Neglected for 34 Years: 1975 C3 Corvette Convertible Brought Back to Life Part 1

Part one in getting this 1975 Convertible Vette back on the road. Before it goes into the garage, it MUST be clean! This car was only on the road for about ten years before the owner passed. What is left is super original. It has some parts and pieces that are almost never still found on C3s after 50 years.
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[@Amicaner]

Finally, a Corvette on TheCorvetteBen!!!!!

[@rsprockets7846]

Eaton power brake booster. Look for build sheet

[@rsprockets7846]

New brakes too

[@riwoof]

OMG... An actual C3 that Bubba has not had his untalented mitts on. I sure hope that makes this procedure so much more enjoyable for you!! 🤞👌👍

[@johnfetzer9637]

used to be my favorite color ... it just reminded me , it still pops !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@reddragon6613]

That car is the most unmolested C3 I've seen, nice find

[@iamrichrocker]

i can sense your enthusiasm on this beaut....hope you do a lengthy series on this car..she apparently cleaned up very well for starters.

[@rsprockets7846]

Light saddle. Luv these colors

[@countdown2xstacy]

This guy is the best of the best

[@LyndseyMacPherson]

That car was smilin' after you washed her. Can't wait for Part II!

[@Hntrsfanclub]

Lucky man and lucky car...you could hear the car taking fresh breaths...you have to keep this one...wheels and a wash have improved the Corvette by 1,000% already.

[@nefaurora]

That car really sat for 34 years..no lie...insane.....34 years of dust and dirt... Can't wait for Part 2! Good one Ben... Tony K., Melbourne, Florida :)

[@MM-fq3ys]

It always makes me happy to see you bringing history back to life...it’s seriously pretty damn cool.

[@RandallJT84]

Love to see all the original GM factory stickers/marks still under the hood. A rare gem to find with these C3's typically.

[@ronaldwarren5220]

I removed the top from my C3 vert years ago to have the rear window replaced. A top shop sewed a new one in for me and it looked great! I also learned that if you put a rolled up beach towel in the crease of the plastic window as you lower it that it saves a lot of scratches and crazing. Looking forward to the rest of this series.

[@robhowe2240]

Thanks young man your a good wrench i am a 58 year old ageing mechanic hurry and bring us more video's on this sled

[@blanbec14]

Hi Ben. Great to see this orange getting better under experienced hands. It is always heartbreaking when it comes out to it have been ruined by some quickly done mods in other some obscures « garage » by « specialists ». Cheers from France 🇫🇷

[@musclecarmaniacs9789]

WOW !!! What a find! I love the color combo on the car, and so original. This is going to be a fun one. And no Bubba mods to fix!

[@AJ67901]

Stock always looks best in my opinion. The rally wheels brought it back to looking like a Corvette and not some jacked up mess. The paint cleaned up really well. Looking forward to watching it come back to life!

[@dannottingham3786]

Corvette Ben in the house, welcome back

[@papabearcamaro]

Looking forward to this series. I have had quite a few C3's in my time. As of right now I have a 71 LT-1, 4 speed coupe that is white with black vinyl interior. NCRS Top Flight. Sometimes I wish mine wasn't so nice so I wouldn't have to be paranoid about it being driven once in awhile. Keep this series coming sir! 👏👍

[@archstanton9206]

Really excited to see you back in your natural environment, Ben....bringing life back to a C3. Looking forward to this. I think the last time I saw one that original under the hood is when the neighbor drove a 1971 LT-1 into his driveway when I was 16 and lit a fire for the C3 in that kid that has burned for 45 years...

[@dreadpenguinlord340]

What an incredible time capsule! Ben, you are the perfect person to take care of this. I like to think that original owner is looking down and watching with a smile.

[@VetteSource]

Nice car, looks like a good one to get back on the road. I dragged a 76 Flame Orange Coupe out of a garage several years back that had sat up like this one. Easily one of my favorite Corvettes to cruise around in, and the color attracts more attention that you can shake a stick at.

[@petergniech4631]

She's a nice original example of a time capsule for sure. Truly a great find.

[@goldenknight007]

The C3 master is back!

[@ProjectFairmont]

Nice color combo. I would have been happy to have this in ‘75.

[@4mula353]

Boogie Nights vette

[@hootsmccoy1450]

Very happy to see another C3 project car. Ready to learn some more from your videos!!

[@mikestone7692]

Nice 75’ Looking forward to Part 2.

[@davidtrevi2914]

I like your C3 revivals and when you de-bubba-ize hacked vette. Very Interesting...

[@jessedejesus5286]

Hi Ben nice to see another video. The don't look to bad for a 75. Keep videos coming. God bless

[@chrislowe8085]

Nice find. My dad owned a C3/C4 Vet used to love being in them.

[@Oyvind88]

Great car and video😀🇳🇴 Too sad the owner died but you have it now😢😀

[@douglix7087]

1975 the year I graduated from High School! Looking forward to following this ones restoration.

[@Scrapy-ih7ob]

Almost thought You got so much money from You tube you retired. Good to see you back at it, your attention to detail, and Awesome knowledge of these C3 is immense . I aint even a corvette guy.. Lets see what you do to this one bring it back to life.

[@seanhoward7554]

That's my dad's dream car. I'm saving now for it. I pray i can get it for him

[@bluecollarnobody4217]

With a car that old body work is least of your worries but I hope she polishes up like a shiny gem

[@johnschutt9187]

Very nice car. Thanks for taking us along.

[@bbrut3332]

A nice start on a restoration to running and looking good on this 75 Vette. A bath and new wheels and tires really helped.

[@cellugo261]

So happy to see a new C3 video!!!

[@resurrectionmotors2421]

Even with no bumper she is absolutely beautiful, man how do you keep finding the killer deals haha can't wait to see this one put back on the road, where's Chopstick and noodle

[@jamesgrant9317]

Glad to have you back on a new Corvette project!

[@KC-vp7wn]

Yay, Glad to see another C3 resto to get it back on the road again! Love your videos!

[@JM-sb4nb]

Nice videos Ben. All 10 of them. Good work.

[@stephenmr2]

your nice video makes me happy that I already bought the paint so I can paint my 1976 corvette orange!!

[@johnhouseholder7682]

Good to see you again!!!

[@billfunk3168]

I was surprised how good wood looked on interior doors. I do like the turbine wheels looking forward to future videos. Thanks Ben !

[@marcodevries4481]

Damn I’m never in the right barn for these finds. Beautiful

[@hippydippy]

Wow! That cleaned up nice.

[@codygunter4379]

always glad to see these, thanks Ben.

[@ljy74]

I've recently found a 1972 with original orange paint that I'll be picking up as soon as I fix up and sell my Mazdaspeed 3 daily. I love the orange!

[@trentdawg2832]

Beautiful car....awesome find!!

[@steves4639]

Nice! 25 years ago I bought an orange '74 coupe with tan interior...horribly neglected but complete and original...still had the air cleaner and shielding you pointed out. had to replace its bumpers too! And it also had too-tall tires that rubbed the wheel wells! Still have it, just done maintenance on it over the years, so am looking forward to this series of a near-twin. I'm old enough to remember cars in the 70's so those turbine wheels do not offend me...they just have the wrong tires...Rally's are good too.

[@LarryDeSilva64]

Just hand washing did that vette a world of good. Thanks for sharing you latest Acquisition.

[@kevinr8336]

Yep, finding one like this would probably be the ideal type project for me. Too old for some of the "heavier" stuff I used to do. Looking forward to you progressing this project.

[@jameshall4385]

i like the turbine wheels. it really screams late 70’s early 80’s

[@jeffmac3071]

This looks like an exciting series. Thanks.

[@shanepowell4720]

Looking forward to series.

[@2LateIWon]

So satisfying to see it getting cleaned up. That's always my first step too ( if I didn't have a tote rubbing issue lol)

[@1musicsearcher]

Great to see a new project. Especially as original this one appears.

[@keithperry8098]

Aww cool! Been looking forward to another Corvette Ben series for a while. I miss the old Yellow Submarine Camaro though.

[@markrichardson3566]

Wow nice original paint

[@jean-pierrecayol4897]

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing 👍👍👍

[@repz0611]

Love that orange 🍊 on the C3. Great content 🇺🇸

[@clifffawcett]

What a beauty Ben! I am so excited about this project and you seem to be too. It was so satisfying to see new tires and the correct wheels going on the car and then to see you wash it and all that dirt coming off! So freaking awesome. Thanks for making these videos one of these days maybe I can trade my C4 for a C3!

[@ed78vette]

Outstanding! I missed the C3 projects, glad to follow this next one. (I’m an owner of a C3, C5, and C6 😍)

[@paulmac9634]

Thanks Ben your the best!!

[@mypointofview6056]

Look forward to seeing you getting this one running again!

[@gregfoster4541]

Cool Corvette, looking forward to more videos and maybe a bit more of the story behind it 😀, thanks for sharing and as always "Howdy from Texas "!!

[@sondabrown7373]

GREAT video as always, Ben! Keep them coming!

[@RestorationObsession]

She's a beauty! Can't wait to see future videos about it.

[@neooneZ1]

yesssssssssssssssss.... I have been waiting for another build from you.... seen all of our video's got hooked from the Cadillac on.... good to see you putting out more... awesome...

[@kcb9455]

That’s my favorite C3 color for sure!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

I'm partial to Bright Green, 1975 only.

[@ronsre-creations5289]

Great Score Ben ! Thumbs Up. Nice to see ya back doing what you do Best. Vette's !

[@ROXSTARCorvette4371]

This looks like an interesting project. No doubt it will involve a lot of hard work but I think the results will be worth it.

[@911delorean]

I'm more of a c4 guy. But I'll take c3 revival. This is gonna be fun.

[@rjensen6368]

Nice save.

[@rubyred93chev]

_What a rare find Ben, and in a convertible model. Looking extremely forward to the series of your new C3. Side note, the matching hardtop alone is worth a thousand bucks(aftermarket is two grand). And can we talk about the originality, including that luggage rack._

[@treytaylor795]

Very cool! Can’t wait to see this one on the road!!

[@rockinrowdy13]

Amazing what a little soap and elbow grease can do..even the top looks pretty good from here.

[@dereklawson8661]

I would love to have one like that. Great find. Great work!

[@gs3504]

This is going to be fun!!!

[@whoolph]

Awesome!. . . . looks like a great find . . . . . . Rog

[@scottjrichter]

That old girl cleans up nice. If only the 70s were not so gutless.

[@TheCorvetteBen]

Easily fixed.

[@guitarobot]

Beautiful.

[@markrichardson3566]

Classic corvette baby

[@micksterboone4517]

I love those old turbine wheels. lol

[@shanewright6958]

That's one sweet car 👍👍🇨🇱

[@MrDraftkid]

Love the videos Ben!

[@Shane-Singleton]

I'm sure there will be plenty of hidden issues after being parked for so long but it's certainly in the right hands to make it all right again.

[@dazasc3994]

my 71 had front fender damage in exactly the same areas and now I know why!

[@NEAFarmKid4010]

I already wish that I could buy it when you're done lol. I know I won't have the money though, especially since this is an all original car. My friends grandpa has a 74, with almost the same factory options.

[@roadglide1745]

Bought a 77 used with luggage rack. Remove two nuts at rear of rack was hinged at front allowed it move up out of way to clean underneath. Never seen another one. Why the holes on pax side change plugs, that was easy side lol. Jack up one side at a time, reach up to change them on both sides easy money.

[@OutontheRanchwithDrLee-xb4lo]

That 200 ish horsepower L48 (or L82) is gonna feel sluggish to you after you being used to your 73 big block, Ben. Maybe have the old girl stroked if you're gonna keep it? However, as original as she is...maybe best to just refurbish what you've got there and be done with it!

[@jeffreyhaynes5774]

Hurry,Hurry,oil change and start up.Part 2 please.

[@garymaclellan2168]

Awesome Vette

[@OldCarAlley]

Nice find!

[@freestratproject7065]

Triumphant Return!

[@IcelanderUSer]

Great color. Imagine if Smokey and the Bandit had used an orange Corvette or Camaro instead of the TA.

[@Vegas_Dave]

Can’t wait for more !!

[@de1000vfd]

Replace the front and rear bumper covers with fiberglass units. They can be painted before installation and will look and hold their shape much better and the paint will not crack after time.

[@Dani65ful]

the C3 is one of my most favorites of the Corvettes. I did have a 1976 t top coupe what am I saying they were all t tops lol, anyways. Yes, 1975 was the last year for the Convertible or in Corvette slang Roadster, or rag top, until 1986. When it was brought back, however I am not sure why they dropped the rag top in 1975 maybe then lack of sales or pressured by the Feds. or I am thinking it was due to lack of sales.