When Steve bought his gorgeous 1980 C3 Corvette in early June of 2023, he had dreams of transforming it back into its original condition, just like the day it left the factory. We immediately wanted to jump on this project. There’s nothing quite like reviving nostalgia for a customer, and we could tell Steve was passionate about Corvettes. He gave us his top priorities and budget. With these parameters in mind, we were able to start working toward his dream of restoring this beauty.
He brought us this classic car in pretty good condition already, but it definitely needed some maintenance. Upon our first full inspection, we found a few new issues that Steve wasn’t aware of. The steering was all out of whack! We replaced the tie rod ends, ball joints, and a multitude of front end parts that got neglected over the years. The rear shims were replaced in the differential and we did a four wheel alignment for a smoother ride. We also sourced and installed new headlight vacuum canisters.
Steve is a fairly experienced vehicle owner with tons of knowledge on mechanic work. To stick to his budget, we helped him source parts for repairs he was able to successfully do on his own. Steve rebuilt the air conditioning system, got the cruise control working, replaced the window regulators and the cracked and aging plastics on the inside of the car with period correct pieces. This knocked off some pricier service fees for him.
“I am the guy who has a vision but not great with attention to detail, AutoClub is perfect for my dreams for this car! They see flaws and issues that I completely overlooked! The mechanics will go over every little item all the while keeping within my priorities and budget” - Steve (Owner)
The C3 is still a work in progress, with so many exciting plans for the future. We’re hoping to get our wrapping contractor to vinyl wrap the car in its original, vintage color to cover up the wear and tear on the aged paint. Steve has the original aluminum wheels, so we’d like to get them polished up to look as fresh and new as they once did. We’re also adding a few other perks that weren’t available back in the 80’s: we plan on installing a period correct (but new tech) sound system with Bluetooth, amp, and subwoofer so Steve can ride with some good quality tunes!
Now, with his sunglasses dimming the summer sun, Steve loves taking his C3 Corvette out on day trips with his wife. Its classic look is reminiscent of their dating years when Steve could only dream of owning a brand new 1980 C3. It’s still an ongoing project, but Steve is so happy with how his dream is finally coming to fruition, and so are we!
