Hey Steve (and any other 'Vette heads)

[SD67]

What do you think of this for an entry level 'Vette?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1975-chevrolet-corvette_W0QQitemZ190234785511QQihZ009QQcategoryZ2030QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

So long as you're NOT looking for performance. The mid to late seventies, and the early to mid eighties for that matter, were not good years for performance Corvettes. Low compression, poor flowing heads, small camshafts, as well as less than adequate carburetors and intakes, stifled with smog crap, and saddled with poor gearing, those cars don't run. And they softened the suspension, so they don't handle that well, either. Here they call them "Disco Vettes".

[SD67]

That all sounds like stuff than can be tweaked
It looks a little rough under the bonnet going by the pics and I'm willing to bet the guy wants way more than it's worth. It will be interesting to see what it gets passed in at
Maybe a post auction deal can be struck

[Roundeye]

So long as you're NOT looking for performance. The mid to late seventies, and the early to mid eighties for that matter, were not good years for performance Corvettes. Low compression, poor flowing heads, small camshafts, as well as less than adequate carburetors and intakes, stifled with smog crap, and saddled with poor gearing, those cars don't run. And they softened the suspension, so they don't handle that well, either. Here they call them "Disco Vettes".

+1.

The ones I have driven were disapointing.  Slow by today's standards.  I also noticed lots of rattles, inoperative electricals, broken trim pieces.  I expected more from Chevy's flagship.   Things only got worse with the mid-80's  (early C4) with the "cross-fire injection"  (more like cease-fire injection).  Early 70's and back make great collector cars (to me).  I think they messed the front end up in '73 by getting rid of the metal bumpers.

The C5 is a nice ride, the C6 is nothing short of a monster.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

That all sounds like stuff than can be tweaked
It looks a little rough under the bonnet going by the pics and I'm willing to bet the guy wants way more than it's worth. It will be interesting to see what it gets passed in at
Maybe a post auction deal can be struck

Yes, it can ALL be tweaked. There's nothing so easy to modify as the small block Chevy. Keep the original, and go get another, a 400 would be nice, but a 350 will do. From there, the sky (and your wallet) is the limit. I just built a pump gas 383 (stroked 350) that made 430HP and 450ft/lbs of torque. I'm working on the next one, it'll possibly hit 500HP. I've already built a 1/2 dozen 500HP+ 406 engines.

You can buy a package from Guldstrand to make that Corvette perform like a real sports car. It includes springs, shocks, sway bars, and bushings. All you need to go with it is wheel and tires.

You can swap an overdrive automatic into it fairly easily (700R4) and they can be built to take 500HP. That will allow you to swap in a 3.73 or 4.11 gear, but you'll likely have to buy a posi-traction carrier to fit the gear.

It's just money, and work. if you get a steal of a deal on the car, and don't mind the rest of the work and money, it'll make a real nice car. MOST people will assume it's just another "Disco Vette", and you can usually hand them their oscar easily.

[SteveBailey]

The interior looks pretty clean from the two limited angles.  Assuming it is mechanically sound, the price isn't too bad... depending on the conversion rate. Seller has it listed as a convertible.  It is NOT a convertible. Virgil is right of course, if you are looking for real performance you are going to have to throw some money at it.
The car is loaded with potential though and look how easy that chevy small block will be to work on.  It's been repainted so the asking price depends on the quality of the paint job. This car would be a great project car.  As with any light weight car that has a chevy small block in it, it has monster potential.

Virgil is an excellent source for hot rodding info, btw.   

If you're looking for a fun cruiser, consider this car. If you are looking for a car that can be a monster, consider it as well.

just built a pump gas 383 (stroked 350) that made 430HP and 450ft/lbs of torque.

My numbers on my 383, coincidentally.  I even have the 373's that you mentioned, although I put in a D44.

Edit: I wouldn't recommend as a daily driver though. I don't think any of the vettes prior to the late C5's made good daily drivers.  YMMV.

[CAP1]

What do you think of this for an entry level 'Vette?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1975-chevrolet-corvette_W0QQitemZ190234785511QQihZ009QQcategoryZ2030QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

if i were in the market for a vette...it's be a big block 60's era, or 96 or newer.

now.....lookign at the pics....the hood, one headlight, and drivers door look mis-aligned.
i can't tell from the pics, but on this body style, they used to crack the fenders in the middle, going from front to back. i've seen at least 4 like this.

front bumper is all kinds of wrinkled.

go for a nicer one dude.

there's plenty of beautiful affordable vettes out there.


<<S>>

[SFRT - Frenchy]

The good thing about vettes is that you can get any part you want body/drive train/wheels/ornamenst from YearOne siblings, which makes it really easy. I personaly would pass for 2 reasons. First I love the 69-72 models with the bumpers better. Second, it's not a manual.

I personaly don't give a crap about the matching number thingy, because every monkey out there with a matching number car and a mildly decent paint will think he has a $$$ Barret Jackson car. Buy something beat up cheap, fix it the way you want it, much better than buy a $25K-ish 30 year old "mint" bucket.

... well that's me. Now I have no clue how hard it is to find those in OZ land. Two of my friends own Vettes, one own a 75 T-top with a 350, and it's fun to drive. The other a Z06 with a Vortec charger at 614RWHP, and it's much less fun to drive