If you don't like negative comments then don't say negative things about a car that a lot of people would do anything to own. Regardless of your other "love" video.
@@Reggie-The-Dog I don’t mind negative comments, but disrespectful comments are a different thing... Also, there’s a disclaimer in the caption that people does not seem to read
I have an ‘82 C3. It was lovingly restored. I get more complements and turn more heads with that 82 than I ever do with my 2016 C7. Owning a car like yours is a labor of love. Cars are meant to be driven, take it out, show it off and enjoy. Be sure to give other Corvette drivers a wave 👋
I'm thinking about getting one here in the UK. Daft but obvious question, what sort of MPG you get on it? Above 15 I can live with ha!. Also, any particular issues. I think there are a few specialists here in the UK who will service
On gas mileage... Dennis Gage host of My Classic Car once asked an owner what his cars mpg was. When told it’s about 8 mpg he grimaced, but the owner followed up with “not bad considering” Dennis said considering what ??? “Considering... I don’t care!” Best answer ever ! 😁
Will watch the "5 Things You Like..." video next. But I was astonished that you asked about what we might like to see. Honestly, how about a series of videos about resolving all these problems? PAINT & BODY: Fiberglass can be repaired (I know, I have a boat). You may have to re-spray the entire car at some point. After 50 years, not a surprise. Or, you can ceramic coat the paint to preserve what's there, or, polish with extremely fine polishing liquid and then clear coat it with 2K clear coat and then ceramic coat it. In other words, do something about it! We have such great technology and great products today. We are very lucky! RATTLES: Rubber and plastics shrink and deform over time. Either they have to be replaced or at least re-conditioned with 303 Protectant or similar rubber/plastic restoratives. Just do it! Bushings, motor mounts, suspension bushings, etc., deteriorate and have to be replaced. I treat all weatherstripping, plastic trim, interior vinyl and even outer tire walls with 303 Protectant about 4 times per year. Result? Many things I thought I'd have to replace are in better shape than when I bought the car and seem to be holding up extremely well. Doors need to be taken apart, the window mechanisms re-adjusted, tightened, replenished with fresh bushings and weatherstripping. It's a labor of love but it doesn't have to be done all at once. PLANNING and BUDGETING: I have a list of projects for each season. Sometimes lots of small things, but they add up. Other times, one big thing per season. One thing at a time. Also, a seasonal budget helps spread out the costs. It's also more enjoyable, knowing you have a plan and that the annoying things will be fixed -- someday soon. PRIORITIES: Setting priorities is a major stress reducer. I focus on SAFETY FIRST -- anything to do with safety (brakes, bearings, etc.) and what I call "RELIABILITY" (belts, filters, gaskets, water pump, fuel pump, electical, etc.) comes a close second. Then, as 3rd priority, I fix "annoying stuff" (squeaks, leaks, visually irritating things, or things I want. For example, I don't have to fix the electric side-mirror motor. I'm the only driver and so I don' t need that function -- why spend $200 on something I can adjust once a year by hand for free?). RESEARCH: Forums help a lot! They will help you set priorities and get stuff done right. For example, one C3 youtuber says, "Just replace the entire wiring harness. Don't mess with a wire here and there. Get a wiring-harness kit and do the whole thing. About $500 for the harness and $XXX for the labor." Smart move! Why live with uncertainty, breakdowns, short circuits, possible fire(!) because of $500? That would not be smart. A wiring-harness kit makes A LOT of sense! PEACE OF MIND AS A GOAL: Think of the peace of mind and driving enjoyment! In the end, it's all about attitude. When I got mine (another make), I just knew that for the first three years or so, I would have seasonal projects. I also knew that each season would be a mix of planned repairs and unexpected repairs. So, no tears, lots of patience, lots of research and planning, and remember this: Such cars are part of the family. It's not a car you're going to fix up just to sell for the highest price. It's a long-term outlook. Choose your projects for the season, set aside your budgets for each season or for the year. Some repairs/upgrades don't have to cost an arm and a leg. If you need to slow down on the costs for a while, choose do-it-yourself projects or lots of little projects. Then, they are done! Other projects will cost an arm and a leg (headgasket, re-build, body-off-frame renovaton). So, plan these for next year or the year after and use the time to save up for it. Finally, USE & ATTITUDE: I drive my "youngtimer" everyday. It has to "earn its living". It has to tow my boat, go on holidays and road trips and doctors appointments and weekly shopping. And strangely, that it must function as a daily driver actually makes things EASIER -- because safety and reliability as well as fun and aesthetics are important EVERY DAY. Somehow, it's much less painful to "just fix it" because I know I will use and enjoy it EVERY DAY. Habits are important! In winter, I rinse the undercarriage with a portable, low-pressure battery operated powerwasher and salt remover (for my boat). It's good exercise and the car still has NO RUST!! Because I do something about it! Don't just fix something and expect it to "last forever". It's the daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly habits that count the most! Honestly, if the car was "just a weekend driver", I'd hate it. Because I'd (wrongly) expect to just take it out for a Sunday drive with no problems. (Dumb). But, because I've CHOSEN to make it a daily driver that makes daily life FUN FUN FUN, somehow, I get full return on my investment. Think! If I had to maintain a 2nd car, 2nd insurance, 2nd maintenance, 2nd repairs, I'd be spending just as much money (or more) and have twice as many appointments at the mechanic, twice as much paperwork and half the space in my garage. At first, I was worried that I was using this beautiful classic as a daily driver. But it has turned out to be the BEST decision in the end. Why? Like love, having "affairs on the weekend" will just cause you a lot of heartache and a lot of money! Man up! Claim your one true love and stay true! It's all in the attitude.
As much of a pain in the butt as my 74 is, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I've always wanted to have a C3 and getting to rebuild one from the ground up is a dream come true.
Owner of a 1978 Silver Anniversary. Cars this old, especially if you believe in originality survivorship is what it is. These cars were not Cadillacs. They sit low to the road and you feel the bumps and that’s part of the charm. They were the true two seat American made roadster. Personally I say RIP Corvette 1953-2019 because this 2020 mid engine euro thing is not a vette now.
@@OfficialWhosHim Most professional mechanics would disagree with you about a '78 not being old. In fact, to most professional mechanics, a C7 is an 'old' (or should I say OLDER) car, and that car didn't leave production until the 2020 C8 came out. That car is going on forty three years old and YES, it is an old car. Nothing wrong with old cars (I own a 750iL ten years younger than your 78). Not everyone wants to see lookalike jellybean crossovers all day long on the freeway. Thanks for breaking up the monotony of everyone needing to have the latest plastic techno-egg.
I appreciate your video and agree with some of your points. I think the thing to remember is that generally all of the cars we dreamt of having when we were young were great for the times they were in and the use the were meant for. However, today's cars are quieter, more reliable and efficient. In some cases, they extract incredible amounts of power from much smaller engines. And frankly, they drive better. What is important to remember is that the Corvette you own is a part of automotive history. It was the pinnacle of the period when design and performance divisions created cars more so than the production and accounting departments. That C3 was a world class car in it's day and for those who look at it the same way, it still is. I have two Porsches (vintage ) and a 69 Corvette Coupe with a 427, which I absolutely love. Does it drive as well as the Porsche Carrera? Nope. But is it a boulevard beast that gets thumbs up? Absolutely. Drive your car as a time capsule and be thankful you have the opportunity!
How true on all the points you mentioned. One thing that gets overlooked when getting an older car is finding out who locally can-do honest repair work that maybe out of one ability to perform. Or requires equipment or tools that are one-time use that are expensive. I have a 1990 vett that most mechanics now weren't even born yet and don't know what to do about anything Eletronic OBD-1 code reader wise. Let alone a 1971 carbureted vett. They look at you and say we don't work on old stuff like that! Sorry to wine about this subject. It's better to do it myself, but it still amazes me on auto shops anymore. IT took 4 different shops to find one that was upfront and honest. So, asking around at car shows or car clubs is a good thing before jumping on that 50 something year old car.
With all respect you made it clear at the beginning of your video how much you love your car, so I understand where you are coming from, to my understanding you don’t hate, hate is a very strong word to said you disliked We are talking about a 50 year old car, it has to have issues plus corvettes of that era came with factory issues, but hey you love it or leave it.
Know this is a long time since u posed the vid, but most problem u got is just from the car sitting still and not running for 30+ years, fluids/gaskets etc dry out over time so yea... Abit time consuming work but when it is done the car will be lovely. It looks amazing... Would love to own a C3 someday ^^ will see what happends.
I'm 14 and I love these old C3's, these are one of my dream cars, so thank you for warning me about the size, paint, and other stuff, I love old muscle, so it was cool for a walkthrough.
I'm 14 as well and I have one and let me tell you. You are going to love it save up rn as a kid and use it when you are older it is a good car and not to easy to find but there are some out there
@@cesarrunz nah, c3’s are abundant, but finding a 60s-1973 is hard out of all C3s. 74-82 is where the rear changes and it’s an “okay” looking rear but it’s nice overall
I fell in love with the car when I was 14 and now own one at 50. And I love it. Now, don’t get me wrong, these are all legit concerns. The cabin is tight, but I like that feel ;-) . The paint is delicate. Absolutely need to be careful. Squeaks. True. But if you care enough, you can hunt them down and get rid of them. Enjoy !
sounds like you just not a corvette guy. I have had one since the 70s and that is just normal stuff. They are inexpensive cars that are to be driven and enjoyed. They will never be perfect. In my opinion, the biggest problem with that car is the color of the interior. I love the vinyl hard top and the gold paint.
Inexpensive ? Lol that’s a 71 LS6 vette … the complete opposite… but yeah im a corvette guy. The target audience for this video are young people who arent familiar with vintage cars.
A person of your years tends to not have the context of what living in that era of "old cars" entailed, so it's more of a shock & adjustment when acquiring one of these 50+ yr old collector's items. I'm from that era, and, today, those cars seem primitive even to me. For me, the analagy to your frame of reference might be for me to acquire a Model T! As the 2nd owner of a 70 LT-1 Coupe, which I acquired in 74 with 1200 miles, I am very familiar with frequencies of maintenance that are almost unknown today. Plugs, points & condensers, fluids, filters, seals, bearings, carb gaskets. EVERYTHING requires frequent & regular maintenance. Add to that valve lash adjustments & very high octane gas/octane boost/lead additive/avgas just to turn the key. And you'd better regularly service the tach drive. If you would allow the exageration, it's not unlike owning a P-40 or P-51; unending maintenance & a thousand procedures to fly. On top of ordinary 50 yr old cars, the Corvette is a SPORTS car with all that implies. Your Vette, if original, has SOLID, aluminum body mounts, which transmits feel AND noise much more than rubber mounts. A tip: a can of quality silicone spray lubricant is one of your best friends; it gets applied frquently to all rubber contact points between hardtop/softtop & body mounting points, all weather stripping, the "miles" of rubber vacuum tubing, and rubber suspension bushings. Lubriplate is also your friend, for metal to metal contact points. All with a view to keeping squeaks & rattles to a minimum. Regular fastener checks with screwdriver and/or socket wrench, also. Most everything is mechanically/vacuum actuated, and therefore requires regular maintenance. If you think of maintenance in terms of per hours driven (and parked, lol), and not in of terms of mutiples of tens of thousands of miles, you'll have the right idea. For much in life that is stunningly beautiful to gaze upon & possess, high maintenance is the price of ownership.
I am a PROUD owner of a 71 454 4 speed convertible, and I knew there will be some things that are not perfect, but when you have the best designed and one of the best performing cars ever ,of it’s time , you forget the small stuff! Get over it
I love my ‘82, in the process of a resto-mod. It’s my daily driver at least in the summer. With a 24 gallon tank it’s easy to spend $100 at the gas station weekly but it’s worth every penny. I got headers and the Y pipes with the open/close switch in the cockpit area and I love that sound of the exhaust flowing right out of my headers underneath my feet. Loud and proud.
It looks stunning. War bonnet Yellow is also my favorite color for a C3 besides metallic orange. I own a cheap 77 and I absolutely love this car, it's so much fun to drive and especially here in Germany it's something special.
This guy should not have even been allowed to review this Corvette. I have owned my C3 Corvette "427ci/430hp L-88" for 48yrs. and I still love it. I guarantee that my Vette gets much worse mileage than this car. I didn't buy my Corvette for gas mileage, and I have never checked.....because it doesn't matter to me. " IT'S A CORVETTE STINGRAY convertible!" This guy should do his next video; 5 Things I HATE about my Mother.
I know exactly what you're saying, I bought my dream bike after dreaming about it for 40 years, since I was a kid. If you can see past the issues, maybe overcome the issues then it makes sense, I've had to do lots of work on the bike to make it rideable even though "it has no problems" when I bought it, I'm with you. You have to learn to love it. To answer your question what should you film? See how far you can leave two big thick black rubber lines on the tarmac 👍🏼
Fun and accurate video - I have a 70! 5 - old car - yes it gets old, part of the beauty about it, but inconvenient, unlike a new car that simply starts and goes. 4 - noises - I like it to be fairly quiet, just want to hear the engine, exhaust, and music, everything else gets eliminated. 3 - body and paint - took me a lot of time to get it looking right, compound, polishing, waxing, and maintaining with F11 now. Seldom wash it and avoid water, try to keep it dusted off regularly. 2 - cabin size - yes it's tight, but I like that too, wish I had a bit more elbow room and leg space - fun to drive but difficult to climb in and work on the interior. Having the top off at least gives some headspace. 1 - gas - no complaints here regarding gas, weekends are best. Daily would not be economical, agree. Also be sure to keep it nicely tuned to save some gas, pure fun! Thanks for this rundown, the C3 is impressive in many ways, please keep doing videos!
I got a 1982 and my brother in law had it and pulled the interior out to replace it and fix some gages and lost interest. So. After 8 years he sold it to me and now iam putting it back together and have a blast doing it I put together a bunch of cars in my life but not a vette it's in great shape was a running driving car so just getting it back right is all .just got to look at it as a bunch of little jobs do one then move on to the next one and so on it easier to look at it that way and u don't get all shot out and give up before you no it it done and down the road lol ...its not about comfort it's about cool 😎...enjoy and don't worry about it..if u have to take a brake but not to long or it will become a work bench with a nice cover on it 😀 happy wrenching buddy
Nice to see that you do love your car. I've restored a '71 LT-1 and a '67 L79 and you can go nuts doing incremental rolling restorations and sorting like you did. You need to assume they will need everything, especially if maintenance was not kept current. They need to be done properly, and thoroughly, but once they are finished (a year and many thousand$ later) , they are awesome and have few of the issues you mention.
I never thought I'd own a C3 but in the early 90s I had an opportunity to buy one super cheap with the idea of a quick flip... I drove the car for awhile and made some modifications and fell in love with it... 30 years have passed and many adventures later I still own it and will never sell it... It's never been a daily driver and I don't think they were ever meant for that duty... This time of year (spring) comes around and I bust her out of the garage for the season and that highly modified small block roars to life it's like being a kid again! The thumbs up and looks I get are many when I drive that car... if everything in life could be this close to perfect it would be heaven.
Son, it's a Corvette. It's not meant to be cheap, economical, or quiet and plush. It is an American icon, that was meant to say hello world, I'm gonna eat your lunch. The paint and body are coming on to 50, she's gonna have a few wrinkles. Even at 50, she will STILL eat a lot of lunches. Park it, drive occasionally and enjoy what you have there, it's rare.
I have a beautiful 72, Steel Cities Gray new paint with a nice clearcoat. The T-tops will squeak unless you keep them greased up. I use grease on the tops, and the door catches and latches, do it maybe 3 times a season. Maybe your top could use the same? We're blessed with good country roads, because as you say, these cars don't do rough roads. Most old vettes leak in some way, thats the reality. Up until the late 70's GM intended a 10 year lifespan for the c3, you can tell by the cardboard door panels. For me, what I don't like is the fear of damage to the car.
We all have love and hate. I feel you. I have a 1975 L82 4- 4-speed Convertible, yes old car has its quirks Great video idea. I subscribed to your channel
Want better mileage ?? Get a Tremic 5 speed manual trans w/ overdrive. You will be amazed. BTW having a 454 with a carb is a challenge off the bat for mileage. Perhaps you can lean it out a little. And your vette is awesome man.
I had a 72 bigblock for 18 years, I got it in 1988, sold regrettably 2006, wife got C :( Awesome car ;) Last year I bought a 1987, This year a 1994, I love all Corvettes 🙃
Don't take this as an offense, but I think, this car is not probable the car you should own,I had owned in the past over 20 different cars ,and I always enjoy working on them, I was always fixing something,I didn't care,cause after all was done ,I felt good knowing I did it by myself...good luck...
#5 - Yes, that is true, no old car is like any new car. They aren't bad, but we have been spoiled by cars that never leak, you climb in and drive, and in 6000 miles, you drop it at the dealer for its 6000 mile check. Of course, any car that sat for years is going to have problems. Two fixes: 1. pull everything apart and restore the car, or 2. keep an eye on everything and fix them as they break/you get to it. #4 - Corvettes have always been noisy. The fiberglass echos like a bass drum. You can tighten them some but not completely. If yours is rattling more with the hardtop, you need to have a good check done on the frame. Normally the hardtop tightens the car much more, takes a lot of flex out, and eliminates many rattles. Do you have your hardtop bolted down in the four points in the rear? Two long studs through the deck should have nuts on the inside tightened against the deck clamps. Two forward brackets should be bolted. Also, is your deck lid tight to the body? Weatherstripping good, hinges adjusted correctly, and the deck releases adjusted to hold it down tight? #3 - That paint crack you show in the middle of the fender is abnormal. Looks like your car has been repainted once long ago. Stress cracks around the corners of the hood opening are typical. It comes from driving cold body cars on rough roads. Face it, lacquer paint was the norm and no one expected it to last 10 years, let alone 50. GM wanted you to trade cars every couple of years. Also, fiberglass flexes, so paint will crack with use. #2 - It's a sports car, not a station wagon. Of course, it is small. As to t-tops, that is smaller in area than the convertible. The convertible top has the most room, the hardtop takes some due to the thickness of the top, and the t-top is worse with out the bar and top panels connect to the car. The idea is you should be snug so that you aren't sliding all around when running fast through the curves or on a race track. #1 - Gas mileage is due to how these were designed and how they use gas. Gas was cheap back then, and power was more the issue. Your '71 was the first of the low compression cars at 9:1 compression, which was terrible for power and didn't utilize the gasoline efficiently. Plus, gas quality is much lower today than back then. In the late '70s, I could get 18-19 mpg with my Corvette. The exact same car today is lucky when it gets 12, and typically gets around 10 mpg. 25,000 additional miles between those years didn't make the engine worn out to be bad on gas. It is the quality of the gas. If you want better, buy one of the aftermarket electronic fuel injection systems and replace your carb. Or buy a newer Corvette. But don't gripe too much, as your low compression 454 should run on 89 octane and you net have to buy 93 octane. You could also buy a Tremec 5 speed with overdrive and improve gas mileage. Of course, EFI and the Tremec are not part of the original character and then it isn't the same car at all.
Thats funny , i was going to say 5 things i love about my convertible big block. What a beautiful vette . I like 61 to 72 . 3 generations , but i really like 69 fenders .. ..
Great video....I had to stop reading all of the negative comments....I think most of them either NEVER owned a classic, or are straight up missing the point. I ADORE my C3, but at the same time, continually curse it for the reasons you mention above; doesn't make me love it any less. Like you said, LOVE/HATE relationship. Nothing wrong with that. No one is perfect. As much as I love my dog, he can be a royal pain in the A$$ and I complain about him all the time. I'm not going to drop him off at the pound! Damn. Anyways, I agree with you on just about ALL of them and complain constantly: 1) Time getting fixed, vs time enjoying it on the road. The life of a classic car owner! 2) Gas....phew....it can be a sacrifice to dump all that fuel (hope you're using high octane non-ethanol for that old block to burn through - if so, you're cursing louder than normal at fuel costs) 3) Space....damn...cannot bring the kids (ok, no biggy), no luggage, make shift add on for even a cup holder....she's tight in there! 4) Noises - I've actually heard of many attempting to mitigate this by doing upgrades such as sound deadening material, gaskets, etc.....but, yeah, you'll never get rid of the noise and it is not enjoyable, period. I enjoy the experience, which includes the noise, but I'm not jumping up and down for joy because of all that noise for sure! 5) If I'm going to disagree with you on anything, it may be the paint. The lacquer from days of old is actually far more sturdy than current thin coats of paint and tons of clear coat. The tons of lacquer they used back then can really be worked today versus modern day paint correction might need repaints. I've had my C3 professionally corrected and ceramic coated and it looks better than a repaint as it still retains some of the classic lacquer imperfections of the day, but is show quality.
Thanks for sharing. I didn't realize how fragile the fiberglass was on the C3. I sat in a friend's 69, and being 6'1, couldn't believe how tight it was. I basically was looking over the t-top, knees around both sides of steering wheel and could hardly breath. The old school dash and cockpit was amazing though. The slope of the hood the little rear window, and feel of the era was awesome! I prefer my 09 Z06 for room in the cabin, but the always C3 looks fast even when parked. I fell in love with Vettes when I was about four, looking at a C3. Told my ma I'd have a Vette one day, and 43 years later, an atomic orange is in the garage. I absolutely love the gold color you have! That's a sharp car fella! Keep enjoying and keep on sharing ehh 🇨🇦
It isn't as fragile as he says. If you look at high mileage no-hit survivor C2/3s, many of them are free of stress cracks. Poor treatment of the car can result in them.
Ive had a 69 convertible for 42 years and I agree with everything you said. But get in with top down and turn the key and all that stuff fades away. I've built up the L36 in mine so MPG is out the window. I don't drive far from home anyway. You forgot to mention the storage area for an overnight bag! Nice car, don't let it get to ya.
Dom Dub you can see me abusing the tires on my page. Search CHetzler. Got a couple videos. Mine is quiet to without hardtop but sounds like an old truck with it on. Fun per gallon is what I say!
LOL...Not being Negative but I had to Laugh at this Video! The Car is 50 years old! Did You not do any Research before Buy the Car? Maybe You need a Honda or Toyota as a Daily driver. Save the Corvette for the Weekend! LOL I was Fortunate at 20 to Buy My First New Corvette, a 1970! Owning a 50 year old Sports Car can definitely be a Love/Hate Relationship! Like You said...Smiles per Mile Can't be beat!
Well, 7,4 l V8 is thirsty as hell. One thing I would mention is the vacuum system on it. There are countless vacuum pods and hoses just to flip the headlights and they tend to get porous or break. Yeah, an old car..well..it is what it is and one got to remember most things are 50 years old on this baby. Anyway, you got yourself a beauty there. :) A teardown and new gaskets in all the critical places will vastly negate all the small problems with leaks, etc.
I'm 14, and I'm glad that I have a c3 1970 corvette with a 350 engine and has a soft top convertible I'm extremely grateful it need work here and there but it runs
I daily drove my '72 for @10 years. Yours is a beautiful car by the way. Most of this stuff is kinda "Captain Obvious" stuff to most people that goes with driving any 50 year old car. When it's all you know (it was actually my first car) it's not so bad. Once you get used to something newer it way worse haha, even if they car is in perfect shape (mine was far from it). Honestly I drove the hell out of mine again for @10 years and it was actually super reliable. Again like any old car old brakes were always annoying and when you get tired of bleeding them every weekend you finally rebuild everything with new and move on with your life. Had an alternator go once like any other car. And finally I had the driver side bolt for the leaf spring pull through the trailing arm (it was originally a northern car and had some rust). I simply jacked the car up, bolted it back up in the top hole and drove home lol. Otherwise once again it was actually a super reliable car. Under 10 mpg got old after awhile lol. Convertible top leaked. Was unbearably hot in the summer and froze to death in the winter. It was loud (you had to yell back and forth to your passenger) and I'd always smell like the tailpipes and gasoline any time I drove it. Looks like a naked models body with a sheet draped over it. When I was a little kid I used to shift the gears from the passenger seat when my dad would push in the clutch and though I've been asked more times than I can remember to sell it going back to high school it's not for sale and I'll be getting buried in it when my time comes...
Lets be honest its a racecar its not ment to be quiet, or get good gas mileage. Your supposed to drive it for fun. You should be lucky it sat for so long mine sat 15 years and all the paint was ruined along with the birdcage rotting out. I was told so many times to give up and get a newer car but i forged on. Im 16000$ into it and its no where near done. I cant wait to have mine in as good condition as that car right there. Much love from a fellow c3 owner!
Every 'Vette I've ever been in rattles, squeaks, and buzzes. I've not been in the newest ones, tho. Do the shifters still buzz? I always hated the long throw shifter.
I had a 70 with the 350-3504 speed but a hard top. It was one of the most rattlely car that I've ever owned. The dash was rusted up by the windshield, so that was loose and just a fiberglass body is flexy. It's just the nature of old GM cars... and any old car, Ford and Mopar. They are loose fit and finish and they rattle mainly because all the rubber is dried up.
@@zone47 I know that and it should have been put off the road was my point. Still plenty if good ones out there. I just scored a '76 4 gear for $9000 and it's solid. Only 41,575 miles on it.
@@mikeholland1031 Yeah, it was probably dangerous. To pull the body off the frame sounded expensive, so I just detailed the rest of the car and sold it for someone else who could do it. That 76 sounds like a good deal!
I have an 1980 here in texas I got for $17k and 60 k millages now it has 130k and still flying like a closed. Automatic I do regular maintenance so it's kept in shape and yes it's my daily driver. Love the horse power it has. Just a really good car. But this year is really nice too and gold just nice!!!!
I have had many C3's over the years including a brand new 78 and a new 79 both L 82 cars. Loved every one I owned. I now have a C 4. As far as gas mileage goes, my 1970 numbers matching Challenger R/T 440 six pack car 4 speed 354 Dana car gulps gas like a funnel. I would be better off using Gallons per foot instead of miles especially when I kick down and it delivers 1350 CFM's . You can see the fuel gauge move.
Oh yes old man had a 451 six pack From grand Spaulding Dodge.. And when the gas crisis hit … And they changed fuels Pops said the beast was never the same again. $5 dollar limit. They said it got annoying waiting for fuel .
I've had my '69 L-71 427/435 since 1970. I love my car. You, on the other hand, aren't meant to own an old car. You need to get yourself a Toyota Camry. It will excel in all five departments that you are complaining about. It's quite possible to ramble on about all five of your "hates" but why waste time? Go trade that baby in on a Toyota and be happy bro'. No leaks. No squeaks. Good paint. Plenty of room. Great gas mileage and on and on. Let somebody else enjoy the car who isn't quite so critical. Life is too short to be unhappy. Be happy!!
I'm not a big fan of negativity. You own and drive one of the coolest cars ever produced and it still runs after 50 years and I'm betting, if your experiences are like mine, people come over and talk to you whenever you park the car. Almost everyone loves C3 Corvettes. I pull into a gas station in my '69 that I've owned since 1970 and every single time somebody comes over and wants to talk about it. So, it's easy to be negative but nobody cares. In 50 years, everything shows it's age. I was 24 when I got my 'Vette and like the car, some of my parts aren't what they used to be but I don't focus on negativity. The car is still here an looks and run great. I'm still here and enjoy driving the car every day. Dump the negativity. Focus on what you like about the car and consider yourself very lucky, bro'. Just think about the morons who own Ferraris and Aston-Martins. They never get to drive their cars. They screwed up. You didn't.
Most Corvette owners know the game.All your issues can be made better.Fixed or modified and purpose built.Check out some you tube on who and what car is winning at Auto Cross.
Do you think other 50 year old cars are much different ? You should have expected problems especially if it had been sitting. As far as inside room , it’s a Corvette. I’ll bet you didn’t pay a premium price for it so it is what it was , an old Vette needing some TLC which needed a new owner who cares about it.
yea, most things you have disliked about your Corvette, applies to most classic cars, when I bought my '68 Cougar, 8.5yrs ago, I was going to give it a paint job, because, it's a 20 footer, but I do drive it 2-3 times month and it looks ok, when it's moving and in photos, so I keep putting it off, but the wind roar on the motorway/freeway is deafening, because all the door rubbers have gone hard and wander at freeway/motorway speed,(even after a wheel alignment), mean endless corrections of the wheel. Minor repairs are a constant and replacement of old tyres are a must.
Was really surprised you didn’t mention the ride. C3’s are notorious for having a very harsh, rough ride. The issue was the chassis had way too much flex (causing the creaks and paint cracking) to handle like the sports car Chevy wanted it to be to compete with true sports cars. To compensate for the non rigidity of the chassis Chevy out in doings that were way too stiff for normal street driving. That said the C3 is still a very cool looking iconic American classic car.
My 71 has a 350, when I looked at the big blocks I just said to myself who needs that much power, 270 hp is plenty for me. My vet had side exhaust and you will be sucking on exhaust fumes, with the T-tops off or windows down. Not fun.
I think maybe a way to save from cracking the fibreglass further besides not driving it is to totally strip off the paint and sandwich the body in new fibreglass. Then sand and new paint.
I love my 71 Vette... the cabin is plenty comfortable with t-tops and I'm 6'1 205 lbs. My 2016 Camaro SS has more of a claustrophobic feel than my Vette. Putting gas is money down the drain? No way... it's fun to burn gas in this car!
I would love to have that car . Doesn't sound like you really appreciate this car at all . Sounds like classics are not for you, perhaps you should just find a new car that ticks all your boxes .
is that a factory gold car with a green interior? that's amazing! i read in the comments where you said its an LS6...if that's so, then this is doubly amazing. I have a '74 L82 coupe and pretty much everything you said is true, although its more than made up by the joy in owning and driving a good-looking performance classic sports car
Great C3, 454, 2 tops, 4spd, vinyl top! Have a '73, L82, AC, 4spg, convertible, tilt-tele, and I'm doing the same thing, brakes, suspension and someday paint. Seats are the worst.
I want a c3 but I dont know which year is best? Like some have different features that others dont, or certain engine components. Im just not sure which to get. Any help?
@@Dom_Dub yeah im thinking about gettin a 1978 through 1982, I don't care for specific years body modifications I can slap that nice chrome bumper on with any c3
Piston King Enterprises performance wise, the older vettes are much better 68-72... and you cant slap chrome bumpers on newer c3’s ... I’d say any c3 are good buys but you need to check the birdcage for any rust and the floorboards on 74-5 and up they are metal instead of fiberglass
That is a beautiful original car. You've done right by it and are realistic about what it is. Comparing it to modern cars mechanically would be unfair, then again it has style that few modern cars can match. Some of the "features" of the C3 were more gimmick than sound engineering, but the STYLE is 100% real.
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Before being disrespectful to me in the comments... Please watch this video about 5 Things I LOVE about my C3 ruclips.net/video/Y6Ju9W7DHLw/видео.html
Your a dumb millenial douche
That car is a piece of American history, you clown.
I wish rude people would just learn to be nice!
If you don't like negative comments then don't say negative things about a car that a lot of people would do anything to own. Regardless of your other "love" video.
@@Reggie-The-Dog I don’t mind negative comments, but disrespectful comments are a different thing... Also, there’s a disclaimer in the caption that people does not seem to read
If you really dislike that car so much, I'll be happy to take it off your hands.
You should watch the video that came after this one.. You'll see that I'll probably die in that car.
@Tankmaster 160 Feel better now ?
@Tankmaster 160 I think YOU are the idiot.
I agree, I got the same notion.
Ditto
I have an ‘82 C3. It was lovingly restored. I get more complements and turn more heads with that 82 than I ever do with my 2016 C7. Owning a car like yours is a labor of love. Cars are meant to be driven, take it out, show it off and enjoy. Be sure to give other Corvette drivers a wave 👋
I lived with a C3 as a daily driver for two years, and that's here in the UK with our crazy gas prices, I loved it and I miss it !!!
I'm thinking about getting one here in the UK. Daft but obvious question, what sort of MPG you get on it? Above 15 I can live with ha!. Also, any particular issues. I think there are a few specialists here in the UK who will service
@@Onidax I didn't really keep check on mpg, but depending how you drive it I would say around 18 from a auto possibly a little more from a manual !!
@@Onidax Big Block US cars will average 10 MPG, if it is very high performance, expect more like 6-8 MPG. I Have a 455 Buick and it averages 8 mpg.
Just picked up a 71 C3 Convertible yesterday. Looking forward to getting her on the road and having these good problems.
I'm over 6ft (6ft 3in) and I've got plenty of room in my C3. Was my daily driver for a summer doing 112 miles a day, no issues or complaints here.
Whats the visibility like in the C3s?
@@tylerwyman7430 probably not the best but that’s to be expected from a low sports car
112 miles a day? I would hate to be on the road a whole hour every day.
On gas mileage...
Dennis Gage host of My Classic Car once asked an owner what his cars mpg was. When told it’s about 8 mpg he grimaced, but the owner followed up with “not bad considering” Dennis said considering what ???
“Considering... I don’t care!”
Best answer ever ! 😁
So well said 👍
I had the exact car except it was green. Road like a log wagon, always ran rough, no power steering or windows, no AC. I loved it.
Will watch the "5 Things You Like..." video next. But I was astonished that you asked about what we might like to see. Honestly, how about a series of videos about resolving all these problems?
PAINT & BODY: Fiberglass can be repaired (I know, I have a boat). You may have to re-spray the entire car at some point. After 50 years, not a surprise. Or, you can ceramic coat the paint to preserve what's there, or, polish with extremely fine polishing liquid and then clear coat it with 2K clear coat and then ceramic coat it. In other words, do something about it! We have such great technology and great products today. We are very lucky!
RATTLES: Rubber and plastics shrink and deform over time. Either they have to be replaced or at least re-conditioned with 303 Protectant or similar rubber/plastic restoratives. Just do it! Bushings, motor mounts, suspension bushings, etc., deteriorate and have to be replaced. I treat all weatherstripping, plastic trim, interior vinyl and even outer tire walls with 303 Protectant about 4 times per year. Result? Many things I thought I'd have to replace are in better shape than when I bought the car and seem to be holding up extremely well. Doors need to be taken apart, the window mechanisms re-adjusted, tightened, replenished with fresh bushings and weatherstripping. It's a labor of love but it doesn't have to be done all at once.
PLANNING and BUDGETING: I have a list of projects for each season. Sometimes lots of small things, but they add up. Other times, one big thing per season. One thing at a time. Also, a seasonal budget helps spread out the costs. It's also more enjoyable, knowing you have a plan and that the annoying things will be fixed -- someday soon.
PRIORITIES: Setting priorities is a major stress reducer. I focus on SAFETY FIRST -- anything to do with safety (brakes, bearings, etc.) and what I call "RELIABILITY" (belts, filters, gaskets, water pump, fuel pump, electical, etc.) comes a close second. Then, as 3rd priority, I fix "annoying stuff" (squeaks, leaks, visually irritating things, or things I want. For example, I don't have to fix the electric side-mirror motor. I'm the only driver and so I don' t need that function -- why spend $200 on something I can adjust once a year by hand for free?).
RESEARCH: Forums help a lot! They will help you set priorities and get stuff done right. For example, one C3 youtuber says, "Just replace the entire wiring harness. Don't mess with a wire here and there. Get a wiring-harness kit and do the whole thing. About $500 for the harness and $XXX for the labor." Smart move! Why live with uncertainty, breakdowns, short circuits, possible fire(!) because of $500? That would not be smart. A wiring-harness kit makes A LOT of sense!
PEACE OF MIND AS A GOAL: Think of the peace of mind and driving enjoyment! In the end, it's all about attitude. When I got mine (another make), I just knew that for the first three years or so, I would have seasonal projects. I also knew that each season would be a mix of planned repairs and unexpected repairs. So, no tears, lots of patience, lots of research and planning, and remember this: Such cars are part of the family. It's not a car you're going to fix up just to sell for the highest price. It's a long-term outlook. Choose your projects for the season, set aside your budgets for each season or for the year. Some repairs/upgrades don't have to cost an arm and a leg. If you need to slow down on the costs for a while, choose do-it-yourself projects or lots of little projects. Then, they are done! Other projects will cost an arm and a leg (headgasket, re-build, body-off-frame renovaton). So, plan these for next year or the year after and use the time to save up for it.
Finally, USE & ATTITUDE: I drive my "youngtimer" everyday. It has to "earn its living". It has to tow my boat, go on holidays and road trips and doctors appointments and weekly shopping. And strangely, that it must function as a daily driver actually makes things EASIER -- because safety and reliability as well as fun and aesthetics are important EVERY DAY. Somehow, it's much less painful to "just fix it" because I know I will use and enjoy it EVERY DAY. Habits are important! In winter, I rinse the undercarriage with a portable, low-pressure battery operated powerwasher and salt remover (for my boat). It's good exercise and the car still has NO RUST!! Because I do something about it! Don't just fix something and expect it to "last forever". It's the daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly habits that count the most! Honestly, if the car was "just a weekend driver", I'd hate it. Because I'd (wrongly) expect to just take it out for a Sunday drive with no problems. (Dumb). But, because I've CHOSEN to make it a daily driver that makes daily life FUN FUN FUN, somehow, I get full return on my investment. Think! If I had to maintain a 2nd car, 2nd insurance, 2nd maintenance, 2nd repairs, I'd be spending just as much money (or more) and have twice as many appointments at the mechanic, twice as much paperwork and half the space in my garage. At first, I was worried that I was using this beautiful classic as a daily driver. But it has turned out to be the BEST decision in the end. Why? Like love, having "affairs on the weekend" will just cause you a lot of heartache and a lot of money! Man up! Claim your one true love and stay true! It's all in the attitude.
As much of a pain in the butt as my 74 is, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I've always wanted to have a C3 and getting to rebuild one from the ground up is a dream come true.
Oh! Canada, eh? Well, enjoy that 'Vette, and Good Day!
For "old paint" that looks pretty good!
Had a 72 sun flower yellow, yes it had minor imperfections, but loved working on it and had no complaints about it what so ever. Wish I still had it.
Owner of a 1978 Silver Anniversary. Cars this old, especially if you believe in originality survivorship is what it is. These cars were not Cadillacs. They sit low to the road and you feel the bumps and that’s part of the charm. They were the true two seat American made roadster. Personally I say RIP Corvette 1953-2019 because this 2020 mid engine euro thing is not a vette now.
I completely agree with you about the 2020 corvette but the 78 isn't old. 51 and older is old
@@OfficialWhosHim once a car is over 40 it ain’t young lol
@@OfficialWhosHim Most professional mechanics would disagree with you about a '78 not being old. In fact, to most professional mechanics, a C7 is an 'old' (or should I say OLDER) car, and that car didn't leave production until the 2020 C8 came out. That car is going on forty three years old and YES, it is an old car. Nothing wrong with old cars (I own a 750iL ten years younger than your 78). Not everyone wants to see lookalike jellybean crossovers all day long on the freeway. Thanks for breaking up the monotony of everyone needing to have the latest plastic techno-egg.
@@houseofno your obviously sped nobody would call a 2019 car old lmfao dipshit
Ya that 2020 sucks looks like crap the front end looks good and thats it it doesn't even remind me of a corvette
I appreciate your video and agree with some of your points. I think the thing to remember is that generally all of the cars we dreamt of having when we were young were great for the times they were in and the use the were meant for. However, today's cars are quieter, more reliable and efficient. In some cases, they extract incredible amounts of power from much smaller engines. And frankly, they drive better.
What is important to remember is that the Corvette you own is a part of automotive history. It was the pinnacle of the period when design and performance divisions created cars more so than the production and accounting departments. That C3 was a world class car in it's day and for those who look at it the same way, it still is.
I have two Porsches (vintage ) and a 69 Corvette Coupe with a 427, which I absolutely love. Does it drive as well as the Porsche Carrera? Nope. But is it a boulevard beast that gets thumbs up? Absolutely. Drive your car as a time capsule and be thankful you have the opportunity!
How true on all the points you mentioned. One thing that gets overlooked when getting an older car is finding out who locally can-do honest repair work that maybe out of one ability to perform. Or requires
equipment or tools that are one-time use that are expensive. I have a 1990 vett that most mechanics now weren't even born yet and don't know what to do about anything Eletronic OBD-1 code reader wise. Let alone a 1971 carbureted vett. They look at you and say we don't work on old stuff like that! Sorry to wine about this subject. It's better to do it myself, but it still amazes me on auto shops anymore. IT took 4 different shops to find one that was upfront and honest. So, asking around at car shows or car clubs is a good thing before jumping on that 50 something year old car.
With all respect you made it clear at the beginning of your video how much you love your car, so I understand where you are coming from, to my understanding you don’t hate, hate is a very strong word to said you disliked
We are talking about a 50 year old car, it has to have issues plus corvettes of that era came with factory issues, but hey you love it or leave it.
Know this is a long time since u posed the vid, but most problem u got is just from the car sitting still and not running for 30+ years, fluids/gaskets etc dry out over time so yea... Abit time consuming work but when it is done the car will be lovely. It looks amazing... Would love to own a C3 someday ^^ will see what happends.
Nothing feels like a bigblock!
No replacement for displacement my friend ;)
I'm 14 and I love these old C3's, these are one of my dream cars, so thank you for warning me about the size, paint, and other stuff, I love old muscle, so it was cool for a walkthrough.
Follow your dreams man... That was my dream too as a kid.
I'm 14 as well and I have one and let me tell you. You are going to love it save up rn as a kid and use it when you are older it is a good car and not to easy to find but there are some out there
@@cesarrunz nah, c3’s are abundant, but finding a 60s-1973 is hard out of all C3s. 74-82 is where the rear changes and it’s an “okay” looking rear but it’s nice overall
@@dragonsKeeper210 yeah I have a 1970 with a 76 front end
I fell in love with the car when I was 14 and now own one at 50. And I love it. Now, don’t get me wrong, these are all legit concerns. The cabin is tight, but I like that feel ;-) . The paint is delicate. Absolutely need to be careful. Squeaks. True. But if you care enough, you can hunt them down and get rid of them. Enjoy !
sounds like you just not a corvette guy. I have had one since the 70s and that is just normal stuff. They are inexpensive cars that are to be driven and enjoyed. They will never be perfect. In my opinion, the biggest problem with that car is the color of the interior. I love the vinyl hard top and the gold paint.
Inexpensive ? Lol that’s a 71 LS6 vette … the complete opposite… but yeah im a corvette guy. The target audience for this video are young people who arent familiar with vintage cars.
A person of your years tends to not have the context of what living in that era of "old cars" entailed, so it's more of a shock & adjustment when acquiring one of these 50+ yr old collector's items. I'm from that era, and, today, those cars seem primitive even to me. For me, the analagy to your frame of reference might be for me to acquire a Model T!
As the 2nd owner of a 70 LT-1 Coupe, which I acquired in 74 with 1200 miles, I am very familiar with frequencies of maintenance that are almost unknown today. Plugs, points & condensers, fluids, filters, seals, bearings, carb gaskets. EVERYTHING requires frequent & regular maintenance. Add to that valve lash adjustments & very high octane gas/octane boost/lead additive/avgas just to turn the key. And you'd better regularly service the tach drive.
If you would allow the exageration, it's not unlike owning a P-40 or P-51; unending maintenance & a thousand procedures to fly.
On top of ordinary 50 yr old cars, the Corvette is a SPORTS car with all that implies.
Your Vette, if original, has SOLID, aluminum body mounts, which transmits feel AND noise much more than rubber mounts. A tip: a can of quality silicone spray lubricant is one of your best friends; it gets applied frquently to all rubber contact points between hardtop/softtop & body mounting points, all weather stripping, the "miles" of rubber vacuum tubing, and rubber suspension bushings. Lubriplate is also your friend, for metal to metal contact points. All with a view to keeping squeaks & rattles to a minimum. Regular fastener checks with screwdriver and/or socket wrench, also.
Most everything is mechanically/vacuum actuated, and therefore requires regular maintenance. If you think of maintenance in terms of per hours driven (and parked, lol), and not in of terms of mutiples of tens of thousands of miles, you'll have the right idea.
For much in life that is stunningly beautiful to gaze upon & possess, high maintenance is the price of ownership.
I am a PROUD owner of a 71 454 4 speed convertible, and I knew there will be some things that are not perfect, but when you have the best designed and one of the best performing cars ever ,of it’s time , you forget the small stuff! Get over it
I love my ‘82, in the process of a resto-mod. It’s my daily driver at least in the summer. With a 24 gallon tank it’s easy to spend $100 at the gas station weekly but it’s worth every penny. I got headers and the Y pipes with the open/close switch in the cockpit area and I love that sound of the exhaust flowing right out of my headers underneath my feet. Loud and proud.
It looks stunning. War bonnet Yellow is also my favorite color for a C3 besides metallic orange. I own a cheap 77 and I absolutely love this car, it's so much fun to drive and especially here in Germany it's something special.
This guy should not have even been allowed to review this Corvette. I have owned my C3 Corvette "427ci/430hp L-88" for 48yrs. and I still love it. I guarantee that my Vette gets much worse mileage than this car. I didn't buy my Corvette for gas mileage, and I have never checked.....because it doesn't matter to me. "
IT'S A CORVETTE STINGRAY convertible!" This guy should do his next video; 5 Things I HATE about my Mother.
I know exactly what you're saying, I bought my dream bike after dreaming about it for 40 years, since I was a kid. If you can see past the issues, maybe overcome the issues then it makes sense, I've had to do lots of work on the bike to make it rideable even though "it has no problems" when I bought it, I'm with you. You have to learn to love it.
To answer your question what should you film? See how far you can leave two big thick black rubber lines on the tarmac 👍🏼
Its not as bad as i tought the gas mileage , 12 years ago i had a bmw 323ci that used just as much
That is a super nice car dude
Fun and accurate video - I have a 70!
5 - old car - yes it gets old, part of the beauty about it, but inconvenient, unlike a new car that simply starts and goes.
4 - noises - I like it to be fairly quiet, just want to hear the engine, exhaust, and music, everything else gets eliminated.
3 - body and paint - took me a lot of time to get it looking right, compound, polishing, waxing, and maintaining with F11 now. Seldom wash it and avoid water, try to keep it dusted off regularly.
2 - cabin size - yes it's tight, but I like that too, wish I had a bit more elbow room and leg space - fun to drive but difficult to climb in and work on the interior. Having the top off at least gives some headspace.
1 - gas - no complaints here regarding gas, weekends are best. Daily would not be economical, agree. Also be sure to keep it nicely tuned to save some gas, pure fun!
Thanks for this rundown, the C3 is impressive in many ways, please keep doing videos!
Thanks for your kind words man
I’m all about fixing up old cars. Its part of the fun. Leaks, brakes, cooling system etc. sign me up!
I got a 1982 and my brother in law had it and pulled the interior out to replace it and fix some gages and lost interest. So. After 8 years he sold it to me and now iam putting it back together and have a blast doing it I put together a bunch of cars in my life but not a vette it's in great shape was a running driving car so just getting it back right is all .just got to look at it as a bunch of little jobs do one then move on to the next one and so on it easier to look at it that way and u don't get all shot out and give up before you no it it done and down the road lol ...its not about comfort it's about cool 😎...enjoy and don't worry about it..if u have to take a brake but not to long or it will become a work bench with a nice cover on it 😀 happy wrenching buddy
Nice to see that you do love your car. I've restored a '71 LT-1 and a '67 L79 and you can go nuts doing incremental rolling restorations and sorting like you did. You need to assume they will need everything, especially if maintenance was not kept current. They need to be done properly, and thoroughly, but once they are finished (a year and many thousand$ later) , they are awesome and have few of the issues you mention.
I would be grateful to have that car.
I never thought I'd own a C3 but in the early 90s I had an opportunity to buy one super cheap with the idea of a quick flip... I drove the car for awhile and made some modifications and fell in love with it... 30 years have passed and many adventures later I still own it and will never sell it... It's never been a daily driver and I don't think they were ever meant for that duty... This time of year (spring) comes around and I bust her out of the garage for the season and that highly modified small block roars to life it's like being a kid again! The thumbs up and looks I get are many when I drive that car... if everything in life could be this close to perfect it would be heaven.
Watched both your videos. Very informative. That car is a gem especially where you live. Ignore the haters.
Thanks brother … finally someone who watched both 😅
Son, it's a Corvette. It's not meant to be cheap, economical, or quiet and plush. It is an American icon, that was meant to say hello world, I'm gonna eat your lunch.
The paint and body are coming on to 50, she's gonna have a few wrinkles. Even at 50, she will STILL eat a lot of lunches. Park it, drive occasionally and enjoy what you have there, it's rare.
I have a beautiful 72, Steel Cities Gray new paint with a nice clearcoat. The T-tops will squeak unless you keep them greased up. I use grease on the tops, and the door catches and latches, do it maybe 3 times a season. Maybe your top could use the same? We're blessed with good country roads, because as you say, these cars don't do rough roads. Most old vettes leak in some way, thats the reality. Up until the late 70's GM intended a 10 year lifespan for the c3, you can tell by the cardboard door panels. For me, what I don't like is the fear of damage to the car.
We all have love and hate. I feel you. I have a 1975 L82 4- 4-speed Convertible, yes old car has its quirks Great video idea. I subscribed to your channel
Want better mileage ?? Get a Tremic 5 speed manual trans w/ overdrive. You will be amazed. BTW having a 454 with a carb is a challenge off the bat for mileage. Perhaps you can lean it out a little. And your vette is awesome man.
I had a 72 bigblock for 18 years,
I got it in 1988, sold regrettably 2006,
wife got C :(
Awesome car ;)
Last year I bought a 1987,
This year a 1994,
I love all Corvettes 🙃
Get the 5 Speed. I went from 8 mpg to 14 mpg. Much smoother shifting and its faster now!
I can't this car is an all original LS6 car ... I wish i could...
@@Dom_Dub if you need better milage put taller gears in it
@@Dom_Dub So? Just store the original.
Yeah but Muncie rock crusher tho…
8mpg is so bad lol
it doesn’t matter what you hate. it’s a ‘71 ls6 454 450hp 500ftlb
For '71 the LS6 was rated at 425hp and 475ftlb due to the drop in compression from 11.25:1 to 9.0:1
Don't take this as an offense, but I think, this car is not probable the car you should own,I had owned in the past over 20 different cars ,and I always enjoy working on them, I was always fixing something,I didn't care,cause after all was done ,I felt good knowing I did it by myself...good luck...
Is there a list of mods to eliminate the cracks and squeaks or is it something you have to live with?
We older, more experienced Men, understand that instant gratification isn’t going to happen with a unrestored classic car. Yup welcome to maturity.
#5 - Yes, that is true, no old car is like any new car. They aren't bad, but we have been spoiled by cars that never leak, you climb in and drive, and in 6000 miles, you drop it at the dealer for its 6000 mile check. Of course, any car that sat for years is going to have problems. Two fixes: 1. pull everything apart and restore the car, or 2. keep an eye on everything and fix them as they break/you get to it.
#4 - Corvettes have always been noisy. The fiberglass echos like a bass drum. You can tighten them some but not completely. If yours is rattling more with the hardtop, you need to have a good check done on the frame. Normally the hardtop tightens the car much more, takes a lot of flex out, and eliminates many rattles. Do you have your hardtop bolted down in the four points in the rear? Two long studs through the deck should have nuts on the inside tightened against the deck clamps. Two forward brackets should be bolted. Also, is your deck lid tight to the body? Weatherstripping good, hinges adjusted correctly, and the deck releases adjusted to hold it down tight?
#3 - That paint crack you show in the middle of the fender is abnormal. Looks like your car has been repainted once long ago. Stress cracks around the corners of the hood opening are typical. It comes from driving cold body cars on rough roads. Face it, lacquer paint was the norm and no one expected it to last 10 years, let alone 50. GM wanted you to trade cars every couple of years. Also, fiberglass flexes, so paint will crack with use.
#2 - It's a sports car, not a station wagon. Of course, it is small. As to t-tops, that is smaller in area than the convertible. The convertible top has the most room, the hardtop takes some due to the thickness of the top, and the t-top is worse with out the bar and top panels connect to the car. The idea is you should be snug so that you aren't sliding all around when running fast through the curves or on a race track.
#1 - Gas mileage is due to how these were designed and how they use gas. Gas was cheap back then, and power was more the issue. Your '71 was the first of the low compression cars at 9:1 compression, which was terrible for power and didn't utilize the gasoline efficiently. Plus, gas quality is much lower today than back then. In the late '70s, I could get 18-19 mpg with my Corvette. The exact same car today is lucky when it gets 12, and typically gets around 10 mpg. 25,000 additional miles between those years didn't make the engine worn out to be bad on gas. It is the quality of the gas. If you want better, buy one of the aftermarket electronic fuel injection systems and replace your carb. Or buy a newer Corvette. But don't gripe too much, as your low compression 454 should run on 89 octane and you net have to buy 93 octane. You could also buy a Tremec 5 speed with overdrive and improve gas mileage. Of course, EFI and the Tremec are not part of the original character and then it isn't the same car at all.
Thats funny , i was going to say 5 things i love about my convertible big block. What a beautiful vette . I like 61 to 72 . 3 generations , but i really like 69 fenders .. ..
Great video....I had to stop reading all of the negative comments....I think most of them either NEVER owned a classic, or are straight up missing the point. I ADORE my C3, but at the same time, continually curse it for the reasons you mention above; doesn't make me love it any less. Like you said, LOVE/HATE relationship. Nothing wrong with that. No one is perfect. As much as I love my dog, he can be a royal pain in the A$$ and I complain about him all the time. I'm not going to drop him off at the pound! Damn.
Anyways, I agree with you on just about ALL of them and complain constantly:
1) Time getting fixed, vs time enjoying it on the road. The life of a classic car owner!
2) Gas....phew....it can be a sacrifice to dump all that fuel (hope you're using high octane non-ethanol for that old block to burn through - if so, you're cursing louder than normal at fuel costs)
3) Space....damn...cannot bring the kids (ok, no biggy), no luggage, make shift add on for even a cup holder....she's tight in there!
4) Noises - I've actually heard of many attempting to mitigate this by doing upgrades such as sound deadening material, gaskets, etc.....but, yeah, you'll never get rid of the noise and it is not enjoyable, period. I enjoy the experience, which includes the noise, but I'm not jumping up and down for joy because of all that noise for sure!
5) If I'm going to disagree with you on anything, it may be the paint. The lacquer from days of old is actually far more sturdy than current thin coats of paint and tons of clear coat. The tons of lacquer they used back then can really be worked today versus modern day paint correction might need repaints. I've had my C3 professionally corrected and ceramic coated and it looks better than a repaint as it still retains some of the classic lacquer imperfections of the day, but is show quality.
Thanks for sharing. I didn't realize how fragile the fiberglass was on the C3. I sat in a friend's 69, and being 6'1, couldn't believe how tight it was. I basically was looking over the t-top, knees around both sides of steering wheel and could hardly breath. The old school dash and cockpit was amazing though. The slope of the hood the little rear window, and feel of the era was awesome! I prefer my 09 Z06 for room in the cabin, but the always C3 looks fast even when parked. I fell in love with Vettes when I was about four, looking at a C3. Told my ma I'd have a Vette one day, and 43 years later, an atomic orange is in the garage. I absolutely love the gold color you have! That's a sharp car fella! Keep enjoying and keep on sharing ehh 🇨🇦
It isn't as fragile as he says. If you look at high mileage no-hit survivor C2/3s, many of them are free of stress cracks. Poor treatment of the car can result in them.
This KAREN doesn’t deserve this car.
Lolll by not listening the other video, you dont deserve access to RUclips
THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL RIDE !!!!!!!!!!
He must be in new car sales…..
I have a 79 L83 and I'm loving it.
how much money is it? this is my dream car
Ive had a 69 convertible for 42 years and I agree with everything you said. But get in with top down and turn the key and all that stuff fades away. I've built up the L36 in mine so MPG is out the window. I don't drive far from home anyway. You forgot to mention the storage area for an overnight bag! Nice car, don't let it get to ya.
Mine got almost zero rattles once the roof is off... And i refer to MPG as smiles per gallons ;)
Dom Dub you can see me abusing the tires on my page. Search CHetzler. Got a couple videos. Mine is quiet to without hardtop but sounds like an old truck with it on. Fun per gallon is what I say!
LOL...Not being Negative but I had to Laugh at this Video! The Car is 50 years old! Did You not do any Research before Buy the Car? Maybe You need a Honda or Toyota as a Daily driver. Save the Corvette for the Weekend! LOL I was Fortunate at 20 to Buy My First New Corvette, a 1970! Owning a 50 year old Sports Car can definitely be a Love/Hate Relationship! Like You said...Smiles per Mile Can't be beat!
Best answer ever, worth it to own a masterpiece period!
Well, 7,4 l V8 is thirsty as hell. One thing I would mention is the vacuum system on it. There are countless vacuum pods and hoses just to flip the headlights and they tend to get porous or break.
Yeah, an old car..well..it is what it is and one got to remember most things are 50 years old on this baby.
Anyway, you got yourself a beauty there. :) A teardown and new gaskets in all the critical places will vastly negate all the small problems with leaks, etc.
I'm 14, and I'm glad that I have a c3 1970 corvette with a 350 engine and has a soft top convertible I'm extremely grateful it need work here and there but it runs
How’d you get it?
I daily drove my '72 for @10 years. Yours is a beautiful car by the way. Most of this stuff is kinda "Captain Obvious" stuff to most people that goes with driving any 50 year old car. When it's all you know (it was actually my first car) it's not so bad. Once you get used to something newer it way worse haha, even if they car is in perfect shape (mine was far from it). Honestly I drove the hell out of mine again for @10 years and it was actually super reliable. Again like any old car old brakes were always annoying and when you get tired of bleeding them every weekend you finally rebuild everything with new and move on with your life. Had an alternator go once like any other car. And finally I had the driver side bolt for the leaf spring pull through the trailing arm (it was originally a northern car and had some rust). I simply jacked the car up, bolted it back up in the top hole and drove home lol. Otherwise once again it was actually a super reliable car. Under 10 mpg got old after awhile lol. Convertible top leaked. Was unbearably hot in the summer and froze to death in the winter. It was loud (you had to yell back and forth to your passenger) and I'd always smell like the tailpipes and gasoline any time I drove it. Looks like a naked models body with a sheet draped over it. When I was a little kid I used to shift the gears from the passenger seat when my dad would push in the clutch and though I've been asked more times than I can remember to sell it going back to high school it's not for sale and I'll be getting buried in it when my time comes...
I hate my old vette because it's old. Thanks. I needed a laugh.
Lets be honest its a racecar its not ment to be quiet, or get good gas mileage. Your supposed to drive it for fun. You should be lucky it sat for so long mine sat 15 years and all the paint was ruined along with the birdcage rotting out. I was told so many times to give up and get a newer car but i forged on. Im 16000$ into it and its no where near done. I cant wait to have mine in as good condition as that car right there. Much love from a fellow c3 owner!
😎🇵🇷🇺🇲🇲🇽😂 !! I know this has to be a comedy skit!! I own a '72 and you made my day 💕 😅
Complaining about the fiberglass body is ridiculous… it’s a corvette they are all fiberglass.
Yes. What do you like
You can apply Silglide to the top and door seals and this will help eliminate squeaks.
How cabin heat from the engine and exhaust?
My right leg roasts while my right arm and face freeze from ac.
This car wasn’t optioned with ac but other than that, it gets boiling hot inside
Every 'Vette I've ever been in rattles, squeaks, and buzzes. I've not been in the newest ones, tho. Do the shifters still buzz? I always hated the long throw shifter.
Bro if you hate it that much, I’ll buy it off of you 😁. That car is beautiful 😍, you are ungrateful brother.
I had a 70 with the 350-3504 speed but a hard top. It was one of the most rattlely car that I've ever owned. The dash was rusted up by the windshield, so that was loose and just a fiberglass body is flexy. It's just the nature of old GM cars... and any old car, Ford and Mopar. They are loose fit and finish and they rattle mainly because all the rubber is dried up.
Sounds like your birdcage was rusted out and it was dangerous. Not normal at all.
@@mikeholland1031 Totally normal, most older vettes in the rust belt rust out there just sitting in an unheated garage and time is all it takes.
@@zone47 I know that and it should have been put off the road was my point. Still plenty if good ones out there. I just scored a '76 4 gear for $9000 and it's solid. Only 41,575 miles on it.
@@mikeholland1031 Yeah, it was probably dangerous. To pull the body off the frame sounded expensive, so I just detailed the rest of the car and sold it for someone else who could do it. That 76 sounds like a good deal!
I have an 1980 here in texas I got for $17k and 60 k millages now it has 130k and still flying like a closed. Automatic I do regular maintenance so it's kept in shape and yes it's my daily driver. Love the horse power it has. Just a really good car. But this year is really nice too and gold just nice!!!!
I've been shopping for a C3, what years would you suggest I really look at? Thanks Dan
I have had many C3's over the years including a brand new 78 and a new 79 both L 82 cars. Loved every one I owned. I now have a C 4. As far as gas mileage goes, my 1970 numbers matching Challenger R/T 440 six pack car 4 speed 354 Dana car gulps gas like a funnel. I would be better off using Gallons per foot instead of miles especially when I kick down and it delivers 1350 CFM's . You can see the fuel gauge move.
Oh yes old man had a 451 six pack
From grand Spaulding Dodge..
And when the gas crisis hit …
And they changed fuels
Pops said the beast was never the same again.
$5 dollar limit.
They said it got annoying waiting for fuel .
I've had my '69 L-71 427/435 since 1970. I love my car. You, on the other hand, aren't meant to own an old car. You need to get yourself a Toyota Camry. It will excel in all five departments that you are complaining about. It's quite possible to ramble on about all five of your "hates" but why waste time? Go trade that baby in on a Toyota and be happy bro'. No leaks. No squeaks. Good paint. Plenty of room. Great gas mileage and on and on. Let somebody else enjoy the car who isn't quite so critical. Life is too short to be unhappy. Be happy!!
Have you thought watching the 5 things i love and the other video about the story of this corvette ? Probably not
I'm not a big fan of negativity. You own and drive one of the coolest cars ever produced and it still runs after 50 years and I'm betting, if your experiences are like mine, people come over and talk to you whenever you park the car. Almost everyone loves C3 Corvettes. I pull into a gas station in my '69 that I've owned since 1970 and every single time somebody comes over and wants to talk about it. So, it's easy to be negative but nobody cares. In 50 years, everything shows it's age. I was 24 when I got my 'Vette and like the car, some of my parts aren't what they used to be but I don't focus on negativity. The car is still here an looks and run great. I'm still here and enjoy driving the car every day. Dump the negativity. Focus on what you like about the car and consider yourself very lucky, bro'. Just think about the morons who own Ferraris and Aston-Martins. They never get to drive their cars. They screwed up. You didn't.
Love my 77 nothing on the road now a days like it 👍👍
Most Corvette owners know the game.All your issues can be made better.Fixed or modified and purpose built.Check out some you tube on who and what car is winning at Auto Cross.
Do you think other 50 year old cars are much different ? You should have expected problems especially if it had been sitting. As far as inside room , it’s a Corvette. I’ll bet you didn’t pay a premium price for it so it is what it was , an old Vette needing some TLC which needed a new owner who cares about it.
yea, most things you have disliked about your Corvette, applies to most classic cars, when I bought my '68 Cougar, 8.5yrs ago, I was going to give it a paint job, because, it's a 20 footer, but I do drive it 2-3 times month and it looks ok, when it's moving and in photos, so I keep putting it off, but the wind roar on the motorway/freeway is deafening, because all the door rubbers have gone hard and wander at freeway/motorway speed,(even after a wheel alignment), mean endless corrections of the wheel. Minor repairs are a constant and replacement of old tyres are a must.
I have EFI in my 69 Corvette, it works great, try and look into it.
Love the War Bonnet Yellow :D
Was really surprised you didn’t mention the ride. C3’s are notorious for having a very harsh, rough ride. The issue was the chassis had way too much flex (causing the creaks and paint cracking) to handle like the sports car Chevy wanted it to be to compete with true sports cars. To compensate for the non rigidity of the chassis Chevy out in doings that were way too stiff for normal street driving. That said the C3 is still a very cool looking iconic American classic car.
*Chevy put in SPRINGS...
Agree with you 🇺🇸👍
Damn it I love that C3
A new car gets old too The new cars they make today will never last as long as your corvette
True!
My 71 has a 350, when I looked at the big blocks I just said to myself who needs that much power, 270 hp is plenty for me.
My vet had side exhaust and you will be sucking on exhaust fumes, with the T-tops off or windows down. Not fun.
That is my dream Corvette. I was born in 1971. My first car I drove was a Corvetter.love your car man
I wish you one man... Theyre incredible!
that's why it was leaking everywhere, you get it. sitting is the worst thing for any car. the way hard top convertibles are. nice original
I think maybe a way to save from cracking the fibreglass further besides not driving it is to totally strip off the paint and sandwich the body in new fibreglass. Then sand and new paint.
I ain't brave enough to strip this old lacquer paint off the car... One day maybe.
A beautiful piece of history. I don’t mind any of your 5 dislikes. My ‘73 coupe has them, but it is 47 yo. It isn’t my daily driver. Enjoy the drive!
73 is uniquely gorgeous 🇺🇸👍
Want some cheese with that whine???
I love my 71 Vette... the cabin is plenty comfortable with t-tops and I'm 6'1 205 lbs. My 2016 Camaro SS has more of a claustrophobic feel than my Vette. Putting gas is money down the drain? No way... it's fun to burn gas in this car!
lol fossil ⛽️ fuels are yummy... C3 are so much fun 😁
Dude, you have the coolest car in the world, bar none.
Totally agree 👍
You shouldn't hate anything about it you should love everything about it
I would love to have that car . Doesn't sound like you really appreciate this car at all . Sounds like classics are not for you, perhaps you should just find a new car that ticks all your boxes .
is that a factory gold car with a green interior? that's amazing! i read in the comments where you said its an LS6...if that's so, then this is doubly amazing. I have a '74 L82 coupe and pretty much everything you said is true, although its more than made up by the joy in owning and driving a good-looking performance classic sports car
It's a Corvette...😳😎
Great C3, 454, 2 tops, 4spd, vinyl top! Have a '73, L82, AC, 4spg, convertible, tilt-tele, and I'm doing the same thing, brakes, suspension and someday paint. Seats are the worst.
I want a c3 but I dont know which year is best? Like some have different features that others dont, or certain engine components. Im just not sure which to get. Any help?
I'd say chrome bumpers C3's are the best in every way but a bit more expensive compared to the 74 and up
@@Dom_Dub yeah im thinking about gettin a 1978 through 1982, I don't care for specific years body modifications I can slap that nice chrome bumper on with any c3
@@Dom_Dub Im looking for the best one in terms of features, interior layouts, performance wise, etc
Piston King Enterprises performance wise, the older vettes are much better 68-72... and you cant slap chrome bumpers on newer c3’s ... I’d say any c3 are good buys but you need to check the birdcage for any rust and the floorboards on 74-5 and up they are metal instead of fiberglass
@@Dom_Dub alright thanks i'll do more research on them. I mean make a custom chrome bumper to fit the car.
Regarding problem no. 5, leaks, my C3 taught me that the car's claim to fame is leaking brake calipers.
Yeah I had those rebuilt.. the car has been sitting in a garage from 1977 to 2017... But still, alot of C3's have this problem
That is a beautiful original car. You've done right by it and are realistic about what it is. Comparing it to modern cars mechanically would be unfair, then again it has style that few modern cars can match. Some of the "features" of the C3 were more gimmick than sound engineering, but the STYLE is 100% real.
If life gives you lemons , make some lemonade