C3 or C5?

[josh noser]

[Ken A.]

Re: C3 or C5?

C-5 over C-4 any day. My wife's 04 Z06 is a great car, but I still prefer driving my 69, at least for most short drives. Personally I have a hard time with not driving a Corvette. In your situation I would think of it like this. The C-5 will cost more than your 68 is worth, or close to it. Have you ever considered the costs of repairing the electronics in a C-5? That alone should scare you off. You can work on your 68. Can you work on a C-5? You can't even change the oil without a lift. Drive your 68. A fender bender repair will cost about the same on either car, so you're even. Worried about theft? There are good ways to keep that from happening, but depending on where you live, most situations where you would be willing to take a C-5 you could take your 68 and not worry about it. C-5's are a dime a dozen, they are all over the place. When was the last time you saw someone driving a 68? You will get more pleasure from the 68 in that respect than the C-5, and you can't carry anymore passengers in the C-5 than the 68.
I was in your same situation almost 30 years ago, except I was just going to sell my 69. My then wife told me to put up or shut up. I shut up and it was the best thing she ever did for me (besides my son). I still have my 69 and I'm glad I do. Chances are, it will be a long time before you could affort another one like your 68.
I think you can guess my feelings! Good luck, I know it's tough. Been there, done that.
Ken

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 or C5?

Drive it. No matter which, if a problem occurs it can be repaired or replace.

Just be SURE to get classic insurance on it, and NOT through your regular carrier.

The 68 will go up in value, a C5 will keep dropping. In a few years, pick one up for $10k and enjoy both.

Patrick

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 or C5?

Josh:

I've got one of each tho my C3 is a 78...but your perfect for local cruises. The C5 is great on the road. I've driven it, the 78 and a 90 cross country and each generation is truly a generation of improved performance, handling and comfort...just like the commercials say.

I think it's also a statement considering the fad of taking C2 bodies and dropping it on a C4 chassis and motor with all the creature comforts you can find on a C5 or even a C6. It's the guys that love the early style but crave the modern features that provide that Corvette performance and handling for the long hauls and find it in a retrovette.

I was talking to a fellow today looking for mid-year but wants a driver. Doesn't want a numbers matching, trailer queen. Wants to drive and enjoy, really speaks to both the NCRS mission and what established Corvette as the America's sports car. Probably most of us face the decision your struggling with regardless of car value, model year or options...save or enjoy? For me...I'm looking to drive and enjoy.

[Bill E.]

Re: C3 or C5?

Josh, keep it! I'm an old guy and have had sports cars for longer than you've been on this planet. I could bore you with "if I had only kept that (fill in the name) do you know what it's worth now?" stories. My restored numbers matching (whatvever that means)'74 Corvette is, in my opinion, a nice driver. Whatever happens to it can be repaired. It will probably never go down in value and will likely increase. It's reliable, loud, fun to drive, and doesn't look like every other car on the road. What's to improve? Good luck, Bill

[Mark #28455]

afraid to push it?

Although your block is the original for your car, the biggest part of the value is already lost as the pad has been decked. (Nobody would be able to tell if you swapped a different date code correct block). So, you could drive it as is, but if you're still worried, get a later model 454 engine block from any 1980's 1 ton truck and rebuild it with mid 1970's heads and have a blast. Just put the original engine in the back corner of the garage, coat the cylinders with something like GM EOS, and turn it over a turn or two every few months.

As far as theft, there is now a GPS based alarm system that can be hidden in your car. It can even show you on an internet based site exactly where your car is now and has gone in the past month. They can even beep you if it goes over a certain speed - if your kid is driving it . If it moves even a few feet while the alarm is activated, they can even call you to check on your cell phone and then tell the police exactly where it is going within a few yards!

Pretty cool!
Mark

[Warren F.]

Re: C3 or C5?

Josh,

I've got a '71 LS-6 coupe and a 2002 coupe. The '02 is just a driver, it sits out in the snow, rain, a great car for mileage and driveability, but lacks style, and the interiors since its' intro in 1997 still has that 'dime store cheap interior look' throughout its eight year run. In the '71 you start it, feel the car rocking from the torque, while ideling and listening to the lope of the sold lifter cam echoing out the exhaust tips, stare at the interior with all the chrome metal bezels and trim, appreciate the american word spelling on the gauges (no more international symbols).

Sure your '69 won't handle as good and you can't go canyon carving like you could with a C5. Be patient, C5's will be very cheap soon. I paid over 50K for my '02, ordered car, now probably worth 25K 4 years later. Barely over 15k miles on it.

[josh noser]

Re: C3 or C5?

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I almost sold the car one time before and my wife talked me out of it as well. She said I would soon tire of the newer one and wish I had not sold the 68. I think she and you all are correct I should keep the 68. I just need to convince my self to use it more. I think I knew I should not sell it but I just needed a little more convincing.
Thanks,
Josh

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 or C5?

Josh your 68 could come out with enough points in NCRS judging event that the missing information on the stamp pad would not keep your car from getting enough points. The block casting number and correct dated block will help carry some points. Do you have any paperwork like the POP for your 68?