I need Restoration Advice
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,538
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From: Winston Salem NC
I need Restoration Advice
I have just bought a '78 Silver Anniv. Edition.
The entire drive train is in great shape.
Suspention is alo in great shape.
Interior needs a lot of help and the paint is history.
The car has been modified quite a bit.
The 350 has been bored out to 400 and a set of stainless steel side pipes
have been added. And for some reason (God only Knows why) a trailor hitch was welded to the frame. (that of course, is no longer there)
My question is this. I have never really cared for the color scheme of the Siver Anniv. I like the silver but the grey I really don't care for. Since I have to have the car painted; How much will a different color scheme devalue the restored value of the car, or has been modified beyond the point of worring about it at all. Any advice will be appreciated. -Joe
The entire drive train is in great shape.
Suspention is alo in great shape.
Interior needs a lot of help and the paint is history.
The car has been modified quite a bit.
The 350 has been bored out to 400 and a set of stainless steel side pipes
have been added. And for some reason (God only Knows why) a trailor hitch was welded to the frame. (that of course, is no longer there)
My question is this. I have never really cared for the color scheme of the Siver Anniv. I like the silver but the grey I really don't care for. Since I have to have the car painted; How much will a different color scheme devalue the restored value of the car, or has been modified beyond the point of worring about it at all. Any advice will be appreciated. -Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
One way to decide is to ask if the changes are reversible or not, or prevent the car in the future from being returned to original state. At least that's what I look for as one who prefers factory original when looking for a corvette. Also of importance is whether the block is still the original one with the numbers intact. That can make a difference. You're affecting the potential market size when it comes time to resell.
All that said however, it's your car so you should do what you want to it and what makes you comfortable with your decisions. :)
All that said however, it's your car so you should do what you want to it and what makes you comfortable with your decisions. :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 20
From: Schaumburg, Il, USA IL
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
The car has been modified quite a bit.
How much will a different color scheme devalue the restored value of the car, or has been modified beyond the point of worring about it at all. Any advice will be appreciated. -Joe
How much will a different color scheme devalue the restored value of the car, or has been modified beyond the point of worring about it at all. Any advice will be appreciated. -Joe
now so anything would be an improvement, and increase the value of the
car. However, a stock paintjob may attract a larger customer base. I don't
know what your plans are for the car either, show or go? If it were my car,
I'd go stock "looking" but not stock running since it sounds as though the
original motor is long gone. Either way, it's your car, do what you wish.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Mary Esther Florida
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
Not to rain on your parade, but a 350 cannot be bored out to make a 400. If it is a 400 then it is not the original engine anyway and all other points will be null and void. You should check the numbers on the engine to see if it is truely the original. If it is, then about the biggest the engine can be is about 357 cubic inches-give or take an inch. I'd say make the car the way you want it and forget about it. The car will never be worth much more than it already is-unless it is ultra low mileage and everything is original. I almost went the original route with my '79 but when I ran the numbers, it only had a 305 in it. I went with a 350 crate motor and forgot making it match. Don't you get sick of going to car shows and seeing all of the "original" cars look the same? Do something different and have some personality. Just my 2 cents. Good luck... :conehead
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
whatever you do, 'Keep In Mind' if you ever what to seel this Vette it IS a 78 Silver Anniv. edition. If you remove all marking or traits of it being a Silver Anniv. then it's no longer that much more of a collectable a corvette. Having said that it your car and you can do whatever makes to propeller spin! :crazy:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,530
Likes: 0
From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
"The car will never be worth much more than it already is-unless it is ultra low mileage and everything is original."
How untrue. As the early C4's are really dropping in price, it makes them more attractive to the bargain buyer, pushing the C3's up in price. The early C3's, especially the chrome bumper cars, are fast escalating in price. The '72 standard coupe, for example, has gone up about 50% in 2 years in the price guides. A combination of factors will cause the later C3's to rise in price in the coming years. In fact, they may be at the BOTTOM of the curve right now, getting ready to escalate.
Just my 2 cents. I'd keep it original if it is original now. I've never been a corvette guy, so I don't claim to be an expert. But I do buy/sell/collect a lot of collector cars, and have seen the market effects.
Brian
How untrue. As the early C4's are really dropping in price, it makes them more attractive to the bargain buyer, pushing the C3's up in price. The early C3's, especially the chrome bumper cars, are fast escalating in price. The '72 standard coupe, for example, has gone up about 50% in 2 years in the price guides. A combination of factors will cause the later C3's to rise in price in the coming years. In fact, they may be at the BOTTOM of the curve right now, getting ready to escalate.
Just my 2 cents. I'd keep it original if it is original now. I've never been a corvette guy, so I don't claim to be an expert. But I do buy/sell/collect a lot of collector cars, and have seen the market effects.
Brian
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
McphailK,
Was the car one of the 972 that came with option ZN1 - Trailer Package?
.... And for some reason (God only Knows why) a trailor hitch was welded to the frame.....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Georgia
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
I like the silver but the grey I really don't care for.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,538
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From: Winston Salem NC
Re: I need Restoration Advice (McphailK)
Wow. I really appreaciate the advice. From what gathered from the previous owner the block is a "400 4-bolt main" with C-190 heads. A 309 rear end, and the pipes are 428 shelby cobra pipes customized to the corvette. As for that trailor hitch; it was a chunk of stainless steel welded to the frame. The car was purchased in Germany by a tank mechanic (the fellow I bought her from) sometime in the mid '80s from a soldier that had gotten himself into some legal hassels and had to sell.
Being in Germany the car naturally saw the Autobon. Which is probably also the reason she has a different engine. The mileage on the block is 60,000. The body is in great shape other than the paint. Everything in the interior with the exception of the speedometer works, but is in pretty sad shape otherwise so I have a lot of work to do there. I plan to spend a couple of months on the interior and other odds and ends, and then, hopefully by early spring I can have her painted.
Being a "Vette-Virgin", I really do appreaciate the input y'all have given me. -Mcphail
Being in Germany the car naturally saw the Autobon. Which is probably also the reason she has a different engine. The mileage on the block is 60,000. The body is in great shape other than the paint. Everything in the interior with the exception of the speedometer works, but is in pretty sad shape otherwise so I have a lot of work to do there. I plan to spend a couple of months on the interior and other odds and ends, and then, hopefully by early spring I can have her painted.
Being a "Vette-Virgin", I really do appreaciate the input y'all have given me. -Mcphail