svet

I'm new to Vette ownership and looking at an 80 with 30K miles. I'm looking at taking delivery and hitting the road home for an 800 mile trip. Is there anything I should be concerned about in general or should look at closely at before hitting the road for car with that mileage?

666WMD

I'd generally be concerned about everything.

From Martin's (Yankeededandy) Italy/France road trip thread -

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1580772631-post88.html

richard emmanuel

Rule of thumb especially with the age of these cars, check everything and plan for a journey. Have fun and know anything and everything can go wrong but its the fun of the journey that makes it interesting. On a serious note, check tire pressure, belts, all fluilds, and keep an eye on all the guages. If it was me I would take a few shorter trips first getting a feel for the car and listening to her also. Just my 2 cents.
Richard

Mgrad92

I don't recomend it. There are too many things that could go wrong. Some will be funny. Some will be an inconvenience. Some could be downright deadly.
I was debating driving my 81 vette home from the seller (about 50 miles) but decided against it. After I tore apart the braking system, I know I made the right choice.
Rent a trailer from U-haul and be safe.

Easy Mike

Make sure the car is insured before you pack and hit the road.

sprtplt

This has to be a flame.

blckslvr79

Where to begin...

xCCTer

Get a trailer.

jim-81

seriously??? an 800 mile trip on a car that's over 30 years old without knowing anything about it? good luck.

Triple M

I bought an '80 on Veteran's Day 2010. 43,000 miles and everything that had a seal leaked. I've replaced the radiator, power steering pump, rear wheel bearing, both front brake calipers and all the seals. I am just waiting for the fuel and water pumps to fail. I have completely restored the interior and I love the car. Based on my limited experience, if I had to drive 800 miles in a car that is 32 years old that I didn't know, I would have tow truck follow me home.

scottyp99

30,000 miles on a 32 year old car makes me suspicious, especially on a car that has a 5 digit odometer! When you check the car out, look at the gas, brake, and clutch (if applicable) pedals, seats, armrests, steering wheel, etc., and see if their condition jibes with a 30,000 mile car. It could have 130,000 miles on it. Or 230,000, who knows?

Even if the mileage is documented, here is some advice I always give people thinking about buying an old car: beware of old cars with low mileage! Just sitting for long periods of time is the worst thing that can happen to a car. All of the seals and gaskets dry out and crack, rodents can make a home in the car and chew on wiring; engine, brakes, fuel system, tires, body mounts, suspension bushings, shocks, wiring, etc. are ALL suspect. On the other hand, a car that has been driven regularly, and maintained properly, can have a lot of miles and be in tip-top shape. That's not to say that all low mileage cars are junk, and all high mileage cars are in great shape, it's just something to be aware of when looking at an old car. Low miles doesn't guarantee it's in good shape, and high miles doesn't guarantee it's in bad shape, either.

That being said, I did pretty much the same thing you are contemplating. I bought my '80 in Ohio, back in'08, with 63,000 miles on the odometer, and hopped into it and drove it all the way to Massachusetts! The windsheild wipers conked out on me during a rainshower in New York state, but other than that, everything went OK. Just lucky, I guess. Make sure you have your AAA card, a charged up cell phone, a couple cans of fix-a-flat, maybe a small tool kit with you for the journey. Might not hurt to perform a few good deeds to generate a little good kharma before the trip, too.


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott

svet

Thanks everyone, yeah, karma collection is a favorite pastime. I'm old school, cell phone in one hand, dwell meter in the other. Title claims 30K, for what that is worth. Plan on getting it on a lift and general inspection before heading out if I can find someone in Loisville who'll look it over. Gonna take a bag with tools, tape and ties, maybe hoses, starter, water pump, permatex..........

Anyone know someone reliable in Koiusville who can check her out?
Again, thanks. I'll post roadie review when I get back.

73L82AIR

If your mechanical and got the time to sit a couple of days while its being fixed I say go for it,it will be a corvette adventure you can talk about for a long time.Good Luck.Keep us posted while your on the road.

mds3013

Don't forget to ck. the lube in the diff.. How old and what condition are the tires? You do not want a tire to come apart on one of these cars. Good luck. mike...

svet

Well I made an under my breath promise to update those who were kind enough to share their wisdom and skepticism. I picked up an 80 C3 in Louisville on the 21st. The car had 30, 565 miles on it. the skeptics told me it was probably a rolled over 130K miles. Tt was nice, clean and eye candy yummie. Keep in mind this purchase was like a mail order bride from Russia, well St Louis. Bought on photos, no touch- n-feel, scratch-n-sniff. So, After I picked her up I took her to Hunt & Knight in Louisville, Corevette resorations their specialty. Mark, president of the company took her out for a spin and returned saying this was one of the cleanest, well maintained car of this vintage he'd seen in a while. Okay, I'm hooked, right words and I could get the jacksons out of my wallet fast enough. So, we put on the lift, and there she was, kinda exposed. A power steering pump leak and that was all. So, I gassed her up and drove back home, 800 miles plus with no spit, fart or whine, just pure motoringing. OMG. I love this car. So, be brave they said before I jumped into the furnace. I did, was lucky or blessed and now have 31K on a really sweet ride. Thanks to all for your responses.

Jedi926

Victory! Pics????

michael c. volpe

pics or it didn't happen.

ATIS

Congrats..but I agree...PICTS!!

81pilot

Congrats! I drove mine home 275 miles in 107 degree heat with the tops off and loved it! But hated the one sided freakin sunburn I got! Give us some pics of that bad girl!!!

larryg3

congrats but the pics!!!!! at least tell us what color is it!!