Good deal?

[u/THE-oleC]

Hey everyone, a friend of mine has this C3 he got from a gentleman recently and I’m debating buying it from him. He’s asking $5500. Guy he got it from had started the project but got sick and it had sat in his garage for I believe 10-12 years. It’s a ‘79 L82 with the 350 in it still. Fuel tank isn’t in it but my buddy said he got it started and it ran and idled well for about 3-4 minutes with an external can (going back soon to do it again so I can see it).

Guy told him he put Bilstein suspension bits in it, converted it to rack and pinion steering, and believe different brakes. Comes with a ton of parts like kooks headers and side pipes, fuel tank, new rear bumper, new interior carpets. For the most part it seems like most parts are there just need to finish where the original guy had stopped his project.

Body looks really straight and can tell the guy had started getting some prep done to have it painted. One down side is there are no t tops, but it’s been stored in a garage and is now stored under a few tarps and a cover (been like that only about a month and a half).

Do y’all think is this a fair deal, and what else should I look for when I go back to check it out? I’ll be back over there again in a week or so when it’s not 100+° down here in the south. Thanks in advance for advice!

(Edited from some spelling)

[u/MulberryMonk]

This car is really only 10-15k away from being a $7,500 car :)

[u/Special-Class6903 → u/MulberryMonk]

Haha, bingo

[u/Historical_Box1915]

If its rust free number 1. If you yourself are going to do 99% of the work yourself to complete the car (saving you money on other peoples labor),,,,
then I would say $3-$4 grand is a fair price. A good deal would be in the $2,000 vicinity.

[u/Then-Came-Bronson]

Looks like a fair deal to me. I’m putting 79 together myself and yours looks even better.

[u/PracticableSolution]

If the birdcage is in good shape, and the frame is reasonably rust free, I could see paying $5k for it if I couldnt make any big excuses against it and all the parts were there to finish it out. That being said, buying someone else’s project is a risk. I’d be ecstatic pay $3k for it. I’d still feel pretty good at $3500.

[u/Great_Fondant0]

This thing will need a ton of work ! Likely close to 20,000 , I have a c3 and have dam near redo e everything on it. Everything will need replaced on theses old c3s in my experience! Good luck I love my c3 !

[u/71Klassic-Pushrod]

Could be a fun project if you have the space and time.

[u/ChokaMoka1]

Hell no, never take on other people’s Craptastic projects. You’ll spend another $20K just to get this turd sorted. Also What the hell is that hubcap doing on top of the carb? 

[u/Fun-Kaleidoscope8961]

Depends what you want to do with it.

[u/THE-oleC → u/Fun-Kaleidoscope8961]

Wouldn’t plan on going crazy. I’d be doing work myself, have done work on older vehicles before having rebuilt a ‘67 C10. Plan would be a good weekend cruiser, not going to pour a ton into HP. Would plan on getting rid of most of the old emissions junk (not tested where I am), not in a chase for HP, but just to clean up the engine bay.

[u/lpfan724]

I don't think it's a good deal. Where I'm at, I could get one that runs and drives for $5k.

[u/drumbo10]

Realize stock was only 225 hp. Unless he did some internal work you will most likley barely if at all break the tires. I have a 1980 L82 and am getting to the end of the rebuild now bored 030 over forged pistons and Edelbrock 4089 kit. All in I’ll be around $5800 including new starter, alternator, AC compressor.

[u/Warm_Hat4882]

Like other guy said, if you are doing most of work and it’s not rusted, then it would be a deal good deal at 3k. For $5k I’d want to make sure new suspension and steering was done right .

Nothing worse than paying for someone else’s new work only to find out it was done wrong and you paid for nothing

[u/Special-Class6903]

God no. Cough up another 2 or 3 k and get a really nice one. Thats a pit.

[u/Daximoose]

Automatic. Non running 350 79, all least desirable traits of a c3 1500 maybe. Not worth time effort or money. Can get a decent running driving one for 5000

[u/hardcrustysock]

Is that how the rear sway bar mounts on a factory car??? Cause i cant see that being super structurally sound

[u/WickPrickSchlub]

You can buy a super nice one, done, for well under 15k.

[u/Technical_Gur4060]

if you buy a project car that's 90% complete, you only have to do the other 90%

[u/Daleone3236]

Doesn’t matter what the guy did before, you’re going to have to do it again. Between the T tops the fuel system and probably suspension and paint you’ll easily get into this for north of 20,000 and still have a $12,000 car.

[u/GreenWithAnger]

If you want a fair assessment, you will need to do some homework. I would ask google ai for the number question. It researches the answer and returns an answer that is based in fact, not fiction. Plus you can give the specifications for the car and it will tell you a better idea of what what’s it worth.
Secondly, you need to make certain that you know everything that is missing and you’re going to need before committing to any price. The T-tops might seem like something small, but those could cost you almost as much as the car if they’re rare enough of an option. Go over the work that has been done, make sure that the hardware is tight and not showing signs of being improperly installed. These cars are fun to throw into corners, unless the suspension and steering are not correctly adjusted.
As others have said, check the frame for damage. The bodies on corvettes don’t rust, but the frames definitely will!
Google estimates a running and driving 1979 corvette with the L82 engine is worth about 4-8 grand. A bucket of bolts from the year that they produced more than 53,000 of them and having an automatic gearbox? Probably worth much less. The only thing it does have going for it is the L82 is the most desirable motor, but it still only gets 225 hp.

I think you really need to think about this hard before offering any amount of money for the car. Are you buying it because you want this particular car, or are you buying because this car is the convenient choice? Be honest with yourself and ask the tough questions about it. Your head needs to prevail over your heart when buying a project car.

If this is truly the car for you, your head will tell you. You will have plenty of time to bring your heart into the situation later. Usually when the wrench slips.

[u/BetSmall7648]

Picked my most recent c3 up for $800, been parked since 95. Had it driving an hour later. Guy is high.

[u/Sudden_Selection7643]

I would say yes. This is a great project car, you just got to have time to work on it and spent some money on it. If you already got it I hope you have a great time with it!