Do I actually need to say anything :D

Actually, while I obviously don't mind more major mods, I do want to keep the basic lines (after all, that is what makes it a classic). Just with a few tweaks to clean it up. And no, I don't think all of them need to be modified, a nice clean original is also a very worth while effort.

-Greg

 

It is your car to enjoy !! If you want to mod it -- then mod it.

 

Do whatever makes you happy! I have no problem with mods but if the car is a rare peice or a benchmark quality car then I would go with the originality route.

 

Yeah but everybody thinks that their 66 300 HP 4 Speed Roadster with no options is a rare, historically significant piece of Americana. Don't ya know that just the fact that it has no optons makes it rare and significant and for that reason alone it should be preserved?

Sung to the tune of the Zoom Zoom Zoom Ads: "Mods Mods Mods"


[Modified by TheOman, 6:37 AM 2/8/2002]

 

Both options, mod or no mod have their place. With my '58, I am very carefull to keep it as original as possible. The car is getting too valuable to mess with. the '75 is another story. The Vette Brakes suspension and the 383 make it a delight to drive and turns a mediocre stock performer into a great sleeper. None the less, even with '75 I retained the stock look, right down to the cast iron exhaust manifolds and the orange paint on the aluminium intake. I also kept all the original parts and made sure I didn't do anything I could not bring back to stock. Even a lowly '75 coupe in great shape is getting rare these days. Remember when mid-years where cheap?

Now, if I had more money and more room, I would love to get a beater '65 coupe that was beyond a back-to-original restoration and add a 502 crate motor, or, do a concept '57 with a stroker and C4 chassis....

Lets see:

4-post hoist: $5,000
Garage additon: $20,000
Concept '57: $30,000
Divorce: Priceless......

Nah! :D

 

AS enjoying my 66 big/block is driveing as much as possible ....Any modification to improve performance & reliability is OK...but keep the body stock.......Except I put on Cragers ...will by a set of knockoffs , if the stock market recovers.........the more you drive your Vette :yesnod: the happier you will be ...for example get rid of points & go with MSD , get rid of heavy metal antique rear spring & go mono leaf, get rid of heavy iron heads go Alum , put on radials & radial tuned shocks.............just babling ...but it works for me..........


[Modified by StrayDog, 9:56 AM 2/9/2002]

 

Remmeber that anything that can be bolted on can be bolted off. Save the original parts and don't worry about it. :cheers:

 

Bill,

You've raised the age old question that often confronts most folks in the car hobby. Having been on both sides of the question I personally would not modify a real "all original" car unless it was the type of modification that could be easily reversed. In my mind those cars are special and it's best, from a value and historical standpoint, to retain them in their original condition.

Having said that, there are lots of cars out there that don't fall into that category and you should feel free to do whatever you want that suites your idea of what a Corvette should be. For us building them the way you want gives you the chance to make the kind of changes that suits your tastes and we've never had more fun in the hobby.

For us we like to look at them all as each has their rightful place. What we enjoy, besides the cars themselves, are the many nice folks that are real enthusiasts. There are many ways to enjoy the hobby and it certainly should be broad enough to accept them all.

Rich Lagasse

 

Something inside me says "keep it #'s matching", but the kid in me says "go for it!" My 64 Roadster came with the original short block in a box, so I'll rebuild that and keep it in storage. In the meantime, the replacement 327 is being modified to make it 365hp (or more...) :)
I love acceleration!!!!

 

I own two solid axle Corvettes that are mostly original. I know the trend in the hobby now is toward modification when it improves ride and performance. From a value standpoint,however, the stock Corvettes probably maintain the higher value. I guess most buyers prefer a stock car verses a modified one that has someone else's ideas. Like most of you, I think bolt on modifications are OK as long as the car can be returned to original when desired. But let's enjoy the cars either way.

 

In general, modify away. If you have a great example of an unrestored original car then it might be best to leave it alone, but otherwise it is a car. Corvette's were actually manufactured and sold to be driven, and driven hard. Why limit yourself to an average car when you can have modern levels of performance in a package that looks better than 99.9% of anything else on the road?

This is why I now have a theft recovery car. Transmission is from a '67, engine was a CE factory replacement block, interior is from a '67, hood is from a '67, brakes got removed and replaced with Wilwoods (10 pounds lighter and a lot more reliable), etc. I really like the lines of the car, so I have actually taken a modified body and made it look stock...

 

I think part of the problem is that we're trying to define something which defies description- taste.

I've seen 'numbers matching' cars which were mechanically modified but, since those componants which are vin stamped were still there, they can legitimately be called 'numbers matching' which, to my consideration, renders the expression 'numbers matching' moot.

While I admire those cars which are maintained 'original' (ie: never modified) I don't think I would want to own one. It'd be too constrictive. Considering the improvements which have been made as technology advances, why shouldn't my car benefit from easier maintanence, improved reliability and performance? Why would I seek laquor paint when Base-Clear is a better product? I don't think any owner should have to feel guilty for improving their car but again, define improvement!

Ultimately, the 'original' cars are going to be worth more money as collectors who don't drive their cars (they don't care whether or not their cars are reliable as long as they'll start and drive onto the trailer) seek cars which are frozen in time- exactly what the factory produced and nothing else. As time goes by, those cars become more and more rare, hence the value increases even more. So, in a fundamental way, a group of people who don't appreciate Corvettes as anything other than an ascending asset have control over those of us who enjoy Corvettes as a hobby. :nonod:

 

Having grown up when everyone customized or hot rodded their Vettes, I have a special love for those. But during that time, there was a special significance for those cars that survived, and were still all original and untouched.

So my take is to have fun, enjoy your car the way it is or you want it to be, and let others have fun. The only restriction I'd put on that is this:

1. Modify anyway you desire, but do it to only to cars that have been modified or destroyed.

2. Cars that are all stock or survivors, let them survive. Keep them stock, and modify the others.

Doc

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/3001

 

It's your car and your money. Some folks have criticised me for modifying a numbers matching car but I don't lose any sleep over their opinions. I bought the car for MY pleasure and my pleasure includes improving it's performance. I've saved all the stock components so it'd be no big deal to reinstall them if wanted to put it back to stock.

 

This is an interesting thread.
I have decided you can have both.
My 1st post on this forum was that very question.
Restore? or leave as is?. After reading several opinions,
and weighing everything out, I decided to leave it alone.
Including the major suspension
modifications, & trimmed fenders. (really fun to drive like this)
So my car will remain
an Original drivetrain / paint/ int, ..........modified car.
It would be easy to put back (have all the parts), and
get its 1st re-paint.
But have decided not to.
It was a tough decision.
Spent 4 years pondering what direction to go,
Then a year or so ago I made my decision.
There just are not that many survivor cars out there.
And in 10 year's there will be even fewer.
And when yours is parked next to mine, yours will generate
more attention. Paint is the visual magnet for most people.
And what I hear is "when are you going to get it painted?
(Orig paint is checked)
Or, "I could really do something with this car"
If anyone is really interested, I will tell them about the cars
history. But it does not happen very often.
To most, it just looks like a good candidate for an easy
restoration. And ask me if I want to sell it...... cheap.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Kinda like being Rodney Dangerfield.....
But, it makes me happy. And that's what the hobby is all about.
Once everyone figures that out, it really is a lot more fun!

 

Mac has several good points about the value of Corvettes. Having come from an era where mild customizing was the thing to do to cars (the fabulous 50's) I wanted my Fords (can you imagine?) to look different than all the others. I usually changed the appearance more than the mechanical aspects, probably because it was easier and I didn't know that much about improving performance.
My '57 and '61 are mostly original and I am not about to start modifying them now. But I do drive them and enjoy them. They are not nor will they ever be trailer queens as long as I own them. Those of you who want to modify your Corvettes will still get the wave from me.

 

To me I don't care if my modified car is not worth as much as a "matching car" is worth because IM never going to sell it I will give it to my son and hopefully he will give it to his kid. I don't think people that mod there cars think it is going to make there car worth more. I just think they like to do it for the fun and the way they want it to look. If I had a dollar for ever body that said why did you do that for I would be rich. I just wish I had more money because there are things that I cant wait to do to the car.

PS: I have a lot of matching numbers they just match other cars :lol: :lol:

 

This is one of the threads which lead me to create a poll re: numbers vs modified vs ???? Come on over and vote!!


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zero...postid=2327504

 

I have to agree with Mark (396 RAT)

I was very lucky when I bought my car..
It has very low mileage and lived a very pampered life.

But,
It has always been a fence issue with me..
It's too original to modify..
The original paint looks great
It has a few checks and a few rock dings
Everyone tells me they add character :rolleyes:

Very few items have ever been replaced or taken off the car.

This causes problems for someone like me
I drive my car...
I wouldn't own it if I couldn't
So do I replace the normal wear items with the "Correct" number'ed items costing several times more than the over the counter relacements.. ?
I just replaced the original heater hoses.. Almost can't believe they were still on the car.. But do I buy the $55 Correct stuff :crazy:
or the $8 replacement :yesnod:
Same goes for the rad cap... $30 vs $4
Yeah right!!!

Modified:
If I did replace them with this "Correct" stuff, is it "Correct"???

I will do my best to keep the car original
But I will drive it
If something breaks... Did I say if.... I mean when
I will fix it....

I have never made money on ANY car..
I didn't buy this one with any different intentions...

I enjoy the car, and the friends I have found along the way..

It's just great outside today...
I think I'm going to go for a little ride
Maybe to the BEACH :D

Tony



[Modified by pittsaj, 1:04 PM 3/3/2002]