NSW Corvettes
Technical Tips => Pre 84 => Topic started by: craigh on October 22, 2009, 07:45:38 PM
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Hi
I have been looking around for a while and am now close to buying my Corvette. Its down to 2 coupes a 69 Cortez silver and a 71 Bridgehampton Blue.
The 71 has a luggage rack that I never been keen about but strangely on the darker blue it does not look that bad. In fact the blue seems to bring out the bumpers and all chrome etc very well.
My question is if I remove it would plugs color matched to the car work....any views ?
The paint is great so I dont really want to patch and respray.
regards
Craig
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Unless I were stripping it back for a respray, I'd leave the luggage rack on it.
There's not a lot of room behind the seats and the rack gives you that extra option for small luggage (such as the T-tops).
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I agree, if you're not prepared to respray the rear deck. Leave the rack on.
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and if you respray the rear deck, the rest will need doing as well... somehting about fresh paint that makes even excellant paint look second rate
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Originally posted by nifty
and if you respray the rear deck, the rest will need doing as well... somehting about fresh paint that makes even excellant paint look second rate
Thanks for your comments.
While i would be happy to respray the deck it concerns me that it would not be possible to blend it in well enough. The current paint looks in excellent condition though.
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a GOOD spraypainter should be able to get it pretty close...
has it been resprayed before? ( at a guess i would say it has after all of these years)
if so.... the main problem is if it wasa full respray, did they colour match to the original code?
just one extra drop is enough to change the colour of paint...
if its had a full respray, it may be lighter or darker than original...
which is a PITA to hide if you are doing a patch on something.
thats why even new cars with a new fender etc etc, normally get that whole side sprayed....
just a lighter shade is spottable from miles off....
have a good look around a carpark.... doesnt take much to find out whats had paintwork done...even a brand new car.
i have a pro painter mate.... top painter, and hes been known to respray brande new cars never registered before, but damaged in transit....
his record is 23 cars in one week...ALL NEW
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if your just spraying the lid, you might be able to get away with it...as there is nothing directly next to it for compasrison....
a door etc etc however looks terrible if the whole side isnt done.
on any car.
black is prob the best to hide a touch up, but even then... there is black...and there is BLACK...if ya get the drift
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Hi
The paint looks a few years old at most
(http://gmdownunder.com.au/9535-71vet9b.jpg)
So I think I will see how the luggage rack grows on me :-)
regards
Craig
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very nice mate... the luggage rack doesnt look out of place on them thats for sure...
heaps have them, and ive come to a point where i actually like them
my FAVE vette colour by the way.
:luv
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Easy job for a decent painter but may get pricey,the best way would be to paint[color] the top deck and then clear coat the whole rear section or to save a few $$$ corvettes have a nice sharp line on the quarter panels and the rear deck that you can back mask off,this would save a lot of stripping parts.
The hardest thing would be getting the holes filled so you don't get shrink back from the repairs further down the track.
I personally think it looks nice as is and as others said could be handy at times.
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I took the luggage rack off my car.
The holes looked sh*t house. I left the plugs which were already painted the same colour as the car in place and they still looked crap.
That was when my whole paint job got started and opened up a milli0on other cans of works when I found out what was hiding under the paint.
Either leave the rack or be prepared for the worse and hope you get less.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/vettesofballarat/22102009188small.jpg)
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hi craig wellcome to the forum,i have a 71 and bought it with the luggage rack about 15 years ago and it served me very well,i would use hocky straps to hold down luiggage on many a trip,unfortunatly 3 year ago i got taped up the rear while at a car show,so i thought for a change i had the rack removed,i was told that the whole rear had to be painted,the big drama is the holes,your going to get shrink back unless your prepared to wtat about 3 months for the glass to cure
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(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j96/MADLT1/26Apr07005.jpg) (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j96/MADLT1/2May07005.jpg)
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Hi MADLT1
Yes I agree that you would need to let the patches cure up for an extended period .
On the US forums there are lots of people who claim they can see the patches after painting so they must have not waited.
My decision is between this 71 and a Silver 69 but I am leaning towards the 71 at this stage. The 71 drives real nice and the blue shows off all the chrome very well. Final decision in a week or so...cant wait :-)
Regards
Craig
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^ I think racks look better on a coupes than a convertibles. Can't say I've ever seen a convertible fitted with a rack ... didn't even think it would fit.
Can you show us a pic of the 69?
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Here is the 69.
(http://gmdownunder.com.au/9653-69vet7b.jpg)
Have looked over the 71 but 69 wont be available till later this week.
Regards
raig
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It may be my monitor, but the silver looks oddly matte in that photo.
The blue looks very nice, especially with the narrow white stripe tyres.
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Its not your monitor...
It is meant to have had new paint less than 4 years ago. Silver can be bad in pictures so thats why i want to see it for real before i decide. .....or could be average paint :-)
regards
Craig
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Originally posted by gtc
^ I think racks look better on a coupes than a convertibles. Can't say I've ever seen a convertible fitted with a rack ... didn't even think it would fit.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j96/MADLT1/calender003.jpg
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(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j96/MADLT1/calender003.jpg)
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these luggage racks were not fitted from factory they were dealer gm options back in the day,fited to the cars after they recieved them from the factory by the dealer ship,they are recognised by the ncrs people aswell.personly out of the 2 vetts the blue 71 for me is the standout 1,i guess it all comes down to price and how much needs to be spent on them to bring them up to scatch ,if at all that is,are they both LHD?how good is the interiors?allso the best thing is the aussie dollar is very high at the moment so if you need to buy from the states now is the time.keep us posted please;ay
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Silver should shine like a mirror. If that's the real finish then it looks suss to me -- more like silver frost.
Originally posted by craigh
Its not your monitor...
It is meant to have had new paint less than 4 years ago. Silver can be bad in pictures so thats why i want to see it for real before i decide. .....or could be average paint :-)
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Originally posted by MADLT1
these luggage racks were not fitted from factory they were dealer gm options back in the day
Your roadster looks heaps better without the rack, IMO.
Again, I think they look okay on coupes.
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Originally posted by MADLT1
these luggage racks were not fitted from factory they were dealer gm options back in the day,fited to the cars after they recieved them from the factory by the dealer ship,they are recognised by the ncrs people aswell.personly out of the 2 vetts the blue 71 for me is the standout 1,i guess it all comes down to price and how much needs to be spent on them to bring them up to scatch ,if at all that is,are they both LHD?how good is the interiors?allso the best thing is the aussie dollar is very high at the moment so if you need to buy from the states now is the time.keep us posted please;ay
Hi
Both are LHD and both have fairly new interior refits (seats, door trims carpets etc.) (71 has all new rubbers as well)
Cant comment on the 69 but the 71 drives nice and tight and has lots of new suspension bushes etc etc.
71 is the best I have driven so far while looking ... not a huge sample but best out of 6 :-)
Am sure there will be lots of things needed over time but have been trying to get something with a fair amount of work already done and in OZ. I know i may be paying more but dont have time to go to the US or access to the facilities there to properly check them out. Even here its a bit of a problem.
Regards
Craig
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Hi Craig. You can't beat being able to inspect & drive a Vette before you buy. I have heard of plenty of poor examples of cars inspected by so called experts who act as your agents in the States so make your own judgements locally. You will always have to do things so accept this & get a car you are happy with straight up. I am not a fan of rear racks but the blue coup looks good with it. If you choose that car, leave it on for a while. It may grow on you especially if you do not travel light.
Keep us in the loop. It is always good to see another Vette on the road.
PK
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any news on the vett craig?
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I am going to QLD in a week with my son to make the final choice. Have a deposit on the blue one but want to see the silver one before my final decision.
Will be second trip up.
On first trip I went to look at a 69 427 coupe and 69 350/350 convertible. ( I thought it was down to the two or them ....ha - little did I know)....spent hours driving looking etc then could not agree on what to do as they were a bit more than i wanted to pay and each had a area I was less than happy about.
Just as we were about to go we decided to look at the blue 71 (different price range - cheaper) and took it for a quick drive....drove better than others and had great paint etc....just was not a BB or a 350/350 or a convertible so less $$$$.
So looking forward to next trip and hopefully final decision :-)
Regards
Craig
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Hi
Jumped in today and purchased my first vette.
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff63/fiveofharts/CIMG6324.jpg)
Now I just have to wait for it to be delivered :-)
Regards
Craig
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Looks great mate.
I've always loved Bridgehampton Blue on a vette.. Very classy!
When you take delivery you'll have to shower us with pics!
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Very nice Craig, congratulations, great colour choice as well :drool:
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:ado: choice.
Now all you need to do is to join the Club:
http://www.nswcorvettes.com.au/applicform.pdf
:hump:
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Is it a 71 or 72?
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Is it a 71 or 72?
Its a 71
Craig
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very cool,looks great and congratullations
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There is a red 69 in the club who has very small metal caps colour coded and fitted over where the holes from the rack were. dosnt look too bad, especially if you dont want to paint the rear end.
Personally i hate the luggage racks and would remove them as it takes away from the nice lines of the corvette.
Being Metalic a good painter could colour match that easily and do a blend since the paint is quite fresh.