In Search of a Project Car

M

Mike_S

CCCUK Member
Hi 👋

Apologies if this isn't the right area to post - I did have a look in the Wanted section but I don't have permission to post in there.

I'm looking to get my hands on a C3 project car in the next couple of months but I'm a bit lost as to where I should be looking - sifting through the big marketplaces like ebay and carandclassic seems to yield mainly cars that have already been restored.

Has anyone else here been in a similar position and managed to find a project car they're happy with for a fair price?

I've also been toying with the idea of importing, but it feels like an option that's fraught with risk for someone without experience!

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

Cheers,
Mike
 
Roscobbc

Roscobbc

Moderator
Lots of options our there in terms of cars that perhaps have been partly stripped, cars that have 'failed' at some point and been pushed in the garage for years, those that are actually running, perhaps usuable but need improving, those that need a coat of paint (expensive to do correctly) and those perhaps right at the bottom of the desirabilty scale in comparison with other years/engines/options. Its a bit like buying a house that needs sonme fixing-up - the additional work and expenditure is very easy to underestimate.
 
johng

johng

CCCUK Member
Buying a project car is fraught with risk for someone without experience! Having said that it can be great fun. I bought one which I thought would be a rolling project that I could drive whilst restoring it. In practice it was off the road for 3.5 years whilst I did a complete body off restoration and I think I have now spent nearly twice as much restoring it as I spent buying it! If you are serious about getting a Corvette, then I would suggest you join the club, get along to your local area meets and learn as much about the cars as you can before you buy. If you haven't already seen it then read TimP's restoration thread to see just how bad things can be.
72 Corvette - Restoration Updates
 
M

Mike_S

CCCUK Member
Thanks for the replies!

I'm acutely aware of how expensive this whole ordeal (both time and money!) could end up. I'm not too worried at the moment, certainly expecting it to cost a lot more than I expect and take at least a couple of years.

I was actually half way through Tim's thread when you replied yesterday @johng - really helpful so far (still 10 pages left!), I can definitely see how people end up giving up half way given all of the years of issues you uncover when you start digging...
 
johng

johng

CCCUK Member
Sounds like you know what you might be letting yourself in for. I really enjoyed it. If I had the space (and my wife's agreement) I'd take on another one. Have you looked at the Facebook site Corvettes For Sale UK | Facebook ? Unless you spray it yourself, paint is likely to be the biggest expenditure, followed by engine, gearbox and interior depending on what needs doing.
 
Mr. Cricket

Mr. Cricket

Committee Member
Marked sold now:

  1. (SOLD) 1978 c3 corvette for sale​

    ...someone who is looking for their first Corvette to take on the largely done project. For this reason I am looking for only £6000 to purchase the complete car. If you would like to finish this project please contact me for more details and photos of the car Mike Lacey member no 3136 on 07803...
 
M

Mike_S

CCCUK Member
Cheers for the intel @johng. I'm hoping to save on spraying costs as a family member has a booth. My biggest concern is buying one with a knacked up birdcage or frame without knowing!

I've trawled the last 12 months~ of the Facebook group, but most seemed to be already fixed up, or 79-82 models.

Thanks for the like @Mr. Cricket - yep something like that would have been ace if it was still about!
 
M

Mike_S

CCCUK Member
Thanks for the link @teamzr1. If I'm honest I'm probably going to shy away from importing on my tod - it's something I'd entertain if I could find an importer with contacts that know what to look for and how to logistics, but I'm not entirely sure where I'd find that person!

There's a new (well old, but new) one that's landed on ebay (link below). I confess I'd entertained it for longer than I perhaps should have - if it wasn't for the body kit and other aftermarket parts I'd go and check it out.

One thing I have been wondering - a lot of the fixer-uppers seem to have a big gap where the bonnet meets the windscreen, is that just a fitment issue, warping, or?

 
teamzr1

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
Sure looks like this C3 was either in a strong storm, flooded or in some lake
Who knows what is hidden in view that is rusted badly
 
M

Mike_S

CCCUK Member
Thanks @Mr. Cricket, I've sent them an enquiry to see if they can source anything.

I'm not super fond of the pace cars personally, but that one is certainly in good nick for 12k!

Had a look through the other C2/C3 sales on there and there are some absolute steals... This '72 was <15k (albeit altered to be track spec)

collectingcars.com

1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY (C3) for sale by auction in Pontyclun, Wales, United Kingdom

A classic muscle car, which boasts a number of track-oriented upgrades and a retro two-tone colour scheme.
collectingcars.com
 
T

TimP

CCCUK Member
Mike_S said:
Thanks for the replies!

I'm acutely aware of how expensive this whole ordeal (both time and money!) could end up. I'm not too worried at the moment, certainly expecting it to cost a lot more than I expect and take at least a couple of years.

I was actually half way through Tim's thread when you replied yesterday @johng - really helpful so far (still 10 pages left!), I can definitely see how people end up giving up half way given all of the years of issues you uncover when you start digging...
Click to expand...
It's probably been a project on the more extreme side of things but I have enjoyed doing my rebuild immensely. Of the many reasons for choosing a C3 probably the most relevant to this thread are good parts availability from helpful UK based suppliers and secondly the enormous amount of help and reference material available on this forum, generally on line and on You Tube. Official GM documentation is also very good and plentiful and a tremendous help to know how the cars were put together originally.

Good luck with your car hunt and let us know how you get on!
 
M

Mike_S

CCCUK Member
Massive thanks to Gavin at @Emc for spending his time today to chat with me about my crackpot plans to be a classic car restorer! I love that this community has so many knowledgable and helpful people kicking about.

Gavin'a advice has led me to widen my search a bit - automatic and later models are now on the cards. My pref would still be 68-73 (the dream would be a slightly more tired version of the green 73 vert currently on eBay at 22k).

Cheers for the intel @TimP - I confess I was very relieved reading through your thread to find that you're also working in IT and not a native classic car restoration wizard. I'm also in IT as a software engineer and I've got a (likely misplaced!) idea that being a problem solver is the most important skill to have embarking on this sort of thing...
 
teamzr1

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
You all would know better than me, but $22K for this ?
Paint overspray, replace seals
Paint.jpg

Why belt taken off the A/C compressor ?
Did it come with no power steering
Rework and clean up wiring

ACwires.jpg

Trim missing

trim.jpg
 
Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
Belts taken off A/C compressors is/was a very regular sight on American cars of the 70’s and 80’s. If it was off when you bought the car it usually remained off during your ownership and so forth to the new owner. A/C was a magical thing back then and very hard to find people to work on it.
 
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