I am considering buying one of these, 327, 340hp, 4 speed, color changed on a restoration. Shows very nice and overall original, but the original engine was removed for future use and a 64 327 was built to 340hp for daily driver use today.

The original engine goes with the car and I can give it good storage, so it could be a neat situation to drive with the 64 engine and save the original engine for the next restoration. I haven't seen the original stored engine yet, but will if I can come to a deal on the car. I know how to verify the numbers, and realize the importance of that.

So here is the question, the car is close to original except for paint color, engine (original goes with car), generator replaced with alternator, radio changed. Paint is superb, and I want it as a driver, but could later restore to original or sell it to be restored. Original owner held it 41 years, second owner had it for 9, and the car a shows a believable 70k miles. What is this great looking car worth?

Thanks,

PCBeachDP

 

The good news is these cars never came with a generator, so that's something you don't have to worry about. With the original engine not in the car and running, you have to assume its going to take a fair amount of machine work to make it usable, plus the hassle factor of R&R, is a big deduct. Not original paint is another.

Assuming frame and birdcage is OK, and the interior is in good shape, I'd say $50,000.

 

I agree, max at 50K to protect yourself.

Boyan

 

Grab it while you can redo orginal engine and drive it at 15,000
a year it will last a long time life is short go for it also 63s are going thru the roof .
They are selling for 50.000 with out orginal engine .
The 67 big blocks have been going down in price .People are waiting for 63s to go down they will go up and stay up .Total cost for a restamp is around 7,000 if you can find a correct date there are hard to find. If you get it post some pictures Good luck

 

Based on what ?

 

Based on supply and demand its was talked about in the forum
You really cant fake a split window coup like a 67 big block corvette .
There are way maney more of them than were built .
also the popularity that comes with that being the first ,in its styling
and bad press in the begining from Duntoff . I have had one for 16 years it went up every year untill I sold it. I would like to have confindence in my stocks as much as a 63 coup. Thats what I Based
it on ,My personal view ,dont you feel the same . Look at the 57 fuilie

 

Never thought about it but it would be hard to fake a 63 coupe. The one year items make it very difficult. As to fuel or big block cars... faking them is a daily back yard occurrence. Many have unknowingly purchased fakes but they still make good drivers. I remember reading a 57 reunion where more fi cars showed than produced. It's surely a buyer beware world.

 

All of my classic cars have appreciated in price...bought my '66 Mustang convertible in 2003 for $17K and sold it for $25K 3 years later...same with my other classics. The real question is, do the one year only features of the '63 justify a run up in price over and above what other classics experience. My feeling is, yes, in the short term. Just like the '58s back in 2008 when there was a 50 year near frenzy. That has died down quite a bit. The SWC will be the same IMO.

 

The most valued 50 yr old vettes are no hit bodies and rust free cages.

Take whatever comes along with it.

Pro body work a plus.

Finding original parts is a hobby not meant as an investment though you can do that as well.

Back in the late 70s a dealer offered me an unheard of 10k for my split.

A good car will always appreciate especially a car that defines classic styling.

Your biggest problem will be wiping the drool off your fenders from onlookers on cruise nights.

 

Bought mine as a unhit body just striped it there was no way to tell
it was fixed right and no stuff came thru for who knows how long
it was black also . No evedence under fender whats so ever Went over this car a long time when I bought it looks to have been fixed across front fenders. back rest looks real good

 

i agree with frankie. the prices will go down a little in a year or so. jim

 

Hello

In 2004 when I bought my 63 Corvette.....For the money I had to work with..30k I saw many Corvettes that were basket cases. It was either NCRS restored or a piece of shieeet. Hard to find something in the middle...For two years I looked...I could have bought a 1963 split window that was in pieces and wrecked for (300 hp 4spd) for 25k or the car I have now for 31k...It was and easy decision for me..

Seems like the junk ones are worth even more today...

 

Back to the OP's question, what is the seller asking?

I agree with Frankie, buying a SWC right this minute is like buying gold at its highest point. The cars will never significantly lose value in my opinion, but I see them levelling off a bit in the next year or 2.

 

I'm curious why you or Frankie think this. Do you think all C1's and C2's are going to drop, or just SWC's? What do you think will cause this spike to quit and then drop or level off? What caused the spike?

 

We've had this entire argument in the 63 value thread, so I'm not going to hijack this thread with why I think its spiked. But to answer your other 2 questions, no I dont think all C1s and C2s are going to drop. They have already dropped. The point is the SWC is oddly high right this minute while the rest of the C1/2 market has flattened and stayed there. My personal opinion is that this artificial spike will level off a bit, as do most statistical anomalies over time. It's very possible my opinion could be wrong.

 

How else can I state it ?
You have first hand empirical evidence with the '58 'spike'. The forum was afire with 58 postings in 2008 and thereabouts; some time has passed and if you held many of these folks feet to the fire NOW about a later model C1 a whole lot would opt for the '62 for no other reason than the 327 engine. So put that into the context of a C2...a SWC with say, a 340hp upgrade, is still no BB (available on the later models)...

I DO believe that all vintage C1/C2s will maintain their value and continue to rise...they are unique American sports cars.

I have opined that the '63 spike in value OVER OTHER C2s may be short term and they will stabilize in 1,2 or 3 years and become commensurate once again with other C2s.

The SWCs seem to be going for a 20%-25% premium over later C2s in equivalent condition. I think that premium will erode in a few years.

Just saw that Vettebuyer5869 beat me to the punch by a few keystrokes with nearly the same argument as mine -- and I would say he has tons more experience buying/selling Corvettes than I do.

 

[QUOTE=Frankie the Fink;1584601141]How else can I state it ?
You have first hand empirical evidence with the '58 'spike'. The forum was afire with 58 postings in 2008 and thereabouts; some time has passed and if you held many of these folks feet to the fire NOW about a later model C1 a whole lot would opt for the '62 for no other reason than the 327 engine. So put that into the context of a C2...a SWC with say, a 340hp upgrade, is still no BB (available on the later models)...

I DO believe that all vintage C1/C2s will maintain their value and continue to rise...they are unique American sports cars.

I have opined that the '63 spike in value OVER OTHER C2s may be short term and they will stabilize in 1,2 or 3 years and become commensurate once again with other C2s.

The SWCs seem to be going for a 20%-25% premium over later C2s in equivalent condition. I think that premium will erode in a few years.

Just saw that Vettebuyer5869 beat me to the punch by a few keystrokes with nearly the same argument as mine -- and I would say he has tons more experience buying/selling Corvettes than I do.[/QUOT

I was there could not afford corvettes but remember why 58 corvettes
were not real popular there was too much chrome and the car looked big and cumbersome it related to women more so. The hood was liked alot and the design team favorite was Cadilac and Elvis and older crowd
after the 57 being slim and trim it was not going over to well for the 58

Being a red headed step child it came back in 2007 and settled
back to the market like you explained . also the big brake 58 corvette was rare '
I remember 62 came out with the new emblem
on center hood and the 327 it was everyones favorite then and faster then anything around. Its was the modern corvette to have real chevrolet powerhouse.

Then the real Chatter started The 63 was out all the younger people including myself loved the styling. the younger people. the old street rods at that time including the VW had spit windows. Thats why its an icon and continue to be so.It was the dairy queen show stopper.

Maybe its my age but it my opinion thats whats I remember. The forum members back me up if you agree.
To answer your question prices will continue to rise and its not comparible to the 58 Run, also they were always a step ahead of other
C2s except 65,66,67 big blocks all thru the 80,s 90, Today not only baby bomers like this car but the younger ones also.
Remberer thats my input only not articles repeating anytrhing I have read