C3 restoration bigots....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
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From: PA
C3 restoration bigots....
I'm just curious what the guys who look for the BEST C3s for restoration think.....how many garage finds or forgotten barn cars are really out there still ? At this point are we looking for needles in haystacks or do we really believe there is a plethora of forgotten C3's just waiting to be found ? Is a late 60s C3 that is complete and unrestored rare or just uncommon ????
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
No, I'm talking about passing up potential restoration cars because you know there are better options out there. are there really ? Is there still a load of cars not discovered worth waiting for.....or is the holy grail barn find a thing of the past ?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 4
From: LI NY
As time passes the unfound become less and less. A guy I work with is taking home a 68 convertible this weekend that has been in a garage since 1982 from the original owner so they are out there. It takes hard work and a lot of luck. My buddy is hoping to just try to start the engine in six months and has no schedule on driving it due to the amount of work it will need to get it road worthy after 30 years. If you are looking for this kind of project spread the word. The more people who know what you are looking for the better your chances will be on a find.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
why people glorify the barn find is beyond me... there may be some out there, but if they are, they are stuck in a barn for a reason. usually because it konked out with a major mechanical problem, or is rusted out. finding one with no rust that was put in a barn for the sake of saving it for later will be extra extra rare.. and perhaps done only by someone with a screw loose. those owners want 6 figures for a 4 figure car. don't count on ever finding one.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
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From: PA
this is what I'm talking about. Hundreds ? Thousands ? More ? Who knows I guess. I was wondering what guys who look for these cars think....
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Better to just get one done these things cost too much dough to do from scratch. Sure its neat spotting an old dusty relic but once you take it apart and look at what you got.
"Things Change"
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
Most all of the Barn find Cars have allready been found so its not really worth the time to look anymore. However there was the only 1963 Z06 Convertable found not to long ago, and yes a 1969 ZL-1 Auto, one of 2 or 3 sold depending on how you look at it. Guess we better keep looking....
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Woodland California
Paid $2250 for it and it ran.
$16000.00 dollars later it's almost done.
Needs about 40 more hours and a few hundred dollars more.[IMG]
[/IMG]New coil and leaf springs since this picture.
Now it sits higher in the back and lower in the front
Ralph
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
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From: PA
I guess the next question is how many true stock/OE survivor cars do you think are out there ? If you want to hold out for a A+ example of a C3 to buy how many early C3's do you think you would have to pick from ? That is, if your intention was to do a frame off and restore it yourself instead of one that's been done already.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
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From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
I read a sunday newspaper article decades ago. It stated that 10% of any car's model year production are lost every year due to accident, theft, rust, fire, etc. If that's true, then my '69 ragtop, one of 16,633 made that year, is one of ~ 600 remaining. Who knows?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Savannah GA
Within a 20 mile radius of where I sit right now I am aware of a 71 small block 4 speed car, a 73 with front end damage, a 78 that sits outside, a 74 BB coupe with the frame rails sitting on the dirt, and a 80 less engine/trans. Oh yeah, a 73 tub with t-tops that could be had for $200. I'm not even shopping......there are all kinds of cars still out there.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,734
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From: Port Huron MI
While I think most of us enjoy working on vettes/cars, the seized breaks and engines, the damaged exteriors, the vermit eaten wiring, doesn't appeal to me... at all.
While I'd love to do a frame off someday, I'd love driving my baby around even more.
The recent trend in "it's only original once" collecting of cars with petina actually bothers me a bit. I know it's to each their own, but for me, I'd rather not pay more for a ride that looks like less. A fully operational, pristinely restored or modified DRIVER is what it's all about. No trailer queens, no museum-investment grade enormous paper weights...No barn cars with 200 miles and 30 years of dust on em.
These cars were built to be driven not just looked at.
If the question is how many cars are there out there to be restored that are worth being restored... I can't count that high. BUt the 1 of 3 $600,000 auction draw is too much for me. Give me a chrome bumper big block with some "flaws"/personality that I'm not afraid for my life to ding... And I'm all over it. My 2cents
While I'd love to do a frame off someday, I'd love driving my baby around even more.
The recent trend in "it's only original once" collecting of cars with petina actually bothers me a bit. I know it's to each their own, but for me, I'd rather not pay more for a ride that looks like less. A fully operational, pristinely restored or modified DRIVER is what it's all about. No trailer queens, no museum-investment grade enormous paper weights...No barn cars with 200 miles and 30 years of dust on em.
These cars were built to be driven not just looked at.
If the question is how many cars are there out there to be restored that are worth being restored... I can't count that high. BUt the 1 of 3 $600,000 auction draw is too much for me. Give me a chrome bumper big block with some "flaws"/personality that I'm not afraid for my life to ding... And I'm all over it. My 2cents
Drifting
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From: Port Huron MI
Team Owner
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
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From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Apparently beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And you might be bigoted, like me, if you don't consider a blue rubber bumper Vette with enough front wheelwell space for 2 more tires, less than attractive. But hey, who knows why the front looks so much higher than the rear. 
Perhaps ready for high water.
Only back-slapping is allowed on this forum.
Perhaps ready for high water.Only back-slapping is allowed on this forum.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 543
Likes: 2
From: Miami FL
St. Jude Donor '11, '14
Apparently beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And you might be bigoted, like me, if you don't consider a blue rubber bumper Vette with enough front wheelwell space for 2 more tires, less than attractive. But hey, who knows why the front looks so much higher than the rear. Perhaps ready for high water.
Only back-slapping is allowed on this forum.
Perhaps ready for high water.Only back-slapping is allowed on this forum.
"New coil and leaf springs since this picture.
Now it sits higher in the back and lower in the front"
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi bn,
I agree that there's no way to know.... but, the way cars continue to turn up that haven't been touched for 20+ years, makes me think there's still a bunch!
It takes very little space to stash away, and then forget about, a Corvette.
Regards,
Alan
I agree that there's no way to know.... but, the way cars continue to turn up that haven't been touched for 20+ years, makes me think there's still a bunch!
It takes very little space to stash away, and then forget about, a Corvette.
Regards,
Alan
Le Mans Master
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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
