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Driven Into The Barn: 1976 Chevrolet Corvette

When it comes to real-deal barn finds, it’s hard to say precisely when preserving the environment in which a long-forgotten project was found actually works against the seller. In the case of this 1976 Chevrolet Corvette, I would argue that the limited photos showing a car covered in debris and cornered by building supplies do it no favors, especially since it’s far from the most desirable Corvette model ever made. Regardless, if it’s not rotten underneath, you could certainly make a case for saving it. The seller is asking $6,500 and it’s listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Binghamton, New York.

The seller claims the owner drove it into this barn and parked it there, indicating it was running well enough to move under its own power. But that’s where the history trail stops, and all we’re left with is what you see right here. The 1976 model year for the Corvette wasn’t the brightest of spots, but Chevrolet did what they could with a model that was to be its top performance offering while still abiding by new mandates and consumer sentiment for more fuel-efficient cars. The Corvette was hamstrung like so many others by heavy-handed emissions equipment but still managed to put down 180 b.h.p. in base form and 210 b.h.p. when equipped with the optional L82.

Car & Driver did a wonderful feature on a similar Corvette that it drove across the roughest outposts of the Alaskan wilderness. It proved a few things: one, the Corvette was tougher than it looked, and two, despite never being pushed to any extreme levels by owners who perceived them to be only good at one thing – cruising the boulevard – the editors proved that you could use a vehicle like the C3 Corvette in extreme situations without incurring too much of a penalty for driving a sports car. This is from the glory days of Car & Driver when guys like Brock Yates suggested they drive a Corvette to Alaska and nobody batted an eye. Check out the seats – not bad for a long-standing barn find.

Details are limited in the listing, and this photo of some random parts in a storage bin looks like a seat cushion and maybe the sliders/rails it sits on – so did the owner attempt a driver’s seat restoration at some point? We have no idea, nor do we even know which engine it’s fitted with. It is a T-top car, so it has that going for it, but other details aren’t forthcoming. Though it resides in one of the snowiest places in the Northeast, one can hope its long-term indoor storage helped protect the frame and the floors. If it had the L82, would you consider taking this project-grade C3 on as a project?

Comments

  1. Avatar DayDreamBeliever

    The seller must have been smoking some of the whacky terbacky that is legal in some states.

    In this condition, IF the birdcage and frame are good, he *might* get $1500. That’s a $5K gap to bridge…..

    Like 19
    • Avatar Chris M.

      Just for the record, as it’s been referenced ad-nauseam smoking marijuana does not cause an individual to to make rash unfounded claims of value on cars or any other consumer good. It always makes me laugh when somebody makes this comment. It says nothing more about the person other than they’re a highly misinformed “square.” By the way Refer Madness was an old propoganda film! Amen to legalization!

      Like 19
      • Avatar Steve Clinton

        Don’t bogart that joint, my friend.

        Like 11
      • Avatar Jt

        Cannabis makes me want to eat any food within arms reach. That’s with 50 years’ experience. It has never been a factor in buying or selling a vehicle. “Roll another one.” from Easy Rider!

        Like 1
      • Avatar Jt

        Cannabis makes me want to eat any food within arms reach. That’s with 50 years’ experience. It has never been a factor in buying or selling a vehicle. “Roll another one.” from Easy Rider!

        Like 0
      • Avatar Jt

        Cannabis makes me want to eat any food within arms reach. That’s with 50 years’ experience. It has never been a factor in buying or selling a vehicle. “Roll another one.” from Easy Rider!

        Like 0
      • Avatar Jt

        Cannabis makes me want to eat any food within arms reach. That’s with 50 years’ experience. It has never been a factor in buying or selling a vehicle. “Roll another one.” from Easy Rider!

        Like 0
      • Avatar DayDreamBeliever

        Just for the record, it was a joke. ;-) As-in, “That dude must be high to think this way, the connection to reality is tenuous at best.”

        Seems like it has Jt really hungry, and repeating himself, though…..

        Like 10
      • Avatar Chris M.

        Apparently it does make some repeat themselves. Lol

        Like 7
  2. Avatar Steve R

    Many people on this site like to complain about the price if restored cars which are both rare and desirable. This is actually more if a joke, it’s a car with a limited value, even in pristine condition, which is priced more unrealistically than high end muscle cars that receive the brunt of the negative attention.

    This is a parts car and should be priced at no more than 50% of the value of its major components.

    Steve R

    Like 9
  3. Avatar Frank Farrell

    Not worth restoring. Junkpile.

    Like 10
  4. Avatar Russell Berry

    The writer says ” It is a T-top car ” . Duh ALL Corvettes from 1968 thru 1982 were T-top cars UNLESS they were a convertible.

    Like 6
  5. bobhess bobhess Member

    Should read “driven into the barn through the east wall”.

    Like 7
  6. Avatar Chief

    This appears to be a 1975 based on the steering wheel and repair manual in the picture. I bought a 1976 Corvette new in April 1976. The rear fascia corvette emblem had the letters cast tightly together whereas the 75 had individual letters spelling corvette spaced out. There is no rear pic to check that out but the 76 had the heavily criticized Vega GT steering wheel and this car does not. Either way, this car is ready for the junkyard. Pristine examples of 75/76 corvettes go for around 18-22K. I have a friend well known in corvette circles who does frame off restorations for a living. He had a customer who located a 1977 he had bought new and sold in 1980 who wanted to relive his youth. This customer located his 1977 in a rotted down condition and wanted it restored to new and money was not a factor. Restored to new: $65,000.00. You can buy driver quality 74-82 vettes for 9-15K all day long.

    Like 8
  7. Avatar Steve Clinton

    “Driven Into The Ground” is more like it.

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Howie Mueler

    Driven into, but towed out.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Rod

    It could be a form of refer-madness to consider restoring this unfortunate vehicle !

    Like 2
  10. Avatar Doug T.

    Not only is Binghamton one of the snowiest places in the country, but also one of the wettest overall. We also have more nuts and fruit cakes per square mile than anywhere else in the US!
    I’m surprised that no one has slapped a snow plow on it😂

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Kevin

    I love Corvettes. Would love to own one. My question is how do these cars get into such deplorable condition?

    Like 0

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