I was watching one of those reality car shop shows on the automotive channel. A customer had what appeared to be a pristine 62 Corvette. The customer wanted to convert what appeared to be this original, never hit, pristine total stock 62 into a Corvette that handled and performed as modern day cars. So the team of 8 decided to remove the body off the chassis by hand. Dashboard, doors, glass and all. I was not aware a person could do this without hurting the fiberglass, but it appeared to work. Left was what appeared to be a like new original frame with a 327 that looked like it came off the assembly line, hub caps and all. Then te team realized, as they started to put the new frame and engine together that things would not fit. So they got ( and this is the part that really hurt) a power saw out and started flinging parts of the fiberglass body across the shop floor. The spare tire well, and other body parts, still with the pristine red paint on them began flying across the shop floor.They all seemed to think it was funny. Finally after major cutting and patching up of what was at one time an pristine 62 stock body. they put in the new engine, suspension, and all the other modern goodies. They all thought it looked grate with a new set of modern wheels and a new silver paint job. To top it all off, they put a 1960 grill in the reborn 62. I suppose that was for nostalgia reasons. And yes it looked ridicules. I realize it was the owners car to do as he wished, and he seems pleased as to did doughnuts around the parking lot with his new resto rod. I always thought a resto rod or resto mod, I am not sure what they call them, was when you had a Corvette or other classic car that was beyond restoration, or that you purchased old body parts and put them on a new frame. I did not think you destroyed pristine six figure cars into making something were were never meant to be. Wouldn't it just make more sense to just go out a but a new Corvette if you wanted to do doughnuts and go fast ? I have to tells you, I was heart broken to see such a pristine Corvette go though such destruction.
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Re: Chopping up a 62
This happens fairly often these days.
Starting with a nice car cuts down on the expense.
And a lot of people have reached a point where they don't want to have to "drive" the car, so a late model suspension, driveline, brakes, creature comforts, etc.
These old cars look great, but they drive like crap compared to today's cars.
I have seen quite a few nicely restored C1 and C2 cars converted to resto-mods.
From what I can tell the high end, rare, exotic cars (L88. LT-1. FI, etc.) are not being turned into resto-mods.
But some of the low powered, more common cars are are being turned into high end resto-mods. Some of the cars I have seen converted to resto-mods was a 54 top flight car, 56 2x4 powerglide car, a 58 single four barrel car, a 62 300 hp car, a 63 300 hp coupe, a 63 340 hp coupe, a 64 250 hp coupe, a 64 365 convertible...you get the idea.
It seems to be the trend these days. -
Re: Chopping up a 62
I've seen that one a few times too. Unfortunately that's the way things are today. It's their car and they can do what they want. The thing is that after they smooth off the firewall, reshape the instrument panel and cut out most of the floor and wheel wells to make it fit a custom chassis they could have easier started with one of the very good reproduction bodies that are available. This mindset is not new. I recall a red smoothie style '32 Ford roadster back in the '90s that looked for all the world like just another fiberglass kit car. The magazine article stated that the owner wanted a perfect steel body to start with so he bought a restored V8 roadster that was a multiple Dearborn and AACA award winner to rip apart. Don't know why he didn't buy a Brookville repo steel body. They are nicer than the originals, but he didn't.
Watch the Barrett-Jackson auction later this week. The tv commentators will say over and over that the restomod Corvette currently on the block probably started out as a non restorable basket case. I don't know why they feel that they have to say that. Those of us that pay attention know it isn't true in many cases. There have even been advertised as restored chassis and drive trains in the Driveline that they admit have lost their bodied to restmods. There are so many of these things in all of the big auctions these days that they are all starting to look the same.
TomComment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
Understand these cars are being cut up for $$$$ MONEY $$$ BIG PILES OF IT.
There is no love for these cars, only the bragging chest pounding actions of having a modern resto mod that has an old body. Fact is they don’t have a clue how to drive it unless it is smoking up the tires and spinning around in circles.
Total disrespect for anything............Comment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
Gene, Very well said.
ScottComment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
Now that really makes me laugh. I had my 1st Corvette (1958) in 1969 and did a lot of smoking the tires and spinning around in circle all through my 20s. I still like to smoke the tires on my 57. That is what these cars were built for--to drive hard.Comment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
Seeing the early Corvette are timeline memories of my youth. I remember when Corvettes were so far above other cars of the 50s and 60s anyone who owned one was envied. I suppose that is why to see them raped is so heart breaking to me.Comment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
The person who commissioned this creation has more money than brains. Those who performed the work were pandering to their teen age audience that has neither money or brains.Comment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
The real thing that bothers me is that a perfectly good correct restored car was sacrificed. They could have use a piece of chopped up crap for what they done. By “piece of chopped up crap” I’m referring to something missing major components and was cut up previous say as a drag car. The correct already restored car used just goes to show the disrespect they have for history of our hobby.
But those than own said cars can do with them as they please. But I don’t have to respect that choice.Comment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
Daryl,
Remember most of the cars on this forum are trailer queens and it is dangerous to do a burnout in a trailer. LOL
I agree with you, drive it hard and enjoy it.
Bruce BComment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
A common situation these days is nice Corvettes, C1 and C2 being converted to Resto Mods.
Watch the big auctions, the Resto Mod cars are bring a lot more money then as example a nice 62 driver car might be worth $40,000.00 to $60,000.00. A nice 62 Resto Mod built from a 62 driver could bring $150,000.00, typically for a nice profit even after if spending $50,000.00 to build it (plus the price of the donor car).
So, many of the modified cars are being built for a hot Resto Mod market these days.
Bruce BComment
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Re: Chopping up a 62
Sometimes I have a little fun with the 56 (every chance I get, which I've owned for 44yrs).
It's been through a frame off, a trailer queen-------------------and it was NO FUN then!
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Re: Chopping up a 62
Walter,
Chopping up a '62?
You sure know how to get folks worked up, don't you?
What else can we post for fun? How about starting a "clubbing baby seals" thread on the Greenpeace forum?
Seriously, why doesn't our government pass protected car legislation to prevent an outrage like this? The list of endangered automobiles would of course include any pre-'73 Corvette that's original and number 2 condition or better.Mark Edmondson
Dallas, Texas
Texas Chapter
1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze TopComment
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