Hey guys.
As you know I am still finishing my restomod custom '77. I had some spare change to mess around with and I was thinking of a new corvette or a '65-'66 289 mustang.

The Mustangs are hard to find in the price range I am looking for and the tight and picky specs. I can wait if that's what I really want. But I found this white '77 laying around






I am a huge 'Corvette' guy. But I am an even bigger 'Car' fan. So I want everything I can get my hands on but have 0 money most of the time. So this purchase not only has to be a wise one, but one that will make my wife and I happy and if we need to sell off this one, I can get my $$$ out of it.

I don't care for the white, its nice, but some day later on I can take the outer pieces off and bring it down to my friend whose doing my other Corvette and have him change the color.

I didnt look at the car yet, I don't know the vin #. Its a local car, I am gonna go check it out. The dude seems honest, hes an older guy, so that cuts out most of the BS right there. He claims to have 9K invested, its an original 350, motor was rebuilt, with the 3 spd auto tranny about 30K miles ago, new radio and speakers installed, new water pump, new thermostat, new radiator, new calipers and breaks, new master cylinder. It has power breaks, and power steering. And has A/C. It was converted over the 134a, but he claims the A/C was blowing super cold for a while, and the air comes out when the A/C is turned on, but its warm. When he feels the lines they are cold. I suspect its either the blower motor or the VIR eliminator. Only cuz he says its not leaking. He has it listed for $7,500, its an original CALI car, the black interior is in superior shape he says. Hes got tons of its documented history, he claims to be the 3rd owner. If its listed at $7,500 hell prob take $7k maybe less.. liek $6.8K or something. Who knows. It also has tilt/tele and and cruise. Its a T-TOP model.

Is it worth it?
 There is a 1972 chrome bumper vette same engine size (more power before BS emissions) same color combo but same shape for about $9k thats not too far..
What should I do? Is it worth it?

-Louis

Louis,
I think the car looks really good. As for the price it sounds terrific to me. I have a 74 that looks very similar to the one you have shown us. I wouldn't even think of letting mine go for anything even close to that. Right now I believe it is a buyers market so go for it if you like it. As for the chrome bumper car, from what I saw a few months ago while I was looking to buy one they are still holding a higher value. But that is just my opinion. Good luck with either way you go. You cant go wrong if buying a vette!
Rodney

Based on the condition of the car 7k is a very fair price... You stated money is an issue, for what it is worth I now am on my fourth Corvette and have made a profit on the previous three when I sold them.  

ok, I went to see the car... The pictures make it a tad bit better than what it is.

The paint is in OK shape. Its faded in some and still glossy in others, not enough areas to really tell unless you;re inspecting. Body is straight there is like a few small stress cracks and small chips, but its fiberglass... it could be worse. The weather stripping is gone, it needs to be replaced around the t-tops and doors for sure. The interior is in great shape. The carpet feels its age, but still looks clean, the seats have 0 rips, the seat belts function properly. The dash pads are in super tip top shape. The door panels are in tip top shape. The seats don't look original. Judging by the leather and door panels its deluxe interior...  but the outer side seats an head rest surround are leather and the middle portion is like cloth, but an odd cloth.

the power windows, and power steering all function properly, the head lights function, but the old corvette vacuum issue prevails while driving, the headlights hesitate to close, and one closes before the other, the open on command, but take a minute.
While idle, the lights pop open and close perfectly. But the engine hits into a  weird idle / tick noise when they open. I think its a vacuum leak issue, but I could be wrong. The front end bushings seem like new rubber, and linkage rubber, the rear bushings on the leaf spring look like they are starting to go, they are cracked and semi hard, but  there is no chunks missing and still compress somewhat. The rear cross member bushings seem to be going as well. The BACK PASSENGER body mount that I could see, was really soft, and cracking the same as the leaf spring bushings, but still compress. The engine starts right up, the original quadrajet carb is still on the engine and it has been rebuilt, its as clean as a whistle. There is oil leakage AROUND and in the grooves of the intake manifold. It the original cast iron intake as well. But it doesn't seem to leak when started, or driven. There seems to be HELLA grease all over the engine and tranny and power steering. Almsot like dirt, oil, gas and like the majority of it feels like bearing or bushing grease.... i know it was all over my other '77. the vin comes back to a st. louis built l48 '77 with 3spd auto.
the tranny shifts decent, its kinda loud, but its a th350... the rear end is in good shape handles power nicely, the posi works perfect. new cat and exhaust. the stereo is an aftermarket cd.. its a nice new deck. the rewired a custom box with 6x9s in the rear and the kick panels... didn't use the 4" dash speakers. he claims he just drove it to cali and back to vegas with no bs... and issues. he claims the tach is intermittent... i verified that... but hey guys... this one has an original working clock! and all the other gauges work!

what do ya think?

i got him down to $7,200... i still wanna see what the '72 holds.

I'd go for a bumper car...

Go with you gut feeling.  The 72 will go up in value more so than the 77 for sure.

Well truth be honest... Like I shouldn't be buying any car... But I want ANOTHER vette while I have the chance. That '77 is in real nice shape... I mean I would have to do a few things to get it in a condition where I am truly happy with it.

I just saw that '72, OMFG.......... the guy was a space ship wacko.... The Vette was a NON AC, NON POWER WINDOW, missing interor parts, musty carpet, semi surface rust, no battery, says it runs, but I cant start it with no battery. The white paint is peeling bad, dead weather strip, ugly pin stripe all over the car, un original rallye wheels. Just a gross bumper car. B/c it has the bumpers... He wants 9K for it.. What a loop!

I didnt even bother talking him down, or offering him suggestions, I just like wow, said it wasnt for me and left. Good thing I had my gun on me and my wife was with me, he got a lil pissed, but the dick told me on the phone it started and ran, and I get there and its hidden in his 'barn' and doesnt start and way over priced. THe whole bumper crazy stuff with people, makes me wanna be different or just keep the car semi stock.. I like to be different.. maybe ill just get that '77