I am looking for some advice on a potential 69 coupe project. I am contemplating the project as it needs a frame as well as some work on the birdcage. It is a base SB/Auto car with original engine and trans. It is originally a RS Gold car with Black interior. Any thoughts to it's value when all restored as well as the merits of a full-scale undertaking on the car? Just trying to get a feel for the value of getting into this project.

Thanks!

 

Hi vette1500, boy okay where do we start. I am a little over 1 year into an off body restore of my 69 base model coupe. There were many hidden areas that need repairs. I will show you in a minute. If you are planning to restore the car to it's original form it does take a lot of time and money. That's not to say if you want to modify the car it still takes time and money. I think based on what you already see there is some major work. You will not get back what you put into the car for sure. This is not a good investment strategy right now. Me and many others on the forum do this because we are nuts, kidding. We love the chrome bumper cars and other models. Most of us just want to drive them and to those people who knows what the cost would be. For me I would like to try and restore my car close to what it would have been in 69. Then drive it and enjoy and be proud of what I accomplished. Let me show you some stuff.
r


























Okay 1st a picture of when I started, pretty nice. Then some of the hidden areas that needed repairs. Under the body seat belt brackets gone, a picture of the finished frame and where it is now. So in closing if you are a good mechanic or you have lots of money to send the car to a shop. Go slowly. Have someone who knows these cars go with you, you buy cheap you get cheap. I also have a 2" folder of receipts so far. I hope this helps you decide but the forum is here and there is more knowledge here then anywhere. Good luck and ask away.
r

 

Looking good rvzio
My 69 Coupe project is on it way to me, ETA approx. 5-6 weeks from now :- )

 

I agree, I bought my 69 Coupe, because I would like to restore a 69
If you would like to drive, buy a driver Corvette, it is the cheapest.

 

Now THAT'S how to weld a frame!

 

Hi v1500,
I'd think long and hard about buying a car that you want to restore KNOWING that it has a rusty frame and birdcage.
I think most people who have restored cars would say to buy a car that costs a few thousand dollars more but has a good frame and birdcage.
I'd also caution you to buy as complete a car as possible if your plan is to do a restoration to bring it to what it originally was.
I'd say paying someone to do a serious restoration would cost more than the value of the car would be.
If you can do the majority of the work yourself you might about break-even if and when you sell it if you consider that you worked for free.
A serious restoration is a tremendous amount of work and quite costly but is also a great experience if that's what you're looking for.
I'd certainly advise you to get some help looking at cars you're considering if you're not too knowledgable about them.
There are cars that people are asking $20,000 for that are worth half that, and also cars that people are asking $5,000 for that are worth that.
You ask what might it be worth? If you make it the finest restored 69 in existence I guess we're talking $40,000-$45,000?
If you paid someone to restore it you'd have considerably more in it and if you do it yourself you might break even as I said above.
This is why people often say financially it wiser to buy a car that's been restored…. but then of course you're missing out on the pleasures and horrors of doing your own restoration!
So!?!
Regards,
Alan

 

What the above embers said is great advice!

Now for a rookie observation.....I am very close to having my '68 convertible ready for new paint. But I did NOT do a quality restoration---I corrected problems/got the car mechanically safe/bought-rebuilt original body parts.

I wanted to be able to drive the car while I did a partial restore.

I will have $15,000 into the car after painting. To the average person the car will look very good. To an expert it will look like a nice incomplete restoration.

If I did a quality restore I would have to put a total of $20-25,000 into the car.

BUT.....the deal is....I am not looking to sell the car...it is a keeper...and I will enjoy every repair I have made along with all the miles I will put on it from now on.

I hope that makes some sense to you.

 

I hate to say what I am going to say,
But a rusted out basket case base coupe even if given to you for free will take more invested, money,time,work,sweat,blood than it will come close to being worth if end value is your concern,

 

Hi V,
I see you've placed an ad for a 69 frame a few minutes after posting this one….. so you've bought the car you described?
Regards,
Alan

 

I guess my pictures didn't scare him enough Alan. Oh well hope he has good luck with the experience.
r

 

I'll take that thank you Ontario. It was not easy but something that had to be done.
r

 

Hi Ce dk, hopefully the weeks will fly by. Shoot us some pictures when you get it. I hope the journey of your restore goes well. WE are all here for you.
r

 

Hi Guys!

R, that is an extremely nice repair on that frame, nice beads and plating. Alan, thanks for the advice, stellar as usual. I have right of first refusal on a tough local 69 coupe. I am trying to find out the viability of the project as well as the cost and availability of a frame. To give a little further background, I currently have a 72 coupe that I restored 20+ years ago as well as a 74 original condition coupe. I am a mechanic by trade (not in the field anymore) with a 1900 sq ft shop to collect junk in lol. Have worked on tons of C#,C4's and C5's. I am always looking for vette projects, but I may have to let this one pass, just trying to get a judge on the '69 project viability. Can do all work myself besides the body and paint.

Steve

 

Hi R,

The windshield frame is a little scary lol! On the other hand, I would love to have the same feeling that you did when you cut it out and welded a nice solid replacement in there! Car looks great! The thing is, when it is that bad, you have to take the body off etc and by the end, you will have it done properly. Keep up the great work.

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
With the experience and skills you describe, and the shop you have, you're certainly capable of taking on a serious restoration.
I think there continue to be cars available at reasonable prices that don't need a frame and birdcage work.
It's one thing to discover you HAVE a car that needs that sort of repairs, but I think it's quite another thing stepping into that situation knowingly.
Since in your initial post you mention the potential value I think you need to remember that as the values of cars go up so does potential buyer's expectations. They're not going to want to see a hint of serious former rust.
So, I'll be interested in hearing and seeing how you proceed!
Regards,
Alan

There are some ugly rust repairs around!!!!
I was asked to look at this car. It was described as having a solid frame.
The seller said he'd never noticed the repairs.

 

Now that's some nasty looking work.
r

 

Well thank you Steve, it was a nerve racking procedure to do. It seems like I have a lot of those incidents with this car. But heh! what an adventure and I am learning a ton about S/B 69's.
r

 

Hi Allan,

Thanks again. While I do consider myself a professional (licensed GM technician), I am far from an expert. I see people on this forum like yourself that can describe every nut and bolt identification on their car, my hat goes off! I also see the guys on here who have the guts to take on major repairs, even if they have never attempted anything close to it in their life! Thats why I think this is such an invaluable place. For myself, I appreciate the fact that I can bounce the thoughts or questions I have across this panel of information and experience. Yes, I have the tools and shop to perform the work, but I first like the fact that I can springboard the thoughts of whether such a project is worthwhile.


Best Regards,
Steve

 

That frame is so cobbled up you could literally see it driving down the road. The CO must not have seen the perforation near the battery cable while he was tightening up those shiny nuts on the battery hold down…There are certainly some less than forthright players in this car market. Another good reason to have someone like Alan do an inspection on a car if you are unsure what to look for. I feel sorry for someone if they buy that car unknowingly…

Steve

 

Thanks :- )
It is a Californian car, with no rust, and not been on the road since 1991
The pallet on the right in a new transmission, the first pallet on the left are parts for the car.
It a tank sticker car in monaco orange (990) from factory, it will go back to monaco orange and with 69 side pipes (I have a set of 69 side pipes in "stock" :- )