[C1] 57 "Barn Find" value
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 265
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From: El Dorado Ca.
57 "Barn Find" value
Barn find, sort of. Original owner, unmolested, 39kmi, 270hp, 4.11, 4spd. Seats bottoms split, rug is worn, paint "spider webbed", chrome rough. Not running. Sitting since 1974.
Safety Car
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I would clean it up and get it running. If you do decide to then sell it, it will bring more money and it will give you more time to really be sure it's what you want to do. Did you or somebody in the family buy it new?
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It's an interesting car and a desirable year but the value will depend on alot of as yet unanswered questions. How is the frame? Is the motor original? Is it seized? VIN intact? If you can provide more pics and info, we can better assess the value. I love the single headlight 56/57.
Drifting
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From: Cohasset MN
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It would be nice to see another '57 resurrected from the dead. The color is a bit rare, it has a hardtop and the drive-train is a good option. The fact that it sat since '74 raises some issues.
If it were me, I would pursue buying it after checking out the frame and engine.
If it were me, I would pursue buying it after checking out the frame and engine.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: El Dorado Ca.
I am biased toward maintaining it as is and roadworthy. I am concern about future value. That said, at what point would repair/rebuild tip the scale?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Fresno California
I did the repairs on my '61 that was a bit north of you in an airplane hanger for 25+years. I fixed the engine, rebuilt the brakes, etc. etc. Left the paint alone, and it was like yours...worn but presentable. My seats and interior are in better shape, no splits. But, to restore my car would cost me a lot of $$$, and I enjoy driving it as is. To restore one of these can run 40-100K plus, depending on who does the work and how complete the car is. You have the luxury of your car being a '57, so it will be worth the money spent restoring it. Me, I would be inclined to fix it instead of restore: touch up/buff out the paint, repair the seats, rebuild the brakes, and drive it. Being a CA car that's been in inside storage for 42 years, rust would be pretty much not a concern, unless the car came from the East back in the day. If it is for sale, I am interested!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Cold Harbor, VA
Richard Newton on this board has written extensively in many threads about preservation/conservation vs. restoration. Car collectors are awakening to the fact that a well preserved original car that is usuable, or a sympathetically and very lightly restored car to make it usuable is vastly more rare, and therefore more valuable than restored cars.
If you go up to the search box and search 'preservation or restoration' and skim the list for C1 and C2 Discussion threads, you can see what all has been written previously.
Here is just one I grabbed for you that Richard wrote:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...storation.html
If you go up to the search box and search 'preservation or restoration' and skim the list for C1 and C2 Discussion threads, you can see what all has been written previously.
Here is just one I grabbed for you that Richard wrote:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...storation.html
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 265
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From: El Dorado Ca.
It's an interesting car and a desirable year but the value will depend on alot of as yet unanswered questions. How is the frame? Is the motor original? Is it seized? VIN intact? If you can provide more pics and info, we can better assess the value. I love the single headlight 56/57.
Motor - 100% original, except upper radiator hose. Not seized. Heads were removed when it was new and rocker studs pinned by Frank McGurk
Vin - intact
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 265
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From: El Dorado Ca.
I did the repairs on my '61 that was a bit north of you in an airplane hanger for 25+years. I fixed the engine, rebuilt the brakes, etc. etc. Left the paint alone, and it was like yours...worn but presentable. My seats and interior are in better shape, no splits. But, to restore my car would cost me a lot of $$$, and I enjoy driving it as is. To restore one of these can run 40-100K plus, depending on who does the work and how complete the car is. You have the luxury of your car being a '57, so it will be worth the money spent restoring it. Me, I would be inclined to fix it instead of restore: touch up/buff out the paint, repair the seats, rebuild the brakes, and drive it. Being a CA car that's been in inside storage for 42 years, rust would be pretty much not a concern, unless the car came from the East back in the day. If it is for sale, I am interested!
Should anyone have a lead on surviving seat covers and carpet for sale please let me know
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Park Bench #805 NE Indiana
Clean her up, make it roadworthy, and drive her as is.
With that said... for me there is no scale in life to measure it to!
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Good luck whatever you decide.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: El Dorado Ca.