More desireable
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More desireable
What’s more desirable in terms of selling. I’m working on a 71 it currently has a non running period correct 350, but not the original 350. Is it more desirable to go with rebuilding that engine or doing something like an LS swap for it.
then paint. The original paint/ interior is steel cities Grey/ black. Is it more desirable to have it painted back to original steel cities Grey, or does that matter?
then paint. The original paint/ interior is steel cities Grey/ black. Is it more desirable to have it painted back to original steel cities Grey, or does that matter?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Huntsville AL
If I had a 1971 Steel Cities Gray on Black car I would go with the period correct 350 and keep it Steel Cities Gray on Black. Only 1,591 cars were painted Steel Cities Gray in 71 and 2,346 in 72, the only two years this color was offered.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
It really depends on who is buying it.
to go LS swap, then the entire car should be brought up to "Resto Mod" Standards. And yes many resto mods are selling for more money than factory standard cars. But they are cars that are nicely done top to bottom/ Front to back.
What you have will never be numbers matching.
And unless you go whole Hog on a complete resto mod. It isn't likely to bring huge money.
If the only reason you have a C3 is to make money, you truly picked the wrong car.
As per color. In my personal opinion. (And that's all it is) I believe there is a reason that Steel City's grey is a fairly rare color. It just wasn't popular back then. And still isn't.
Black interior is popular and gives you unlimited color choices for the exterior.
This is no numbers matching car. Perspective buyers are going to be judging it on overall condition and how well it runs and drives.
to go LS swap, then the entire car should be brought up to "Resto Mod" Standards. And yes many resto mods are selling for more money than factory standard cars. But they are cars that are nicely done top to bottom/ Front to back.
What you have will never be numbers matching.
And unless you go whole Hog on a complete resto mod. It isn't likely to bring huge money.
If the only reason you have a C3 is to make money, you truly picked the wrong car.
As per color. In my personal opinion. (And that's all it is) I believe there is a reason that Steel City's grey is a fairly rare color. It just wasn't popular back then. And still isn't.
Black interior is popular and gives you unlimited color choices for the exterior.
This is no numbers matching car. Perspective buyers are going to be judging it on overall condition and how well it runs and drives.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
Stock restored, even with the wrong engine is usually an easier sell then a color change modified car. This is mainly because with a modified car you have to find a buyer with the same taste in modifications and color chosen as you, while buyers for stock cars are usually willing to buy a car in it's original color, even if the color wasn't there first choice. As to which is more "desirable" is really going to depend on the buyer, but which is going to be easier to sell (and maybe bring more money), will be the restored, original color car.
By the way, personally I think Steel Cities Gray is without a doubt one of the very nicest colors Chevrolet ever put on a Corvette.
Welcome to the Forum, and good luck with whichever direction you chose to go.
By the way, personally I think Steel Cities Gray is without a doubt one of the very nicest colors Chevrolet ever put on a Corvette.
Welcome to the Forum, and good luck with whichever direction you chose to go.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
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From: Palm Springs, CA.
This ^^^^
I'm wih GB on all he said, except that I think Steel Cities Gray was one of the worst colors ever used on a Corvette.
However, if it was mine, I'd stay true to the trim tag and paint it SCG and run that period correct 350.
Cheers, Greg
I'm wih GB on all he said, except that I think Steel Cities Gray was one of the worst colors ever used on a Corvette.
However, if it was mine, I'd stay true to the trim tag and paint it SCG and run that period correct 350.
Cheers, Greg
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
Are you trying to build the car you want, or flip a car you have?
Making it run, and selling it as is, is likely to be the most profitable thing you can do.
That said, an SCG, LS swap 6-speed restomod would be awesome. Build that, but expect to sell it for half of the build cost.
Making it run, and selling it as is, is likely to be the most profitable thing you can do.
That said, an SCG, LS swap 6-speed restomod would be awesome. Build that, but expect to sell it for half of the build cost.
Drifting
Joined: May 2022
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From: CA & ID
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I think this is good advice above, but want to present a contrary view.
What condition is the paint right now? If it’s excellent and doesn’t need a repaint, I’d save the money for a repaint, and invest the money in an LS swap, with a 5- or 6-speed manual, and then do other restomod upgrades, Bluetooth stereo, new seats and modern belts, a/c, etc. It’s not a #s match engine, and many restomods have different paint anyway.
Have you checked out the finalists in the modified C3 of the year? Each is fantastic in its own way, and the performance and comfort upgrades reflect what the owners want with their cars, and are definitely inspirational for mods.
What condition is the paint right now? If it’s excellent and doesn’t need a repaint, I’d save the money for a repaint, and invest the money in an LS swap, with a 5- or 6-speed manual, and then do other restomod upgrades, Bluetooth stereo, new seats and modern belts, a/c, etc. It’s not a #s match engine, and many restomods have different paint anyway.
Have you checked out the finalists in the modified C3 of the year? Each is fantastic in its own way, and the performance and comfort upgrades reflect what the owners want with their cars, and are definitely inspirational for mods.
Last edited by Coronette; Oct 28, 2023 at 02:34 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 805
Likes: 260
I think this is good advice above, but want to present a contrary view.
What condition is the paint right now? If it’s excellent and doesn’t need a repaint, I’d save the money for a repaint, and invest the money in an LS swap, with a 5- or 6-speed manual, and then do other restomod upgrades, Bluetooth stereo, new seats and modern belts, a/c, etc. It’s not a #s match engine, and many restomods have different paint anyway.
Have you checked out the finalists in the modified C3 of the year? Each is fantastic in its own way, and the performance and comfort upgrades reflect what the owners want with their cars, and are definitely inspirational for mods.
What condition is the paint right now? If it’s excellent and doesn’t need a repaint, I’d save the money for a repaint, and invest the money in an LS swap, with a 5- or 6-speed manual, and then do other restomod upgrades, Bluetooth stereo, new seats and modern belts, a/c, etc. It’s not a #s match engine, and many restomods have different paint anyway.
Have you checked out the finalists in the modified C3 of the year? Each is fantastic in its own way, and the performance and comfort upgrades reflect what the owners want with their cars, and are definitely inspirational for mods.