Thoughts on this 1976?

James Vette

James Vette

CCCUK Member
Good morning guys. I have found this white on black 1976 t-top auto. I would like to use this a daily driver and the owner states it has had a recent engine rebuild. I can see the front bumper is chipped so what would be the best way to fix this? I would actually like to swap the bumper with a 1974 bumper if that's even possible and how hard would that be? Or maybe I can just paint the bumperettes with black paint? Just don't really like those bumperettes but maybe I'm just overthinking. I would also like to remove the carpet on the bottom of the door I think that looks out of place. I do love shag carpet don't get me wrong haha. I adore the wood inserts in the middle of the door card though. Also I think I would like to swap the wheels for the stock wheels instead. I believe those wheels are from the 80-82 but I like the earlier hubcaps. I can see the radio area has been cutout so
I think I would just cover that up with a plate with a stingray badge on it I think that would look nice.

EBAY LINK

Thank you for your help guys and have a nice day. My dad would be looking at the car with me so I won't be completely stupid to miss any red flags.
 
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Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
The front nose chips could be easily done by painting the whole nose. Those little bumperettes are there to help protect the nose. The ends should be black tho. Again easy to fix.
Wheel centers are from a later year, easily sorted by buying the correct ones.
Looks OK to me. Little things can be sorted as you go along.
As your going to use it as your daily no need to have perfect paint, as long as it fairly nice your ok
Centre consoles do come up for sale so you could replace and fit an original AM/FM unit
Probably some room there for a price reduction. Show him the cash, I’m sure he would be tempted.
 
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teamzr1

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
Looks like no A/C
Engine bay wiring a real rat's nest, needs to be cleaned up and fixed
Look at hoses for radiator coolant
Looks like generator and carb are fairly new
Says engine was a total rebuild
3 speed auto tranny
Converted to electric coolant fans ?

enginebay2.jpgenginebay.jpg
 
Roscobbc

Roscobbc

Moderator
GCorvette said:
Have you seen this one?
www.facebook.com

Classic Corvette Club UK Group | Helping out the family of my engineer friend Robin , who died last year | Facebook

Helping out the family of my engineer friend Robin , who died last year. He owned and daily drove this matching numbers FSH 1977 L82 for 40 years. It has to go, auction ends tomorrow. Fresh MoT , all...
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
Click to expand...
Ordinarily I would have said go for this one.......being an L82 and manual. But it isn't is it? - it's got a lopo 350 crate engine......is that any more powerful than it original smoggy engine would have been?
Does the other one your planning to look at really have a hot engine.....auto tx is perhaps a minus point.....otherwise in condition terms etc they are broadly similar......except for pricing at the moment.
 
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Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
As an everyday driver I would much prefer an automatic transmission. For me, a manual corvette is OK for “high days and holidays” but not for everyday use, as James intends to do.
Of course, it does depend on your location .
 
James Vette

James Vette

CCCUK Member
Thank you guys for your comments. How hard and expensive would it be to order a white 1974 front bumper? I don't mind the rear bumper with painted bumperettes.
 
Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
Shipping I think would be quite expensive, and more importantly would a split 1974 rear bumper fit a 1975 and up car? Without any modifications
 
James Vette

James Vette

CCCUK Member
Nassau65 said:
Shipping I think would be quite expensive, and more importantly would a split 1974 rear bumper fit a 1975 and up car?
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I don't mind the rear bumper as is. Maybe I am overthinking because a normal person would not notice the bumperettes anyway.
 
teamzr1

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
Do not take those off as they are part of the front bumper support
Paint them the color you want as you will need to paint all around where the hood edges the fenders
where it looks so bad now

fbumper.jpg
 
Red74

Red74

CCCUK Member
'74 front bumper is unique to '74 (and possibly '73) if you look at the later ones they are extended back between the headlights therefore the '74 would not fit.
 
James Vette

James Vette

CCCUK Member
Red74 said:
'74 front bumper is unique to '74 (and possibly '73) if you look at the later ones they are extended back between the headlights therefore the '74 would not fit.
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Hi thank you for replying. How do you mean? Could I not do some cutting with a saw to fit the 74 bumper?
 
Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
I don’t think it’s a quick DIY job. Professional body shop work probably.
If you dislike the bumperettes that much, wait for a 1974 model to come up.
Old saying” buy in haste, repent in leisure “
 
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