While it is common with our older Corvettes;in our Family we have two cars that have more in repairs then they cost to buy; my winter beater is a 89 Blazer I paid $700 for two years ago. I have put $1200 (trans,exhaust) in it this year and still need tires bad. Hard to hunt out of a Vette.
Craig jr bought his Grandfathers escort wagon after he died for $150; last year the head cracked about $400 in parts to repair.
those figures are not including routine maintenance.
I guess owning older cars you get used to it.