CTdave

It's a done deal!
I bought a 73 big block t-top all numbers matching vette today.
It has been sitting for MANY years under a crappy cover a few miles from where I live.
I am going to need a paint shop near South Western CT (if anyone knows a good vette shop)and I am also going to need the front rubber bumper (cracked, not hit), door pannels & a bunch of misc interior parts.
Mechanicals are perfect with recent stainless calipers & exhaust and the 454 purrs beautifully.
I had a vette fanatic look at it with me & he said I was stealing it for $5000
One of these days, I'll have a 69 bb convert, but this will do for now
It has 53000 miles
I'm glad I found this site, it looks like you guys can be a wealth of information.
So what will a good paint job cost me? No body repairs needed.

thanks, Dave

Corvette_fetish

Congratulations!
Say farewell to your savings

Paul Borowski

Congrats, welcome to the best '68-'82 Corvette Forum on the Net.

Cor6996vette

Yes, if no rust and running then you just stole the BB's 73 vette for that price even it needs some work. 73's vette is one of my's favorite too. Have fun.

Eddie 70

Welcome to the Best, there is no other C3 Forum on the net that compares. You will find that any problem you are having has most likely been experienced before and been solved. So any questions you may have, fire away. From what I can tell paint job prices vary in different parts of the country. I would think it is going to be $3-$5K range, depending on what they find. Good luck with your project and keep us posted on your progress. As with any project, we need to see pics.

Pauld

Congratulations and welcome

ugman

I live in Massachusetts and have been trying to find a shop to paint my wifes 78. Manchester Motors in Manchester CT. does beautiful work but are a little pricey. There's a couple of others in the CT area, but they say I'm on a waiting list until next year. Let me know if you find anyone.

ugman

OHSIXX

I would evlauate the car completely before considering paint. I bet you are gonna find other pressing issues. Good luck with it.

NHvette

Yes - never underestimate the power of water, especially when coupled
with the superpower of Sodium Cloride (NaCl) - salt.
If it is rot free - you DID steal it.

I'm not gonna help you - too jealous.

vincevette78

let the fun begin

Corz

Give Corvette Center in Newington a call..

its a bit of a hike for you, but they did the glass work on the front of my 69.
worth EVERY penny

jeaux

ANY PIC'S? If there are no hidden issues, you should be locked up

CTdave

Yes, I'm sure I will find some surprises.
We have been all over the car. We inspected everything on the underside, especially the frame in front of the rear wheels (& every other place).
There is a problem (big???) with the steel on the inside of the doors, inbetween the outer fiberglass & the inner door pannel. Is this a big deal to have replaced?
The weather stripping is good, chrome trim is good but the rear bumpers will have to be re-chromed. The headlights work fine as well as all accessories.

Thanks for all your comments, this really is a great site
Dave

GrandSportC3

congrats!!

olouieo

Welcome and congrats. Please post pics when you get a chance.

LemansBlue68

You will just about have to take the door panels off and look at the bottom of the doors from the inside. Rust is often much more widespread inside the panel than it appears from outside. If the spots are confined to a couple of small areas a good body man can MIG weld some patches or fill the holes with weld and the repairs will be nearly undetectable. If the door skins are flapping at the bottom it's a good bet that you'll need to replace the doors. If you look around, they are not horribly priced and many years will fit. I think '72 is the first year for the inner door crash beams, so you might want to confine your search to post '72.

All things considered, for $5K you stole it, not to mention that it is a #'s big block. Congratulations!!

Corz

sounds like you've got a rusted birdcage

stingraymaniac

congrats and welcome here!!!
now post some pics of your car!!!