Detroit Auto Show Turns Up 1965 Corvette Barn-Find
02-03-2016, 02:19 PM
#1
CorvetteForum Editor
Thread Starter
Detroit Auto Show Turns Up 1965 Corvette Barn-Find
A blogger learned about the whereabouts of a '65 Corvette barn-find while attending the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Read the rest on the Corvette Forum homepage. >>
02-03-2016, 03:03 PM
#2
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2015
Location: Fresno California
Posts: 17,505
Received 3,443 Likes
on
2,113 Posts
The article says the daughter inherited the estate from the estranged father...that speaks volumes. The article also says: "What a gem, right?", and the author is serious.Obviously not a car guy. Car has been in a wet building for decades and even the wheels are dissolving into a white foamy goo. Another 200k restoration to net a 75k car. No thanks.
02-03-2016, 04:41 PM
#3
Race Director
Buh-bye, birdcage.
I doubt the frame is much better.
I have never seen wheels, that looked like that.
Doug
I doubt the frame is much better.
I have never seen wheels, that looked like that.
Doug
02-03-2016, 04:56 PM
#4
Race Director
It looks like some thing out of a science fiction horror movie, slowly being dissolved - "The car that Detroit ate".................
02-03-2016, 04:58 PM
#5
Turn 12!
Just proves that you have to drive your car, rather than store it, or it will melt.
02-03-2016, 06:03 PM
#6
barn find
Yep these guys and there barn finds most of them would cost way more to do a correct body off restoration then it would cost to buy the same car done!!!!! Even if you got the car for free you would still be up side down in the cost of the restoration!!!!! just my to cents
02-03-2016, 06:13 PM
#7
Drifting
Only three photos and what they reveal is less than zero IMHO. The side pipes are non-GM, the rot and rust is just incredible, and the small-black fender emblems do not correlate with the "big block" notes in the blog or the funky hood. Who knows what it is, but a melted hubcap and small block flags suggests maximum restoration profit around negative 100K 
02-03-2016, 07:41 PM
#8
Administrator
Member Since: Jul 2000
Location: About 1100 miles from where I call home. Blue lives matter.
Posts: 51,411
Received 5,331 Likes
on
2,775 Posts
Its interesting that the hood is described as a "funky 70's style stinger hood," when in reality, its is neither a 1967 Stinger hood, nor 70's but what would seem to be a correct 1965 big block hood with a hideous 70s custom red / mural thing painted on it. The red extends to the side vents as well. If it was a BB, the 396 emblems are gone and of course there's the custom side pipes. Who knows whats in the car?
02-03-2016, 09:29 PM
#9
Race Director
I've never seen a wheel deteriorate like that either. I can only imagine what you can't see. The garage floor looks like it has never been dry. A money pit for sure and a deep one at that.
i bet if you move the car it would fall apart
02-04-2016, 10:27 AM
#13
Race Director
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
Posts: 14,544
Received 2,127 Likes
on
1,466 Posts
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
The only thing found in that garage is a rust bucket in the shape of a Corvette. The side pipes are the old Thrush ones from th '70's (old school knowledge) and the wheels, what little there is too see, are Cragars in full decomposition mode. The whole environment may be toxic. 
Dennis
Dennis
02-04-2016, 10:40 AM
#14
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2015
Location: Fresno California
Posts: 17,505
Received 3,443 Likes
on
2,113 Posts
Yes, saw the Cragars.....dissolving into foam. A closer look shows moss growing in a stream by the passenger side of the car. It looks like a stream of water or a spring has been running around/under the car for decades. The 'car' is junk, fit to be used only as a donor for the next Mad Max movie....hell, it already has the mural! I would bet my next paycheck that before the owner died, he turned down more than one offer to buy the car back when it was still a car. But his reply would have been "I know what it's worth. It's not for sale. I plan to restore it someday." Well, this is the typical ending to THAT story, and it's happening every day all over the world.
02-04-2016, 02:17 PM
#16
Race Director
The side pipes look like an old set of Thrush Outsiders, from the early 70's. I never cared for them, but a lot of other people did.
It's pretty scary how much those old mags have corroded.
It's pretty scary how much those old mags have corroded.
02-04-2016, 07:38 PM
#18
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2015
Location: Fresno California
Posts: 17,505
Received 3,443 Likes
on
2,113 Posts
You know what---looking at the pics more closely, the car resembles the '57 Fury that was entombed in an underground cement vault as a time capsule when new, and when opened up 50 years later, was found to be ruined do to repeated flooding of the chamber. (it was under a lawn). Looking at the stone walls and floor, and the way the car is corroded and soiled up high, it appears to be stored in a basement that has flooded from time to time, with water levels up to the fenders at least. Looks like a flood car that never dried out. What a way to store a C2!!
02-05-2016, 02:23 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
You know what---looking at the pics more closely, the car resembles the '57 Fury that was entombed in an underground cement vault as a time capsule when new, and when opened up 50 years later, was found to be ruined do to repeated flooding of the chamber. (it was under a lawn). Looking at the stone walls and floor, and the way the car is corroded and soiled up high, it appears to be stored in a basement that has flooded from time to time, with water levels up to the fenders at least. Looks like a flood car that never dried out. What a way to store a C2!!
