After multiple google searches led me to this site, I decided to sign up. Thank you in advance.

I have a family member with a 1969 Corvette that he has owned since the early 70's. Since he is getting very old, and his mind is starting to go, his wife thought this would be a good time to find out what they've got, with selling a possibility.

If I wanted to get enough information for a future buyer to properly valuate the car, what all would I need?

Would the first step be to drop the tank and check for the rpo sticker? Anything else needed down there while I've got her in the air?

Any must have pictures for a buyer?

Eta: It's a small block coupe, with an ugly *** brownish color.

 

Welcome aboard brother.
Start here with your location and some pics. Outside, inside, underneath. Also pics of trim tag and engine stamp numbers on engine block in front of passenger side cylinder head.
This will give us the basic info here to start a valuation estimate. I would not be concerned with dropping the tank.
Cheers, Greg

 

The first step is to determine whether there is any factory documentation for the car. His wife should search the family archives for the paperwork. If the records exist, you may not have to drop the tank.

 

Adding to what Greg posted, Pics will tell the story. Small block coupe wont be in demand as much as a big block or a convertible. If its in good shape with no rust issues and a 4 speed I would think that the bottom dollar is about $15k. You will also have to determine birdcage rust. The birdcage is what the windshield and the doors are mounted to and is like a factory metal cabin that the fiberglass was "glued" to. It is bolted to the frame and the front mounts behind the door tend to rust as well as the windshield pillars. Was it garaged its entire life, that usually helps a lot. Where are you located, less humid areas of the country help as well. And the frame needs pics as well to determine if any rust is surface rust or the big ugly flaking kind.

Documentation is only vital to the collectors that want to judge it on originality. It wont change the price any but it is nice to have for some folks. It sounds like the family is the second owner if they owned since the 70s so they may not have much in the way of the original sales documents. Good luck. more pics the better. I like to see all 4 sides. The door gaps and hood gaps. The engine compartment from both sides and the front of the engine as well as the front passenger side of the front of the block. Then engine stamp pad is located there. And a good representation of the interior from the drivers and passengers doors.

good luck