Original or Custom?
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Original or Custom? - Custom!
I originally purchased my 73 Convertible with the expressed intend of dropping in a Stroker 383, 5 speed, and performance suspension to make it a fun daily driver that I could be proud of at the same time. The car I purchased is a numbers matching L-82 with the close ratio 4-speed. Not by any means a serious collector, but still desired by many. Do I dare continue with my original intent and ruin a numbers matching unit all so that I can enjoy my dream come true daily? Or do I restore it to original and enjoy it when the weather is good and the traffic is light? :skep:
Okay, so I've decided to have fun and let the book value do what ever it will. I can't let that stop anything or else I don't own a car but a museum piece that I'll never want to drive if there is a cloud in the sky. Thank you to everyone who weighed in their opinion and comments. Now all I have to do is figure out where that 6 speed was found at... :D
[Modified by Chevyguy1973, 6:53 PM 8/6/2003]
Okay, so I've decided to have fun and let the book value do what ever it will. I can't let that stop anything or else I don't own a car but a museum piece that I'll never want to drive if there is a cloud in the sky. Thank you to everyone who weighed in their opinion and comments. Now all I have to do is figure out where that 6 speed was found at... :D
[Modified by Chevyguy1973, 6:53 PM 8/6/2003]
Le Mans Master
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From: Wildwood IL
Re: Original or Custom? (Chevyguy1973)
If it's in great original condition....it will be worth more to many more if you leave it. I've found the majority look for "original" rather than custom when it's time for them to buy.
Eddie
Eddie
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From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: Original or Custom? (Silvr77)
If it's in great original condition....it will be worth more to many more if you leave it. I've found the majority look for "original" rather than custom when it's time for them to buy.
Eddie
Eddie
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Original or Custom? (Chevyguy1973)
I would much prefer the "383, 5 speed, and performance suspension" which would be worth much more since less mods would need to be done.
You could build a 383 & have less need for gears & save the L-82.
You could build a 383 & have less need for gears & save the L-82.
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Re: Original or Custom? (Chevyguy1973)
All Corvette owners LOVE to brag about all the mods to their car- except when they go to sell it.
:yesnod: :lol: :lol: :lol: :yesnod:
IMHO, do what you really like and what will make you happiest. If you want an investment- buy real estate- not cars.
:yesnod: :lol: :lol: :lol: :yesnod:
IMHO, do what you really like and what will make you happiest. If you want an investment- buy real estate- not cars.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Original or Custom? (Chevyguy1973)
I originally purchased my 73 Convertible with the expressed intend of dropping in a Stroker 383, 5 speed, and performance suspension to make it a fun daily driver that I could be proud of at the same time. The car I purchased is a numbers matching L-82 with the close ratio 4-speed. Not by any means a serious collector, but still desired by many. Do I dare continue with my original intent and ruin a numbers matching unit all so that I can enjoy my dream come true daily? Or do I restore it to original and enjoy it when the weather is good and the traffic is light? :skep:
[Modified by Alwyn678, 9:36 AM 8/5/2003]
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Re: Original or Custom? (MassVette)
do what you really like and what will make you happiest. If you want an investment- buy real estate- not cars.
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From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
Re: Original or Custom? (79VetteMike)
When you forget about resale value, you have truely started to enjoy it.
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Original or Custom? (Corvette ED)
I have done something similar to mine. I had a numbers matching car that still has all the numbers they are just stored away until later needed. I now have aluminum heads and intake, and a five speed was ordered just last week. We have been enjoying the car almost every weekend we get a chance to. I say do what makes you happy.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Diego, CA Website: ChrisMitchell.us
Re: Original or Custom? (Chevyguy1973)
I say :smash: the heck out of it and then :auto: the heck out of it. If you are already looking to sell it then you should have never bought it in the first plalce.
Le Mans Master
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From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Original or Custom? (77Dream)
This is your Corvette right ? Enjoy the snot out of it while you have it unless your just taking care of it for stranger that you don't know down the road :sad: . Now stop all this talk about selling your C3 and plant your butt in the seat where it belongs :D . :auto:
[Modified by SmokedTires, 6:12 PM 8/5/2003]
[Modified by SmokedTires, 6:12 PM 8/5/2003]
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From: Allen TX
Re: Original or Custom? (77Dream)
When I was looking to purchase a classic Vette, I was more concerned with its condition than originality (which so often can be faked...not by you, but a first-time buyer like me was not willing to pay extra for something that is "original").
Tasteful mods are nice and make the car a lot more fun to drive anyway. So I got a NOM car and immediately dropped in a 5-speed trans, upgraded the motor, suspension, etc. I can drive it anywhere and enjoy doing so.
I agree with most of the others here. Enjoy the car. If that means modding it and bagging the original motor, then do it. If that means keeping it stock/original and maintaining more of its resale value, then do that ... and go buy a NOM car you can hop-up. :)
But I've seen more people lately like me, who are more interested in a fun, clean _driver_ than an all-original car that needs work or runs as slow as most of today's imports.
Tasteful mods are nice and make the car a lot more fun to drive anyway. So I got a NOM car and immediately dropped in a 5-speed trans, upgraded the motor, suspension, etc. I can drive it anywhere and enjoy doing so.
I agree with most of the others here. Enjoy the car. If that means modding it and bagging the original motor, then do it. If that means keeping it stock/original and maintaining more of its resale value, then do that ... and go buy a NOM car you can hop-up. :)
But I've seen more people lately like me, who are more interested in a fun, clean _driver_ than an all-original car that needs work or runs as slow as most of today's imports.
Le Mans Master
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From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Re: Original or Custom? (Chevyguy1973)
I bought a very original numbers-matching '79. But I decided I couldn't live without overdrive. Well, it turns out the transmission in the car wasn't numbers matching! So I didn't even feel compelled to keep it (thank goodness)!
The car is YOURS. Do what you want with it. There's no shortage of C3's, so it's not like it's sacrilege or anything. Now if you were messing with a '53 instead of a '73...
The car is YOURS. Do what you want with it. There's no shortage of C3's, so it's not like it's sacrilege or anything. Now if you were messing with a '53 instead of a '73...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Where are the Smoky Mountain Cruisers? Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Re: Original or Custom? (Alwyn678)
I originally purchased my 73 Convertible with the expressed intend of dropping in a Stroker 383, 5 speed, and performance suspension to make it a fun daily driver that I could be proud of at the same time. The car I purchased is a numbers matching L-82 with the close ratio 4-speed. Not by any means a serious collector, but still desired by many. Do I dare continue with my original intent and ruin a numbers matching unit all so that I can enjoy my dream come true daily? Or do I restore it to original and enjoy it when the weather is good and the traffic is light? :skep:
I would mod the car and save the original motor for when you want to sell it. Let's face it the car is kind of slow even with the L-82 and 4 speed :cheers: Once you mod it you will probably not want to sell it though :cheers:
[Modified by Alwyn678, 9:36 AM 8/5/2003]
I would mod the car and save the original motor for when you want to sell it. Let's face it the car is kind of slow even with the L-82 and 4 speed :cheers: Once you mod it you will probably not want to sell it though :cheers:
[Modified by Alwyn678, 9:36 AM 8/5/2003]
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From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Original or Custom? (74 vert)
I would keep it orginal...they're a blast to drive just as they are & orginal cars are appreciating in value....once you start mucking it up (even if you save orginal parts) you'll be in for a rude shock once you decide to sell....and that time will come. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong. :chevy
BTW post this same question on the NCRS board http://www.ncrs.org. and see what type of responses you get. ;)
[Modified by gq82, 10:39 PM 8/5/2003]
BTW post this same question on the NCRS board http://www.ncrs.org. and see what type of responses you get. ;)
[Modified by gq82, 10:39 PM 8/5/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: I can walk to MA
Re: Original or Custom? (gq82)
Do your mods and keep the original parts. If you decide to sell later, swap it
back - sell the vette for $$$ and sell the 'extra' parts for $$.
Until then, enjoy !! :seeya
back - sell the vette for $$$ and sell the 'extra' parts for $$.
Until then, enjoy !! :seeya
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Berlin
Re: Original or Custom? (Chevyguy1973)
I think you should mod the car, and not worry about resale value. You bought the car to have fun, didn't you?
I know its a common thing to tell people to keep the original stuff so that a future buyer could put it back on if he wanted to, but does anyone actually do that? It doesn't seem to me that anyone would buy a modded car only to put it back to original unless it had very rare options (L88, ...). If you plan to replace all the original stuff yourself before selling, then that's more reasonable, but it would be a major PITA.
I know its a common thing to tell people to keep the original stuff so that a future buyer could put it back on if he wanted to, but does anyone actually do that? It doesn't seem to me that anyone would buy a modded car only to put it back to original unless it had very rare options (L88, ...). If you plan to replace all the original stuff yourself before selling, then that's more reasonable, but it would be a major PITA.