The 1976 model year was the best sales year for the Chevrolet Corvette – up until that time. Perhaps that was because other options for performance cars had dwindled, although the Corvette wasn’t the barnburner it had once been, either. This ’76 ‘Vette has been sitting for 20 years because its former owner passed away, and it’s going to need a lot of mechanical and cosmetic attention. This project sports car is at a motorcycle shop in Manasquan, New Jersey, and is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $2,025 (no reserve).
By 1976, the convertible version of the Corvette had disappeared in favor of T-Tops. Only two versions of a 350 cubic inch V8 were available for buyers, one producing 180 hp (88% of sales) or 210 hp (12%), the difference largely being the result of the compression ratio, both of which were below 9.0:1 to run on unleaded fuel. We don’t know which is in the seller’s car. About 10% of the Corvettes built in 1976 were finished in red, so this car is one of about 4,600 to exit the assembly line.
Fortunately, fiberglass doesn’t rust, although some work is going to be needed on this Corvette. We’re told the frame is sold, but we see at least one hole on the underside and the floors are rusty. The paint has peeled away on much of the back half of the auto, perhaps exposed to the elements while it was off the road for two decades. The interior, which matches the exterior of the Chevy in color, is as dirty as I’ve seen, so a thorough cleaning will be needed before determining what needs to be replaced and what can be reused.
We’re told the engine still has compression and spins when power is sent to the starter. So maybe the engine is salvageable though we don’t know about automatic transmission. Time has a way of causing things to go south. You can check the vehicle out at the seller’s bike shop where at least two small-frame Vespas can be seen in the photos.
My son-in-law fell in love with the C3 at a Mecum auction and had to have one provided I would “help” him work on it. He found a ’76 in better condition than this one about a year and a half ago and bought it on the pretext that it would be for his son.
My grandson is 2.
I’m not a real mechanic though I pretend to be one sometimes at the parts store where I work. But with a little gentle guidance and my 20% discount the boy has managed to replace the exhaust from the cat back, change the plugs, disassemble and reassemble the dash while replacing the radio, install new carpeting, and a host of other projects. The floors were found to be puddles of granular rust so they were treated to a vacuuming and a coat of rust reformer.
I convinced him to buy a carburetor rebuild kit – not so much that he needs it but so he can offhandedly say at parties, “Yeah, I had to rebuild my Quadrajet.”
The ultimate mike-drop.
Corvettes are profiler cars and the C3s are the greatest profilers of all. We took it for a cruise one evening on Mass Ave in Indy and one 30-something reveler shouted out, “Don’t EVER sell that car!” which made s-i-l very pleased.
Good thing, too, since his son says he likes Daddy’s silver C6 convertible better. Goes to show you can never have too many Corvettes.
I like your story a hell of a lot better (no offense Russ). Maybe you could do a pic/vid timeline of the father-son experience!
Thanks for the compliment, but the fact is that Russ is a better scribe and far more knowledgeable than I. (I’m not a writer though I pretend to be one on this site…)
The car is the true progenitor of the story as is the case with much of what the BF staff and loyal readers contribute to Barn Finds.
C3s are literally a dime a dozen. We went through dozens of them. Most in pretty good shape, running and all. And we NEVER paid over $3k for them. Into the C5s now and same .. Dirt cheap. So if you start getting over $3k hmmm.. maybe 5 for a super nice one. But don’t get glassy-eyed. Their not special or anything.
How long ago was Hurricane Sandy?
Frame is solid? Sitting at the Jersey shore. Ha. Look at that rot at bottom of radiator support. Very common. I have been involved with Corvettes pushing 50 years, currently own a 50 year old one. These cars rot to the windows if not garaged or driven in harsh weather. The rust starts at top of windshield header and works its way down to door frames, bird cage, rear kickups, etc. I worked on new 76s at a Chevy dealership in my early 20s. Sad to say, but they were probably the fastest car in America at that time. I remember road testing a beautiful silver on Firethorn leather L82 4 speed one. This one here has seen much better days. And it is the strangest looking 76 I’ve ever seen. That looks like 80 to 82 body panels.