TO PART or NOT TO PART
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Florida
TO PART or NOT TO PART
I recently purchased a "parts car" to use in the restoration of a very nice (NOM) 64 ac, pw, pb, totally un-hit coupe. I intend to upgrade the brakes to discs and upgrade the rear suspension (stabilizer bar, hardware, etc). I will also add that I have completed a few body-off restorations and I know the amount of work and time involved. You can see some pictures of the white 77 parts car and other restoration pictures at: http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/d.../1977%20white/This parts car is in much better shape than I anticipated however and I am not sure it should be parted. The parts car: 1977 L48 numbers matching auto that was sitting in a garage for the last 15years. It is very complete totally un-hit body, good solid frame, spare tire carrier. Even the t-top harness is still inside the rear compartment. Good floor pans. feel free to look at the pictures…. Should this car be parted? or should it be sold as a project. I have seen good 77's go for as little as $3500 the parts are probably worth much more.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Florida
I am truly still undecided, If I don't part it, I will get the engine running and sell it as a project car. I already have 2 c3s, a loaded Monza70 LS5 and a somewhat- loaded 72steel cities LS5. both # cars. I would not make a dime restoring this car as they will only sell for 5-8K in good running condition. I have seen up to 17k for near perfect survivors. These cars have not yet reached the "Cuda standard" where even the rust buckets are now being restored and fetching Big Bucks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,503
Likes: 1,511
From: Little Rock AR
You or anyone else will obviously never be able to make money restoring that car. You are not emotionaly attached to it either. Lots of people need parts for their projects that will actualy be finished and driven.
If you take what you need and sell the rest you will be bucks ahead and many other worthy cars will get what they need. Emotions aside, that isn't such a bad outcome. If you have the ability to part it out and deal with all that goes with it, then go ahead and do it. If you do not part it out, one of the next owners down the line probably will at some point.
Maybe you just saved someone from a divorce?
-Mark.
If you take what you need and sell the rest you will be bucks ahead and many other worthy cars will get what they need. Emotions aside, that isn't such a bad outcome. If you have the ability to part it out and deal with all that goes with it, then go ahead and do it. If you do not part it out, one of the next owners down the line probably will at some point.
Maybe you just saved someone from a divorce?
-Mark.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Let it be a financial decision. If the car has the original engine and tranny, see what it will bring from someone wanting to restore a car [might be a problem with a late 70's car]. If you think you can make more money parting it out, do it. You're not doing any 'harm' to the C3 culture, if no one values the car staying together.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Let it be a financial decision. If the car has the original engine and tranny, see what it will bring from someone wanting to restore a car [might be a problem with a late 70's car]. If you think you can make more money parting it out, do it. You're not doing any 'harm' to the C3 culture, if no one values the car staying together.
well said
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Kinda depends on what you have in it and how much work you feel like doing to cut it up. It looks too nice to part out from a "heart" perspective. From a dollars and cents perspective it is probably worth more in pieces.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Nowhere Mars (Southern Indiana)
Parting it will give you more $$$ 
, but people like myself would LOVE to get our hands on a "project" corvette like that 
(seeing as how rust issues don't seem that bad, unless hidden 
).
If you decide to sell it as a project send me a PM with the price and location
.
, but people like myself would LOVE to get our hands on a "project" corvette like that (seeing as how rust issues don't seem that bad, unless hidden ).If you decide to sell it as a project send me a PM with the price and location
.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
Let it be a financial decision. If the car has the original engine and tranny, see what it will bring from someone wanting to restore a car [might be a problem with a late 70's car]. If you think you can make more money parting it out, do it. You're not doing any 'harm' to the C3 culture, if no one values the car staying together.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Awesome '64 and C3's.... As a suggested approach, add up what you think the parts from your '77 might bring, subtract out all the 'costs' of disassembly, packaging, sales costs, etc. and see what you end up with on paper. Then try to sell the car 'as is' for a little more than that. If you can, you should be happy with that income and not having to do the work of parting it out; if you can't, have fun on eBay!