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Topic: Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

in Forum: C3 General Discussion


Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/6/02 11:03pm Message 1 of 10
Former Member
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San Pedro, CA - USA
Joined: 10/6/2002
Posts: 9
Vette(s): None at this time
Hello, all
I am new to the corvette world. I have been a huge fan of the C3 vette as long as I can remember. I have been looking to buy a car for about four months and cannot find what I want, so I come here for guidance. I have saved 20,000 to purchase my dream car. I need to know if it is possible to get what I want for what I have saved.

I want a 1970 roadster
Not really that picky about the engine size (off course would like as big as possible)
It must have matching numbers
It must have been rebuilt recently (engine)
Would like a nice car, doesn't have to be fully restored, I can do some myself (kind of would enjoy it)
Don't want white, yellow or orange (just personal preference no insult intended)

I have been watching the following places
E-bay (check twice a day)
Collector Car Trader online.com
Usedcorvettesforsale.com
Local corvette dealers
L.A. Times (yes I am in Los Angeles California)
Auto trader

I have been to see maybe 5 cars, every one was not a numbers matching car or had something up (no trim plate, radiator fluid leaking everywhere, won't start, etc) The dealers have some nice cars but they are way more money than what the corvette price handbook says they should be (is the book realistic?). Anyway, am I dreaming, can I find a good car for the money I have saved?


Some stupid newbie questions;
1.) Do you have to add an additive when filling the gas tank on a 1970?
2.) Is it wise to buy a car off the Internet that you can't actually sit in?
3.) Are the inspection services that you can get worth the money, do they really work?
4.) How much does it really cost to ship a corvette say from Ohio to Los Angeles?

|UPDATED|10/7/2002 9:07:51 PM|/UPDATED|



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Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/6/02 11:17pm Message 2 of 10
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Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
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Burke, VT - USA
Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7315
Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
SOLD - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am
"BLUBYU" - '04 Coupe
Simon,

Welcome to C3VR...!!! |wavey| And good luck in your search for a '70. I'm no expert but was in almost exactly the same spot as you are a few years ago (one difference being you found C3VR before buying!).

|QUOTE|Thundero said: ... Anyway, am I dreaming, can I find a good car for the money I have saved?

Some stupid newbie questions;
1.) Do you have to add an additive when filling the gas tank on a 1970?
2.) Is it wise to buy a car off the Internet that you can't actually sit in?
3.) Are the inspection services that you can get worth the money, do they really work?
4.) How much does it really cost to ship a corvette say from Ohio to Los Angeles?

|/QUOTE|


From personal experience I'd say that you should be able to find a very nice car with your budget. And I have to agree with you that, compared to private offerings, Corvette dealers are asking way too much for the cars they have to offer.

Q#1 - If the engine has been rebuilt recently you shouldn't need to use any additives to the gas. There have been several posts within the site on the topic so use the Search function to find them.

Q#2 - I found "The Toy" via Collector Car Trader online.com in western Pennsylvania. Being in Minnesota I didn't have a chance to inspect or drive the car before buying it, but via a chat room at a Corvette site was able to locate someone local to the car who would inspect it for me. I made the deal for the car contingent on it passing the inspection and my liking the car after a test drive.

The car did pass the inspection so I bought one way tickets to Pittsburgh for myself and a friend, the car was brought to the airport by the seller, I test drove it (AND LIKED IT!), signed the papers, and we drove it back to Minnesota.

Q#3 - In my case, ABSOLUTELY...!!! If you're that serious about the car it is definitely money well spent. And if the seller is at all nervous about having the car inspected before finalizing the deal, you don't want that one...!!!

Q#4 - No clue, a quick check in the Yellow Pages should turnup a few transport outfits you could check with. But (depending on the time of year) you may end up spending less for an airline ticket, gas, meals and lodging for one heck of a fun experience going cross country in your new toy...!!!

There are lots of horror stories out there about buying a vehicle sight-unseen, but I'm happy to say that mine wasn't one of them. And if you do your homework well there shouldn't be any surprises. Just take your time - don't rush it...!!!


Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/6/02 11:35pm Message 3 of 10
Former Member
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San Pedro, CA - USA
Joined: 10/6/2002
Posts: 9
Vette(s): None at this time
Thanks Jim,

Needed the positve comments, I know shes out there just gotta find her. Thanks again |smile|


Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/7/02 8:53pm Message 4 of 10
Former Member
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San Pedro, CA - USA
Joined: 10/6/2002
Posts: 9
Vette(s): None at this time
In search of a dream:

I asked the owner if it was numbers matching and he said it was.
So I went to see http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/7/0/33910770.htm



Beautiful car on the outside but:

Opened the door and no trim plate

But the vin plate had been moved from the windshield pillar to the drivers post (it said something about Texas there on the plate too, but was impossible to read)(I think I remember reading somewhere that DMVs do this (move the plate) when the windshield is removed and changed?)

Vin number was 194670S13196

Ok on to the engine

The engine pad was painted completely over with orange paint (I surprised myself by finding where it should be and asked if it could be wiped off) A small amount of paint remover and..... the numbers were not readable. |frown|
Found the case casting number and it read 3970014 (from my reading I think this is 1972 number? Right?)

So its back to the search



|blinkyeyes|


Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/8/02 1:28pm Message 5 of 10
Former Member
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San Pedro, CA - USA
Joined: 10/6/2002
Posts: 9
Vette(s): None at this time
I am starting to wonder about the numbers matching thing. At times it seems kind of silly to turn down a good looking and running car because it doesn't have the right numbered engine. It appears that there is a huge difference in the value of cars because of this. I have joined and read what the NCRS says about the numbers, and understand the rationale. I wonder what you guys think?


Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/8/02 7:22pm Message 6 of 10
Former Member
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BRADENTON, FL - USA
Joined: 8/4/2002
Posts: 669
Vette(s): 1972 convertible 350 auto trans, delux int, air, ps, pb, t/t wheel, pw, 79,000 org miles Rare one year only color
hang in there and keep looking. i had about 40 different used car and corvette websites set up looking for my corvette. i had the searchs set up to find a car within a days driving distance. i found my corvette on some little used cars for sale site. drove 450 miles the next day and bought it the day before it was to be in the local newspaper. at the same time i was working a full time job. it was just what i wanted chrome bumper convertible, auto with air, matching number, under 80k miles and all at a price well under your 20k price range. i was looking at 5 to 15 cars for sale a day. not all were what i wanted but you just have to weed out the ones you don't want and concentrate on the ones that match what your looking for. i would keep looking for a matching # car. it will just take a little longer but be worth it. you should to be able to get a nice corvette for 20k.


|IMG|http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/1301_1400/1333/br80.jpg |/IMG|

Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/9/02 6:43am Message 7 of 10
Former Member
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DOWNINGTOWN, PA - USA
Joined: 11/24/2001
Posts: 962
Vette(s): 1969 Monza Red Black Conv / Black Vinal hardtop 454/480 Tremec 5 Speed 308 Posi.Black Leather Interior, PS, PW, Air cond., tilt/tele,AM/FM Cass.-5 Pack CD, Hurst Shifter, side pipes 2004 Yellow convertible with black top and black interior
I bought my car over the internet. It has pw,pb,ps,factory air,4 speed, side pipes, big block and is a numbers matching convertible. It had a frame off within the previous 5 years. I paid 22K for it so there should be what you are looking for out there just take your time and it will turn up.
If memory serves, it cost $700.00 to ship from S. Carolina to Pa. so you may be looking at 11 or 12 hundred. There are tons of car carriers out there so shop around just make sure that the drivers have something like a $5000.00 deductable on their insurance. That insures that they take especially good care of what they transport.
Plane fairs are cheap. Go look at the car, drive it, get underneath of it. If you feel you are not knowledgeable enough to give it a through check out, have the owner schedule it to be taken to a reputable inspection station / mechanic while you are there for the test drive. I hate to say to use Sears or Pep Boys or some other general service center but if you do request them, it aviods the owner using his brother in law's shop.
Be smart and spend an extra buck or two up front cause it could save you thousands in the long run.
Good luck.


Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/11/02 5:33pm Message 8 of 10
Former Member
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East Williston, NY - USA
Joined: 9/10/2002
Posts: 7
Vette(s): 1972 LT-1 Coupe w/ factory A/C
I agree with the other responses and I would suggest that PATIENCE will get you the right car for your budget. The internet is a good way to find potential cars, but there is also alot of cars that aren't worth the ask price. In this regard, use the internet to do some comparison shopping and if you find something nice, ask questions and go look at it personally before you buy. Also, since you are an NCRS member, you should look in the NCRS Driveline publication. This usually lists many cars that other members are selling and I would generally trust these guys more than an internet site. The Sept/Oct. Driveline issue listed a 1970 convertible in "Unrestored Condition" with 350/350 engine, 4sp, 3:36 posi and only 37,000 miles for $18,900. You may want to call him at (330) 484-3875, to get more info. GOOD LUCK!


Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/11/02 10:40pm Message 9 of 10
Former Member
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LINCOLN, NE - USA
Joined: 9/15/2002
Posts: 70
Vette(s): 1973 L48 Corvette / 4 speed
Hello I am new to the corvette world also. My neighbor's father had a 73 L82 for sale She gave me her fathers phone no. and I called him up. I had him send photos and we talked several times on the phone about the car. It sounded like a very nice car. I drove 6 hours one way pulling an enclosed trailer thinking I was going to purchase the car. Boy was I surprised when I got there. The car was not in near the condition he described on the phone, and the photos he sent were not recent photos they were several years old. About a month ago I found another 73 with only 36,000 miles. I found this one on the internet in ohio. I called the guy and asked him a lot of questions. It sounded very nice but of course I was a little skeptical because of what I went through with the other car. One night I called to talk with himand he wasnt home. I talked to his wife and she told me how her husband thought I was very skeptical. We talked about the car for a while and she reassured me that the car was as nice as her husband said it was. Well I took another trip, this time it was a 14 hour drive there, pulling this 20 ft. enclosed trailer. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised. The car was about 98% of what I thought it was, so i bought it. WOW I sure didnt get much sleep the whole time I was looking for a vette.There are alot of cars out there you just have to be very patient. The right one WILL come along. From what I have been reading on c3vr there are people *(Members) That are willing to help you with possibly going and looking at a car for you that would be in their area. And when you find your vette this is the place to get ANYTHING answered on the corvette, These guys are very good! Good Luck!!! And sorry for the long reply. |saluteflag|


Expert advice for a dreamer wanted

Posted: 10/12/02 3:47pm Message 10 of 10
Former Member
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San Pedro, CA - USA
Joined: 10/6/2002
Posts: 9
Vette(s): None at this time
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/9/6/34751596.htm


ARRRRRRR, sold it already #s matched


in Forum: C3 General Discussion


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