“America’s Sports Car” was largely unchanged for 1959 having received quad headlights the year before. Sales flirted with the 10,000-unit mark for the first time after surpassing 9,000 in 1958. The 283 cubic inch V8 remained the only engine, but several variants and horsepower were available. The seller’s ’59 ‘Vette has been in storage for at least 50 years (1971-72) and is being sold from the owner’s estate. The engine may have given out at that time and work was never completed.
More than half of Corvette buyers in 1959 checked the box for the optional, removable hardtop, including this example. The primary color on this ‘Vette might be Frost Blue, and it seems to have held up over five decades. But a thorough detailing will reveal whatever flaws that surely will have crept in over time. The interior seems okay, but the biggest concern about extended indoor storage is whether any small critters have tried to set up shop.
We don’t know which version of the 283 is in this car, but the base engine would have had a 4-barrel carburetor and a 9.5:1 compression ratio, both resulting in a rated horsepower output of 230. The valve covers, intake manifold and carburetor have been removed from this car, but we don’t know why. It doesn’t sound as though they will go with the car to its next home.
This Corvette has a manual transmission, either a 3 or 4-speed. The mileage only got to 62,000 before the car went dormant, so hopefully whatever is going on with the engine isn’t terminal. From Frankenmuth, Michigan, this project sports car is available here on Facebook Marketplace where the seller is hoping to net $46,400 from the sale. Another tip brought to us by Barn Finder T.J.!
I am hoping to win the lottery too. All seriousness it looks decent enough as a starting point, although a MI car should be inspected heavily underneath. It’s a 25-28K car assuming the frame is not gone. Easily 50-60K to sink into it to make a 70K car out of it. All that and i still hope somebody restores it.
How does a car like this not get pulled out and repaired after 50 years, geez. Looks like someone was going to pull the long block and then stopped. BTW what are those cast eye bolts doing, never have seen that one.
Those might be generic eye bolts. Not sure why he’d use them there, but I’ve used them many times to strap engines into the bed of my truck and to lift them in and out. They work way better than anything short of the OE lift brackets, sometimes they even work better. Every hardware store has them available for a couple of dollars each.
Steve R
Eye bolts are forged. It is odd to see them there, but if this guy knew what he was doing, the car wouldn’t be in this shape, or for sale.
$46,400, like the $46 part isn’t ridiculous enough, got to tack on that $400, and don’t give me that “that’s what these go for” schtick, it’s another clear case of greed so prevalent here. I’ve been told to “lighten up”, but I don’t care if I’m the last man standing on this issue. There are literally pages of reasons why classic cars are so expensive today. While greed may be a part of it, it boils down to rarity, “I have one, you don’t. You want one, you’ll pay dearly for it”, and not likely to change anytime soon. Why so bitter on a venue most more than likely can’t participate in? Because, it just wasn’t how I was raised. Is this,,,beater worth $50grand? Of course not, yet some are literally jumping over each other to get it. They don’t want a ’59 Corvette, just the money it could generate. I know, the Corvette always did command a premium price, but at $3875 new, it could appeal to many more buyers. You didn’t have to be a Rockefeller to have one. Well, that all went out the window, say around the year 2,000, ironically just when the computer made its debut. America made cars that were fun, not boring 3 cylinders, and just about anyone, with a good job, or rich parents could have one. It just bums me out we’ve gotten to this point, and why classic cars are falling out of favor, to me anyway.
It’s an icon. If you want to play you gotta pay, it’s not greed, it’s the market. If you were selling this would you give it away for $5K or $6K? I don’t eat lobster any more because it’s too expensive for me, but I don’t blame the fishermen for being greedy.
You are NOT the only one who feels that way, Howard.
That Nicholas Cage line from Gone in 60 seconds applies here. “There are too many people with too much bloody money!”
It is greed.
I am with you 100% Howard wish it weren’t so but I don’t think it’s ever going back to the market being reasonable unfortunately even buying parts to work on an older car has become the realm of the rich pricing most out of the hobby those left have the income to pay to have some shop do it first cla$$
Howard, totally disagree with you! Like everything else in our material world, economics sets the price based on rareity, demand and consumption. I use to purchase a house for thousands less last century also, today’s market outside of intetest rates continue growing annually at 5 %, not to mention if interest rates fall, demand will exceed supply. The very same idealogy permeates throughout all markets including the muscle car industry, and that is why as you say “last man standing” you literally are, and will eventually be non existent if you want to continue participating in this market place. Sorry, time does not stand still for any market place! Take care.
I just don’t get why this sat for 50 yrs. What a waste! If you don’t get it right after ten years sell it and let it live again with someone who will take care of it. Just soooooo sad!!!
When this car was parked it was a $600 dollar car. You could have bought a running Corvette like it for less than a thousand and no one would have even dreamed that it would ever be worth what someone will eventually pay for it. What I wonder is why it was parked and just left to sit. Were the missing engine parts stolen off of it while it was parked somewhere? Did the owner die? I assume there is a story there but I guess we will never know.
On a side note, I’ve been to Frankenmuth a very charming town indeed.
That being said, I think there’s potential for this Vette but open your wallet
quite wide for this one ( after the bidding is over). I used to volunteer at the big spring auction in Toronto, and thought the buying process was quite fascinating. Bidding wars are just part of the business regardless.
Best wishes for bidders here and I have a 1:18th scale die cast of this very car, but that’s about as far I’ll get to one of these.
Without going into some long dissertations, I agree with Howard re: “collector car” prices, (not values) Regarding this particular car, I also agree with rbig18 that this thing is not worth that much on a perfect day. While it will in all likelihood sell for that amount, it’s a shame that the “fun car” market has gotten to where it has. (Full disclosure: a lot of my displeasure stems from being 75 years old, and in ’66 I bought a dual quad ‘ 58 for $1000 and in ’68 I bought a ’65 L-79 roadster for $2800.)
In 1968 I bought a 1964 Stingray for $2100. It was soft top only, 365HP, 370 Posi. close ratio 4spd. When I bought it I could have got a really nice 62 Vette for half of what I paid for my 64. After Sting Rays came out the price of older Vettes dropped substantially, and that’s why my value estimation of about $600 for this non running and incomplete car.
You know what hurt’s even worse? A 1968 Baldwin/Motion Performance Stage 3 427/425 horse Camaro had a base price of just over $3700 and a well optioned price of about $4900. Those were the days my friend!
The market for these cars is dropping fast. The guys who bought them have aged out of the market or are dead. I would agree with the early comment that, depending on condition at inspection, this is a parts car worth a few thousand.
Wow Howard I though I was reading the book War and Peace sorry you are burned out maybe you cut back on the weed you baby.
Flag Personal Attacks! If you are unable to come up with informative, interesting information about the item, please keep it to yourself.
Too bad that there isn’t a “thumbs down “ button- I think Dogwater needs to go outside and pee…
I’m guessing “dongwater” hasn’t actually read “War and Peace”.
Way too much for condition and what this car needs. Granted it’s not the same year, but just saw a ‘64 convertible with 327 and knockoffs in great condition sell at Mecum Harrisburg for $40K. Would rather go that route than be into this one for $100K+ by the time you get it running and in nice shape.
Sure looks likeone that sold last week under the same situation – the motor even looked the same – could there be two in this same color both sitting long time ?
Could be, but probably only if someone is thinking that they got the deal of the century, and is now trying to cash in on their perceived good fortune.
I guess that “Greed” won out as it is marked sold.
It takes all kinds. Wasn’t it PT Barnum that said “there’s a sucker born every minute”?
in the sweet spot of all vetts for me: rear deck (no DA yet), dash (nice binnacle & double cove), C-1s only, etc. Just not the right price. As I have no need for one this would B a drive’n sell. Ie not long after rest0(?mod?)it goes on to others. So gotta buy low, get paid for wrench time. If I had room for a sports car it would B in SCCA livery w/the BlueFlame’n 3YHs. If this car had no motor it might B on my list.
Of all the wire suspension bridges in the world, only an early few had stone towers, and only one had two(2) artistic voids within, the “Brooklyn Bridge”.
wtf,???
OK then Rick, nice to know
Not sure how it applies to the current subject Corvette
, but thanks for letting us know LOL!!
My wife calls ME a treasure trove of useless facts!
Don’t you just love it when someone lets something languish for a half century and then wants top dollar from someone else that they’re now marketing as valuable !