76 Sting Ray...worth it?

[coley]

I looked at a 76 Corvette yesterday...I think the seller might be a little high on it,but thought I'd ask somebody who knows more about it than me...the car starts and runs really good...it seems to be all original and showing 72K on the clock...the interior has no tears and the carpet looks good except for being faded in the rear...it has a 4-speed and air...I think the air needs charging...the tires probably have 5-6 K on them.This car strikes me as having been well-maintained and not abused-the underside even looks good!The paint looks fairly good...there are some chips at the front...the radiator has been replaced,along with the alternator and all hoses...the brakes have been redone...completely.The car is orange and is what NADA calls a"20-footer"on their website...I really like the car and have no qualms about paying the asking price of $11,400...if it drives as good as it seems to be...I didn't drive it yesterday as it was raining...I have been told that the car is priced"way too high"for a 76...it seems like a good honest car to me.I would appreciate any and all input...thanks.By the way-the car has the L-48 motor...

 

[Tom73]

Seems high to me. Have you considered a '73? How about a 73 coupe, L82, 4-speed, A/C for say $8500? Look here Found this today on another forum.

tom...

 

[bossvette]

Keep looking that is very high for a 76, they are the Rodney Dangerfields of Corvettes getting no respect. He would have to knock of at least $3000 to be in the range for a good pristine 76, but then its spring and all the prices go up.
I paid $4500 for mine in 1999 and put $900 to get it up and running. Since then I have spent 4 times that on upgrades, but I like it.

You will be able to find a real nice C-3 for $10,000-11,000
Good Luck
Craig sr.

 

[bossvette]

here is another thread on the same subject
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39006

 

[76okievette]

Coley, it sounds like a nice car but a little high. I purchased my "76" last summer for 7,500. It is the L-48 with 42,000 miles in good shape. The car you are looking at should be in the 9000 range. I would not pay more than 9000. The 4 speed is rare so thats a plus but I know you can find as nice a C3 for no more than 9000. Don't get in a hurry go slow and you will find the right one. Offer the guy 7500 and see what he say's you might be able to settle close to 9000. Good luck and let me know what you decide.

GO SOONERS

 

[Imachad]

I agree w/bossvette and 76okievette....

We NEED a 76 forum for the few of us here!!

 

[bossvette]

I agree w/bossvette and 76okievette....

We NEED a 76 forum for the few of us here!!

A good job for you Chad, I'm willing to kick in, but I'm an Ole Fart with too much to do and not enought energy to do it

BTW we are not in last place anymore

and if you come to cruise fest I'm sure someone there will help us get rolling in the correct direction.
Craig sr

 

[Willis76]

If you can, have someone who knows these cars look this one over with you. It would be a good experience on what to look for.

It might even help you remove your heart from the decision and replace it with your head. But, that is by far the hardest part when it comes to these seductive 76s with their sexy steering wheels.

Good luck

 

[BrianB]

I'm the new guy here so take my opinion at that. I bought my first Vette ever recently. I passed on a couple 76' L48's because I wanted the higher output motor even though it's not all that. I'm the son of a mechanic so I'm not totally dumb on cars. I personally like the shark lines. A steel bumper wasn't in my budget and I didn't want something that I would have to spend thousands to make presentable. I the 4th owner of a 76' L82, numbers matching desert car. I've talked to everyone but the original owner, but I have his name and address. Documentation going back to 90', and not a speck of rust anywhere on it. $11K. The entire drivetrain has been rebuilt and it's a solid driver. I probably could have talked him down a little, but I thought it was a fair price. Shop around, I remember the rust victims back east and you don't want that. My Vette isn't perfect, but I'm confident I can get more than I paid for it if I sold it in the rust belt.

 

[Chesh]

I agree w/bossvette and 76okievette....

We NEED a 76 forum for the few of us here!!

Agreed, I'll help! the 76 never gets any respect!

 

[majortom75]

I agree. The price seems a little high. I bought mine a little over a year ago (4 spd, L-48) for $7,500. Have any upgrades been done on the engine?

 

[coley]

I don't think ANYTHING has been modified or upgraded on this car...that's one of the things I like about it.I'm going to drive it this PM and see what he'll take for it...it is an"obo"price...and several people have looked at the car...evidently no one has made the right offer.

 

[mike weyman]

it seems high, but i have a 75 i just spent 10,000 on,not counting buying it.
my engine runs at about twice the h.p. of the l48.
find out what repair parts it recieved in the last couple of years.something simple like universals will cost 100 dollars for parts, and a few hours labor.
if it has enough recent mechannical repairs to assure it will last some time before you must fix it , i wouldn't argue about a grand or two.
the only thing is with the stock motor, you can loose to a 4 door neon.sad but true, mike

 

[coley]

The car has all new brakes,a new alternator,a new battery,and a new radiator and hoses...

 

[76okievette]

I agree w/bossvette and 76okievette....

We NEED a 76 forum for the few of us here!!

I agree we do need a 76 Forum, since we are one of the few, one of a kind, corvettes it just seems right. Let me know what I can do to help.

 

[Thumper]

A 76 forum or a 76 registry would be great! I agree about the 76 being the Rodney Dangerfield of the Shark era. I paid $4,000 for mine 13 years ago, and have since invested 5 times that amount to change almost everything out to what I want. Had I known that I was going to dump that kind of $$$ into it, I would've bought the chrome bumpered 'vert that I've always lusted after....but now I'm financially and emotionally attached to the 76.

I've been amazed at what some of the mid 70's sharks are going for these days, but I too think that his asking price is a bit high. Might seem like a deal in a few years though. Good luck and let us know how the test drive goes.

 

[coley]

I drove the 76...it runs so good!The steering is hard when the car is sitting still(power)but is fine otherwise...what would cause this?Looking underneath,there is dirt/grease caked around the bellhousing...rear main seal?I really like this car...what is the most I should pay for it?Thanks!The car is really tight...no rattles and drives wonderfully!

 

[ed_in_pa]

I recently purchased a 76 L-48 auto with 51,000 original miles. The interior is a 9 out of 10. The engine is clean. It was garage kept by an elderly couple for the last 12 years. The brake system was completely rebuilt in 97. The exterior paint is in great shape except for the front rubber bumper which has a few cracks. I paid 8,000.

 

[bossvette]

If you guys are serious about starting a registry try to make it to
Cruise-Fest 2004 Rob will be there and I'm sure we can work out the details.
It would be a gas if 76's outnumbered the other years. It would only take 5 or 6 of us to show up to do that the 81 are in front with 4
Craig sr.

 

[bossvette]

Here is a 76 done up real nice in our for sale threads

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?p=366318#post366318

I'll bet it turns heads