I would pull the damaged headlight door and bumper and then see what the damage looks like. Personally, if the paint is generally in good shape, and the damage is localized (like it appears to be) I'd perform a spot repair in the smallest area possible and just blend the paint in that area. Then put on a new front bumper cover. I'd probably spend the extra money and get a new urethane one from Ecklers which would keep your car very original. If you don't feel comfortable about doing the glass work, maybe it would be best left to a shop with experience working on fiberglass. I've done a lot of bodywork and to me that looks like a piece of cake repair. Of course, you'll need a new headlight door and maybe repair to the areas where it mounts. The first thing is to get it looked at so you can see how bad the damage is.

As far as gauges go, lots of people fix/repair and sell gauges for corvettes. Check the back of a few Corvette magazines. I see ads all the time.

Back to ownership, if it were me, I'd make a legal sale transaction from my dad, even if it were $1. Then, I'd title it in my name. I've been through too many "presumed" gifts to know that it's better to just make everything "real" and then you won't have to worry about any ill feelings. You don't want even the prospect of anything like that hanging out there that could possibly taint your experience and fun working on this car. You ARE going to have a blast with it, I'm sure.

Good luck.

Mark G

 

The paint is faded in a few spots and spider webbed elsewhere. I had planned on a complete repaint, done by a shop.

 

There was a thread floating around here recently about fixing the clock in the dash. It had pics and instructions if I remember correctly. If you feel like tinkering with it you might try a search and see what pops up.

 

Morpheus,
The body on my 81 is excellent so I didn't have to do anything like that. From looking at the assembly manual though, it doesn't look like too difficult or time consuming of a job. This is an excellent example of how the assembly manual can come in handy.

John.

 

"You bring up a good point. As of now this is verbal between my father and I. The title is still his, but my thinking was to keep it that way. I, correct me if I am wrong, was thinking that keeping it in his name and a one owner would be better down the line?"
As far as value your not doing it as an investment.Your going to have to get the title sooner or later. It can't stay a one owner car forever, besides your not going to sell it anyway. For what it's worth My father passed without clearing up the titles to cars and it became a mess. You may be in a different situation. Just take your time and do it right.

 

Good to see you are interested in the project to restore your fathers Vette and it looks like it wont take too much to do the repairs as needed. My question is in your picture the front emblem looks like an 81 or is it a chrome badge that is dirty?

 

We have ( given to my son ) my wife's first car. 69 Firebird. Was 350, auto, PS, nothing else. Now 455+, very modified mechanically. It would take a lot to get rid of it. My son and I did most of the work on it together. I bought my daughter's first car when she didn't want to keep it. 86 IROC.

I'd say the sentimental aspects outweigh costs. Besides, you can learn to work on it yourself so there really won't be too much cost. You decide what you're willing to spend on it.

 

Discuss this with our Dad but my advice is to title it in your name before you go too far on it. Keep a copy of the title in you Dad's name to show the chain of ownership if you want.


You may want to paint it or prep it yourself. Some Community Colleges have body shop classes. you'd get a lot of training quickly. It should be running though to really get advantage of that.

 

Morpheus,
I would rebuid the engine and replace the bumper cover and enjoy the car! Don't go crazy, the car is only worth in the $5K range in its current condition. I own a '79 and GM made alot of these cars in the latter runs of the c3's. Keep all the original parts, and give that engine some hp. It won't be perfect but there will be plenty of time for that.

It's very easy to fall in love with these cars (My dad owns a '63 coupe, so I know). It will be worth more some day as the values creep up. Try to dicuss the title with your dad to get it in your own name.

Good Luck,