The option sheet has been long on Corvettes since 1956. While the 1953 was sold with no options, and the 1954-55 Corvettes reluctantly offered a few different colors, the option list became part of the Corvette culture soon thereafter. You could sit down with your dealer and order a car that ranged from mild to wild. Engine size, transmission, paint, and even heavy duty parts designed for racing were all on the table. This 1961 Corvette, found here on craigslist in Mount Vernon, Illinois, has a few options that will raise your eyebrows. At a $46,500 asking price, this disassembled street fighter might be overpriced, or it may be a diamond in the rough.
Above is the number one reason that this Corvette is selling for that price. RPO #687 is the option code for heavy duty brakes and steering. Only 233 Corvettes were so equipped, and this is an option that Corvettes ordered for racing would have. It doesn’t appear that this car has any racing history, but the ad doesn’t give us much detail. We do know that the car also packs a correctly date coded 283 block and heads, and the sale includes a dual quad manifold with the expected twin four barrel carburetors. Unfortunately, we do not know if this was the 270 horsepower engine or the lesser 245 horsepower one.
We are also not aware as to the rear end ratio, or if it is equipped with Positraction. We do know that the car was a hardtop only car, and that the convertible top was deleted. Also unknown to us is the size of the original gas tank. A replacement tank is in the parts pictures, but it looks to be a regular sized tank. A 24 gallon fuel tank, RPO#1625, is another tip off that the car would be built for combat. Too bad we don’t know. Details mean a lot on old Corvettes.
As you can see from the pictures, the car has been mostly disassembled. However, the good news is that the parts all look to be in great condition. The only thing that might pose a problem here is that many Corvette parts are date coded. A proper restoration on a high dollar car demands that it be equipped with parts that fall into the proper date range. While all appearances are that this car could be a very expensive car when completed, everything has to be just right to draw that kind of money.
As you can see from the photographs, the seller, or whomever the seller got the car from, was rather meticulous about the parts. It seems like parts were restored as they were pulled off, but the project stopped at the point major body work would begin. You have to ask why here. Was hidden damage found? Did the original restorer have a health problem or pass on? Run out of money? I’d be asking a lot of questions, and crawling over this one with a flashlight and a rented expert judge before plunking any cash down.
I don’t want you to think that I feel this is a problem car. My gut feeling is that it is the real deal, and the car appeals to me because it is optioned so right. Especially the triple black exterior, coves, and interior. Finished, this car would be a knockout. It is a shame that it is not a fuelie car, but the dual quads would probably be a lot more reliable if you drove it. My concern is that the car needs to be restored properly, and I would want to make sure all of the parts that are date coded are there, and that they fall into the proper range. Someone is going to get a killer straight axle Corvette. I wish that someone was me.
Nice…could be a real rare Vette…WHY do people still use Craigslist for rare cars?? Or any cars for that matter.
Because its free and reaches an international audience…
$5 for dealers and free for personal sales and you get national coverage and no seller’s fees. I get it — not sure it’s the best way to advertise a car like this but lots of folks don’t want to mess with ebay’s rules and fees. Add-on software allows potential buyers to do national or regional searches.
We are seeing it, aren’t we?
Lot of the older guys don’t use the Internet or know how. I am 66 and use it all the time. I got old and older friends that keep everything simple, plus mist of them are so cheap they use a flip phone with the cheapest rates. That is why they got a lot of money!
Love this car — will be interested to see if it sells for that price or not.
When I hear the words straight axle, I think of a gasser with the nose up in the air. I believe that solid axle describes Corvettes without independent rear suspension.
Correct. IRS 1963 thanks to Mr.Duntov.
“Someone is going to get a killer straight axle Corvette.”
ditto on the reference
I believe the correct term for the C2 & earlier cars is solid axle
Cool car, but I see a lot of parts missing – some of them pretty high dollar. IMO this project could snowball quickly, but at least if it is in fact a correct big brake C1, you could likely keep your head above water in the ROI department.
From the way the ad is written it doesn’t sound like it is the original drive train.
That would kill a lot of value to the car IMO.
It has the potential of being a fun car but not sure it’s worth the requested price with all that still has to be done to it and the possibility of non original parts.
Is “correctly date coded” the same as numbers matching? In others words, is it the original engine?
The NCRS broach mark boys will be all over this car and if it is the original block, it will be sold quick.
What a sweet car.
Casting dates and numbers are the only way to tell , so they can still be “fake”. I built a correct engine but not original for my ’58 and there is no way to tell. The correct numbers were on the truck block I used and the heads were 1958 only but had close dating on them. The manifolds were hardest to get right.
If there really isn’t any way to tell, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure others may not agree.
Gimme a brake!
Love these.
Still have a hard time wrapping my mind around Bigger drum brakes being a big deal. Maybe they allow you to pick the lane you will be pulled into?
That “appears” to be a big brake backing plate, but…are the cooling fans still there, the air scoops, the special shocks, the finned drums, etc, ?
You can buy a nice, numbers matching big brake ’61 for about $100k. It will take more than $50k to make this car that nice.
Still a cool solid axle, but too much for what the ad “says” it has.
It will cost a ton of money to make this a 6 figure car. Every detail will need to be perfect and potential buyers will scrutinize each and every date code and finish to insure that it is as factory made as possible. In the end you’ll have a trailer queen that will probably never do what it was meant to: kick ass and take no names.
Correct, shame to not appreciate these cars for what they intended for, to drive fast! Far too many of these are trailer queens. Makes me appreciate those people who thrash their cars in vintage and like track events.
If you’ve ever driven a C1 Corvette, you would know that driving one fast takes brass balls. That steering wheel mounted on a non-telescopic column is literally inches away from your sternum.
Oh no kidding on that! Many years ago I drove a pretty nice original 58 with a 283/4 speed, & was shocked at how big a POS it actually was. It broke me from ever even thinking about wanting a C1. It’s difficult to believe the night & day difference between a C1 & the car that followed in 63. I am constantly amazed at what these cars go for.
Basically a ’54 Chevy sedan with a lighter body and bigger motor. I felt like I was driving a low truck whenever I wasn’t going straight in mine.
A very cool car anyway you look at it.
Just to let everyone know, this was a real deal numbers matching big brake car missing nothing ! only one person had looked at the car and it was purchased immediately.. the car is not currently for sale at this time and is now located in northern Arizona in a private collection.. so to answer the question.. Yes, a diamond in the rough !