Survivor status question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
Survivor status question
Just curious, has anyone had their C3, say '68-'72, judged and received a Survivor Certification, then soon after do a complete frame off restoration.
Might be a stupid question, but I plan on keeping my '71 original until I sell it, maybe this year or 10 years from now when it turns 50. I'm sure that it being original will probably hurt when selling due to so many nicely restored cars on the market.
Might be a stupid question, but I plan on keeping my '71 original until I sell it, maybe this year or 10 years from now when it turns 50. I'm sure that it being original will probably hurt when selling due to so many nicely restored cars on the market.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 454,
I think the majority of Survivor and BowTie cars remain in their 'as judged' condition.
As far as selling the car someday there is certainly a market for judged unrestored cars as well as judged restored cars.
Some purchasers want one or the other, and some want both kinds of cars.
I guess some of the nicest cars are cars that have earned both BowTie and Top Flight / Duntov awards.
Regards,
Alan
I think the majority of Survivor and BowTie cars remain in their 'as judged' condition.
As far as selling the car someday there is certainly a market for judged unrestored cars as well as judged restored cars.
Some purchasers want one or the other, and some want both kinds of cars.
I guess some of the nicest cars are cars that have earned both BowTie and Top Flight / Duntov awards.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,453
Likes: 461
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...that's kinda against the purpose of the award. I took my '74 Orange coupe, my old Yellow 1980 L-48 4spd coupe and my old Silver '68 coupe for Survivor and all three passed all four categories of the judging criteria(engine compartment, chassis, exterior & interior).
...my Orange '74(the only one I have left of the three)would have to be in an accident or deteriorate severely rather quickly before I'd even consider "restoring it". It's in very, very nice original shape for a 48,000mi 37yr old car and I intend on keeping it that way for a very, very long time.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,652
Likes: 3,110
From: Shamong, NJ
I believe that once the car has been restored, it loses it's Survivor (or NCRS Bow Tie) Certification.
I'm thinking about taking my unrestored 81 for NCRS 4 Star Bow Tie judging this year, as it already has a Top Flight. It still has all it's original 30 year old belts, hoses, tires, etc. and a small tear in the drivers seat. I'll replace/repair them all after going through the Bow Tie judging. Things like that, or even blending some paint, can be done before or after judging without effecting the Survivor/Bow Tie status. A full body off, or even just a repaint or pulling the engine to detail it, will negate it's originality and Survivor Certification.
I'm thinking about taking my unrestored 81 for NCRS 4 Star Bow Tie judging this year, as it already has a Top Flight. It still has all it's original 30 year old belts, hoses, tires, etc. and a small tear in the drivers seat. I'll replace/repair them all after going through the Bow Tie judging. Things like that, or even blending some paint, can be done before or after judging without effecting the Survivor/Bow Tie status. A full body off, or even just a repaint or pulling the engine to detail it, will negate it's originality and Survivor Certification.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
I do have a '73 Benchmark/Survivor in 2003 and Top Flight in 2009 and I too think if you restore you loss the Survivor status. It's not really a survivor it's all been replaced which means to me nothing or not much of anything is original. The Bowtie is only for all orginial cars as far as I know (i may be wrong). I understand if you receive a Bowtie award you are stronly encourged to keep the car in it's orginial state because it is almost considered an historic artifact for people to examine when trying to make one original in apperance. Remember it is only orginal once in it's lifetime.
My 2 cents
My 2 cents
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 111
From: North Brunswick NJ
I received my SURVIVOR Certification in 2009. I'm pleased to say more and more people appreciate these cars for what they are. I always thought my OCD would prevent me from owning something that wasn't perfect. I'm so glad I resisted the tempation to restore my 68. It gets as many, if not more looks and comments when I take her out.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
* Is over 20 years old.
* Can pass a road test over 20 miles
* Remains over 50% unrestored, un-refinished, or unaltered.
* Retains finishes good enough to use as a color guide for restoration of a car just like it.
Judges inspect only four components: Exterior, Interior, Underhood and Chassis. Cars must pass at least three of these four categories in order to become SURVIVOR Certified.
http://www.bloomingtongold.com/inc.php?link=survivor
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,238
Likes: 1,092
From: YANKEES UNIVERSE 70 454-LS5 500 ft-lbs Torque
You can always restore it,but it is only original once.There will always be a big market for original unrestored vettes.