New Vette Purchase Quesiton
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Hollidaysburg pa
New Vette Purchase Quesiton
Recently purchased a 68 coupe, a friend who's a corvette guy looked the car over thoroughly. The add reads below:
see if you can guess what engine is in this car?
"1968 chevrolet corvette t-top coupe
327/350HP (believed to be a real 327/350HP car, correct/original tach)
4 speed"
The add goes on to detail that the engine is not numbers matching.
So, based on this information, what engine is in the car?
see if you can guess what engine is in this car?
"1968 chevrolet corvette t-top coupe
327/350HP (believed to be a real 327/350HP car, correct/original tach)
4 speed"
The add goes on to detail that the engine is not numbers matching.
So, based on this information, what engine is in the car?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Hollidaysburg pa
He never looked at the engine numbers, it wasn't a numbers matching car. The seller was a corvette restorer, had beautiful classic Corvettes at his shop. Anyway, the car gets to me, and i check the serial on the engine to transfer the warranty, turns out, 350/225HP cheapest smallblock that you can buy. Seller claims he never disclosed what engine was in the car, only referenced what he thought was the original engine. Legal proceedings pending!! Still in shock and heartbroken.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
could be worse, a 305 or 307 engine.
those cars before 1972 before when the vin identifies the engine can be anything you desire. Buy the parts, restamp the parts and makeup paperwork . So many cars sold as high dollar originals are fakes.
I was around C2 shop along time, few cars left original . 9 out of ten were repainted red , new interiors and trim tags installed. Blocks found and rest amped for BB cars . True original engine cars are rare.
I don't trust people when it comes to rare optioned cars. seen way to many fakes called original .
I just keep my 74 ...I know what I have.
those cars before 1972 before when the vin identifies the engine can be anything you desire. Buy the parts, restamp the parts and makeup paperwork . So many cars sold as high dollar originals are fakes.
I was around C2 shop along time, few cars left original . 9 out of ten were repainted red , new interiors and trim tags installed. Blocks found and rest amped for BB cars . True original engine cars are rare.
I don't trust people when it comes to rare optioned cars. seen way to many fakes called original .
I just keep my 74 ...I know what I have.
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; Jul 23, 2013 at 08:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Hollidaysburg pa
I knew the engine wasn't original, non-numbers matching. Didn't really see the need to check block numbers. Just can't believe a seller would totally misrepresent the displacement and HP of the motor. He claims he never made reference to the current motor in the car, luckily i have the original Add which he deleted. We'll see if that's enough to make a case.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
225HP is not the 'cheapest' engine available. Go look at HP figures in Corvettes from the mid '70s.
BTW. I would have interpreted the ad as meaning that the car was born as a 327/350 but is now NOM. To me that it means all bets are off what it is now. Good luck in court.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
when was the engine rated for power? in the haydays of optimistic preemission muscle cars? or in the dreaded ralph nader post mortem safety era? two ways to determine what you have: drag strip et's or a dyno. anyway, sbc are cheap and fun to build-go for it!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Hollidaysburg pa
Mike, HP figures came from Power Torque, the engine re-builder that sells the motors through O'Reilly's. That was the cheapest long block available at Power Torque that would fit the Corvette. They calculate Hp based on the parts they use to rebuild the engine, heads, cam, etc. I look at the add and read the car currently has a 327/350HP motor that is non numbers matching. Clear as day. If the add read 350/225HP (believed to be a real 327/350HP car with original/correct tach) I wouldn't have bought it, or at least lowered my offer.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
You purchased an automobile you did not personally inspect; you knew the engine was not original; you did not know what engine was in the car when you agreed to purchase it; and now you're suing the seller?
Last edited by Easy Mike; Jul 23, 2013 at 12:18 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
exactly. If the OP wants to point fingers of blame, 50% goes to himself and the other 50% to his buddy. 
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Hollidaysburg pa
Easy Mike, as stated in the Ad, and discussed over the phone, The motor was supposed to be a replacement 327/350HP. My best friend, who has owned several corvettes, inspected and drive the car, with the engine being new, he did not push the motor and would have no way of knowing it's lack of HP. The seller mislead me regarding the engine, maybe he thought i would never check.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Sounds like you to direct your concerns towards him, not the dealer.