69 435hp finally rescued

[Jim S.]

For the past 25 years I have been trying to get my brother to let go of his 69 427. He parked it in early 1982 because the carbs kept dumping fuel into the crankcase. It sat outside for about a decade before being pushed into the garage.

Last week he finally agreed to let it go so I made the trip from Florida to Ohio to pick it up before he changed his mind.

Amazingly it is still complete and mostly unmolested with the original carbs in the back. It looks as if the air pump is the only missing component. It only has 56000 miles and since he bought it from the original owner in 1972 they are documented.

Now the fun begins. Maybe removing any remaining critters and a good detail to determine the extent of neglect would be a good place to start.

Below is a link to a dozen photos it being loaded and of me seeing it for the first time in a quarter of a century.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jrs1966c/jim-and-debbies-corvettes/id12.html

[Tracy C.]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

My first thought would be "bowtie canidate". This would negate the restoration effort though.

I like the white over white.

tc

[Wayne W.]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

Heck, some of those critters are old enough to vote.

[Tom H.]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

Congrats on the rescue !! Keep us posted on the restoration. Good luck with it. Thanks for posting the pictures !!

[Mark #28455]

Don't touch it!!! PLEASE

Before you do anything except clean it with a shop vac, bring it to the Orlando show in January. Get it judged so you can find out what you have and to let the rest of us get a LOT of good quality pictures of an UNMOLESTED original car.

[Steve Wallach]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

Hi Jim,

First ~ Schweeeet!

Next, I agree with the others, take plenty of pictures before you do anything but clean it up!

Do you know if it has the Tank Sticker? POP?

I am about half way through a full restoration of my 68 427/435 Coupe Polar White / Black Interior.

e-mail me at: Gic@ALGlobal.com and I'll send you plenty of pictures of what I started with and where I'm at now it you want.

Cheers,

Steve

[G B.]

Mark, I share your perspective.

I really prefer unrestored cars. You can call me kinky, but I think they're a lot more interesting.

We are in a definite minority though, even within the NCRS. Shiny people control of all the Corvette organizations now. They always ran the NCCC and the local clubs. Their current dominance within the NCRS kinda surprises me, however.

I recently took one of my cars to another state. Here's the standard exchange at every gas stop on the way:

"Is that your Corvette? What year is it?"

"Yes, it's a '63."

"Are you restoring it?"

"Uh.... no, I like it just the way it is"

The conversations always ended abruptly. At this point they would look at the car and then back a me a few times. Their facial expression said it all. You'd think I'd just said I was married to a giraffe.

[Steven C.]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

Congratulations!

I'm working on a very similar project, with a similar story...you are much more fortunate than I, the decade parked outside for my '69 435 hp convertible, really did a number on all the gauge numbers.

Appears to be a beautiful project with so many original parts.

Best wishes,

Steve

[Wayne K.]

If I ever found a car like that I'd....

tackle the project but only if I wanted a divorce. I could afford the project but not the divorce. It's a lot of work (been there, done that) but I know you will have fun with your special car.

Wayne

[Michael M.]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

Looks like a great project! Good luck. Based on the wiper door actuator it looks like an early 69.

[Mike E.]

Re: Mark, I share your perspective.

Jerry--
I've been driving a 62 fuelie the last two summers every day except when it's rainy. It's mostly original paint (white) except for what has fallen off (about 2%). It's weather-checked and reasonably dead. I'm amazed at how many people comment--"that looks like it's original paint--you aren't going to redo that, are you?" Seems that it's about 50-50 between those and "when are you going to redo that?"

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

Hmmmm...I don't know, tracyman...This car may qualify for the Bowtie title, but at some point, the damage from exposure to the elements and other demonic forces begins to obfuscate most of the detail that could be observed (IMO). Unless it can be "cleaned" back to a good representative condition, I would restore it.

Don't get me wrong, Jim has a fantastic coup and opportunity here, and I'm green with envy. But, unless this baby cleans up a LOT, resto is the right approach IMO. Too bad Jim's brother didn't let him have the car 10-15 years ago...it's not the original parts there that worry me; it's the ones that NOT there, and/or HAVE to be replaced.

If Jim can do most of the work to offset the cost of restoration, his brother is going to be madder'n heck when he finds out what the restored car is worth...he may demand a cut in fact.

[Mike E.]

Re: 69 435hp finally rescued

Actually, with a 26xxx VIN on the pad, it looks like about 2/3 of the way through production. I'd love to see all the other dates/components.

[Michael H.]

Re: Mark, I share your perspective.

Jerry,

That's funny, but so true. I STILL drive my aging 66 425 HP car at least a few times a week and get the very same questions from just about everyone that looks at it. The "what year is it" question is always first, followed by "my neighbor bought one of these brand new", or "coulda bought one just like this a few years ago for xxx". Then comes the "when are ya going to restore it".

When I tell them I've owned/driven this car for the last near quarter century and have no plans of restoring or selling it, they start telling me all the things that are wrong with it.

"That's an aftermarket hood cuz big block hoods looked different and had a different color stripe". "Yer valve covers are supposed to be chrome". "Where's the chrome distributor cover and silver plug wires?" "The headrest things are aftermarket". I don't argue with them.

[Jim S.]

69 435hp finally rescued

I live about 35 minutes from Old Town where the winter meet is held. I thought about getting a swap meet space and bringing it over. Problem is I work out of town over 200 days a year and can't plan too far in advance. If I am home I will bring it if space is avalable.

I thought about the bowtie on the way to Ohio but once I saw the car up close,I really didn't think it is a candidate. Too much damage. I am not doing anything to the vehicle except clean it and try to stop further deterioration for now. Once I get it in the garage to inspect the frame and underside, I will decide how to procede.

My wife is very understanding and has no problem with my hobby as long as she has groceries. The only thing she said was it was staying in the trailer until all of my brothers relatives are out from under the hood and seats. Funny his relatives are my relatives so does that mean she thinks I'm a rat?.

Regardless of how I restore it, The car was meant to be driven and will be once completed. Since I will do all the work myself, I won't have much in it other than parts.