When buying a used Corvette, try to find a running car that fits your needs, rather than a project car that will cost much more in the long run. Buying an inexpensive Corvette is not so inexpensive after the appropriate repairs and replacements have been made. If you have worked on project cars in the past, it may seem that buying replacement parts is a simple and inexpensive way to fix up an old car. But, Corvette parts are expensive and hard to come by, even on eBay. A project Corvette can also end up costing much more time than you are willing to commit, which makes the money saved on a project car money that was thrown away.

Choosing a Corvette in good condition means making sure that it is relatively free of rust. Because the fiberglass body of the Corvette is impervious to rust, many buyers dont think of the parts of a Corvette that can rust. By crawling under the car, it is possible to see most of the parts that can rust, such as the chassis. There are vulnerable areas on the chassis of a Corvette that are especially prone to rust and road damage, such as the area in front of the back wheels. The bottom of the front radiator support as well as the areas around the window frames are also prone to rust.

If the car is suitable as far as rust damage, there are many other parts of the car that should be inspected. The A-Arm shims are a good indicator that the car has sustained some damage in the past. The number of shims should be about equal on each side. If there are none on one side and many on the other, or if there are a few on one side and many more on the other, there may have been some major damage to the car that has not fully been rectified. There may be suspension damage or a bent cross member. If the number of shims is very unequal, it may be best to move on to another car.

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.

If the car is free of any major internal problems, it still may have some problems with the body. The fiberglass body of the Corvette may have a few clues as to whether it has sustained damage and has been repaired. If the Corvette in question has rubber bumpers, inspect it for ripples that may indicate a front end collision occurred. Fiberglass panels are usually replaced in the event of a collision, so the bumper is a good place to look for any evidence. If the bumper has obviously been repaired, it may mean the suspension has sustained damage, which may require difficult and expensive repairs.