North Carolina Barn Find: 1961 Chevrolet Corvette

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Sitting in this shed is a classic that has led a sheltered life. This 1961 Corvette had spent its downtime in this spot since 1970. It hibernated for a large part of that time but has been liberated and revived. The seller and their father did a wonderful job refreshing its drivetrain, but the time is right for it to find a new home. The Corvette is listed here on eBay in Connellys Springs, North Carolina. Bidding sits below the reserve at $37,500, with plenty of time for interested parties to stake their claim on this classic Corvette.

The seller’s father located this Corvette squirreled away in a barn. It is unclear how long it hibernated, but they convinced the elderly owner to part with the classic he had owned since 1970. It proved remarkably strong when it emerged, but a brief inspection revealed the Red paint wasn’t original. It underwent a change at some point, which is a shame considering it is 1-of-385 Corvettes in 1961 that were ordered in the two-tone combination of Ermine White and Silver. Reversing the change is possible, but the car’s presentation means it isn’t necessary unless the winning bidder is striving for originality. The paint shines nicely, and the fiberglass is in good order. The seller doesn’t mention frame rust or structural problems, and I doubt there are any. The seller’s father splashed a lot of cash on other aspects of the car, and doing so, if the vehicle were structurally compromised, would be senseless. Therefore, I don’t expect there to b any trouble on that front. The ‘Vette retains its original soft-top and hardtop, with the former in surprisingly good condition considering its years of dust exposure. The chrome and glass are acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle, with the car rolling on its original wheels and hubcaps.

Purists or those focused on this Corvette’s investment potential will appreciate that it is a numbers-matching classic. The engine bay houses the RPO 469 version of the 283ci V8. This motor uses a dual-quad setup to send 245hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque to the Posi rear end via a four-speed manual transmission. The car had been hibernating for an extended period when it came into the hands of the current owner. It is unclear how long it sat, but they decided not to cut corners in its revival. The new fuel tank, hoses, and radiator are the tip of the iceberg. Every mechanical component was removed and rebuilt, including the engine, transmission, rear end, carburetors, and steering box. The pieces were detailed before refitting, ensuring they present as impressively as they work. The odometer doesn’t currently operate, but the seller estimated they have put approximately 1,000 miles on the car since they finished the refresh. They hold the receipts and invoices, and while they don’t indicate how it runs and drives, it would be fair to expect positive news.

The Corvette’s interior is serviceable, with no immediate needs or urgent problems. The driver’s seatcover is ripped, and there’s a good chance it will deteriorate. Replacement will eventually be essential, but the buyer could do this as time and circumstances allow. The rest of the trim and carpet is acceptable for a driver or survivor-grade vehicle, but it could “pop” following some restoration work. That path could be wise because this Corvette should represent an excellent long-term investment.

I can’t imagine the current owner’s excitement when they opened that shed to find this 1961 Corvette hidden inside. It proves that great classics are awaiting discovery, and their revival may not be challenging. The process for this ‘Vette was straightforward, and a new owner will benefit from that effort. It is a turnkey proposition that could be driven as-is or returned to its former glory. The relative rarity would prompt me to return its paint to the original combination. Your opinion could differ from mine, so would you restore or preserve it?

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Comments

  1. Frank Drackman

    “The odometer doesn’t currently operate”
    from the Ebay post
    “All gauges work as they should as well as all lights and instruments work except for odometer quit working right at 20,000 miles.”
    So it’s got 21K on it now???
    Sharp looking Vette, I’d fix the Odometer/Cigarette Lighter

    Frank

    Like 2
  2. Neil R Norris

    A real gem! I’d return it to white and silver. That was a classic look.

    Like 13
    • Roxanna Belcher

      Why would you change the color an ruin the value??? You know nothing bout this?? Wow

      Like 3
      • Ron

        Returning it to the factory original color will ruin the value? You really should read the description before making ridiculous comments like that.

        Like 22
      • Bob

        Who ever painted it all red diminished the value when they painted it

        Like 1
    • bobhess bobhessMember

      Having spent my entire life restoring or building cars and watching the business change over the years, I find it interesting that so many people on BF casually comment that they would repaint a car just to get back to the original color. Might be eye opening to call a qualified restoration or high level paint shop and have them give you the numbers to do a repaint back to the original color on a car like this Corvette. If you are a millionaire, no sweat. I’m talking to the folks like me and many other car enthusiasts on BF that just don’t fit into the millionaire category. What you have here is a situation where the cost of paint and labor will most likely be much higher than the cost to buy the car.

      Like 11
  3. PRA4SNW

    What a shame to think this wonderful car only spent 9 years on the road before being hidden away.

    Someone will overpay for it, spend another 100K for a bolt by bolt restoration and it will then be squirrelled away again.

    Like 10
  4. Deplorable Dave

    During the first nine years the odometer quit at 20k and the paint scheme was completely changed? Hmmmm. Seems a bit strange.

    Like 10
  5. Pierre Piffarerio

    One picture shows a convertable. The rest a hardtop. Which is it?

    Like 2
    • Bill Hall

      It was a convertible and the hard top a removable option

      Like 6
    • Jim Barker

      This year Corvette, as well as many other years, have a hard top that lifts off and has a convertible soft top tuck behind the seats.

      Like 0
  6. Robert Vlasic

    I’ve owned a 61 for over 30 years and as far as I know they never had a tag saying what color or options the car was ordered with. They only had the vin on the steering column.

    Like 2
    • Greg

      I have had several. GM never had a trim tag on C1 corvettes that stated the color of the car. They actually wrote the color under the driver’s seat from the factory with something like a crayon, in. “Red” or “white” etc.

      Like 1
  7. Madlad

    Tracking the VIN number with GM may tell the color.

    Like 1
    • Stovebolt

      Who cares if it’s an original color. Enjoy as us

      Like 1

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