Buying a ''69 to '72 C3

[Roscobbc]

That's what you get when dealing with people who know nothing about the product

And asking price devalued by the amount is would cost to correctly return to Ontario Orange.

 

[Nassau65]

And asking price devalued by the amount is would cost to correctly return to Ontario Orange.

Possibly very true, but I think any potential buyer would be very hard pressed in knocking the vendors price down to accommodate a respray back to original color.

 

[Roscobbc]

Shame that someone didn't consider the potential future implications of changing from quite a unique colour to a 'nothing' colour.........(sez me with a Polar White Vette) - most people would want to do it the other way........oem white to Ontario Orange. Mind you a colour like that is a bit of a ball ache to get right on a car........whereas white, well it's a bit like resale red isn't.........hides a lot of sins perhaps......

 

[Nassau65]

It does seem strange to me when a colour is changed, why not just find the car in the required colour. Especially when it’s a pretty normal/common colour.

 

[James Vette]

Why would you remove ontario orange?

 

[Nassau65]

The person obviously didn’t like Ontario Orange and wanted white. The question is why did he buy the car in the first place and then go to all the expense of painting it white.
Why not just buy a white one?

 

[James Vette]

Maybe the paint was in bad condition like mine and he thought might as well.

 

[Nassau65]

I can understand it if the car was involved in a crash, the car was then sold off cheap, somebody bought it but didn’t like the colour. Wasn’t bothered because he planned to paint it white.

 

[Mad4slalom]

That's what you get when dealing with people who know nothing about the product

seconded ! I took a piano up an angled flight of rickety wooden steps today with a few bits of equipment, one other chap and a winch,… oh ! And 30 years experience
Client said eight blokes put it in there

 

[Mad4slalom]

Good work Gavin back in the day that was one of the main reasons I never bought a vette, it was seeing them from across the street and thinking , “wow! , That baby ‘s coming home with me !!” Then looking underneath and seeing a rusty frame , worn rubber bushes and oil leaking everywhere. The peace of mind you get from knowing your vette is as good below the waterline as above is so reasuring.

a question for Gavin, just looking at your axle stands, can you give us your preferred method of where to jack and where to place the stands under our C3’s to inflict the least stress on our bodies TiA.

 

[Roscobbc]

seconded ! I took a piano up an angled flight of rickety wooden steps today with a few bits of equipment, one other chap and a winch,… oh ! And 30 years experience
Client said eight blokes put it in there

In my youf - I would deliver 26" colour TV's (early colour timber'plywood full chassied TV's - not the plastic lightweight flat screen one we see now) and automatic washing machines often single handed and occasionally in tower blocks.......often with a non-working lift. No matter the weight there is always a way to move heavy difficuly items.........and piano's must be one of the worst and perhaps the easiest to damage?

 

[Mad4slalom]

In my youf - I would deliver 26" colour TV's (early colour timber'plywood full chassied TV's - not the plastic lightweight flat screen one we see now) and automatic washing machines often single handed and occasionally in tower blocks.......often with a non-working lift. No matter the weight there is always a way to move heavy difficuly items.........and piano's must be one of the worst and perhaps the easiest to damage?

yes some of the concert grands we move are approaching a £100k

 

[phild]

yes some of the concert grands we move are approaching a £100k

Wow, you don;t want to risk one of those to unskilled movers.

Did remind me of the Bernard Cribbins song, which I can't remember the name of. 'Had bad twinges takin' off the 'inges and it got us nowhere' sprang to mind and made me giggle.

 

[antijam]

Did remind me of the Bernard Cribbins song, which I can't remember the name of. 'Had bad twinges takin' off the 'inges and it got us nowhere' sprang to mind and made me giggle.

Right said Fred......

 

[Roscobbc]

Maybe the paint was in bad condition like mine and he thought might as well.

Could be that the original Ontario Orange was deteriorating, the cost to strip-back and re-finish in the same colour was too expensive and someone has simply flatted the the original colour, tidied-up any imperfections and simply done a low cost blow-over.........you wouldn't really be able to see the quality (or lack of) on images published.......physical observation would be essential.

 

[Mad4slalom]

Wow, you don;t want to risk one of those to unskilled movers.

Did remind me of the Bernard Cribbins song, which I can't remember the name of. 'Had bad twinges takin' off the 'inges and it got us nowhere' sprang to mind and made me giggle.

Right said Fred......

right said fred, got to take the wall down, that there wall is gonna have to go !

 

[Mad4slalom]

Good Evening
I posted on this forum about a week ago and received some very helpful advice from CCC members. I was asking for help with purchasing an early C3 (bumper version)! Any advice really and as I'm new to the Marque didn't (don't) have much experience with these cars. I bit the bullet and became a club member although I seem to have just as many privileges now as I did as a non member. After researching and listening to the advice given by fellow CCC members the car for me is as follows. '69 to '72 C3, big block or small although the big block is amazing! A sound chassis and birdcage, and a complete original car. Matching numbers are not super important to me but yes obviously preferable. I realise that's maybe what everyone is after.
I've been looking in the UK and Europe but then followed a link from one of the forums to the unfortunately named "Car pervert" AKA Johny Smith. This individual has imported several cars from America using a logistical transport company named CFR Rinkens. Well, Johny it seems is well versed in the procedure and makes it sound viable. It looks like there's way more choice over the pond and cheaper prices which make the cost of a shipping agent and 5% import tax worth the hassle!
My big question is, and it wasn't on "Car perverts" video agenda, what is the best way to find the right car. I mean you wouldn't want to buy a car over the phone without seeing it but then it's not like you could just "pop over" for a viewing. Apparently you can pay to have a vehicle checked over before committing but that's a lot of trust! I suppose the obvious thing is to get on a plane have a holiday in America and buy a car at the same time!
As a side note there seems to be cars out there that are in fantastic shape above and below. There's also a lot priced the same but when you get a glance below I'm sort of thinking, to get this car right, the body is going to have to come off anyway. Makes you think better to buy something cheaper and do it yourself!
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who may have been in a similar situation and how they got on. By the way I did contact Gavin from EMC cars who imports and restores C3's. He was very helpful and that's also an avenue I'm looking down
Thanks Rob Williams

hi rob, tried a private message but dont think it sent, my number if you are down is 07812 571262. I am up the ski lake and in and out loading for my tuesday run but wont be far from home. So let me know if you hade time to drop in any time over the bank holiday .

 

[Nassau65]

It all boils down to MONEY, the better the car, the more money it costs. Yes, bargains do come up from time to time, but they are few and far between.
Certainly from a dealer the better the car the more it costs.

Importing a car from the USA nowadays has never been easier. Having imported cars from the states since the 1970’s it has never been easier. Yes it can still be daunting having to trust somebody on your behalf or, you make the trip over.
Professional appraisals are available and I’ve found them to be well worth the money. They go through everything, they are bonded and their appraisal is truthfull. If not they can be sued.

Reputable specialised corvette dealers such as corvette Mike, Rogers corvettes , pro team etc have built a reputation over 40+ years and are not sharks. They however are not cheap and will usually sell a car for near the top of its value. No bargains to be had there, but no rubbish/surprises either.

The downside to stateside buying nowadays is the terrible exchange rate, and cars in the US have greatly increased in prices. So that said we in the UK loose out 2 fold. The only plus side is the 5% reduced VAT rate for cars 30 years old. As shipping is again priced in dollars, we loose out again.

But of course, there are more corvettes in America than anywhere else, so you have a greater chance of finding what you want.

 

[Last triumph]

It all boils down to MONEY, the better the car, the more money it costs. Yes, bargains do come up from time to time, but they are few and far between.
Certainly from a dealer the better the car the more it costs.

Importing a car from the USA nowadays has never been easier. Having imported cars from the states since the 1970’s it has never been easier. Yes it can still be daunting having to trust somebody on your behalf or, you make the trip over.
Professional appraisals are available and I’ve found them to be well worth the money. They go through everything, they are bonded and their appraisal is truthfull. If not they can be sued.

Reputable specialised corvette dealers such as corvette Mike, Rogers corvettes , pro team etc have built a reputation over 40+ years and are not sharks. They however are not cheap and will usually sell a car for near the top of its value. No bargains to be had there, but no rubbish/surprises either.

The downside to stateside buying nowadays is the terrible exchange rate, and cars in the US have greatly increased in prices. So that said we in the UK loose out 2 fold. The only plus side is the 5% reduced VAT rate for cars 30 years old. As shipping is again priced in dollars, we loose out again.

But of course, there are more corvettes in America than anywhere else, so you have a greater chance of finding what you want.

100% This ^

Another thing to consider if you do import yourself is whether you go container or roll on-roll off. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Ro-Ro is a fair bit less expensive but the car is less secure from 'souvenir hunters' and also risks getting damaged whilst loading and unloading as the dock drivers bounce them up and down the loading ramps, often with steep approach angles which can scuff spoilers and damage exhausts. Ro-Ro does require the car to be on the button reliable though with a healthy battery that can survive sitting idle for 2-3 weeks and fire up at the other end as if a car won't start when they come to load, they'll either leave it there or call a mechanic and charge you (top dollar) to get it running. Also, no point filling the tank because the fuel is cheap - every car I've ever imported with any decent amount of fuel in has arrived empty.

Container is far more secure, but carries greater chance of damage as they are loaded on steep ramps and blocks of wood to get them in as they are usually in a shared container with the nose of one car over the car beneath it etc to squeeze them in, which carries the risk of the car above yours having a brake fluid leak for example, burning a nice puddle off your shiny paint etc, etc...

 

[Chuffer]

In my youf - I would deliver 26" colour TV's (early colour timber'plywood full chassied TV's - not the plastic lightweight flat screen one we see now) and automatic washing machines often single handed and occasionally in tower blocks.......often with a non-working lift. No matter the weight there is always a way to move heavy difficuly items.........and piano's must be one of the worst and perhaps the easiest to damage?

Didn`t Dire Straights write a song about you ?