I know this thread started over Corvettes, but something interesting I read earlier ...There is presumably a shortage of Willys due to so many being rodded and raced! Honestly, my childhood intro to the rodding world were the '70's era "resto rods", especially Larry Wood's Nash. That cl***ic Joe Mac mentality also haunts me, about NOT cutting up early Fords, but just proper details and stance, just enough to not be a sleeper, and a amazing banger or overhead under the hood. This doesn't mean I hate chopped and channeled, but I've a deep love for mild to sleeper style!
My dad was always a sleeper guy. "Don't show em what ya got". Our 29 Coupe is becoming more so with every mod. Building a B engine with Winfied head Winfield cam Winfield carb and manifold. It's already got 16" Kelseys, 39 trans Mitchel OD. I picked up a reverse eye front spring last swap meet. BTW - We'll like it no matter what the height of the windshield is.......
58-62 vettes are all over the place, they're not rare, I know several guys who own one or owned one kind of recently. But I do notice that the guys who restore them stock don't put miles on them, while those of us who leave them looking a bit rough, and maybe have the wrong wheels, engine, transmission, etc, seem to drive them more. That 58 is neat, it would take some effort to get it on the road. Doing so in the same direction that it was going when progress stopped, would be fun!
My cousin used to road race a 1976 Corvette in SCCA 20 or 30 years ago. I only just recently found out it was actually a 1968 that had been crashed and rebodied a couple times before he got it. Today, someone has tracked down the original body and many other original bits, and has restored it to its original race configuration.
No corvette is rare enough for hot rodding it to be sacrilegious in my book. Same goes for anything else by the big 3, and even most of the stuff made by now dead major automakers. That being said, considering the age of the cars in question, I would consider it a shame to modify a survivor car in any way. Preserve it sure, but it’s only original once. And that goes for period modified cars too. It still pisses me off they “restored” the American Graffiti’58 Impala by repainting it when the movie-worn paint was still very presentable. At that point it’s not the same car anymore, it’s basically a replica!
I've got time for 1 more hot rod at 77 and the stars are starting to align in that direction $$ wise. One catch, the 2 in the garage, have to Go. OK, one shot, listed one day, Bazinga. Some days are Much Better than others! Joey, sorry if I mucked up your post.
In reality starting with a great example of what you want to build is far faster and probably cheaper than extensive rust repairs or searching for better parts than came on the POS you bought for 60-70% of the price for the better car. Look at a $4,000 rusty non running Model A then compare it to an 7-8,000 older restoration.
Twenty five years ago I saw a hot rodded 32 Auburn roadster in an industrial section of Des Moines. Just sitting forlorn in a back lot. It was channeled, had a fifties Cad motor, and old faded paint. Probably one of the coolest cars I’d ever seen. I would have loved to rescue it by getting the drivetrain in shape, and driving it as was. But surely out of my price range. Twenty years later I saw it at a Goodguys show with the Cad drivetrain tuned up, but they ruined the old hot rod patina by squirting black primer on everything. It was for sale, still very cool, but the real magic was gone.
I know a guy who is a judge at the big shows. A friend was with him at Detroit and wanted to go look at the rat rods thinking cheap entry ticket to a hot rod. The judge guy said go ahead but they've already ruined it. People are spending more to make a new build look old and taking the home low budget builders out of the game.
I for the most part don’t care but if I found a 57 air box Corvette or Z-16 65 Chevelle I doubt I’d put a straight axle or radius the wheel wells.
there was a photographer at the drive in taking pictures for caricature t shirt art. He did one on my corvette. here is the proof. .. looks pretty cool View attachment 6812316
It is kinda crazy how much some people think their rat rod is worth after they’ve welded all kinds of junk on it and think it’s really cool ? But there’s an *** for every seat! I like primer but don’t care for “ The Rats “
Don't forget the Battle Bird. A guy that helped build the original bought extra parts and eventually created a replica. Go to 20:50
Yeah that's cool. What about Cobras? A pretty rare car that some guys have hot rodded up. Didn't Shelby produce a few cobra dragsters?
There were 8. Shelby had owned El Cid and sold it to Lynn Park for his collection. The purple one is currently for sale for only $750,000. They just don't look right with the wheels in the air. They also made some GT350 drag cars. The 65s were done by Les Ritchey. I suspect if the 66 were not done inhouse after Les was killed that they were done at Mel Burns Ford - The invoice is from a car the owner sent to Performance ***oc for mods. So a Day 2 car even though done in period.
I've spend a VERY short time with him. He's hard to keep up with. He's always got 100 balls in the air at the same time. He'll be three steps ahead of what he showed you and that you're still focused on.
There are 2 kinds of rare. 1. Rare and desirable (valuable) 2. Rare but ‘who cares’ (valuable to the owner and 3 other people) I’ve been lucky to own cars in the first category such as my off topic 76 Porsche 930… that car was all original right down to the Blaupunct microphone for dictation. I never could make that car my own and given the value was an PITA to drive and park anywhere. I eventually sold it on BAT. I still have an off topic 86 Porsche 930 slantnose that is heavily modified (hotrodded to over 500 HP at the wheels on the dyno). That car is fun, sure it’s rare but not quite as rare as the 76 and right now the mods are seen as enhancements (at least to me). Both cars have been featured in magazines. I had auctions constantly trying to get me to list the 76 for sale, not so much with the 86. The 76 was category 1, the 86 is probably category 1.5… or category 2.
Ahhh, the much debated Cobra wheelie picture.... The car so fast, it could do a wheelie standing still!
A friend bought this for $3500 bucks in the 70's, his wife told him not to sell this one and just hang onto it, he said he's glad he listened Another friend owns this one
These were on marketplace recently This 58 was sold to a flipper evidently because it's listed again with an $11,000 dollar increase in price
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