Update 2/3/20 – After getting bid up to $45k, this fuelie has been relisted here on eBay for some reason with a buy it now price of the same amount.
From 1/25/20 – Although it’s certainly not the original color anymore, this 1958 Chevrolet Corvette (it’s a fuelie!) is almost entirely original except for that green. Did I tell you it’s a fuelie? It’s listed for sale here on eBay and needless to say bidding is very active. Bidding is up to $26,900 as I write and any reserve has been met. The car is located in Manahawkin, New Jersey.
There’s an interesting story behind the seller having this car. He had purchased it to restore for his father as a recollection of a 1960 Corvette he had in his youth — and then came across and purchased the same exact car his father had! Obviously, that makes this one extra to their requirements, so it’s up for sale! The car was previously a basement find and features matching numbers and has had only 2 owners. The car had been parked since 1979.
The seller states that everything is correct about the car except that the generator is a replacement service unit. The car was originally white with silver coves and was last painted in 1969. The seller seems to be very thorough with their description and has included that there are a couple cracks in the front fenders, one in the passenger door and one in the hood. Do you think the green would grow on you? Probably not.
While the underneath is certainly not pristine, it is mostly solid (except for the exhaust!) and as the seller states, would be ripe for a concours-level restoration (it’s a FUELIE!). There is one spot where you will need to repair the frame.
I guess the interior is complete, but you will have to replace just about everything to bring the car back to the standard it deserves.
The original jack is included in the truck along with some other parts.
We’ve saved the best for last — the 290 horsepower fuel injected engine turns over but doesn’t run. The Rochester fuel injection unit is cleaner than the rest of the engine because it was overhauled 40 years ago and was not installed when the seller purchased the car. If you’re reading this, you probably know that this car is destined to be completely restored — but I’m curious; are there any of you readers that would leave it metallic green, make it run and thumb your nose at the restorers? I look forward to your comments!
I like the car immensely but I would restore it to its original glory (at least the white part) except for the indents, which I would do a blue metallic. I saw one painted that color once and I fell in love with it. The fuel injection part kind of intimidates me but I would be willing to try it on for size. Of course if it didn’t work properly I might be tempted to install a 4bbl carb and enjoy it that way. You could definitely count on me driving it—lots…
Having worked on early GM FI systems in days gone bye I can say their really not hard to get and keep running right. Their not that complicated. I found with 8 good holes, good timing chain and keeping them in tune they run a long time. So don’t let the FI scare you off. Go ahead and buy it ‘cus I know you want it.
Honestly I love the color and wouldn’t touch it. It’s unique and I think fits the car well.
Never cared for the fake hood louvers and chrome on the trunk lid on the 58’s but I could surely live with. Would not have to return it to an original color of the year but the metallic green would have to go. It looks good on some cars but not on a C 1 Corvette.
I’m with you, Tort.
My fave years are ’58-’60. But that green is one ugly color.
The owner, who had it painted, was obviously color blind.
Bring it back to white. Although, painting it anything else, will still be an improvement over Exorcist green.
Great find that will probably go for $60k. Then figure another $60-80k to do a frame off so you are $120-140k into a $120 car.
Still cool, though.
It’s my favorite year and had one for 25 years that is now silver blue /silver insert/silver blue interior and a fulie. I would look into the engine numbers for date matching. A correct resto would be 70k and up.
I’m not buying the seller’s story about buying this 58 to restore for his father, even if he included a picture of a 60 Corvette. The seller is a well known flipper in my area. If fact, some of his other flips have shown up here in the past, like this 65 last November.
https://barnfinds.com/barn-find-dragster-1965-chevrolet-corvette/
I have to ask why would anyone consider leaving that paint on that car? I’m not talking about the color, I’m talking about the poorly applied paint job, covering a very rough body.
Someone please explain to me the current love affair people are having with “patina”. I can appreciate an original, unrestored car, with a few flaws, but I can see no reason to live with rust, crappy paint or a tired interior, on a car that was previously modified/restored/repainted. It’s obvious from the painted washer nozzles, white showing in the top compartment and around the glove box moldings, and the overspray on the frame, in the trunk and under the hood, that this was a quick, junky, “roll the windows down everything goes in one coat” type paint job. The cracks in the fenders, are clear signs that this car had a nose hung on it years ago, by someone who had no idea what they were doing.
The rust in the rear crossmember isn’t a big deal, it’s a bolt on part. Pull the body, restore the frame, strip the body to bare glass, replace the nose with a correct, press molded fiberglass nose and new hood, and the give the car the proper restoration it deserves.
Anyone think this might be a Earl Shibe paint job ? They’d paint everything, even the int if you left the windows down ! 😂
First of all the green paint is not patina. It was most likely the decision of the second owner back in the day when his wife’s kitchen was bathed in avocado appliances tastefully accented with very busy gold toned wallpaper. She also probably had clear vinyl covers on the couch cushions. He obviously loved her and thought she had great decorating skills.
Still it’s too nice a car not to restore but again, the money is going to be serious. Very serious.
Nice find. In 1965 I owned a 1961 F.I ( 315 hp) and maint. it, wasn’t that hard. I am a long time Corvette owner, currently on number 16.
So, I say go for it. But, bring it back to the original colors.
I had a 1958 Vette when I was 18 years old. Had dual fours, 4 speed, 4;11 gears. Now days, I go to a local car show and BAM there it is. Had the silver coves dark gray color. I listen to my wife as we look at it and she says” don’t you wish you kept it”? Back in those days you never thought things where going to change. Here I am at 82 years old and saw the changes.
ccrvtt, You forgot the gold shag carpet!
In the kitchen???
Well, maybe…
Interesting paint color and probably popular in the 60’s. I wonder what car model it originated one?
Emotions aside, if the story is true, he should keep and restore the fuelie and sell the Dad’s carbed model.
It looks a lot like 75 Corvette Bright Green Metallic to me, at least that was my first thought when I saw this post.
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/965506/1975-chevrolet-corvette-for-sale-in-kansas-city-missouri-64105
Chevy rally green
Just don’t understand the ratty interior…
How about an LS swap with a custom built intake manifold to utilize the Rochester FI, that would be cool and unique too…
Patina is an old Indian word for lazy car collector that does want to spend time or money to make it look nice.
I think the original color would be much nicer that the pea green the paint is now!! Needs some work of coarse but we’ve seen much worse!!!
Personally, I find a classic car that is driven a lot & has the scars to prove it much more compelling that one restored down to the “correct” factory chalk marks on the frame. Period modifications only add to the appeal of old road warrior cars. But, that’s just me.
Relisted after!!!! Hmmmmm!!!
Is it me or does the fuelie system looks like it’s not bolted down? I have to too agree with gbvette62, things just do not look right. gbvette62 is correct that some one bolted on a new front clip, not correctly. I decided that I would look this vehicle over real closely and I seem to think at $45000 dollars it is going to take a lot of beano’s to make it a $100,000 vehicle. I think you might fine one in a little better condition for a project vehicle. I just cannot figure why he doesn’t get it running before he advertised it. At least bolt done the parts that belong to the motor. The motor turns, what does it take to get it started? Gas tank shot, use a container that will hold some gas. Get the thing running strip it and prime it, you will get your $60,000. How much time we talking, a couple of weeks? I have owned a collision shop for 60 years, I am sorry I’m blabbing my mouth off.
You might be correct, there’s two bolts missing on the front of the manifold !
not blabin, opinion. That’s mosta us as well.
I appreciate it.
Often I look at “what’s the cheapest I can get into something?’ 90% the labor’s mine. What’s the most parts pile 4 me to start with?. So lovin the ’56 – ’60 (rear deck, cove pass’s dash, C1, etc) this might B considered. The FI I can sell off for 5K$ if it duz not fit. I’m krazy enuff to put the BlueFlame in this 1 just cuz I luv the carter side draft YHs & i6 motors. A sacrilege’n loss of my investment…
Remember a marine and his wife driving a 1959 in to the dealership with a beautiful teal green and white coves. Never forget that top–a very dirty white ripped and torn but he was looking to trade and did on the dealership owner’s personal 1963 split window model. I guess for Charlie it was time for it to go and then there’s that profit angle. The days of yore if I could go back to that day and nail that dirty, very dirty, 59 for mine. Although mechanics in the know say these things don’t stop, or at least you think they won’t stop when you apply the brake. Know a lady who won’t drive her 1960 because she thinks it won’t stop. You definitely have to plan that stop you see approaching ahead before you get there. Enough to make you think a 1963 and up when they started stopping when you applied the brake. Definitely no room for error or emergency stops. But a real nice looking car with four headlights a must when buying a Corvette.
We agree with @gbvette62 ‘s assessment that we don’t buy the seller’s story either. In the Craigslist ad he posted seven days ago, the seller claims this one “fell into his lap.” He’s now asking $49,000 in the CL post and we have a hard time believing he’s done anything to it other than to offer it for way more than he paid for not doing a thing to it. Also not mentioned above but shown in the CL post is a separate frame the seller claims he was going to use to restore this car. That’s not a good sign for the original frame…
It sold for over $45000.00. I do not think that was a good deal.
Yikes, it sold? Consider that one “well sold”…
Actually when we just looked on eBay, it shows it re-listed until Friday with Buy It Now price of $45K while the CL post is still listed with a price of $49K. The story combined with the different prices is all very fugazy.