I will freely admit I do not expect to inherit an interesting car from anywhere within my family tree, and that’s OK (though I am vying for my mother’s completely original and borderline pristine 1997 Honda CR-V – don’t ask me why.) The seller of this low mileage 1981 Chevrolet Corvette clearly has gasoline running through his forebear’s veins as his grandfather purchased this car new and passed it down to him. It has just 9,000 miles from new and features the desirable color combination of red over black. Find it here on craigslist in Las Vegas with an asking price of $10,500.
The C3 is perhaps one of the most widely recognized eras of the classic Corvette, and nice ones are still eye-catching today. The fender lines, aggressive stance, and period details like T-tops and pop-up headlights all combine to create a memorable shape, and while the performance may have been lacking, there’s no denying these cars still look great going down the road. The Corvette looks terrific in photos but the seller notes it has been stored outside all of its life, which is an unusual detail for a car that was seemingly preserved as a collector’s item based on the low mileage.
To that end, the seller notes there is some evidence of paint checking, also known as crow’s feet, but that may have been there from the factory. The interior presents well with seats that don’t appear to be torn. However, I believe I spy a crack right in the top-center of the dash, and the steering wheel looks a bit tired – but this is an awful photo to make a firm judgment on, so you’ll have to ask for a better shot of the interior surfaces to know for sure. The seller calls this Corvette a project at one point, so you may want to follow up for clarification on exactly what part of the Corvette is a project, and which part is a low-mileage survivor.
The engine bay presents well, and the seller claims it makes good power. This C3 has the frequently-seen automatic transmission, which will make it a fine cruiser, if not particularly sporting. Assuming it has been in Nevada most of its life, this family heirloom Corvette should be rust-free underneath. I could live with a ten-footer paint job, especially since I wouldn’t want to alter a low-mileage vehicle unless I absolutely had to. The price seems fair if this one is as honest as the seller claims it to be, but we all know the market for C3s isn’t exactly hot; would a lower offer seem reasonable here?
My grandparents left me nothing and look how I ended up. This guy gets a great car and wants to sell it for beer money? If only I could trade places with him.
Sounds like a bargain to me .
That’s because it is. It’s a gift.
If you want to be a museum curator, here’s your car.
If you want a spectacular driver, here’s your car.
If you just want a weekend boulevard cruiser, and chick transport. You know.
The money is chicken feed.
If you want a weekend slalomer or drifter or other racer, this ain’t your car.
If I was in the market, I’d be all over this, even at that price. As a former owner of an ’82CE, future owner needs to be prepared to replace every single rubber seal around the windows and T-tops, and every single rubber component in the suspension, engine and transmission. Sitting outside in Las Vegas heat does nothing good for plastics. That rear window has had it!
I think you mean the rear window TRIM – better to just carefully remove the rest of the black paint – dumbest idea EVER IMO that the factory painted over the chrome rear window & windshield trim, only to peel off later – same on later ’70s f-bodies & later mustang IIs.
I’m curious. What would a 94 C-4 Convertible with 93K miles be worth? Great paint with a custom touch pin striping job, and no know damage. We have one but it’s impractical for us.
My grandfather had a 55 Dodge (yellow and white) with a 6-cylinder and 3 on the tree. When he passed away 😢 in 1971 I was 15. My mother gave the car to my older sister to use as a second car (my mother didn’t have her licence either). My sister’s drunken brother-in-law borrowed the car one night and totalled it. If only gramps had lasted another year, and I had gotten my licence, I might still have it. “Regrets, I have a few…”
Hindsight is 20/20.
9,000 miles? I have my doubts. Carpets worn, door seals gone, non-original wheels, front valance looks damaged and the paint looking only so so. My guess would be 109,000 or even 209,000 miles.
I’m with you Patrick, I see a lot that doesn’t add up to just 9000 miles. The add screams sales pitch, not grand child.
And the paint screams….. well it just screams.
With the addition of true dual exhaust and a
carburetor adjustment, these are fairly quick.
Paint and seals are costly!
If it sounds too good to be true…………Do the headlights ever go down?
I have owned a 65,69 73, 75 and 81Corvette. By far the worst one was the 81 what a dog and the 75 wasn’t much better. GM was building junk with the C3 era vette. I hated Corvettes so much and went to real sports car Porsche and a Pantera. I will never own another Corvette!
I,m glad some of you pointed out things i could, nt see, like someone said the C3 vettes are,nt that sort after so this would have to be genuine to be worth that price.
Thankfully, it’s an ’81, the first year that the VINs were standardized and a full vehicle history can be pulled.
That’s going to be your friend if you are deciding to buy this car. The 9K story could well be true, crappy outdoor storage in Vegas would kill this thing pretty quickly.
please read this!!! i sent this guy $500.00 for a deposit on this car last night. nothing is true here!!! the mileage is 109,000. it is not a one owner grandpa car!!! this car has been all over the place. arkansas, tennessee, oklahoma, nevada.
this is a scam and a lie. the owner is a scott jeffery and i was speaking to some steve guy but i zelled some lady..i feel terrible because i believed him but i got conned! i dont want this to happen to anyone else. i am reporting him and the owner to all these sites and to law enforcement in nevada.
Sorry you got conned. There were several in here who weren’t fooled. I wasn’t one of them. Please post, in the event anyone is arrested, and / or you get your $500 back.