M38A1

I've heard so many stories about a "one owner" this or that and the talk about how much more money that first sale of the vehicle brings vs the second, third and subsequent sales. So I started to ponder that a bit and have a few thoughts with way more questions.

A one owner vehicle is cool when you start looking at the C2 vintage vehicles. They are old now, sleek and in their own right fetch far above what they cost when originally purchased. If they are a one owner car after all these years, they've probably been fairly well maintained and not dogged. There's probably some quantity of original documentation still with the vehicle as well. Looking at a 50+ year old vehicle, there's probably more than a few parts which have been replaced due to a variety of reasons. Then there's the question of what were they replaced with? Factory stock/repop/take-off's? High performance goodies? If the engine/tranny/rear-end are all original, is that really a 'good thing'? I'm sure that plays into the equation. I'm wondering if geography plays a factor. Does a life in a summer climate tend to play into the equation as much as a snow-belt vehicle? I'm wondering what the definition of a "survivor" car is in relation to a "one owner" car. And how important is it the prospective new owner can meet and talk with the original owner? Does it even matter?

These are just a few things rolling around in my head tonight as I ponder valuation questions with these wonderful vehicles.

Thoughts?

Nowhere Man

KingRat

I bought a survivor '66. One woman owned it for 50 years. It survived with original paint, interior, glass, drivetrain, starter motor, even two of the original T-3 headlights. I believe that having its original 427, M-21, and rear axle is a "good thing". It came with dealer invoice, protect-o-plate, radio instructions, owners manual and envelope. It also came with stories of how she used and enjoyed it. She also named it "Ruby". For some weird reason, I continue to do so. I've owned a few vettes over the years. I really enjoy knowing this cars' story. The car was judged Bloomington Gold Survivor, ran two laps at IMS AND was invited to be in the Corvette Legends display at MCACN. NOT for anything I did, but because of how the original owner loved and preserved the car. I was able to call and leave the original owner a message about how well her "Ruby" did before she passed. It matters to me.

59BlueSilver

Frankie the Fink

Like most of these euphemisms the term has been construed to mean whatever adds the most perceived value to a car. I've seen cars that bounced around several dealers and wholesale outfits but still claimed to be one-owner. I've seen a car passed to a brother on the owner's demise ... one owner ? Perhaps one family-owned is more accurate ?

And then of course some flipper claims one-owner and no telling what he's stripped off or modified on the car...

Unless it was a verifiable Zora or Mickey Duntov car I wouldn't lose sleep over it...

Still looking for that one-owner, barn-find, no-hit, all numbers matching 427/435hp '67 sidepipe car, black with red stinger and interior that Steve McQueen drove in some movie or other and was the impetus for the song "Deadman's Curve".

I'm sure a few are being "created" even as I type...

bb62

Then there are situations like my daily driver (not a Corvette) where it was my management lease car when I was with Ford that I purchased when I left the company. I'm the only person to ever drive the car, yet Ford owned it technically the first year. Does that make it a one owner car - or two owner?

3JsVette

Perfectly stated. One owner can mean one registered owner. The car could bounce around between dealers and be driven on dealer plates and therefore not be DMV registered until it's sold to a retail buyer as still being a "one (registered) owner car".

tuxnharley

cv67

IMO adds no $ value however I find it more attractive as theres probably less question what the car has been through over the years

M38A1

Thanks for all the input!

GTOguy

This is the correct answer, and the only answer. One-owner means owned once from new buy the original purchaser. That status goes away as soon as the car is sold by that person.

SDVette

What if the car outlives the owner? In my case, my father bought the car new, and passed away in 2011, leaving it to me.

I think the OP touched on an important point in the opening post.. KNOWING, for sure, what has been done (and what hasn't been done) to the car.
Anyone who keeps a car (or anything else, for that matter) in good condition for 50+ years is pretty special.

M38A1

...and this might be the case. I know we all have an expiration date, and with Dad's good health/sharp mind and 93+ orbits of the sun that each day is special.

Dad the first Spring of 1965 as the new first owner:


Then again in 2014 where the car is 49 and he's still the owner:


We've got the original carbon copy order form, the original Bill Of Sale, the original bank letter, and all the documents for the glovebox in the plastic pouch (AM/FM user guide, Warranty book/ProtectoPlate, Maintenance guide) two sets of the original keys and the title receipt from 1976 when we moved. My Mom didn't know any better and surrendered the original and prior state title when she registered it here. Oh well, who'd have thought that was a big deal on an 11 year old car at that time?

I'm reasonably sure of the maintenance history for it's life... Dad was an engineer, more specifically many years in engine test and development octane research at Phillips.

Off the top of my head I can think of things that have been replaced over the years and 63K miles to include the radiator, seats/carpet/seatbelts, fuel tank, clock, SS sleeved brake calipers, original clutch, mufflers/pipe, hoses here and there/clamps and top. Every opportunity he had to use a factory part if available, he did. the door edges were resprayed for nicks and the front nose seam/rear tail seam were also reshot from cracking when people either sat on our pushed from those areas. Somebody tried to steal it about 1974 and got one of the rivets buggered up on the S/N plate. There was a rear tire failure about 1993 which resulted in some minor wheel well damage which was professionally repaired. That leaves all the other stuff as original. So it's not a 'perfect' car, but certainly a survivor of sorts that hasn't been molested.

These are some of the bazillion little stories of basically my whole lifetime with the car and the family.

SDVette

Yes, this! I'm not saying it adds resale value to the car.. In fact, I hope to never sell it. My son will get it when I take the dirt nap!
But the memories are priceless. After my birth, I rode home from the hospital in my mom's arms in the car!

Yours is a cool story. Enjoy that time with your dad. I wish my dad was able to see his car back on the road.

Roger Walling

One owner could mean that the owner ran it to the ground and let it sit because it needed so many repairs until the wife made him get rid of it.

vettebuyer6369

Jeffthunbird

I see many classified ads for old cars where it stated one owner but their dad bought it new, sold it to his brother for 20 years, then his cousin had it and now he has it. Same family but I don't agree thats one owner. One owner is special for sure. There are some cool, great stories posted on this thread. Thanks for posting.

CorvetteMikeB

The clue to this answer is "only one owner" means only 1 person has titled the car. Next trick question for the day, does a new car mean no one has owned the car before or the dealer is the first owner.???

Nowhere Man

dealers never "own" a new car the MSO says the car manufacture still "owns" it. if you bought a "new" car with the MSO then your the first owner regardless of what year it is and what year the car is. I just bought a left over 2017 Malibu it was never sold before the 2018 came out so the dealer used it asa demo car. but when I bought it I got the MSO

Zoomin