Pre-purchase walkaround

1962 Chevrolet Corvette (C1)

12,000 miles · asking $30,000
Five-year cost to own, maintenance and fuel
~$4,000
The final solid-axle Corvette, a body-on-frame roadster with a fiberglass body over a steel chassis. Money goes into frame rust, fiberglass repair, and the correctness/originality that drives value on these cars.

The roadmap

12k → 72k mi · 12k a year
Year 1The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel.~$111
Year 2The quiet year.~$345
Yrs 3-5Tires and the ordinary rhythm. · Brakes and consumables.~$3,565
Five years, all in~$4,000
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote

What to look for on this one

Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 12,000 miles.
Frame rust at rear kickup and X-memberpriced only if found
Condition-driven, not mileage-driven, so it is not in the totals and inspection is the only answer. Flaking, scaling, or soft steel at the rear frame rails and center X-member, sometimes hidden under undercoating.
windows from 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and community service data ·
0 recalls →
· profile researched with cited sources, review pending

Hand this to your inspector

A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Probe the rear frame kickup and X-member with a screwdriver for hidden rust under undercoating
02Check the steel bird cage substructure at the door hinge pillars and windshield frame for rot
03Inspect fiberglass for stress cracks at seams, headlight buckets, and lower rear panels
04Verify engine casting numbers and date codes against the stated year and displacement
Walking into a negotiation?

This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.

$29
saved to your garage
Just keeping tabs? , no account needed.
typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quotecheck another car →