This 1958 Chevrolet Corvette recently surfaced on Facebook Marketplace, and it reads like the kind of story Barn Finds readers never get tired of. According to the seller, this Corvette spent roughly 35 years sitting dormant in a backyard and hasn’t changed hands in about 45 years, making it a genuine long-term storage find rather than a car that’s been passed around or repeatedly revived. Thanks for the tip, T.J.!
The car is described as a 1958 Corvette Convertible with just over 42,000 miles showing. It’s equipped with an automatic transmission and is said to have a non-matching engine and transmission, so originality purists should take note of that upfront. Still, many enthusiasts will see this as an honest survivor project rather than a numbers-correct showpiece, which opens the door to a wider range of restoration or preservation paths.
One of the more encouraging details is the seller’s comment about the chassis. Despite decades of outdoor storage, it’s described as being in good condition and not rusty for how the car was kept. For early Corvettes, structural condition is often the biggest hurdle, so that alone makes this example worth a closer look. The black soft top is included along with its framework, which is said to be in fair condition. Even having those pieces present can be a plus when dealing with a car that’s been off the road for so long.
The seller is clear about their intentions and expectations. This isn’t being pitched as a turnkey driver or a finished restoration. It’s a project, and the tone of the listing suggests the seller knows exactly what they have and isn’t interested in debating it. They also note that they’re not in a rush to sell and plan to get the car running and driving in the spring if it doesn’t sell within a short window. That adds an interesting wrinkle for potential buyers who may be weighing whether to jump now or wait and see how far the seller goes with recommissioning it.
Early C1 Corvettes have always held a special place in the hobby, and cars with this kind of long-term ownership and storage story tend to draw strong interest. Whether someone chooses to restore it, preserve its survivor character, or simply bring it back to reliable driving condition, this 1958 Corvette offers a solid foundation and a compelling backstory. Finds like this don’t come along every day, especially when they’ve been out of circulation for decades and are only just re-emerging now.
Looks like everything on it needs to be replaced or repaired. Most of the orifices in the engine compartment being wide open should tell anybody that this is going to one expensive project.
Bet the neighbors were glad to see this thing go, wonder what went the rest of the stuff?
Anyone who is a buyer is likely looking at this for the body and interior. Being non matching, a true restoration isn’t realistic. More likely the following scenario: $20 – $25K as is, another $30K for paint, interior and cosmetics. $70K for modern frame, engine, drive train, brakes, suspension, labor, etc. $$’s add up fast. Worth maybe $200K finished, so not an astronomical profit.
The sellers comment, “The chassis is good & isn’t rusty for how long it was stored” is a huge red flag. That’s a huge red flag, it’s the sort of language someone uses then they are hedging, either to protect themselves or because they don’t want to outright lie. I dealt with the public with most of my jobs, when someone uses that sort of language you need to dig deeper by either asking more questions or take a harder look. Based on the amount of visible rust and as Bob Hess says the open orifices the worst thing any potential buyer could do is interpret the sellers words as reflecting its true condition rather than relying on what their eyes see.
Steve R
“Running and driving by spring.” Hoooo. That’s one heck of a goal. 35 years dormant… in a backyard? If that’s what indeed ends up happening rather than the car being sold I would not only be impressed, but I’d love to see the results.
It’s in California, southeast of Sacramento, so MAYBE the frame has a fighting chance. That is if the tires held air and it didn’t sink into the ground. Given its’ location, my GUESS is the birdcage may be OK. But the condition of the motor (lots of open stuff) doesn’t give me the feeling that the owner was mitivated to air the tires up or block it up.
The frame replacement is moderately expensive. In the good ‘ol days I was around two friends’ C-3 frame replacements. It wasn’t cheap or easy, but it happens in the snow belt south of Lake Erie. If the birdcage is a problem, run away . . . don’t walk. I wouldn’t go near this one without (at the very least) somebody knowledgeable looking at it in person.
The asking price in the ad is $34K. If the seller is asking that kind of money, it should be on a lift with frame pictures and video of somebody tapping on the frame with a pick hammer. The “Chassis isn’t rusty for how long it was stored” comment is the biggest red flag I’ve seen in a while.