This ’59 Corvette may look a little ratty, but there are some clues here that lead me to believe that it was customized in the seventies. It was parked for many years, but the seller has cleaned it up and gotten it running again. Most people would want to restore this back to original condition, but I have a different picture for it in my mind. Keep reading to get the vision and let us know what you think in the comments below. The car is located in Portland, Oregon and is listed here on eBay with no reserve.
We would love to show you a photo of the engine, but the seller forgot to include one in the auction listing. They do mention that it’s a 283 that has been bored out to 301 cubes. It was supposedly rebuilt by Precision Engine Specialist in Seattle Washington 15-20 years ago and never ran. They also mention an old Edelbrock intake, Mickey Thompson valve covers, and Cyclone headers. They have done the worked needed to make it run again and claim that it starts right up.
You won’t want to go too far though without doing something with that interior. This Corvette obviously went through a seventies style makeover. There’s bright metal flake paint on the outside and sparkly vinyl on the inside! The seller believes that the original color scheme was white over red and there is some visible evidence to back that up. It would be handsome in that combo, but all that green does make it different…
That Hurst shifter is attached to a Borg Warner T10 tranny. The T10 was offered in ’59 so it could be the original gearbox, but the seller mentions a scattershield. Perhaps this Corvette experienced some drag racing action back in the day? It would be fun to see some photos of this car when it was all done up and looking good. I’m sure there’s some good stories to tell here. The previous owner had the car since ’74 so perhaps they could help you find out more about the car’s past?
Not only did the seller get the engine running, but they went through the brakes and flushed all the fluids. That means you can drive the car short distances, but those bias ply tires are going to keep you from getting too crazy. The steel rims and hubcaps look good, but seem like a strange choice on a car that has been completely customized. Perhaps the Cragars and chunky tires are still up in the rafters of the garage where this was found?
There are lots of obvious needs here, but at least the frame is claimed to be solid. It runs, stops, and isn’t going to fall apart, so I’m going to propose something crazy here. Most Corvette guys would want to restore this to factory fresh condition, but there are already a ton of restored Vettes out there. So why not do something different and keep the crusty custom look? Clean everything up, redo the interior in the same materials, and slap some new tires on there! I guarantee you’ll draw a larger crowd at a car show than you would with a shiny version of itself. Anyone brave enough to try?
I agree with the author, get some tires do something to make the interior a bit more inviting and drive it! As mentioned there’s plenty enough resto machines out there but far too few survivors.
Survivor ??? There is NOTHING original on this car …No pics of the engine was by design, NOT an oversight …
If you read the ad you’d see it has a mid sixties replacement 283 so no, the anal retentives amongst us won’t see it as a survivor. Sorry for living in the real world where the people who actually work on their own cars live.
Drive it.I bought a 64 vette in 2010 that had been off the road since 1995.rusted out frame and an Earle schiebs paint job.its fourth paint job.i rebuilt the frame put a 350 crate motor in it with a/c and cruise .lettered it like a 60,s race car and I drive the wheels off it.i even flat tow it behind my Rv .
Looks pretty awesome the way it is, new tires but keep the wheels/caps.
Maybe an LS motor & 6sp for more sleeper fun.
No LS or 6 spd.
I agree, enjoy the drive. A person could can add cosmetics as affordable. These cars are meant to be driven., no trailer queens in my garage, that’s for sure.
Other than safety issues, I wouldn’t change a thing. Someone needs to return this beauty to the streets!
Beautiful example! As stated above, new tires and off you go.
Hey Jesse, What is with all the ads on the “ad free” members section?? Something going on with your server! keeps kicking out to “barn finds.com not responding” took 6 minutes to get this typed in.
Thanks,
Jeff
Love em all sweaty like this! As long as everything is in good working order and safe, just drive it like you stole it!
Fix the interior and drive!
Everyone is free to do what he wants to this car if it shows up in their driveway. However, for me, the ’58-’62 Vette is my favorite. Having said that, I also love them bone stock; they do all I want in that form. I’d undo a lot of the stuff to the engine that has already been done. I’d get rid of the headers and get a set of stock manifolds; they flow all the exhaust I need to flow and keep the engine bay temperature down to a bearable level. I’d go with the stock carburetor and manifold too. Boring to 301 was a common trick to hotrod a 283 back in the 60s. I’d probably keep that. Definitely fix the interior then start to work on the outside. By the time I was through it would be a decent driver, complete with the dog dish hubcaps and red/white paint job. If I had the resources, I’d probably pull it completely down and do it all to a driver quality restoration but I DON’T have the resources….
Not having the resources, I hear ya there but if you left it alone you’d have a lot of fun teeing off the snobs and purists!
That might be worth it…
Scatter shield could mean drag racer. Could mean an experienced car guy. My brother Dale was doing a shift under power on his Chevy Suburban 4×4 and the clutch blew up, through the bell housing and up through the floor board and tore out the gas pedal assembly from beneath his right foot. Grazed his left ankle. That stuff really happens. :-) Terry J
Yeah, the cast aluminum bell housing with fiberglass transmission tunnel always made me a little nervous…
Mike F.
I had one blow at a 6K rpm shift from 1st to 2nd(’75). what a mess, but I still have my feet. Lakewood scattershield.
Having built a 58 and knowing every nut and bolt, It would be a waste to restore this to original. Make it run good and do a correct black interior and use it. My coves were body color and that’s the way I like the 56 to 61s. This one already has an image in my head that’s cooler than a restored one. Memorable.
I’ve never seen a more crystallized window in an old hardtop….must have been stored really hot.
Maybe leave the exterior paint, but…..I just could not enjoy being in that interior. And I’m pretty sure there would be very few people I know who would want to go for a drive in that passenger seat.
But you pay the price—now about $30K—you get to do whatever you want. But a buyer needs to understand there will be no rubber anywhere in the car that isn’t perished, and it will be a surprise if many functions that the seller hasn’t already R&R’d still work.
While I like this generation vette’s, the collectors have pushed the prices into the stratosphere, this thing is already pushing $30k and it needs everything! After it’s $100k resruration, it’s just going to be another trailer queen hidden away in some rich guys garage. It’s a shame because this thing deserves to be driven!
Leaving it the way it is would just make it be “craptastic”.
I really hate saying this but back in the day I had two of these ’59’s , but not at the same time. Both were only rollers, that is no motor or trans and both were cleaned stripped down to bare fiberglass. My plan back then was to build a nice street machine, a nice sedate 350/350 with a C/R Muncie or ST-10, I was enjoying the hell outta my newly purchased ’71 LT-1 Ontario Orange Roadster to actively work on an “OLD CAR” so I let it sit, eventually selling it for the kings ransom of $250.00 which was never paid forcing me to repossess it and eventually finding another buyer for $ 500.00, lucky huh ? Well no more then 2 months later another ’59 finds me and the same story ensued, that one eventually sold after yet another repo for an unpaid $500.00 for $1000.00. Hard to believe the prices they are getting for these C-1’s today, I’d have to say that LT-1 Roadster was too nice to mess with any ’59. Besides we were too busy drag racing that ’67 Camaro. Yeah I can kick myself in the azz for some moves I’ve made.
There’s something brutally honest about this car that should be preserved. Make it drivable, of course, and do something about those seats. Or not. But I think the overall look seems to accentuate the really gorgeous sculptural shapes. The ’56 & ’57 are in some ways purer designs, but the ’58-’60s are my favorites.
Going out on a limb here, but I don’t think that’s a factory color…
I think my $$$$ would be better spent here and I might be able to talk them down a bit.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Chevrolet-Corvette/162404546186?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D41809%26meid%3Ddb2097b98edd41bd8d6911f444fcd813%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D142343280400
I do not like green and do not like rat rods. However this car has a look to it. For me a nice set of 17″ toque thrust some black wall tires. Maybe a 4 wheel disc brake conversion and drive it. If you end up with engine or transmission troubles then Ls and 6 speed. Of course any safety and interior problems address as needed.
Everyone has different ideas about what to do. When I look back on all the cars I’ve had that I turned into silk purses from sow’s ears, the one truth is that I’ve had the most fun with the most imperfect ones. When they get too nice I get afraid to use them. Then they sit and get sold. This one has “Fun” written all over it.
My father and I rebuilt/restored a 1958 after doing a 1955.
My father has passed on. And I miss him terribly. I would have to redo-it as a driver in the metallic blue with silver sides. Not perfect. Just a driver.
I’m a little suspicious about the Corvette dog dish hub caps(crossed flags) & 15″ tires. Isn’t that the way the big brake Vettes came back then? Somebody with more knowledge chime in here please.
Restore inside and clear coat the outside. Sweet ride
Motor???? Engine pictures. So far every old corvette I have looked at either has the wrong motor, different motor, or is the wrong color, changed. And they want top $$$$. NOPE!
Sold for $30,300.
I made a living restoring C1, C2 Corvettes in Denver FROM 1965 to 1968 when Uncle Sam rearranged my life. I got married in 1970, had fully restored 1959, and 1960. Built strong engines in both. Our wedding was June 1970, followed by first son July 1971.
My wife was flight attendant for Wester Airlines, which had a flat $ 800 maternity benefit, Needed funds to get her and baby home -sold ‘59, C1
got $ 1350, plus a new refrigerator, a year later sold the ‘60 for 1800. So sold 2 fully restored cars both tops on each, Fi on the’60 both T-10s, top cars on both at car shows in Denver, best of paint and body… Today, I don’t think a guy could buy the original steering wheels for $3100.00 but look in back, $3500 would buy a base new Corvette back in the early 70’s…
Today, August 25 2021, still married 51 years, look back on over 50 cars I’ve restored and sold, would happily buy each one back for selling price, but also never thought for a minute would have the great lives we’ve had. We have enjoyed a hell of a fun ride!
Corvettes I’ve owned we’re 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1967. Looking for a decent 1962 that I never owned.