When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I was browsing the internet about a month ago and came across and subsequently bought this barn find 1965 C2 convertible race car.
I'm looking for information on the car or the previous owners.
The car was owned by a Richard Campbell who died in 2015 and lived in Sugarland, TX. It is also possible this is the same Richard Campbell who was SCCA Club Racing in Colorado, but it could be a different Richard Campbell.
I know that the car raced as #36 by a Charlie Willey back in the early 70's in the Ohio area and was sponsored by Chesrown Oldsmobile as Charlie worked there at the time. Charlie died in 2013.
I know that the car was part of a 4 or 5 Corvette plus 1 Camaro team called Willey - Steckhan - Sullivan Race Team, the cars were all painted by a Larry Voit and the engines built by a Bob Proffit in the Columbus, OH area.
Besides the comments that "powder coating" does not give new life to mag wheels, how about the basics, SBC?, BBC?, FI?, Racing years, VIN, Pilots?
Racing Years is a tough one. Only thing I know for definite is it raced from 1979-1982 in the hands of Richard Campbell. It was previously raced by Charlie Willey but I have no idea when the car changed hands or how early Charlie raced the car from the only pictures I have of the car it was early 70's.
The VIN I have and the Trim Plate.
I will only use the old Mag wheels to move the car / in the paddock but definitely won't be using them on track!
The car currently has a Big Block with a Holley Carb, I believe when Charlie Willey raced it the car had a small block.
Please don't restore the car. At least from what I see in the pictures it's a preservation project.
Restoration: A restoration is an intervention that permanently changes the car. It’s an attempt to return the car to some previous state. In some cases this may be a state that never actually existed. A lot of racecars have been restored this way. Almost all the cars at Pebble Beach have been restored to a state that never previously existed.
When you replace significant parts, whether original to the period or not, you’re altering the historical integrity of the artifact, or car. The original manufacturer’s work is no longer intact and the research value of the artifact, or car, has been reduced.
The above is from an article coming out next month in Vintage Motorsport magazine. There are times when a car is so far gone that restoration is necessary. Just keep in mind that the decision to restore a car is a very serious decision. You can't back up.
I guess its a question of what you plan to do with the car. if your plan is to get some history and flip it, then i wouldn't do anything to it. if you plan to vintage race it then you would need to decide where and with whom you plan to race it. That will have a major impact on how car is prepared and "restored" ie pick a time period that car is restored back to.
My aim is to race it in SVRA so I am making it drivable.
For example the brakes were shot.
The fuel system is completely shot i.e. the ATL fuel cell is completely destroyed and it needs a new one all the fuel lines are cracked or broken. The motor in the car is until proven otherwise not the original motor the car would have raced with. the water pump for example was rusted solid.
The roll cage has no SCCA markings on it as far as I can see, I've looked all over it after stripping off the old tape, glue and foam. Possible the cage was painted / re-painted back in the day and this has covered the stampings.
More information as and when I find it. My plan is to get the body fixed and will probably get it painted at some point back to how it raced in the early 70's I need to speak to SVRA about the fender flares as they aren't keen on them but as they are period correct I really don't want to lose them.
The front of the car is a one piece clip with no headlight buckets, there is some of the lower front missing, I suspect the car got in a minor accident which tore off the front spoiler and lower grill surround and that prompted the car to be parked up for 30 plus years.
Step 1 for me is to get the car mobile again i.e. brakes, then get the motor to work again, so fuel and electrics then fire it up.
Once it is moving under its own power I will prep it for SVRA racing and met aim is to race it at Sebring for the 65th race meeting next spring.
I raced with SVRA many years. When you say period correct, it's a question of which period. They would not be correct for 60s. Maybe for late 70s or 80s.
Turning this car into a reasonably competitive SVRA racer is no small problem and the expense will be very significant.
Were it me i'd go back to 65 preparation standards from the SCCA GCR and run as a Gold Medallion car. Way less expensive and much nicer vintage racer when done. You could even get into races like Monterey if you go that way. Just a thought.
I raced with SVRA many years. When you say period correct, it's a question of which period. They would not be correct for 60s. Maybe for late 70s or 80s.
Turning this car into a reasonably competitive SVRA racer is no small problem and the expense will be very significant.
Were it me i'd go back to 65 preparation standards from the SCCA GCR and run as a Gold Medallion car. Way less expensive and much nicer vintage racer when done. You could even get into races like Monterey if you go that way. Just a thought.
with Jerry........................and HE knows what he's talking about.
08-30-2016, 11:01 PM
1965 Barn Find Race Car Information Wanted
:c ool:
with Jerry........................and HE knows what he's talking about.