'53 - found and in original condition

[nrangerZR-1]

I have a question of value that I want to toss out to the old vette experts out there....what is a 1953 unrestored, original condition vette worth?

This is not the urban legend of a guy going to see a "corvair" for sale by some little old lady and it turns out to be an rare '53 vette...

I know many of you will be skeptical of the story, but I assure you it is true.
Last week I went to take a look at a Mercedes that one of the other executives at my company is turning in for sale. We have a local guy help us on the side sell a couple of cars each year. So I pull-up to this farm house and meet with Tim and discuss the Benz. After we take it for a ride and discuss small-town politics and him growing up in the area, he starts looking at my ZR-1 and asks if I am "into" corvettes. I elaborate on my passion a little. He says, "Well, come here and let me show you something that you will probably be able to appreciate." We walk into his garage and he points to a cloth covered car, obviously a convertible, and asks me if I know what that is. I pull back the cloth on the front end and ask, "Is that a '53??" Well, it was of course a 1953 Corvette.

He shows me the interior and it is obviously original, but unrestored. The white paint has significant cracking. He has had this car for more than 30 years and has all the parts. It has not run in a while. He said that there are a couple of people really pushing hard to buy the car from him. Unfortunately I am not one of them, as something like this is remarkably out of my price range. He does not need the money, as he is awash in old family wealth. He knows it is valuable as he has had 8 or 9 different vettes over the years.

So, to satisfy my curiosity - the question of the day is, what is it's value? Assuming what he says is true, that the car is all original, what could he get for this thing??

 

[LT4man]

As much as one is willing to pay. The price on that would be totally up in the air.

A well-known auctioneer would probably be able to narrow the price point.

If it has not been documented before, it would affect the price of the other 1953s that are in existence.

Save The Wave!

 

[61 Silver]

Hi! nrangerZR-1

Most of the 53's that I have seen for sale have brought $75,000 and up depending on condition. Would you happen to know the serial number of the car, if it is an unknown 53 that has a provenance it could bring big, big bucks.

Contact: mailto:BlockRA@aol.com, Solid Axel Corvette Club California and he should be able to put you in touch with Noland Adams, and he will be able to provide you with any information needed on the 53.

Good luck Ray

 

[Tom Bryant]

You can contact Noland directly at nolandadams@internet49.com . This is his public email printed in every issue of the SACC magazine On Solid Ground. Noland is our president and his '53 was the car used for the artwork on the new Corvette postage stamp.

Also don't forget that we have a 1953 Registry right here on the CAC. Check it for known '53s.

Tom

 

[nrangerZR-1]

I know the old "what is it worth" question is somewhat ridiculous here, but it sure makes for good conversation.

I am actually going to pick-up the Mercedes (i decided to buy it) tomorrow or Friday. I think I will ask him if he would not mind giving me the serial number so we can play around with it a bit - find some history. I don't want him to get spooked and think that out of the blue he is going to start getting calls on the car. He really does not know what he is going to do with it.

If I can get the number, then I can start the archaeological process. Who knows, he might be interested in finding out a few things about it. His records may be missing some of the earlier years.