never owned a vett .one of those bucket list things I guess ,especally now since I sold my bike and told the wife I wold try something new .I have no toys except my tools now and the kids are grown so i should spend their inheritence !