1958 Corvette with original paint

[Timo W.]

Hi,
I recently bought a 1958 survivor from a NCRS judge and shipped it to Germany. The car wasn't touched in the last 62 years and it has some scratches and some areas such as the hardtop really need a paintjob. I'm torn between a complete paintjob or leaving it as it is as it can always be painted. I'm looking for advice from some of you around what you would do.
Thanks
Timo

[Don H.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

timo
this is NCRS. We love them original. We also love them any way you want them, but, we love them original the most.
Welcome to the club!
Perhaps post a photo or two?

[Timo W.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Right_Side.jpgRight_Front.jpgRight_Door.jpgFront_Right.jpgWindow.jpgHardtop.jpg
Here are a couple of images. Thanks everyone!

[Don H.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Just beautiful Timo. Anyone can have a restored 58 vette if they have the money. Few can have what you have there. Enjoy it!

[Timo W.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Thanks Don. She was owned by a 93 year old lady in Florida who still went to the NCRS meetings in her wheelchair before the vette was sold to New Jersey. I remember when my granddad was in his 80s and his beamer had a new scratch every two weeks. It's part of the history of the car, hence I'm so torn as I would like to present a nice car to the judges and I'm not sure if they will appreciate the scratches. ;-)

[Mark F.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Thanks Don. She was owned by a 93 year old lady in Florida who still went to the NCRS meetings in her wheelchair before the vette was sold to New Jersey. I remember when my granddad was in his 80s and his beamer had a new scratch every two weeks. It's part of the history of the car, hence I'm so torn as I would like to present a nice car to the judges and I'm not sure if they will appreciate the scratches. ;-)

Timo, I was the first one to vote and based on what you wrote, I voted "leave it alone" before you had even posted the photos! I'm so glad I did! beautiful car!...as so many have said, "they are only original once"...you have a treasure indeed. Try to resist the urge to remove the originality of this one that you have. If you can't resist that, get it judged for Bowtie. Bowtie judges will probably appreciate your car more than you can possibly know! Then, sell it (or keep it if you have deep pockets ) and buy a restored '58 (or one that you will restore) if that's what you want.

[Timo W.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Thanks Mark, appreciate your advice. The reason I bought the car in the first place was its history. Didn't know about the Bowtie judges as I'm brand new to NCRS. Thanks for the tip. Timo

[James G.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Edited to add: Put me in the leaving the original paint column.
You can take a little touch up bottle and a needle and fill chips, my original paint 71 has come a long way in 2 years of gradually filling the chips and scratches - in the beginning it seemed like a daunting task, however the finished results are difficult to detect from 7 feet or more away from the car.
On original paint cars I use Meguires No 7 by hand to rehydrate the paint - liberal application allow to dry and buff off with a cotton diaper. NO power buffers.

Here are progression photos... there were a number of places similar to this on my car.
Before - after first or 2nd application of touch up - finished.
IMG_1020.jpg 100_1036s.jpg _MG_3379.jpg


IMG_0999.jpg 100_1038s.jpg _MG_3375s.jpg

[Keith B.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

there is plenty of glazed ham painted cars out there. their is only so many left with original paint. yours will stand out against all the other freshly painted cars

[Bill B.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Just looking at the photos makes me really appreciate what you have. Any touch up painting or complete repaint of the top will never blend with the rest of her original looks. Personally, I would resist

[Mark H.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

One of the tenets of NCRS has always been "as it left the factory". Okay, obviously it's not as it left the factory now, but it's still not going to be as it left the factory if it's repainted. To me, it's a no-brainer. Leave it as it is.

[Tom B.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Leave it . Massage what you have its only original once

[Timo W.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Thanks for the advice James. You did an amazing job judging by the pictures.

[Timo W.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

Thanks Mark. It left the factory and was used for the last 62 years. Thanks for the advice.

[Timo W.]

Re: 1958 Corvette with original paint

👍 All the comments are very encouraging to leave it as it is. Thanks