NEED OF A DALLAS NCRS PRO !!!

[Marc N.]

good morning guys,

I am very interested in a few cars at the corvette-world- dallas showroom and being in california, I am right now not able to get over there myself due to my regular business. I would like to find/hire an NCRS know-it-call guy to check out these cars for me so I know that I am making a correct decision. Any help on this would be appreciated. Have a great easter day!

marc/ california

[Kevin M.]

Re: NEED OF A DALLAS NCRS PRO !!!

Mark,

I had several friends that bought cars based on a NCRS expert evaluation. After the sale and they started their restoration or went to have a restored car judged, it turned out to be a POS. People are only human and mistakes can be made there is no expert that can guarantee a correct car based on a one day exam. Nobody unless there are pictures taken during restoration can tell what lies underneath paint, nobody until it's on the judging field can guarantee that it will pass. There are too many things on a car that can look correct but upon closer examination are wrong. You should inspect the cars yourself so you don't have anybody to blame but yourself. You would not believe how bad a good car can get when you start your restoration, even a restored car can have big problems. Do your home work look at the cars yourself, this is a big investment and you can get upside down fast.

Kevin

[Richard B.]

Re: NEED OF A DALLAS NCRS PRO !!!

Mark,
Bob Cook (a long time NCRS judge and appraiser) would be a good contact to take a look at the perspective car(s) in the Dallas area. He would be able to let you know if the cars are worth your trip to see them yourself.

Bob can be reached at prelim@cs.com. I will email you his phone number as well.

Richard Brodeur
NCRS# 4779

[Patrick H.]

Re: NEED OF A DALLAS NCRS PRO !!!

Kevin and I have seen some of the same cars go through the same restorations, and seen the same surprises. He's right on here.

While I might use another knowledgeable NCRS member to "screen" cars for me, I would never, repeat never, buy one without seeing it myself first. I might take additional help along if unfamiliar with that year car, but I would want to see it with my own two eyes, no matter what the distance or inconvenience. If spending $20-50k isn't worth a day or so of my own time, then I won't buy the car. Since I don't make $20-50k/day, I guess I'll keep looking at them in person.

Patrick

[jordan grant]

Re: NEED OF A DALLAS NCRS PRO !!!

Marc;Pay close attention to Kevins thread!!.I recently purchased a 66 roadster in New Mexico,and had the same approach to purchasing that you have,contact an "ncrs guy"and have him check out the car and evaluate it for me,which I did.

I asked him many questions regarding his credentials and how he could assure me that he was not involved with the seller in any way!!.He proceeded to tell me he was a 13th level judge and had been asked to speak at a regional dinner of some sort on the subject of Corvettes and what reason would he have for jeopardizing his good reputation and so on and so forth!.He recommended a price that he would pay for the car,which "was"helpful in my negotiations with the seller.

I cut a deal with the seller for upwards of 40K,fly to Albuquerque,coordinate a route back to Ct.and upon arrival home and the eventual trip up on a lift,I discover that the frame has been repaired due to accident damage(not rust)in the lower A frame area where with a flashlight you could focus on clearly after close inspection.Now,the car was fixed correctlly,I've had it checked proffesionally.It is straight.But,would I have bought knowing about the frame?.Maybe,but I certainly would have renegotiated right there in the sellers driveway if I'd known!.

"trust no one"fly out and take a lot of time looking over the car or pass on it(or them).

[Earl G.]

Re: NEED OF A DALLAS NCRS PRO !!!

Marc,

Listen to Kevin and Patrick, and trust me, do more, more, and more research before you have anybody look at the car. Then after somebody looks at it, then get somebody else to look at it, somebody you really know that knows Vetts, not just somebody you think knows Vetts. After being in the sad position that Kev and Pat talk about, there are only a hand full of people I would trust to look at a Vette for me. Even with these experts I would still want to look at it myself.

If you want more info, email me, I perfer not to post it here.

Earl

[Rob A.]

Re: NEED OF A DALLAS NCRS PRO !!!

My advice would be to have the dealer email you pics of the important items, such as the trim tag, engine pad, engine compartment details and so forth that are important to you. With the new digital cameras available, they can take and email you VERY detailed photos of that which is important to you. I recently asked a dealer to send me pics of some of the areas of a vehicle important to me and received very clear and revealing info.(including engine pad broach marks, upper a-arm shims,etc.) Believe me, a picture is worth a thousand words, as they say. I once asked a seller to read me the info on a trim tag, which he did, however when I actually went to look at the car the trim tag was missing, not even installed. From on a lift, close-up pics can be taken of the engine, transmission and differential #s. You can do a lot of initial evaluation with this info and share it with whomever you find to look at the car. Personally, on '65-'67's, I ask for a close-up picture of the center attachment points of the front grill. Almost all cars that have had front end damage/repair cannot be re-attached to the body fiberglass as original. You'd be surprised at how many interpretations exist among sellers when it comes to the term "matching no's", if that is what you're interested in.