Hour Rule

"Discerning" (discerning2003c5z)
04/28/2018 at 04:30 • Filed to: None

I used to be so sure in my belief that the C2 is better looking than the C3, but now I find myself looking at early C3's and seriously considering one for my next project.

This post brought to you by an East coast Oppo who stands no chance of falling back to sleep because they are 90% sure they heard someone in their backyard 30 minutes ago.

DISCUSSION (14)

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 05:52

The C3 is the Corvettest Corvette, IMHO. It may be crap in almost every measurable way, but just look at it! I’ll have one one of these days.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 05:59

this calls for a 1.0 ecoboost swap

add fart cans.... no one will notice (sides... you’d be able to stand in the engine bay when wrenching... conveniant)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 06:10

M dad’s had one that was the same color as the one in the picture. His was a 1972 equipped with the LT1 350 (330hp I believe) and a 4 speed. So it didn’t get the large good cowl. His also had a lift off hard top that could be swapped for a convertible top.

By the time my sister and I were born, he was driving a company car, and my mom had a station wagon to haul us around, so the ‘vette got driven less and less and finally when I was around 10-12 he sold it because it was starting to deteriorate and he wanted to see someone else enjoy it rather than let it rot away in our driveway.

I sure do miss that car though.

WilliamsSW > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
04/28/2018 at 07:38

Lol but a lot of 60s cars have enough room to stand in the engine bay with a big block in there anyway.

WilliamsSW > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 07:39

I hear you. The C2 is my favorite also, but I’ve grown to really like chrome bumper C3s.

Hope you were wrong about the trespasser. That shit freaks me out.

Ready for an adventure! > WilliamsSW
04/28/2018 at 08:13

gotta have the chrome bumpers though!

Discerning > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
04/28/2018 at 08:33

From what I understand, they aren’t as terrible as people make them out to be. The frame is decent and there are lots of vendors who make good coilover suspension setups for them. They are somewhat competitive when built up.

Even stock they are no worse than a same period Porsche or Ferrari and had a similar reputation back then as the ones today. I speak of course of the models that didn’t have neutered engines.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 08:48

It’s really the engine that gives them the bad rap. But if you get an early C3 the engine doesn’t have all the emissions junk on it yet. The early C3s also look the best IMHO.

InFierority Complex > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 09:05

The reputation of the C3 gets associated with its later years, it seems, rather that the beginning. Couple that with the fact that it was getting pretty long in the tooth at the end anyways. Not too many cars are going to hold up well after 14 years of production.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 09:13

Kinja'd!!!

The early convertibles had a sort of magic to them.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Discerning
04/28/2018 at 10:06

My Ranking is

Discerning > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
04/28/2018 at 10:19

I had a C5Z and now I have an irrational desire to pick up a 71-73 C3 (don’t need the chrome front) and doing a frame off restoration, significant suspension upgrade, and modern drivetrain. Basically spend way too much money on an old car to make it better than a significantly cheaper C5Z.

The biggest hurdle is just finding an early C3 that hasn’t already been restored.

Axial > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
04/28/2018 at 11:03

For me:

Axial > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
04/28/2018 at 11:06

It’s basically a re-bodied C2, and IIRC it actually has better lift characteristics (e.g. its nose has less of a tendency to lift up at speed). The bad things about the C3 are all related to evolving emissions regulations and you can easily bypass this issue in 2018.

Honestly, the rubber bumper cars still look pretty decent as long as you have rubber on both ends and not the transition years with it only on the front.