new owner 1970 454 bb
05-09-2016, 09:15 AM
#1
8th Gear
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new owner 1970 454 bb
hi guys
joined a couple of days ago and was told to post here
I have just got a titled 1970 454 BB convertible but as you can see it has had a later front and rear put on( I am told it was an acceptable upgrade back in the day ) I am going to paint the car and I would like to know what am I letting my self in for changing back? I am sure the car is worth more cash original or should I just keep it as a hot rod?
joined a couple of days ago and was told to post here
I have just got a titled 1970 454 BB convertible but as you can see it has had a later front and rear put on( I am told it was an acceptable upgrade back in the day ) I am going to paint the car and I would like to know what am I letting my self in for changing back? I am sure the car is worth more cash original or should I just keep it as a hot rod?
05-09-2016, 09:40 AM
#2
Team Owner
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Hi cm,
Welcome!
Interesting looking car.
Your question about changing it back to it's original configuration is difficult to answer simply.
Was this car born as a convertible or was it a coupe that's had a convertible rear clip put on it at some point.
The actual change will be very involved and take both a good deal of skill and lots of money.
Whether you'd be ahead financially depends on many things including, but not limited to, how much you paid for the car and whether it still has the original engine it left St.Louis with.
Did you buy it with the idea of changing it?
Perhaps you should drive it for a while and see what kind of car it turns out to be and if the idea of changing it still seems interesting to you.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Welcome!
Interesting looking car.
Your question about changing it back to it's original configuration is difficult to answer simply.
Was this car born as a convertible or was it a coupe that's had a convertible rear clip put on it at some point.
The actual change will be very involved and take both a good deal of skill and lots of money.
Whether you'd be ahead financially depends on many things including, but not limited to, how much you paid for the car and whether it still has the original engine it left St.Louis with.
Did you buy it with the idea of changing it?
Perhaps you should drive it for a while and see what kind of car it turns out to be and if the idea of changing it still seems interesting to you.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; 05-09-2016 at 09:41 AM.
05-09-2016, 09:55 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
Colin, Your car certainly looks like it would be a fun driver! Unless it is an original number matching 454 car I would probably enjoy it as is. As Alan said, there will be quite a lot involved in converting it back. I noticed that the original wiper door/hood have also been changed. All of this can be returned to original configuration depending on the money and time you wish to invest. Welcome.
05-09-2016, 11:47 AM
#4
Drifting
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Just looking at your pics, the cost to return to original will be very, very expensive. (Unless you can do all of the work, but your "man hours" will be huge.)
A new paint job, new front & rear ends, chrome bumpers, correct hood/wiper door assembly, correct interior pieces, etc. will probably be in the $15k - $20k range.
I would just drive it and enjoy it. If you want an original looking car, it would be cheaper to buy another in stock configuration.
A new paint job, new front & rear ends, chrome bumpers, correct hood/wiper door assembly, correct interior pieces, etc. will probably be in the $15k - $20k range.
I would just drive it and enjoy it. If you want an original looking car, it would be cheaper to buy another in stock configuration.
Last edited by Revi; 05-09-2016 at 11:49 AM.
05-10-2016, 04:46 PM
#7
Dementer sole survivor
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I believe you're makng the right choice. Restomod, hotrod, whatever you like other than trying to get it back to a chrome bumper car. After you get this where you want you can get a chrome bumper car to work on. Best of both. Projects are pretty easy to find.
05-10-2016, 05:11 PM
#8
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To return the car to stock in a way that would make it right that a stock loving fellow would want it and not nit pick it to death would take more toad pelts than it would ever fetch.
The ONLY way a return to stock would be worth the time work and money is IF you wanted it that way that badly that it would be worth it to YOU but then we get into the area you could flip it to someone who likes it and buy what you really like....
Who cares what it might be worth down the road years from now the fun with these cars is driving them not letting them just sit,
I dig the car just the way it is, I would leave it alone and drive it,
yeah...pace car spoiler is a great idea....
The ONLY way a return to stock would be worth the time work and money is IF you wanted it that way that badly that it would be worth it to YOU but then we get into the area you could flip it to someone who likes it and buy what you really like....
Who cares what it might be worth down the road years from now the fun with these cars is driving them not letting them just sit,
I dig the car just the way it is, I would leave it alone and drive it,
yeah...pace car spoiler is a great idea....
Last edited by The13Bats; 05-10-2016 at 05:14 PM.
05-10-2016, 05:15 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
Accept it and enjoy it for what it is right now. A BB 4 spd manual vert, sidepipes. Nice combo, very sharp looking.
Plus at shows make people guess what year. Unless they are "experts" that will point out what's wrong.
Plus at shows make people guess what year. Unless they are "experts" that will point out what's wrong.
05-10-2016, 05:26 PM
#10
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I had a cat start ranting about the 73 front clip on my 69 and I asked/told him, so you sound like a vette expert you don't know a rare factory prototype when you see one?!?!?!?,
that got him really wound up, I just said as I walked off...so prove it's not....
05-10-2016, 11:40 PM
#11
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15, '19
I look forward to the day when the market is such that cars like this are viable candidates for restoration. 63 SWC bodies fetch $30k these days.
05-11-2016, 03:31 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
I agree with all of the guys who say keep it the way you bought it. Trust me, it would cost you way more money than you care to imagine. Even if you do the work yourself, parts are just expensive. But, hey its a cool car! Enjoy it as it is. And yes, like Camaros back in the later 70's it was an acceptable update. Heck it made it look like a new model.