The classic market sometimes raises as many questions as it answers. For example, if you owned a 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie, would you unbolt its body to drop onto a restomod project? No? Me neither. However, that is the fate that has befallen our feature “car.” The frame is solid and the drivetrain complete, making it an ideal candidate for a rebuild to its original form. The seller has listed this classic here on eBay in Columbia Station, Ohio. They set their BIN at $17,500, and it appears that they are fairly firm on that figure.
The seller confirms that someone removed the body from this Corvette for a restomod build approximately six months ago, but what remains shows great promise. The seller states that the frame is free from rust and accident damage, wearing nothing beyond dry surface corrosion. With the vehicle dismantled to its current state, completing the process so that the frame could be media blasted and painted or powdercoated would seem the most logical first step on the path to returning it to its former glory. That would also present a golden opportunity to replace items like the fuel and brake lines to minimize the chance of future problems.
Nestled between the front wheels is a 283ci Fuelie V8. It is teamed with a four-speed T-10 manual transmission. It is unclear whether the engine is original to this car, although the Casting Number visible in the listing images confirms that it is at least period-correct. The Fuelie was the most expensive option for buyers in 1961, adding a cool $484.20 to the sticker price. Therefore, it is unsurprising that only around 14.5% of buyers chose this engine in either of its available forms. The seller coaxed the engine to life in March, stating that it starts and runs well. The front end shows evidence of a recent rebuild, the brakes have been gone through, and the exhaust and tires are almost new. The deal includes a shiny DeWitts reproduction radiator and the correct steel air cleaner assembly.
There are several options available to the person who purchases this 1961 Corvette frame. Locating a genuine body as a starting point for the build might be possible, although there are plenty of companies that can supply high-quality reproductions. These cars are like jigsaw puzzles, with every part available to perform a faithful build. However, for some people, the biggest hurdle might be administrative, because this frame doesn’t come with a Tag or Title. Is that a challenge that you could overcome, or will you place this Corvette in the “too-hard” basket?
Wow
It can’t be an original fuelie. Why would anyone remove the body of a genuine fuelie Corvette when selling it whole would have paid for the entire restomod build?
The buyer could could have an original fuelie with damaged or rusted chassis? Period correct?
It’s enough to make you sick. Isn’t it enough to make you stop?
The whole Modo-Chango craze is revolting. These people would probably cover the Mona Lisa with a Day-Glo painting of Elvis, and then burn it as “performance art”.
Put a 1932 Ford coupe body on it .š
You can see the VIN stamp on the engine in one of the pics if you blow it up. A quick Google search, and here is the car — https://www.barrett-jackson.com/scottsdale-2023/docket/vehicle/1961-chevrolet-corvette-283315-fuelie-convertible-261587
Sold at Barret Jackson in 2023 for $110K. Represented as a number matching original drivetrain car.
The chassis is for sale for $17.5K. So that’s $92.5K for a body and interior.
Whomever did this should be flogged. It would take 15 minutes on Google to find a run-of-the-mill Low HP 61 Vette with a good body to build a resto mod out of, for a whole lot less than $92.5K. Unbelievable.
You got that exactly right!
I enjoy seeing a Corvette frame displayed with the engine. It is a good look at why the folks who say a big- block ruins the handling of a Corvette versus a small-block due to the increased weight over the front end are wrong. Please note that the engine centerline is not directly over the front suspension. The engine centerline is 16-18 inches behind the front suspension. That frame configuration was used for decades.
But the weight of the big block would still increase the weight on the front wheels to some extent.
Is it true the front suspension is identical to a 53 Chevy sedan?
The claim that big block Corvettes are nose heavy, is nothing more than what is commonly referred to as an “Old wives tale”. The weight balance of a 65-74 big block Corvette averages a near perfect 48/52 to 49/51 (depending on options), while a small block runs more in the 51/49 to 50/50 range. As Frank Sumatra pointed out, unlike a “regular” car like a Camaro or Chevelle were the engine is mounted directly over the front crossmember and suspension, Corvette engines are set back in the frame centering it’s weight.
Other than the spindle supports, the 53-62 Corvette front suspension is basically the same as 49-54 Chevrolet passenger cars.
untill 63.
LS swap!
I posted this last night, with a link to the Barrett Jackson auction, but it was taken down for some reason ??
You can see the partial VIN stamp (1110354) on the engine in one of the pics if you blow it up. You can also see the what appears to be the fuelie suffix code.
A quick Google search for VIN 10867S110354, and the complete, nice car sold at Barrett Jackson in 2023 for $110K. Represented as a number matching original drivetrain car in that auction.
The chassis is for sale for $17.5K. So that’s $92.5K (plus auction fees) for a body and interior.
Why would someone do this? It would take 15 minutes on Google to find a run-of-the-mill Low HP 61 Vette with a good body to build a resto mod out of, for a whole lot less than $92.5K. Unbelievable.
Excellent update & information on this one, thanks.
Why did they need a āfuelieā body, when they could bought a much cheaper base-line āvette and stuck āfuelieā badges on it and created theirārestomessā version of a desirable car. āA fool and his money are soon parted.ā
I purchased a Porsche 356SC that had been completely stripped and with many body mods in metal. The paint added was not of original type and was done to a very high standard. The owner ran out of steam on the project, but not before selling off the original numbers matching motor. After I bought the car in boxes, I learned that the owner purchased the car as a complete 3 owner car with lots of documentation. All matching numbers in good condition. All I could think was why chose a matching numbers 356SC to create an outlaw. There were tons of basic cars to choose from. I was able to buy back the motor, but there was no reasonable way to convert the body back. It was important for me to get the motor back and maybe someone in the future takes on bringing the body back. But these are the type of people that do not see the big picture. He had a lot of money and did not care about the history of the car.
The owner should store this away for the next owner who may want to keep this with the restomoded original car. I own a fuelie ā58ā with original engine on a standā¦ same motor with 2x4s in the car now. I bought it this way and was very happy original owner kept the original fuelie to hand off to me.
I was in a,neighborhood shop the other day and sitting in the shop with a bunch of other cool things. (Complete Dual quad 425 Buick engine, small block Chevy blocks on shelves, etc, etc, etc) was a covered car,? I asked if I could pull back the cover there staring at me was a Chevy Blue Flame 6 with its multiple carbs. The chassis looked familiar and at first I couldn’t place it. Then it hit me, a 1953-1955 Corvette chassis. (Dad and I restored a 6 cylinder. ’55 Vett, before restoring his ’58 that he kept for his daily driver.) However, it was not just a bare chassis. It had a custom made fiberglass body that was a cross between a ’32 Ford Duece Coupe and a dune buggy. I know it sounds strange, but it looked pretty cool. So this, to me looks familiar!
This has got to be one of the craziest things that I have seen in quite some time, and if the information that jeffschevelle dug up is correct, (and given his back round I have no reason to not believe it) it is even more bizarre. I honestly can’t figure this thing out. It makes absolutely no sense to me.
When it’s your car you can certainly do what you want with it. But Geez Louise, dude. What were you thinking??
All I have to say is WHY!! And I am not a Corvette guy!
Even Vince Neal (previous owner according to the B-J write up), who for sure had plenty of money to do whatever he wanted with the car, knew well enough to respect the car for what it was.
I’m not sure what that even means. If he knew “well enough to respect the car” then why would he do this to it? Also, unless I am completely missing something, where is Vince Neal ever mentioned? There is absolutely nothing about this that makes any sense.
Vince Neal (lead singer of the band Motley Crue) is listed in the 2023 Barrett Jackson auction write-up as a prior owner of this car. Not the one who ruined it.
JHoff was noting that even a guy like Vince (with plenty of money and a public history of what some would call “questionable decision making”) was smart enough not to ruin this car.
Makes a little more sense now.