Hi RAK,
I just found your post, welcome to the Forum
I hope you check back in for a reply, I see your post was dated 8-24-09.
The '67 is a great car, and
every midyear Corvette is special for its own reasons (so is every Corvette for that matter, I'm just partial to C2's and early C3's). If you are "set" on a '67 I would never try to talk you out of it, but I wouldn't overlook any of the other midyear Corvettes, and the '64 may be the best value.
As for prices, the 'Bay is worth checking to get an idea for that particular market, along with the Classified section here, as well as
Hemmings and
Chevy & Corvette Trader magazines (I think that's what it was called, it's been a few years since I needed one). If you narrow down what year and which options you're looking for (coupe vs. convertible, numbers matching vs. non-original motor, A/C, 4-speed vs. auto, etc.) I'm sure there are people here who can give you a good idea of current prices.
IMO, verifying the
condition of a potential purchase is just as important as verifying the
originality of the car. If this will be your
first old Corvette, do yourself a
HUGE favor and have an expert look at any car that you are seriously considering. It's worth a couple hundred dollars (or maybe free, if a fellow Forum member lives nearby and is willing to check it for you) to avoid getting a car that looks great on the outside, but has serious hidden problems.
When looking for a nice driver, I would check the frame and birdcage for rust first. If there's a serious problem here, I would move on. Check owner history and repair history documentation if possible. I would want a fundamentally sound car in good mechanical working condition first and foremost, but cosmetics are not unimportant. Paint will be expensive to get it done right, unless you do a lot of the prep-work yourself. All of those chrome parts are not cheap to replate or replace, and costs for all the little things add up quickly, not to mention carpet, seat covers, instrument cluster restoration, door panels, headliner, and on and on, so a nice "previously restored" car with a few years and miles on it since the restoration might be something worth thinking about.
That's a starting point, anyway. If you narrow down your choice to a particular year and "must have" options, you'll probably get more feedback.
Good luck,
Scott
I am new to the forum but have learned some interesting details from reading the expertise of others in this forum. I find the 67 to be a true icon of the American Sports Car.
In todays economy what price range can an individual expect to pay to get into a decent driver? If the engine is not original, how much would you expect to deduct.
How do you verify the originality off the car?
Thanks for any help, I am looking and hope to become a corvette owner sometime in the near future, not looking for a show car, just want a good driver, something I can tinker with and enjoy.
