Parked for 25 Years: 1976 Chevrolet Corvette

This 1976 Chevrolet Corvette still looks sporting even after years of stagnation, which the seller estimates amounts to being parked for 25 years, and started regularly up until about eight years ago. Now, it sits near Lake Charles, Louisiana, awaiting a rescue that has yet to materialize. The Corvette appears to sport some period-correct styling tweaks in the form of color-coded rear window louvers and turbine-style wheels, along with what looks like T-top panels that were also painted to match. Or, was it simply spray-bombed all at once when a quick respray was ordered? Who knows, but it could be worth exploring sooner if it’s as rust-free as the seller promises. Find it here on craigslist for $12,500.

Generally speaking, we don’t like to see cars left to sit with no attempt made to keep them in running order. But, in the interest of not judging, perhaps there was a lifestyle change or health issue that prevented the seller from keeping up with the periodic start-ups. The Corvette is somewhat protected from the elements, but it’s not exactly indoors at the moment. The climate of Louisiana isn’t exactly kind to cars given the rampant humidity, and C3 Corvettes can be vulnerable underneath if left exposed for years at a time to dampness. The one photo of the Corvette’s undersides seems to affirm the seller’s claim that it’s surface-level only but a deeper inspection is absolutely warranted.

The good news is other areas of the car point to it being in decent shape, as the interior truly does look to be in very nice condition with handsome black leather seats not showing much in the way of damage. The carpets could use a cleaning but otherwise present fine; the same can be said for the center console, and the dash also appears to be crack-free. The gauges are nice and clear, showing just over 46,000 miles on the clock but the seller doesn’t confirm if that’s actual mileage. The Corvette does look like it was loved at one point in time, and I suspect a detailing would make this car present far better than it does now.

The last inspection sticker indicates this Corvette hasn’t seen much use in recent years, as the seller indicated. The thick coating of dust on the glass is your other clue. Overall, the Corvette is a project, and I suspect the seller’s asking price is still high for a C3 in average condition. Based on the description, it sounds like there may be some attachment here which I can certainly understand, but it will have a far better shot at rebirth if the price is dropped down a bit. If the 350 and automatic transmission work as well as the seller promises they did 25 years ago, it could be an easy project – and one that will look quite sharp with some spit and polish. Would you attempt to bring this Corvette back to life?