The seller of this ’59 Corvette inherited it from their uncle and is in the process of clearing out his estate. They don’t know much about the car’s past, but they do know that their uncle removed the body to replace a rusty frame. Unfortunately, they never got around to finishing the project, so it has stayed parked in this barn ever since. It comes with a replacement frame, so this might just be a realistic project to take on. If you are up for the task, you can find it here on eBay in Buffalo, New York with a current bid of $25,400 and no reserve!
Sitting in a lean-to nearby is the replacement frame. It shows some surface rust but looks to be very solid and fairly complete. Obviously, you won’t just be dropping the body on the frame and hitting the road, but it’s a great starting place. Having the body off should make replacing any worn or damaged parts much easier.
The photos of the interior are blurry, so it’s hard to tell the overall condition. The seats are missing, but hopefully, they are sitting nearby. The door panels and dash are present, but appear to need work. Having all the trim and brightwork is a plus that should save a healthy chunk of cash, well at least if they can be restored.
We get a few photos of the engine and from what can be seen, it’s going to need a full rebuild. The seller paid an appraiser to inspect the car and according to them, the engine and transmission are numbers original. As long as there isn’t any significant damage or rust, rebuilding the mechanicals should be a fairly straightforward project.
It might be a big project, but it will be a worthwhile one! There are obviously a lot of questions about what is and isn’t present, although the seller claims everything is here. The current bid is a bit surprising given the lack of detailed information, but there’s no doubt that this is a desirable find and would be worth a decent amount of money when restored. The real question is, are you up for the challenge?
As the engine sits, it’s running a little lean.
What a potential beauty. Wish it wasn’t on the other side of the continent, I’d like to at least see it in person.
Good project if a person has the skills and the funds to complete the restoration. If most or all the labor is to be farmed out it’s probably best to find one that you could drive and enjoy now. Nice project for the right person.
My wife would kill me
An appraisal is not too beneficial when the appraised amount is blanked out!
AGREED! Not a very honest tactic.
The vin tag is held on with screws ? That puts into question the origin of the body and no tittle to boot.
Bid is up to $35K, seems a bit pricey to me. I wonder what it was appraised for ? Cant really fault the seller, they just want to get the maximum money for it. As much fun as it would be to put this baby back together I’d have to pass.
FYI the seller has zero feedback. Caveat Emptor.
Cheers
GPC
Little much for me. Email me when sold & let me know the selling price.
The car could be a beauty but the cost is a bit much. The car sitting in pieces and pretty much needs everything rebuilt. I think it’s a bit much, but to the guy who has the cash wish him the best
Agree….just too much for the price it’s at.
That picture of the engine seems to indicate there may be some mismatched parts there.
The values of these early Corvettes is waning. Whomever chooses to undertake this herculian feat of recommission should consider wisely before jumping into the cauldron of wasted cash. The author is right to state acquisition of trim parts can be a challenge. Indeed they are often ridiculously expensive, reproductions in many cases and can “break the bank” when considering the sum of the parts equals the whole (wallet). Fun cars and will be a labor of love. The buyer needs to understand it will not be an investment when completed.
it is an investment now, and will B 1 after resto.
I like these models (’56/60) as they still have that Italianate rear. Nice dash (both sides) & binnacle. Other vetts just don’t get it for me (OK ’63 aint bad) but just don’t appreciate the mako shark style or whatever they are and the rest (per/post this).