Assessment of 1967 Corvette birdcage and frame
#1
Assessment of 1967 Corvette birdcage and frame
I found a 1967 coupe for a fairly reasonable price, however I am concerned by the condition of the birdcage and frame. I've attached a group of pictures I have, I don't have any more. Could anyone knowledgeable about birdcage rust and frame rust give me an assessment of the car. What would a reasonable price be for this car? Should I run away? Thanks in advance.
#2
Le Mans Master
From looking at the pictures there is a lot of rust around on the birdcage and that is alot of expensive work.
Do yourself a favor and dont buy it
Look at the right top corner the rust have cracked the fiberglass.
I say its a big big no no. Buth other than that its a beatyful car. It is all the rust on the birdcage that rings my alarm bell.
Do yourself a favor and dont buy it
Look at the right top corner the rust have cracked the fiberglass.
I say its a big big no no. Buth other than that its a beatyful car. It is all the rust on the birdcage that rings my alarm bell.
Last edited by TheSaint; 04-24-2010 at 06:38 PM.
#3
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Thats hard to say, the car needs a complete frame-off restoration.
Most importent is the condition of the birdcage. which is not shown on the pictures properly, the windowframe does not look promissing.The frame can be replace or welded but replacing the birdcage is an other story.
Also how original the car is plays a role is giving a price estimate.
Is this an original BB car? On one of the pictures I see a rear swaybar.
Ray
Most importent is the condition of the birdcage. which is not shown on the pictures properly, the windowframe does not look promissing.The frame can be replace or welded but replacing the birdcage is an other story.
Also how original the car is plays a role is giving a price estimate.
Is this an original BB car? On one of the pictures I see a rear swaybar.
Ray
#6
Race Director
Run Forrest, Run!!! If you can see that much rust in the parts of the birdcage that are visible, just think what the areas that you can't see are like.
Time to pass on this car and find something else, this car spells trouble with a capital T.
Rick
Time to pass on this car and find something else, this car spells trouble with a capital T.
Rick
#7
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That is in horrible condition. I have never seen the windshield and B-pillars that rusty on a coupe. I wouldn't touch that car unless it was free. And even then, I doubt it could be more than a parts car.
On a side note, the rear sway bar suggests it COULD have been a 427 car as someone else mentioned. It doesn't have a 427 core support or any other parts (based on the pictures) to support it being a factory BB.
On a side note, the rear sway bar suggests it COULD have been a 427 car as someone else mentioned. It doesn't have a 427 core support or any other parts (based on the pictures) to support it being a factory BB.
#9
Melting Slicks
That is in horrible condition. I have never seen the windshield and B-pillars that rusty on a coupe. I wouldn't touch that car unless it was free. And even then, I doubt it could be more than a parts car.
On a side note, the rear sway bar suggests it COULD have been a 427 car as someone else mentioned. It doesn't have a 427 core support or any other parts (based on the pictures) to support it being a factory BB.
On a side note, the rear sway bar suggests it COULD have been a 427 car as someone else mentioned. It doesn't have a 427 core support or any other parts (based on the pictures) to support it being a factory BB.
the rear bar is an aftermarket piece, and a few other things suggest it was originally a small block car.
Harry
#14
Melting Slicks
This car is for sale at GullWing motors in NYC. Watch out they usually sell crap. I have been there many times and not once have I seen anything good.
#15
Melting Slicks
From the pictures you have posted, you looking at both L & R windshield post assemblies (inner & outer posts), lower windshield frame assembly, both door lock pillars and upper frame connector pieces, L&R door sill assemblies, upper windshield frame, both L& R upper frame corners.
Probably looking at upper door frames too. Run you hand along the fiberglass and see if you feel any raised places. If you do, you can bet they have rust problems too. More than likely the both front pillar assemblies have rust in them also. I'm guessing you are within a couple of pieces of replacing the entire birdcage.
All the Birdcage pieces common between Convertible and Coupe have been reproduced. You would need to contact Caledonia Classics to see how far along the coupe only pieces are in being reproduced. The two upper corners pieces are hard to find used.
Frame has rust also and will need at least some frame repair pieces too. You want to examine it closely to see what needs replacing. That's not cheap.
I don't know what you consider reasonable, but it would be no more than $7,500.00 for me based on parts cost I can see, and I'm not sure I'd even want that in it, unless I knew all the birdcage parts were available, and I was going to make a restomod car out of it. It's not a number matching car so it's not worth going stock route.
Better be able to do your on work are have a large trunk full of money to pay someone else to do it, or like the man said, RUN Forest RUN!!!!.
Last edited by Poorhousenext; 04-24-2010 at 08:18 PM.
#16
Tech Contributor
At this point I think that car has become simply a storage facility for reusable parts. I don't know of any way to fix all of those problems without being upside down in the car in terms of value (if such things are important).
#17
Le Mans Master
I have seen worse. In fact I have (with help) repaired worse.
The rust in the B pillars means complete disassembly of the body from the birdcage on the uprights. This is a minimum and I suspect more damage that is not currently visible.
The frame rot is repairable with replacement sections but expensive. You could probably finance a new, upgraded frame from one of the aftermarket suppliers like Jamieson, Street Shop or Newman for less than the price of the frame repairs. The labor to pull the body is already there in either case.
I am giving a WAG of at least $15,000.00 for the repairs as visible if you take it to a competent shop.
Having been through this myself I don't recommend doing it. I most certainly wouldn't do it again as now there are options that didn't exist when I was going through the process.
Rich
The rust in the B pillars means complete disassembly of the body from the birdcage on the uprights. This is a minimum and I suspect more damage that is not currently visible.
The frame rot is repairable with replacement sections but expensive. You could probably finance a new, upgraded frame from one of the aftermarket suppliers like Jamieson, Street Shop or Newman for less than the price of the frame repairs. The labor to pull the body is already there in either case.
I am giving a WAG of at least $15,000.00 for the repairs as visible if you take it to a competent shop.
Having been through this myself I don't recommend doing it. I most certainly wouldn't do it again as now there are options that didn't exist when I was going through the process.
Rich