Solid Restorer: 1960 Chevrolet Corvette

Some enthusiasts dream of building their ideal C1 Corvette, but the thought of molesting an original survivor goes against their beliefs. They will search for the perfect candidate, but finding that car can be a battle. That’s where cars like this 1960 Corvette fit neatly into the equation. It is an essentially complete project car that is structurally sound. The buyer may choose a faithful refurbishment, or it would seem viable to tweak its drivetrain to extract improved performance. Barn Finder Larry D spotted this great classic, so I have to say a big thank you, Larry. Located in Walker, Louisiana, you will find the ‘Vette listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has been pretty impressive, and while it has pushed the price to $20,706, this figure remains short of the reserve.

While this Corvette may look rough around the edges, it seems to be a project car with many positive attributes. Hiding under multiple layers of various paint colors is a body that appears to be surprisingly good. The fiberglass exhibits a few flaws, but there’s nothing present that it would describe as horrendous. The buyer will face many hours of hard work removing the paint to achieve a sound surface over which to apply a fresh coat of color, but the panel repairs should prove to be pretty straightforward. The news isn’t quite as good when we start to examine the trim and chrome. Essentially, if you can’t see a component in the supplied photos, that piece is missing. Items like the bumpers may need a trip to the platers, although the corrosion on the front bumpers may mean that they have gone beyond the point of no return. The windshield is okay, but the soft-top is missing, and there’s no hardtop. I haven’t been skirting around the question of rust but have chosen to leave the best until last. I suspect that someone has commenced a frame-off restoration that has stalled because the frame is spotlessly clean and appears to have either been painted or powder-coated. There is no evidence of prior accident damage and absolutely no rust. As a basis for a project build, it looks pretty promising.

As with the rest of the car, this Corvette’s interior is a case of “what you see is what you get.” There are seat frames but no upholstery or carpet. The owner has a set of seat cushions upholstered in Red, but he is selling these separately. If you are the successful bidder, it may be possible to negotiate on these before they hit eBay. The dash is missing plenty of components, so the shopping list will be long if the interior is to be returned to its former glory. On a positive note, the factory clock is present, and the owner has recently spent a few dollars having the gauge cluster professionally restored.

The Corvette isn’t numbers-matching, and it is a bit of a mystery machine. The owner states that the small-block occupying the engine bay is period correct, but he doesn’t specify the capacity. I take that as meaning that we’re looking at a 283ci V8, but its specifications and condition are unclear. The buyer will need to perform an in-person inspection to determine which version we’re looking at here. That leaves the way clear to recreate the specifications in a faithful refurbishment. However, the lack of a numbers-matching status also opens the possibility to tweak this car to extract some scintillating performance. Bolted to the back of the V8 is a four-speed manual transmission, while it appears that the car rolls and steers. I referred to this classic as a blank canvas, so now would be the chance to let your imagination run wild.

If this 1960 Corvette were a numbers-matching classic, it would command a value well north of $50,000 if the buyer undertook a high-quality restoration. However, it isn’t numbers-matching, and that will potentially impact its value. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing because if the buyer chooses the right path with the project, it could still push beyond the $50,000 barrier with ease. It has solid bones, and the final result will only be limited by the builder’s imagination. It has already attracted forty bids, which is a firm indication that plenty of people like what they see. Do you like it enough to consider joining the bidding war? If you do, we’d love to know what your vision will be.