wkidvette

I located a 64 Corvette numbers matching convertible for sale with 40k miles, good condition, the interior and exterior have been well maintained, but never restored. It's configured with the base 327/250hp and 3 speed manual transmission, the only options are the P48 wheels and the U69 radio. Not being a C2 expert, my question is how does the base engine and transmission impact its value? Does it increase, decrease or makes little difference? What would you estimate a fair selling price?

vettebuyer6369

I believe the base motor and 3 speed would make the car less valuable than comparable but higher option '64s, which in turn, probably unfairly, tend to sell for a bit less than comparable other year midyears.

No price estimate is legitimate without a few pictures. That car could have a '67 nose glued on it for all we know.

However if you are new to the cars, I'd be focused on verifying that those matching numbers actually do match and are not an obvious restamp. I'd also need to be convinced that the car actually has 40k miles. Short of a string of documentation, I'd be skeptical. I'd also want someone who knows what they are doing to inspect the body and frame for damage, and the frame and birdcage for rust.

Frankie the Fink

with all of the above....the only advantage of a base motor is that most likely nobody tried to restamp it; wouldn't be much point....and although possible, it most likely hasn't been "dogged to death"...

They are nice, civilized, peppy motors - but no barn burners for sure

65hihp

I concur with Vettebuyer, that 250 hp engine seriously hurts the value of an already devalued mid-year. Start there.
Then add the 3 speed and you have taken at least half of the potential buying market away which hurts value more. So, this car might suit your wants and needs perfectly and given you will have little competition to buy it, you might get it cheap. IF it is just as you say, with no hidden land mines, I would value the car from your description only as mid $30s. You say the car has RPO P48 which I find surprising on a "no option" mid-year. I suspect those are repro wheels. But if by chance they are real KH, then you have $5000 sitting right there in the wheels alone.
good luck

Zoomin

Sounds like a good entry level C2. A fair asking price would be $40,000, which is a different matter from a fair buying price. See 65hihp's post for that.

mikelj

This car just sold at Mecum Kissimmee for $42K+ commission. It was a screaming bargain, but if it had a 3speed and base engine, it would be low $30K.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0117-27...e-convertible/

wkidvette

Here are a few pictures.

Frankie the Fink

That's not a bad looking car; if your concern is originality (other than the engine) you better price ignition shielding for a radio-optioned car....it'll be a nice 'hit' to buy the entire repro suite of shielding...

provette67

Those are not P48 wheels

Mike67nv

It may just be the angle of the third pic, but the antenna looks to be mounted forward of the gas door. It was very common for after-market radio installations (even by dealers) to install the antenna from inside the rear compartment (instead of behind the compartment). It would also explain the absence of the radio shielding and consistent with a lot of 3-speeds being ordered without a radio.

It's a relatively minor issue but if you're serious about buying the car, you might take a peak inside of the rear compartment to see if the antenna mount and cable are visible. It's possible it was no option car originally.

wkidvette

The P48 wheels are in storage so I assume they did not originally come on the car or are repro's.

C2 Hot Cam Guy

Yes base engine but the 3 spd makes it rarer. Have someone look at the frame like vettebuyer said . Looks like a high 30s car from pics

65hihp

rare is not always desirable, or valuable.
A 3 speed is unusual, but not desirable.

phil2302

Antenna position looks ok.
Very common for shielding to be missing.
Looks like a pretty nice car. For a less than 40K price tag I would put the 3 spd on the shelf give it a 4 speed do a few things to wake up the 250 and drive the heck out of it.

CrossedUp

Hi Phil,

Not meaning to hijack the OP's thread but, since I own a '65 250, I'd be interested in what kinds of things would you recommend doing to "wake up the 250"?

Thanks,
-Doug

Frankie the Fink

First and cheapest thing to try is to recurve the distributor/advance map....it can yield a nice seat of the pants bump. Cheap and easy.

The lazy, conservative factory mapping is not optimal at all...

emccomas

The "upside" to a base motor, 3 speed car is that you can replace it with a correctly dated 4 speed with no issues.

The engine code is the same, and those early cars did not have the transmission stamped with the VIN.

I can't recall when transmission were stamped for low horse motors. Anyone recall?

UPDATE:

OK, I did some checking and found out that transmissions were stamped with the VIN derivative starting in 1960, when the engines started to be stamped with VIN derivatives.

wkidvette

Can you provide details regarding how this is accomplished? What other recommendations for tweaking a little more performance from it?

Frankie the Fink

That would be incorrect...
However tranny stamps are not judged...

Frankie the Fink

That is a whole other topic.....lots of info on here about it...If you want to read up on it... The base motors can stand quite a bit of initial advance (I run mine at 16*) and the advance curve farther up the RPM band can be brought in earlier. Here is the map for my distributor...after Lars (the distributor "man") was done with it.

Some engine checks are incredibly simple; I've seen more than a few cars where the throttle linkage doesn't even open the carb plates up all the way -- a one minute adjustment.

Don't want to hijack this thread so you could start your own on the topic