Something for Everyone: 1974 Chevrolet Corvette
by Matt — A dog’s breakfast. That’s what the Australians call
a haphazard conglomeration of pieces and parts which work together to
create one cohesive mess. Want try drive yourself completely insane? Try
naming all of the parts adhered to this C3. Is that a coffin-nose AMC
Matador grill? Land Rover Series II turn signals? Surely not, but it
doesn’t really matter. This is an alternate interpretation of Johnny
Cash’s “One Piece at a Time” where the dude works at Pull-a-Part. Even
if you hate this car, chances are pretty good that you’ll like at least
one or two parts on it. Find this rolling parts bin on Craigslist in San Antonio, Texas for $6,000.
C3s
started losing love as soon as they came out in ’68. My father had a
’68 427 car that he swore made his F-250 seem “car-ish”. Then he had a
’77 that made his ’78 Bonneville feel fast. Enough about the old man,
ratty versions of these cars are ripe for the rat rodding so kudos to
this dude for breaking out the Sawzall. What’s there left to improve?
Maybe some 31” BFG All-Terrains and an extra inch of ground clearance? A
John Greenwood style paint scheme?
From
a powertrain perspective, the parts bin mentality was spot on. Although
a worked SBC will turn a T-5 into a box full o’ neutrals in no time
flat, the fact that you can select which gear you’d like to start your
burnout in is immensely appealing. Furthermore, anywhere a T-5 used to
be, a stronger 4-speed T-10 or Muncie can go without too much chopping
and beating. The lake pipes and outboard headers are an obviously fine
choice for this type of vehicle but your ear drums will be on borrowed
time.
The,
however, interior is panic inducing. The sharp edges, the Yosemite Sam
mudflaps, the flame dice, the shredded door panels stuffed with foam.
The most tightly secured and permanent thing in the whole cockpit is
that navel orange next to the handbrake lever. Everything inside of the
cabin will make you want to be ejected in an accident. The best remedy
for this would involve a few cans of spray-in bedliner and a large
trashcan.
See a better use of a C3? tips@dailyturismo.com
Matt, a self-proclaimed bottom-feeder of the classic car market, spends
half of his time buying cars, half of his time retrieving them, and the
remaining third on keeping them on the road.
Heh, box full of neutrals, best phrase of the week. Imagine some kid pulling into your driveway in that to pick up your daughter. I'd let him hit 2nd gear before I opened up with both barrels!
It is strange that I almost want this.
All it needs is a 5th wheel hitch installed on the back deck, and it would be complete.
-Stan (the *other* Stan…)
I am strangely aroused.
Not strange at all. Apropos is more like it. Maybe add a wee patina patchwork pastiche… I would hand paint that dancing girl silhouette on the sheet metal dash, too-make her a perpetual cockpit companion in a red dress. The "$6000 firm" is laughable, though. Somehow I bet that Texan takes less in trade…
Whats that smell? Is that the river? Uh, no its the driver's seat… Tex don't always eat oranges..
This is really an awesome piece of machinery — and I love Matt's write up! The new DT writers have really hit the ground running. I am a happy editor. 🙂
-Vince
My head says, "Junk."
My heart says, "Track car."
I Believe that is a Dingo Breakfast Mate
+1
A Dingos breakfast is "A Piss and a look around"
Can't mention it without actually posting it…
youtube.com/watch?v=2riRAGzNzvQ
Agree Jefe– Matt hit it out of the park with his write up. Great job. Weird car.
-Stan (yeah… the *other* Stan…)
For six grand, he'd better throw in the double wide.