Well, as is often said, “Parts is parts” and they’re plenty of them associated with this 1965 Chevrolet Corvette. The seller claims that this Chevy was stored in a cellar for 40 years, actually, “since the mid 70’s, the owner had planned on doing a full restoration on the car, so he disassembled the whole car, stripped the paint off and there it sat for so many years”. I don’t think there is an instruction sheet included but let’s see what’s here – maybe it’s self explanatory…Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada is where you’ll find this C2 version of Chevrolet’s plastic fantastic and it’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $27,900 with the reserve not yet met. There is a BIN price of $45,000 available too.
The listing for this ‘Vette is light, too light considering its current state. Beyond its stripped condition, we’re told, “The fiberglass on this car is excellent and you can see in the pictures the condition of the bird cage is exceptional…” What can be seen appears to be sound but it’s the lack of everything that has me concerned. There’s not even one of those everything’s gonna be OK claims that states, emphatically, “There’s at least 95% (you pick the number) of the parts needed to finish this project”. The images indicate yes, there are many, many parts but which are right, which are wrong, which are unusable, and which are just plain missing is not indicated, nary a suggestion.
Corvette power in ’65 means a 327 CI V8 with power ranging from 250 to 375 gross HP. Some mid-year models were built with a big-block 396 CI V8, but this car’s born-with powerplant is never mentioned. The hood is wearing an incorrect ’67 big-block “stinger” scoop but the included engine block is not identified, so which one is it? Search me fish, it has four-bolt mains and that’s all I can tell. A manual transmission is supposed to handle all things gear-related, but gearbox courtesy only extends to the bell housing and no further.
I have referred to the interiors of some cars as “gutted” but this one takes it to a new level (or a new low, depending on your perspective) – it is absent. The accompanying images detail much of this car’s innards but whether everything is useable will be a piece-by-piece discovery. The piles of wiring harnesses are what makes me truly nervous and jerky – I’d assume they will all need to be replaced.
Verdict? I would have left it in the basement and just kept the door closed. This will be an enormous project and the potential pitfalls are many – not to mention that the BIN price is out of reasonable sight. My thought is the reserve won’t be made and the seller may need to rethink his pricing strategy – but, I’ve been wrong before…Anyway, if I were in the market for a C2, I think, I’d keep looking, how about you?
Jim is spot on!
Too much…not enough.
Chevy never made 4 bolt main 327s. Original engine most likely long gone. I got my long stored 66 427 coupe back on the road and even being very complete cost LOTS of money just to replace the consumables with correct parts. If you have to find Corvette only parts expect to pay big and spend a lot of time researching and hunting. Having said all that, there’s nothing like taking one like this out for it’s maiden voyage, especially if you did most of the work yourself!
You are correct, I assume that it’s a 350.
JO
I have restored or rebuilt several C2s , found in similar (disassembled) condition. I did a ’64 x-racer last winter. I certainly enjoyed working on each one. Some were worth the effort and expense of keeping to NCRS standards, and some, not so much.
With this car, you are likely getting a decent frame, and body-shell. Almost everything else needs to be rebuilt, restored, or replaced. It seems at least some of the parts, like the repro stinger hood, rally wheels, and C3 headlight actuators don’t belong with this car.
It would be a fun project, but very expensive to complete, even to a nice driver standard. With the original engine apparently gone, this won’t be a “investment grade” Corvette.
I will be surprised if it sells over $30K. Even at that price restoration costs could still be too high.
Shout-out to 427Turbojet. I feel your pain. I also have a ’66 427 that was quite costly to rebuild with correct, OEM parts. It was off the road 40 years before I restored it in 2016, and it is our favourite Corvette.
I bought my 66 in 1978 when they were affordable, especially in non drivable condition. It sat in my granary (nice and dry) until I took it out in 2016 and started to get it back on the road. Life, kids, house restoration, and my high school 55 Nomad had all gotten in the way but the Corvette itch had always been there. I spent about 3 years getting it driveable, definitely not NCRS show quality but super reliable. I put a Borgeson quick ratio power steering system in that makes the car very fun to drive. With the patina (paint flaking off) it’s the hit at most car shows. My buddies with their nicely restored Corvettes don’t like me to park next to them because nobody pays attention to their cars.
Hard to describe the feeling of that first drive after so many years of dreaming. You can’t buy feelings like that.
I am with you. My 64 has old faded paint, few nicks here and there and an area where paint tone is different from an old repair. I love it! Its called character!
Mine won a little car show we have in town once a month during summer first time I brought it.
None of my shiny cars have ever won!
I must be doing something wrong, my photos don’t always post.
Looks great! Enjoy!
I like it! Get so tired of seeing cars with high dollar paint jobs that the owners are afraid to actually use the car for fun. I have a 1980 camaro with a big block that use to be a drag car that I took out some of the compression so I can run pump gas and put in a 4l80. Not pretty but fun as it can get.
Even if those are Canadian dollars, $45K’s too much to ask. I’d say she’s topped out at $27,900, but there’s always someone willing to dump money on these never-ending projects.
Straight axle, Wheelie bars and Blown Mouse motor to complete this one.
I’m a hardcore Corvette fanatic (got my first one in ’67) and have owned what will be my last one for 23 years, and I would be a hard no on this one. Maybe might be right for a professional Corvette restoration shop with an unlimited budget, but even then the price expectation is out of line.
Ended at 28.8K, Reserve Not Met.