save me before I jump ...

[65-to-00]

:ugh

By that, I mean do something stupid.

My 2000 C-5 is a good car, but that little itch starts to act up and I kinda' still have the urge to gravitate back to a 64-67.

As usual, money is the problem .... however, I see some of those Vettes that have been under the custom shops knife. You all know the ones that I talking about. They have the headlights glassed over and the "in grill" types in place. Some have fender flares and radical hoods.

The flares .... probably a ***** to get back to stock.

The hood ... not a big deal.

The glassed lights .... that's what worries me. These cars go so much cheaper (at least it seems), so how much agony can you expect getting one reasonably back to stock?

 

[firstgear]

go for it................

 

[stepinwolf]

Regardless of the cost to make these midyears correct, you will sleep better knowing that every day your Corvette is going up in value, rather then depreciating.

Kind'a like your finger is now in the hole, that was filling your boat thing.

Stepinwolf

BTW, why not make that 63-67.

 

[cfalson]

So how much money??????? More than you originally estimate, thats for sure it just depends how deep your pocket is and how much work you are willing to do.
If you give a better description of the cars condition and where you want to go we may be able to get you in the right ballpark, $20-30k, #30-40k and so on.
The big difference is when you are done or slowed down with minor stuff, it's very satisfying to look back on the project.

 

[BarryK]

the headlight and the fender flairs can be removed and put back to stock if that what you want, just be aware that it's not going to be cheap on either job.
The headlight parts are available to replace but they will add up and get expensive for you and on the flairs you will need a good bodyshop to either repalce the fenders with replacement panels or have the cut out the flais and reglass up the repaires on the fenders to looks correct - either way will involve a fair amount of labor time and therefore get pricey to have it done.

if a car is customized like this I think the best thing is that you buy the car because you like the custom work and the car like it is, or keep looking for another car without the custom work and the amount of time and expense it will require to restore it back to stock.

 

[BarryK]

BTW, why not make that 63-67.

Bob, I like ALL midyears, but '63's DO tend to have a lot of one-year-only parts that can get pretty expensive compared to the other year midyears.........

But, you sure don't need me to tell you that!

 

[stepinwolf]

Bob, I like ALL midyears, but '63's DO tend to have a lot of one-year-only parts that can get pretty expensive compared to the other year midyears.........

But, you sure don't need me to tell you that!

Yep, but then there worth more money when you sell them, and the labor and pain is the same.

When you spend months on a repair/resto, the return on your investment is better on a 63, then the Corvettes ( 1964 ) least loved child.

JM .02

Stepinwolf

 

[IH2LOSE]

So allthough I am not directly answering your question I will put my 2 cents in.

I feel there are 2 differant collector car owners,

Those that enjoy driving them and showing them.

and

Those that enjoy building,reasearching,working on them.

Now I know my description may sound silly,and real broad But I am a person who more ejoys working on them then going to shows.So for me a project car is always the best purchase because I need to work on cars. But I also know its cheaper in the long run to purchase a car completely restored.

I would think finding a modified body will be the most exspencive one to repair/return to its stock configuration,Were as a car needing mecanicals should be less to repair.

Just remember its quite a differance going from that C5 to a C2, I love driving my C5 on long trips

 

[61 Silver]

Hi!

Unless you are really into the restoration process, I would purchase the highest quality car that I could afford. Many times you can purchase a fully restored car for the price it would cost you to restore one. With that said, I would take firstgear's advice and "Go For It"! I haven't even completed my 63 project and I am starting to have restoration withdrawal systems and looking for my next project.

Good luck

Ray

 

[BarryK]

Yep, but then there worth more money when you sell them, and the labor and pain is the same.

When you spend months on a repair/resto, the return on your investment is better on a 63, then the Corvettes ( 1964 ) least loved child.

JM .02

Stepinwolf

i'll agree with you there Bob.
my only point was the hassle of trying to find and get certain parts from a lot of posts I read regarding the '63's. I'm remined of Collin's many posts on this subject.

I guess mostly though what it comes down to (for me) is what you like personally, or what the intedned use is. Is it an investment, a show car, a driver to enjoy and the investemnt and/or resale is not a consideration, etc.

 

[Kid_Again]

Just my .02

There's nothing more satisfying to me than to buy a POS and turn it into MY CAR. If you don't go nuts and pay alleged craftsmen to do work that you can do yourself, you will get your money back, and then some.

For example, I AIN'T no body guy. I bought a '67 bb hood locally to put on the '65. I stripped, filled and blocked the hood, filled/drilled the holes for the "327" flags, finished/painted the underside myself, cut the air inlets in the back of the stinger and THEN gave it to a pro to match and shoot the top.

I figure I saved $500 in labor, let alone the custom touches like the flags and cutouts.

There are a fair amount of projects out there. If you don't go nuts, you'll be fine.

 

[65-to-00]

gimmie basics or gimmie ??

:confused I guess I'm out of my league. In the "old days", I'd dig in and just start ripping, hose the garage and shoot paint.

Pushing 60 .... those days are done, I figured on farming the work out bit by bit.

Today the local paper had a "needs total restoration, no motor" for $20K for a 66.

I'm not into high quality, just a very basic car that will bring back the joy of simple driving.

Quite frankly ... I enjoy the C-5 ... but I hate all of the damned "display" this and that and the CD and other useless stuff.

If I kill myself behind the wheel, it will be trying to jockey my reading glasses just to "adjust or tune" some stupid "feature". I know I going fast ... I can look out the windshield and figure that out.