milo30

My '78 project came to a dead end and I decided to buy another car. I wanted a '69 but just couldn't find one in my price range right now. I ended up with an '81 that the previous owner had already done a lot of the restoration on. Still needs some work, mostly the engine which is original but for $9500 I felt like this was a good deal. I think it still gives me room to restore a little more without being in too big of a hole.

Did get a scare bringing it home. Had to drive it 2 1/2 hours to get it home and 15 minutes before getting there, I went to pass a truck and it downshifted, surged and died. Being such an old engine all kinds of thoughts passed through my head and all I could remember was the last thing my wife had said is do not buy it if it is junk. I thought, how am I going to explain this to her. I couldn't even make it home without a wrecker. Luckily, after checking the carb and finding no fuel, I was able to chalk it up to a faulty reading on the gas gauge. 1/4 of a tank means EMPTY. Made it home without too much embarrassment.

69VetteFla

Car looks hot - congrats and enjoy

daanbc

Very nice!!

blue427

Looks like a real nice vette,love the color combo.Good luck with your purchase and give us a little more info on it.

oldsarge

Congrats, looks nice, but what about the 78, back to work or not?????

Spocc

fix the gas gauge & enjoy it - its a beauty !

calif phil

Looks like new.

milo30

Right now my head is spinning with all the cars that I was checking on it one night. They are all starting to blend together. I'll have to sit down and see what all has been done to this one. I've got a stack of receipts for all of the work that has been done. I know it has a new paint job that ran around 10k and about another 10k in parts and labor replacing things. I'm curious myself to see everything that wasn't obviously done to it. Tomorrow after I finish cleaning out the garage I'm going to sit down and start a folder on it and look through everything thoroughly.

I really don't know what the market is right now in this area for an '81 but the condition of this car was so much better than the other cars I was finding in this price range, I don't think 9.5k was over paying.

milo30

Unfortunately no. Found rust damage on the windshield that I had missed somehow and it was further gone that I felt comfortable dealing with. I dragged it outside to give the new car room in the garage and am just going to sell all the parts that I have accumulated for it's rebuild. That's on my list for tomorrow also, start taking photos and listing parts for sale.

I'm disappointed that I didn't get to finish the '78 but happy that I have a car to drive now.

Dose11

Nice

Lupigiato

Congratulations - looks like she's in good shape. Glad to hear your ride home scare was not something serious - I could imagine what raced through your mind.

GS977

that is REALLY sweet!!! i love the color combo.
congrats!!!! i hope to see it in person at some local shows.

John 65

Happens to the best of them. Pretty 81, looks clean. Enjoy it in good health.

7T1vette

Why not just sell the '78 "as is". Remember, you will have to remove the parts you will be selling; and that takes time and effort, too. It sounds like you are not really into the 'repair' part of ownership, so why perpetuate it with the '78? Just get rid of it, so you can focus your attention on the '81.

GPGG70

Congratulations!! Nice looking car.

gotz06?

Nice congrats

milo30

Have another thread where I was working on the '78. It has been stripped of everything but the rear diff. for some time now. It was a frame off restoration and a convertible conversion going on at the same time and I have done every turn of the wrench myself. I think that I was probably in the repair part of ownership as much as or more than most. Cutting out sections of the windshield frame and repairing that is a little beyond my experience or what I want to tackle. If rust is showing up top then it is probably hidden inside somewhere too.

seventysixvette

Milo, really sorry to hear about the '78, I was rooting for your conversion coming together. I can see why you don't want to fight that windshield rust.

The '81 looks NICE! Great colors and in good shape too! Enjoy!

John

Bigwheel74

That is one beautiful car. Congratulations! Enjoy.

larryg3

That is a very nice 81 I love the color combo!! Enjoy it