When you are looking at a classic car, sometimes it is vital not to judge a book by its cover. Barn Finder GC is a person who doesn’t judge, so thank you for referring this Corvette Sting Ray to us. Beneath that sad and ruined exterior lurks a special car with potential by the bucket-load. Located in Inner Sunset, San Francisco, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on Craigslist.
The first thing to note about this Corvette is that it is a full, numbers-matching car. It is going to require a body and an interior, but the birdcage and the frame both appear to be solid. The frame appears to have been cleaned and painted, and the birdcage will require the same treatment. The owner does emphasize the fact that the vehicle has never suffered any accident damage. As you could see from the first photo, the body looks really bad, and the owner does state that this will need to be replaced. So, structurally, this Corvette project appears to be quite promising.
The numbers-matching status of the Corvette extends to the entire driveline, and this is a very tasty combination. The engine is the 390hp 427ci L36 V8, while the transmission is a 3-speed Muncie. The original rear end is also included with the car. The owner doesn’t provide any information on the condition of the driveline, but he does say that the transmission has been sandblasted and coated, while the rear end looks extremely clean.
There’s no escaping the fact that as a project, this Corvette is a major one. It is going to consume a lot of time, and an equal amount of money. However, the person who takes it on is going to finish up with a pretty nice car at the end of the process, and a car that could potentially have a value in the six-figure territory. The owner has set the asking price for the Corvette at $17,500. It’s a big job, but would you take it on?
Adam, there’s something by the bucket-load here alright, but it ain’t what I would call “potential”, though. I’m interested in hearing what the more informed Corvette experts have to say.
I’m somehow puzzled when I read the CL ad without looking at the pics ‘cuz I get the impression this is just another project car . When I watch the pics alone I think the ad description should be more like ‘completely burnt out wreck of a former highly desirable car’.
It sure is a sad sight , but I bet someone could make a car out of somehow. Definately no newbie project…
Nice bones and pedigree, however I think you would be underwater on this car in a hurry. Any car with this degree of past damage being repaired and sold at a future date with a “clean” title seems fraudulent.
Nope. Things die, and this did in a big way. Why does everything have to be “saved”?
Why put 125’000 or more in a car that may only bring less than 90’000.? Call it a day and bury it.
Pretty easy to inspect the all-important “birdcage” on this one.
Nice one Ike, LOL!
Kellison swap
The car comes from a town called Inner Sunset…..how ironic.
Wonder if the transmission got torn down prior to sandblasting and coating?
It will be interesting to read what the Corvette folks have to say. Out of curiousity, have to wonder that even if the car is restored as numbers matching, won’t the stigma of it being toasted and re-bodied have a big impact on the future selling price?
Selling this for big bucks is fraud (after restored if that is even possible) Too many non original parts. It will be a nice car, but all “investment” value will be gone. A fool and his money are soon parted.
I saw a burned, body replacement, matching numbers hemi Cuda go for one million-four at Barrett Jackson a few years ago. It happens…
“The owner does emphasize the fact that the vehicle has never suffered any accident damage.”………………The front clip in the first picture looks like someone took a sawzall to it. Are we to assume that this was deliberate and therefore the sellers claim is true. I hate to see classic cars be scrapped or deemed parts cars however there are times when cars are beyond saving. If this is not one of those cases I am not sure what is. Keep the motor and drive line (if they are even salvageable) and scrap the rest.
catching on fire is no longer considered an accident apparently
learned something new today. lol
Considering the cars potentical and matching #s Its a builder fiberglass is not that expensive parts cars can be gotten with all parts needed to fix new wireing tires suspention rebuild kits for just about anything else The ID plates and build codes are there.
You can’t save every car.
He also says he knows what he has. I know what he has a burnt up vette.
“You can’t polish a turd” and expect $17.500.00 even if you are dreaming in Technicolor(tm) on Internet.
Bob
I know what I got .
3 speed Muncie would be 1970 and later. I am pretty sure if it’s the original transmission, it’s a Ford top loader heavy duty fully synchronized 3 speed with a big block in 1967. But I am not a Corvette expert. It might be a Borg Warner ,T16 or something similar.
The four spd. Muncie was std equipment for 67, I’m pretty sure.
No….
I can’t help but think of George Washington and his proverbial axe.
“Yes it’s the original axe he chopped the cherry tree down with! The head has been replaced 3 times and the handle 6 but it’s still his axe!!”
Yes it maybe numbers matching when its done but rebuilt is rebuilt is rebuilt.
It begs to commit fraud with. Swap the engine/trans and VIN tag into an average small-block Vette and double your money.
Surely you jest…I’m sure the guy got paid from the ins co, trying to squeeze more money out of it. Parts car. Vin Number. not 17 large worth. Good luck. yea the frame is there but did the heat affect it??
Cheers
GPC
” No accident damage ” So, if the fire wasn’t an accident then it must have been……well…….
Best to pass on this one.
I’d buy it, squish it and insulate my attic.
He’s dreaming….pass…
A 390 hp car not worth it. Secondly, unlesz you have restored a C2 basket cast, stay away. And you so called people with $$$$$ signs in your head, there is no original fiberglass left anywhere. No one piece front ends for me. This is at least $125,000 restotation. No thanks.
Whats the point?
I bought this 1971 Big Block Corvette in 1973 with 14,000 miles on it in mint condition for $4,600. Sold it in 1975 to a fellow when it had 51,000 miles for $4,500. This is what he did to it, giving up his own life along with two young women in the car and the driver of the truck he hit. He bragged to me when he bought my car that he had just totaled his1969 Judge. Sad.
I would buy in a heartbeat if it wasn’t 3000 miles away. Nice car even with a reconstructed title, I’m sure there was an insurance payout.
Some people are high risk takers based upon thrill seeking behaviour. Behavioural Risk is a killer. Don’t let the behaviour of risk takers make you feel like their risk taking is somehow your fault for not being able to discern their risk taking behaviour before they suicide themselves. Behaviourists in Experimental Psychology predict future behaviour based upon past behaviour.
Unless you are a Behavioural Psychologist you had no way of knowing that risk taking personalities are at risk for accidents due to their past behaviour.
Just chalk it up to raw experience.
Bob
A base big block is not going to bring the big money and the cost of bringing it back is prohibitive. It will never bring 6 figures. Back up the Brinks truck or sell off the drive train. Junk the rest.
What Keith said…
I hate to say this about any Corvette especially a ’67 , but this one is beyond saving, it’s not even junk.
No way!
In my opinion he should be paying someone to take it off his hands. 17 gs for what, engine, tranny, and rear end. NOT HARDLY!
vin & trim tags too.
I know three car-lover people in my life who would be interested in this as they have the skill and know-how to take all of these parts and build the car. Their motive is not profit, but to have a project now that they have already made their fortunes. Frame, birdcage, drivetrain, VIN and trim tags is actually a good start. I sold the hulk of a ’68 GTX Hemi car with the wrong K-frame and no engine/tranny for $4K because I had the title, fender tag and build sheet. Everything else was trash, even the sun visors were rotted. Not everyone has a profit motive and not everyone is a crook.
I am certainly not a Corvette expert, but…there were 424 3 speed vettes built that year, If there was documentation to prove it was a big block/3 speed car I would think it would have value, Just how much is speculation. It is quite the project, however.
$17,500 is crazy for that thing. The only way you get that car and maybe break even is if your savy enough to do 90% of the resto yourself and buy it for under $10k. That’s a two thousand hour build at least if your going original. Resto mod would be quicker, easier, cheaper and would pull 6 figures on the block depending on the build. Just watched several go for that in Scottsdale. I just don’t see how you could pay that kind of money for that condition car.
No. NO
May be able to get a lot of parts from a flood car (Copart) at a price to make the build worthwhile.
$17,500 is way too much money for those parts!