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Can you look at post #25 for the next one i am looking at
Hello all,
This is my first post. I am looking for a car that is fundamentally solid, but still needing a bit of work. I came across this one. Does anyone have any thoughts or questions I should get answered. I know enough about cars to be dangerous, but I have only worked on cars from the 90's. This one has in it a 5.4L 327CI
I am a bit concerned with the front headlight, they do not look like they are fitting right.
Last edited by scottatl; Oct 18, 2025 at 09:48 AM.
How much are they asking?
Looks like the right door panel is off? And the windlace (trim at the forward door jambs) is off?
I think there are more things to worry about than the front right headlight bezel.
More pictures.
John
My advice is move slowly.. I see several issues that should be easy to correct, yet aren't. Which says to me they aren't easy to correct. Right side door panel laying in place, with ***** off.. That big Hurst shifter assembly sticking up out of the trans tunnel, with big hole cut in carpet and fiberglass. Someone lost the top. the right front dual headlights don't fit the fender anymore (bad bodywork). 5.4L motor is 327 ci, and this came with 283 ci. (4.6L). So the original motor is gone. Finally, it's at a used car dealer somewhere, so we know it's over-priced and probably has (big) issues hidden beneath the surface.. Hopefully you intend to closely inspect this personally to evaluate the integrity of the body, drivetrain, and chassis? No way I would consider it without doing so..
ps. welcome to our sandbox..
The pictures aren't real good, making it hard to really tell much about the car. I do agree the fit of the right headlight bezel is off which would be a pretty good indicator that there's been front end damage in the past that wasn't repaired correctly. The fit of the front of the hood and nose emblem also look off, another possible indicator of poor body work. The fit of the nose looks off where it meets the lower half of the passenger side door cove and cove molding area.
From the pictures, the driver's door is missing the upper outer door window opening trim, as is the trim end cap and the corresponding lock pillar trim piece. It looks like the trunk key lock is missing. The left windshield wiper transmission and arm is missing (and replacing the wiper transmission and reinstalling the cable system that operates the wipers is not a job I find fun to do). The passenger side door panel doesn't appear to be installed and it's missing the door pull ball. The deck lid is missing the top trim tabs. The glove box door is missing from between the seats. The radio speaker bezel looks like it's either installed wrong or just sitting in place.
What kind of transmission and shifter are in the car? I've never seen a C1 tunnel cut up like that to install a shifter, or seen one sitting up that high over the trans tunnel. Also, there's supposed to be a chrome trim piece on the top of the tunnel the shifter and boot come through and the ashtray fits in.
That's just what I picked up from what can be seen in the photos, which as I said aren't the best or real detailed. This car looks like someones unfinished (amateur?) restoration project. Is this car being sold as it is, or does whoever's selling it plan on finishing it first? What's the asking price and what year is it supposed to be, 59 or 60? More and better pictures would be helpful, but if it's being sold as it now stands I would walk away based on your comment that you only "know enough about cars to be dangerous".
New soft top frames are available complete with new canvas, but they're not cheap, a complete new top assembly is about $6,800. Used ones sell for about half that but may end up costing almost as much by the time you add the canvas, new weatherstrip and make any repairs that are needed.
I hope I haven't come across as to harsh, but I want to make sure you know what you may be getting involved with.
Car only needs a few bucks and a few hours work.. Horse manure.. Guys have spent months trying to sort out doors and roll up windows.. If it was that easy to do it would be done already..
If you're near Flanders NJ get over there to see it.. If you're not, keep looking.. Buy from a private seller with some years of ownership. Something complete that you can drive and enjoy, while fixing up small things.. Good luck
The title of this thread is "Considering purchasing this one"...my advice is to consider something else. As Don mentioned, try to steer clear of dealers and find an individual who has owned their car for a period of time and who has sorted out the car already. Have you looked in the "Cars For Sale" section here on the Forum.
BTW...welcome to the Forum.
You'd be better off taking the "few hours" (hundreds) and "few bucks" (thousands) and putting it towards a car that has already been sorted. They are out there, keep looking and use this one as a basis for what you don't want.........
You'd be better off taking the "few hours" (hundreds) and "few bucks" (thousands) and putting it towards a car that has already been sorted. They are out there, keep looking and use this one as a basis for what you don't want.........
Tom
Thanks all I will move away from this one.
One thing i just learned is this is a good forum. I am active on my Jag XK8 forum and i only want to buy a car that has a strong community.
The ad claims a 327, but the text says it has 230hp which would be a base 283. And my eyes may not be as good as they once were, but that "The red leather interior is in pristine condition, " part isn't what I'm seeing! I'd also note there are only 3 pics (or did I miss others?) and you can't tell anything about the chassis, the engine, suspension or anything else.
"The car needs only a few hours and few bucks worth of finish gin." You're going to need more than a few bucks of gin to finish that car. It looks very pretty at a distance but in my opinion unless everything unseen is perfect, it's worth about half the asking price.
Overall I think the car looks good... but with a handful of problems that you can see... who knows what you can't see. No top.... no telling what that would cost to replace. I'd make an offer... but nowhere near what they're asking. 30-k tops.
anyone look thru the other cars they have for sale and notice the statement about the 64 convertible having a split rear window...lol
The split window claim would be my least concern on that one. Looking through the pictures, the vin tag would be a BIG RED FLAG!! I wonder if someone is looking for their 64 ?
With a shifter like that, I would almost have to assume that it was campaigned at the drag strip. No biggie, but that is one aggressive-looking shifter. I would contact Pancho on this Forum to look at the car. I understand your concern regarding the headlight bezel, as it does look out of place. However, the paint appears to be in good condition from the pictures, and it is the body and paint variables that are critical, given the cost of doing that type of work today. The repair or replacement of a non-OEM drivetrain is nickel/dime stuff. At $43K asking, it deserves further consideration. Call Pancho.
The split window claim would be my least concern on that one. Looking through the pictures, the vin tag would be a BIG RED FLAG!! I wonder if someone is looking for their 64 ?
I'm curious what your issue is with this VIN tag? I don't see any "red flags" with it.
All 1964 Corvette VIN tags were spot welded to the cross bar (as were 63's) and quite typically had the VIN stamped in three sections, just like the one pictured. I'm a little surprised by the lack of rust where the paint was ground away 61 years ago to spot weld the tag in place, but the slightly closed in right side of the "8" in "40867" is common to every 64 VIN tag I've seen.
I'm curious what your issue is with this VIN tag? I don't see any "red flags" with it.
All 1964 Corvette VIN tags were spot welded to the cross bar (as were 63's) and quite typically had the VIN stamped in three sections, just like the one pictured. I'm a little surprised by the lack of rust where the paint was ground away 61 years ago to spot weld the tag in place, but the slightly closed in right side of the "8" in "40867" is common to every 64 VIN tag I've seen.
Take a second look at the pictures. The car itself isn't a '64...not even close.
Considering purchasing this one
I'd also note there are only 3 pics (or did I miss others?) and you can't tell anything about the chassis, the engine, suspension or anything else.
