Mileage verification

[TomOB]

Hey guys,
Im looking at an '80 vette that is supposedly at 41k miles. Just wondering if there are any checks i can do to verify this. The seller says he can provide me the sales receipt from the previous owner (a dealer) and that should have 39,000. There are certain things i am wondering about. One is the engine bay, the valve covers don't look familiar to me and the air filter does not have the familiar ducts with the accordion tubing. He also says it has a newer MSD distributor. I don't know if i should be just writing this one off as a bad idea, or just inspecting it. Conceivably, one owner could have added the chrome accessories to dress up the bay, and he says he has the original working distributor and he only wanted to add a newer component. The car looks good inside and out form the pictures.
I know to check for pedal/steering wheel/ seat wear, excessive carpet wear, etc. And i know fi the car feels terrible on the test drive theres something up. Just don't know what to do. I'd love to verifiy this man's claims and walk away with this low-mile car, but idhate to leave without my money and a lemon.
Any help is always appreciated...and if you are in the northern mass area or southern NH, like 45mi northwest of boston, please help! hehe
thanks guys
tomas

 

[TomOB]

Here is the engine bay
I just checked some vettes on ebay and saw one with the same engine bay maybe im just dumb or maybe its a coincidence.

 

[TomOB]

view of the car's inside

 

[TomOB]

oops

 

[TomOB]

the rear

 

[TomOB]

rear view

 

[TomOB]

ok finally the side view with the fender of his new 03 in there. thanks guys.

 

[TomOB]

Just realized that those wheels dont look like the stocks. I'm starting to get more and more worried, is it time to run?

 

[wwilkins]

If you are looking for a numbers matching, factory original, NCRS quality car then yeah run away. But if you only want a low mileage vette in pretty good shape this could be your ticket. Without all the receipts from the cars history it will be hard to actually verify the mileage.
Low mileage isn't always the best thing either. My vette is a low mileage one but it sat for a few years under some trees with a window down. After a year of throwing money at it I still find rust and bird stuff in strange places.
Take it to a mechanic you trust and put it on a lift. Then get your mechanics head into every nook and cranny he can fit into. Stick a mirror inside the frame rails and look in the back of the trailing arms. On the right side just infront of the tire look on the frame rail for a fuel leak. Look at all the brake pipes. They really like to rust. If there isn't a lot of rust it probably has the mileage the current owner says it does. If he won't let you take it to a mechanic then don't buy it!!!
If your heart is set on an 80 then buy the NCRS judging guide for those years. That book will tell you more about what should be there than any of us can remember. Take it with you when you go look.

Hope this helps.

Bill

 

[tonyk72]

I'm up around that area...which town?


edit


Actually, I just found the ad...
Have you see the car with your own eyes yet? I'd be willing to take a peek at it for ya & send you some more digital pics...
looks like its real close to my home/work.
I'm not a mechanic & the 1980's are not my specialty, but I could probably spot a few bad things w/ the car...if any are to be found.

Tony

 

[TomOB]

Bill,
I am not looking for an NCRS gem. I'm looking for a good quality car that will give me little trouble for about 16 months. Next summer the car would be very much changed.

Tony,
I told the guy id look at it tomorrow morning. It's about a 3.5 hour drive. I'm off from school so unless the car is actually just a pile of glass fibers, I don't especially mind going up there. I just want to make sure I know what I'm getting. Do you know any vette shops up by you? That'd be my best bet, I suppose.

I wish we lives in a world where i didnt have to doubt my fellow man. HAHAH.
Considering a 98-00 now.....

Tomas

 

[tonyk72]

I wish I knew a good place to steer ya for a 'vette shop, but there are none around here that I know of...
I do know a local honest mechanic in the area, I take my other cars there for work...
You could at least get it up on a lift and have 'em check out other stuff...Send me an email if you want more info...
Did he mention where he had his car serviced?

 

[tonyk72]

I just noticed that you mentioned the previous sale was through a dealer...
If this dealer happened to be Corvette City, I would be VERY cautious...
They have a bad reputation around here...

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com...s=&threadid=20174&highlight=corvette+and+city

 

[TomOB]

Hmm. He said the dealership isnt there anymore and was very unhelpful.
I guess I didnt realize these thigns when talking because i was too enthusiastic. I wrote them down though.
I wonder if the local chevy dealer will let me test drive one? I'm 19.......heh

 

[tonyk72]

If he's not being helpful in answering all your questions, I'd say pass. He could be hiding something...

And if he wouldn't elaborate on the dealership name, I bet ya it was Corvette City...

Corvette City isn't around anymore either....
makes ya wonder...