70 454 striper vs 72 350

[Love C3 Vettes]

Looking at a 70 c3 with a rebuilt 454 with no options and a 72 350 loaded. One has 89k km and one has 75k km. Questions

• I think these milage numbers are complete fiction on 50 yr old automobiles, but does the mileage matter at all? If the frame is good, it can all be replaced. True right?
  
  
• The 70 is a stripper, no ac/ no power windows, no power steering and no power brakes, with a 454 and 4 speed, but the engine was rebuilt 800km ago and numbers match. Lots of new parts. Asking 35k
  
  
• The 72 is is loaded but no matching numbers but a 350 with 4 speed. Asking 45k.

What is fair market for these vehicles now in the spring of 2025? Will the 72 be fun to drive?

 

[Rruuff Day]

Looking at a 70 c3 with a rebuilt 454 with no options and a 72 350 loaded. One has 89k km and one has 75k km. Questions

• I think these milage numbers are complete fiction on 50 yr old automobiles, but does the mileage matter at all? If the frame is good, it can all be replaced. True right?
  
  
• The 70 is a stripper, no ac/ no power windows, no power steering and no power brakes, with a 454 and 4 speed, but the engine was rebuilt 800km ago and numbers match. Lots of new parts. Asking 35k
  
  
• The 72 is is loaded but no matching numbers but a 350 with 4 speed. Asking 45k.

What is fair market for these vehicles now in the spring of 2025? Will the 72 be fun to drive?

Hi. Welcome to the forum. You might want to post your question in the General Corvette Discussion section of the forum. It will get more airplay there. Here's the link. General Corvette Discussion (https://canadiancorvetteforums.com/forums/general-corvette-discussion.3/)

Now, for what it's worth, there are benefits in both the C3's you are looking at. The 70's biggest draw is the engine. the LT5 produced close to 400 HP which is a big jump from the 72's which saw massive HP cuts. The standard base 72 350 was a dog with only 200 HP. The optional LT1 350 was marginally better with 255 HP. If you're at all of a spirited driver, HP in the 200's may not put a smile on your face. But that being said, some engine mods or a crate engine replacement would make a world of difference.
Check both the frame and the birdcage on either one for rust. The birdcage especially on the C3 can be notorious for rusting out and repairing or replacing is a nasty undertaking.
Price wise, unless these cars are pristine showroom condition, my opinion (and it's only my opinion) is that the prices are a bit high.
As always I recommend a thorough inspection by a reputable and preferably Corvette mechanical shop as it doesn't take much to add another $10,000 to the purchase price.

Hope any of that helps and if you repost your question in the link I attached, I'm sure you will get more opinions than mine. Good luck come back and let us know what you decided.

Rruuff Day

 

[Love C3 Vettes]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. You might want to post your question in the General Corvette Discussion section of the forum. It will get more airplay there. Here's the link. General Corvette Discussion (https://canadiancorvetteforums.com/forums/general-corvette-discussion.3/)

Now, for what it's worth, there are benefits in both the C3's you are looking at. The 70's biggest draw is the engine. the LT5 produced close to 400 HP which is a big jump from the 72's which saw massive HP cuts. The standard base 72 350 was a dog with only 200 HP. The optional LT1 350 was marginally better with 255 HP. If you're at all of a spirited driver, HP in the 200's may not put a smile on your face. But that being said, some engine mods or a crate engine replacement would make a world of difference.
Check both the frame and the birdcage on either one for rust. The birdcage especially on the C3 can be notorious for rusting out and repairing or replacing is a nasty undertaking.
Price wise, unless these cars are pristine showroom condition, my opinion (and it's only my opinion) is that the prices are a bit high.
As always I recommend a thorough inspection by a reputable and preferably Corvette mechanical shop as it doesn't take much to add another $10,000 to the purchase price.

Hope any of that helps and if you repost your question in the link I attached, I'm sure you will get more opinions than mine. Good luck come back and let us know what you decided.

Rruuff Day

Thank you.