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Just purchased a 61 red, red cove, red interior, black soft top. Car was judged 97.4 Bloomington Gold 15 years ago. Retired car dealership owner put 600 miles in past 15 years, kept covered in heated garage and only used in parades so decided to sell it. Car is immaculate, scored 1004 of 1010 possible interior and 1091 of 1100 exterior due to aftermarket wheel covers, paint on door striker, 2 small chrome trim pieces on rib of soft top, rust on a screw inside of gas filler door, and something about windshield washer jets. I would really like to paint the coves whiteo, and replace the black soft top with a white one. If the car were to be judged again after correcting a few of the deductions, will painting the cove and changing top affect the scoring?
Thanks, Dave
As long as the coves were available in the color combo you use, no.
E.g. Ermine White coves for instance. There is no 'trim tag' on a '61; so you have freedom to do this with no hits -- other than some few that might be caused by not using original lacquer (e.g. BC/CC)..
Same with the top.
On that car, with that pedigree, I sure as heck wouldn't do it though..
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 03-31-2017 at 06:30 PM.
I'm sure others will agree of Bloomington judging is like NCRS the same car 15 year ago won't do the same as it did then. Standards and what accepted as being original has changed
Just my opinion, of course . . . but if you would enjoy the car more with white coves and a white folding top, then go for it. Don't worry about the NCRS judges - the numbers they come up with vary from event to event and judge to judge, and will really only be meaningful to you on that particular day. Having the car "just the way you want it" will bring you satisfaction every single time you look at it . . . and you aren't proposing to cut a hole in the hood, add a blower, and jack it up in the air on huge tires and aftermarket wheels.
At the end of the day, it's your car, your $$$, and your choice. Do what pleases YOU, not someone else.
Just purchased a 61 red, red cove, red interior, black soft top. Car was judged 97.4 Bloomington Gold 15 years ago. Retired car dealership owner put 600 miles in past 15 years, kept covered in heated garage and only used in parades so decided to sell it. Car is immaculate, scored 1004 of 1010 possible interior and 1091 of 1100 exterior due to aftermarket wheel covers, paint on door striker, 2 small chrome trim pieces on rib of soft top, rust on a screw inside of gas filler door, and something about windshield washer jets. I would really like to paint the coves whiteo, and replace the black soft top with a white one. If the car were to be judged again after correcting a few of the deductions, will painting the cove and changing top affect the scoring?
Thanks, Dave
The heck with judjing, if you like this color combo go for it..
Last edited by vette61; 04-01-2017 at 08:59 AM.
Reason: oops..judging
Just purchased a 61 red, red cove, red interior, black soft top. Car was judged 97.4 Bloomington Gold 15 years ago. Retired car dealership owner put 600 miles in past 15 years, kept covered in heated garage and only used in parades so decided to sell it. Car is immaculate, scored 1004 of 1010 possible interior and 1091 of 1100 exterior due to aftermarket wheel covers, paint on door striker, 2 small chrome trim pieces on rib of soft top, rust on a screw inside of gas filler door, and something about windshield washer jets. I would really like to paint the coves whiteo, and replace the black soft top with a white one. If the car were to be judged again after correcting a few of the deductions, will painting the cove and changing top affect the scoring?
Thanks, Dave
as long as you do the changes according to ncrs guide lines you will be fine.
My 61 is red with no white coves but they will be soon, after I finish the restoration. I might even paint it blue, what ever I choose it will for sure have the white coves.
Fifteen years later it's probably no longer a 97 point car, so do what you want. From a personal standpoint I think adding white coves to the black soft top would be discordant - just too many colors competing for attention. If you're set on the coves, change the top to white as well. If mine, I'd leave it as is.
If you're going to paint the coves, and are still worried about judging, make sure to paint them correctly. You'll need to remove the cove moldings, not just mask them, and carry the paint forward onto the wheel opening and lip.
When painting, there's also the ongoing drama around the use of enamel and clear in the hobby, to consider.
When replacing the top for judging, you'll want to get a top with a rear window correctly dated for your car.
Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
I'm sure others will agree of Bloomington judging is like NCRS the same car 15 year ago won't do the same as it did then. Standards and what accepted as being original has changed
A car that Top Flighted or received a Bloomington Gold 15 years ago, may not score the same today.
It really has nothing to do with how well the car has been stored or maintained, either. The difference is, our knowledge of these cars has grown quite a bit, in the last 15 years.
Before correcting any deductions, that were taken 15 years ago, you might want to take the car for NCRS judging as is. This would give you a baseline of what to change, correct and update, based on the current knowledge and judging, not 15 year old results.
Just my opinion, of course . . . but if you would enjoy the car more with white coves and a white folding top, then go for it. Don't worry about the NCRS judges - the numbers they come up with vary from event to event and judge to judge, and will really only be meaningful to you on that particular day. Having the car "just the way you want it" will bring you satisfaction every single time you look at it . . . and you aren't proposing to cut a hole in the hood, add a blower, and jack it up in the air on huge tires and aftermarket wheels.
At the end of the day, it's your car, your $$$, and your choice. Do what pleases YOU, not someone else.
I agree, if the NCRS paid for the car then you should worry about what they think. If you paid for it, do what makes it what you want and forget what someone else thinks.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
My 61 is a solid red car and I went through the same scenario as to whether I should paint the coves white. I elected to keep it red and have no regrets. It was less about judging and more about what I liked personally. If you are sure you want white coves, then that's what you should do. The white top would definitely look better with white coves than the black one. As was said, the coves will not be a hit on judging if painted correctly. The top might be a hit if not correct.
I do enjoy having people insist my car SHOULD have white coves
I have the best solution if you are worried about it. My car is correctly white on white for a 60 but I really like white with red coves...not an early 60 option...but I wanted it. I did it with a vinyl wrap/film and it looks exactly like paint. You cant tell. Its takes a real pro and them trimming it very well but it looks great. $300 and I can change it at anytime with no worries. Comes off easy with no damage to the paint underneath. Key is getting the color right and I spent some time looking through samples to get the right red that matched my interior and had the right feel I was after. I have had a car next to a 59 with original white red and I was very very close. Anyway do it with a film. Problem solved. Great car, congrats!
Just my opinion, of course . . . but if you would enjoy the car more with white coves and a white folding top, then go for it. Don't worry about the NCRS judges - the numbers they come up with vary from event to event and judge to judge, and will really only be meaningful to you on that particular day. Having the car "just the way you want it" will bring you satisfaction every single time you look at it . . . and you aren't proposing to cut a hole in the hood, add a blower, and jack it up in the air on huge tires and aftermarket wheels.
At the end of the day, it's your car, your $$$, and your choice. Do what pleases YOU, not someone else.
I agree it's your car do what you want with it. As for judging it seems the standards are a moving target or they wouldn't need so many additions of the "judging guide".
Only about 10`12 % were factory equipped with contrasting cove options
My 6i was a all white car with both tops and since I cant get my photobucket to work properly I can give you a name to google for what ypu dealing with
03-31-2017, 06:27 PM
Will painting a cove affect future judging?
A car that Top Flighted or received a Bloomington Gold 15 years ago, may not score the same today.
