Originally introduced in 1953 at GM’s Motorama show, the Corvette has a long and storied history as America’s sports car. Produced continuously since then, the Corvette has gone through eight generations and two engine layouts, with the most recent eighth-generation model having gone mid-engined from the front engine of the preceding seven generations. This 1967 second generation C2 Corvette is a genuine ‘67 C2, but has gone through most of a money-no-object restomod. Highlights include a widebody conversion, a 650 horsepower supercharged LT4 Chevrolet V8 mounted to a Tremec TKO 5-speed manual transmission, a Ford 9” rear end, and all brought to a stop by Wilwood brakes. You can meet the madman who commissioned this build by finding it here on eBay, where the current bid at the time of writing is $70,100.
That sounds like a lot of money, but the buy it now price is $195,000, and the seller states repeatedly that they have more than $300,000 invested in this project. To put it in the words of Hammond from Jurassic Park, “we spared no expense.” It shows. Oh boy, it shows. Beyond the features listed above, it also has a full carbon driveshaft, a custom tubular frame, and coil-over suspension. There are some images from the donor vehicle, and it started life clean, and as a true barn find! But this is basically a whole new car. Money-no-object restomods tend to be really good, and this is no exception.
There aren’t many images of the interior, but the seller states that they were planning to do a stock interior. Personally, I gotta side with the seller there. Stock is better. The original wood-rimmed steering wheel and bucket seats are gorgeous. It’s authentic 1967 with manual windows and no air conditioning but does have some modern conveniences like electric power steering. Interestingly, the seller mentions that they rebuilt the original radio with modern internals including Bluetooth capability. So there’s nothing stopping you from absolutely blasting the windows out with Prince’s Little Red Corvette from your cell phone, even though it looks stock.
Earlier I mentioned that you can meet the seller, and the seller encourages this. They, understandably, want serious buyers only, and suggest the best way to bid on this is to meet them, see the car, and then bid on the car. This is a nearly complete restomod, and is the perfect recipe for a fantastic show car with the performance to back up the looks. If the future owner of this magnificent work of art reads my write-up on it, I’d like to congratulate you because this is a masterpiece.
This car was built on the show Phantom works. Was pulled from the shop before completion by the owner. They even specified the purple color. Now it’s back in primer what the heck? Just needed wired up and finish assembly. They loaded it on the trailer and Dan Shorts wasn’t too happy on the show about the owner saying he and his family and buddies will be finishing the car up. Something is a little strange that it is back in primer. Just saying….
I thought this one looked familiar! Yes, I remember that episode of Fantom Works, and as you mentioned, Dan Short expressed his disappointment over the outcome. I wonder if there was some disagreement among the owner’s family members regarding which direction to take with the car, and that’s what led to his decision to terminate the build with the shop. The consistent reference to the owner(s) as “they” and “them” in this article would also lend credence to my theory of multiple opinions on which way to go with the build.
Yes to answer your question. The cost was getting out of control. So after I painted it the owner picked it up from Dan
Not strange it’s in primer. Who in their right mind would paint a big dollar car in grape-juice purple paint? I mean seriously, you can lay down a $25k paint job in purple and the car would lose $40k in value!
I remember that episode. Fantomworks laid dkwn a stunning purple paint on that car. Such a shame the show was cancelled.
Thank you. As the guy that painted it I appreciate the comment.
Raymond
200k for a C2? My eyes are watering lol
I’ve seen restomod C2 Vettes in this price range where there were real improvements done.
This is not one of them.
They should have left it at Phantom Works and let them finish it. That is the only way they would have come close to recovering most of their $$$. Half finished projects in primer are always loosers in the money department.
I can’t tell the condition of the car from these pics. The chassis pics are from the show. I’m wondering if the body work shots are from the show too. Aside from that, I’d stay away from this project. All the electrical and finish work was needed when it left Fantomworks. If he and his buddies tried to do the wiring and failed, it will be a terrible mess. It could be a fun car if it could be purchased at a “project” price point. It’s a shame the owner didn’t let the show finish it up.
Its not it.is painted and the car is almost.complete
Some pictures in primer, some pictures in paint, some pictures of just the frame . . . Hmmmm . . . and then look at the seller’s (nonexistent) feedback . . Bidder beware . . .
I wonder if the casket in the back ground has anything to do with the decision not to finish the car.
Good catch!
Tragic to do this to any Corvette especially a 67. Fantom Works usually does proper stock restorations/ rebuilds. Unusual to see them do this to a 67 Corvette. Dan Shorts loves Corvettes.
Spent 300 willing to take 195 ouch!
And will be lucky to pull $95K out of it. Double ouch!
What a waste of a 67.
$195K .. F off.. what a stupid car. There is nothing redeeming about this pile, they took a really good original-ish Corvette and destroyed it. Gross.
Who in their right mind would chop up a 67 to do a resto mod .unless it was junk in the first place. I don’t understand this love with LS motors where is the nearest Autobahn where you can try it out? Just a waste of money. Like to know the skid pad performance of that chassis vs a stock would it be that much better? Probably been further ahead to restore to stock than what they did.
So it is not really a 67 Corvette. Not a corvette frame, No Corvette suspension, Not a Corvette engine/drive train. Essentially you have what I call a Transvestite car. It looks like a Corvette until you open the hood or go under it. Just like dating someone that looks like a women until you take the clothes off. Not my thing
Who else thinks the car was best at the beginning when it was green??
Total waste of a ‘67 Corvette. Even if it was a beater, restoring it would have made more sense and cost less.
Just another chapter in the story: ‘More Money Than Brains’.
Ben – funny you say stock is better but there is nothing stock about this car.
It’s awful. The stance is all wrong (lifted) and the tires make it look like a Big Foot reject from an old Mad Max movie.
Hard pass here. They ruined a nice car.
Original. That is the Only Corvette I will ever give a glance. I owned a 1964 totally original except tires and battery. I owned a 1976 that was 100% original except tires, battery, seat covers and carpet (previous owner didn’t take care of it). This one is a failure. The last year of the ‘63-67 series? And someone chops it up???
$195k? Good luck! Why people think their vanity projects are worth this sort of money is beyond me. “Amount spent” bears absolutely no relation to “amount worth”. It’s a very niche market hoping someone has exactly the same tastes as you!
I saw that episode of Fantom Works and I agree that the car should have been restored vs building a RestoMod. After watching the show, the owner appeared to me to be a bit odd. Even if I had the extra 200K I wouldn’t want this one.
“the owner appeared to me to be a bit odd.”
Exactly. I often wonder where and how some folks obtain so much money when they obviously make very questionable decision, apparently on a regular basis.
This guy is a loon. Stay away.
I would have left it as is and just update mechanicals. I liked the car when it was green with radius fenders and sidepipes!
Item location:
Emigsville, Pennsylvania
wuttapig
Came to check out a cool looking old green Corvette, left at the site of a wierd primer unfinished…..thing. To each his or her own, I guess.
And a Ford 9″ diff? So much for Corvette handling. If you’re going to chop something up, you should build it back better.
Ended: Apr 29, 2021 , 7:45PM
Current bid: US $80,400.00
[ 47 bids ]
Reserve not met
Rule of thumb:
Something is worth only what someone else is willing to pay for it
and 200k for an unfinished car????
You can find dozens of unfinished 67 vette projects all around the country…. for 10 to 35k easy no muss no fuss… dude will never ever recoupe his $ period. If he had any patience he would have had an amazing car but his self proclaimed “OCD kicked in”…how do you “miss a car” thats in pieces and half done? just let Dan…Fantom works… finish it …total bone head wing nut decision for sure….and that guy Bobby the owner on the show looked half mental with his huge huge eyes glaring at the car and Dan seemed awful creepy to me. Anyway it’s a shame it never was completed.
Ray…you did an absolute phenomenal job on that kandy purple…just award winning… applause for an amazing paint job. Kandy are extremely extremely difficult to do… tri coat paint jobs are for folks with a ton of painting under their belts and skill level will show…no fixing screw up’s in kandy paint jobs…
I met Dan once when he came up to our shop in Frenchtown NJ to buy corvette parts from us and he seemed like a really nice genuine guy who has a total passion for all cars but vettes in particular just like my business partner and I do… we buy sell restore flip and sell vette parts from. 62 to 82 and have warehouse filled to the rafters and 50 acres of ettes everywhere you look… we have tons of things all corvettes…body…interior..suspension chassis interior everythjng… whole cars…partial project cars parts and car frames bird cages etc.
I love the fantomworks show and watch the reruns all the time and I find the same unknown own things they do on these shows and upsets me how folks take lousy care of cars from Ferrari to corvettes to chevelles and everything inbetqeen… that’s why this guy will never get 105k for this car. He is lucky to get 90 to 100k … he will lose money if he sells it or parts it out its a loss anyway you look at it so he should have thought about that before he even started and bought the green 67 shown above. Cars like that won’t ever be worth the dollars invested. You do that because it’s worth it to you and you only not others.
Jay…