As some may remember, I introduced myself several months ago and had some rookie questions which were answered in very helpful terms. Again, I thank everyone for their input then.

Time for more questions. In review, my 57 is a very original and unmolested early (Oct 56) 270hp with both tops. One repaint (Cascade Green/Beige) in the 80's and mechanically 100% correct and well maintained (all mechanicals are fresh; less than 2500 miles). It is everything I would expect to see in a 50 year old unrestored car. It drives good and everything is servicable but showing some age etc. I am, however, a lifelong HOTRODDER; early Fords etc.. As such, I am on the proverbial horns of a dilemma.

My preference would be to shorten the steering column and attach a 15" wheel, repaint to a non-original color, lower the front a small amount, put on some 5 spoke Americans, perhaps change out the interior and drive it. However, I have been cautioned that I may, in fact, be jeapordizing the car's value if I do some of these things.

Should I sell this car and look for another car that is less original? I do have an eye out, ALWAYS, for value and don't want to shoot myself in the foot. And I KNOW that it is my car and that I can do anything I want to it. But does it make sense? There can't be too many originals left out there.

Thanks for the input.

 

I'm sure purests will take a different view, but as you say its your car and the most important thing is that you're happy with it and that you enjoy the car. If you're worried about hurting the value of an original car, one solution would be to make the mods you want as long as they can be easily reversed. Save all of the original parts and then return the car to its original form when and if you decide to sell it. For example, not unusual for guys to replace the original engine with a crate motor, keeping the original one in storeage to be put back in later.

 

I agree with the previous post by 65Corvette. It's your car so do with it as you wish, but if you want to take what sounds like a very original '57 and mod it I'd at least suggest make any mods you do as simple bolt-on kinds so if you decide to take it back to original stock condition or decide to sell it it can go back to stock condition again without major work required.
Generally speaking, a stock, original motor '57 in proper "as delievered" condition including proper paint color, motor, etc will bring the highest values on resell but while you own the car enjoy it however you wish.
The idea of a crate motor is also a good one if you are looking to hotrod it. My '65 still has the original motor and tranny in it and when I have the $$$ to do it i plan on pulling both to store and preserve them and dropping in a crate motor and 5-speed for my enjoyment. The original motor and tranny will be kept in case i ever decide to sell the car or when my estate may sell the car

 

If it were me ...Like they Say.....

I would put that puppy back to original as much as I can ..clean her up real nice and pretty like...get all my documentation together.. and Give old Barrette Jackson a holler.and dump that puppy for a 100 Large..!!..Or what ever..You Get My Point here...

My point being that it's worth alot more as close to stock with paper work ..which will lead you to that Corvette Resto Mod that you want to do.

If your an old hot rodder .then stock after a while can get blan. If you can afford to buy another Vette to do what you want ..then that's a another way to go.

Changing what you have now even keeping old parts for a reassembly later puts you in the I can only do so much with out killing the original thing.

Save her for someone who wants stock...Early C-1's are getting rare.. Make some money and move up to someting you can Hot Rod.

 

It seems like well executed Resto-Mods are passing the retored-as-original cars for value in the market place.

I do agree that you don't want to throw anything away.

But how about a third option?

Rather than sell your car and get a less original replacement to mod; why not customize yours and simply sell the pieces you remove from your car?

The $$ can help finance your customization, the parts will go to someone who really wants them and you're better off because you already have this car and you know it. Who knows what you'd be buying into?

Selling the parts may be better than having them sitting in a dusty corner somewhere rotting away. And you don't have to worry about when the day comes and your kids have to come clean out your garage and they'll wonder what all that stuff is and why you saved it all those years.

And colors? Heck, paint is paint. Let the next guy worry about the color.

 

The problem with the "Hot Rod fever" is knowing when to stop. I intentionally purchased a non original Vette that had been raced at one point, so that I can modify it without people giving me grief. If someone in the future wants to restore it, then so be it, but don't expect me to save the crap I take off it (old wornout parts are just junk to me or are Ebayed to fund new parts).

Please note also that well done Vettes (and most other cars), be they original or modified are still drawing big bucks. The quality of the vehicle is what matters. It is just that the modified vehicles have to have the overall "appeal" to sell, and may be more difficult to sell depending on the market than an original Vette. But I am sure there are more than enough people out there looking for non-original Vettes!

If I was in your shoes, I would probably sell the 57, and then look for another one that is less original. You can probably make enough off the sale to fund another one that is less original, and have extra left over for some hot rod parts. Just need to find a buyer now!

Let the flames begin!
Plasticman

 

seaside is that you ? or someone posting as you ?

That's exactly what I did. I had a barn fresh matching #'s 245 horse '57 that was original right down to the brass tags on the carbs. I owned the car right $$$ wise, but I wanted a Hot Rod.

I tried to sell the car and buy another, but I couldn't get enough for it where I would be able to afford the car I wanted to build. None of the numbers matching heroes would come up with $35k for the car, so I just used what I had.

I raised enough money selling off the original parts to just about cover the complete cost of the new rolling SRIII chassis, and made a few restorers happy in the process.

What I did is more extreme than your plan. Everything you're proposing is easily reversible. I say build it the way you want, and in your case keep the original parts until you sell it.

As for the paint. You can really hurt the resale value with a weird color paint. If you stick with a stock color it won't hurt as much as there is no way to prove color on solid axle car.

IMHO though there are already plenty of restored by the book '57's out there. Life is short. Do whatever puts a smile on your face.

 

I'm with Viet Nam Vette... I am not a purist, I drool over modified Vettes as well as original examples.

But I, too, think you could get enough for your original car to allow you to buy a project car and have money left over to buy hot rod parts. Things that you can easily reverse, like wheels and steering column, are one thing, but when they get irreversible, then I think it's really a shame to molest an original example. If you went out looking for a hotrod project, you'd be foolish to pay the price for an original car in this condition, considering you want to refurbish/alter it anyway, so why do it just because you already own it?

 

Heaven knows that I have built my share of hot rods, resto-rods, and the like, but I would never start modifying a correct, original car that is a good candidate for restoration. I would sell the original car and buy a car that is not as correct. I love hot rods, but I love original cars as well, and I could never bring myself to mess up a completely original Corvette. I have restored NCRS Top Flight cars and built Resto-Mods, and the car that is a candidate for a Resto-Mod, would probably never be restored, and I think that it should be kept that way. It is, after all, your car and you can do with it as you will, but that is my $.02.


Regards, John McGraw

 

I'm more of a purist than not. I appreciate originality more than wild customs as far as early Vettes go.
I say do those sort of mods, but keep in mind that you might want to be able to return it to original if you ever need to. mods-yes, butchery-no.

 

Dave

 

Maybe you can find a '57 owner that wants to "trade up" - his non-original car plus cash for yours?

Saves him the hunt for rare parts, saves you the hassle of selling and buying a replacement.

 

Looking back I love every mod I have made to my vette but If my car wasnt such a beater and didnt have the right engine, powerglide, crashed up with bad repairs and many long lost parts to begin with I wouldnt mess with a stock and very original car.

 

Thanks to all who replied. My dilemma continues but.................maybe I should just trade for a small block mid-year and be done with it all. Thanks again!

 

Whatever you do, don't do that. I've done it twice and regretted it each time. Don't get me wrong midyears are great, and I would love to add one to my stable, but if you're used to a solid axle the midyear just can't replace the feeling.