C3 Corvettes: Are they cool yet?

[Wanganrunner]

So C1's and C2's are undeniably cool and have been for awhile.

C5's are still recent enough to look like modern cool sports cars.

C4's are even (IMO) cool in a Miami Vice sort of way, given everyone's current 80's fascinations.

C3's though.....not so sure.

If any, I think the metal-bumpered early cars might be edging towards cool territory. The later fiberglass emissions-strangled versions are probably a stretch.

I'm asking because I'm looking at a '71 in grey, matching numbers, nearly perfectly restored, for a crazy bargain. This is about what the car looks like:

[Waarp]

Stick to the big blocks. With the side pipes. 13.8 @105!

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...t-corvette.pdf

[DJMRDARK]

C3's were cool when new. That has never changed.

[slirt]

If any, I think the metal-bumpered early cars might be edging towards cool territory. The later fiberglass emissions-strangled versions are probably a stretch.

exactly : stick to '68-'72 C3s cool from Day 1 and still are.

[BRealistic]

C3's were cool when new. That has never changed.

Yeah.. I was like "When were they ever not cool?"

A friend in high school had a high mileage one with an automatic and lo-po V8 and it was still totally bad ass.

[watsontb]

Stick to the big blocks. With the side pipes. 13.8 @105!

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...t-corvette.pdf

this man knows his stuff.

even though this one is missing the pipes its a beaut'

[Galrot]

C3's were cool when new. That has never changed.

+1

[p_h]

No, these cars are not just ugly corvettes, they are ugly cars all together.

[Omnilith]

Early C3s have always been cool.

Plastic bumper ones, not so much.

[Deserion]

No, these cars are not just ugly corvettes, they are ugly cars all together.

You shut your whore mouth.

[fms93gt]

C3's were cool when new. That has never changed.

C3 Corvettes ran a long time (68-82) and had an evolution of sorts. The 68-72 chrome bumper cars are the most desireable as HP was still stout and there were more manual transmissions. In 1978 the domed rear glass was added and in 1980 the nose and tail were revised. You still have the same platform in the later year cars, you just have to build up the HP. My dad has a 1970 that he has owned since 1972.

[irsa76]

Stick to the big blocks. With the side pipes. 13.8 @105!

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...t-corvette.pdf

Weren't the pipes a one year only option on the C3?
Have heard a few stories about cars here, Australia, falling foul of the law because they "weren't factory optioned/not specifically listed for that year". Never mind the Corvette was never actually available here!
And yes the C3 is cool. But the last of them are posemobiles if you want outright speed! I remember a couple of the last C3s living in my town in the very early 1980s, Woomera South Australia so the cars were owned by USAF personal on rotation, that our 302ci Falcon sedan could run with, and the local police 351ci Falcon would leave behind!

[spitfirevr6]

doesn't the L88 run like 11s?

yes, yes they do lol, i love C3s

[Deserion]

Weren't the pipes a one year only option on the C3?

I don't have the Corvette Black Book on me, but I think they were available from 1968 through 1973, at the least.

[Jrod511]

Chrome bumpered cars were always cool; late model ones are least cool in their trying too hard to look macho/perverted spoilers everywhere kind of way. Mid year cars are the bargain drivers but the worst performance wise. Hardly any Corvette is "uncool", but some are more desirable than others.

[71DubBugBug]

YES!

Who can say no t a big block and a 4 speed?

[wheeltowheel]

I'm not a big Corvette fan, but it I had to buy a C3, it must have chrome bumpers

[BRealistic]

Early C3s have always been cool.

Plastic bumper ones, not so much.

Really? I wouldn't kick an 82 Corvette out of bed.
I think the later car's image issue may have come more from how the owners modded them back then than the original cars themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHTDfOFtmIw (embedding disabled)

[ToucheTurtle]

No, these cars are not just ugly corvettes, they are ugly cars all together.

This so much.

[Inspector Detector]

I've already seen a friend of mine get lots of thumbs up with this C3.

[8v_gti777]

I like the early ones with the high HP engines. Had a chance to drive a 76 or so, terrible car. C4's intrigue me more these days.

[turbinepowered]

These are what I think of when I hear "Corvette," honestly.

[Vettes, Volvos and VWs]

Every time my dad or I take his 76 out people break their necks to look. Plenty of waves and a lot of thumbs up. It's not fast and panel gaps are awful but overall a beautiful and interesting looking car. I will be the first to admit that 1968-1972 are far better looking and more desirable with the chrome bumpers and even 1980-1981 cars are more aggressive looking. These cars have the iconic Stingray lines and image that is so historically important to Corvettes. I would snag the posted car any day!

[Aonarch]

I think they are pretty cool. To me nothing is better than a C5/ C6.

[BRealistic]

I like the early ones with the high HP engines. Had a chance to drive a 76 or so, terrible car. C4's intrigue me more these days.

A friend in high school had a later car (a high mileage cheap one).
He did some mods and made it as fast as early 5 speed 5.0 Mustang, and his was an automatic.

[Aonarch]

I like the early ones with the high HP engines. Had a chance to drive a 76 or so, terrible car. C4's intrigue me more these days.

Not with that interior and digital dash.

[The Kilted Yaksman]

Really? I wouldn't kick an 82 Corvette out of bed.
I think the later car's image issue may have come more from how the owners modded them back then than the original cars themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHTDfOFtmIw (embedding disabled)

You're in for some slow and easy lovin'. 200hp, 16+ 1/4 mile.

[BRealistic]

You're in for some slow and easy lovin'. 200hp, 16+ 1/4 mile.

Who said we couldn't mod it to be a bit faster?

[Aonarch]

Ironically I just watched Wheeler Dealers doing the C4, and I was laughing. This is the most powerful motor we've had on WD! So much power to kick out the back end! Nope... it is just a brick guys and is completely non-composed.

[8v_gti777]

Just on ebay and there's several sweet C4 ZR1's, had no idea they were such a good deal.

[Aw614]

the mid 70s to 80s c3s when the emission controls are all taken out, how much power are you looking at? acceptable and a lot quicker than stock?

My friend's dad had a 75 and he had the stuff removed, but this was years ago and long sold, so not sure on the power it made. I just remembered him always kicking himself for selling his c2 and not too happy with the depreciation of the c3 he had.

[Deserion]

Just on ebay and there's several sweet C4 ZR1's, had no idea they were such a good deal.

Possibly due to the rarity of engine-specific parts.

[BRealistic]

Ironically I just watched Wheeler Dealers doing the C4, and I was laughing. This is the most powerful motor we've had on WD! So much power to kick out the back end! Nope... it is just a brick guys and is completely non-composed.

The C4 was part way through series 5 of the show.
And the 205 hp/290 ft-lb torque of the 84 cross-fire 5.7 V8 probably was the most powerful they had up to that point.

[Mtl-Marc]

68-72 FTW

[Knock Sensor]

I'd drive/own one either way, but I'd be inclined to see if I could swap in an LS1 or something similar with a 6 speed. Or failing that, just go built big block with a 4 speed. Or are there problems swapping in other equipment?