Gang,

I've been reading your posts this evening with much enjoyment. After 20 years, I've re-joined the "Vette" world, and I'm already in full gear. Here's the short version.
I was 23, had a black w/red interior 4 speed 1980 Vette. Kept it 1.5 years, sold it due to a layoff. The ONLY car I ever regretted selling.
So, for a year and a half, I've been looking for a 1980 Black w/red interior 4 speed. GOOD LUCK!!!! There just weren't a ton of them made, and not many left, I guess. Out of the blue, I found one 20 minutes from home on traderonline.com and drove there THAT NIGHT and test drove it. I bought it the next day. I couldn't pass up the price. It drove great, didn't get hot, and was just dirty from sitting in the garage!! Every piece was still on the car.
The only difference I can tell is that my old one didn't have a rear defroster. Mechanically, the car is about 90 percent. Engine and drivetrain have never been touched with the exception of new brakes and exhaust. Everything but the drivers side window works. Gauges work, everything but the clock. The body is about 99 percent, and after I spent a week cleaning the body and scrubbing the wheels, I'm thrilled.
So, I will take some pictures and post them soon. If anybody has some production numbers I would greatly appreciate it. I did find out that there were around 5 thousand 4 speed cars in 80, so my color combination and stuff may be a bit unusual.
I appreciate everyones helpfulness and enthusiasm, and look forward to any help or advice anyone can provide.
Thanks for taking the time to read my verbose message.

Regards,
Kevin in Cincinnati (all smiles now)

www.kevinbrashear.com

Congrats on your find...!!! And welcome back into the wonderful world of C3 Vettes. But most of all, ENJOY...!!!

Thanks Jim,

Beautiful 70, BTW.
The fair condition mentioned in the ad scared me. But, fair to one is good to great to someone else. The interior of the car is pretty wasted. Carpet set and replacement seat covers and foam will be ordered this week from Ecklers. I rubbed on the paint with swirl remover for a day, then spent 2 days on the oxidized wheels, and it look a million percent better. The neighbors couldn't believe just cleaning a car could make that much difference.
There are a couple of "doinks" on the car, so my paint buddy is going to spot in the whacked areas, then wet sand and buff the car. At that point, the paint should me more than acceptable. I can't wait to get started...
Here's the link to the car for sale...obviously, it's not for sale anymore.
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/9/2/29810792.htm

Regards,

Kevin

Kevin,
Congrats & welcome to the C3 Vette Registry!

You can find some productions numbers under the "Tools" menu, then "C3 Statistics," or Click here

No surprise your Clock doesn't work.

How many mile are on it?

We're glad to have your aboard and look forward to seeing the pics!

Kevin, congrats on your find and welcome to the C3 world
If you ever need any help, here's the place to ask

|UPDATED|8/4/2002 11:55:10 PM|/UPDATED|

Guys,

Thanks for the kind words. I've already run the vin decoder, and it's what I expected.
Jim, I brought it home last Tuesday and it had 87,188 on it. Now, it's got 87,350. I've been driving it to see how it acts, since it's been sitting for a while, plus the sheer enjoyment. My 94 Z/28 6 speed would kill it in a drag race, and my 92 nissan 240sx would drill it on a twisty road. But, neither car is as much fun to drive as this one. And the amazing thing is that almost EVERYONE prefers the C-3 over the C-4 and even the C-5. My little hottie neighbor called it the Batmobile and made me take her for a ride in it the first night that I had it. Gee....it's already working!!!!

Thanks again guys, and we'll be speaking soon!!!

Kev

Cool about your neighbor. I like you already. A C3 and from the state where I went to college

Way to go Kevin. Glad you found exactly what you were looking for. Great job picking up a hottie already.

Kevin,

Congrats and welcome to the forum.....and don't worry about the clock....I don't think any of them work.....besides, who needs to tell time when you are crusing around with a hottie....

Congratulations, Kevin! It took me thirty years.......

Genghis

|UPDATED|8/6/2002 6:09:05 AM|/UPDATED|