Original L76 327/4-Speed: 1964 Chevrolet Corvette

Even with the fine factory presentation awaiting C2 Corvette buyers, many owners were eager to quickly add or change some of the original components to personalize their cars and make them more of a standout.  Known in the marketplace as a “Day Two” car, this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette convertible here on eBay is one such example, as the front end was swapped and side pipes added quite some time ago.  The seller says this one is a running and driving project, plus it’s also reported as solid, so this seems like a good candidate for those searching for a mid-sixties Vette to restore.  This fun two-seater is a southern Chevy located in Walker, Louisiana, with a current bid of $12,500, also south of the reserve.

While the rear remains fairly stock with those two chrome bumpers, the factory front section has been replaced with a tilt unit, a popular custom treatment back in the day.  However, some very good news is that the engine underneath is claimed to be the original small-block, a desirable L76 variant of the 327.  Only available with a 4-speed manual transmission, the L76 was a spirited performer and had a factory HP rating of 365.  The seller states that the car is running and drivable, so hopefully the engine won’t require an immediate complete rebuild to be roadworthy.

Black is confirmed to be the original color, and although the paint shows some fading and patina on the top areas, the fiberglass appears to be in reasonably good condition overall.  Another custom touch is the aftermarket wheels, with bigs in back and littles up front, which work quite well with the other mods.  The headlights have also been relocated, and I’m sure this one was once a fine-looking sports car.  It’ll be up to the buyer to decide whether to restore this C2 to factory specs or stick with the Day Two appearance.

Aside from the radio, much of the dash looks largely as it did back in ’64, with the gauges in surprisingly good condition, though their clear covers may need replacing.  The convertible rails are also said to be in nice shape, and a new canvas covering is included in the box to replace the tattered one on top.  Whatever path the new owner chooses to follow, this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette seems like good material to work with.  For me, the dilemma would be losing sleep pondering whether to keep the fun additions intact or return this C2 to its original beauty.  What would you do here?