Vettes are different than what Ford has to offer. Anyways, congrats on the C3 Vette. I sold my L this year and bought a 74 Stingray. I always wanted an older vette and decided it was time. Be prepared to spend some cash and do a lot of work. Just to give you an idea what your in for here's my list. So far.
74 Stingray, no rust, rebuilt .030 over. ($9500)
ZZ4 Crate Engine ($4000)
Holley 600cfm ( $275)
Summit Perf Fly Wheel and Zoom clutch ($550)
New suspension, shocks, hardware, etc ($750)
New brake system, disks, caliper rebuild kits, etc ($330)
Rebuild steering column, rag joint, steering box ($350)
Rebuild distributor and comp cam pointless conversion ($200)

These are just the high end items and not all the little costs like gaskets, fasteners, etc. My vette isn't even on the road yet. Maybe next year. Good luck with it and have patience.

 

Oh really?

 

That Homely Honda probably worth a few bucks now.

If his '77 has the L82 its about 210 HP.

I had a '77 L82 all stock except I had headers put on. Was a 4sp with 3.73 gears and did OK.

Like to get a 65-67 Vette but the prices on the muscle cars are disgusting beyond belief.

They were a big part of my life for a long time but now I just laugh at what people pay for the primitive junk!

$135,000 for a '68 Shelby Mustang?
$125,000 for big block '67 Vette
$90,000 for a "Clone" 440 six pack Challenger?

Also you notice as the prices went up the miles went down?
Oh yes sudddenly all these cars now have low original miles and all the numbers match.

Yes that's because their odos have been reset and they've had their engines and other numbers restamped. What a joke

 

Except my first car... 1977 Ford Mustang 2... 4 cylinders of American Muscle ... too bad it ended in a bonfire when I was a Jr. in high shool...

 

The mustang II was the illegitimate love child of the original 1965 mustang and a pinto.

 

Unfortunately, I don't think I have any pics here. There are a few at my parents house. At 16 I thouhgt it was awesome. It was a year older than me, only 50 thousand miles on it. It did suck for power, but it had sweet black vynil interior and the auto console in it. Then I put a good ole sears brand radio that the whole unit was removeable in, and I was stylin.

Unfortunately, I was driving down the road and suddenly the engine caught fire. I pulled over, the fire department came. Couldn't figure out how to get the hood open with their big fireproof gloves on, enter the jaws of life and the rest is history...

I paid 1,500 for it in 1994. It was a good deal. Just wish I had some marshmallows that last night... haha.

 

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. . . I'm a loyal Ford guy but I own two 'vettes. No matter how under-powered the late 70's and early 80's 'vettes are by today's standards, they were fast for their time. Anyone remember the CHEvettes, Gremlins, Pintos, etc of the same era?

My 'vettes are an '82 and a '99. The C5 ('99) is by far a better car but nothing compares to the feeling of driving a "classic" Corvette and the way people respond to it. It's kind of like Harley-Davidson. I can't imagine buying an American made motorcycle (although I'm warming up to the V-Rod) just as many people can't imagine buying from the General OR Uncle Henry.

As for the cost of ownership in the old 'vette. . . it's pretty high. I've put about 28k miles on mine in 10 years (total of 117k) and probably spent about $8,000 on it not including the original purchase price. But it has been one very long love/hate relationship! And of course, it looks great. Not at all like it's 25 years.



Enjoy the new ride but you WILL be spending money on it! And time. Recommend your first purchase is a AAA membership.

 

Is there ANY 30+ year old car that won't nickle and dime you? Unless you buy a completely restored vehicle you're going to be fixing things regardless of who made it... Maybe some more than others, but nothing lasts forever... I for one LOVE 70's Vettes, and hope to have one someday. As with anything I buy I wouldn't leave it stock...

 

in 1984 you could buy a turbo 2.3 LT in a T-bird, or a EXP LN7 ( ugly little criters ) or a Escort GT that put out more h/p than a stock LT1 in a 70's corvette, even the 1979 Mustang cobra with a 302 or the 82 Z28 ( restyled one ) with a 305 were just reaching 200 H/P.

I would kill for a new Z06 Corvette or a 1966 split window Vette ( I'm off on the year I think ) the 70's vette's just cry of disco over kill and were basicly tacky in my KC And the Sunshine Band day's...

I used to own a Vette.....Chevette....Got a few dates just by saying I drove a Vette... Did not work out when I showed up with old smokey and the hot date put her high heals threw the Floor boards...

 

The late 70's and early to mid 80's vettes are blahhh. My parents always got a new vette every other year when I was a kid and for some reason the 1978 pace car was my favorite.

 

Guilty as charged: It sure did not start out that way, but man, has it become a money pit. Just glad the wife does not know exactly how much I have dumped into that car.....

Woof
Bowser

 

Blindman...Good lock with the Vette.
I redid a '75 a few years back, it was a white L48 4-speed car. Two friends of mine had white L48 automatic cars at the time. Even though the HP was low, mine could run rings around theirs because the 4-speed vettes came with lower rear ends.

In my opinion, there's no vette sexier looking than a C3. They still turn heads and get thumbs ups. Looking out over that hood with the fenders angled inward, and knowing that there's still about three feet in front of that, is an experience. Some parts are expensive, they're hard to work on, and rather uncomfortable, but there's nothing like em. There's just something magic about owning one...it can't be explained, but you'll find out what I mean.

Because C3's are still so inexpensive compared to other vettes, if I ever have enough money, here's what I'd like to do...
Pick one up that doesn' need a lot of expensive parts, yank the motor and build a 347 small block Ford for it. This would definately make the car faster as well as ****-off most all the other better-than-thou vette owners. I'd come rump-rumping in to a car show or cruise night and park next to the other vettes. After receiving compliments on how the car sounds, I'd pop the hood and watch their jaws drop. For me it would be like getting even with all those 32's and T buckets with SBC's in them.

Have fun, Blindman.

MR

 

i had no idea how expensive some of the more rare ole vettes are
67 427 in crappy condition but matching numbers at lambo of houston will run you about 120k

i learned something new

 

Sure...A small block Ford. This car wouldn't be an investment, or the fastest thing on the street, just a good looking, nice sounding, quicker than stock C3. Plus I'd have the satisfaction of Ford power.

MR

 

In 1984 the Corvette had more horsepower than in 1977. Apples, Oranges. It (the '84) was rated for 205 HP. There was no 1983 production Corvette. The 1984 T-Bird with the 2.3L Turbo only output 145 HP and 180 lb ft of torque. I don't care who measures it. . . the '77 'vette would still be faster. My '82 Crossfire 'vette puts out 200 HP. The lowest the 'vette ever went was 165 HP in 1975. Show me another '75 vintage car that put out those horsepower numbers.

'63 was the split window.

And it sounds like you've seen Corvette Summer too many times. . . Corvettes and disco are not synonymous. But smiles and Corvettes ARE.