newmber old question
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1
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newmber old question
just purchased 1961 corvette 283/270. Although the numbers on the front shelf are not there, I have checked the rear block #'s the carb#'s (it's a quad set up) as well as the distributor#'s they all match. I was told the engine heads may have been "decked" and back in the day numbers were not as important as todays standards suggest. Is it logical to assume that this is a numbers matching car and what steps if any can I take?
The car was sold by the family, the 75 year old owner had recently past away and there is no paper trail to the cars history.
I appreciate your interest and advice.
larry
The car was sold by the family, the 75 year old owner had recently past away and there is no paper trail to the cars history.
I appreciate your interest and advice.
larry
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 642
From: Bandera Texas
Welcome to the forum. There are many good people here to help you.
Did the family give you any history as to where DAD bought the car? Did they have any owner history?
How about service tickets. Mechanics and shops usually know ''all' the stories about a lot of these cars.
If you join NCRS (see www.ncrs.org) you may find an area chapter with members that may know of the car. Same hold true about local Corvette clubs. Ask a family relative these questions, they may have lots of info that no one passed on.
Two years ago a good friend bought a 65 convertible. Similar estate sale. This spring the son called and said he had some paperwork. Well he had the window sticker, Protecto plate and all service tickets back to day one. 3 owner history was also there.
So maybe you will get lucky.
Did the family give you any history as to where DAD bought the car? Did they have any owner history?
How about service tickets. Mechanics and shops usually know ''all' the stories about a lot of these cars.
If you join NCRS (see www.ncrs.org) you may find an area chapter with members that may know of the car. Same hold true about local Corvette clubs. Ask a family relative these questions, they may have lots of info that no one passed on.
Two years ago a good friend bought a 65 convertible. Similar estate sale. This spring the son called and said he had some paperwork. Well he had the window sticker, Protecto plate and all service tickets back to day one. 3 owner history was also there.
So maybe you will get lucky.
Last edited by jimgessner; Oct 30, 2013 at 10:49 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
Its not logical to assume its a numbers matching car, if, there are NO numbers to match. If your engine stamp pad is blank, you won't convince anybody its the original engine - not enough to fork over extra $$$ for the car from a seller leastwise.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,490
Likes: 808
From: East Central Florida
Welcome to CF Larry!
Over 27 years ago I bought my '59. It had a '61 270hp Corvette engine in it.....110243x FI026CU. Cast date J200.
In 1995 I pulled that engine for rebuild. At that time the 1961 Corvette that was originally shipped from St Louis with the engine that's in my '59 was for sale in the NCRS Driveline Summer Issue. It was advertised as "matching numbers".
I called the owner and asked what matching numbers engine was in the car. He said a 245hp. I said "Nope that car originally had a 270hp". He said "How do you know?" I said "It's in my '59!" He said "Damn, I was looking for that engine for ten years."
I rebuilt the '61 engine then and today it's still in my '59.
Rich
Over 27 years ago I bought my '59. It had a '61 270hp Corvette engine in it.....110243x FI026CU. Cast date J200.
In 1995 I pulled that engine for rebuild. At that time the 1961 Corvette that was originally shipped from St Louis with the engine that's in my '59 was for sale in the NCRS Driveline Summer Issue. It was advertised as "matching numbers".
I called the owner and asked what matching numbers engine was in the car. He said a 245hp. I said "Nope that car originally had a 270hp". He said "How do you know?" I said "It's in my '59!" He said "Damn, I was looking for that engine for ten years."
I rebuilt the '61 engine then and today it's still in my '59.
Rich
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,002
Likes: 825
Welcome to the forum! Great to have you here and congrats on your 'Vette.
William R.
Chevrolet Customer Care
