This 1958 Corvette has belonged to the same person for over thirty years but has hibernated in dry storage since 2016. It is begging for love and to return to its rightful place on our roads. The seller believes it would take little effort to coax it back to life, leaving the winning bidder to choose between restoration and preservation. The Corvette is listed here on eBay in Lake George, New York. Bidding sits below the reserve at $48,500, although there is a BIN option of $55,000 for those wishing to bypass the auction process.
The history of this Corvette is unclear, but if the paint combination is original, that makes it 1-of-756 cars ordered in Signet Red with White coves. It is difficult to determine the state of the paint in the supplied photos, although the seller believes it should shine with a thorough polish. I’m not entirely convinced and feel that stripping away the existing paint and performing a repaint would be the best way to do the car justice. The fiberglass shows no signs of cracks or repairs, and the underside shots confirm the frame has nothing beyond the occasional spot of surface corrosion. The hardtop is in good order, but the seller indicates this classic requires a new soft-top. There are no visible glass issues, and the condition of the trim and chrome is acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle.
This Corvette is no longer numbers-matching, and this will have some impact on its potential value. The seller claims its original 283ci V8 made way for a 350 at some point. However, it is unclear when this occurred. The small-block specifications are unknown, but it sent its power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. It appears the engine turns freely and that the car ran when it entered storage in 2016. I agree with the seller’s assessment of this point. These engines are essentially bulletproof, so revival may not prove difficult. Other mechanical work will undoubtedly be required, but returning the car to its rightful place on our roads would seem a realistic short-term goal.
It is hard to assess the overall condition of this Corvette’s interior because every surface is begging for a deep clean. Some painted components show deterioration, but the upholstery is in good order. There are no rips or tears, and the carpet should look good once cleaned. The gauge lenses are pretty clear, and the bright trim will respond positively to polish. It is possible that it will take more time than money to whip this interior into shape. Someone installed a retro-style AM/FM radio with an auxiliary input, but I can’t spot any other additions.
What would be your plans if you found this 1958 Corvette parked in your workshop? Returning it to the road fairly quickly seems viable, and many may consider that an excellent starting point. However, it is a prime candidate for faithful refurbishment. That begs the question of what to do with the existing engine. It could remain in place if the new owner seeks a driver-grade result. Sourcing a date-correct 283 should not present too many difficulties, and many would see that as the best way to do this classic justice. Do you agree?
If i could aford the car i would turn the 350 into a z28 motor. Cam , pistons, crank. Other than that would soda blast the bad spots on the bottom and paint, and under coat. Polish whole car.
After getting it running I’d get new tires to replace the ones that sat flat for a long period of time. After getting the price down for a non running dirty car I’d leave it as is and drive it.
48 is all the money, but many things are good for a driver. Fix the instrument cluster to shiny black and redo this correct ’58 dash pad with some glue work and speaker surround removal, then do seat covers in ’58 only covers.The repaint looks thick enough to peel away with a blade and repaint in white (easier) with silver coves. No sag at the front wheel well means replacement fenders and or front end, and it looks a little like a short front clip was done. The chrome is very good especially on the pot metal which is very expensive ( the trunk “straps” have a habit of disintegrating when prepping). The frame looks great but must be inspected. Not too much $$$ would make a nice driver!
Aspirational price expectations. 350 motor of unknown vintage or HP, filthy engine bay, needs a top… Frankly just too much of an ask for a non running vehicle… one wonders why a seller would not have the engine bay and exterior detailed and make an effort at starting the vehicle…
There are plenty of well-to-do people that have this kind of disposable income. I’m not one of them, but to many, 55k for a classic Corvette would be like me spending 550.00!
Well worth it if you have that kind of dough.
Bing, honestly man, seems like most of your comments always point out the obvious.
Have you forgotten that this is Barn Find? ? 99% of these vehicles are NOT going to be ready for the runway at Barrett Jackson. Please take off your surgical gown. Have fun brother.
Fair enough Billy. Been barn finding and building on cars since the early sixties. Always have four or five projects going at once. Maybe fifty plus years of sorting through every thing from POS’s to incredible finds I tend to have a critical eye. Sorry my comments are so pedestrian to your tastes.
That’s a lot of surface corrosion going on in the engine bay.
I would change the oil and filters real good and pop a tune-up into her.
Seller says no rust on the frame but I would want to have someone check it out as with all the mold on the car it has surely set in damp storage.
Really don’t know about this one. Price seems a little high, really don’t care if it’s number matching. It just seems that at the price he is asking he could have cleaned it up a little. Barn find or no barn find clean the vehicle up.A couple of days cleaning could make a big difference in price. Other than that the vehicle does not impress me.