Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

[Justin B.]

Ten years ago I found the original long block assembly for 1960 Corvette VIN #5879 in the trunk of a 4dr. 57 Chevy. It is a 245 h.p. block. It doesn't appear to be cracked but it is locked up...big deal. Fast forward up until a few days ago. I put this block on ebay for sale. A fellow ebayer found the car in the C1 registry and emailed me his phone number and email address. I called, left a message, and emailed him. I just received a return email from him saying that he plans on keeping his car forever and enjoys it ASIS without the original engine. O.K. HMMMM, If I (and probably 99.9999% of you out there) were in his shoes, I would be jumping for joy and contacting different Corvette publications to do a reuniting story!! Holy crap, what is up with this? I was only wanting 200-400 for it on ebay. he didn't even ask me how much I wanted for it. This block would help the overall value of this car at least 30%, right? What are your thoughts??

[Joe R.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

Hey Justin,

Could it be that the owner of the 61 already has several top flight awards and a Duntov.

Don't be so shocked. It has happened more than once.

JR

[Mark P.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

Justin. I also contacted the owner when I saw the EBAY posting. He said thanks for the e-mail and appreciated someone looking out for him.

He said he never plans to sell the car. It is his weekend driver.

I would jump at the chance to own the original block for my car if it ever is found. Not everyone thinks that way.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

I think I'd call him back and tell him that for $X00 you would have it palleted and shipped to him just to be sure it was reunited with the car. Explain to him how $X00 now is like $X000 later. He may not want the engine, but it's worth a lot to the next guy.

Then again, guys on CF are selling their original motors all the time.

Patrick

[Tom H.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

It is listed as a "nice driver" on the registry. Obviously he's a Corvette guy or he would not have registered the car.

Maybe he was skeptical of your call. Perhaps he thought you were a scammer. I think I'd pull the ebay listing. Then I'd take some nice hard copy photos of your block and mail them to him with a fair price and let him respond. I'd sure think you'd hear from him. Truly a story worthy of some press. Sorry you didn't get a better response from the owner for your efforts. I'm sure many members here appreciate the rarity of this event.

That's the kind of luck I'd have. Find a guys original engine and he doesn't want it. WOW !!

[Paul H.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

Maybe someone can refer him to this sight and this thread so he can see how well intentioned you are with your desire to reunite the motor with the car. Also, he needs to know that you are not looking to make money off him. Regardless of his intentions to keep the car forever, things can change. It makes no sense not to at least have the motor for the sake of originality and value down the road even if he sticks it in his basement for the next 30 years.

[Steven B.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

I agree with Paul. Refer him to this site. Most never have the opportunity to reunite car with original engine, etc. He is very lucky to have the opportunity to do that. And, it really adds $$$$$ installed or not.

[Richard M.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

There's one other possibility......He already has the "original engine"!

example.......

In 1995 I was pulling my 519 270hp block out of my '59 for rebuild. It's a Oct 60 Corvette block from a 61, with the vin# stamped on it. In the Spring '95 Driveline, I see a '61 corvette for sale, vin# listed as required. The ad read 'matching numbers/original engine'. It was the car that my engine came from.
I called him and asked about the car and it's original engine. When I explained what a coincidence that I had the same numbers on my engine he got all quiet and blurbed out a few expletives. He said he was looking for that engine for ten years, and finally "re-created" one. Whoever owns that car today would be surprised if he parked next to my 59 with the hood open and saw my stamp pad #'s with those nice broach marks.

Rich

[Dennis A.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

One big bad mistake not to unite that engine, even if placed into storage....

[Barry H.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

Justin, The thing that is difficult for NCRS people to understand is that not all Corvette owners are as "rabid" as we are. Someday he will probably regret not getting the block when he had the opportunity. People like you give NCRS a good name. Barry Holmes

[Keith L.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

He probably already has the other original engine in the car.

[Jay G.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

Similar story as Richards. My 58 dual 270HP car magically became a Duntov 230HP. Saw the car in CT. in 1995 at a meet. My dad was still alive then. Met the owner of my 'ol 58. Stated "Nice car wheres the org. 270hp engine?" He responded "This is the org. engine." With a little more than a attitude. So I turned to my ol' man "Remember Dad when you took the dual quads off. Sold 'em for 50 Bucks and put on the 2 barrell rodchester in 1972? He said "Yeah I was getting 19-20 to Gallon. My Dad being a Airline Mech. Engineer loved to get as much gas outa any engine. Oh well... the true history of some cars.

[Jimmy B.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

Years ago I had an original 65 "HG" serial numbered f.i. short block. Tracked down the owner of the car through a police friend of mine (Car was back East). Guy was all proud of his "Top Flight" car that was judged at the National NCRS level. I offered him the short (standard bore) for $2000.00 (left room to negotiate). The owner said "we were ripping him off" and he had a completely correct restored stamped block in his car, he then asked for a tracing of the pad which I would not send him. Anyway he lost his 1 and only chance to obtain his original block. His car had been owned by a National Guard gentleman in Colorado and that is when the block got pulled out. I had ran it by John A. and it appeared he was going to do an article in the RESTORER how this engine had got separated and re-united back with the car but this gentleman was too cheap....... The block is now gone, you think it would add $2000.0 more value to the price of the car???

[Loren S.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

Justin, store the engine, in a few years the next owner will pay a mint for it. Send the current owner a letter with a picture of the stamp pad, along with your contact information, maybe he will pass it along when he sells it or his family sells it when he passes.

[Michael S.]

Re: Everybody Who Loves Vettes Read This, I Am Shocked!!!!!

I had the same issue with a body for a 66 Shelby. I had the original body but another gentleman had the VIN tag on his rebodied car. I offered to sell him the documented original body that matched the VIN he had on his known rebodied car but he was not interested. In both cases the cars were vintage race cars. He said he was not interested since all he wanted was a "Shelby" race car built by a particlular racer and did not care that the car was a known rebody.

Oh well! He now publicly acknowledges his stupidity!!!