Brown and tan as the backdrop of its Litchfield, Connecticut home, this 1961 Chevrolet Corvette seeks a new owner to put it on the road for the first time since 1976. Evidence suggests it was originally red with a black interior, and nearly every metal part shows some surface rust. The fiberglass body looks reasonably damage-free and undercarriage pictures show solid metal compared to many New England classics. The listing here on Craigslist asks $35,000, just under “low retail,” according to NADA. The listing recently changed to “under deposit,” so it may be too late to tempt the seller with a juicy offer. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this long-parked Chevy.
Some of the originally fabulous interior trim shows well, and some does not. That stubby four-speed shifter calls to mind something you might see in a high-school-owned ’92 Mazda Miata. The giant semicircular speedometer dares you to “bury the needle” on your favorite straight stretch. An array of instruments intentionally invoke comparisons to aircraft or space craft cockpits. This would have been one special vehicle in its day, and hopefully it becomes someone’s passion soon.
The listing describes the non-original motor as a 1962 300 HP Corvette 327 cid (5.4L) V8. Though not running, it turns by hand. Nothing obvious disputes the claim of this ‘Vette leaving the highways while America celebrated its Bicentennial.
The cheesy hood scoop might have been a typical modification on a 15 year-old used car in the ’70s, before this ‘Vette earned “classic” status. A new neighbor in Pennsylvania arrived from Colorado with an immaculate ’60 Corvette inside their moving van in the early ’80s. I’d never seen one in person, and it they might as well have been backing a space ship out of the trailer for all the attention it drew. It was red and white and black and perfectly restored. I don’t think I ever saw it again. It probably stayed in a nice garage, cleverly avoiding pot holes and salted roads. Let’s hope this one can be restored, enjoyed, and regularly driven! Do you remember the first time you saw a special Corvette?
Would love to hear the story behind this. Why leave it ignored for 45 years? Where was it left to rot? Inside? Outside? My guess is that it belonged to a typical hoarder. It got buried under a mountain of rubble and soon forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind. The old smelly geezer finally died and someone after much disgust related delay figured they had to tackle the clean out. Wonder how long it took for the light bulb to go off in their heads after uncovering this? I would bet it has no title or proof of ownership.
Good luck with that.. think you can turn that in to this for $15K
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154772794090?hash=item24092d6aea%3Ag%3AKAMAAOSwSuVhzQMP&nma=true&si=ODEAVnmJFQp6cDBaGCKhhktFCbI%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Fred, written like someone who keeps “every thing in it’s place, and a place for every thing”.
As .38 Special sang: “Hold on loosely, but don’t let go…”, the owner ‘clings too tightly’ to the fire that is love for a car; the fire that burns inside the person whose life’s demands and priories constantly baffle the desire to see the car sparkle, rumble and run again.
Like the memory of a first love, or torrid affair long past, the owner hopes above fading hope to somehow recapture the moment, the lightning, the flame that first set his heart ablaze. But he’s ‘lost control’.
Love’s light dims with the inattention of the passing years. Neglected, but NEVER forgotten, until the owner, too, passes into the forever of memories.
Yes, I am sure his neighbors saw him as a hopeless romantic too. Too bad. The car deserved better.
Cars are objects. Without the human animus, they are nothing.
“The car deserved better.” The car will GET better. Even if 100 years from now.
We humans are only caretakers, moving through the years.
Roy Rogers stuffed his horse and dog, upon their passing. Trigger and Bullet reminded him of the best time in his life. He wanted to keep their memories near. Maybe he ‘Held on too tightly’, too.
Most show and shine restorers, (I call them would-be museum curators), have done exactly the same. They restore to better than new, then only take their wards out once or twice a year, if that, for display purposes. Otherwise; perfection remains in a garage, underneath a double lined cover.
Eventually, after years of the curators’ own brand of neglect, people on this board and others refer to the car as “an older restoration” when it surfaces again.
And the cycle begins anew.
We each are caretakers in our own way.
“Red is gray and yellow white… who’s to say which it right, and which is an illusion?” – Moody Blues
Dale Evans said “Don’t even think about it!”
I dunno, that top picture makes that Vette look mean. I almost want to get it, fix all the mechanicals and leave everything else be. I’ll be that guy that doesn’t give a ****. Talk to me about correct factory hose clamps, and I’ll laugh in your face as I use the door hinge to pop open a beer.
You going to be driving after doing that? Just curious.
@Mike. I was about to post the same thing here! I would also give it a thorough “detailing”, as far as that is possible (also, I would never actually laugh in someone’s face). A car that combines the best of “Animal House” and “Beach Blanket Bingo.”
Get it serviceable and drive it. Just put another fix a day at a time and screw the hardcore collector.
Looks like it was parked since 1926….
I have a 62 that was in the same condition. A friend suggested I put it in a shop. I did so in Nov 2019. Stuff was done, but it was taking way longer than I’d hoped. I was afraid I would never drive it again. So pulled it out last November.
“Restorer” had taken the seats to an upholstery shop in Keene, NH. Talked to them last fall. Went there 3 weeks ago last Friday. They said they would be ready in 2 weeks. Took a Covid test in keene today. Hoping to pick up one today and one on Wednesday. Owner has gone on vacation and the guy there is supposed to finish them before the owner comes back.
Very frustrating.
But I think it will be back on the road this season.
Sometimes on these things, life gets in the way.
And let’s not forget about the “old smelly geezer” who once owned a Vette.
Hotrods to hell, front bumper already off.