1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3 - Our New C3 Project VehiclePlease Allow Me To Introduce Myself... And Our New C3 Project Vehicle - We've Got Project Cars! From the August, 2009 issue of Vette By Dave Young Photography by Dave Young
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Having always thought early... Having always thought early C3 Stingrays represented the epitome of muscle-car-era Corvette performance and styling, I took the bait from Editor Heath as he encouraged me to purchase a '71 coupe to build as a project vehicle for VETTE magazine. As automotive enthusiasts, we often find ourselves segregated into a certain brand or model of vehicle for one reason or another. For this author, being infected with the performance-automotive disease began in 1974 while riding in a schoolmate's father's '68 426 Hemi-equipped Plymouth Road Runner. Granted, the Road Runner braked and cornered like a dump truck, but in terms of straight-line acceleration, I remember being pinned in the seat as he rowed the gears of the four-speed transmission, feeling like I was aboard a rocket-powered test sled at NASA. It was that initial memory from my sixth year that ignited my passion for building and racing powerful muscle cars. Even while enjoying a rewarding career managing an aircraft-charter service and flying corporate jets worldwide, my real passion was racing and restoring collector vehicles. Between writing and, well,... Between writing and, well, editing, Editor Heath took the opportunity to encourage my purchase of a C3 Stingray. It didn't take much persuasion, as the body style has always been one of my favorites. Though my automotive endeavors have generally involved Chrysler products, I've always held the Corvette in high regard. Stereotypes aside, Corvette owners have been fortunate to enjoy a car ahead of its time in terms of performance, and Corvettes new and old are well-rounded automobiles for those of us who enjoy aggressive driving. So having always held an affection for the sexy, aerodynamically muscular lines of the C3, it took little prodding from Editor Jay Heath to encourage me to purchase a Stingray and upgrade the car in the pages of VETTE. While all Corvettes exude the image of high performance, the C3 is the first of the Corvettes that really looks aerodynamic. Additionally, the chrome front and rear bumpers of the pre-'73 models hint at the nostalgia of a time when cars were built from more-substantive materials. So with my decision made, I enthusiastically began searching for a '68 to '72 Stingray project vehicle. In addition to networking... In addition to networking and checking Internet auction and classified sites, I attended the Imperial classic-car auction to look for a suitable C3. This '73 model was a decent car, but preferring the look of front and rear chrome bumpers, I declined to bid. Selecting an appropriate magazine project vehicle presents several obvious dilemmas. While landing an L88 or ZR-1 Stingray would certainly be nice, the hate mail we'd get for doing anything but restoring such a vehicle would negate its purpose. As a magazine project, this car will serve as a testbed for parts, and any semblance to a factory Corvette will soon be lost. Since the car will likely be modified with huge brakes, aftermarket suspension components, and an upgraded drivetrain, it just makes sense to start with a car that isn't a high-value collectible. Additionally, having the numbers-matching engine isn't important, since we'll likely modify or swap it during the course of this project. With these criteria in mind, I put the word out to my co-workers, friends, and fellow enthusiasts that I was in the market for a non-numbers-matching, early C3. I also began watching Craig's list, eBay, and other Internet classified sites for potential deals and to get a feel for the market. When the bidding was over,... When the bidding was over, the '73 Stingray sold for just over $10,000. Though nice, I deemed the price too steep for a car that would likely be highly modified in the pages of VETTE. As a side effect of the tumultuous economic state of our country, Corvette prices (as well as the prices of most collector cars) are all over the map. Tracking down a lead from the owner of the shop who performs most of my paint work, I discovered a '68 convertible basket case located in the next town, only to find that the car had sold some three weeks earlier. As an alternative, I attended the Imperial Auto Auction classic-car event in Polk County, Florida, but the only somewhat suitable Corvette, a '73 model with the rear chrome bumper, brought more than I was willing to spend on a car that needed substantial work. With my avenues becoming fewer, I concentrated on the Internet, and particularly on a '71 Stingray in a no-reserve eBay auction with a starting bid of $5,000. As a manual-transmission coupe with a non-matching 350 engine, this car looked to be an ideal candidate. As a bonus, the owner claimed that the body and frame were in good shape, the engine and transmission had been rebuilt, the brakes were new, and the suspension had recently been refurbished with new bushings and strut rods. Contrarily, the paint was dull and sporting numerous imperfections, and the front end had been changed to an aftermarket unit at some point. Also, the windshield was cracked, the interior showed some wear, and the contrast of the bright-red seats against a black interior added to the general poor aesthetics of the vehicle. Still, at $5,000 for a running, driving '71 Stingray, the deal was too good to pass up. Before bidding, however, I checked Mike Antonick's Corvette Black Book to learn a little more about this car. This low-mileage, later-model... This low-mileage, later-model C3 was also at the auction, but was a no-sale at $3,200. The economy really has Corvette prices all over the place, as a couple of years ago this car would easily have brought twice that, or more. Whether considering a $5,000 Corvette or a $500,000 exotic collector car, it pays to do your research before purchasing. Consulting the Corvette Black Book, I discovered the car I was considering was a somewhat typically optioned Stingray with power brakes, steering, and windows; air conditioning; a tilt/telescoping steering column; and a manual transmission. Not a special-package car, it likely came with the base 350 engine, though that powerplant had long since been replaced. Another interesting feature I discovered was that the '71 model was the lightest of the early C3s, with a curb weight of just 3,202 pounds, making it a great candidate for a modified build. With these things in mind, I waited until the auction was nearing its end, and purchased the car for just under $5,600 after a short bidding war with another interested party. After paying my deposit, I contacted the seller and made plans to drive my truck and trailer the 12 hours from central Florida to Chesterfield, Virginia, and retrieve my new purchase. My last C3 option at the classic... My last C3 option at the classic car auction was this '81 model, but it was really in too-nice condition to become a project car. As a newer model with an automatic transmission, this car really wasn't what I was looking for, so I again refrained from bidding. Upon arriving in Chesterfield, I was happy to find the Corvette to be as described in the eBay advertisement. The seller was genuinely sorry to see the car go as I loaded it in my enclosed car trailer. He even included a couple of boxes of extra parts he had accumulated for the project. Excited about my purchase-and feeling a bit like I stole the car-I quickly loaded the Corvette and headed back to Florida to evaluate the latest VETTE project vehicle. Though the return trip wasn't without incident (the injector pump on my truck decided to quit just north of Daytona), I made the necessary repairs and continued home. Once there, I unloaded the car, and after a couple of safety-related repairs took it for a ride around the block. I was pleasantly surprised at its condition, and with the way it ran and drove. This should be a fun project, and we're looking forward to providing some great C3 technical articles as we build and upgrade the vehicle. Be sure to follow our project in future issues, and for more pictures of our latest project visit www.vetteweb.com. What's In A Name? Whether intended or not, most magazine project cars generally end up being named. Sometimes this is done purposely, to distinguish the automobile from other project vehicles, and sometimes the name is just a way for us to keep track of which car we're talking about here at the office. Regardless, naming a project can be difficult, as often no single name can truly capture the essence of the car. Internet auction and classified... Internet auction and classified sites are another good way to find a project vehicle. Much like real-estate comparables determine the value of a home, we've always considered eBay sales to be a good indicator of classic car values. Of course eBay is worldwide, so the cost of transportation must be factored into the price. In the case of our C3 project, we've considered several names, including the "Recession Special," due to the humble beginnings of the car. We have a feeling, however, that our budget Corvette will soon be anything but, as we modify the suspension, brakes, and drivetrain for maximum performance. With that in mind, we're considering naming the Stingray "C3 Triple Ex." No, we didn't come up with this name because it took three ex-wives to find a girl great enough to let us build it, nor for the somewhat pornographic connotation. Rather, the trio of Exes would stand for "Extreme handling, Extreme braking, and Extreme acceleration." That being said, we'd like your input as to how we should build this project, and what we should name it. Please email us at vette@sourceinterlink.com and share your thoughts, your experiences building your own C3, and your suggestions for a suitable project moniker. And be sure to put "C3 project" in the subject line so we can distinguish your email from the thousands (OK, dozens) of others we receive daily. We value our readers' opinions, so please share your thoughts on how we should build and name this C3.  Prior to bidding on any collector...  Prior to bidding on any collector car, it pays to do some research. By referencing Mike Antonick's Corvette Black Book, we learned the rarity of certain cars we were considering. Additionally, we learned that the '71 C3s had the lightest curb weight of any early C3 Stingray.  After two weeks or more of...  After two weeks or more of chasing down leads, attending the auto auction, and searching the Internet, we scored a deal on this '71 Stingray coupe, purchasing it from a seller on eBay for just under $5,600. As a non-numbers-matching small-block car, this Corvette is ideally suited to be modified in the pages of VETTE.  Eager to see the new project,...  Eager to see the new project, I hooked up the car trailer and headed to Chesterfield, Virginia, to seal the deal. During the 12-hour road trip, I saw several Vettes on Interstate 95, and even gave this guy the "Corvette wave." (He ignored me, obviously not recognizing me as a bona fide member of the clique. Once I get the new project underway, maybe I'll get some respect as a Corvette owner!)  After a quick inspection to...  After a quick inspection to ensure the car was what the seller claimed, we quickly sealed the deal, signed the title, loaded up our new Vette, and strapped it down for the ride home. The seller was genuinely sad to see the car go, and he even included several boxes of extra parts to help us get started on the project.  After 11 hours on the road,...  After 11 hours on the road, I was happy to arrive in the state of Virginia, where my purchase was located. Remember to factor the cost of transportation into any car you purchase out of state. While we could have paid to have this car brought to us, it made more sense economically to get it ourselves, especially since we have a suitable truck and trailer.  We had nearly made it home...  We had nearly made it home with our purchase when the injector pump on the truck quit working. Fortunately, we were close enough to home to call friend and diesel mechanic Tod Struck of Inline Performance, who came by and had us back on the road in about an hour.  Arriving home, we finally...  Arriving home, we finally got to enjoy the moment we'd been waiting for-pulling the Stingray out of the trailer for an initial evaluation. Though our inspection did reveal a couple of issues that would keep us from driving the car immediately, we were pleasantly surprised at the condition of our purchase.  Though showing its age, the...  Though showing its age, the interior of our project is at least presentable, with new carpet and door panels, a new dash pad, and leather seats. We'll have to do something about the seats, though, as their red color obviously doesn't match the rest of the cockpit.  We're glad we resisted the...  We're glad we resisted the temptation to drive this car immediately, as our once-over revealed a leaky fuel line with improper clamps. This could have led to a catastrophic end for our new project had it gone unnoticed.  At some point, the car's front...  At some point, the car's front end was switched to an aftermarket unit with no headlight doors or chrome bumper. The paint is also faded and covered in overspray. This will be corrected with a new paintjob, but for now we'll try to at least clean it up and make it presentable.  Placing the car on the lift,...  Placing the car on the lift, we discovered the underside to be in great shape, with new suspension bushings, brakes, and exhaust. Mechanically, we were surprised at what we got for our money, and we'd venture to guess that the previous owner had considerably more than our purchase price invested in this car.  The storage-compartment doors...  The storage-compartment doors are intact, and even wear the original tire-pressure and jack-instruction decals. The hinges will need some work before the doors can be reinstalled, however.  Of course, one of the first...  Of course, one of the first things we did was give this neglected Stingray a bath, which helped its appearance somewhat. Next month we'll give our new project a thorough mechanical evaluation, making repairs and servicing the car prior to putting it on the road. Stay tuned to future issues as we transform this second-hand car into a first-rate performer!
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