My New Friend....

[rsiwicki]

Here is what I have been up to for the past several months (since last October) and finally found what I wanted.

1969 Red/Black C3 ConvertMatching NumbersMatching Hard Top350/350HP/360lbs4-Speed M-20PS, PB, AC, and even PWTilt/Telescoping Wheel4.11 Rearend

Frame off restoration in 1993. 3 Owners since frame off restoration and 15,000 miles.

Current owner selling to get a C5 Z06.

Current owner put $6,000 into suspension work to make it a road course warrior setup with adjustable shocks, new stiffer bushings, larger sway bars, new SS claipers, etc. The car handles very nicely with no body roll at all yet still takes the bumps very nicely.

2 exhaust systems....stock and mandrell bent 2.5" with magnaflows

3 sets of exhaust manifolds (headers for straight back, stock manifolds, and headers for side exhaust)

Car is 99% mint....no rust anywhere. Paint is damn near perfect with just a few light scratches here and there, but nothing major. Interior is clean with new door panels and seat covers. The seats even have a headrest which is somewhat rare. All guages work including fiber optics and all vacum lines.

Only mod I have planned as a 100% definite is to install lojack paging theft system and a 6-speed conversion kit for which they make and is liked by all the C3 guys a lot so that when I am going 70mph I am at only 2,000rpms and not 3,500rpms.

Motor is very strong with a mild cam and was rebuilt with a slightly lower compression due to lead vs. unleaded thing. Stock compression is at 11.0 and now it is 10.0. It moves as quickly as my Q does if not a little quicker. Need to drive it more as first impressions are always hard to adequately compare. The new 6-speed will certainly help on the acceleration big time with hopes being very low 5 second 0-60 with 1/4 low 13's running the 4.11 rearend. I found some stock numbers for the exact same car and it did 0-60 in high 5's with 1/4 mile times at 14.1 secs using a 3.36 (low 3's gearing) rearend so the new 6 speed so put me very nicely ready to run quite fast.

I had almost bought 2005 M3 convert, but the dealer pissed me off bringing in a car from Jacksonville that was not even close to the specs we had agreed upon so I walked away and the local bimmer dealer will not give loaners for service unless you buy a car from them and at $65,000 for the M3 my thoughts are that I better get a damn loaner no matter where I buy it from (one of the reasons I love Infiniti for their loaner program). So I went back on the hunt for a C3 convert and 2 weeks ago this one popped up on a forum as possibly being for sale so I contacted the guy instantly and now it is mine.

I have the title in my hand and just have to arrange for insurance and transportation this week so car should be down here in Miami late next week. I have to insure the car just as I would the Q45, but have an agreed value on it. I can't buy classic car insurance because I don't have a private locked garage to keep it stored. I have a condo garge that is gated with video cameras, on premise security gaurds, and key code specific to each parking spot that you have to punch in to allow the gates to open and close but that is not good enough. So since I insure the car regularly now I can drive it anywhere I want with no mileage limitation, etc. which is cool as now I can drive it more often 3 days per week and take it to the keys etc, without worrying about milelage or usage of the car.

The guy was a little teary eyed when he knew it was sold saying he would miss it a lot as he dropped me off at the airport.

Now I still am looking for another car to replace the Q....thinking about a truck or SUV.

Cheers..Rob







Modified by rsiwicki at 2:05 PM 9/11/2005
Modified by rsiwicki at 2:06 PM 9/11/2005

[nchopp]

Sexy!!! Put a good shift\transmission in there and that beast should scream.

[Rex]

NICE find Rob.

Looks good, and I'm sure the "pull" is smile inducing .

So, how long before your Q is officially for sale?

[redmanfx]

The car is great Rob. You could just keep looking at it for a very long time.

red

[AZhitman]

Well-done, sir.

1969 Vette is my all-time favorite car ever built... I'd love to own one, but they have simply gotten out-of-reach.

Congratulations - Unlike a BMW, THAT car will actually be worth something down the line.

[Jesda]

WOW!!! Timeless work of art and a rolling piece of history. Nice buy.

[Fastlane]

Classic beauty.......always good.

[rsiwicki]

thanks all for the compliments. Much choice in my decision to buy an older classic was all the great help and learning curve I have received here on NICO giving me some confidence on the basic DIYer stuff. I can't wait to get it home to Miami. Funny thing the guy in Philly bought it from a guy in WestPalm and now the car is going back to S. Florida.

I have been waiting to get everything fixed on the Q before I sell it, but my time is limited. If I can get everything fixed asking price is $5,250 and will entertain offers as I am very flexible and would like to see it go to a NICO person so I can check in every now and then and see how the beast is doing. If you think it is worth only $3,500 to you then don't hesitate to offer me that amount...and who knows I may just say yes to be done with all the hassle of trying to sell it. If I can't figure out the TCS/Brake issue then I will adjust the price accordingly. I will need to sell the car by mid Ocotober as I am 99% certain I am leaving for London for 7 weeks on business and don't want to have the while I am away. My tags are due Oct 29th and then insurance as well so car must go before then. I have a ton of pics/video/receipts etc all waiting to be posted, but they are on my office PC and I will not be back in the office until Thursday so on Thursday I will post all the details about the sale of the car and also will know if the TCS/Brakes are fixed so I can set the asking price accordingly.

[Jeff Williams]

Be sure to take a screwdriver to the underside of the frame by the rear spring area. It is the most prone to rust. Check the underside of the nose near the corners of the hood, behind the lights. That is the most common area for the fiberglass to crack.

Rob, seriously consider keeping the Q. It is great, driving the Q all week, then jumping in the Corvette for a nice evening cruise.

The biggest problem, is deciding which web site to spend your time on, CorvetteForum or NICO!

[elwesso]

Rob, seriously consider keeping the Q. It is great, driving the Q all week, then jumping in the Corvette for a nice evening cruise.

Thats what im sayin... Its worth *A HELL OF A LOT MORE* to him than it is on the market... You must keep the beast!!!

Why would you need an SUV in Miami!!!

[1993TanJ30]

rsiwicki: Send me an email when post this thing up for sale!! Seems like a pretty reasonable price!

[jamesmost]

bitchin vette - rob sweet choice i used to have a 68 stingray vert electric blue white roof 350 pumping 390 hp was a sweet ride

[Q_SHIP]

My dad has a numbers matching 70 drop top. Yellow, black top, black leather.

I'll post pics soon.

[rsiwicki]

Hey Jeff....I have seen you post a couple of times on the Corvette forum. I am on there as well 99% of the time under the name "carpedm" on the C3 section.

I have checked for all rust and we put it up on a lift Saturday and it was totally solid. The key holes are perfect in the frame and there is no pitting or prior rust/frame repair anywhere to be found. Also the bird cage is perfect as well.

Keeping the Q and the vette would definitely be sweet...but for some reason I am desiring an SUV for which is something I never ever thought I would want. When I post all the reciepts and excellent service records it will hurt somewhat to let it go after all the bucks into it....but I guess I am just tired of it for now and want something different. There is one thing that I have learned...he who modifies a car never sees any type of return for the monies spent except for on the street performance...he who buys a modded car usually benefits big time both financially and on the street.

[Jeff Williams]

2 things:

1. Corvette MOD fever is WAY more additive than Infiniti MOD fever.

2. The Corvette tax is just as bad as the Infiniti tax.

[guadofreak]

CLASSICS RAWK!! and C3 vettes are sexy as hell.

Conga-rats. After I am done with my 68 firebird a C3 will be next...probably not a 69 though

[louiegz]

Great Vette Rob. I'd love to have something like that. One more reason to take a trip to Miami. Good luck with the Vette.

If you don't mind me asking, how much is something like that going for these days?

[Falkdesigns]

Man, that's just beautiful. Lucky guy!

[MinisterofDOOM]

Beautiful.IMO, the C3 is the only 'Vette that looks good as a 'vert (well...the C1 does, too...).

I bet the exhaust note is pure bliss.

[louiegz]

All guages work including fiber optics

So the guages were lit with fiber optics? That's very advances for 69. You car is one year younger than me. I'm sure it runs better that I do. It sure looks better than me. I look more like a beat up Nova.

[rsiwicki]

Car finally arrived from Philly area via transport truck. I am very happy to have my vette finally here, but not happy with the transport company Road Scholars. There were what appeared to be hydraulic grease smudges on the car from dirty hands touching the car after the driver unloaded the car with all the hydraulic lifts inside the truck. Also there is what appears to be a "new" stress line crack along the fender which I did not notice when I last saw the car in Philly. Also their lack of communication was one for the record books as I got a call at 2pm yesterday telling me that they would be here that evening to deliver the car which was great but I was not expecting it for another week is what they told me on the phone last week. Also because of the size of the truck I could not get true door to door service as they had to park the big rig in a giant lot that was not busy where they could manuever the cars around unloading them and all.

but in the end...My sister and I drove the car for an hour last night cruising around on the beach and filling it up with its first tank of gas and all is good and I am still extremely happy with my purchase. In the end I was able to find insurance to insure the car as a daily driver with agreed value $25K coverage for a rock bottom price of $4,500 per year....Yeeeouch!!! But I guess if I wanna play I got to pay. The insurer specializes in this type of insurance....so expensive it is, but I can drive the car anywhere I please without worry of not being reimbursed for my purchase price...although I dread the thought of finding another classic vette again.

btw...I left two very nice long black marks on the pavement infront of the condo last night as I raced a 350Z. The Z one by a long shot as I just white smoked the tires.....must learn how to drive better which will take a while I suspect.

[pito11213]

Beautiful. Gotta love that classic 350 block.

[M3Racer]

The C3 is the only Vette I would drive. Period.