Projects Conundrum

What they said. So whatcha gonna do?

 

For Sale 1959 corvette. 36,000 original miles. Rare power glide auto...

 

You might want to add the word "project" for a few laughs....

 

IMO, put it for sale to test market for value, it has value, #'s matching, any and all cars are worth what the best offer is at the sale date AND you did not mention your skill level, experience, tools, garage space etc. If you cannot restore doing most of the work on your own, forget that, as that's a 6 figure restore, dropping off and picking up done, also if ***le is marked salvage, another problem for value at time of sale. Same applies to purchasing/building a Hot Rod, Good Luck w/ your decision and ENJOY !

 

'Ran when Parked'. Seriously, great start for someone to restore. Good luck.

 

wicarnut made a great point about the ***le. Might make a huge difference on value?

 

Depends on what roughed up really means I suppose. If you tried hard enough you may just find someone willing to part with an A project and let you keep the motor and ******.

That said just so that the model A guy keeps himself honest, the car numbers matching and complete is probably worth more than a project A bone. Depends on what roughed up really means I suppose.

looking that this pic roughed up may just be an understatement, I have come out of a brawl in better condition than that more than once and had to ask who won. I would say that it got its *** whupped.



That said I know a guy with a rough A bone that may just be willing to learn gl*** repair.

 

Oh good lord. Fix the mechanicals, Put a windshield on it, Drive as is. DO NOT SELL MOTOR/******. I'm in North Bama,How much for car???

 

If he sells it in Alabama that would be a moot point because no ***le would be issued. I ***ume it came from New Orleans or nearby but if it is an Alabama car then it doesn't have a ***le.

 

Way to go B. A.!!!!

 

I agree that the poor thing should be sold as is. Numbers matchig is important. Then put the money into your hot rod. Good luck.

 

I'm vetteless at the moment, wouldn't mind changing that status. PM me if you want it to go away.

 

LOL if you have a numbers matching car and know of someone who wants to restore one then numbers match is important.

For a hot rodder it would be cool to use the original corvette motor and be one of very few that would be telling the truth when he said, "my rod has a corvette motor in it"

If the vette was going to someone like me (for example), numbers match would not be an issue at all. A complete roller or mostly complete roller is important, motor is never an issue. Hell I may even be inclined to put a ford motor in it.

 

OK, here's what I'd do.
1.....Make a list of all the cool chevy stuff you'd pay for to put into your model A with prices...add it up and write down the total...
2.......Double the number and ask at least that much for the 'vette.
3....go shopping for cool parts and a model A...aim high. Get a nice car.

 

******,

"You open this door with the key of imagination!"

Rod Searling, "Twilight Zone!"

 

Rod had it going on.

As a friend once put it, "This is the world according to Benno. It is a land somewhere between "Far Side" and Zippy the Pin head."

 

Man, I wish something like that would wash up in the gutter in front of my house. All I ever get is gr*** clippings and flat soda cups.

Good luck on the sale! Post more pics! That thing is cool A.F.

 

If we call the finish "patina" it increases the value!?

 

I dunno about that but you could advertise it with zero rust.

 

Like what-a 4 banger out of a Pinto?

 

I was thinking flathead 6 but the pinto motor would be perfect.

could you imagine showing up to the local cruise and parking with the "cool guys" from Corvette Club? that would be priceless.

 

I can't imagine doing it, but I can imagine *you* doing it.



Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

If you give it a power wash and scrub, that will help sell it, as even though it's banged up some, clean always helps a sale.
Can't call the finish at the present "attractive patina".

Rockys idea of adding up the parts you'll need for an A, is a great way to get the whole deal into perspective.
I hope it all works out well for you.

 

Been helping a friend for the last 2 months restoring a 59 vette. We are both very experienced mechanics, and you cannot believe how expensive it is to restore one of those cars. All the aftermarket parts are ****, and the nos parts are way over-priced. It's a good thing he has deep pockets! Unless you are deeply in love with that car, I would sell as a fairly complete car.

 

And that is why I should never be trusted with anything collectable. You and the car gawds know me too well.

As much as I would like own a first gen corvette I probably should not say what I am going to say.

To start with even a s rough as it is it is pretty complete. I can't say complete but what I have seen may be a good starting place for a collector. Rough as it is I would say that it would be a long walk to number 2 or 3 condition and most collectors are going to look for something that is at a better starting place. Never the less you ( @hotrodyankee ) are correct in your ***essment. A complete car is a good way to go. I would clean it well and take a complete inventory of the parts that are there. Someone may look at it and think that the sum of the whole is greater than the sum total of the parts. An original ***le may help in that sale.

Still reading?

Rocky's idea of making a list and cost to build an A then deciding what you need out of the vette is also good advice. It could then be sold in pieces keeping the drive train as part of the cost of building the A or sold complete as is to cover the price of the build or even made to run and drive to gain a little in value.

Ah still here correct?

Another avenue is to look around for a stalled project or a project that someone is willing to part with and maybe workout a trade. How well you come out depends on how shrewd a trader you are.

Any and all of the above are probably doable. You just have to feel the market out.

One last option is to build it. The car is as rough as a cob and as I mentioned earlier to get it into a decent restored condition is going to be work. But as trough as it is the car would make good hot rod fodder. Build a hot motor for it, repair the body to the best of your skills and throw a quick paint job on it and your drivin'. Even that is going to be work, but that what we do. We are turd polishers.

 

Well, as i stated earlier about been working on my friends 59 vette for the last 2 mos, we took about 80% of the chrome and stainless trim to the plater this morning to get a quote on re-finishing. They do great work there and everything comes back better than new. They wanted a "left nut and squeeze the right one" to the tune of $6000.00. Just another thing to think about when you restore a corvette.

 

Only $6k! Your getting a deal.

 

Not that pic. would make a grown man CRY

 

I really Appreciate all the input! I think the only path forward is to open up for bidding. I have no idea what the value of the car is. Maybe I can get a steel model A body out of it. Maybe a little more - Maybe less. I just need to move forward! I'm not getting any younger! You guys have been so gracious with your replies.

The 59 is missing seats - front windshield of course, lol - hard top - it even has the original breather - of course busted fenders and such

 

I don't know a lot about anything but
Because of the numbers matching and
low milage and originality I think it
wouldn't be hard to sell. There are a lot of "junk"
vettes out there for big money that are nothing
but parts from many cars. Yours may be down but
not out because it is basically all original stuff
and that commands a certain premium.
Good luck,
Tony