C3 Ownership

[Roscobbc]

Im off to Essex today to have a look at 2 C3s at the same dealer, hes got a later 1980 car up at 10k and a 76 at £12.9k. Its a starting point and 2 in the same location both slightly different. The 76 hes told me is good throught apart from the headlamps dont lift he told me its just the actuator thats about £50. Am i right in thinking it may not be quite that easy? Ive got my Buying guide that Rich kindly sent across to me.

Adtheman - I'm based in SW Essex - can probably guess who you are going to. I know you are not a member (yet) - just remember that there are not too many C3 dealers or specialists who are actually members of the CCCUK and the ones you have so far indicated are not supporting members of the club.
We see all too often new members joining-up after they have bought a car, sometimes blindly, sometimes from a 'chancer' on Ebay who has shipped a rot-box over from the States and is looking to make a couple of grand or so. Take advantage of the current 'lull' in demand for anything car related. Our East Anglia reps Neil Williamson and 'Roo' Hall are based in Diss and Attleboro' so not a million miles from you I'm guessing?

 

[Adtheman]

Adtheman - I'm based in SW Essex - can probably guess who you are going to. I know you are not a member (yet) - just remember that there are not too many C3 dealers or specialists who are actually members of the CCCUK and the ones you have so far indicated are not supporting members of the club.
We see all too often new members joining-up after they have bought a car, sometimes blindly, sometimes from a 'chancer' on Ebay who has shipped a rot-box over from the States and is looking to make a couple of grand or so. Take advantage of the current 'lull' in demand for anything car related. Our East Anglia reps Neil Williamson and 'Roo' Hall are based in Diss and Attleboro' so not a million miles from you I'm guessing?

Hi. I hope im a member as paid my money this week . The car i looked at was in Alresford in Essex. Ian Innes of Innes Aldridge. There are a few things on the car that i looked for and spotted. I also took loads of photos undernath and engine interior etc. I just need to work out now how much its realistically going to cost me and whether its worh anything like what hes asking for it. Thats the hard bit. Also whilst it looked structurally sound id really like someone who really knows these cars to look at at it for me paid of course. I hope im not taking advantage of everyone on here if it gets a bit much please ask me to stop .

 

[Roscobbc]

Best post some of those images Adtheman - and that wasn't the person I thought of - never heard of him before now - TBH silver one looks nice !

 

[Chuffer]

Agree , silver one looks nice but so does the white one (not my colour choice though ) . £9999 does seem cheap for a very rare 4 speed manual . Only 5726 built in 1980 from memory and about 34, 800 ish 3 speed autos . Look forward to seeing more detail photos .

 

[Adtheman]

 

[Adtheman]

Agree , silver one looks nice but so does the white one (not my colour choice though ) . £9999 does seem cheap for a very rare 4 speed manual . Only 5726 built in 1980 from memory and about 34, 800 ish 3 speed autos . Look forward to seeing more detail photos .

The white was a nice car but the body really wants a full paint job and generally condition not as good as the Silver one, i also wanted the earlier one if i can work it.

 

[Adtheman]

Main things i found on the car wrong were
1 Power Steering Control valve £205.00 part
2 Radiator core support £454.00 part plus fittings £50
3 Door Mirror £75
4 inner wing covers £34
5 headlamps not working £200 est
6 split dash new dash £450 part
it wants a general clean esp in engine bay and will need a service too. My thoughts are its up at 13k, i was going to offer him £11750 provided when i do more extensive rust test and drive it all is good, your thoughts would be much appreciated

 

[Daytona Vette]

The new seat covers look good on the silver one, it has obviously not been looked after and I would think by the condition of it shown in your pics, the list above is just a starter list, I am sure you can find a better example if you carry on looking - you are looking at nearly £13.5k with your offer and your list costs and you have still got a way to go with that one - I would keep looking, but that is just me.

 

[Roscobbc]

Main things i found on the car wrong were
1 Power Steering Control valve £205.00 part
2 Radiator core support £454.00 part plus fittings £50
3 Door Mirror £75
4 inner wing covers £34
5 headlamps not working £200 est
6 split dash new dash £450 part
it wants a general clean esp in engine bay and will need a service too. My thoughts are its up at 13k, i was going to offer him £11750 provided when i do more extensive rust test and drive it all is good, your thoughts would be much appreciated

Is the interior of the silver car leather (as per advert) it looks like vinyl. If 100% the car would probably be £13K-£15K - replacement or rebuild of power steering control doesn't always cure a leaky system - rad support an expensive replace - why hasn't he taken the time to fix non-working headlamps? - you might be lucky enough to source a s/l dash top and re-colour it for less money. Is the parking break OK? - any odd clicking or squeaking from drive train. Do disc's have plenty of meat? Brakes pull up square? - any 'blow-past' when oil filler removed? - any micro blistering on paintwork - perhaps it needs needs to be cheaper?

 

[Oneball]

This fresh looking seam sealer and paint needs further investigation

 

[Chuffer]

The radiator core support is known weakness on C3`s as it is real water trap and rot sets in . The flaking weather shield paint on top of the scuttle around wiper pivots looks iffy . I bet there is rust under there if you probe with something sharp , especially top section hidden under lower edge of windscreen . As Roscobbc said , seat covers do look a bit vinyl . Firethorn was a factory colour for 1976 leather seats and colour might be that but hard to tell from the light changes picked up on camera . Another C3 weak spot worth noting is the welds around the forward facing lower control arm mounting brackets on front chassis cross member . They are prone to cracking . They were discribed as bearly adequate when they left the factory ! The rear facing ones are bolt on and much more substantial .I was lucky to spot a potentially dangerous crack on my mine which I got welded and Curious Bystander found the same on one of his C3`s after I gave him the tip . I will take some pics tomorrow and post them to show what I mean . I too think the asking is price a bit grippy.
It cracks me up how so many `Classic Car Dealers` advertise in glowing terms yet can`t be asked to present cars without clearing out dead leaves never mind have working headlights

 

[Adtheman]

Thank you for all your points and have come to the conclusion its maybe not for me. I was quite excited to see my first real up close vet and its not put me off, I'm going to keep looking but tbh and i think a few of you guys have said it, spend a little more and get something a bit better. Sorry guys you may have to go through this again before were through . looking forward though to getting one up and running and getting up for a meet.

 

[Adtheman]

Adtheman - I'm based in SW Essex - can probably guess who you are going to. I know you are not a member (yet) - just remember that there are not too many C3 dealers or specialists who are actually members of the CCCUK and the ones you have so far indicated are not supporting members of the club.
We see all too often new members joining-up after they have bought a car, sometimes blindly, sometimes from a 'chancer' on Ebay who has shipped a rot-box over from the States and is looking to make a couple of grand or so. Take advantage of the current 'lull' in demand for anything car related. Our East Anglia reps Neil Williamson and 'Roo' Hall are based in Diss and Attleboro' so not a million miles from you I'm guessing?

im 5 mins from Attleborough and 20 mins from Diss so very close, how many members are there in the anglia region?

 

[curious bystander]

Adam - here's an idea. Your budget is not really enough for a semi decent C3 BUT for less than £12K you will find a decent late 80's C4
These are more modern than the C3, from what I understand don't have so many rust issues and will be a more comfortable car to drive on a longer journey.
But still a Corvette

 

[Oneball]

Adam - here's an idea. Your budget is not really enough for a semi decent C3 BUT for less than £12K you will find a decent late 80's C4
These are more modern than the C3, from what I understand don't have so many rust issues and will be a more comfortable car to drive on a longer journey.
But still a Corvette

I was looking at those the other day there’s a nice looking yellow one on eBay.

 

[Adtheman]

Adam - here's an idea. Your budget is not really enough for a semi decent C3 BUT for less than £12K you will find a decent late 80's C4
These are more modern than the C3, from what I understand don't have so many rust issues and will be a more comfortable car to drive on a longer journey.
But still a Corvette

Hi, Im going to re evaluate and see if i can increase my budget. i don't really want a C4 its the C3 or nothing for me im afraid. Thanks again for your help and comments on the silver one

 

[Roscobbc]

im 5 mins from Attleborough and 20 mins from Diss so very close, how many members are there in the anglia region?

Approximately 30 members (covering Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambs primarily)