Starting At Zero
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
Starting At Zero
I am restoring a 1968. I am in the process of a frame off. I plan on replacing all wearable and service parts. I will be following the AIM in detail. Complete front and rear suspension rebuild, complete drive train rebuild, frame will be tanked, blasted and powder coated. New mounts. New brakes w/SS lines. New fuel tank and lines. New interior carpet, seat covers and door panel, body is being brought down to fiberglass any repairs will be completed and new paint back to original etc. You get the gist of the restore. So my question is: Can the car be officially documented as 0 miles or must I retain the 81,581 on the odometer?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,301
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi tp,
I think many people would have the odometer reset to zero when they have the gauges restored.
For me though, I'd leave the original odometer reading as documentation of at what point the restoration was done.
I hope you're selective in choosing what parts you replace and what original parts you restore. Remember VERY few reproduction and service replacement parts will exactly like the part you're replacing and MANY won't be even close.
Regards,
Alan
I think many people would have the odometer reset to zero when they have the gauges restored.
For me though, I'd leave the original odometer reading as documentation of at what point the restoration was done.
I hope you're selective in choosing what parts you replace and what original parts you restore. Remember VERY few reproduction and service replacement parts will exactly like the part you're replacing and MANY won't be even close.
Regards,
Alan
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Lansing MI
Interesting take on a restoration.... in my opinion the car traveled the 81K and even though it appears to have just rolled off the showroom floor, it has been over the road. I can't imagine the DMV in your state would be receptive to resetting the title for you either.
Good luck with the project and post lotsa pics. Would love to see it.
Good luck with the project and post lotsa pics. Would love to see it.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 6
From: Lake Charles LA
Interesting take on a restoration.... in my opinion the car traveled the 81K and even though it appears to have just rolled off the showroom floor, it has been over the road. I can't imagine the DMV in your state would be receptive to resetting the title for you either.
That sort of brings up a related topic. For those doing extensive restorations of vehicles, do you ever have to get "Reconstructed Titles" when vehicles are resold? I know in our state, vehicles that are wrecked and the repair cost is 70% of the retail value, the vehicles are required to be retitled as "Reconstructed" - if they are repaired. That usually has a significant affect on value. Just curious.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
I dont know about other states but in N.Y. if a vehicle is older then 10 years old the mileage is not an issue that would have to be dealt with on a transfer. If there is any $$$$ left over after you are finished why not just buy a new speedo and use that , keeping the original one as proof of the mileage when you "restored" the car ? Good Luck, sounds like you'll be busy, Peace,,, moosie 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
Don't throw anything away on disassembly until you have a replacement part in hand. There are quite a few "1968 only" parts on your vehicle and they can be time consuming and expensive to track down and replace. If you have the original, you can refurbish the part which is not currently available and use the vehicle while you track down those last elusive bits.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I'd leave the odometer reading where it is, as show's a bit about the car's character. Most state licensed speedometer shop's repairing odo's must be set to zero. Who the heck's kidding on a 40 year old car anyway.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I don't think it's possible to truly turn back the clock to when the car was new. Too many parts which are serviceable would need to be replaced. You can get close but probably never quite the same, hence the high value true originals will bring in. As Alan71 cautions, many reproduction parts are not exact duplicates, some quite disappointing.
If you reset to '0', I'd imagine many would interpret that to be 100,000 miles?
I'd say take many photos, document as much as possible while disassembling and restoring.
If you reset to '0', I'd imagine many would interpret that to be 100,000 miles?
I'd say take many photos, document as much as possible while disassembling and restoring.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
Starting At Zero
Excellent feed back. Thank you. I will keep the odometer as is. I will also be restoring the original parts the best I can. So far the only things missing, which are available are the original steering wheel and two AG 15x7 rims. Most everything else is in place and can be restored. I will be going through the suspension, drive train and interior soft parts. I do have over 200 pictures from the first time I looked at the car to the point it is at today. The car is being prepped for the body removal at 2ndGenerationRestoration in Walpole, MA. Stan (owner) is allowing me to strip the car and he will be showing me some fiberglass techniques. The body only needs minor attention before paint. Stan's shop will be doing the final body prep and paint. I will take the chassis home for the full restoration. I will post pictures as it starts to come along. I wish you all a happy and safe New Year.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,928
Likes: 3,334
From: NYC NY
Good idea. 
Many street rods are put together with new instruments and the speedo odemeter is set to 0. I've done two so far with no problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I would agree with most replies regarding the odometer. However anything can happen when undergoing a complete restoration so i would just add that taking a few good pictures of the odometer with a date to reference it to will go a long way toward proving you have not intention to deceive a prospective buyer, should the mileage get reset or you need to replace the original speedometer.
Good luck on your journey... GUSTO
Good luck on your journey... GUSTO
