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75 Vette Opinions. Sorry long post!

I've got a 75 that I've had for about 12 years that went through a couple of mini-restorations over the years and I'd like to see what some of the "cor-vetterans" here might suggest would be my best options for a vehicle of this era. First off, as far as the mini restorations, before I bought it, from what I understand, the original owner rear ended someone with it, doing minor fiberglass damage only. The car was originally silver and when the front end was repaired the owner had the car painted Bright Corvette Red, which is what it was when I got it. it had been painted in lacquer and shined like crazy but had been "keyed" on one door and had a few paint chips in most every panel. I lovingly filled each chip with the matching touch up paint and after many applications and a light sanding and buffing, had it looking presentable for a long time. I also had an 80 Vette as my daily driver and felt the

75 would some day be my "pride & joy" car. Couldn't afford a 67 Coupe which was my fantasy car but did own 12 Vettes starting with a 57, next was a 59, then I skipped to a 69 Convertible with both tops. Missed the whole C-2 era Dammit!). Most of my cars of distinction, were when I was young, single and working in a family service station business, after returning from Viet Nam in 72. My family business had relocated from Cincinnati Ohio to Miami Florida while I was away in the Navy, but I found them anyway! LOL I was a charter member of "Miami Corvette Association" when about 1/2 of the membership were on the Miami Dade Police Department or on their CSI department (No Shit just like on TV LOL) We had a hell of a lot of fun back then. It was a much different time! Sorry, I'm getting off track here again!

My main question is this. It seems that the C-3's even 74's & up are finally starting to gain popularity. I decided a few years back give it another simple restoration. I rebuilt the entire front suspension using the newer style urethane bushings, same in the back and I also replaced the rear spring with a tamer fiberglass spring. The front and rear bumpers were shot by this time and the car needed paint badly. I bought a new stock rubber front bumper, but decided to go with the fiberglass rear bumper instead of the rubber one. Maybe a bad idea, haven't really decided yet. I fit the panels up pretty well and put the body in prime and it's been sitting for 2 years since then. OK here's where I'm looking for advice, the car does have all matching numbers. Would it be best to paint it the original silver, since that would match the paint code on the body and if I were going to do that should I change it back to a rubber rear? Is a matching numbered 75 Corvette worth going through all that or should I paint it like I'd like and not worry about originality?

Thanks for any opinions. I'm kinda on the fence!

Sherm Adamson Sherm Custom Billiard Cues snipped-for-privacy@shermcue.com

Reply to
Sherm "cuesmith" Adamson
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It's your car, so do what you like with it.

That said, if there's a chance you'll be selling it in the next 10 years or so, I'd paint it the original color for best resale value. In that case I'd also go for the rubber rear if you can find a decent one (I'm not sure you CAN get them, although a "flexible fiberglass" rear, as opposed to a rigid one, is available)

Reply to
WayneC

Tough question, because '75 non-convertibles are about as low on the price scale as you can get.

However, they are climbing like all C3s. Not a lot, but some. That said, it will be those that are stock and original that will probably draw the biggest dollars, although nicely modified and hotrodded ones today get the bigger bucks.

I'm with Wayne on the paint. Two reasons - 1. original color of silver is a nice one. 2. If you live in Florida, RED is NOT your color. If you compare yours to any recently painted, you will notice yours looks a bit Pink. Many of the dark blues are also to be avoided in Florida due to fade.

I would also consider the rubber bumper if you can find it for originality, if you are planning on selling. Many Corvette buyers today have no concept of how they got modified and why, so they instantly assume that a car is changed because it was wrecked. That isn't a good assumption for the seller, and once assumed, hard to get past.

Now Miami's sun will play havoc on it, and turn it brittle and broken in a few years. So if you have inside storage for it and you don't leave it in the sun all day long at work every day, go with rubber. If you plan on it having a large percentage of time in the sun, or your storage is a carport, then the flexible fiberglass makes more sense as the UV has less effect than on the rubber.

Hard fiberglass looks the best, but remember the assumption on wrecks.

If you have the car in primer, what are you waiting for? Sand it down, prime it fresh, then lay some nice new paint on it.

If you need someone to paint it, go see George and Ken at Fabulous in Dania Beach.

Reply to
Tom in Missouri

should I change it back

paint it any color you want drive it an enjoy it

10 years from now if and when its worth anything substantial it will be time to do it again Pro Street in hot rods/classics have been selling for more than resto's. There is a lot of good suspension upgrades out there for C-3's also Check out---
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's always engine upgrades that need to be done and you didn't mention auto/4-spd, there's allot of overdrive conversions available tooKickstart
Reply to
Kickstart

'OK here's where I'm looking for advice, the car does have all matching numbers. Would it be best to paint it the original silver, since that would match the paint code on the body and if I were going to do that should I change it back to a rubber rear? Is a matching numbered 75 Corvette worth going through all that or should I paint it like I'd like and not worry about originality?'

REPLY: 1. IF youre going to hang onto it for a very long time...then paint it the color YOU like best. And leave the bumper as is.

  1. IF youre going to keep it for a short while then sell it...then repaint to original color so it matches the color code OR paint it whatever color you desire but expect to be chizeled down a bit . Id put the bumper back to rubber if youre going to sell it in the shortrun.
Reply to
dave

Reply to
RicSeyler

our cars. :-)

I thought yours was pink to start with.

Reply to
Dad

our cars. :-)

Reply to
RicSeyler

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