The seller of this Corvette found it about 4 years ago in a barn. It had been parked for 34 years and had some body damage, a seized engine and a custom interior that had been ravaged by mice. They pulled the engine, which wasn’t correct to the car anyways, and installed a freshly built 327 V8 with an M20 transmission. They also sorted the brakes, fully rebuilt the suspension and installed a new wiring harness. Once the interior was cleaned up, they took it for a spin and have been driving it as is ever since. It definitely has an interesting look to it and has to be the talk of every car show it attends. You can now find it here on eBay in Hudson, Massachusetts with a current bid of $25k.
While it’s a bit of a bummer about the customization work, this is still a cool machine. It actually cleaned up quite well, although it could definitely still use some work. The engine is looking especially nice and is said to have about 5k miles on it since the rebuild. I’m a bit curious to know if the seller is willing to include the engine that was previously in it, as it is a 340 horsepower 327. It’s seized, but chances are it could be rebuilt and either go back into this Corvette or be put in something else you want to go fast in.
The interior is still rocking it’s custom seat covers, but it looks like they installed original style door cards and a new steering wheel. They also had the speedometer and tach rebuilt, so things should be working properly now. It comes with a hardtop and they recently installed a new convertible top, but it apparently doesn’t seal all that well. I guess something is better than nothing!
To have it looking it’s best it really needs some body work and new paint, but the current look does make it stand out. It would be fun to cruise around with it looking a bit rough. Having the drivetrain, brakes and suspension already rebuilt is a major plus, as you could start enjoying it immediately without concern. So would you leave the body and paint alone or would you get it painted as soon as possible?
I hate those hose clamps on a “restored” engine. It should be Whittick clamps.
Sorry for the misspelling.
Ride as is. Keep up with mechanical improvements.
Enjoy.
I would enjoy it for a year or two then get the bodywork and paint done. It would be hard to buy it then wait while it’s in bodyshop jail until it got paroled to enjoy it.
Well, it’s in a lot better shape than the pile of charcoal from a couple of days ago. I’d love to look closer at this one but it’s already out of my budget. The 327 might be OK but I’d rather have the 283 that it came with….
I was always a screw the paint,put the $$$$ in drivetrain,kinda guy.
1960Corvettes had 283s not 327s.
Looks great outside drive it ! , but why not paint the engine Bay Area before dropping in motor. Black at least, looks terrible .
Enjoy driving it. There’s plenty of garage queens.
Whatever the engine was that was in the car before, it wasn’t a “65 340hp 327”. The 327/340 was only offered in 62 and 63. 65 327’s came in 250, 300, 350, 365 & 375 horse versions.
As far as the new top not sealing completely, it’s nothing new. From my experience, the 53-62 soft tops never seal completely. It’s always a shocking experience, when the first time you come to a stop while driving in the rain, and the cold rain water comes under the rear bow, across the deck lid, and down your back!
Overall, I’d say it looks like a pretty decent start, to a nice solid axle Corvette project for someone.
Looks pretty good to me. Like the C1’s and this is a surviving example. Not it’s not numbers correct but I could live with that. Drive it as is and worry about the paint etc. later.
I guess I just have to get this off my chest. I just don’t understand when someone does the drivetrain so nicely, why not take the time to do the engine bay when the motor is out and be done with it? For that matter, the undercarriage as well.
If you were going to leave the car “as is” and make it mechanically sound…fine, but why fix the quarters….? obviously fixing the quarters means its going to get painted…..someday…? To each their own, respectfully. Like Ike above….commented..screw the paint!
I would have left the flared quarters in that case and put some wide / fat chrome reverse wheels & tires back there with some smaller 5 spoke American Racing or Cragers up front and drive the heck out of it! Don’t have to worry about someone “dinging” it in a parking lot. Ok, off my soap box !!!!! I feel better.
My first thought also about the engine bay. With the engine out that was the time to do the engine bay detailing.
The only seized engine I have ever worked with was out of a dkw 3=6, and it was a simple matter to unstick it and get it running. Does a stuck engine like this always mean rebuild or replace? You guys have any experience on this?
If where me, get it road ready and drive it!! All these vintage cars should be drivin,thats what they where meant for.
There’s a reason those things have wheels and tires on ’em. Drive it! Worry about the looks after you get all the bugs worked out. No surprise on the leaky top. Also, no big deal.