The C3 (third generation, “Mako Shark” era) Corvettes had a 15-year run between 1968-82. The 1970 models were the least produced of the generation due to a labor strike in the Spring of 1969. The seller’s 1970 ‘Vette is a convertible, which comprised just 38% of output that year, possibly making it the rarest of the C3s today. This project car has been sitting for years and needs both cosmetic and mechanical attention. Located in Miami, Florida, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the no reserve auction has reached $6,800.
GM’s labor strike in 1969 caused model year production to be extended due to a backlog of orders. So that means the 1970 cars had four fewer months of assembly time. 1970 ‘Vette output would comprise 10,668 coupes and 6,648, the smallest numbers turned out since 1962. Changes to the ‘70s over the ‘69s were subtle, designed to help migrate the auto from being perceived strictly as a sports car and, instead, becoming a luxury sports car. The seats were tweaked to add additional headroom. And a deluxe option combined woodgrain wood accents with a higher grade of carpeting and leather seat surfaces.
This ’70 ‘Vette looks like it has received some custom touches over the years, including a different grille and buckets seats. While the Marlboro Red paint looks decent from a distance, the car is going to need restoration after being dormant for an undetermined number of years. We’re told there is rust in the door jams and the doors themselves, and the floors look suspect as well. The convertible top is still present, though the canvas material may be gone. Also missing is the driver’s door glass.
We’re told the motor turns by hand, but we don’t know which one it is or whether it’s numbers-matching. It could be a 350 cubic inch V8 as a 454 would consume way more engine compartment space. It has a 4-speed manual transmission, which should be a plus over the automatic. This was a factory side-exhaust car, but the pipes innards are missing (just the covers remain). The posted mileage is 41,000, but it’s anyone’s guess if that’s close to being accurate. The aftermarket wheels look nice, but new tires are likely in the cards, too.
Its a base car (no PS, no PB, no AC) so upside is limited. No mention of frame condition but the “door rust” comment makes me suspicious and needs a PPI before handing over money. The seller would do much better if they had added a $200 front carpet kit and got the engine running.
Good thing it’s not a big block with no power steering.
To start with this is NOT a “factory side-exhaust car”. Side pipes were only available in 69, and not in 70. Also, it’s far from the “rarest of C3’s”. While 70 was the lowest production year of the 68-82’s, there were fewer 72, 73, 74 & 75 convertibles built, than there were 70’s. Even in 71, when the Corvette had a full 12 month production run (verse 1970’s 7 months), GM only managed to sell 10% more 71 convertibles (about 500), than 70’s.
This thing is pretty rough. At the current bid of $7700, the priced is just cheap enough that it will suck someone into thinking they got a bargain Corvette to restore, and will be buried in it before they know what happened. A customer of mine just sold a freshly restored Daytona Yellow 70 350/350 4 speed coupe for $28000, that needed nothing. By the time you finish the paint and bodywork on this car you’ll be close to that, and still have interior mechanical’s, etc to deal with.
I fully agree. Also the tach is from an L46 350/350 but this appears to be a base engine.
Correct, if you don’t understand labor and materials cost from a qualified restorer or body shop you’ll learn quickly. Today the rule is unless it is very rare or a family heirloom. You’re ahead by buying one restored or buying one that has been taken care of. One of the reasons why so many cars are sitting in the garage. Just waiting for a year like this one with inflated prices.
I have a 77 T-Top that’s been garaged for over 35 years. Excellent body/frame, new carpet, and may new parts. 400ci motor plus original 350ci.. I’d part with it for only twice that current bid. That’s way less than $28k!
Your car sounds nice but you can’t compare a t-top car to a convertible, they simply are not the same
Flood car (?)
If not, I would wait until the next flood and launch it.
HaHa-ha…
It has to be a better deal than 13 k on an ugly amc spirit !
gbvet62 couldn’t have said it better. Far from rare. That’s not the point. At $7,700, which is far more than this heap is worth, the buyer better have it The Powerball. One of my Corvette friends, who has restored five Corvettes, against my advice, bought a 70 Cortez Silver coupe 350-350, factory 4:11s with a seized engine. The car sat outside 40 years all because the orig owner thought excessive carbon build-up noise was a bad lower end. My friend paid $6,000 for this bottomless pit 5 years ago. He can do ALL the work himself, except paint, which is complete. To date, he is $35,000 into it. He will never recoup that or the hours he has spent replacing a rotted birdcage. You are way ahead buying a done car.
Can very wide tires do damage to the rear end on these cars?
Can i assume one can see the front parking lights blink through that custom grill?
I believe the floors are fiberglass, but is the trans hump/tunnel steel?
Parallel parking could be difficult with that smaller steerin wheel & no PS – a somewhat bigger wheel & lot narrower front tires might be a sufficient fix vs expensive electric PS conversion .
“The seats were tweaked [for 1970] to add additional headroom.” – can i assume then that one sits lower in a ’70-81 than in a ’68-69?
The wheels and tires shouldn’t do any damage. People have been putting wide rubber on Corvettes, as long as they’ve been around. The 71 Corvette vintage racer I crew on runs 10″ wide rear tires, and the factory offered 255/60R15’s as an option starting in 78.
Does it even have front blinkers/parking lamps?
Yes the floors, including the tunnel, are fiberglass. GM went to steel floors in 76, in an effort to insulate the interior from the heat of the converter. The tunnel may have been repaired with sheet metal, but I think it’s actually a piece of foil backed insulation board someone added.
PS steering is an easy add, using a kit of all factory parts, that costs about $900. It can also be added using a Borgeson PS box, for not any more.
The 70 seats were changed to add a little more tilt to the backrest, the bottom cushion was unchanged. A completely different seat was used starting with the 78 Pace Cars, and in 81 the driver side floor was modified so an optional power driver seat could be offered.
I feel sorry fir anyone who buys this.
Yeah, not worth half the current bid. The engine looks like it was dropped in by some high schoolers with a tree limb and a chain. Those valve covers, the carb, intake manifold… nothing is Corvette under the hood. It would be a buy at half this price, only as a base for a race car or autocross car. Worthless as a potential restoration. And I say this as the owner of an1969 big block.