A deal has found me today....and I have no clue what to offer for it. 1959 Corvette project car. Complete roller with some parts removed. Lots of NOS chrome...not the original motor...327/4speed....needs fibergl*** repair. Its been stored for 20 years or so and the guy was collecting parts to build it someday. Guy died in a motorcycle accident last summer. The family is going through the legal process with all his stuff and they are almost ready to start selling. Any Corvette experts on here?
yeah I know its kind of vague....but I'm waiting for pictures. I just got the phone call about 30 minutes ago.
Pics will help narrow that range but I stand by my guess all apart prolly somewhere in the teens.. 59 Vette someone will ALWAYS want that car.
It's really tough to estimate as others have said without pics and more info. Hows the int. and what's inc. in the way of parts ??? Sounds like it might be a great start to a g***er style build without the correct mill. Complete C-1's are hard to find in the teens...
I have always wanted to drive another of the old Vettes, my older brother loaned me a 59 for a summer when Iwas A kid..... now I have two project cars a '59 and a'61,and hope to live to see progress some day on em. Problem with these are no one will usually sell one at all,even in rough condition.Its hard to say what these older Vettes will bring if available to more than one buyer at a time.... If it comes to p*** the car is available and you have the coin,I would recommend not dallying too long as that may be the only one you ever see for sale at any price]in project form[.
Make sure vin tag is attached to driver side door post. Is attached with 2 screws. Frame vin is under driver side frame rail, about where your left hip would be when seated. Impossible to see without body removal. Check for frame rot at wheel kick ups, and rear frame brace.Everything can be had for these cars, just not cheaply.
You might try checking out one of the Corvette sites. I'm sure they'd have all kinds of advice on prices and what to look for. In my opinion, a C1 Corvette would be a once in a life time thing. Being in project shape would give you the advantage to get it lower than normal price wise. Good luck.
LOTS of variables on Corvette values... Depends of course on condition and whether there were any body mods. Fender flares and additional tailights were a big thing back in the day. Of course the '59 is before they had the round tailights... Is it a no-hit body? Is the front clip still intact or does it have a replacement "one piece front end"? What condition is the ch***is in? It's a very common misconception that vettes don't rust... All that said; C1's are desirable in any condition. Let's see some pics! Here's a '61 I had a few years back. Loved that car... Good luck!
no pics until the 21st. Its an all original body....it does have damage on the left rear quarter. A large crack from the fender lip upwards. A buddy of mine saw it in person about 12 years ago.
Stress cracks on the wheel lip area is not uncommon, sometimes from too fat a tire and the body coming down on it. Only 9670 manufactured in '59 with only 4175 fitted with a 4-speed. Baskets can go for 20K.
look for rust in the rear kick up area of the frame, and where the rear most cross member is riveted on. check the wind shield posts and the stainless around the windshield $$$$, gauges aren't cheap so check for them.
Windhield frames and front vent posts are getting very expensive as are the bumper cores and mouldings and seats..........on and on and on. a mostly complete car is prob the best value a guy could hope for. that prevents the peicemeal overpaying for individual parts on the open market.....
Without the matching numbers engine, intake, carb, etc. it's value PLUMMETS. Corvette aficionados are insane freaks about originality. I'm kinda one of them. LOL. But it sounds like you might have a great foundation for a vintage g***er build, or simply a cool driver. Post pix that show the condition of the body and parts that come with it, and we'll give a good idea of value. If you have to farm out the body work, plan on spending 10's of thousands on labor. With a NOM, even if you restore it to near perfection, you'll likely lose money. Go into this with eyes wide open.
Agree with Dreddybear---go for it--have seen a few popping up lately-also a few early FI units-some parts are pricey especially the windshield post as someone mentioned they are usually broken from pulling on the windshield to get out or ??? seen several this way-cost $$ to repair.
Check this out for inspiration. If it's in poor shape no harm making a killler custom! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=760633
cars with highly desirable options and matching codes are expensive---low optioned cars "unless they are original " not" restored "are a **** shoot and ****er bait for wanabees---a nice hot rod vette will bring as much if not more than a restored low option car---cheap vettes are cars in need and all vettes want to be drag cars to one degree or another so buy this car and release it's inner demons by going g***er with it
I've had mine for 50 years and drove the **** out of it. I took it apart about 15 years ago and did the ground up restoration, the paint was farmed out. the engine was rebuilt by Engines By Elsaser, Final ***embly By Unique Motors. Cost about 60,000.00. Yes it is expensive but well worth it. Restore it and use it. They were made to be driven just not in rainy weather. LOL Jim.T.
I say go for it if the price is rite. Then throw a blown 394 Olds motor (or whatever you want) in it with a straight axl,radius the rr wheel wells a little. Then you will have one killer vette! Theres enough original boring ones out there pampered!
txturbo...........Wear Bibbed Overalls, so you can carry enough $$$ And, there will probably be A Line ! Good Luck.
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