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How to Buy a Used Corvette
Buying a used Corvette can be a complicated venture, as there are many criteria to be met, and the price can be prohibitive. After seeing the price of some of the models in good working order, the temptation to purchase a non-running Corvette or one that obviously needs extensive work can be high. But, cars with these problems may not save you any money if you fix them up yourself. After the price of the parts and other expenses are added up, it would likely to have been cheaper to buy the car that was in good condition in the first place.
Once you have decided to buy a used Corvette that meets your needs, it is important to check a prospective purchase for rust. The body of a Corvette will not rust, being made of fiberglass, but there are several parts that can. The chassis may have rust problems that would make the car a bad deal, so it is best to crawl under the car and check it thoroughly. The cross members and vulnerable areas of the chassis, such as the area ahead of the back tires, should be checked for rust. The front radiator support of Corvettes tend to rust along the bottom, so a thorough examination of the underside of the car will reveal rust in that area.
Rust isnt the only problem that a used Corvette faces. Buying a used car means not knowing the cars past- a past that could include a major wreck. By taking a look at the A-Arm shims, you should be able to tell if a past incident of damage is still affecting the car today. The number of shims should be relatively equal on both sides. Shims that are bunched up on one side or the other indicates problems, such as damaged suspension or even a bent cross member. If the shims indicate this type of problem, be aware of how much the repairs could cost before purchasing the car.
Conduction an inside inspection may be as important as the outside inspection. Take the car for a test drive before buying, and note anything unusual that may indicate a problem. Rear whining noises are relatively normal for some Corvette models, and are usually a result of worn clutches in the positraction unit. In addition to the handling, the inside parts should be found to be in working condition during the test drive. The door and window handles, locks, heat and air, radio, and other items that will be used often will require expensive repairs or replacements if they are not working correctly.
While damage to the rest of the car can be found easily with a visual inspection, damage to the outside may not be as easy to spot. Looking at the fiberglass body will likely not tell you if the car has been repaired after an accident, as the damaged panels would have been replaced. To find the damage, it takes a close inspection of the front bumper. A front bumper that has been repaired and then repainted may have rippled or waves in the paint. If you see this on a bumper in the area where it is attached to the body, that is a good indication of a collision in the cars past.
About the Author: Michael has written many articles on automotive topics, including 1968 Corvettes for Sale, GM Paint Codeshref="http://www.musclecarforsale.net/chevy/index.php?q=1969&catid=6172">Used Novas for Sale.
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