1963 Fuelie Coupe ---- Murdered

[Jeff M.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

I am the younger generation at 31. I guess I am in the minority of my generation as I am a purist. I love these cars and the history and I ask myself often, will people still enjoy and appreciate these cars as the years go on. I have owned and do like the newer model corvettes, but they just aren't the same. Everyone likes there own thing which is fine but there are many other project cars that would be great for a restomod instead of a FUELIE with the original block. Sell the car to someone who will put it back the way it should be and cut up a car that is already far gone. A 63 FUELIE with the original block, fuel unit Included or not,, will bring enough money where it would make sense to sell as is and do this with another car. Just my opinion. Jeff

[Don H.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Jeff,
there is a great future in store for you in the NCRS. Great to have you aboard!

[Jeff M.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Don, Thanks for the nice reply. I am a member of The Southeast Chapter as well and I am getting into judging and being around the events. I have been fascinated with Corvettes since I was a little boy. I figure if I have not got over them by now I never will. Thanks again, Jeff

[Bob R.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

I think I look at this a little differently. Now there is an opportunity for some one restoring a 63 to find an original frame and drive train for his car to make his restoration more correct. He won't have to build his car using restoration parts and a crate engine.

[Frank D.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Sorta like a heart transplant ... not the best option IMO.
Too many guys, with too much money that want "the look" but don't want to put in the work to bring the car back as it was.
Sorta like a face lift to me. You get the look you had decades ago but just a lame reminder of your youth. Do you hear me Burt Reynolds ?

[Michael J.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Too many guys, with too much money that want "the look" but don't want to put in the work to bring the car back as it was.

I saw an episode of "Chasing Classic Cars" last night that reminded me of this. Carini had "restored" a rare Ferrari and a rare BMW for some de 'Elegance type shows and judging in Palm Beach for owners that had never seen the cars (except in pictures when they had Carini buy them for them sight unseen) until they arrived for the "judging" (also a joke) with their trendy wives and resort clothes, a hedge fund manager would wear, on. They arrived, loved how the cars looked, had more champaign and caviar and collected their "platinum" awards for the cars, as Carini packed them up and shipped them back to his place. I suspect those cars will be sold quickly now that the thrill of having someone buy and restore your car, show it for you, and let you win an award all without you doing anything but sending money to Carini. Strange world we live in.

[Ara G.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

I saw an episode of "Chasing Classic Cars" last night that reminded me of this. Carini had "restored" a rare Ferrari and a rare BMW for some de 'Elegance type shows and judging in Palm Beach for owners that had never seen the cars (except in pictures when they had Carini buy them for them sight unseen) until they arrived for the "judging" (also a joke) with their trendy wives and resort clothes, a hedge fund manager would wear, on. They arrived, loved how the cars looked, had more champaign and caviar and collected their "platinum" awards for the cars, as Carini packed them up and shipped them back to his place. I suspect those cars will be sold quickly now that the thrill of having someone buy and restore your car, show it for you, and let you win an award all without you doing anything but sending money to Carini. Strange world we live in.

Mike,
My Maroon 67 was at that show. It was the Boca Raton Concourse de' Elegance. I was humbled to have won Best In Class with it. It is a great event, but 99.9% of the owners didn't even know how to start their own cars when given an award. I must say that the Ferrari (4 cammer) was a spectacular car (that was at a different show - Cavalinno Show at the Breakers Hotel). The BMW did nothing for me. These ultra-wealthy collectors have no clue about what ownership is about. If I had their wealth, my collection would be all midyears.......and more midyears.....ARA

[Mike E.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

I had at one time considered making my '65 a resto-mods...Then after I thought about it you can NEVER keep current with the technology. Even now the LS (Gen IV) small block is not current with the C7 and Caddy having Gen V direct injection small blocks.

It seems like you would be always chasing your tail and long term value will suffer. Ten to fifteen years ago they were building resto-mods with Gen 3 LT1's now those cars would nothing more than novelties.

Mike

[Ara G.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

I had at one time considered making my '65 a resto-mods...Then after I thought about it you can NEVER keep current with the technology. Even now the LS (Gen IV) small block is not current with the C7 and Caddy having Gen V direct injection small blocks.

It seems like you would be always chasing your tail and long term value will suffer. Ten to fifteen years ago they were building resto-mods with Gen 3 LT1's now those cars would nothing more than novelties.

Mike

Mike, I made the same post on the CF a little while ago when this topic came up. I said that the latest and greatest in resto-modding in my days were guys using TPI motors. Now, they're so "80's" and outdated it's laughable. They were yesterdays news before guys could figure out which motor mounts to use. Originals are always "in"....Preserving history is important. If you need a resto-mod to "look" the part, then as I have said a hundred times before - go find a midyear that has no motor, wrecked, etc and resurrect that one - not a 63 fuelie....ARA

[Michael J.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Mike,
My Maroon 67 was at that show. It was the Boca Raton Concourse de' Elegance. I was humbled to have won Best In Class with it. It is a great event, but 99.9% of the owners didn't even know how to start their own cars when given an award. I must say that the Ferrari (4 cammer) was a spectacular car (that was at a different show - Cavalinno Show at the Breakers Hotel). The BMW did nothing for me. These ultra-wealthy collectors have no clue about what ownership is about. If I had their wealth, my collection would be all midyears.......and more midyears.....ARA

Ha! Then you would be like Rick Hendrick. I am always amazed people can spend that kind of money on great cars and be so detached about them, I guess I don't have enough money to understand it.

[Kevin G.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Would these be the same words spoken in 1964, if someone built a resto "racer" out of a 63 fuelie?

[Ara G.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Would these be the same words spoken in 1964, if someone built a resto "racer" out of a 63 fuelie?

Probably not, as in 64 it was a one year old used car - but now 50 some odd years later they represent much more than a 50 year old used car. My buddies joke with me sometimes when I am at shows with one of my cars saying "dude, it's just a car". It's not, it's survived this long in this condition, it deserves to be treated a little better than "just a car". With so few of them remaining, why don't people respect them a little more for what they are....To sound corny, I think we(as owners) have a heightened responsibility with owning these cars. If everyone modded their original cars, in 50 years no one will know what the heck a "fuelie" is.....unless from a picture. Just my two cents....

[Joe R.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

From the economical standpoint 1963 Resto-Mods are bringing in excess of 200K at the auctions. How many 1963 Split-Window Coupes are bringing that kind of money?
Guys are taking them from junk yards and making a living building Resto-Mods!
There is a much larger market for the Resto-Mods than there is for the fully restored Top-Flight Mid Year now!
Just look at the auctions. And meet the buyers!

JR

[Kevin G.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

Probably not, as in 64 it was a one year old used car - but now 50 some odd years later they represent much more than a 50 year old used car. My buddies joke with me sometimes when I am at shows with one of my cars saying "dude, it's just a car". It's not, it's survived this long in this condition, it deserves to be treated a little better than "just a car". With so few of them remaining, why don't people respect them a little more for what they are....To sound corny, I think we(as owners) have a heightened responsibility with owning these cars. If everyone modded their original cars, in 50 years no one will know what the heck a "fuelie" is.....unless from a picture. Just my two cents....

Ara,

That was a weak attempt at sarcasm........

While I agree that some cars should be retained for future resources, I'm simply pointing out the difference in opinion compared to when these cars when they were hitting the road. First thing people did was customize, just like today's younger crowd does.

How many should be saved, I can't answer.

[Joe R.]

Re: "Anyone can restore an old car,...

DSCN4037.jpgOne example would be this 63 Roadster that was sitting in the Junk Yard since 1963 and nearly robbed of all it good parts to be salvaged to a Tube Frame SRIII with LS3, Tremec, Dana 44 3.45 rear and C-5 front.

Enjoy all you dreamers,

JR63-1.JPGIMG_9422.jpg