How to Buy a Used Corvette
Often a buyer looking for a Corvette will make the mistake of buying a model that is in poor condition, thinking that it would be less expensive to fix it up than it would be to buy a model in better condition. But working on Corvettes is an expensive prospect, and is more difficult than many other car models to fix up at home. The parts are hard to find and expensive, and the logistics of repair require a very specialized knowledge of that model year. For these reasons, the best idea is to buy a working Corvette that already meets most of your needs and will not require significant work right away.
Buying a used Corvette that meets your needs requires some visual inspecting to make sure the car doesnt come with an unwanted trait- rust. The chassis of a Corvette is prone to rust and should be inspected thoroughly to make sure it is in good condition. This will mean getting under the car to see the chassis and taking extra care to inspect its most vulnerable areas. These include the area of the frame in front of the rear wheels, which may have either rust or road damage. Once the chassis has been inspected, spend a few moments looking over the front radiator support, as well as any other areas on the car that are made of metal.
Most used car buyers like to know the history of the car they are buying, and one way to gauge that history is to take a look at the Corvettes A-Arm shims. These will be equal in number on each side on a car in good condition. If the number of shims varies widely on each side, it could indicate a problem that is lingering from past damage. If the shims indicate trouble, it could mean suspension damage, or a costly cross member could have been bent. Either of these problems should be considered before buying a car with uneven shims.
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.
Michael has written many articles on automotive topics, including Used 1972 Corvettes for Sale, GM Paint Codes , Musclecars for Sale.
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