price of originality.....unbelievably expensive!

[Warren F.]

Recently I've been attempting to purchase extra parts for my beloved 'vette. Have been on ebay pushing the prices of these parts, to what I believe to be "world record" amounts, without much success. This fixation to have the properly, correctly, configured item, as originally assembled on the car as new, is becoming insane in my opinion.

Over on the Supercar Registry site, members were discussing how much nos parts were bidding for various musclecar models. Prices for nos exhaust of Boss 429 for $20K, nos shocks for $6K. One member figured he could part out his prized Mustang for over $225K for just the nos pieces!

I can't even imagine what Mr Lucias inventory must be worth today, a vast fortune to say the least!

My Corvette has pretty much been relegated to being transported to various car events by enclosed trailer mode. This of course has helped to preserve the various original mechancial components from wearing out much quicker. The original owner used the car for what it was intended for, and mileage climbed from 0 on April 26, 1971 to 33,935 on Jan 7, 1975, there on, its pace slowed way down and as currently it rests at 39,306. So for the last 30 yrs she has sat a good portion of her life.

What I like about this car, is its rarity and uniqueness. I'm fascinated by what the factory was willing to build and the engineering people were willing to assemble so that a small amount of the general public could actually enjoy a exciting type of driving machine.

However, the cost to maintain this condition is becoming quite an expensive endeavor to say the least! The unique performance parts on this car are incredible for the time period of production! Most musclecars of the era did not incorporate these great engineering advancements, however I am eternally grateful that some models did!

Long live the ZL-1 Camaros and Corvettes, L-88 Corvettes, Boss 429 Mustangs, Hemi headed 302 Trans AM Camaros, 427 SOHC Fords, Ram Air V GTO, Buick Stage 2, and all the various wonderful rare options, most of us were lucky to been around to see it or participate in its development!

Since I enjoy the power aspect and uniqueness of these great cars, I am getting distraught over the cost to purchase extra parts to keep the cars configuration original and using and enjoying the car, and wearing out the difficult to obtain unique parts.

Wish I could have predicted where this hobby was headed just a few short years ago.

[Clem Z.]

that is why it was more fun to own

these cars back when they were new because you could run the **** out of them and have fun because that is why they were built in the first place. i think autocrossing,running road race courses and drag racing my corvettes was more fun than just driving them to a car show. i know i used my corvettes back then every weekend for some type of speed event and even sometime 2 events a weekend. i missed those days because it is now so expensive to do that because of the cost of the tires i just use my C-6 for corvette club events which now days are shows and eating. JMHO

[Joe L.]

Re: price of originality.....unbelievably expensiv

Warren------

Yes, it's definitely becoming a bit ridiculous. The "marketing capabilities" and "exposure" which eBay provides are a major driving force. Nevertheless, there are still bargains to be found on eBay.

My parts collection is just like my 1969 to me, though-----I don't think much, at all, about its "value" since I never plan on "converting" either the car or the parts to cash. So, the value of either the car or the parts is either an academic or moot point. Completely irrelevent to me.

The other day I saw an ad in a Corvette magazine that surprised me a bit. It was an ad for Pacific Corvette in Puyallup, WA. Pacific Corvette is mainly a used parts source, although they also carry a lot of new parts, reproduction and GM. The thing that makes them unique is that when they part out Corvettes, they inventory all of the parts by original part number. Therefore, the have a huge inventory of original parts. Anyway, in the ad it said that they stock over 18,000 original parts. I've got over 13,000 original, NOS parts in my collection [none for sale, however]. So, I'm "getting there".

[Warren F.]

Re: that is why it was more fun to own

Clem:

I agree wholeheartedly. I was sixteen in 1970, when I fell in love with the fairly new to then C3 body lines, hardly able to afford such a car, however old enough to know I was seeing a future classic in the making!

In 1987 I purchased my first Corvette. I was so biten by the bug, that by 1991 I owned 7 at the same time. I was drag racing and autocrossing these big blocks, just having a ball,(there's nothing like doing four wheel drifts, going thru high speed autocrosses) so much so, that I was getting to know the local law enforcement agencies all to well. Having been thru all 3 phases of punishment by the courts, license restriction, license suspended and license revocation. By owning 7 different colored Corvettes at the same time, and driving with some civility during these probationary times, I was able to avoid detection during these inconvient moments in time.

Your so right, the good ole days of reasonably priced fun!!!!

[Warren F.]

Re: price of originality.....unbelievably expensiv

Joe:

Just can't hardly express how fortunate I feel to have you, such a fine individual at my disposal to assist with all my queries on the correctness of parts for these cars.

I'm so grateful, you had the insight that many of us never initiated to preserve these parts for future reference. Thanks for all your past help, and I look forward to many more future postings by you. And thank God for me, your tastes run to the "early sharks".

[Joe C.]

#1 Corvette - #2 Corvette

Once a car is driven more than a hundred miles or so, it is no longer a #1 car. Three years ago, my Corvette was in #1 condition.......now, after less than 1000 miles, it is in #2 condition, where it will remain for the long haul (or until I am pushing up daisies). I'll continue to use the car for shows (judiciously driven, but never trailered), parades, Sunday drives, etc.. Occasionally, I'll give her a blast to Redline, or so, to clean the carbon (and cobwebs) out the tailpipes. The pleasure and exhiliration that this creates is priceless........it is worth far, far more than the difference in price between a #1 and #2 Corvette.

If you want to make money, then talk to your financial advisor, buy stocks, or get some lottery tickets. There are way too many Corvettes around, including those 100,000 1967 427/435 cars, to merit any appreciable increase in value over the long term!

Take the prudent view: Unless you own something of certifiable historic value, then take your Corvette out of the god..mn trailer and drive it to the shows and events. Take care of it! Use it and enjoy it. The "value" loss is well worth it.

[Clem Z.]

sounds like my younger,much younger days

i used to run away from the cops but they always knew my car so they would just go to my house. i had a garage away from home so i would go there put the car away and sneak home. my poor mother used to say "with the cops here all the time the neighbors are going to think you are a common criminal. mrs clems dad was a retired state cop so he knew of my rep from his fellow troopers and he did not take kindly to me when is was dating the furure mrs clem. they used to stop me just to make sure it was me in the car because i change cars pretty often back then. i used to make my car payments with money i won street drag racing. the chevy dealer used to loan me money to race as long as i was racing the guys with fords because the ford dealer was across the street from him and i guess he has a good time stroking the ford dealer about his fords getting beat. it started out with a brand new 1953 6 cylinder chevy with a souped up engine beating the new 1954 fords with their new OHV V-8 and it went on from there.mrs clem is my "governor" now because if she sees me speeding she tells me to slow down. the last ticket i got was $135 for speeding on the PA turnpike going to corvette carlisle. they got me going 80 mph in 65 mph zone. just before that i was going 130 mph but mrs clem was sleeping.

[Larry P.]

Amen Joe!

I drive my "body off, total restore" 60 and would not have it if I could not drive it. The comments and remarks I've heard this last summer made the last seven years worth every minute.
LP

[Warren F.]

Re: sounds like my younger,much younger days

Clem:

It sounds like you and I have some things in common, maybe we can meet up sometime at Corvettes @ Carlisle. I've got some similar stories as well.

[Clem Z.]

Re: sounds like my younger,much younger days

i am at the vetteheads site every year,G110 eating and drinking. next year i will be doing a seminar on rebuilding a Q jet carb so stop by.this only applies if mrs clem does not kill me before then.

[Warren F.]

Re: #1 Corvette - #2 Corvette

Joe:

I'm assuming your post was meant for me and not Clem. Originality is only once, of the 7 'vettes I owned only 1 was close to original configuration. I've restored several cars, many have been featured in books and magazines and once restored, restified, refurbished, whatever you want to call it, theres no problem enjoying them anyway you want to, for they can be refurbished over and over again and again. That's the beauty of a restored car.

I'm not sure where you live, however I reside in California, and it is a long drive to the best Corvette meets in the U.S. In 2001 I dragged my 'vette over 27 different states in 63 days to the tune of 15,835 miles, just to attend Bloomington, Carlisle, Knoxville, Bowling Green, and all the other major Corvette happenings. I wish I lived alot closer to the Corvette mecca in the U. S., I am jealous of all who live in close proximaty to the best Corvette gatherings. As of the last few years I usually fly in to the meets, hell no it isn't as much fun as taking your beloved 'vette, however putting the kind of mileage on this car traveling those distances would soon make for a very tired car, and probably not as much fun at the Pure Stock/Factory Stock drags or other events where a strong original drivetrain is required.

What I'll probably end up doing is building a clone, like a lot of others, just to enjoy what I miss. That is having an original untouched, unmodified, piece of engineering history.

[Mark #28455]

That's why I pulled the motor

out of my "driver" BB with AC car and replaced it with a different 454. Good thing too as last winter it hydro-locked and killed itself. I'm currently building a 489 for it. Yes, I do run it hard (6500 RPM pretty often) and No, I don't worry about it as the original engine is safe in storage. Do I care if it's not NCRS correct - NO as I can drive it and enjoy it.

Mark

[Warren F.]

Re: That's why I pulled the motor

Mark:

For some time now I have been collecting the correct parts to build another LS-6 engine to install, to do what you're referring to. However this gets back to my original ranting of expensiveness. I have acquired a correct carburetor, correct dual plate clutch, correct aluminum intake and heads. Located a correct block, although price is a stiff $6500. Bid on another block, seller ended auction early (don't know reason), so doing this piece meal looks to be an astronomical cost as well.

[Mark #28455]

you don't need "correct" parts

Use the correct intake - $200 at a swap meet as used on the 396's too

Carb - use a 3310 vac secondary or a service dated LS6

Block - use any 454, you can pick up a 4 bolt for a couple hundred or go with a 2 bolt for a lot less. I have really tortured a number of 2 bolt blocks and they held up well to over 500 HP.

Heads - use the 077 casting d-ports - they flow better anyway! I bought an NOS set on e-bay last year for $1200.

Clutch - use the single disc 11" type - they hold up fine behind my engines and the pedal pressure isn't that bad, and less wear on the trans synchros.

The key is to NOT buy all those "rare" and "date code correct" parts that cost so much if you don't need them or else it is no cheaper than the original engine and it still hurts if you trash it! I can build a really strong and fun 489 for less than half of what you're spending and not have to worry about a catastrophic failure making scrap out of those nice vintage parts. In fact, you could probably make more torque (and likely more power too) with a well ported set of oval port heads, like the Edelbrocks, if you're running less than 6500 RPM.

Mark

[Craig S.]

Re: price of originality.....unbelievably expensiv

We all feel that way about Joe! Craig