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Hello, we have a 1972 Stingray that has been sitting in a garage for 40 years (it was our dad's, so we know it truly has just sat all that time). To my knowledge it has not been cranked in at least 20 years. I'm looking for advice on what is the easiest way to sell it for the most profit / least effort.
The condition of the car is good: ~70000 miles, automatic, convertible, exterior could use a wash but otherwise looks good, interior is okay. Nothing obviously wrong. It hasn't been cranked in a long time (I haven't tried). The VIN is 1Z67K25F26--- (Not sure if VINs are something to keep secret so I replaced the last 3 digits with hyphens).
I am unfortunately clueless on Corvettes and cars in general, so I can't do any repairs myself and would hire a mechanic if that makes financial sense.
In this situation, what would you do to maximize the return on selling the car?
I have some specific questions
What would you estimate it is worth? Based on my googling, I believe it is worth $4000 in its current state and $10000 if it is able to crank. Is that in the ballpark?
For someone in my situation (unable to do any work on it myself), does it make sense to tow it to a mechanic and have them do the minimal things to see if it will crank? I believe that would include Making sure that the engine is free to rotate, Clean oil, Lubricating the cylinder walls, Clean air, Clean fuel, Clean coolant, Intact fan belt -- anything else?
Any idea on how much the above mechanic stuff would cost? My location is rural GA.
Is any reputable mechanic able to do this kind of work on an older Corvette?
When I go to sell, I understand that a private sale is what would net the most money. Are there other options like selling to a dealer that are straightforward and require less time investment?
Again looking for any and all advice on how to sell in the most efficient way.
While I would love to buy this car for only $4,000, I'd like to keep my karma good and treat other owners fairly. It's worth a lot more than $4,000 as it sits.
Project Corvettes are bringing pretty good money right now and there are a lot of guys looking for them. If you listed it at $10K on eBay as it sits, I'm sure you'd find a buyer pretty quickly.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Greg
While I would love to buy this car for only $4,000, I'd like to keep my karma good and treat other owners fairly. It's worth a lot more than $4,000 as it sits.
Project Corvettes are bringing pretty good money right now and there are a lot of guys looking for them. If you listed it at $10K on eBay as it sits, I'm sure you'd find a buyer pretty quickly.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Greg
Clean it up inside and out as best as possible.....
Find and install the missing cap and trim ring......
Check and see if there is oil in it......
Take a breaker bar with a short extension and a 5/8" socket at the crank and carefully see if the engine is locked up......
Take to a qualified mechanic (NOT some young guy who works on late model cars) and get him to get it started if the engine is free.......
That car will be worth a lot more if you can get it in driving condition.........still quite a bit if the engine runs and you do not want to screw with the brakes......
You need to find out as much as you can about the cars options and if the numbers match......the more info, the better.....
You can post pics here and we will be able to tell you here a LOT about the car.......pics of undercarriage, engine compartment, interior, etc........
A big thing about these cars is rusty birdcages from sitting in damp areas........it is THE FIRST thing a Vette guy will ask you.....pull the kick panels in front of the doors and snap photos of the cage pocket and the big bolt inside.......if this area is rusted badly, the car will take a HUGE hit in value......it can be rusted in there and the outside of the car can look perfect.
Best guess from one photo assuming all is well is about 13.......this can go to about 18-20k if you do what I mentioned above and it all checks out......depneding on cosmetic condition.....seeing how it was your Dad's....and you know the history.....you can go at this with optimism.......
Find some local Corvette people that can recommend a competent mechanic.
It would be very sad to see that nice old car butchered by some hack of a mechanic.
Find some local Chevy people that can recommend a competent mechanic.
It would be very sad to see that nice old car butchered by some hack of a mechanic.
don't get hung up on Corvette people. you just need to find a shop thart knows old chevys. chances are fresh oil, coolant, new set of points, brake rebuild and it will fire up and drive.
It's been sitting a long time. I frequently get vehicles in the shop like this.
if it sat with fuel in the tank. The tank will need professional cleaning or replacement. The fuel lines will be full of varnish. The carburetor will be in a VERY Sad state.
rust in the cylinders is highly likely. Rust on bearings in the gear box and diff above the oil line is highly likely.
slap some points in it and clean oil and it'll run???
Not very likely.
I agree with Jebby, see if the engine at least turns. Clean it inside and out.
Get what you can for it and cut your losses.
If your not a mechanic, paying a good one to get her going again wouldn't be cost effective.
I am unfortunately clueless on Corvettes and cars in general, so I can't do any repairs myself and would hire a mechanic if that makes financial sense.
That mechanic even in GA is going to cost you $75-$110 per hour for labor rates so you are spending dollars to recoup quarters so to speak. Do a good outside and interior cleaning to make it presentable and sell it AS-IS, tell buyer to bring a trailer. You will get $15K for this car with little effort on your part.
No offense, but with your lack of knowledge, you will be opening a huge can of worms by taking this car to a mechanic, if you can even find one qualified to work on a 72 Vette.
Wash it and then sell it as is. You will get way more than your estimate of $4 to 10K for sure.
Cash only.
That mechanic even in GA is going to cost you $75-$110 per hour for labor rates so you are spending dollars to recoup quarters so to speak. Do a good outside and interior cleaning to make it presentable and sell it AS-IS, tell buyer to bring a trailer. You will get $15K for this car with little effort on your part.
I agree with above statement .. if you cannot do the work yourself and have to pay someone to get her going down the road you will be in over your head in repairs and will lead from one thing to another. Sell as is the car owes you nothing and it is all profit
Great info above. (If you cannot do the steps below, get a friend who is capable to do the work.
SIPHON THE OLD FUEL out through the fuel fill hole of the gas tank.
DISCONNECT THE FUEL LINE at the fuel pump inlet fitting.
Attach a drain hose to the disconnected fuel line to drain any old fuel in the line from the tank into a 5 gal. container.
REATTACH THE FUEL LINE at the fuel pump inlet.
REMOVE THE SPARK PLUGS and put several squirts of new oil into each cylinder.
DO NOT CRANK THE ENGINE until new oil and new filter are installed.
CRANK THE ENGINE 5 seconds at a time until the oil pressure gauge begins to show movement.
REINSTALL THE SPARK PLUGS.
START THE ENGINE/DO NOT "REV" THE ENGINE.
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Your VIN you quoted is not correct. You said 1Z67K25F26... The 5 is an S and the F is a 5 so 1Z67K2S526... The K does tell you that this is the base 200HP motor. the last three you did not post will tell you the production sequence and when it was built google "Corvette birthday" Your biggest worry is bad gas, do not let anyone try and start it without complete removal of al old gas in the system. If you do replace the the tank and the shipping copy is still on top do NOT discard it. And look for all pperwork associted with the car, bill of sale, window sticker, warranty card. All of this will increase the value a lot!
I found another quick way to look for rust is by looking at the drivers side A pillar where the vin is. If it has a lot of rust bubbling then there probably will be issues with the upper windshield area and all the way down to the birdcage.
Looks like a great project from the pics.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
take pics of it as is, then wash it and have the interior detailed. Change the oil, drain the gas tank, and sap the anti freeze. put some gas in it and a new battery and crank it over and get it running. Then post all the pics on bring a trailer and list it as a barn find, sitting for 40 years with proof...since its your dads that would be proof along with the regiatration...start the biddingat 15k....it will sell
04-11-2023, 01:26 PM
Advice for fixing up / selling a 1972 Stingray
