Topic: WTB - C3 with a Manual Transmission
in Forum: C3 For Sale/Wanted (cars only)
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I am looking to buy a C3, doesn't matter what year (L88 would be nice), I love them all, but it must be a manual tran and it can't be red(red cars on Tues are bad luck 
). Yellow would be very nice.
dsireme 2008-06-25 12:51:23
). Yellow would be very nice.
I would like T-Tops but I don't think that is a problem since I haven't seen one without them yet. I would prefer matching numbers and not real high mileage unless it has been rebuilt. I am not looking for a perfect car, just one that is in decent shape I can drive now and restore later.
Now here is the hard part. I am in Milwaukee, WI, and I want to be able to test drive the car before I buy it (since I have never driven one 
). I would say for a car I really think I would like I would drive 100 - 150 miles. Chicago isn't a problem at all. Also, I want to stay under $15,000 preferably $10,000.
). I would say for a car I really think I would like I would drive 100 - 150 miles. Chicago isn't a problem at all. Also, I want to stay under $15,000 preferably $10,000. It has been a life long dream to own a Corvette(said I would own one even if I was 80 when I bought it 
), especially a C3. I won't buy anything newer except for maybe this years, they are coming back with the curves again. I always said the attractiveness of a Vette was the curves... just like a woman. Plus this is my midlife crisis splurge I guess you can call it and the husband gave me the green light.
), especially a C3. I won't buy anything newer except for maybe this years, they are coming back with the curves again. I always said the attractiveness of a Vette was the curves... just like a woman. Plus this is my midlife crisis splurge I guess you can call it and the husband gave me the green light. So if anyone knows about something available, please let me know. We are going to the Bloomington Gold this weekend and hope to find something but not holding our breaths.
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398
Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
C3's are great cars. My wife says it's definitely a man's car due to it's phallic shape...well, that's not quite the term she describes it with!
It definitely has a feel to it completely unlike modern cars. No hydraulic clutch...it takes real effort to push in the clutch and shift gears compared to newer cars. Most C3's...early C3's in particular, can be real beasts depending on what engine, etc.
I have a '69 427/435 roadster...no power steering. A buddy wanted to drive it just because. He was prepared for the power and torque, he knew it had no power steering. What surprised him was how much leg effort it required for the clutch along with the no power steering and torque. I'm accustomed to it...he wasn't. He remarked that it took effort to drive the car, not simply sit there and steer like modern cars.
Once you go to the dark side, driving will never be the same!
It definitely has a feel to it completely unlike modern cars. No hydraulic clutch...it takes real effort to push in the clutch and shift gears compared to newer cars. Most C3's...early C3's in particular, can be real beasts depending on what engine, etc.
I have a '69 427/435 roadster...no power steering. A buddy wanted to drive it just because. He was prepared for the power and torque, he knew it had no power steering. What surprised him was how much leg effort it required for the clutch along with the no power steering and torque. I'm accustomed to it...he wasn't. He remarked that it took effort to drive the car, not simply sit there and steer like modern cars.
Once you go to the dark side, driving will never be the same!
That is what I am afraid of... the clutch and the steering.
It has been 5 years since I have driven a manual (they don't make Town and Country's with a manual... I tried). Until my mini van, I was driving manuals for 18 years. My first manual was a piece of crap 79 Yellow Ford 4 cyl Mustang. Broke a piston in 3 places. That was fun 
. I have had my share of sports cars since then. 74 Formula 400 Firebird(got in trouble with this one), Plymouth Conquest, Monte Carlo, 95 Mustang GT 5.0, Isuzu Amigos(oh wait that is my 4x4 side)....... but none of them even come close to a Vette, which I am sure you all agree.
. That was fun . I have had my share of sports cars since then. 74 Formula 400 Firebird(got in trouble with this one), Plymouth Conquest, Monte Carlo, 95 Mustang GT 5.0, Isuzu Amigos(oh wait that is my 4x4 side)....... but none of them even come close to a Vette, which I am sure you all agree. Now as for no power steering... that was at least 20 years ago. I am a bit of a wimp now. Plus I have Fibromyalgia so my muscle aren't as good as they were but I will tell you, it will be worth every ache and pain(and pain killer) after taking it for a drive! 
Lifetime MemberIndianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2429
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed
Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses.
2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
I'm with you. When my wife told me I could get my Corvette, I knew it had to be a 4-speed. Are there days when I would prefer an automatic (generally while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic)? Sometimes, but those times don't last long.
Power Steering wasn't standard until 76 or 77. In 74, over 95% of Corvettes had power steering, but that means there are some out there (like mine) that don't have it).
As for your price range... You might have some trouble there. There are certainly cars out there in that range, but you get what you pay for.
There will be plenty of cars in St. Charles this weekend. Looking them over will get you a better feel for what you will need to spend.
There are also plenty of posts here on the site that can give you great ideas as to where to look. Often, if there's something you're interested in, one of the members here will be going to look at it to see if it's worth your time if it's a long way away (we hate looking at, and especially driving Corvette, but for you, we just might do it!)
!)Take your time, think about what you want vs what you need (if you're not mechanically inclined, getting one that is road ready vs one that "needs some work" may be the way to go); what you're willing to spend; how you'll pay for it; etc... Get Richard Prince's C3 Buying Guide (there should be links here, or you can possibly get it from your local library).
Before you buy, tell us what you're looking at and what they're asking. People here will be able to tell you if you're getting a good deal. The right car is out there for you and you will find it. Don't rush into anything.
Welcome to the site and GOOD LUCK!!
I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!
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I agree your price range may put you in the newer year C3 area from '75 thru '82. There are some good buys out there just don't rush to buy one. As far as the steering a lot of upgrades are available.
Aaron 
CLICK HERE to enlarge picture
as mentioned earlier DON'T GET IN A HURRY there are good cars and there are good looking cars (cars that were simply preped to sell). if you obtain a C3 the work never stops-not that the car is a problem; but you always can make it better. If you haven"t found one by Oct give me a PM
Annicorvette
Lifetime member # 35 
My ex has polymyositis (related to the Fibromyalgia) so she had the same muscle weaknesses, so let me say, go
with the automatic! You'll be glad you did, ESPECIALLY if you drive in anykind of daily traffic! I'm 6-2, ex body builder, and I LOVED the automatic!
HERE is your tease!!!! This was one of my favorite vettes,
its a 1980 L-82 (only came with automatic) 230hp, repainted in Chrome Yellow (PURE YELLOW, straight from the can) doeskin interior, just a great car, sold it a few years back to buy some land with my ex....
the things we do for love aye!?!
Then got rid of her and had to replace it with my C3 convertible!
think I might have to paint IT yellow!!! hahaha
nowif I could only replace the EX!?!?!
good luck in your search
HERE is your tease!!!! This was one of my favorite vettes,
its a 1980 L-82 (only came with automatic) 230hp, repainted in Chrome Yellow (PURE YELLOW, straight from the can) doeskin interior, just a great car, sold it a few years back to buy some land with my ex....
the things we do for love aye!?!
Then got rid of her and had to replace it with my C3 convertible!
think I might have to paint IT yellow!!! hahaha
nowif I could only replace the EX!?!?!
good luck in your search
Oh so pretty!!!! So you had to sell it... is that why she is your ex now??? 
I would rather not buy a Vette than get one that is automatic. I will not drive a sports car that is not manual. If my mini van could be manual, it would be. But thank you for being concerned. I am lucky that my Fibro isn't sever like a lot of others, I still function normally, I just am in pain all the time. You get use to it after a while.
As for the person that said don't be in a hurry... ummm you don't know me very well. I am an impulse buyer. If I fall in love with something, that's it. I will try my hardest though to be as logical about it as I can. I have a copy of Richard Prince's C3 Buying Guide on reserve at St Charle's Broders.
I just sent in my paperwork for the Mecum Auction and got my Bank of America credit card all up to date. I really don't see us buying from the auction because people there know what they are doing in there but it doesn't cost me anything to get the number, so what the hell, you never know.
Here is a car they have on Sat... think it could go for $10,000??
First of all Welcome to the site. Second of all buying a C3 , any of them, and being a member of this website is the smartest thing you can do. If you want a twin chrome bumper be willing to pay for if, the big blocks produce a lot of heat into the cabin and they are a little heavy in the front end, have heard they run hot as well. I prefer the manual as well, have no idea on the auto verses manual because I had to have a 4 speed and that was that. The main thing is to shop around, read up and research as much info as you can on what year you are going to buy, when I started I was not sure and after while I knew I wanted a 1970 convertible with a 4 speed, thought I wanted a big block until I did some research and figured the LT-1 was a great motor and just as powerful, then the fun began, the searching. it took me about 6 months to a year to find the "ONE". It was in my price range when I figured in price, taxes, shipping, license, etc....
Guest what I am trying to say is get the best vette you can for as much money as you can afford. before you buy one I greatly suggest that you post pictures, vin number, and questions you might have on this site before you pay, it will help you get the most for what you have.
good luck and happy hunting.
Larry
I did hear of a contertible 1970 LT-1 number matching car that the owner can not drive anymore due to back injury, but I know it will be more that 10,000
Guest what I am trying to say is get the best vette you can for as much money as you can afford. before you buy one I greatly suggest that you post pictures, vin number, and questions you might have on this site before you pay, it will help you get the most for what you have.
good luck and happy hunting.
Larry
I did hear of a contertible 1970 LT-1 number matching car that the owner can not drive anymore due to back injury, but I know it will be more that 10,000
I would imagine there would be a car for you at Bloomington but having left Chicago yesterday I was surprised as to not having seen a single car on thr 6 hour trip home; there is a dealership south of Chicago I stopped at and they had a real nice 68 4 speed car but I did not price it or inspect it. Silver with blue interior.
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in Forum: C3 For Sale/Wanted (cars only)
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