At first glance, this Corvette looks like a fairly simple project to resurrect, but it might not be so simple. The seller claims the car was parked by the original owner in 1969 and that’s where it stayed until January. It’s still covered in dust from all those years of storage, but the seller points out that it has more issues than just being dirty. After sitting on a dirt floor for nearly 50 years the frame is rusted and is going to need serious repairs. That being said, it’s an all original C1 and is being offered without a reserve. You can find it here on eBay in Mendon, New York with a current bid of $23k.
The seller states that the car is highly original, right down to the hose clamps and tires. As great as that is, your going to have to replace or rebuild just about everything under the hood. Having all the important bits present is a major plus though.
As you can see, the dust and dirt accumulation is just on the outside of the car. It looks like it could be cleaned up and used as is, but you will want to pull it all apart to give it a proper detailing. To get it looking it’s best again and to get rid of any bad odors, you will probably want to replace the carpet and seat foams though.
While it’s nice the seller mentioned the rust issues, it would be nice to have a look underneath to get a better idea of just how extensive it is. Given its location, I would go ahead and assume it’s going to need a whole new frame and birdcage, but it sure would save a lot of money if it could be repaired. Either way, this is going to be an expensive project, but just think of all the fun you would have cruising around town with the top down in this Corvette!
“Looks like it could be pulled out and used as is”…. REALLY ????
Rusty frame, trashed interior,probably a fire under the hood and no mention if the car even runs … and you think it can be used as is????
You can buy very nice ’62 250/300 HP Vettes in the $45-55K range .At current bid, that leaves about $25K for restoration of this project … good luck !!!!
An exciting find for sure….
Loving the snow tires….
When a seller puts in the ad that the frame and undercarriage is “rusted out” you believe them. All too often descriptions are case studies for creative writing with the seller playing word games to sugar coat the truth and bump up the price.
Someone is going to pay too much money for this car, drag it to a few shows as it sits, then sell it to a big eyed dreamer who will either sink way too much money into this car or abort the project mid restoration.
Steve R
That’s a shame. Imagine how it would look if it someone cared to store it properly.
I would pass on this one.
At least it was stuffed away and left to rot after it’s last romp of donuts in the snow! Ugh I think 23k would get you a running, solid car that was in similar, rough shape and drive able. I know these old corvettes bring top dollar but at what point does it become “a great donor body” with extra parts. If it’s got brittle bones, why waste the time? You’d still have to deal with the sagging fiberglass issues, panel alignment problems and if it was driven in the snow, lord knows how mach previous body work was done to it.
You would need deep pockets to restore this car. A more logical choice would be a restomod with aftermarket frame.
https://www.streetshopinc.com/frontpagefeatured/1953-1962-c1-replacement-chassis.html
I normally don’t care for the restomod treatment you see so many older cars undergoing, but I think it makes sense in this case.
Yep, and watching the big auctions, C1 restomods bring all the money.
Rochester NY is where I live, Mendon is a Stones Throw Away…… we are in the heart of the Rust Belt, $23K is all the money in the world for this car
i was thinking the same thing. affluent area, lots of winter and lots of salt to go along with that long winter. the snow tires tell me it was driven through at least 1 winter likely everyone from ’62 to march of 69.
pity it wasn’t purchased and used during the 6 months of the year that pass for spring/summer/fall. it would be in much better shape right now. well, assuming it was stored in a building with a cement floor.
too much $$$ right now. my fear is this one will never get finished.
Looks like the one that went down the sink hole at the Corvette Museum when they got it out.
New York car with snow tires for salt roads and driven to 69 and parked on damp floors for finals of rust
Gosh how could it of rusted out?
SHOW THE FRAME DAMAGE TO LET BIYER DECIDE PATCH OR TOSS FOR BIG DOLLAR FRAME
Some cars regardless of what they are should be parts cars.
Well I agree it’s rough. However at has all the original pieces. In my book is a plus. Granted this restoration isn’t for the faint of heart. I would restore it back to original not to many Corvettes were sprayed in black in 1962. Red interior makes it pop.
Me thinks it’s a parts car. You buys the car, you parts with your money! Best of luck to the high bidder.
I’m usually a little more pessimistic about, and critical of Corvettes for sale, then most people on here, possibly because I’m in the Corvette parts business, and do Corvette pre-purchase inspections. This time I see a lot more potential though, then most posters. 62’s are my favorite year, so that might have something to do with it.
That car really is untouched. There are details on it, like the aluminum band on the overflow hose, that even most restored cars are missing. The rusted frame isn’t really an issue, with the popularity of resto-mods, nice, solid, early frames are pretty easy to find. Birdcage rust is rarely an issue with the early cars, because there’s very little metal structure, inside the bodies.
Sure it would be expensive to restore, but no more so then a lot of other cars. I much rather put the time and money in a complete and original car, like this one, then one missing a lot of parts, and/or needing a lot of fiberglass work.
But of course, as I said, 62’s are my favorites.
I’m wondering if the car was parked in 1969 by someone who got sent to Vietnam, and didn’t come back alive. Quite a few cars were sold in the 80’s and 90’s by parents who just couldn’t bring themselves to sell their son’s cars after their body came back from Nam in a box. Maybe too expensive to restore.
It’s more likely the car was parked because it had been driven through 7 winters and the undercarriage was rotted.
Steve R
Very possible, hank. I went to a garage sale once, and in the corner was a car covered with a bunch of sheets, and you could see the the outline of a Corvette. When I asked about it, that’s exactly what happened. It belonged to the son who didn’t come back from Nam, and they never touched it.
Betcha you could push your finger thru the valve cover.
I am aware of the serious rust issues, but even though I think they are asking for more than I would be willing to pay, I still think it is a candidate for a restoration.
I love the red interior and the hardtop.
Bob
Like the ’54 Chevy wheel covers, goes well with the snow tires
Amazing the number of C1 Vettes that keep emerging from long term storage these many years later. When I started driving in the early 70s, seemed liked nobody wanted Vettes of this vintage, and decent driver quality examples could be had all day long in the $800-1000 range (roughly $5K in today’s dollars). Around the same time, 68-69 Road Runners could be had for the same money.
Dude my room mate had a 69 Road Runner in 70s and it was quite a bit more than 800 bucks
Well done gbvette. I am not an enthusiast of these cars, but certainly they are iconic in their history and performance. I’m not sure about the eyeball restoration figure and since I can’t do my own wrenching anymore I would bet this one approaches 6 figures, especially since the fame is probably history and Al Knoch interiors are wonderful but not inexpensive. These early vettes rode like trucks so maybe the way to go would be Art Forestman frame and tasteful update in existing mechanicals. It would be a supreme driver and shower and be lots of fun.
rusty, nothing special 250 horse power vette with out the original motor, no thanks! or at least the valve covers and ignition shielding?
Aftermarket frame ,crate motor and trans of your choice,perfect candidate for a restomod.Or give it the Gasser treatment, straight front axel with a funky 70’s paint job.Either way whoever buys this needs deep pockets.Good luck.
My father has a 1961 283/270 dual quad 4 speed that was THE family car when my brother and I were little tykers. I recall as a kid it being in similar condition from over a decade of daily year-round use. It’s since been restored (twice). I’m 48 now, we still love and drive the car regularly in the good weather hope someone can give this one the care and attention deserving of a true classic.
Cars will rust just driving (anytime of the year…) through this part of NY state…
Sorry, but find a southwest vehicle unless you’re into serious rust repair.
I don’t have any direct evidence,but I think it would be worth inquiring if this car has been in a flood.
restored a 62 years ago, my favorite vet. its going to cost a ton to restore this car, and 62’s don’t command that much money restored.
Not sure if it’s a 61 or 62, but this car has been sitting across the street from a customer of mine for the past couple of years. Hasn’t been moved in that time & is not for sale. I haven’t snooped, so no idea about engine or interior.
Edit: I don’t understand why the pic is sideways…
Initially I thought the current bid was way too high. But then the seller mentioned original hose clamps and tires, suddenly it seems like a bargain.
And now an offer was too good to refuse and the auction has been pulled…Somebody is thrilled to have bought it….
You have to love the red interior. For me, that was the main reason I had one. This one is only good for the body of it is all original, so what’s that Worth?
This cars not too far from where I live in Rochester. I was thinking of going to look at it but I didn’t have a gas mask🙊…
That’s a 61 Corvette. I enlarged it. It has the chrome around the cove and the 3 spears.