Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

[Paul J.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

Steve,

Do you think 20K is too much?

Kevin:

Too much for the car or too much to restore it? Are you buying the car from the guy who found it? If so, it looks like maybe he got the deal, or so he thinks.

The car's probably worth between $6 and $8k, although I would'nt pay that much for it (remember, I'm in the mid-Atlantic). Assess the value of what it is. The sum of it's parts in the condition that they're in now.

The prices for real cars like this one are way over inflated.

$20 grand is ridiculous considering the investment involved for the restoration.

However, if you do ALL of the work yourself (except for engine machining and assembly, plating, and a few specialty restorations like gauges or drive accessories) my quick and dirty estimate puts you around $28k in parts and services only. Add that to a $20k purchase price and your getting up to where nice partially restored drivers are. And if you can't do the glass work or paint then you might be able to buy a nice complete car for less than your investment.

I read a thread on this board from several years ago about a well meaning younger fellow who paid $12k for a C2 in bad condition and spent a bunch of money on it. He was crying that he had put way more into the car than it was worth, and now his familty could use that money (although he wasn't cash strapped or anything like that). His complaint illustrated his miscalculation of the market.

If you want the car first decide that you don't have to have it, and then tell the guy that your interested but his price is way out of line. Look him in the eyes when you say that. He'll ask you for a price but don't give him one. Tell him you'll call him back in a couple of weeks. Call him back in two weeks and see if the car is still there (chances are it will be in today's collector market), but if it's gone, so be it. If he still has it, he should be softened a little on the price. If you can't get down to something reasonable repeat the process.

Otherwise, take Steven's sound advice and look for something more complete and closer to what your goal is.

Paul

[Patrick H.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

The only thing that goes through my mind when I see that as a project is "better you than me."

That car needs everything, and more.
Not for the faint of heart.

Even at $0 I'd think a long time about getting it.

Patrick

[John N.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

I believe that the 997 heads are proper for 250HP 57 FI Corvettes. This is according to Colvin and potentially the new judging manual.
Regards

[Wes S.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

You'll never recover you investment. You'll have aonther $40,000 even if you do most of the work. the 40 is low.

[Dan A.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

Looks like a 3 speed to me.

[John D.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

Kevin,With today's market being on the low side there are a lot of good bargains out there if you have the cash. I don't know if you have priced the 57 FI's set up but it's going to set you back a wad of cash.
Personally life is too short for a project like that car. You could easily dump a 100 grand into it. Very easily.
Needs complete engine, tranny, and etc etc.
Unless you are a very young man full of energy& cash I would keep looking. And when you do find one take a qualified appraiser with you. Especially a '57 fuel car.
There was another post similiar to yours just recently. Take care, JD

[Tom P.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

From a few things that I see in the pictures, I'm 95% convinced that it is most likely a genuine FI car!!!!
As mentioned, the round accelerator rod (which most likely is original to the car) is unique ONLY to 57 FI cars. As long as it has set and been neglected, those holes in the trunk and left cove MOST likely were for original FI emblems. Round mufflers and original Traction Master traction bars would be an indicator of a 283hp/283 FI engine and a car which was raced. It is POSSIBLE, but would require extensive tracing of its hisory, that this car has, or may have, some racing background. I cannot read the numbers on the generator tag, but if it does not have a tach drive on the rear, and is the original generator to the car, then maybe it originally had a 908 distributor (not likely, but possible). Although, I'm not aware of any 908 distributors ever driving the in-dash tach.
Is $20K too much to pay? Yes and no. Depends on its background as well as how bad you want a real FI car. I think probably this one is.
As mentioned, depending on how much of the work you do yourself, I really think you CANNOT put this car back right for under $50K (in addition the the initial $20 purchase). I'd be strongly inclined to test the waters and see if it could be had for $15K, because it's going to take a ton to build it back right.
If I were looking for a GENUINE 57 FI car to restore, I'd buy it! But get ready for a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Oh ya, and a couple of $$.

[Barry H.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

Kevin, Just for the record, 997 heads WERE used on the 250 HP FI engines. Appears to be a 250 HP FI car with 3 speed. Check the block casting dates to see if they corespond with the head dates, & if it is a 3731548 block. Maybe it is the origional block, just decked as the owner says.
Lots of work to be done, but lots of good parts there.
Barry Holmes #940

[Gary C.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

Kevin, it really depends on what you want. Couldn't really tell from the photo bucket photos, but frame didn't look rusted and that would be good. All the chrome and instruments appeared to be there. Seats? $16k would be a good price IMHO. Keep us posted. Good luck, Gary....

[Tom P.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

I believe that the 997 heads are proper for 250HP 57 FI Corvettes. This is according to Colvin and potentially the new judging manual.
Regards

Yep, yep, yep, clearly I didn't have the ole brain engaged. ONLY the 283hp FI engines (of course, as well as the 57 pass cars with the 283 Power Pac 4bl engine or 283hp FI engine) got the 539 heads. All others got the 997 heads. Thus, that COULD be a real FI car with a 250hp/283. DUH, sorry for the brain fade!

[Tom P.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

Kevin, Just for the record, 997 heads WERE used on the 250 HP FI engines. Appears to be a 250 HP FI car with 3 speed. Check the block casting dates to see if they corespond with the head dates, & if it is a 3731548 block. Maybe it is the origional block, just decked as the owner says.
Lots of work to be done, but lots of good parts there.
Barry Holmes #940

Barry,
See my reply above to John Neas.

[Edward M.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

OK, here is my questions to all of you.

Find a 56 or 57 Corvette, complete car, needing restoration, even non-matching engine, for less than $20K.

I haven't seen one, even in this market.

The less than $20K cars are either severely damaged, or stripped of the expensive parts, or both.

If they are out there, I wish someone would point me at them.

[Edward M.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

I just thought of another question related to 250hp 57 Corvettes. Was the last character of the engine code stamped individually like the 283 hp engines were?

[Mike E.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

If I missed it, I apologize--but he mentions that the car is no. 2839, and the 997 head he shows is H197. I think that the discussion regarding 997 heads on 250hp cars is interesting, but not germane to this car, since those are not the original 997's, because they are way too late for the car.

[Steven B.]

Re: Need ballpark value - 1957 fuelie sitting 25+ years

If I missed it, I apologize--but he mentions that the car is no. 2839, and the 997 head he shows is H197. I think that the discussion regarding 997 heads on 250hp cars is interesting, but not germane to this car, since those are not the original 997's, because they are way too late for the car.

You didn't miss it Mike. No diff. info. and no engine date so possibly original or replacement.

Going to Auburn/Kruse this year? I plan on it. I will drive through Concordia for you.

Steve