good looking, but...

[Big Tex]

Do I really want a car that the motor has been replaced in? And it is my experience that when someone sticks a 454 in a car, it becomes their hot rod. I just want a normal, well kept Vette that I can have some fun in. I am not interested in going fast anymore - I just want to look good!

I'll keep looking. Who knows, maybe the Chameleon will pan out.

Marc...

 

[Stallion]

Well, I think the question you have to ask here is, "do I want a numbers matching car?". In this case, it is not a numbers matching Vette. And also, that Corvette will only go as fast as your foot goes down.

I think once you feel the torque of that big block and get pushed in that seat, you might think otherwise.

 

[bruce1]

THERES MORE BIG BLOCKS NOW THAN WERE BUILT THEN

 

[Mac]

Do I really want a car that the motor has been replaced in?

It all depends on the car. A well kept Vette that had a motor problem which couldn't be repaired becomes a car that has had the motor replaced. The proof, as the old saying goes, is in the pudding- or in this case, the car.

Let's be brutally honest here. Most Vettes (since you're posting on the C3 Forum, I can assume you're talking a 20+ year old car) have been driven hard at some point in their life; most more than once. Many have been hot rodded; many more have had the loving hand of Bubba pulling wrenches under the hood. Chances of finding an absolutely mint Vette are fairly low and, if you do, it'll be expensive. If you want a car that looks pretty but you can't drive, then grab a 'survivor' and enjoy (if you can call that enjoyment).

My Vette has many miles under it's tail and it'll have plenty more as time goes by. Yes, people do turn and stare when I drive by; she's a lovely beast. No, she doesn't have the original motor (short block replacement some years ago) but other than that, she looks original. No, I don't race Mustangs when the light turns green; not that they'd stand a chance. I enjoy rumbling along and the occasional highway blast is for my benefit, not to prove anything.

I guess what I'm saying is... decide what you want and find a Vette that fits your vision- or find one that's close and make it fit. Whether it has the original motor or not doesn't mean two pinchs of smelly stuff.

 

[Stallion]

Mac, most of what you say is true, but not so much the part about a survivor. I think I have a survivor. A factory (non-restored) original numbers matching low mileage '78 Silver Anniversary, and I don't just want her collect dust. In fact, I had her out today. She is the most fun I've ever had.

It doesn't only depend on the Vette and it's condition, but also how the owner treats her. My Vette is immaculate, but I like to have fun. Safe fun, and we are all happy. She is still in great condition, and I plan to have her like that forever!!

 

[Mac]

Okay, here's a scenario and hypothetical question for you, Stallion. Let's say you're out for a drive tomorrow and the oil pump suddenly failed so before you get off the highway, a piston rod snaps and gets thrown through the side of the engine block. Suddenly, your engine is unrepairable.

Would you call the autowrecker and have your Vette hauled to the dump because it was now worthless?

I didn't think so. You would obtain a replacement block and install it, either with the 78's heads & intakes OR you would go the crate engine route, right?

To some purists, a Vette with any other block than the original one is worthless. There are some people who don't drive their Vettes because they do not wish to affect the value of the car. If you're driving it, you're adding mileage (God forbid!) and what would happen if someone scratched it? I wouldn't want the responsibility of owning a car I couldn't take pleasure in driving.

 

[Big Tex]

Collector?

I have a customer in Tulsa that has over $8M is collection cars. Very impressive collection of older 100 point cars that he keeps in his own little museum. He never drives any of them - they just sit there. They are gaining in value as the years go by, but what is the use in that? I mean - what FUN is it?

FUN is having a nice car that you actually get out and drive. That is what I want...

 

[Mac]

Amen, Big Tex!

I would never begrudge someone money (hell, I'd like to have some one day) but guys who collect cars like your customer drive the prices of older cars through the roof for those of us who want to have an old Vette and enjoy it.

Needless to say, an honest cop's salary (especially one with a family & a mortgage) precludes the purchase of new Corvette (mmmmm, C6) but I get downright ornery when I see the prices that guys are asking for C1s & C2s. Yes, I realize it's natural for the value of collector vehicles to go up, but not every Vette is a low mileage, highly optioned, etc collectible vehicle. So why does every guy with an old Vette think it's made of gold?

If you want a car to drive and enjoy, you can't beat a C3 like my 1973 coupe. It's simple to work on, pre-smog gear, goes like stink and looks awesome.

 

[bossvette]

If you want a car to drive and enjoy, you can't beat a C3

Right on;worship

 

[Robin7TFour]

HELLO, my 74 is far from original. the motor,seats,headlight,rear bumper,rear window,tach, taillights,all have been changed at some point. i think the shift knob is original. my point is... i bought the car to drive and enjoy.
those who expect ALL corvettes to be pristine showroom examples need to live in the real world of wear and tear!!
i've stopped apologising for what my CORVETTE looks like. it's mine . i enjoy it. and it will always be slightly different from the one parked next to me at the next event.


ok i'll step off my soapbox,,,

ROBIN

 

[Big Tex]

You hit the nail on the head, amigo. It's yours, and to hell with what anyone else thinks about it.

My customer in Tulsa will only buy 100% restored show winning cars. Most are 20's Caddy's, Rolls, etc. He has a gorgeous Phaeton (sp) that is siad to be worth close to $300K. He doesn't want to work on them or enjoy them in the way that most of us enjoy cars. He just wants to own them. And he has the money to do just that. He goes to the big auctions all over the country and it is nothing to him to drop 200 large on a car that he really wants. Me, I can't afford 20 large. Maybe if he only had one such car he would feel different about it. If you ever get to Tulsa look up Mac's Antique Cars. Costs $5 to take the tour of almost 30 cars and trucks, and you will walk away highly impressed.

I can't wait to get my own Vette so I can pamper it, work on it, drive it around and show it off. I'll do with it what I want and I won't care a hoot what it's worth on the books or to someone else. All that matters is what it's worth to me, right?

 

[bossvette]

All that matters is what it's worth to me, right?

Amen

 

[Stallion]

Mac, I totally agree with what you say.

 

[Mac]

If you ever get to Tulsa look up Mac's Antique Cars.

Right off the bat, I like the name!

When we do the touristy thing, I usually try to find the local car museum. Most every town has at least one. Some of them are good; some not so. Once, about eight years ago, I came across a museum which was being disbanded because they'd lost their lease. Some of the exhibits (I can't bring myself to call them cars as most of them hadn't moved in 10+ years) were being sold off. They had a 63 fuelie coupe which they wanted $45K CAN (at that time, about $33K USD) and it was lovely, to say the least. My wife and I talked about it, looked at the dollars and cents (sense?) and my wife actually said "Go for it!" but with one caveat- I had to sell my 73 first. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Looking back, I don't know if I made the right choice or not but I don't regret that I kept the 73.

 

[Big Tex]

That '63 would have been sweet, but I don't think anything beats a C3.

The guy that owns the museum is named Mac McGlumphy. He is about 80 or so. He started out many moons ago with a little plating shop in north Tulsa. After WWII the Zero Bomb Company (ZEBCO) had thousands of end caps from bombs that were never complete left laying around. Someone came up with the idea to adapt them to a fishing reel that a local guy was making. They worked great (still do) but looked awful. They decided to have them chrome plated, went out for bids, and Mac's Plating won the bid. Several million reels later old Mac is about a jillionare. He contracted to build a large part of what is downtown Tulsa and has land holdings worth many million $$. In the 70's he decided to go into the electrical business so he bought an old grocery store and converted it into an electrical supply house which does very well. He buys out inventory from supply houses that have gone out of business for pennies on the dollar. The old coot sure knows how to turn a buck. He was on vacation with his family one time years ago in Arizona and just happened to go to some big car auction and bought an old '29 Caddy in perfect shape. Since then he has purchased many, many cars, and he still owns most of them. He pays more for insurance on them than I make in a year. He had them stored in warehouses for years until his kids talked him into converting a building he owns into a museum for the cars. That became Mac's Antique Cars about 6 years ago. It really is impressive. No cars newer than 1957 except for a stretch Rolls that belonged to some oil guy in Saudi Arabia and is worth a mint - it has long camel hair carpets! Only two were ever made and Mike Tyson owns the other one (if Don King hasn't stolen it from him yet).

Go see this place if you are ever in Oklahoma and are able to dodge the tornados. E-mail me an address and I'll send you one of the brochures. I'll be over there in a few weeks and I have always thought that I should bring my camera and get a few shots of his cars. If you are interested I can e-mail them to you.

Sorry this was long winded but it is kind of interesting, even though it has zip to do with Corvettes.

 

[Mac]

Not everything in the world is about Corvette (too bad ) but it sounds very interesting. Guys like McGlumphy are the most interesting characters to talk to, if you ever get the chance. I've had the good fortune to have met a couple like him over the years.

Maybe what you can do is scan in the brochure or take a few pictures and post them over the the Off Road Lounge so everyone can have a read. If you haven't been over to the Lounge yet, come on over!

-Mac

 

[worldsoldestcorvette]

Been to Mac's....it's great...

If you plan to go to Mac's try to plan it around the time of the Kruse auction (Sept I think)...it is inside a 10 acre building and goes for 3 days...LOTS of cars...

woc