I think I have to raise the price on my vette in the cl***ified section. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82499&&showall=1
I sold this one for $4900, it had 43,000 miles on it. But that was 1975, man that was a long time ago and it seems like yesterday! ****!
Ryan, Just keep your eye out for a body wrecked in the frontend. Sooner or later you'll run across one reasonable; dosen't matter if it has an engine/trans (or even interior) or not. You can then use an Ecklers one-peice frontend to make it whole again. I'd bet it's possible to build it for 20 grand, if you don't get too carried away with the drivetrain (& do all your own work of course). If you need help with the 'gl***work let me know. ;^D ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Pardon my driving; I'm reloading.
Ryan, Your start to this post got me thinking and wondering about a few things... I grew up with a single Mom. Never knew my Dad. My Mom would seriously injure herself were she ever to get a hold of a screwdriver. Yet my brother and I have always had the ability to look at something and figure out how it works and how to fix it. Well, most of the time anyway. Which makes me think that some people must be more mechanically minded as opposed to it being strictly a learned behavior. The second thing, does your dad ever check this place out? And lastly, when we lived in IOWA the dude across the street had a 63 Vette. I remember going over there and talking to him about it whenever it was out. I was about twelve at the time and remember being amazed that it wasn't made of steel. The dude let me sit in it when I wanted, when I wasn't dirty. He came over one day and asked my Mom if it was alright if he took me to a car show with him. Dubuque was a town of about 64,000 at the time so the show wasn't very big. But it was my first car show. He took us out to the road that runs to the lock and damn (number 9 or 11, can't remember) and he opened that thing up. Man! I'm pretty sure my Mom got sick of me trying to talk her into dating him after that. ****y thing is that we lived on a STEEP hill. It was a *****. The kind of hill that you had to push your bike up when you're ten and you had to slalom up when you got older. The kind of hill that makes your Mom lay in provisions for the winter. We lived on the upside of the hill and he lived on the down side. He had his Vette out one day and didn't set the brake or have it in gear or something went wrong with it if he did. It cruised off the end of the pad he poured next to his garage, took about a ten foot drop and continued into the neighbors house below him. Very Ferris Bueler. The end of that Vette. Anyway, a sinister body style indeed.
Ryan, have you seen that stupid show "Dream Car Garage"? They did a buildup on what they called "Old School Corvette". It was a '68-72 body. They built it from scratch into a modern, compe***ive lookalike of the early SCCA Vettes. It was even painted red, white, and blue. It was pretty spectacular, honestly. It won the first race they entered it in, and that's when the show ended. Anyway, you might try to Tivo that episode next time it comes on, it will show you some interesting things they had to do to get the Vette to work for them.
{/QUOTE]Plus, it'd be easy enough to fab up a "split" in the rear window of a 64 or newer 'vette. Back in the 60's, there were kits so you could cut the split out of the window of a '63 and make it look like a newer one. The horror.[/QUOTE] I'd do some reasearch before starting this little modification. I'm pretty sure the rear gl*** & stainless trim is NOT reproduced for a '63 split window. JH
"Super revvy small cubed SBC" Don't forget the Bill Thomas modified fuel injection with two throttle bodies! You've GOT to go to Corvette Carlisle somethime--huge fleamarket, half the people there are dis***embling Vettes of every type, the other half are buying the pieces and ***embling them back into more Vettes... Stuff that has moved beyond any hope of meeting up with its matching numbers can be surprisingly cheap.
A friend of mine in High School was in a car with his mom and brother. Somebody hit them and killed his mom and brother and injured him. He got a hell-uva trust fund from that tragedy and bought a Split window vette as his high school car. It was a cool car but I never really got into it. At 17, having a $22k (That's what he eventually sold it for in like '88 and bought a VW Corrado) cl***ic car just doesn't feel right. It was a chainer car and didn't feel 'comfortable' because of that.
Late 80's. I was driving my mom from Idaho Falls back to Philly to see her family for the last time while she could still get around. We get near Indy and I've been driving non-stop from Idaho Falls so I'm pretty much zoned into autopilot mode. Not really noticing what's going on around me other than keeping my distances from other cars on the road. Just kicking back and getting into the tunes on the radio doing the long haul, brain shut down to minimal thing. Mom suddenly yells, "Holy **** Look At THAT!" Instantly wide awake, I'm looking for a crash or whatever made her yell. Then I see them, A whole line of vettes. We go past a bunch of them then when I get around a couple semis I realize there must be a whole mile of them. I recognized a bunch of the cars from magazines and shows right up to the flag painted one in the front. All years, all colors. Must have been one hell of an event they were going to. Thinking about all those vettes kept me going another couple hundred miles before I had to pull over and crash for a couple hours before heading on to Philly.
I'd look for a 64 to work your magic on. The 63 Split-windows are Stoopid Money, the 65 was the first (and only) year for a 396, the 66 is lumped closely with the 67, which is THE most expensive second-gen Vette of all! You can find small block 65 and 66 models here and there, but all 64s were small blocks, and there was nothing "special" about that year, they just sort of filled the gap between the split-window and the 65. A family friend used to run Corvettes exclusively in road race/SCCA compe***ion back in the 70s and he still had a few of his old cars left over in the 80s. He offered me a 64 small block automatic that was a running, driving "parts chaser" for $3200 back in 85, which was outta my league...but damn, what a deal! Personally, the 64 has always been a favorite of mine...you could get a wide range of 327 cube powerplants, and either a wide ratio or close ratio four speed, or the Powerglide. They came in some cool colors, and...to me...looked much better than the split-windows of 63. But, I'm in the minority...keep your eyes peeled for a low HP 64 with a Powerglide, and it'll be your cheapest starting point. (That isn't to say it'll be CHEAP, but it will be by 63-67 Vette standards!) Check with shops that specialize in Corvette repair and restoration, get to know those guys and they'll steer you towards "basket case" specials that many collectors or restorers won't be too eager to touch. Locally, there's Tracy Performance. Everyone hates them and calls 'em price gougers...but I used to live down the street from them and I stopped in often. They were always cool and friendly. Establish a good rapport with a shop like that in your area, and they'll soon be calling YOU to tell you about the cast-off projects their customers gave up on or don't want to get into! (Just stay AWAY from Dearborn Heights Auto Clinic if anyone directs you to them!) Also, check with Pro-Team Corvettes in Ohio. They specialize in Corvette sales, and offer a free locator service. Tell them what you're looking for, and they will put their nationwide resources to work for you. They generally locate specific year/option/color/drivetrain combos for picky collectors, but they move Vettes in all condition ranges, from Concours to Driver! They know where to look for project cars as well. I admit, I've LONG been something of a 'Corvette Snob'...just could never afford to play with them myself! As much as I fully appreciate 100% authentic originals or breathtaking restos...I wholey agree that they are equally as cool cut up, stripped down and built into HOT RODS!! Expect to drop about $30K for a workable 64 coupe in rough, but workable condition these days! ****...I wish I would had three grand twenty years ago now!!
Tracys has a 63 shell sitting up on a semi trailer out back that roadstar said used to be a old drag car. That place is cool so much stuff to look at. Ive never seen so many vette parts. I met the owner for the first time today he seemed like a cool guy. I know he doesnt give nothing away but dont most vette guys know what they have any way. Ive wanted to build a roadrace car for some time now but cant justifie another toy right now. But man would i love to take a vette around a track a few times! I think ill sell off my cars and just get a new z06
I completely agree Fat Hack... '64 would be the best year... Man, I can't stop thinking about it... I don't know if you could build a car that would be much more fun... The cool part is that this wouldn't be a complicated car to build. I am not a talented guy out in the garage. I know my limits and know this is the kind of project I could take on given the time and resources. Really, anyone could build this car with enough help I would think... As for my dad, he reads the HAMB every now and then and checks in here and there. He is a lurker for sure... He just isn't all that into traditional hot rods anymore. He "collects" german cars - old and new, but mostly new AMG mercedes cars... He likes to smoke my *** with blown v12 four door sedans...
I never got into Corvettes because every one you see is usually stock and the owners is a freak about keeping it stock, like some of the muscle car guys who tell you its only one of five with a bench seat and a vinyl top, its just weird and always turned me off. I worked with a guy who was all worried about putting the stock ignition back in his late 60s Vette, and it was a one year only deal, blah, blah, blah, and when I finally saw the flipping car, it turned out to be some kind of 70s whack job custom with some Pontiac taillights in it. That mentality always made be want to build any corvette into a G***er just to piss them off. This was the first Corvette that made me say, hey this is cool. The owners cool, he cruises all the local joints, and he's had it for years, and another one with cheater slicks, that got me thinking from the Detroit Autorama.
So does this mean I can finally come out of the closet . I have loved and worked on and owned corvettes since I was about 15 years old. My friends have seen my corvette and they try not to tease me too much. Grouchos car really got me thinking about a similar build. I think I could do one for about the same money as a gl*** 32 roadster. I just happen to know of a few pieces laying around that would be a perfect start. I also love to mess with the purest too. They get real jacked when you show up with anything other than correct overspray and mittens on the tires. Maybe there will be a couple of corvette dragsters at the drags next year
the restores hate my vette when i show up some where. gets even better when they look at the dash and see that the car was a fuelieradio delete car.
I knew we hed a few things in common, but I was sure I was the only one alive that wanted to build a trans-am style anything. (not the mullet type, before it even gets said) the 'Vette would be a fairly easy build, the catch is finding one worth building.
ryan after seeing your dad run at the hamb drags and hearing about his vette we need to see some pictures of his old cars. have any?
I was trying to keep my '59 ,a secret till the HAMB Drags,But I am no good at spy work! I am doing some stuff to my "would be" "vette" that would enrage any purist who saw it. I set out to change a few things that I didn't like about "the car I always wanted". I am chopping the Vette 3" [imagine that],and am removing the vent windows. I've removed and am filling the stock tailights,which are gonna be replaced with '49 Ford taillights that are perfectly fitted inside the old exhaust ports of the rear bumpers. Also to add further insult-[ I mean customize] it -I am removing the stock grille which will be replaced by a single floating bar that matches the rt and left bumper shapes.....
Just a side note: the '64 is rarer than the '63 (made less of them). Not that it matters... I've always wanted a vette myself, since I've built several customs & done several restorations (for others). I *love* 'gl***. ;^D ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Why do they call it reckless driving if it causes wrecks?
Hey Rudy, can I come out of the closet now also?? Here is my winter project guy's. I am the second owner, car had 235k on it when I got it in pieces in 85. put it back together and started driving it in 87. 100k later it's time to redo it again. The vette snobs will hate me but I'm gonna put disc's on the front and drop it all around 2". Will run chrome wheels with spiders and fogged centers. Might do a T5 ****** if I can find a way to make it shift from the stock location on the console. It's a 327 340 hp car. I need one Lucas 5" flamethrower lense with the chrome bullet. I have one and want to use them on the high beams. This will be a little faster than my 52. BB
Bob, I see in that last picture what looks like your old "show" mirrors under there. The '62 I had for 15 years and about 150k was a 340 horse 3 speed originally. It's the car I traded for my '40 almost 27 years ago. Solid axle cars are getting a little crazy, even for projects, but I wouldn't mind doing one again. They are bone simple cars. Charlie
Charlie, Charlie. That is not "Show Mirrors". That is the pit I have so that when I am not using the hoist I can remove the arms and the head goes down into that pit. I have a piece of diamond plate steel that covers the pit. Nice smooth area when the hoist is not in use. BB Gotta admit though that I did at one time own "Show Mirrors"
More than a few available for less than $20k, I always wanted a '65 (year I was born) to drive the cowboy-dog-piss out of.... A few off of autotrader.com http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/6/5/80927165.htm http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/2/5/81917325.htm http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/2/1/81652921.htm http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/0/9/81675409.htm and my choice .... 1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, Convertible, Pro Street project, body & frame only, needs put together, $6500 or part out 937-726-3198 after 3pm pls ANNA(937) 726-3198
Ryan/Gang - Here's one I had some fun with a few (okay, many) years ago. This '65 was purchased new by a guy named Jim Dotson. He immediately built it up to race in NHRA D/SP (sports). The 327 was fully blueprinted with all the trick m***age work to stay legal as a "stocker". He raced it for a couple years (without much success, as he had to run against the legendary Judy Lilly, out of the Denver area - who was the perennial national record holder in that cl*** (as well as the best 4-speed thrasher I ever saw - and yes, I've watched Ronnie Sox, Butch Leal, Herb McCandless, et al.), so he was miserably outcl***ed when attending any of the Divisional events. Also, he couldn't keep a rear end in the thing to save his life. Matter of fact, at the event where this photo was taken, he blew at least 2 rear ends. Anyways, he split with his wife sometime in '66, and sold the car off to a mutual friend for a song - just so his wife wouldn't get it. Well, the friend was trying to sell the car, and not getting any bites where he was living (Des Moines area), so he offered me the loan of it to see if it would sell in Lincoln (NE). Needless to say, I took him up in a heartbeat!! I was attending college at the time, so while the for sale ad ran in the local paper, I took the liberty of using the car as my daily driver (duh!). The lettering had been removed, and the slicks had been replaced by super-wide Firestone Indy tires (actual Indy-car take-offs), but it still had the same motor, slicked-up four speed, and deep gears (not to mention a gorgeous pearl white diamond-tuck interior). As you might imagine, it ran like a *******, and I was pretty much king of the street for that summer (oh yeah -can you say "chick magnet"? - I'm referring to the car, not me - LOL). It was great fun, but when it came to replacing the clutch, it was one of the most miserable jobs I ever had. There was absolutely no room to work, and the damn fibergl*** didn't quit itching me for months! I was so pissed by the time it was done, I swore 'vettes off forever. Of course, I'd LOVE to have it back now. Obviously though, God took my oath seriously, and has seen to it that I'll never be able to afford one. (-:
I'd love to be able to hot rod another C1(per 63 to you none vette nuts). Anyone repoppin early bodies, ive been lookin for years. Sad story, bought my first 1959, 283, muncie for $600 and sold it for the same amount
An outfit called D&D was making copies of the Grand Sport Corvette bodies. They were complete bodys rather than add on panels for a stock body. The frame and suspension for the '63 to the '79 was the same with only minor changes. You could buy a used up mid '70's car cheap, part out the bodywork, rebuild the suspension and order a '63 Grand Sport. This thread has served to "out" me as a Corvette guy. My '79 has a 406 small block and runs low 12's in the quarter, goes to car shows, autocrosses, and takes my sweetie out to dinner.
That car is in the Muscle Car trader for sale now.....along with a late 50's vette that is a roller for like 8grand..... One of my close friends in high school father had a late 50's vette that was simply awesome...He was the original owner of it and shortly after he purchased it he modified it....Over the years he made lil changes to keep up with the trend but the funny thing was nobody could keep up with him cause that damn car screwed.....It had nice set of meats in the rear or should i say slicks...with ladder bars....nose in the air stance...with a killer mill topped with dual quad tunnel ram.....The odometer only showed like 20 tho original miles..He hardly took it out cause it either cost him too much or he would get in trouble with it...So it sat mostly in the garage...I told him when i graduated i would buy that car from him...(yeah,,,i'm a big dreamer!!) He chuckled and shot out a price...Once i graduated....I busted my @ss at work and even got a loan to scoop that car only to find out he sold it cause he had made plans to move out of state...I would love to know where that car is now....
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