I have a chance to buy a 1963 Coupe for $41K -- Is it worth it???

[JJU]

I normally spend my time over in the C5 section but I need to ask this question over here amoung the C2 experts.

The car's current owner picked it up at Barrett-Jackson earlier this year in AZ.

Long story short -- He thought it was a Z06 but it turned out it wasn't so he got some of his money back and the car.

The car is all original from the original owner (Bob Bondurant).

Ermine White with Red Interior with L84 engine.

I haven't driven it but the interior is very clean and so is the engine compartment. The exterior paint has cracks on it (stress and otherwise).

Is this car worth $41K?

I almost have enough saved up.

 

[iron cross]

It`s been a long time since I bought my 63 FI coupe, but if this car has already been fraudulenty passed off as a Z06 it may not be a true Fuel Injected piece either. I can`t remember what to tell you what to look for, but I`m sure there are some members here that could help you make sure what it is, is what it`s suppost to be. A true fuel car my be worth the price.

 

[Eric]

Have to agree with Wally on the Z06 issue. For me that would make the whole car suspect. Does it have Z06 parts on it that were used to pass it off as such and if so, what else was changed?

Good luck!

 

[JJU]

The reason the owner is selling it is because it isn't a Z06 and Barrett-Jackson admitted their mistake.

I've known the owner for about 2 years. He's a great guy. He's also a millionaire (even though he doesn't act like it) and can afford mistakes like the one he made at B-J.

I can't afford a similar mistake so I'm going to do all the checking on the vehicle.

Thanks for your help.

Jack

 

[Erik S. Klein]

Contact a local NCRS chapter and see if you can get a C2 judge out there to inspect the car. If it's reasonably close to a flight car (i.e. has original parts, matching numbers, etc.) then it's almost certainly worth it unless there is some hidden damage that you haven't described (rusted frame, rotted out floorboards, etc.)

If it's a fraud then run away. . .

Good luck!

 

[JJU]

There is a local NCRS contact in town.

I just sent EMAIL for some assistance.

 

[Eric]

There is a local NCRS contact in town.

I just sent EMAIL for some assistance.

Good move! Keep us posted!

-Eric

 

[JJU]

Just got off the phone with local NCRS guy.

It turns out he's also a member of my car club. I just didn't recognize the name. He joined just this Summer.

He gave me a few more names to contact and a couple more web sites to visit.

I might have a couple of experts go look at the car as early as October.

 

[IH2LOSE]

here is a link the barette jackson auction results

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/auctionresults/common/cardetail.asp?id=173269

shows what the car sold for.

 

[JJU]

Thanks for the link.

I happen to know the story afterward.

 

[iron cross]

here is a link the barette jackson auction results

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/auctionresults/common/cardetail.asp?id=173269

shows what the car sold for.

I would change my opinion to "BUY". I ordered a 63 Black FI coupe, Then sold it a few years later and i`m still looking for it to get it back. White would be a good substitute until I find my original 63.

 

[Tom Bryant]

No doubt a major factor in the pricing and desireabilitry of this car is that it was bought new and kept all these years by no other than Bob Bondurant. I suppose it was easy to assume that a famous Corvette racer would only buy a Z06. When you get into dealing in cars that are documented as owned by famous people it changes the whole game.

What you need here is documentation and the more the better. What comes with the car? Is there any original title or dealer papers with his name on it? Will he sign a letter authenticating the car? What about the history of the car? Was it raced? I would want photos and as much documantation as possible to put together in an alblum.

With the proper documentation this '63 will always be one step above any other just because of it's history. The fact that this car was owned by Bondurant isn't just an interesting tidbit of history, it's everything. If I bought this car I would go on a quest to document it's history from day one. This should be pretty easy since it's been kept in the museum. They can surely supply a lot of info and photos of it's life with Bondurant.

Also given this cars historical significance I would think long and hard before beginning any major "restoration" projects. There has been a lot of valuable history lost by people that just had to restore a car that was more valuable left alone. Repairs, even paint and body, are acceptable on any car though. But you never know, there may be a unique story relating to some crack on the car that would be more important to tell than to show a perfect paint job. Only research will tell.

The best thing to do would be to talk to this guy

in person or on the phone and get the full story on the car. You may be able to contact him through the Driving School.

Tom

 

[JJU]

You make a lot of good points. I know the current owner has the personal business card and cell phone of Mr. B.

It's definitely food for thought.

Thanks for the different perspective.

 

[TWINRAY]

Bob B. did have a '63 ZO6. It is now owned by Vic Edelbrock and it's raced in SVRA events - it's #614.

 

[TWINRAY]

www.edelbrock.com/automotive/vintage/vette.html

Here is the link to #614

 

[Tom Bryant]

I had the pleasure of talking to Vic Edelbrock as he was prepping the 614 at MidOhio several years ago. Had their
Freightliner hauler and his daughter's Mustang vintage racer too. That was the last time Corvette was the featured marque. I didn't see them this year.

Tom

 

[JJU]

It would have been :cool if the car that started this thread was that car.

It makes me wonder about the circumstances surrounding Mr. B's ownership of this other 1963.

 

[TWINRAY]

Vic was at The Glen for last weeks SVRA event. He's a cool guy and I always enjoy talking to him. I asked him this year if he needed a relief driver for the #614. His wife (who is also cool) told me "Nice try." Vic always goes to The Glen.