Questions About Owning A C3 In The UK?

GCorvette

GCorvette

CCCUK Member
A toe in the water here, so please bare with me.

The C3 has always been an itch to scratch since I first saw one as a teenager in the 70's.

I've subsequently owned and loved 3 newer generation Vettes which are naturally extremely different animals.

Given my own set of circumstances, I wanted to ask the following about ownership of a C3 in the UK.

Unfortunately, it would currently have to live outside on a dusty / windy farm. Will that cause major corrosion or water ingress issues if exposed to the English elements?

It would have to be maintained by a Corvette specialist. I have zero mechanical knowledge & have a mobility issue. The car would start with no known issues, but what kind of future problems and costs could I expect via a specialist?

Insurance - what mileage limitations do they impose and what sort of prices on a mid 70's C3?

Finally, on a well maintained C3, do any of you (pre Covid) tour into Europe with yours or are they really only suited to travelling to closer locations?

Thanks in advance.
 
Mr. Cricket

Mr. Cricket

Committee Member
Hi G.
Your Corvette ownership seems close to mine whereby I owned the latest models but always had an itch for an early Stingray which then morphed into having two.

Whilst I’d be reluctant to own one that lived outdoors, many do have them outdoors and they seem to get along just fine. With any cars nearly 50 years old you would no doubt have to do some work on the seals to keep water out but all replacement parts are available. I looked at one a few years ago that had newts bathing in the water in the rear storage box behind the seats! A common leaky area would be the t tops but they can be adjusted for a tighter seal, can’t speak for a convertible though..

All cars of this age need some amount of ongoing fettling largely based on what’s been changed, messed with or bubba’d along the way but if you get a good one they can run without issue between annual servicing and there’s plenty of garages out there to do that for you.

Insurance is cheap and my two are about £600 per year for both with agreed values and mileage of 4k on each. Once you gain a level of confidence and a suitable recovery policy in place I wouldn’t hesitate taking mine overseas and it is something I have plans for sometime.

There are things to look out for when searching for your C3. The four body mounts are easily accessible and should be checked for rust. The windscreen outer frame is susceptible to rust and you can often see some ballooning on the frame behind the SS trim pieces or you can remove the upper trim as well. The radiator support frame is another rust problem area. Water ingress and rust is the main problem area to look for but it’s all quite easy. If you find one that you’re keen on reach out for someone to assist you with an inspection that knows these things well as the bad ones are to be avoided at all costs as repairs can be very difficult and expensive.

I hope that all doesn’t sound too negative as these are really great Corvettes to own.

Good luck

Stuart
 
Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK regional rep
Hi GC ,
Mr Cricket nailed all the key areas to check over . Is there ever a "rust free " 40 plus year old car there ? Nope , unless someone else paid for it in grief and money !
Outdoor storage can be overcome with a good quality heavy duty car cover . It really needs to tailored to the car and not a cheap ` fit where it touches ` job. I have a heavy duty Monsoon cover for the occasional days it is on the drive at home and not in its rented stoarage . It has soft texture lining and holding down straps . I always keep one of those crystal filled de -humidifiers in the footwell and change it regularly .
As for insurance , I have just renewed my 1980 C3 with Classic Line ( club discount ) for £261 .70 on a 3000 miles per annum limit plus Agreed Insurance Valuation .
Problems and costs via a specialist for maintenance etc is impossible to answer as it`s a "how long`s a piece of string " question and depends on condition and maintenance history of the car in question . Parts are generally easy to aquire and not overly expensive when compared to many classic cars . As I do almost all my own spannering , I can`t comment on specialist prices but I am sure some members can recommend good guys in your area .
With a well maintained car , going to Europe on a tour shouldn`t be a problem but make sure you have European recovery cover if you do . And lots of petrol money :LOL: I haven`t taken mine abroad yet but would do if the chance came up . I have done a couple of 4 day car tours in the around the south of England and also Wales clocking up a fair bit mileage with no issues .
Happy Hunting .
 
GCorvette

GCorvette

CCCUK Member
Thank you for all that great information which I will digest and revert with any questions.

Obviously some cars have only recently been brought over in recent years, should they be checked with car fax etc?

What information is contained on the door stickers, where is the original paint code etc?

Thanks once again. 🙂
 
CaptainK

CaptainK

CCCUK Member
Hello, I have a 68 C3. Bought it back in 2016. Insurance is classic insurance with Lancaster and is around £180 a year, agreed valuation, 3k miles limit. To be fair though, I've only driven it around 2k to 3k in the time I've owned it. I mostly use it locally for fun and car shows in my area, but if I had to drive it long distance I wouldn't have any problems - just make sure you have breakdown cover just in case (I have AA breakdown that covers me for all cars I'm in).

Mine leaks a tiny bit from the t-tops in hard rain, but not an issue in light rain. I think I've cured it now, but I store mine in a garage anyway - partly because of weather, partly because "out of sight, out of mind" for anyone that might be interested in taking it for a non-returning test drive.

If you're keeping it outside on a farm, could you not put it in a barn? Or under a carport? Or maybe get a "car-coon" to put it in (basically a fancy inflated tent), or as above a proper fitted car cover.
 
Roscobbc

Roscobbc

Moderator
Later C3's may be better than earlier one kept under a cover - yes, T Top frequently leak a little - oddly mine doesn't leak if car is being driven - just when it's stationary. TBH I'm not too worried about in carpet getting damp - when I put it back in my dry warm garage it dries out in a couple of days anyway. I'd be a little concerned about brake disc's and calipers if left outside and not used perhaps on a weekly basis. Of more concern is the potential for micro blistering on the paintwork if kept under a cover that actually has physical contact with the bodywork.
 
S

sublimemike

Well-known user
Lots of posts about leaving them outside and brake calipers leaking as damp /moisture gets into them if not driven regularly. Mine is inside and even in winter when its not used much I dab the brake pedal a couple of times every couple of weeks.
 
GCorvette

GCorvette

CCCUK Member
sublimemike said:
Lots of posts about leaving them outside and brake calipers leaking as damp /moisture gets into them if not driven regularly. Mine is inside and even in winter when its not used much I dab the brake pedal a couple of times every couple of weeks.
Click to expand...
I'd use it year round avoiding poor weather.
 
Daytona Vette

Daytona Vette

Well-known user
If it has any leaks, sort them so it does not leak, car cover No! any damp under there and you will cause micro blistering as Ross says above and anyway all non plastic type materials are hygroscopic, so contain water - Brakes stainless steel lined bores, "O" ring pistons and anhydrous brake fluid to protect the master cylinder
 
Roscobbc

Roscobbc

Moderator
I'm sure that susceptibility to bodywork microblistering is partly due to re-finishing of body and paintwork. A 100% bone stock never painted Vette will be more resilient to microblistering issues than many aftermarket paint jobs. Why? - glass fibre in 'the raw' will absorb moisture (unlike metal). Traditional methods of body sanding and 'washing down' body panels with water creates a potential problem with moisture retention in between coats of filler, primer and finish coat (unless dried out in a heated booth in-between coats) subsequent exposure to extreme temperatures and/or damp non-ventilated and low temperatures can create the microblistering issues. Real problem is that the issue may not occur for many years if the car has been stored in ideal conditions........its only when a new owner decides to store the car in less than ideal conditions that the problems become apparent!
 
G

Gus

CCCUK regional rep
Be very careful with that option.....I used to park a TVR Giffith under a large metal framed, 'vinyl' covered shelter, and the condensation quickly caused a lot of damage.....[ruined the dash etc]
I even cut holes in the cover to let air pass through......but it didn't really seem to help...
Just my experience......
 
Roscobbc

Roscobbc

Moderator
Used shipping containers are used for multiple purposes these days - are often insulated for office accommodation - wouldn't blow away in current weather we are seeing......
 
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