wake00

Wow, that takes the cake! I didn't expect it to look like that. If it's complete, I guess anythings possible.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but there are not a lot of reproduction 53 parts available, correct?

Also, I've read different reports on the 53 body weave. Is it important to still see the original weave through the paint?

For example, this one mentions you can still see the weave. My guess showing a no hit body?
https://russoandsteele.com/vehicle-d...ge=&showpage=8

emccomas

Here are some before pictures of #184. These pictures were posted on the net before the sale to the current owner. He did a good job on the restoration.

scopeli

Also, I've read different reports on the 53 body weave. Is it important to still see the original weave through the paint?

For example, this one mentions you can still see the weave. My guess showing a no hit body?
https://russoandsteele.com/vehicle-d...ge=&showpage=8[/QUOTE]

I was wondering what would make the body on this 53 any different than a 54 body?

wake00

Thanks for posting the pics That is definitely a barn find. I amazed how they look after restoration.

wake00

I was wondering what would make the body on this 53 any different than a 54 body?[/QUOTE]

From what I've read, the 53, and early 54, bodies were crude and you could see the weave.

Mike Terry

I picked that car up for the owner. He bought it from a lady who had a ton, probably 15 C1 & c2 Corvettes and it took my friend about 2 or 3 years to talk the lady into buying that 53 Corvette. I talked to her while we were there loading up the 53 Vette about me buying a Corvette from her. She said she would think about it and let me know. I am still waiting to hear from her. All of the Corvettes were her husbands and he passed away and she hates to let them go. They are just rotting away.

Mike Terry

Not weave, it is called Cloth. Hand laid fiberglass cloth.

wake00

Thanks for clarifying Mike. Much appreciated

And, thanks for sharing the story. I bet there are a lot of cars out there waiting to be found. Thankfully she finally sold some of them so they can be brought back to their former glory.

Mike Terry

She has only sold the one 53 Corvette as far as I know. There were several C1 cars setting out in the weather. What a shame to see them set out in the weather and waste away.
I know because I was there but what do you think the guy paid for that 53 Vette and he had to pay CASH, all $100.00 bills.

emccomas

Her son-in-law is planning on restoring five of these old Corvettes, one for each of his children. There are just about 5 cars left in restorable state, although she has more VIN tags than that. None of the VIN tags are for sale. She also sold a 58 project car that became a high end resto-mod.

The six cars left are 1954, 1956, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1963 convertible.

I seriously doubt that the son-in-law will ever get any of them done, but he has convinced his mother-in-law that he will.

Yes it is a shame.

Mike Terry

Yes it is a shame to see these Corvettes rot into mother earth, when many of us would give good money to have one to restore and put back on the road. As most of us know it is cheaper to buy a car already restored then it is to buy one and do it yourself. Plus when you buy one done you get out of doing all the labor and hard work finding parts and repairing fiberglass an in the case of her cars maybe frame repairs as the get lower and lower to mother earth and get frame rot. It could be $$$$ in her pocket and also help clean up the area of old cars rotting.

emccomas

Won't happen as long as the son-in-law keeps convincing her he will do something with them. She is keeping the peace with her daughter by doing this. IN reality, he is just waiting for his mother-in-law to pass, then he will sell off the stuff and pocket the money. He has done this before. LOSER!

scopeli

were the 53 bodies that were made in st. louis still made of hand laid fiberglass?

Mike Terry

54 were made in St. Louis all 53 were made in Flint Mi.

emccomas

Parts of 54 were hand laid fiberglass as I recall (Mike jump in here and correct me if I get this wrong). Gradually all of the 54 body panels became press molded dduring the 54 model year.

scopeli

53 corvettes were assembled in Flint, but where were the bodies made at? majority of 53s were made in nov and dec. To hand lay 250 cars in a couple months the way they were doing it in flint on the early 53 corvettes would be pretty difficult. It's been stated that bodies were being shipped from St. louis to Flint.

wake00

Great info Mike and jv04 Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I love learning about the 53s.

csherman

There are many differences between an "early" 53 body, a later 53 body, an early 54 body and a later 54 body.
1953's and early 54's were all hand laid cloth - I attached a video - you can see the process, layer of cloth, a layer of mat, then a layer of cloth. The bodies are thin enough you can see through them.
53' and early 54 bodies have enclosed body mounts behind the rear seat, later in 54 it was changed to open mounts.
The bonding technique on the core support on 53 and eary 54's is different than later 54's.
Later 54's the bodies are press molded and heavier vs the cloth body.
The cloth will "print" thru the paint on the early 53's and 54' -
53 and early 54's the wiper motor, the door access holes and the hole in the waterfall are square cut. Later 54's these were cut with a hole saw.
The trunk hinge openings are cut larger on the 53' and early 54's.
There is a front fender lip on 53's and early 54's which in not present on later 54's
There are many differences in the bodies.

csherman

There were press molded parts in 53 - you will see press molded rockers, hoods and deck lids in 53 -

csherman

Here is part 1 or 3 - Ken speaks about how the bodies were made and where they were made.