Lookin at 77 Vette

[1980corvettegibson]

Im 22 and i got a 1980 Corvette for graduation. I have 2 older sisters, my oldest is 37 and shes always wanted a Corvette. My car has the original motor and everything, and we paid $8500 cash for it with 50,000 original miles. My oldest sister is looking at a 77 that is being worked on right now. The original motor has been broken so they are putting a new motor in it. The head light motor doesnt look like they work and the right drivers side door is cracked. The rest of the body is very good except the guy said that its been drove in salt and the frame was rusted alot. It belongs to a woman that isnt for sure she wants to sale it. shes had it 3 years. The womans son told my sister that he wanted $7000 for it..but i told her that, that was way too high for one that didnt have the original motor and all the work that it needed. He moved away, so im not sure how much she should offer for it? I would say no more than $5000? OR is it even worth looking at, since the frame is rusted up? I looked at the car and the motor was out and everything was out of the motor area...It made me feel lots better when i got back and seen my car, it only needs a new radator right now. Ill be getting a new one friday. Anyways, we thought it would be kewl to both have one, then we could join the Corvette club and go to car shows. Also its white with blue pin strips. it did have a better paint job than mine though. Mine is peeling.

 

[Vettefan87]

If the frame is rusted I would say stay away from it. Pulling the body off can be very tricky from what my father has told, me about when they did that to his 72, and since that year is not really rare it is not worth it. Also since you say that the original motor is blown, you can probably assume the car has possibly been neglected. I would keep searching, and you will know when the right one comes, if you have any feeling of doubt I would stay away from any vette. That is just my experience when I was vette hunting.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I would pass on a salt car. Especially if there's no motor and the door is cracked. It will need a lot more work on it than that in the future. The brakes lines, fuel lines, gas tank, frame will be rusted.

 

[1980corvettegibson]

thanks for the quick reply. OH i forgot to menion that the flywheel was having a tooth welded back on. I really think that it would be best to stay away from this one too even if they made a really good offer. cause like ya said, its not a rare model and wouldnt be worth restoreing. She was going to ask in the 3 years they had it, how much it was drivin but she forgot to. Thanks for the advise and ill tell her to look for a much better one.

 

[ed_in_pa]

Run don't walk, you can find much better cars available. Take a look at Ebay to get some ideas.

 

[Ripp 73]

Like Ed Said... RUN.... You can find great C3's in that year or there abouts for much less in better condition. Sometimes people put high prices on cars because it has some emotional value to them. They don't realize that the car no longer runs or works, they remember how it used to be. For instance, a friend of mine just bought a 77 with original motor with just over 100k miles, 10 year old paint job, but all running and a good driver for under $5k. Take your time, there are a lot of Vettes out there, and the right one is out there for her.

~Ripp