Unrestored, driver-quality Corvettes seem to be just a fraction of those we see on the road. If that’s what you’ve been looking for, this C2 is worth a look. This 1964 Chevrolet Corvette convertible was sent in by a Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Las Vegas, Nevada. After 25 bids the current high bid is $32,000 and the reserve appears to have been met.
Of the 22,229 Corvettes built for the 1964 model year, 13,925 of them were convertibles. While the convertible was a popular choice, Saddle Tan was not — just 1,765 Corvettes were ordered in this color.
I’m of the belief most people feel Corvettes should be properly restored and shown better than when they rolled off the assembly line. While I take no issue with that — even though my pockets aren’t nearly deep enough to afford such an example — I do find it refreshing to see one that’s been kept in operating order with no unnecessary vanity improvements made. The paint is peeling, it’s faded, the soft top (is original and) is lacking a tight fit and clean finish, but I think that character makes it appealing.
It’s the same story with the interior. The seller says it’s all original and notes some wear and tear. The upholstery is torn, the covers are ill-fitting, the carpet is dirty, and the metal finishes are worn. I wouldn’t call it neglect as much as a restraint from repairing anything that didn’t need repair. I find the look appealing and welcoming. The Hurst shifter was recently installed, but the seller is including the original if you’d prefer to return it to factory configuration.
Under the hood is a 327 cubic-inch V8 producing 365 HP. Power is sent to the rear wheels by a console-shifted 4-speed manual transmission. The seller says it “starts right up on the turn of the key” and “runs and drives pretty good.” Still not a show car under the hood, things have been kept fairly clean. An upgraded carburetor has been installed but you’ll get the original with the car. A tune-up and oil change have recently been performed.
I guess if you’ve longed to restore a Corvette rather than buy one that’s already restored, this is probably a pretty good candidate. I’ll assume I’m in a minority, but I think it would be a shame to lose its originality, so I’d just gas it and go.
Same car bid to $34000 on 10/27/20
Honey can I borrow some money ?
For whatever reason ‘64/‘65 Vettes simply don’t command the same money as the rest of the C3 range – especially in unpopular hues (personally, though, I LOVE the color combo on this example). Although it has a lot of good things going for it, mid-$30’s is “all the money” for this one assuming the buyer wants to drive it as-is. Just to repaint/cosmetically refurbish this one properly you’re looking at $10k. For the same money ($45-50) you can buy a much nicer C3 that doesn’t need a thing.
I meant “C2” not “C3”.
It is a matching number 365. this adds at least 5g. As a the same car with a 250 or 300, a fair price would be 24 to 27K
Matt is correct about C2 prices. However, they are dropping. Just a few minutes ago, a beautiful 67 fell $20,000 short of reserve. Car had bullet proof paperwork too. I would rather have this sunburnt example than a trailer queen with a $100,000 restoration.
Gotta love an honest patina on a complete survivor car.
Sold on ebaaaa for $32,300. This car has many things going for it, but if you want it to be any nicer, then it would not be original anymore. Tired of looking at the tired paint? Can’t paint it or it won’t be original anymore. Tired of the tired interior? can’t refresh it because it wouldn’t be original anymore. So…on that note, if it doesn’t have the original tires and brakes, is it original anymore?
Looking at some of the engine compartment brightwork, I doubt that the chrome is original if the car has 120000 miles on it as the listing states. So is it still original?
Looks like the clear coat is peeling & I don’t believe that was done in 64.
1964 Corvettes were factory painted with lacquer paint, not clear coat modern paints. Looks like this one had improper preparation of base coat or clear coat. So….it’s not original paint. Time for a re-paint IMO.
After looking a bit closer, I wonder if the faded original tan paint was over-sprayed with clear lacquer? I’ve seen that a few times on older corvettes.
While this car seems to still have some integrity, I think the term Survivor is stretching it a bit.
For what it’s worth it looks like leather interior. Shot now, but…
The paint, IMHO, is not original. It is a repaint, hence the peeling. I like the two tops, 4spd, 365HP, and the body/frame look decent. Nice car for $25,000.
My older brother had this car’s twin from ’68 to ’75 or so. He was second owner, having bought it from his best friend whom bought a new ’68. It got stolen from in front of my parent’s house in ’72 or so and was found by some hunters in the middle of nowhere about six months later stripped of its 327 and four-speed tranny and the doors kicked in for some reason. The hulk sat in my parents’ back yard until he sold it for $600 sometime in the mid-seventies.
What is sad nowadays is that because 90% of people selling cars are doing it for profit.
That means they will try to hide history or paperwork on a car that they feel is disadvantageous to their goal (make money).
In this example, “owned it for a year”, west coast car without specifics, etc…..
In some instances I would prefer buying from a longtime owner rather than a flipper ….
especially at those prices…
Just sold for $31,200 more than I paid for it’s twin back in 1967. I sure did love that car and seeing this one makes me want it back, just not enough to pay that for it. When I first saw mine I liked it because it wasn’t red, white, or black like most of the other ones around Atlanta. Mine came with an aluminum radiator which started leaking soon after I got it. I replaced it with a copper radiator that I thought would last longer than three years like the aluminum one did. Matching numbers didn’t mean anything back then.
I, too, had the twin except mine was Daytona Blue. I bought it in April 1966 for $3200.
Sold!
I’d just gas it and go too !.