Buying a Numbers Matching C2

Sometimes, it’s not just about what you ask, but how you ask.

When it comes to classic muscle cars, there are no two words more powerful than “numbers matching.” That still holds true when it comes to classic Corvettes. A car with its original engine, transmission, and rear end is often worth tens of thousands more than a car that’s been altered.

Any time you buy a car, whether it’s a $600 beater from Craigslist or a $60,000 sports car from a dealership, there is etiquette involved. There’s a right and a wrong way to do things, and following The Golden Rule is the single best way to make sure everyone comes to an agreement they’re happy with.

Buying a C2 Corvette is no different. Corvette Forum member ericisback posted a thread in the C2 section about buying a numbers matching C2. A conversation with a seller prompted him to rethink his approach.

He’s looking to buy a numbers-matching car, and he found a car that looked like it might fit the bill. He asked the seller for photos of the pertinent stamps. The photos he got back revealed stamps that had been tampered with.

Let Them Down Easy

In his words, “After reviewing the photos, I let the seller know this was probably not the car for me and thanked him. He then told me that going forward I should ‘tell the (seller) upfront (my) requirements.’”

This had ericisback rethinking his approach. Should he tell sellers ahead of time that he’s not looking for a car with altered stamps, or would that offend sellers? Our members weighed in with proper stamp etiquette.

One of our forum administrators, vettebuyer6369, makes a good point. “It seems to me that if a potential buyer asked for photos of stamps, then it’s painfully obvious that the quality of those stamps matter to him.”

Know When to Walk Away, and Know When to Run

Duck916 reassured ericisback that the seller may have been unnecessarily hard on him. “It sounds as if [ericisback] didn’t say, “your car’s a fake!” but rather said that he just wasn’t interested. To me that was the right way to go about this. The seller should be happy that the [ericisback] acted properly.

Frankie the Fink said it best. “You owe the seller zero explanations about what you’re looking for. If he doesn’t want to put up with the work required to deal with prospective buyers (even tire kickers) he is in the wrong business. Don’t give it a second thought beyond being glad you didn’t get involved in a transaction with this guy.”

There’s a right and a wrong way to ask to see the all-important stamps on these cars. In our opinion, ericisback handled the situation as well as he possibly could have. Be polite, be specific about what you need to see, and let the seller know your intentions as soon as possible, whether you decide to move forward or move on. Just remember, always be nice — one day, they could be buying a car from you!

Photos: General Motors/Corvette Forum members