moosie982

Does the price go down once you hit 50 ? Or are you a long ways away from being 50 ? Peace,,, moosie

1974ta

I should have held out for the 70 Daytona Yellow LT-1 Convertible I really wanted and should not have settled for the L46 White Convertible I currently own.

Nice car but it isn't yellow or an LT-1.

couperdecar

Spocc

i would buy a vert
Pete.

MrJlr

Duane4238

If I had it to do over, I'd keep the '67 Camaro I sold to buy my '72 vert. She was used for 6 months by a Chevy exec at the Tonawanda Engine plant before I bought it. It was Bolero red with black vinyl top and had the black deluxe interior with a teak wheel. It was an RS/SS package with the 350 and a muncie 4 speed. I could go on and on but I'd just bore you.
I've looked endlessly for that car for years and would purchase it on the spot if I ever found it. Everything was soooo easy to work on compared to the Vette.
Duane

80Baby

I wouldn't have married my first wife!!!

No seriously, I love my '80. When I was 20 years old I owned a brand new '80. Sold it when I didn't want to give it up. Resolved one day to drive another "new" '80. I didn't want used; someone else's problem. I bought a wreck that was ready for retirement with the intent of returning it to the road better than original. 3/4's through the restoration; it;s going together very well. I'm excited to be near the end.

The '80 is sapping all of my time and money, but I wish I could have done the same thing with a '60 as well. That would have been the ultimate in cool!

uxojerry

I look at these cars the way I do my house. My 65 resto will cost almost as much as a starter house. Im using the best parts and equipment that I know to use and can afford. At a later date, I can always tear out the kitchen and update the bathroom, lol.

What I have learned is all roads lead to about the same amount of money $$$. Chassis, motors, etc cost what they cost and most shortcuts will lead to redoing something and spending more the second time around.

I bought a low end resto-mod to start with, and most of the original parts and work had to be redone. If I had to do it over again I would have bought the C2, and looked at the resto part as a separate project. I would have bought the custom chassis or frame, and completed it as money permits. When chassis is complete with drive train, then disassemble the C2 and mount it on the new chassis/drivetrain. Live and learn. The only difference in the cost of a c1/c2/c3 resto-mod is the car. The custom chassis/drive train cost exactly the same.

One more hint, dont ever show your wife that you paid $25k for an engine, lol. They understand a $1000 pair of shoes but not a motor. The motor cost is now the 1st weapon in her arsenal in any kind of financial discussion, lol.

Roco71

I would have bought a complete car not one in pieces. I bought my car home on a trailer with boxes and boxes of parts. Most of the parts were not salvageable and many were for a different year than my car. It has been a learning experience though.

jesse10886

I'm am half way to 50 moosie lol

C6DuffMan

Not sure I would own a 454 AC car again. It's cool and all, but it's a major bitch to work on in the engine bay. A nice small LT1 might have been easier on the knuckles.

srs244

and if i couldn't find a finished car at a decent and fair price, i would have started with one a lot further along (like 90% finished) or one in excellent original condition. then i would only have to modify it the way i wanted, not rebuild the entire car as i have done with my 78. i've owned it for 7 years and have only actually used it for 18 months until i decided to put it back together. of course one thing led to another, etc, etc, etc and the "as long as i'm doing this i should consider doing that" would have been pretty much removed from the equation. it will be all worth it when it emerges into the sunlight again in about a month (it's virtually all done), but of course i have been without it for the past almost 5 years. i have a C5, so all hasn't been lost, but it's not the same as the C3, lol.

7T1vette

Nothing!!

I knew exactly what I wanted and what I could afford. My assessment of the high mileage....but well cared for...car was on target, and I have yet to be hit with any big disappointment on my decision.

Of course, this is my fourth Corvette--and third C3. I should get it 'right' eventually.

bigvette1

Boy does this hit a pertinant point

Not sure I would own a 454 AC car again. It's cool and all, but it's a major bitch to work on in the engine bay. A nice small LT1 might have been easier on the knuckles

Add the cost of everything when you buy parts to a rebuild and just not sure the "cool factor" outweights the cost factor.

77custom

I DID do what I wanted to if a fire took out my baby.

My 77 after it's first complete rebuild: ON FIRE!



THEN... I decided to go completely batsh*t, and create this: His name is FULL TILT:



I had ALOT of fun in my 77 before it burnt.... several years of winning car shows, couple of years of road racing (SCCA / NCCC)....then fire, ... then 3 years of building Full Tilt from scratch.

Would I do it again? You bet your booty I would! Would I do it differently? Not really. Hobbies cost money. Ask a golfer how much they spend on ***** and greens fees every year. So, whatever you do, plan on spending ALOT of $$$ if you want it done right. And plan on spending an IMMENSE amount of TIME. Great things only happen when both things are present.

and JERRY.... LOL about the wife! If my wife EVER found out just how much I have spent in parts over the years on this one car.... she would kill me!

Luck to All,

Robert

srs244

i could be president of that club, LOL (and i'm certain we wouldn't be the only members!!)

nate99

77custom

AMEN Brother!

Vette Gator

I would have bought the powdercoating set at the start of my project instead of waiting until I have most of the suspension re-done and painted.