1960-58 question

[fatboy34]

First let me say as most others do that I too, have been following the exploits of these threads for quite some time , I have really learned a lot from the previous threads and just going back through the archives ,have also been very helpful to me , Thanks for all the good info so far ,everyone here seems to be very well versed in most aspects of corvettes and if they are not they can always seem to find the right person or persons to redirect to. Anyway my name is Nick and I have been searching for the elusive 58-60 vette that I can put a C4 chassis and suspension under , I have found Bodys and, or what I used to think of as a parts car at best, going for hefty sums 20-30K I have looked everywhere, all the mags E-bay and about 50 or more websites,I am finding it might be cheaper to find a finished car in the 35-40 range and proceed from there, any thoughts on this strategy? Again I digress, I have noticed one member that seems to come up a lot with very infomative answers and help for most people.His name is John McGraw ,so John I have a question for you if you dont mind, I have been talking with Billy Dawson looking for a 58-60 and he put me in touch with someone in your nieghborhood . If possible can I send you a private email and some pics of this car with a couple of questions, As for everyone else , keep up the good work as sites like this are few and far between with out all the constant heckling and otherwise juvenile nonsense, I look forward to asking lots of Questions and hopefully answering some too.

 

[WayneC]

You asked, so here's my thought: please don't screw up a perfectly good Corvette.

They are so expensive precisely because they are so loved the way they are, and they are gradually becoming an extinct/endangered species. Unlike the old Ford model A/B (as I see in your moniker) of which millions were produced every model year, only 9 to 10K C1's were produced each year. If enough people think like you're thinking now, we'll soon have to go to a museum and look through glass to see a C1 the way the General made them. I love a good resto-rod as well as the next guy, but stick to the basket cases... please, don't let your wallet overwhelm your common sense.

Check this website:
http://www.crcoachworks.com/0-Root/home.html

Also, Corvette Central used to sell complete repro 1957 bodies.

 

[67HEAVEN]

fatboy34,

We're glad to have you here at

As you already know, C1s are very well liked around here. Lots of good advice will be coming your way.

 

[fatboy34]

Wayne,

I didnt mean to imply a restored C1, but one in which the previous owners have already made major mods to, I am currently looking at a 1960 which has a 350 and a 4 speed, the present owner did not install them and I dont think even knows for sure year or if indeed it is actually a 350 or not , not even sure if it has correct trans or for that matter if the frame is even correct, which leads me to believe it may be a salvage of some sort ,I am trynig to find out , anyway no way I would even think about this with a properly restored car, even cars with totally different drive trains and other major mods are quite expensive, I just thought that by buying one in this condition it would save me on paint and interior cost as well as all the little costs that never seem to end, I could at least drive it, as is for a while and then at a later date I could go back and update frame and suspension and paint to my personal likes, That is all I'm askin, but I definatley see where you are coming from.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Waynec First let me say I resprect your opinon,I dont agree with it,But I do respect it none the less,

Fatboy 34 Welcome to our forum,

My name is larry and I am also building a tube framed custom C1 with a C4'S suspention.My car is a 62 and I purchased it as a basket case.

The link waynec gave you,had I known of this car builder I would have purchased one instead of building my car,NOT to save a C1 from the convertion but because It would have saved me from having another car in my garage. That being said I will tell you about my car purchase.


There is a local C1 that is shot.Its been sitting outside on grass under tarps since about 1968,the rims are actually rusted almost up to the brake drums,This I thought was the perfect car for me.Unfortunately the current owners doesnt see it my was and feels he will restore the car some day.(another lost corvette)

anyways I looked for a basket case 61/62 car for a while (3 years I think) and could never get the owners to part with there cars,I then raised my buy in price to about 30,000 to 40,000 thinking I would find a restored car to start my project with and sell off the parts to offset the higher cost of the car. The majority of the higher priced cars still needed money,Chrome work,pot metal work, bright work,interiours, you name it they needed it.The majority of the cars I was looking at were NOM cars so its not like I was going to be able to sell off the drive train for high dollars. Its a real tough call on this because some of the cars going for 30 to 40 are poorley restored to start with.

Now as for my car, We have a forum member named "mailmaninavette" his name is Roy,Roy has 2 C1'S (I still may have to purchase your red car roy) and had a neighbor who had my 62, Roy was nice enough to help me aquire my car. I finalized my deal via email while at corvettes of carlilse (never seeing the car in person only emailed pictures)

While at carlilse I did see a 61 that sold for around 18,000 this was a rolling basket case missing the dash cluster,seats radio,winsheild,all of the inside door hardware and windows,no motor and no trans.And a handlaid replacement 1 peice nose needind to be removed and reinstalled properly. Seems alot of folks are in the market for this type of a project car and I feel the car sold on the high side. Even if I did not make a deal on my car that week end via email.I would have passed on this car.

If you get a chance stop by my web site and visit the project 62 page. Ill never admit to how much I paid for my car publicly (I never know if the wife reads here)

Good luck and if going for a higher dollar car to start with try and find one with an original drive train it will help offset the added exspence of the car when selling off the parts to other who are restoring the cars to factory correct.

Just be forewarned the guys dealling in used C1 parts that I contacted when selling the frame from my car said they have an overabundance of C1 Used frames from the other folks doing projects like this,and also the affordable replacement frame that are in the market today.

 

[fatboy34]

I then raised my buy in price to about 30,000 to 40,000 thinking I would find a restored car to start my project with and sell off the parts to offset the higher cost of the car. The majority of the higher priced cars still needed money,Chrome work,pot metal work, bright work,interiours, you name it they needed it.The majority of the cars I was looking at were NOM cars so its not like I was going to be able to sell off the drive train for high dollars. Its a real tough call on this because some of the cars going for 30 to 40 are poorley restored to start with.

IH2LOSE ,
I still have not seen the car that I'm interested in yet, ( have seen many email pics, just not in person yet) The cars I have looked at have all had NOM engines and I was thinking along the lines of selling drive train and frame at a later date to try and recoup some of the cash, I have also just thought about going with a Jim Meyers type setup ,my thinking on this approach is to just keep the motor thats in it, put in a Keisler 5 speed ,and if for what ever reason I want to sell the car, I could also have the original suspension that goes with it..Any one have that type setup in thier car . I doubt that the ride is as good as the C4 approach , But it has to be tons better than stock.
Thanks in Advance , Nick

 

[John Mcgraw]

Hi Nick,

I think that you are making a wise decision by buying a car that is as close to complete as possible. It is the little stuff that will eat you alive! When you start adding up the cost of all the trim on one of these cars alone, it will scare the hell out of you! I would also dissagree with Wayne, not all cars are candidates for restoration. I have restored Corvettes and I have modified them, and I know the difference between what make a good restoration candidate. You can restore almost any car, but sometimes it does not make financial sense to do so.
That being said, it probably does not make financial sense to do one of the C4 conversions, but at least it makes you happy! Feel free to drop me an Email and I will be glad to help you. I will even be glad to go look at it for you before you drive all the way down here. Billy Dawson is a good guy, and you will be happy in your dealings with him.
The 59 that I am doing now was bought simply because it came with boxes and boxes of NOS parts that I used to restore other cars and sold the remainder. I recovered my entire cost for the car and still had a rolling body left over. It collected dust in my shop for 2 years while I was building a NCRS judged 60, but as soon as I sold the 60, I started on the resto-rod and have never regreted it. I have loved the project so much, that I have started on a 65 with the same plan.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[fatboy34]

Hey John,
Thanks for the generous offer on the help, I have sent you an email, I think you build some outstanding cars and can only hope to emulate one, at least get close anyway,I am trying to build a 58 that looks mostly stock but that drives nice enough to be used almost daily and that my wife would like to drive, I think in its stock configuration she would probably get to end of our street and get out.But she love the looks of the C1 also,I am trying to keep cost at or below the 50k mark . For me a lot of dough but as I said I will drive it a lot .

Thanks, Nick Perry

 

[vette]

Fatboy. I to know of what you speak. I looked for a good 58 60 for a few years. I wanted a complete car but all that I found where either Total junk or way to much money for what was there. I found a very nice body a few weeks ago. But there is no trim or anything for that matter. Just a nice un hit body. So now i'm looking for all the trim parts inc windshield frame. Do Not do what i did. Parts are hard to find and big money when you do. I knew that going in but did not know how hard to find they are. Spend the money and buy the best car you can. Then change your chassis and you have what you want. I now think I should have held out for a complete car or a running car and paid the price. As John McGraw I do all my own work. I own a body shop so that is no problem. But I also do all the other work also. The int work I send out. So labor for me is not problem. And thats the part I like the most,building the car. But finding parts is a pain. and I don't like to wait, i want everything now. Thats not a good thing. Good luck. Let us know how you make out. There are some good people on this forum so you can get all the help you need.

 

[Gasman]

A couple of months ago i called for a front frame and chrome (did'nt have a windshield)
a got a price of 2400. Started looking in my boxes and found the side posts and
top frame. still gonna be expensive and the windshield will also get me for shipping.

 

[IH2LOSE]

A couple of months ago i called for a front frame and chrome (did'nt have a windshield)
a got a price of 2400. Started looking in my boxes and found the side posts and
top frame. still gonna be expensive and the windshield will also get me for shipping.

GASMAN If your not going the factory correct route,You can get a new glass winsheild for you car from any local car glass shop for under $125.00

 

[IH2LOSE]

searching for the elusive 58-60 vette finished car in the 35-40 range

Here is your car Use buy it now and you could be tearing down by next week end.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4535672127&category=6168

 

[John Mcgraw]

Gasman,

Yea, you will be hard pressed to find a complete usable windshield assy for less than $2K. Most that you find at that price will at least need the stainless polished and posts rechromed!

Regards, John McGraw

 

[RodsnRides]

Ih2lose

Good find. You have made what I consider a great recommendation. Certainly worth looking into.

Welcome to the Forum, Fatboy 34.

Rick

 

[Loren Smith]

Gasman,

Yea, you will be hard pressed to find a complete usable windshield assy for less than $2K. Most that you find at that price will at least need the stainless polished and posts rechromed!

Regards, John McGraw

I talked to a guy from Corvette Central at the recent Corvette/Chevy Expo in Houston, and he said they would have a repro windshield assy out in a couple of months. I didn't get around to asking him what they planned on charging.

 

[fatboy34]

Here is your car Use buy it now and you could be tearing down by next week end.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4535672127&category=6168

IH2LOSE, thanks for the heads up , but believe it or not I have already talked to the owner of that car, he sent me another 25 or so pics of car, car seems to be all there, but everthing seems to need to be redone , paint for sure ,all chrome and interior, I'm looking at a car now in much better shape for around the same price and lots closer to home