This 1972 Chevrolet Corvette doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a total project at the moment, as it’s a non-runner with evidence of multiple paint jobs in its past. But it has the right stuff under the hood, as it packs a 454 big-block engine that the seller indicates is original to the car. The seller indicates some big maintenance work has been done but a dead battery is keeping it from moving at the moment; there’s also a chronically flat tire to deal with. The Corvette was originally red and would look great with a fresh paint job, wouldn’t it? Find it here on craigslist for $12,500.
The dead battery thing always gets me. If that’s all that’s keeping you from listing this as a running, driving project, then just throw a new battery in! The interior isn’t awful but it’s also far from pristine. The automatic transmission is hardly a surprise, but you love to see these with a four-speed. The seller indicates it ran and drove six months ago, so one would assume the transmission still goes into all the right gears at the right time. Stil, further confirmation of mechanical health is warranted, as the asking price isn’t exactly throwaway money. The Corvette is well-equipped with power windows, power brakes, power steering, and telescopic wheel.
The 454 is the main attraction here, as it really does move the C3 into legitimate muscle car territory. Now, you have to be careful with the language here as the seller indicates it was an original 454 car, but that’s not the same as saying it’s a matching-numbers example. Now, I’m sure that’s what he meant to say in the listing, but I’d confirm regardless as it wasn’t uncommon to see factory replacement engines installed following a catastrophic failure. The engine bay is a bit of a mess, but the seller has addressed some must-do mechanical items like a new gas tank, fuel pump, and “….some other new stuff.”
You might think this was originally a yellow car, but that’s evidently one of two additional paint jobs it’s had since leaving the factory. The new rally wheels look sharp, and the chrome bumpers appear to present well. If the seller is being honest that all this Corvette needs is a battery to run, then it could be a good price for a big-block project. And, given the fuel pump is new and the gas tank is clean, there should really be no obstacles keeping this Corvette from driving onto a trailer. What do you think – is a solitary battery the only thing standing between you and a running 454-equipped Corvette?
Dead battery? The one in the compartment behind the seat? Not the C4 one where you have to take off a fender side panel?? Meeting adjourned.
It does take some contortions to get it out – maybe he has a bad back. Or lazy.
Loaded car and factory smog still intact. Price seems fair, but I have restored two C3s. Not cheap doing most of the work yourself. I prefer a 4 speed like my current C3 has, a silver 73 coupe.
All it takes is a new battery and a new tire and I’ll bet this beauty fires right up and roars off into the sunset.
Not.
Yes the battery and new tires. The dash pad looks cracked and door panels are shot plus, carpet no doubt and all the other little surprises you you will find on a 40 year old car that probably has been sitting for years. At least all these items are available and the price for the car seems right for a reasonable project.
I just had C3 painted and it was 18G’s with minimal body work, this one will take some work to get to fiberglass.
18G’s? Was it done in gold leaf? Or do you own one of the rarest C3’s ever built? No offense meant,but that seems very high to me. I will admit the last time I had a C3 painted was in 1992 so my reference point is very much out of date.
No title ? Definitely no sale here even if I could buy it. How can people expect to sell a car that presents itself as this one, a friggen cluttered mess and I mean the interior, under the hood, the state of the paint or lack there of is at the minimum not as irritating .
In California, as long as the car has not been stolen in its lifetime, all you need is a bill of sale and a CHP inspection to verify the VIN, and you will be issued a new title with very little effort. The asking price is 1500 over what I paid for my 68 ten years ago in about the same shape. Looking over the photo’s, this one looks pretty complete. If I was in the market for another one, its not all that far from me and I bet you offer 10k cash, its yours. Hope to see another big block C3 back on the road.
Do the CHP’s refund your money if it flunks their inspection? I doubt the seller will care if it flunks.
They just verify the information you submit. In fact, I bought two vintage dirt bikes from a buddy from work and did this process. One bike came had the VIN number off by one digit on the end. The CHP officer took care of it and changed the paperwork on the spot for me. It’s a very simple easy process.
May have, in fact, been running six months ago, but the rod knock and piston slap made it too noisy to enjoy.
No title…. WTF
Mike, people lose stuff all the time. Perhaps it was an estate sale car, bought in a storage locker sale, who knows. In California, it is very easy to obtain a lost title, as long as the car has never been stolen. Cheers