Decision made!: To drive or not to drive, that is
Forum: C3 General Discussion
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T
Lifetime Member
Send PMElma, WA - USA
Joined: 6/25/2007
Posts: 692
Vette(s): Red 1973 Convertible.
L-48 Auto
#'s matching
Red 1970 LT-1
Convertible
#'s matching
Heck you ask for our opinions so here is mine.
Park the trailer as far away as possible.
Then I would drive it to the trailer, and take it to shows.
The car is ment to be a museum piece so go with the flow.
Seach for a nice "driver" Vette and have the best of both worlds.
(Well really I would sell it and buy a driver cause I aint really a show kind of fellow. I would sell it to someone who 1. had a real love of that year and model car and 2. who would give me boat loads of money for it.)
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Lifetime Member
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Send PMModerator
Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
I generally would say drive it and in joy, but in your case I would say limit your driving. It is a unique piece, one worth saving for now and into the future. Buy a driver so you can enjoy the experience with out the worry.
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O
Buy ya one to drive, and loan (or donate) this one to the NCM. I could be in the same boat one day. I reallyreallyreallyreallyreally want a C-2, but I don't want one to trailer, I want it to drive just because I can. No numbers match, no original parts necessarily, just my fav vette of all time. Could be because when I was 5, my uncle bought matching 65's for he and my aunt (the bastage).
Anyway, ultimately it is up to you but what they are saying is true about the safety. There was a guy here in OKC bought one that had 1k or so on it. The original owner drove it till someone stole the mirror T-Tops. He parked it in early 83 and it never moved again.
The local mechanic (Joe Loomis) ended up changing rotors, calipers, lines, hoses, belts, injectors, lots of the fuel system stuff, wheel bearings, shocks, and LOTS of other stuff, just to make it roadworthy.
So do what makes you happy. Whatever you decide, it will make some happy and piss others off.
Good luck with your decision. Have a Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year!
Anyway, ultimately it is up to you but what they are saying is true about the safety. There was a guy here in OKC bought one that had 1k or so on it. The original owner drove it till someone stole the mirror T-Tops. He parked it in early 83 and it never moved again.
The local mechanic (Joe Loomis) ended up changing rotors, calipers, lines, hoses, belts, injectors, lots of the fuel system stuff, wheel bearings, shocks, and LOTS of other stuff, just to make it roadworthy.
So do what makes you happy. Whatever you decide, it will make some happy and piss others off.
Good luck with your decision. Have a Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year!
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g
Lifetime Member
Send PMIrving, TX - USA
Joined: 8/21/2004
Posts: 4286
Vette(s): #1 -1969 Corvette Coupe Riverside Gold, black interior,MN,A/C,350/350,PS,PB,window cranks.
#2 -2000 C5, black/black, 6 sp, Bose system & lots of buttons.
Personally, I bought mine to drive, maintenance and take good care of it, plus pray like h e l l no one hits it. 
It's not good for a car to sit and then try to drive it, it's old and it will break down. Either you keep it as a Trailer Show Queen or make her a well maintenanced low mileage driver.........I think you knew when you bought it, what you wanted to make it. Does that help?
Believe me, I understand. 
Good luck with you baby.
It's not good for a car to sit and then try to drive it, it's old and it will break down. Either you keep it as a Trailer Show Queen or make her a well maintenanced low mileage driver.........I think you knew when you bought it, what you wanted to make it. Does that help? Believe me, I understand. Good luck with you baby.
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MICK - C3VR Lifetime Member #113
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J
Thanks for all the responses guys. Keep 'em coming if you like!
The good news is I am fortunate in that I do have another vette (C5 Z06)that I am not concerned about driving. That helps a lot.
When looking for an 82CE my intention was to find the lowest mileage, best example I could find and drive it maybe 1k miles a year (since I have the other vette, and don't have much time to do more than that anyway). I didn't expect to find something with less than 500 total miles on it! That set in motion this dilemma of whether I use it or not. That's what makes this such an interesting situation.
Keep the opinions coming if you like. They are interesting and helpful.
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s
Why did you buy it? To trailer it around to the car shows..Then I say don't drive it. Most of us here will put miles our cars some more then others, The purpose of the Corvette no matter what year, unless it is for show only, is meant to be driven, the Corvette was advanced in its design and abilities, New or Old, the Corvette is a production car meant for the super highways and tracks of the world.. Take one on a road trip....Yeah... I'll never stop..My 2 cents..
"I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry" 
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K
OK JQ,
Here goes with my opinion;
I think you should keep your '82 CE's odometer with as few miles on it as possible (454!!! Now that's low miles!). What if you started driving it and then changed your mind - ever try unringing a bell?
When you can do it, get a C3 "driver" and enjoy the heck out of it out on the open road.
A friend of mine has a body off restoed '59 and a '78 "driver."
He does'nt drive the '59 very much at all. I went for a ride in it with him once. When we got back to his garage he spent about 45 minutes looking all over and under the car. He was seriously sweatin' if anything had gotten scratched or such. Well, finally he found that a pebble must have kicked up and scratched the paint on one of the rear shocks. Then he was miserable.
However, he drives the heck out of his "Average Joe" '78 and seems to enjoy every mile he puts on it. I think he even drove it in the rain a few times!
I think the trailer worthy cars are great if you're fortunate enough to have one. They do set an undeniable standard.
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S
Former Member
Send PMFayetteville, NC - USA
Joined: 2/13/2005
Posts: 244
Vette(s): 1968 Corvette Convertable, 4 spd, 350 SB, Daily Driver
Man, that is a SHOW CAR. You bought it that way, keep it that way. People will see it and be reminded of what things were like "Back Then".
However, you must imediately run out and by a convertable bumber car and enjoy the ride. Find one like mine that wont cost too much, and you can do what you want to with it. My numbers don't match, I got it at a great price and I drive it almost everyday! More people talk to me when I am out in this car then anything I have ever seen.
Good luck and welcome to the club!
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V
Former Member
Send PMMounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1034
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
I have several Vettes and drive them all, but I feel that those who
adopt a special car such as this have an obligation to preserve
it. So my advice is to carefully set it aside and buy a
driver. If you can't afford both, you really shouldn't have
bought this one.
But that's just one anal retentive opinion.
But that's just one anal retentive opinion.
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Joe......
Welcome to the C3VR...You will most likely enjoy your stay here....nice folks here 
Man, you sure did spend a lot of money to insert yourself into a darned if ya do/darned if ya don't.... situation.
If you keep that baby hermetically sealed-up for ten years you may "may" be able to double your money only if you keep the car's odometer under 1000 miles. That should be easy because you already drive a "Star of the Roadway" with your Z06. I have a 78 and I consider it a "clunker" compared to your Z06.
If the doctor told you tomorrow that you had only 6 months to live.......what would you do?
I have a 78 recovered theft Vette that purists would NOT go near because of it's tainted title... but the frame and undercarrage look like it has never seen a wet street and the body and interior look almost new. The mechanics are near perfect except the carb and vacumn system which will be addressed this winter....even the clock works
Bottom line.......I have a Vette that is MY canvas. I use MY brushes, with MY paints to create MY vision of what MY car should be. I have no other criteria that influences my fun....all for a starting price of seven thousand dollars.
I have plans for it to be a driver/show car in about one year but since I'm 65 yrs old and don't know the hour or the day that my time is up....it just may become my Sons problem....heh..heh !!
Have as much good clean fun as you can.... It's a short stay here !!
Somebody just burned my soapbox
....Rich
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