According to the seller, this 1970 Corvette has been sitting unused in west Texas for years. It has now been returned to a running, driving state. It will need a new owner who is willing to return the Corvette to its former glory. On face value, this appears to be a straightforward process. So, if you feel that you are up to the task, you will find the Corvette located in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and listed for sale here on eBay. The BIN has been set at $13,950. The more adventurous amongst you might consider submitting an offer.

The dry climates of Texas and New Mexico are great for preserving steel, but they play havoc on paint and plastic. The owner doesn’t provide any information about the state of the frame or birdcage. However, if the Corvette has spent its life in or around the areas specified, then there is a good chance that these components will be sound. However, I am a bit concerned by what appears to be some rust visible below the radiator. It might be nothing major. Since the owner does seem very open to the idea of a personal inspection, I would probably be inclined to take him up on the offer. Less sound is the Marlboro Maroon paint, which is cracked and peeling off in several places. The reality is that the paint will probably need to be removed entirely if the car is to be refinished to a high standard. The fiberglass looks to be quite sound, with no signs of any significant cracks or fatigue. Even the chrome appears to be quite presentable, and I suspect that a bit of work with some polish would have it shining beautifully once again.

Those same UV rays that have tortured the Corvette’s paint has also taken a toll on several items inside the vehicle. The interior is trimmed in Saddle vinyl and is quite serviceable as it currently stands. The seats could do with some new covers, the lining is hanging loose on the top, and the rear section of the console is crumbling away to powder. However, the dash, the door trims, and the remaining plastic look quite good. I think that the vast majority of these pieces would present well if appropriately cleaned. This is not a Corvette that is heavily loaded with options, although it does feature its original AM/FM radio. What I do find interesting is the fact that for a car that seems to have spent its life in warmer clients, it isn’t fitted with air conditioning.

Because it had been sitting for a while, the owner did do a few things to get the Corvette up and running again. He has replaced the plugs, the brake master cylinder, the rear calipers, and the tires. The Corvette has roared back into life and is said to now run and drive nicely. What you get for your money are a 350ci V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission. I think that this is the 300hp version of the 350, but I’m not entirely sure about that. Even if it is, it is still good enough to blast the Corvette through the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds. If it happens to be the L46, that time will drop to 14.1 seconds. I’m not a greedy man, so either figure would be more than enough to keep me happy.

This 1970 Corvette is a long way from being perfect, but it has the potential to be a satisfying restoration project. Of course, with that question mark hanging over potential rust near the radiator, a lot could hinge on the results of an inspection. If it does check out okay, it would make an excellent project for a parent to tackle with their child. It could potentially represent a special sort of bonding opportunity in that context, and the end result would be a car that everyone would be proud of.