I am new to restoration but I have always loved vettes. I am 17 and my father and I (mostly I) are looking for a resto car. I have come across a '73 4spd w/ air. The engine is NOT the original, it is from a 75, but he has the original for me to buy also. the interior is shot-no big deal. He has taken the frame off the body and fixed all rust spots on the frame and then undercoated it. there is noooo wiring in the car at all, it is all in a box and it must be rewired. the car has been primed, but not painted. i have talked him down to $5000 and maybe even $4500. SHOULD I BUY IT??? HELP PLEASE! joe
-
-
Re: Should I buy IT?
Dont walk, RUN in the direction that will get you as far from this car as possible. Your $4500, plus $20,000 more plus hundreds of hours of work will turn it into (maybe) a nice $15,000 car if you do real nice work. -
Re: Should I buy IT?
Joe,
I was two years younger than you when I bought a clapped out '57 Ford Fairlane 500 and subsequently rebuilt the engine with an old Chilton's in one hand and a wrench in the other. It was a great learning experience, my father occasionally lent a hand, and I learned some new invective. Seriously, if you have the scratch (cash) and the desire, go for it.
BillComment
-
Re: Should I buy IT?
I am in almost the same boat as you, but my car was a running, non-original engine 74. The price tag on mine was a little cheaper, $2000, but I had to ship the car from New Mexico to Chicago. I am taking this as a learning experience, if you have the Corvette itch, nothing will make it go away but buying a Vette. I would rather get my hands dirty in a 74, that really is never going to be a collector's car, than get a nice 66 or something and do more harm than good while learning the ropes. $5000 sounds kinda high for this year Corvette, espicially in the condition that it is in, but if you have the coinage, get it have fun with it!
My car will be here this Thursday, and I already have a stack of Corvette catalogs laying all over the house, I can't wait!Comment
-
Re: Should I buy IT?
Joe:
Not only is that undercoating hiding something but if this guy is only an amateur welder chances are the undercoating is hiding more than just frame rust, keep your money until you find something that has been invaded a bit less or completed a bit more.
jerComment
-
Re: Should I buy IT?
Hi Joe, I think you would be better off to wait and find a better car that is unassembled. I agree with the other guys that this is a great learning experience, but taking it apart yourself will help with putting it back together. I have had four project cars since I was 17 (only 11 years now), and my Corvette has been the best. It was totally complete and unassembled. Don't get me wrong, it needed pretty much everything, but I really enjoyed taking it apart, and it has been easier to put back together since I am the one who dismantled it. Nothing is worse then fixing someone else's mistakes on a poor restoration (or dismantling). As a reference point, I bought my '74 three years ago for $2600, complete, not running, small block, 4-speed, A/C, deluxe interior, no other options. Best of luck!! Email me direct with any other questions... Jeff
Jeff's '74 Corvette Restoration ProjectComment
-
Re: Should I buy IT?
Joe,
$4500-$5000 sounds like alot of money for a car without an electrical system. I would be leary of the "undercoating" too. Why is the seller getting rid of it? Possibly the same reason you should avoid it. Try to find one that can be driven enough to be evaluated . Unless you have rebuilt a few corvettes in the past, having an assembled car makes the work much easier because you know where everything goes and how it is supposed to work. I'm sure you could find a much better car for the same money.
Good luck, Todd RobidaComment
-
Re: Should I buy IT?
Joe, I would have to agree with most of the responses in the fact that you should wait for a better deal. I would hate to see what he was originally asking for the car if you got him to come down to $5000. I would not recomend buying someone elses problem as a first time restorer. It sounds to me like this guy is waiting on a sucker that cant control his urge to get a Vette. I think Bill C. is right on the money (no pun intended). You will just have to decide how much this car is worth to you. I know how you feel, but sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and let that one pass. There are alot of them out there for sale.Comment
-
Re: Should I buy IT?
The combination of "fixed the holes" and "undercoating" drove this to a no brainer in my opinion.Comment
Comment