I Neeed Help Buying My First Vette

[BlackBeast1503]

Hi, im about to turn 16 and am trying to buy my first corvette. I have found this one but i dont know if it is a good deal or not so please help me. It has 54,398 miles that i dont know are orignal or not. The owner says they just rebuilt the motor and repainted it. It is missing the interior becouse he quit restoring it. He is wanting $6,500 for it and i need help deciding. I dont turn 16 for 4 months so i would have time to work on it . Any help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks in Advance,
John Paul Pearce

 

[BlackBeast1503]

Hi, im about to turn 16 and am trying to buy my first corvette. I have found this one but i dont know if it is a good deal or not so please help me. It is a 1976 and has 54,398 miles that i dont know are orignal or not. The owner says they just rebuilt the motor and repainted it. It is missing the interior becouse he quit restoring it. He is wanting $6,500 for it and i need help deciding. I dont turn 16 for 4 months so i would have time to work on it . Any help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks in Advance,
John Paul Pearce


P.S. sorry but the pic i was gonna put in is to big

 

[78SilvAnniv]

My computer gave me a fit...

...so I couldn't see your pic before I posted this...

Anyhow, welcome to Corvette Action Center, and good luck shopping.

I personally think that the miles are pretty low for a replaced or rebuilt engine...but the owner could have just wanted a change and didn't NEED to change out the engine...

We have a page here (I believe in "tools") that is a checklist to refer to when shopping for a vette. You can print it out and it is pretty thorough. If you have any questions, I am sure any CAC member who lives near you would be happy to go look at this vette with you. Another idea is to attend a local Vette club meeting and ask someone to check out the vette with you.

Does the owner have the interior pieces that were removed? Those will be pretty pricey to replace and could be a bargaining chip for you.
Heidi

ps...I'll try to check the pic again after I post this...
1 minute later, it still will only load the top 1/2 inch. I'll check back later.
h

 

[Pappy]

Welcome!!

Pic only part loaded for me also,tried 3 times with no luck

 

[84Vette]

The Price is too high with the way the econemy is. Also with the interior ripped out 6,500 is too much. For 6,500 you should beable to find a corvette in about the same milage range that has an interior in halfway decent shape. If It were me i would do some checking around and pass this one up. Just my .02

BJ

 

[ratdog]

To be honest, to buy that year Vette, at your age, you better have good mechanical skills or a good job!! Not to bum you out, but that car has the potential to take you right to the poor house. Hopefully you have a bunch of buddies that like to fool with cars, cause sure as **** that and any Vette before 90 will give you problems. And as your first car, you would rather be driving it than have it sit in the driveway always needing something to keep it running. Buy a reliable car first, then get a Vette as a "Sunday" car, that way you don't have to rely on it for your everyday transportation. Just my "rich ass" opinion.................

 

[69MyWay]

Ratdog makes a good point.

However, "if" the car is mechanically sound with a rebuilt motor, etc, then the price is not bad at all. You can double that amount of money almost overnight to complete the interior and put a fresh paint job on it.

It would be better if it was a second car....at least until you have had a chance to work the bugs out of it.

Then again, no pain, no gain, so if you want something original, unique, and .... well extra special compared to all your buddies with the civics, nissans, celicas, etc.....then you can't go wrong with an old Vette.

You need to know that this model vette, if all stock will get its butt beat by a slightly modified civic, celica, etc. Those year models did not have much get up and go...but the gas mileage was just as poor as if it did. At your age and driving experience, you don't need a 400 hp monster anyway...at least not until you get a few more miles under your belt.

Good luck.

 

[MidShark]

Yes, ratdog makes a good point, but.......
If I hadn't jumped into the fire at the ripe old age of 15, I would probably be posting on the "Chevy Cavalier" forum right now. I think the biggest thing is- use your head, not your heart. Look very objectively at each car. Shiney paint is nice, but a solid frame, trailing arms, rear end and suspension is nicer! Take somebody who knows Vettes along with you to look at each car. An ounce of prevention is- well, you know.
As far as the '76 in question, you'll probably spend at least $1000 on interior parts, more by the time the seats get recovered, etc., etc. And ALWAYS figure more $$$ than what you think initially will finish a car.
Also, if this is the car you want and it checks out, make him a lower offer! At worst he may be a little insulted, at best you'd have the money in hand for the interior.
I don't know how you'd plan to insure one, but that can be very costly too.
Good Luck!
Dick

 

[Bob Chadwick]

John,

I just redid my interior.

Carpet - $200
Seats - $500 for parts, $500 for labor
Dash pad - $3 - 400
Lower dash pads (2) - $300 - 400
Door panels (2) - $400 and up for each

My point is this adds up quick. Any you will find other things behind the dash that will surprise you and cost additional money.

Paint alone will cost you $4,000 - 5,000 for a good job, though it appears you have a new paint job.

You might want to look at one in better shape. This same car in good shape should come in under $10,000 and depending in what you need in the interior, this could get you near there before you start anything else.

Bob

 

[page62]

More likely the car has 154000 miles on it. A car that has 54K miles (like mine) is original and doesn't need restoring (okay maybe it needs paint) -- most likely because it has been stored for a long period at some point in its life!

BTW: I agree with the others. Too much. And it's WAY too much if the interior is missing -- then it would be worth more like $2K

 

[SwaveDave]

My compadres above have spoken well ; a C3 vette which is not driveable is not a good thing for a soon to be 16 year old to have as a first car. Look for one which is at least driveable , or, buy a beater to get around in AND buy the '76 Vette as a hobbie. Oh...and if youre thinking of doing some dating with that nice gal you like at school....get that idea out of your head if you plan on restoring a Vette -- you wont have the time or money for wining and dining ; but you could probably still swing an outdoor bar-b-q 'if' she brings the food

 

[Justin_cv87]

i turn 16 in 4 months too, and also want a vette, and have been researching them for like a year now, and it is gona be a huge money pit, espically a C3 that needs an interrior.

I didnt see the pic of it, but 6000 for a car with no insides and a supposed rebuilt engine seems like a ripoff to me. keep searching for em, find one that is in great condition, and buy that one.

when buying a used car, think about why it is being sold in the first place. the best kind to buy are ones from people that need to sell them fast to get cash for somthing, such as paying the bills on time or somthing. when they need the cash, they are at low prices, and useally run good, and if they REALLY need the money fast, then u could haggle them down even lower.

also dont forget about polish and other stuff too. If the car dosent have a real good paint job, wash it, clay bar it, and wax it. there are also stuff for the interrior, stuff that restores the black color to the seats and stuff. using that stuff is a great way to make your car look better.

And if you want to keep the car in good shape, then you will need a garage. I dont have one, but they sell these tent like garages that work just as well to keep the elements and animals away.

And you will need a beater if you want to drive on rainy or snowy days and still keep the vette good. (or you can always borrow your parents car if they will let ya, thats what im hopein to do )

Well good luck dude

 

[Daryllawman]

You need a good JOB and making good MONEY........Then there is the problem with INSURANCE.........I don't know of many or any at all that would Insure you at that age and on a car like the VETTE.

 

[FourAndAHalf]

im gonna turn 16 in a couple of months too, i found out that you definitly need a job for this stuff and you cant just use your birthday money for repairs and modifications... sooo... id say get one that doesnt need work and then you wont have to do anything unless you want to mod it

 

[singledad_9]

I'm with Daryl. You need time behind the wheel, otherwise up here I've heard rates for a teenager to drive a corvette of over 7k every 6 months. That kind of power with an inexperienced driver cost 5 people their lives in my town two months ago. Sure there was alcohol involved but I hope you understand my position.

Drive a beater for 6 years and save your money for college. After you graduate from college and get a good job, then get a good vette. Otherwise you will be paying mechanics, part stores and college loans for the rest of your life.

 

[Piet]

AH go ahead.

When I was 16, I bought a 1951 GMC Truck... it kept me out of money for years! ... and out of trouble as well.

Most of my nights were spent:
a) working to get money
b) on my back underneath the truck

If you don't mind watching your friends drive while you get a ride?

 

[Justin_cv87]

When I was 16, I bought a 1951 GMC Truck... it kept me out of money for years! ... and out of trouble as well.

with that avatar of yours, i read that and in my head it sounded like pricable skinner, espically the trouble part :L

id say get one that doesnt need work and then you wont have to do anything unless you want to mod it

great minds think alike

 

[mapman]

You want to be DRIVING your car. Completing restoration of a car can take years especially if your funds are limited. C3s are beautiful cars, but restoration can be a money pit.

The suggestion to use a checklist is a good one. Lots of places for these cars to rust and repairs can be expensive.

In this economy, the price quoted seems way too much for a car in this condition. Be sure to get an estimate of your insurance cost as well. Keep looking and save your money in the mean time, you want to have the funds available when that GREAT deal comes along.

 

[gooney0]

keep shopping

These cars will drain every penny from your pocket! Your only hope is to get one that has been well kept. Its still gonna kill your wallet but trust me you'll need the head start!

Mine needed a transmission and engine less than 6 months after I got it. (an no I didn't abuse it either)

Have a good mechanic check it out before you buy anything. Watch out of expensive items YOU can not fix. A lot of people focus on the engine.... that is one of the easiest and cheapest things to fix! A 200hp 350 is usually less than $2,000 and most any mechanic will actually be willing to do the work.

Try driving up to the local gas station in a 30 year old car and asking them to fix something. Unless you want an oil change, a starter, an alternator, or a water pump they won't do it.

The only people who WILL do the unusual work will make you wait for months! ( I waited 6 months )

All that said.. it is still worth it! Just be aware that you will spend much more time under the car than in it!


-Gooney0

 

[SwaveDave]

Gooney is correct. Ive gotton thru 5 so -called Vette Mechanics . A c ouple of them really messed things up . I finally found an Ace mechanic who knows the car . The C3 hobbie isnt really for someone who doesnt have alot of patience and money and time to devote to it. Once you get your C 3 up to par ...which may take years.....then it seems to have paid off.