1970 vin number

[husker]

I am new to the corvette deal, I have vin number for a car I am looking to purchase. Can I use this to determine what the car originally came with (engine, trans, body color, etc.) or do I need the build sheet.

What would a 1970 corvette coupe be worth, good mechanical condition, needs paint, not original engine? The car is currently 350 ci with auto trans, the owner states that it originally was a 4spd car (clutch pedal and linkage still in car) but does not know what engine it came with. The car runs and drives good just needs to be repainted, and some tlc.

Thanks

 

[JohnZ]

There are no clues in a 1970 VIN for anything other than the body style and when the car was built; the trim tag will say what the original exterior and interior colors were and the body build date, but that's it. Determining anything else is a matter of looking for "clues" or having a copy of the build sheet/tank sticker, which is not available from any source if it's missing.

 

[husker]

Any idea of what this car would be worth? I think I can buy it for approximately 9K.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Any idea of what this car would be worth? I think I can buy it for approximately 9K.

That might be a good price, give or take margin of 10K. It all depends.:L There's not enough detail provided to even take wild guess.

A '70 in good structural shape might be worth 9K. In any case get an experienced Corvette person to go over the car stem to stern before buying. You don't want any bad surprises.

 

[husker]

JohnZ:

Where do I find the body trim tag? Is the tank sticker something that could still be on the car? Where would it be located? What clues would a person look for as far as what engine came with the car orriginally? If a build sheet/tank sticker cannot be found I am assuming the value of this car would be severely discounted.

Thank you for your help, sorry for my lack of knowledge.

 

[6880 Mike]

...JohnZ...Where do I find the body trim tag?...

Driver's door hinge post.

...Is the tank sticker something that could still be on the car? Where would it be located?...

Glued to the top of the fuel tank and probably not visible from underneath the car. Note that the tank in the pic is out of the car. No guarantee the tank sticker is still on the car you want to buy.

...What clues would a person look for as far as what engine came with the car orriginally?...

She left St. Louis with either a 350CID Chevy smallblock (most probable) or a 454CID Chevy big block. There are several Corvette reference books on the market which explain how to "best guess" original small block/big block installations when other documentation is missing.

...If a build sheet/tank sticker cannot be found I am assuming the value of this car would be severely discounted....

Having a tank sticker is nice, but not having one does not severely lower the value of the car. Tank stickers were never intended to be permanently affixed to the car; they were only aids for assembly line workers. Lots of folks are fortunate enough to find them and be able to read what they find. Others find the stickers but they're illegible. The rest of us don't find anything when we look.

My question concerning the '70 you are looking at would be why the owner went from a 4 speed to an automatic. If it were me, I would ask the seller.

 

[husker]

Thanks for all of the information - very helpfull. The trans had been changed prior to the current owner. Do you have any of the titles of the books you spoke of, or where to purchase them?


Thank You.

 

[6880 Mike]

...Do you have any of the titles of the books you spoke of, or where to purchase them?...

The assembly instruction manual (AIM) for 1970 will list all the equipment required for the big block engine option inlcuding the differences in front springs, sway bars, shocks, radiators, etc. All of the Corvette aftermarket providers carry the AIMs and they are available on ebay. Best deals include the AIM and a three ring binder to put it in. If you suspect the car was originally a big block, you can compare what equipment the AIM calls for with what you actually find on the car.

The National Corvette Restorer's Society 1970 Judging Manual also lists differences between the small block and big block cars. These are available from the NCRS.

For general Corvette history, most of the "coffee table" Corvette books will discuss the differences between the big and small block cars, but these books are usually less specific.

 

[jrzvette]

What would a 1970 corvette coupe be worth, good mechanical condition, needs paint, not original engine? The car is currently 350 ci with auto trans, the owner states that it originally was a 4spd car (clutch pedal and linkage still in car) but does not know what engine it came with. The car runs and drives good just needs to be repainted, and some tlc.

Thanks

Unless one of the previous owners changed the tach and unless I'm mistaken:

Red line 5500 = 300 hp base engine
6000 = 350 hp L46
6500 = 370 hp LT1 (would also have Holly carb, not a Quadrajet)

Both the LT1 and the BB 454 would have a big block hood.

Hopefully he did not destroy an LT1 by installing an automatic. Does the car have AC? LT1s did not.