NCRS member opinions requested

[Jack H.]

Hi all,

NCRS member opinions requested on street to go down for this '63 coupe: Part it out? Build as a driver? Build as a NCRS restoration?

History: I have a 1963 corvette coupe (datona blue on blue) that was delivered to O'keefe Chev-Olds(Long Island NY) in November '62. It shows signs of being raced as it had a rollcage welded in. Might have been raced at Riverhead Raceway or NY 231. Last know location around 1999 in the NY/Baltimore area. Its been in mothballs for the last 20yrs as life events got in the way.I'm retired now and have restarted on rebuilding it from the grave. Condition: needs a lot of work. Known major items needed: interior needs to redone, front clip(have panels), wheels/tires, console trim, valve covers, 4sp does not match, air cleaner, paint(have lacquer), most everything else is there and orginal. It is a low option car::radio, heater, 327/300 4sp, 71000 miles. My son and I have the knowledge/equipment to rebuild it. What do y'all think...hammer away we can take it. Lol


ThanksJack
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[Stephen L.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

If you want to go the NCRS route, I'd suggest compiling a detailed estmate of all the items, availability, and costs necessary for completion. Then compare that to what is available to purchase already completed....... At that point you will be going into this with your eyes open...... I'd also suggest that you "inflate" your final cost to cover the project by about 30%!

[Patrick H.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Right now a 63 SWC is one of the few cars that you could restore and come out ahead on $.
Having said that, it's still not cheap.

In the end, what do YOU want it to be? If you restore it to almost any level you may be hesitant to use a $150000 car as a routine driver. Almost everyone who says "that won't happen" allows it to happen.
If so, you may be time and $ ahead to sell it to the next person.

[Mark E.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Right now a 63 SWC is one of the few cars that you could restore and come out ahead on $.
Having said that, it's still not cheap.

In the end, what do YOU want it to be? If you restore it to almost any level you may be hesitant to use a $150000 car as a routine driver. Almost everyone who says "that won't happen" allows it to happen.
If so, you may be time and $ ahead to sell it to the next person.

Agree with Patrick regarding "what do you want it to be?"

With that said, I don't know about coming out ahead dollar-wise compared with its finished market value.

If you're making a strictly economic decision, compare restoration cost, time, risk to the cost of selling your '63 as-is, then buying the finished '63 you want. Of course, you won't have the back breaking (and bank breaking) experience of doing it yourself. But you'll have a '63 to enjoy now rather than much later.

[Douglas C.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Hi Jack,

How much do you charge yourself for hourly labor?

When you see '63 SWC's sell for $150K+, someone's hourly labor for restoration is factored into that cost - and that's a huge cost these days.

If you're a DIY'er, and all your major out of pocket costs are parts and materials, then its hard for me to imagine you'll spend $150K sourcing parts and materials. But as stated by others in this thread, much depends on what you want the car to be when its completed.

I would cost-out parts and materials and do a best estimate of any services you'll need to out-source. For example, do you plan to cover your own seats, install the headliner? Can rebuild you own engine? Can you do your own fiberglass work such as install or re-build your front-end, etc.

Stainless is crazy expensive on '63's - so if you have all the window and door stainless, you're way ahead of the game.

If you go the restoration route, "YouTube" is your best friend. Lots and lots of DIY videos on Corvette and automobile restoration, paint, engine and fiberglass repair.

My situation is very similar to yours. I bought my SWC in the late 80's and have been buying parts off and on for 30 years, waiting for retirement, which finally happened last year. My car is Daytona blue, tan leather interior, 340 hp with power brakes. Still has the "Used Car" tag in the rear window, where I bought it off an"unpaved" dealer lot as a "used" car in 1989.

--Doug

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[Bill M.]

[Terry M.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Jack I look at this from a different angle.

I don't know how to measure the feeling of satisfaction of a job well done, even if this is the second or third time it had to be done to get it right. There is no measure of the feeling of learning the knowledge of "so that's how they did it", the feeling of muscle memory that one gets from knowing how to do a job. And in the case of projects that have to be done by others, the recognition that there are other craftsmen in the world who respect the quality of a job well done.

I have more money in a 1967 Chevelle than it will ever be worth, but I would do it all over again because of the feeling I get when I look at it. I will likely have more money in a 1969 Corvette than it will be worth, but it is as close as I can get today to the Corvette I would have bought in 1969 if I knew it existed back then. Sometimes we do things out of sentiment and sometimes we do things just because we can. There is no way to measure those.

You can't measure the knowledge you will gain by taking on this project. The friends you will make as you move the project along. The satisfaction you will feel to accomplish a goal along the way (yes set small goals.) And as a good friend told me about my 1969 -- Don't count the cost.

[Paul K.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

I agree with Terry
There is a real sense of accomplishment when the corvette is done and you can drive

Paul Klemetson

[Mark F.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Hi all, NCRS member opinions requested on street to go down for this '63 coupe: Part it out? Build as a driver? Build as a NCRS restoration?

Jack and James,

Assuming you don't part it out, whatever you decide to do...TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES !

I see a really nice Restorer article in your future

Good Luck !

[David H.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Jack

You're looking for a project, and you've got the basis of a good one. DIY vs farm it out, as others have stated, will bring you personal satisfaction.

As to economics, quick glance at threads on this Tech Board, will confirm many non economic pursuits.

Dave

[Mel S.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Jack
I have a 66 convertible (third owner) that had 26,200 miles on it when I bought it in 1976 for $3,800 (today it has 29,082). Had to borrow $800 from my dad to finalize the purchase. It has factory air, power windows and factory side pipes. The car was born with a 327/300 auto but the previous owner put a 70 LT1 with a Muncie in it. Three years ago I did a body off restoration. I did all the work except for the paint. I did the motor over and put in a 5 speed to make it more drivable with 4:11 gears in the back. It may not be original BUT it is PRICELESS to me. I learned a lot. I I had stressful times and many happy times. The technical forum was "priceless" for help. Go for it, you will not be sorry!
Mel

[Michael G.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

If there is any car out there that you are unlikely to lose money on in such an all-inclusive restoration, it is the 63 coupe. It’s a heck of lot of work, but as well-said below, it’s hard to beat the feeling of having done it…plus, Daytona blue is an awesome color.

Go for it, all the problems you’ll get into have been solved here many times, and you’ll get all of the support you need right here or on YouTube.

Good luck.

[Joe M.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

If you love cars and enjoy working on them, a 63 coupe is as cool a car as you will see, in whatever iteration it takes, whether returned to race ready condition or nice original looking car. you would get more money selling it as it sits, than parting it out.

Go price a 63 coupe project car. For many,it is not about the money or judging points. NCRS is good a template from which to put a car together, swerving off the path, is typical on the trail to a driveable car. the cruise night gawkers will love it and other car enthusiasts will wave and honk in appreciation and salute to another gearhead. Part numbers and accountants be damned.

[Jack H.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Hiall, first I want to thank everyone for their opinions and thoughs. After reviewing and discussing the future direction with James(myson) of the '63 we have decided to follow a combination course. Allbeing said this will be his to do as he wishs in the future so wewill do the build as best as possible per NCRS guidelines with whathave. Some of it will be correct, some of it reproduction and someof it sourced orginal parts if possible. While it will not be aflight car, it gives him the base starting point to go full NCRS sometime in the future. Considering he is 22yo there will plenty of timefor him to make changes as we go and he gains more knowledge.


Sothe game plan at this point is for him to finish the '74 enginerebuild, I'll make room in the shop, get the '63 frame on the floorand clean it(23 years of dust) and then we will start asking a lot ofquestions on here.


Attachingsome pictures of the frame before I put it moth balls and his '74. For background James pulled the '74 orginal engine and built astroker for it(orginal is engine now in moth balls).

Thanks again Jack


'63frame before & now:
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James '74 project:
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[Scott R.]

Re: NCRS member opinions requested

Build a driver