This Corvette is definitely not original, but it looks to be in nice enough condition to make it work picking up! The seller has had it for about 6 years and has been getting their use out of it. They have made the 350 mile trip to Corvette Carlisle in without any problems. While a restoration project can be fun, sometimes it’s nice to have a car you can jump right in and enjoy, and that’s exactly what I would do with this Corvette. Since it isn’t original, you don’t have to worry about being overly protective or scared to drive it! Find this Corvette here on eBay in Basking Ridge, New Jersey without a reserve.
I always wonder what the full history is with cars like this. It is clearly an older restoration, with at least one respray. The engine isn’t correct, but is believed to have come from a ’69 Camaro. I would think that would have to make this Vette a bit more lively!
While we tend to stay away from cars that have already been restored, I think this one might be worth taking a risk on. The fact that it’s being offered without a reserve by an owner that has clearly been driving the car, suggests they want it to go to a good home where it will be used. I know I wouldn’t mind having it parked in me drive way! How about you?
Bidding at $33k… The no reserve approach was low-risk here!
A money maker.
This is a car you could use just like the seller has: drive it to Carlisle and other meets, the beach, visit friends…just enjoy.
Frame looks good, and so does the rest, but fix that awful ‘glas work under the hood. It’s one of the few exciting cars that we see on here that would be perfect for using as-is.
I’m not up on the values of cars with non-matching engines like this, but the SCM Guide says the median auction price paid for ’61 283/230 cars was $55K. This car is now just under $34K with hours to go, so someone might get a nice driver to enjoy for significantly under the $55K median, and then get a proper engine later on to add to the car’s value if he wants to. If the price stays reasonable it could be an easy way to get into vintage Corvette ownership.
If I had, say, $40K kicking around I would do just that. A bonus would be a seller who seems knowledgeable and good and easy to deal with, and you don’t get that every day.
I had a chance to buy an almost identical freshly cosmetically restored ’61 Vette back in 1995 for $14K, guy needed the money to finish his dream home, only difference was it was all numbers matching, and still had about 5% of reassembly to be finished, but was the same color and even a 4 speed, anyhow still kicking myself over passing on that one
These old Vettes were not really a joy to drive, but very collectible indeed.
Basically a fiberglass body on a 55 Chevy frame, and they drive like a 55 Chevy does or worse. The C3’s in my opinion were the first real Corvettes, but that is my own evaluation after owning several of them over the years from a 1960 to a 2011 model.
My favorite was a slightly modified 1974 T-top car with an 80 tail because it looked better. Chrome yellow with black interior…
The 1992 to 1996 C4’s with the LT-1 is the best bang for the buck Corvettes ever made. A nice one, and I mean a nice one can be bought for 6 to 7K. Where else can you find a car that will run 160 MPH plus and out handle most cars on the road today?
Don’t under estimate the late C4 Corvette. Not collectible yet, but cheap fun and crazy fast!
Looks like my dream of replicating “Route 66” ( with all it’s detour’s and dead ends) is fading fast. These are my favorite Corvette’s, but with prices rounding Pluto, there’s no way. Very nice car. Years ago, I was at a garage sale near my ex-bil’s house, and in the corner of the garage was a car under a tarp, that had the outline of a Corvette like this. When I inquired about it, my ex-bil ( who knew the lady) said, it was her son’s car, and he never came back from Vietnam, and she refused to touch it. I always wondered what happened to that car.
Hi Howard. The ’60-’62 Vette is my favorite too. I’d take a ’53 but that’s only because that’s my DOB. It’s interesting how many cars and trucks were owned by GI’s who never made it back and the family can’t let go of them (Ridin’ With Private Malone?). Some years ago I ran across a ’57 GMC Suburban Carrier with a similar situation, only the guy came back from Vietnam but completely lost interest and left the region to make his fortune somewhere on the east coast. His dad still had the truck but refused to sell it because it was his son’s truck and he MIGHT come back and get it. Talked to a mutual acquaintance at Chester, MT, last Sunday and he said that the father has passed on; the truck disappeared a couple of years ago but he was sure it was NOT the son who came and got it.
Not a bad deal…however, the seller included one picture too many. The last shot showing the passenger side inner fender panel is scary. Still not a bad deal, but I would want to do some thorough inspecting.
Who ever “fixed” the r/s inner fender firewall/heater box needs to be beaten . In spite of that cluster @#$% of a very poor repair I’d like to own this driver,,, & improve on it while enjoying the heck out of top down cruising !
Sold for 33K, so not a bad deal if it is really drivable and you had to have a vette?
There is one Identical looking just down the street from me I just passed by it on my way back from the parts store.
This was not an actual “No Reserve” auction:
Starting Price US $33,500.00 Jun-01-16 07:10:42 PDT
A play on words that leaves a sour taste in my mouth every time.