looking a buying a corvette sight unseen. All I have are the picture I am uploading. I believe it is a 427 bcc/4 speed/convertible with major reared damage.
I do not know if motor or anything else works for that matter.
What would it cost just to get to get reared body work repaired. Pretty sure frame damage is involved as well.

What would this car in this condition be worth?
What would expected cost to repair the fiberglass/framewrok correctly.
I would need to send it out so I will not be doing the work, I would want a reputable shop to do the work.

so I can't upload photos so describe damage almost the entire rearward fiberglass needs replaced. I was told car rolled into a tree.

 

Sight unseen? Rolled into a tree?

Brother, this sounds like a nightmare in the making...

 

$110 per hour labor plus materials and parts.

 

If it is not numbers matching then avoid it. You can get one without as much "described" damage that will in the long run cost less money.
Without pictures, figure $8K to $10K for repairs PROPERLY. IF the parts can even be found.

 

kgm,
Click on my profile and send some pictures to my e-mail so I can post them here for you. This will get you much more detailed info from the crew.
Cheers, Greg

 

I'm sure you know... it's like anything, Depends how bad the damage is, the rate of the guy doing the work, and how quickly he works. Some guys work cheaper than others ...like fabricators or body guys who work on side-projects at their own shop (on weekends/nights, etc). Your project gets fit in on their schedule. Or on the other end of the spectrum there is the full-bore shop which can do it all, but costs a lot more.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I know a guy who has a big shop and hires skilled guys to come in and work on his car projects as needed and as the individual's time is available. And that works out cheaper for him. These are skilled guys, not bozo's. His shop has every kind of tool, lifts, metal fabricating devices (incl benders, large lathe & vertical mills), paint booth, tire changers, several welders: tig and mig, plasma cutter etc ....just about any tool a guy can have. He has a whole room full of different welders! If he needs something he doesn't have, he'll go buy it. He always has multiple projects going on, the labor works out cheaper for him and it's right on his property.

I know another guy who does everything in-house ...expensive customs and restorations. There are different kind of guys who work in different ways. Usually the ex body guy or moonlighter working on projects in his home shop are the least expensive. But not always the fastest. So you'll just have to get the car, evaluate what you have, shop around, and evaluate your options. And who knows, maybe after all that you'll decide a new modern chassis with C5 suspension makes more sense(??).

If you're looking for a hard number, figure $10k plus or minus depending how bad the damage is. Could end up being 2k, or 12k for a rebuild, sandblast and complete detail to re-build and produce a rolling chassis.

 

 

You'll need to get pics of the frame to see if it's worth it.

The license plate is appropriate...

 

From that one dimly lit picture I would say that most, if not all, of that damage is reparable without having to replace major sections of the body. I have saved a lot worse. The frame section in that area is not beefy so a competent shop can restore to correct dimensions fairly easily.

Before you take the plunge, you need to do a full birdcage inspection as a rotted ‘cage could be a much more difficult repair.

 

any recommendations in eastern NC for that kind of professional repair work?

 

best way to explain to them to get pictures of the birdcage? I hate to be too much of an inconvenience to the elderly lady.

I have all way rebuild 67-19 cameras. This is all new to me

 

Assessing the condition of the birdcage involves removal of the kickpanels, the A pillar and header trim interior panels, and the access plates in the front of the rear wheel wells, at a minimum. Pictures would need to be well lit and sharp to adequately assess.

If you are willing to buy without confirming the actual motor, whether it runs or not, and the price is low enough to take the risk, then you might have to accept the additional risk associated with the birdcage. That said, if you are going to have others do the work, be prepared to pay dearly.

 

so worse case scenario, I buy it as a parts car, what would It be worth sent to the door?
right now its 5k to door, could I get 5k back out if its a basket case?

 

I would tackle that one.

 

Don't buy that car. Save money for better car.

 

Elm St.

 

Depends on what your time is worth. You could possibly get your 5k back if you decide to go the parts route but it will take a lot of time and effort. What year is it?

 

It's funny, the way it seems to go when someone posts a damaged car:

Bodywork guys "...Yeah, no big deal."
Guys who haven't done much of that seem to be: "..Run!"

 

Well................. it's NOT a 68"

 

Unless you can do this work yourself you need to walk away, outsourcing that repair and new paint is going to very expensive.