A C3 is joining the family
09-18-2012, 06:11 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
A C3 is joining the family
A 74' C3 is coming to the stable to be a daily driver companion to the 95' C4 that I have. I already have a beautiful, comfortable 'Vette, but I craved something a little more primitive and shop friendly. I live in California and wanted something pre-75 and back, so I don't have to deal with the PITA smog inspection either.
My partner and I have had a shop for four months now and we're specializing in project cars. We bring half-baked and forgotten projects back to life. Among them are a C2 64' Corvette coupe, that has been done 80's style, with Crager SS wheels and chrome everywhere, but no body mods and it has a brand new Marlboro Red paint job. It hasn't ran in 30 years and is a project that died, when the engine wiring harness started to burn. Never got started after all the chrome was thrown at it, but will run within the next couple of weeks.
Then we have the 69' Chevelle Convertible ex-drag race car. We just got this started last week and it sounds like it looks. Very built SBC and came with dual 650's on a Weiand Tunnel Ram, with a M-21, scatter shield, ladder bars and Strange Engineering axles.
I spotted the 74' on CL and I liked it. It is a project car and will join the others in the shop. It was a former street racer and is equipped as such, with a built 350 and M-21 four speed. It needs the dash and wiring put back together. It has an 82' tail and I like that too, as well as the black fiberglass nose. I inspected it carefully and it has no rust in the birdcage or collision damage. The whole rear suspension was rebuilt, including half shafts, u-joints, the diff, trailing arms and a new rear spring leaf. New exhaust and a bunch of new parts come with it. It should be running within two to three weeks.
Appearance wise, I'm going to leave the exterior as is, patina and all. It has the stance and looks of what it was back in the day, and one day I'll paint it, but I'm not worried about it now. I like it and it's going to fit in with what we're doing at the shop.
My partner and I have had a shop for four months now and we're specializing in project cars. We bring half-baked and forgotten projects back to life. Among them are a C2 64' Corvette coupe, that has been done 80's style, with Crager SS wheels and chrome everywhere, but no body mods and it has a brand new Marlboro Red paint job. It hasn't ran in 30 years and is a project that died, when the engine wiring harness started to burn. Never got started after all the chrome was thrown at it, but will run within the next couple of weeks.
Then we have the 69' Chevelle Convertible ex-drag race car. We just got this started last week and it sounds like it looks. Very built SBC and came with dual 650's on a Weiand Tunnel Ram, with a M-21, scatter shield, ladder bars and Strange Engineering axles.
I spotted the 74' on CL and I liked it. It is a project car and will join the others in the shop. It was a former street racer and is equipped as such, with a built 350 and M-21 four speed. It needs the dash and wiring put back together. It has an 82' tail and I like that too, as well as the black fiberglass nose. I inspected it carefully and it has no rust in the birdcage or collision damage. The whole rear suspension was rebuilt, including half shafts, u-joints, the diff, trailing arms and a new rear spring leaf. New exhaust and a bunch of new parts come with it. It should be running within two to three weeks.
Appearance wise, I'm going to leave the exterior as is, patina and all. It has the stance and looks of what it was back in the day, and one day I'll paint it, but I'm not worried about it now. I like it and it's going to fit in with what we're doing at the shop.
Last edited by F22; 09-18-2012 at 06:13 PM.
09-19-2012, 09:51 AM
#4
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Thanks GG and AVGI! Wasn't sure what kind of response I'd get here, as I'm a regular on the C4 board. The 95' C4 was my first high performance car ever. Because of circumstances (mine included!), I never got to own the cars back in the late 70's and early 80's that all my buds in the neighborhood had. Most of them were of the midnight street racer crowd and I loved the raw, primitive and brutal element that these cars possessed.
The smell of old upholstery, oil, grease and rich exhaust is kind of intoxicating!
The smell of old upholstery, oil, grease and rich exhaust is kind of intoxicating!
09-21-2012, 11:58 AM
#8
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
On Los Angeles CL, I regularly see 1976-1982 C3's going for less than $5K and even down in the $2K to $3K range. I picked the 74', because those two years, 1974 and 1975 are kind of the 'dogs' of the C3 world, along with the later ones and represent the best 'bang for the buck', especially not having to smog it and doing pretty much anything I want to do with it.
Before anybody gets mad about the 'dogs' reference, I own a C4 and we all know where those rate. Not as sexy looking as the C3, a ton of them out there and the early C4's had a whole lot of electrical and starting problems, but still a great Corvette to own!
09-24-2012, 12:18 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
This is the 74' Stingray, that we had picked up Saturday. Traded the Harley for it and have no regrets. It starts and runs smoothly. It just needs to be put back together. The interior is a mess, dash is apart, wiring, no console, etc, etc, but we can handle it!
This car fits right in with what's going on at the shop, as we specialize in putting back together half-completed projects. This car on a trailer, got more attention than my 95' C4 and my Harley combined!
People slowed down, we got thumbs ups from a few individuals and a lot of people were looking at this car! Me? I like the stance and attitude of this Stingray and it's gonna roll in a few weeks to a month.
