Looking for Opinions
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Looking for Opinions
Hello, Everyone! I'm in the market for a 1969 convertible and I've been spending a lot of time on the classified forum. I recently became aware of a 69 vert, 350/350, 4 speed for sale in Watertown, NY (Craigslist), but I live in California. The asking price for this car is $23,500. Seems like a fairly decent price. It needs some work and I'm okay with that. I received some pictures and the undercarriage looks pretty rusty, but it might be just surface rust. I'm not experienced enough to tell. I'm not opposed to separating the body from the frame and having the frame blasted and painted, but not if it's too far gone. I'm also concerned about the birdcage. So far all I have are a few photos. I'm hoping you guys can take a look at these photos and give an opinion as to how bad the rust appears on the underside and also take a look at the way the trim fits around the windshield. It appears to not fit the windshield properly and I'm concerned that rust has caused the windshield frame to swell under the trim. Thanks!
Corner of windshield frame
Windshield trim
Corner of windshield frame
Windshield trim
#3
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Mar 2014
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,222
Received 795 Likes
on
387 Posts
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Many guys on this forum request a fellow member from the area of the car to do an inspection for them. You may try that.
The following users liked this post:
seacliffe301 (08-14-2020)
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Southbound
Posts: 38,928
Likes: 0
Received 1,470 Likes
on
1,249 Posts
Cruise-In II Veteran
FWIW: I don't see a deal breaker, but the pics are very limited.
#5
Melting Slicks
Nice looking car, but I'm partial to blue roadsters. The pics you posted don't show us much as far as checking for rust. Pictures of the frame where the trailing arms are, have the kick panels removed and checking the bird cage, along with the windshield post, if there is rust showing there. The frame looks like just surface rust. T
#6
Le Mans Master
I would have it professionally inspected. It is cheaper then a plane ride. Also, the seats are from a 68 or the owner removed the head rests. Jerry
The following users liked this post:
nutsy (08-13-2020)
#8
Drifting
I lived in Watertown, NY for many years and this car is nice, but the rust that you can see is typical of a car that’s been in that area for a long time. I would be concerned about the rust that you can’t see. The winters are hard there. Lots of snow and it’s an area that sees plenty of rain and high humidity during the summer. IMHO you could do better by looking for a car closer to you and end up spending less money since you’d be saving on shipping the car. I bought my 68 in Petaluma, CA and found a rust free car. Good luck in your search.
#9
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
Figure the birdcage looks at least that bad if not worse. Being in Ca think you can do better.
Sounds good on price but to spend that much then do a frame off I dunno...
Sounds good on price but to spend that much then do a frame off I dunno...
The following users liked this post:
Greg (08-12-2020)
#10
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Too few closeup detail pictures of the right places to judge but the metal around this mount looks concerning to me:
The following users liked this post:
Greg (08-12-2020)
#11
Team Owner
This may be a decent car for the northeast U.S. -- but you can do a lot better on the west coast. Rust is a "killer"!!! I don't see the rust on that NY car as being super bad....it's just that there are LOTS of rust-free [or surface rusted] cars in the SW. It would cost you several thousand $$$ to have that car shipped from east coast to west coast. Just keep looking in your vicinity and raise your buying price accordingly.
#12
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I lived in Watertown, NY for many years and this car is nice, but the rust that you can see is typical of a car that’s been in that area for a long time. I would be concerned about the rust that you can’t see. The winters are hard there. Lots of snow and it’s an area that sees plenty of rain and high humidity during the summer. IMHO you could do better by looking for a car closer to you and end up spending less money since you’d be saving on shipping the car. I bought my 68 in Petaluma, CA and found a rust free car. Good luck in your search.
#13
Instructor
Be patient and keep looking for cars closer to you.I don’t think it makes sense to have a rust belt car shipped across the country.If your mind is set on buying this car you better have it looked at by someone knowing the issues of the early c3s.That would be money well spent.
#14
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Be patient and keep looking for cars closer to you.I don’t think it makes sense to have a rust belt car shipped across the country.If your mind is set on buying this car you better have it looked at by someone knowing the issues of the early c3s.That would be money well spent.
#16
Melting Slicks
Run away very fast. I have a 1969 Convertible for 42 years. This car is HORROR-SHOW.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.
#17
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Mar 2014
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,222
Received 795 Likes
on
387 Posts
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Run away very fast. I have a 1969 Convertible for 42 years. This car is HORROR-SHOW.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.
#18
Melting Slicks
As per the rules and as a courtesy to other members, When a C-3 is POSTED in the FOR SALE SECTION, one should keep one's comments to oneself.
When a car is posted AS A QUESTION in the General section....this is free-range.
Some of us have been rebuilding C-3 Corvettes, specifically, for many DECADES.... experience tells you immediately to 'run away'
In 15 minutes cruising classifieds....you can find much better.
I used to be a C-3 appraiser (for dealerships)...you can't imagine the junk I've seen.
I do all Corvette work myself...I'm not a 'check stroker'...when you do this stuff yourself, you know!
GO FEVER is a terrible insidious disease only cured on the day you sell the car (at a massive loss).
Unk
When a car is posted AS A QUESTION in the General section....this is free-range.
Some of us have been rebuilding C-3 Corvettes, specifically, for many DECADES.... experience tells you immediately to 'run away'
In 15 minutes cruising classifieds....you can find much better.
I used to be a C-3 appraiser (for dealerships)...you can't imagine the junk I've seen.
I do all Corvette work myself...I'm not a 'check stroker'...when you do this stuff yourself, you know!
GO FEVER is a terrible insidious disease only cured on the day you sell the car (at a massive loss).
Unk
The following users liked this post:
jgilevettes (08-12-2020)
#19
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
Good to sell to the rust belt areas, I avoid buying period.
Even out here in CA you can get rust, esp coastal areas.
Corvette Mikes has primo cars that come in, call him and see if he has or knows of one.
Hes a little more than most but the quality is usually there (meaining noone rattle canned over rust)
If you settled and bought....if your lucks anything like mine 2 weeks later youd come across THE one lol
\Cant help but wonder if the seller is a member...2 yrs ago saw a link for many trashing mine due to price...it was fun jumping in the thread. lol
Even out here in CA you can get rust, esp coastal areas.
Corvette Mikes has primo cars that come in, call him and see if he has or knows of one.
Hes a little more than most but the quality is usually there (meaining noone rattle canned over rust)
If you settled and bought....if your lucks anything like mine 2 weeks later youd come across THE one lol
\Cant help but wonder if the seller is a member...2 yrs ago saw a link for many trashing mine due to price...it was fun jumping in the thread. lol
#20
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Run away very fast. I have a 1969 Convertible for 42 years. This car is HORROR-SHOW.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.
Way too rusted...NOT WORTH THE MONEY.
You can't check it out, run away.
Wrong seats
Bad rear spring
STUPID side exhausts
Doors fit VERY poorly and should have been 'fettled' by now.
YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER CLOSER TO HOME.
unkahal.