if it was a project car, with that flakey front end; sanded/primered, needs some minor interior work, etc,and the price was right, like maybe $15K, I would buy it,(That is with me doing the work, and not farming it out) but a finished car with woohoos like that would not fly with me.

The existing 'glas forward of teh hood could probably be fixed, but you are talking some time (est 40 hours actual work, not including contemplation of how you are going to fix it) with a saber saw, several different size grinders, lots of measuring and jigging, and probably some metal work on struts and brackets to make it straight again...plus the time to strip the car and put on a real paint job that doesn't look like it was sprayed way too dry. It looks like the car hit a telephone pole,and the repair consisted of slapping some glas on the cracks,a nd painting the repaired area.

And you have to consider how **** you are...do you care if the underside of the fiberglas is as like new from the factory, or if it really doesn't matter to you if the underside shows repair evidence; that will make the difference between a new front end, and a good realignmemt and repair of the existing front end panels.

Doug

 

I have to thank TEP061 for causing me to spit my coffee out this morning in laughter, that plus reading PeteZ's return posts has me quite amused.

I haven't chimed in on this stuff much becuase you have all the possible opinions covered, but let me just point out that if the seller's first story was honest, these cannot be pictures from when the car was first fixed (post accident) when he owned an autobody repair shop, unless his own one car garage counts. And no former auto body man paints a car in those conditions unless he is just doing a little rattle can fixem up and sellit dance - is he going to hit the under side with a bunch of flat black too? Still, the car looks presentable for cruise in purposes, and if straight and rust-free and fresh systems all around, it will satisfy your need as expressed in your first post.

As for value, too many opinions already, but every C2 has some value, to you, or to the market when you go to sell it. Wrecks are going in the high teens, restored cars with $70K in are selling for $40K, etc, etc.

 

Those are new pics. I think he is definitely showing you that he is taking care of the issues for you at his cost. The second pic the nose is way less wavy. He sanded it down for sure.

Good luck with the 63. I wouldn't let it slip by yet. You might be able to get it for 35k after the repair work. I would however have the NCRS inspector road test the car as well for the service you paid for. I bought my 65 sight unseen with only pics and the dealer's word and LUCKILY the car was just as advertised and promised. I would never do that again, especially after the whole birdcage thread on here, but I got lucky and have been enjoying my stingray since then.

 

Well, He did email me last night about 30 minutes after he email the pics. I did not know this though, as for some reason he emailed the pics to my home and the later brief explanation to my work email, so I did not get it until this morning. As I suspected, he is fixing the car. I do not think he intends to paint the car there (as I said, he is retired, so I think he is doing the prep work and is going to have the car taken to a proper body shop for paint work). I also think he may have read these posts, as he made the comment as such here:

These are new pictures taken today. I have taken the car apart to correct the alignment issue and will be forwarding more information. I agree with some, but not all, of the corvette forum you sent. If you are still interested in the car I will send you pictures when the repairs are complete. I do not believe you can find a car this nice for $38,000

Before the ****'s among you tell me I am violating some sacred pact by posting the text of his email (like a few of you thought I was by posting the pics), please consider that nothing in this email is "private or privileged" info and I think he is reading this thread, so he can contact me or register if he wants to clarify anything and I will post it unless it is not relevant or is something I would consider to be private info that should not be posted.
Also, before you rip the poor guy a new one for his last sentence above, let's remember he has put a ton of work into the car, which the NCRS inspector did verify, and I do think it's a very nice car. Will I buy it? Who knows. The Laguna Blue 66 looks very nice also, and is original (at least from what everyone here knows) so it may be worth the difference if the deal comes together. I can not hide that I do hold a little torch for SWC's though, so it might come down to who is ready to make close the deal first. I have been looking for almost 4 years (and to be honest I still have a few Chevy/Corvette Trader issues from the late 80's/Early 90's around, which shows you how long I have been interested).I can always buy both!

 

I think Y'all are missing the "message".....

The 2 picts. , without ANY comments, says it all....

It appears as tho the guy sent those picts of the way he feels about the whole thing now....

A SCREAMING BANSHI - AS IF TO SAY SHOVE IT.......

 

Good deal! It sounds like he is at least realizing that the nose was really off and making good on it. 63s are the toughest to get. I always wanted a 63 and settled for a 65 so if you really are hung up on the splits (who isn't) then get one (not necessarliy this one either) but you know what I mean.

Post up pics when you do find the one you decide on buying.

 

Dude, if you read the whole message the seller sent the reply to the other email address accidentally. It sounds like he's honest and trying to make good on it.

 

A few of you guys really seem to have a bad view of people. Is this because this is the way you would have handled it if you were him, or because someone has told you where to stick it in a similar scenario?

 

I have no idea what your hang up with this car is. The price isnt that great, everyone and there dad will ask 35 to 50 for an average C2. The price goes down from the asking number. I would keep looking before you kick yourself. This time of year the cars should be a little less. There shouldnt be as many buyers. Hell i seen some nice c3 and i mean nice c3s NOM go across barrett for less than 55. Remember this (The best investment on a car is the initial investment.) Meaning at time of purchase your going to get the best BANG for the BUCK. If you dont know how to do the work yourself your throwing your money away.

 

In your first post, I though you said he is a retired bodyman, if that's true, he maybe fixing it.
After your inspection, it looks and sounds like a nice car.
If it runs good, no major suspension or drivetrain problems, I like it.
35-40k for a nice driver, that everything works in it, I don't see a problem with that. Go find a # matching and pay 80-100k and then don't drive it.

 

My hang up is that I do not see any Original motor C2 SWC's that are not older restorations or need other items that are selling for less than 55-60K, which I do not want to pay at this point (there may 50 of them here on the forum for sale that I am overlooking, but I do not want to post a few examples of cars i see for sale here and then pick them apart, as that would only cause hurt feelings or defensive responses, all to prove a point). I do not consider this car to be an Average C2. It might be worse in some areas, but is far better in some others that matter to me. To me an Average 35K C2 is NOM, needs paint/and or stress crack repair, needs a frame off to detail and refurb the frame, suspension, etc. and might need drivetrain overhaul. Most will also need a pricey interior overhaul (instrument refurb and a new 63 glovebox door are not cheap, but 2 items I would look at everytime I got into the car, so I would wnat them to look great). That Laguna Blue 66 is a somewhat fresh Resto and might be right up my alley if the car is as represented and still on the market, even though I really like SWC's. I would even consider a Roadster. I am not looking at this as an investment like many of you. I am buying with my heart, not my head, so ROI is not what keeps me up at night. To me, those who buy purely on the basis of how much money they can make when they flip the car are curbstoners, not enthusiasts. I want a car I can be proud of to mere mortal people, not NCRS-types and that needs no major items to be where I want it, condition-wise. A normal person would see this car and say WOW, not "that motors not original and those poly bushings are all wrong, your frame is too glossy", etc. If I did find an fully restored orginal car I would not be at all opposed to considering it, as long as it was the right color and tranny, as I am a White, Blue, Silver kinda guy, more than a Green, Black, Red, Saddle one, and I want a 4 speed. That is of course considering my first requirement: I do not want to spend a ton while I get my feet wet (or possibly drown according to a few of you) in the Corvette Hobby.

 

Regardless of facts, I think the warm, fuzzy feelin' bond between trusted seller and respected buyer is gone. Work on the '66.

Bud.

 

I really don't know where you guys get the time to type so much! Buy the car after you see the new "nose job" and head down the road!

 

Forget the SWC, go for the '66 Laguna Blue one. There is not a better year and color on the planet!!! Well, I might be just a little bit jaded...

 

LOL, I agree the color is the only thing that attracts me to a 66 more than other years. I like the Glovebox Door, Instrument Cluster and of course Split on a 63 more, and the outside lines of the 67 are the nicest, but none are that wonderful color!

 

My advice (since everyone is pitching in) and personal experience is WAIT. The right car will come along when you least expect. I bought a perfect (and I mean perfect) unmolested SWC from Contes Corvettes with # matching 327/300 (look at my corvette pictures) saddle / saddle, leather seats, knock-Off Wheels for $45,900.

WAIT, go to Carlisle, look around and WAIT.

 

I own my own company, so no one can really "bust me" passing time on a car forum

 

It's not a lack of trust, since the seller told me upfront about the accident. Odd that he chose to repair it without consulting me, but at this point it is his car to do with what he wants, and I can only guess reading this forum (the other thread) made him decide the best way to make the car more attractive to me or another potential buyer is to correct that issue. What remains to be seen is how good the repair is done. In the meantime, another member here is helping me with the 66, which I am grateful for the assistance.

 

While the two might not be mutualy exclusive I do think that most people favor one or the other. I bought mine a few years ago and have put about half the purchase price into it since then. Any financial planner would laugh at my choices, but some choices don't appear on the surface to make much sense. The true determining factor may just be your happiness or quality of life.
Informed decisions are always best, but overanalysing (is that an actual word) everything soley on the financial outcome seems excessive.

PS. I think this forum is great and I have visited it every day since I started looking for my car over five years ago. These folks are honest, sometimes to a fault, and very knowledgable.

 

I put 5 times what I paid for my basket case into it in two years. It has proved to be a better investment than most of the funds on wall street. Every time the market dives I go to the garage and wax my "investment". Then I take it for a 600 to 4000 mile ride.

Try doing that with a mutual fund.