Poll: Who Did You Buy Your current C3 From?

[Glensgages]

Got my '82 from the lady across the street from me, and didn't even know she HAD a Corvette until just before I bought it from her.

An under-cover State Trooper, she worked very long and odd hours, often out-of-town for weeks at a time:
none-the-less, I knew she was a gear-head, as she really dug my rear-engine dragster, and she had spoken of selling a Monte Carlo SS before she bought the house across from me.

One day, I'm walking my dog, and I see her, washing this Black C3, so, as a joke, I say:
"Gotta take a part-time job, detailing cars, eh?"

She said, "Nope, this is mine, but I'm selling her soon..... I love it, but I don't have enough time to enjoy it" (I'd never SEEN the car in 6+ years...)
"Do you know anybody who'd be interested in a low-mileage (11,137) '82, with full documentation?"

I walked around it twice, stuck my head in the cockpit, smiled, and said "SOLD!!!!!"

I bought the car without even starting it up!!!!!

Sadly, she died if cancer less than 3 years later at the age of 52, and my girlfriend and I proudly drove "her" car to the funeral service, done military-style at the local barracks:
I'm told a picture of "her" car was buried with her.....
:cry

She was a 'class-act', and I miss her a lot.

 

[BORDERBUM]

You forgot to add "found it in a back yard under a tarp"

 

[Culprit]

Out of town dealer. I found my 78 PC on the internet while deployed in Africa a couple of years ago. I told myself that if it was still for sale when I got back to the states that I would drive to Atlanta and look at it. I did, and it was. I left Atlanta at 2100 in pouring down rain towing my new Vette on a trailer behind my little Ford Ranger (I've done some work to it to increase towing capacity, but it's still like pulling teeth). I drove all night back to North Carolina where I was stationed at the time and pulled into my drive at around 0500 in the moring. I slept for about 2 hours, unloaded the car in my driveway, dropped off the trailer at the U-haul and went straight to work functioning on nothing but caffeine and adrenaline. I can't count how many times during that rainy drive home that I looked in my rear view mirror and saw that 78 staring back at me and I just couldn't stop smiling all the way home. I still smile every time I walk out into the garage and there she is just waiting on me.

Culprit

 

[ArkShark]

I told my father I was looking for a late 70's vette. (only semi-seriously)

One month later he calls and said he found an ad in the local paper for a 77.
I go home to visit at Christmas time (2003), and he shows me the ad.

I let it sit on the coffee table at home for another week, and I finally call the guy. I drove out the next day, and fell in love. 2 days later, its in my garage.

 

[bill81vette]

one of my wifes co-workers was looking to buy a house and decided to sell the vette... my wife happen to mention it on a sat morning and monday she gave him a check for it bill

 

[craig32]

None of the Above. . .

Ebay is the closest option, but I saw mine advertised on 'usedcorvettesforsale.com' I saw it on Friday night, called on Saturday morning, and bought it on Sunday; - picked it up the following Saturday. (all because the bank closed early - big surprise - and couldn't get a trailer) Never heard it run until we picked it up, I didn't really care as I have a 327 with 2 fours on my tractor looking for honest work. I spent more money on seat covers than everything else combined so far, and went the classic plates route so I'm driving it now. It needs repainted and carpet, but the car is paid for, thanks to a low price.

 

[L82Dan]

Ordered mine on Dec 8, 1978 from GK Chevrolet in Downers Grove and took delivery of it on March 26, 1979. It's still mine!

 

[Derrick]

Saw mine on Ebay and didn't pay much attention to it. Then, a month later I was browsing Ebay again and much to my surprise there was my Vette again, relisted with a slightly lower price. Went to the owner, test drove it, bought it 3 days later.

The owner was a navy pilot and had just driven the car to Texas from Maryland upon being restationed in Corpus.

 

[RodBuster]

1979 Red

My wife got it for my birthday.A friend had it for 4 years put $28.000 into it drove it 1000 miles than got a C5 She new I liked it so one day we go to dinner with 10 friends I get a cake and a title.It has a stroked 383 about 425hp with side pipes. I got in November got it home in time for 16" of snow....Will spring ever come?? I got it for a lot less than he had in it.

 

[JOE BYRNE]

Spring is close!! Keep the faith

Great gift...great wife...where are you at in Ohio?

 

[pasvorto1]

I sold my Harley and my MG Midget in an affort to "simplify" my life. That lasted about a week. I was sitting in a local drive in. I mentioned my feeling of loss. The owner (my brother-in-law's brother) said that he was going to sell his '78 Vette. I took it for a drive. It pulled a lot to the right. Sticky brake caliper thought I. He said her wanted $12,000 for it. I did a little research for him and told him that it wasn't worth more than $9,500 in the shape it was in. He said he would sell it to me for $9,500. I said I didn't have the money. He agreed to let me pay half last year and the remander this year. Done.

Since then I have had the frame straightened (it seems it was in an accident) and replaced both rear brake calipers. I am having the seat frames straightened (and reupholstered) this winter. Next summer I will replace the front calipers. The T-Tops need replacing, but I rarely drive it unless the sun is out (not my daily driver).

It has been a hoot driving. Even such as anemic model as an L48 with 185hp can give you an adrenaline rush. I will get it back to beauty, one peice at a time, as the budget permits.

 

[Johan]

None of the above, found it in an ad on the Internet.

I was going to buy a Triumph Spitfire(!), but I had nowhere to store it. And when I finally got a garage, the Triumph was sold. So there I was with a garage but nothing to put in it, a situation that had to be solved fast. Some weeks later I found my '74 on the Internet. It was alot more $$ than the Triumph, but what the heck. Today I am very happy that I didn't have a garage at the time...

 

[Billybeau1]

I got my 74 coupe from a guy who was renting an apartment from me. He got laid off and couldnt afford to pay the rent so I traded him one years rent for his vette. It was a little beat up and not taken care of but with a little money, Mid-America and lots of work I got her looking show quality.

 

[thesurvivor]

I got mine from the original owner in 1978. He and I worked together.

 

[Larry Langley]

Bought mine at the Tristate Fairgrounds in Amarillo, Texas at a classic and antique car auction. My next car will be a 1967 Chevelle SS 396.

 

[Ripp 73]

Well, my story is kind of split. I originally found her on E-bay. I had a tendency to fantasize about Vette’s for a while. I came across this 76 and it looked decent in the pictures and description. I looked at where the guy was that was selling it. He was only about two hours away. So I contacted him, setup an appointment and went to check the Vette out. Took her for a test drive and she seemed to all be there. Only three things not original with the car (paint, distributor, and missing AC compressor). So I made a deal with the guy and drove her home with a big grin on my face.

 

[tx73vette]

I got my 73 from an add in the local paper. I bought it 6 months after my divorce, to work on it, and to drive it, and go to cars shows. That was 7 years ago. And my new wife loves to ride in it. She likes to go with me to car shows too. Except when it get over 100 degres here in Texas.

 

[JHL]

I bought mine from a small specialist dealer in Birmingham, England. At the time this guy only sold C4's and as I had previously had an 80 originally went to buy a C4 vert he had advertised but when I turned up I noticed "My 81" sitting in the corner of his shop, the guy said he had taken it in a trade for a C4 and still had to clean it up and prepare it for sale. Test drove a couple of his C4's but when we ended up back at his shop "My 81" was sitting there saying buy me please

:L

So I had drive in it, instant decision, pulled out the cash and drove off.


J.

 

[Eddie 70]

Bought mine from an ad in the newpaper. Found it and went to see it. I lowballed the guy thinking he would send me on my way. He called me back later and said to come get it. I have kicked my self for not going lower. Oh well. I bought the car about 60 miles north of where I live. After getting it home and doing some work on it, I found a for sale sign in the door that is from a town about 10 miles south of me. I have always wondered about calling that number and seeing if I can learn a little more about the vette.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I would before the trail gets too cold. They may be able to fill in more of the past owners.

Tom