Is there an expiration date on the relevance that “running when parked” has on a vehicle? This 1981 Chevrolet Corvette has been parked for 20 years, and that thick coating of dust is no joke. When it starts clumping up on the windshield, you generally know that the seller’s claims about how long it’s been barn stored are no joke. This Corvette was, supposedly, running when parked, but does it even matter anymore? The car does have under 100,000 original miles and the seller describes it as being in “Fair” condition, but my senses tell me otherwise. Find the Corvette here on craigslist with an asking price of $6,000.
The C3 went through a few refreshes styling-wise, with this era of the car being perhaps the most aerodynamic based on changes to the front and rear bumper covers. Manual and automatic transmissions were offered, with the 190 b.h.p. 350 residing under the hood of most examples, save for those sent to California with a 305. The interiors were notable for their nicely bolstered sport seats, clearly in rough condition in this car, but replacements are generally widely available. The amount of apparent sun damage is surprising given the Corvette resides in South Carolina and has been indoors for 20 years; if it’s not sun damage, then it’s just wanton neglect that caused the seats to be trashed so bad.
The engine bay actually looks surprisingly complete, as the exterior and the prolonged hiatus from the road would seem to suggest that you’d find a half-disassembled engine under the hood. The air cleaner assembly is still the factory design, which is shocking considering how many of these are replaced with aftermarket chrome assemblies. The seller doesn’t specify whether he’s attempted to get the 350 to turn over or rotated the engine by hand, but the good news is these mills are plentiful if you end up needing a replacement. But for $6,000, if the engine is no good, would you even bother?
Now, the low-ish mileage is nice to find, but it’s not that low. The seller may be hoping the piles of barn dust get someone’s pulse racing enough to take this project on, but there are simply too many good C3s out there to buy as opposed to taking on a project like this that seemingly needs everything. For half the price or even less, it’d be worth a gamble, especially if that paint is in good condition under all that dust – but given the condition of the interior, my hopes aren’t very high. Still, that instrument binnacle glass is super clean – is there any hope for this barn find Corvette?
After viewing the interior, If the seller considers this to be ‘fair’ condition, I’d sure hate to see what they consider to be poor!
That car is poor condition in my books not worth 6,000 not worth 1,000 if motor locked thats not good people run cars to ground
There is no way the paint and interior deteriorated to this dismal condition sitting inside a building. Guessing this one was moved indoors just for the photo-op. It is possible the bones are good but it needs an entire wardrobe and makeup. I don’t think I’d give half the asking price.
It may have been stored 20 years someplace, but it wasn’t a barn and not where it was photographed. That is a LOT of leaves to magically collect in the cowl fir being stored inside a structure.
A lot of staging for the photos.
Still, $6k fir a base project is not bad.
Just wondering about the fact there is no junk at all surrounding the car. 99.9% of cars photographed in a garage on Craig’s List ads show massive piles of stuff everywhere. There is also no picture of the back end maybe showing handprints where the car could have been pushed into the garage. They should have opened the door for better light and a rear pic.
That’s not dust on the nose
Is that a junkyard hood also? (marks on the underside sure look like a junkyard coding with a piece of keel)
In excellent condition the car is worth $10,000. I don’t think you can fix it up anywhere near that total cost.
Maybe if it had 1,000 miles on it and was stored in a giant, climate-controlled Mason jar. These are the ugly babies of Corvettelandia.
Nice tire tracks on the floor and what looks to be junk yard markings on the hood.
Please, please, please be worth $6,000 to someone, please. Because that will mean I have a $20,000 Corvette sitting in my garage.
And my 86 300zx ttop, manual, n/a would be a $15k car!!!!! Lol!!!!!!
Those 300zx are turbos cars love those cars they are fast
I love mine. She’s not a turbo or fast, but she handles well! Nothing beats cool Florida mid-winter nights with the ttops out and a winding road!!
All 81 Corvettes came with the same L-81 350 engine, and both the manual and automatic were available in all 50 states. It was 1980 that California emission Corvettes came with the 305 and automatic trans.
I agree with others here, it’s hard to believe the interior could deteriorate like that, if it was stored inside. It would be interesting to see what the car looked like washed off. Other than the interior, it might not be a bad car, but as it sits now, $2000 might be a high offer for it.
I hate to say it but I think this car has been strategically wiped down. I agree it was pushed in there. There is no way things would deteriorate that badly if the vehicle had been indoors. I think they tried to hide the handprints.
Secondly there is little to no love for these Corvettes. Fixing one up is pointless because you can buy a pristine car for less.
Ah. The L81. A one-year-only Corvette engine. It was pretty wimpy with a very mild cam and not a lot of power. It might be preferable to the Cease Fire Injection of 1982 and the L48 of prior years, but certainly not better than the L82, which is the one to get if you really have to have one of these 1978-81 Corvettes.
Possibly a good Michigan Winter beater if it were half the price and the heater works.
I know to well about Northern cars i seen 2004 ford tarus rotted bad no floors sub frame was gone my friend lied tried sell it to me he was mad i pull carpey up caight him
That’s not a friend!!!!
Instrument glass “super clean”, with a nice fat crack on the right side. It’s a nice super clean crack though; so that should not be overlooked. Obviously the decimal got moved to the right one digit too many.
The L82 with 230 up was available but this looks like the standard 350. The cost to restore is not worth it.
At least it’s in better condition than the Mustangs from yesterday. That said
I’ll PASS!
Mustangs rotted to easy rust
Car was nothing special new, not special now, for a Vette the mileage is high, there a lot nicer out there fo same money in my book 4000 is all the money
Looking at this picture you can see how freaking lazy some people are , oh my god I might break my arm if I was to broom the car off and give a washing and I will ask a insane price for it also and maybe the buyer will carry my money to the bank for me . What a joke ! . That car say’s for sale to fools only . Money pit heaven . Scrapinator along with that mustang we seen .
It looks like it had a bra on the front all its life and it wore into the paint and if I’m not mistaken didnt they have a rubber coating on the front of them? It looks as though that rubber crap from the bra became an adhesives and stuck to the car exactly where it would be.
If the interior didn’t look so good id say that was the remnants of mud on the car from a flood but it would be in the car too I would think.
Seems hokey to me but thats just one man’s opinion. : )
IDK. IF you lived in the area, and IF you brought a few tools with you and a fresh battery, and IF you could turn it over and maybe even start it, and IF you brought $3-4,000 in your pocket and the guy accepted it, it COULD be a lot of fun for nada. Think about it – a rattle can “Mad Max” paint job that you can flog like you would treat no collectible car – that could be fun for no money at all. And if it is running and most things work, it will probably be worth what you got in it forever.
The 80-82 C3’s were definitely not fast, but beautiful cars in my opininion..i own a 77 and 81…and love them…this example is awful…and a waste of time…when these cars are in great condition, they are a blast to own…and will appreciate big time in the near future, despite the haters!!
L82 last available in 1980 and only with automatic. This is a parts car. I have restored three C3s. The credit card bills were insane. $2,000 car at best. Looking at this makes my mint 73 4 speed coupe worth $20,000.
Why is the tach. showing 1900 rpm? aguess it was running when parked.
I know where there is a 1980 with t tops,4 speed 350 26000 miles always garaged new seals for 20,000 dollars
At that price I hope it is stored correctly. It will be sitting for a long time.