Shopping for Vette, need help

[majortom75]

I need some assistance. I'm currently shopping for my first Vette and am going to see one this weekend. Acocrding to the seller, the nose has some stress cracks on it and there is some paint missing on the quarterpanel, but otherwise no body damage. I am wondering how much I can expect to pay for a new nose (painted to match) and a blend-in of the paint missing on the q-panel. Just looking for a ballpark estimate here. None of the local paint or resto shops would even give me a guess without seeing the car. Unfortunately, I wouldn't know how much to offer without having some sense of what it might cost to fix.
Also, I thought I'd give out the rest of the info I know to see what you all think of the price. Its a '77 L82, supposedly good frame, 80Kmi, stock motor, interior in decent shape and body in good shape except previously mentioned paint issues. He's selling for $5,500. Thanks in advance for your expertise.

 

[Nut]

Tom,

On the minimal info you have the price is definitely not bad at all. However, there may be more unseen things. If you can it would be very helpful for you to bring along someone that already has a Corvette, especially a C3 model like the '77. But I would say from experience, take your time. Don't jump at the first thing you see. Drive a few, get the feel for the handling, the sounds, and your comfort. There are plenty of good, solid Vette's out there for sale and many at very reasonable prices. If this one has a lot of hidden "gotcha's" you'll end up spending double or triple in a heartbeat above what you paid or more. Be patient. Good luck in your search.

............... Nut

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Maintenance.

That is the key!

Buy the best maintained vette you can afford.
You will be much happier with a safe, reliable driver than a vehicle that will wind up needing many repairs.
Check the Tools section at the top of the page for a Corvette Shopping List. This list seems like a bit of overkill, but it has almost everything you can think of to check or ask about.

Absolutely check:
brakes
drivetrain
bushings & bearings
trailing arm *help! what is the thing to check for with the trailing arm and rust!?*
vaccum (headlights)
guages and turn signals

I like the suggestion to take a Corvette person with you. You may also request to take the vette to a qualified mechanic before purchase.

The price does sound reasonable, but I also think that price may be low because the owner knows it may need some work. (?)
As for your question about the bodywork...that will vary from shop to shop. Maybe you could take some very good pictures to show a body shop. You just need a rough guesstimate, not a quote.
For the nose and a spot on the body, I would guess $600 to $1000, if the shop does everything, including purchase the nose. Be aware...the paint you are trying to match is over 25 years old...and it may have other paint issues.

Anyhow, good luck and let us know how you do!
Heidi

 

[majortom75]

Thanks for your help guys. I've looked at a couple so far and plan to take my father-in-law along. His expertise is not specific to Corvette's, (he actually a Camaro man) but he is a very good mechanic and problem spotter. I just wanted to get a sense of painting cost. The plan is to try to get a vette that is mechanically sound with a clean frame.

 

[intex99]

being as your in snow country(I grew up in Syracuse NY) I would take a good look at the undercarraige for rust. Seems everytime I visit the folks up there I see older cars on the roads that seem to have nothing but rust where the rocker panels are!Hopefully the one your looking at wasn't outside all winter long!
The other thing is the paint! If its original paint the body shop will for sure try to talk you into doing the whole car and it might be cheaper for you to get it all done in one shot then touchup here and there then a few yrs down the road getting it all done!
Also see if the paintshop has ever done a Vette before and see if you can talk with the Vette customer to see if they liked the job done and how its holding up.Maybe even see if you can take a look at it.They might look great when 1st done but might have accesive chipping ect a few months later where the paint didn't really bond on the car.

 

[majortom75]

Thanks for the info intex. Any idea of what a full repaint might run me?

 

[GS Diva]

You can pay as little or as much as you want for a paint job! The one thing to remember is...you get what you pay for!!! Most of the work is in the preparation of the car, and that's what makes a huge difference in price. We had our '74 convertible repainted 2 years ago. There was very little damage to the car...two small stress cracks...and we paid $5,000, and that was repainting it the same color. Now, before you freak out at that price, you need to know that the job was absolutely perfect. There was no orange peel, no drips at all...perfect!!! But....you need to do what you need to do!

By all means, take your time looking for a Corvette. There are many out there. Many first-time Corvette buyers end up regretting buying the one they bought. Do your homework...and you'll find just the right one for you!

Good luck!!!

Elaine

 

[78SilvAnniv]

$4500.00

That is what we paid in WA state several years ago.

I think the shop could have done a better job than they did. You will need to be certain the shop understands how to paint fiberglass. If any grease or oil (motor oil or oil from your hands) gets on the bare fiberglass...that is pretty much the death knell for the paint in that area.

I understand the fiberglass can't be thoroughly cleaned of oil and that it will migrate up under the fresh paint and cause it to bubble and seperate. I have several spots of bubbles where fingers were used to push and pull open the doors of my vette while it was at the paint shop.

For a good paint job, one where the hardware is removed, headlights assemblys removed and the hood, nose and tail pieces taken off, I'd say extreme low end would be about $3k, while anything around $5k sounds reasonable for quality work. Higher prices demand better quality.
Heidi

 

[vettepilot]

Good quality full body paint jobs don't come cheap. I think it also depends on the location.... Down here things aren't too bad, I had my 94 S-10 "work in progress" painted, and minor dings removed before hand to the tune of $3400.00.
The truck looks like it came from the factory this way, all mouldings, weather stripping, lights, grills, inside door panals etc. were removed to shoot the truck. So considering all the extra work involved I think I got a pretty good deal for a show quality job. It was a Ford metallic pearl color, nothing special on the type of paint so the cost would have been much higher if special or custom paint was used.
vettepilot

 

[majortom75]

Thanks for your help guys. Its good to get some perspective on price ranges. Can't wait to join the ranks of the "Corvette owner" on the CAC. :dance