The seller states that this 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe would be a prime candidate for a restomod build. However, since it retains its numbers-matching mechanical components, I’m sure most Barn Finds readers would consider a faithful restoration the most appropriate path for the new owner. It will require deep commitment, but the rewards at the end should make it worthwhile. The seller has listed the Corvette here on eBay in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Nine bids have pushed the price to $30,600, which is below the reserve.
After its 1963 launch, the most profound change that Chevrolet made to the C2 Corvette for the following year involved the Coupe variant. The iconic Split Window divided opinion, and the company decided to eliminate it for 1964. Interestingly, some Split Window owners disliked the feature so much that they returned their pride-and-joy to dealerships to have the body cut and the one-piece ’64 window installed. I’m sure that if they had known how valuable those cars were to eventually become, they would have lived with the problem. The seller states that this Coupe wears most of its original Tuxedo Black paint, although describing it as tired would be a masterful understatement. The severity of the deterioration means that stripping away the existing paint will be inevitable if the new owner seeks a high-end result. The seller believes the vehicle has never suffered severe accident damage, because the fiberglass is original, and the bonding strips are intact. That brings us to the subject of rust, and the news isn’t great. The birdcage is solid, with only the drip rails showing repairable problems. However, the frame has rust on the driver’s side, and with no images provided, it is unclear how severe the problem is. This means that regardless of what path the buyer follows, they will have little choice but to adopt a nut-and-bolt approach. Some trim pieces require restoration or replacement, but the buyer states that the glass is acceptable for a driver-grade build.
The frame rust is disappointing, but the news improves when we focus on the Corvette’s drivetrain. The seller states that the car retains its numbers-matching 327ci V8 and four-speed manual transmission, with the engine’s status confirmed via a photo. The first owner selected the L75 version of the V8, delivering 300hp and 360 ft/lbs of torque. The L75 added $53.80 to the Coupe’s sticker price, making it easy to understand why over 47% of buyers ticked that box on their Order Form. The seller states that they recently rebuilt the carburetor but that the car doesn’t run or drive. The items missing in the engine bay shot are included, so coaxing the motor back to life might be relatively easy. Of course, if the new owner chooses a complete restoration, that would present the perfect opportunity to refresh the drivetrain.
The first owner ordered this Corvette with standard Black vinyl trim, and apart from the missing carpet, it appears to be largely complete. The passenger-side seatcover is damaged, and I believe it is beyond repair. That’s a shame, because the remaining vinyl looks surprisingly good. The dash is clean, the pads are crack-free, and the gauges feature clear lenses and crisp markings. The interior features the factory AM/FM radio, bringing us a point to ponder about technological advances since this car left the line. You simply won’t find a new passenger car without some form of stereo, but this Corvette’s radio cost the first owner $176.50. That figure is over three times the price of the L75 engine option, and if push came to shove, I know which I’d prefer!
I am disappointed that the seller’s image gallery for this 1964 Corvette doesn’t include any shots of the frame’s rusty section. The severity will largely determine how viable the project is, although it is a safe bet that regardless of what path the buyer chooses, dismantling the car to the last nut and bolt will be inevitable. It is said that fortune favors the brave, but would you possess the courage to tackle this build? I wish you luck if you do.
I have nothing against resto-modding but since the car has its OEM drive train I’d leave that intact. I’d still be tempted to upgrade the brakes,steering, and suspension, and add AC.
The frame rust makes this a moot point for me. I can’t spend 30+ large on rust.
More power to those who can.
Rough as a COB – needs a TON of work – bad frame means entire body has to come off – can’t cut & weld not on Frames it’ll need a new frame rail entirely & if one side is bad there’s gonna be problems everywhere that are hidden by the body now.
So I’d say 15 for the body + 10 for associated parts suspension engine what there is of the interior yikes –
I’d toss the stock frame & suspension go resto mod, the steel forged crank & rods 327 could stay w/an upgraded roller rocker valve train hardened push rods & drop after market big valve ported heads on & run EFI w/2 small turbos that’s a 10k engine upgrade
Paint 5k min
Interior will cost another 3-4k
New Suspension & wiring loom 8k
Wheels tires big brakes that’s 6k
All in – its a 60k build
If you can get this rough example for 25k which is worth 10k
Not worth 30,000, Good luck1
Not worth 30,000, Good luck1
I assume you have $5000 for the paint (and primer etc.) only…. you would have to apply it yourself.
1964 Should have come with 4 wheel Disc brakes which could be a Plus on an Expensive rebuild!
A ’64 would have had 4 wheel drum brakes. “65 was when they were equipped with 4 wheel discs.
My mistake -Thanks for the clarification!
I have owned Corvettes for 60 years, and while I am not anything like say, an NCRS judge, I do have some fairly serious experience with them. That being said, in my opinion, this car is not worth probably even what the current bid is, and certainly nothing more. It is an entry level bread and butter car with some pretty glaring shortcomings, the least of which is the condition of the body. A person would probably be easily over 35K into body and paint alone. The other huge D-merit is the frame. A new bare frame is $8,000, and you can bet that this thing needs a ton of suspension parts, so add another $5,000 to that. Then come all the other items like interior and misc. parts. One could easily be into this car 90 grand by the time it is all said and done, and that does not include labor.
There is currently a ’64 365 horse roadster for sale for $155,000 that has virtually every award that it could possibly get from NCRS, but the average salr price for an excellent car is around 85 to 95 thousand. This car just does not pencil out, even at the current bid, much less anything higher.