66 with No Trim Tag

[Edward J.]

Theres been a lot of talk about trim tags on C-2 cars, Well theres a 66 conv. small block for sale not far from me, that had a restoration started and is not complete, maybe lost interest ? Any way what will this do to the value of car, if bought and restored , maybe it would not be a NCRS car, but resale later down the road, would this take away from the value? Thanks for you responses. Ed

P.S. maybe you,ve one of you've been through this.

[John D.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

Ed, Personally I would pass on a car with no trim tag but that's just my humble opinion. The only way I would buy such a car is if I planned on using it for a parts.
I think it would be a poor investment. Take care, JD

[Jim C.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

I think any C2 that's missing it's trim tag is going to suffer some negative ramifications when it comes time for resale. What level of restoration are you planning to do? If you're going to do a major resto on a car without a trim tag, you might not be able to get your money back out. It's tough enough just to get your money back out of a car WITH a legitimate trim tag. If you're just looking for a driver, then maybe it's the right car for you. Maybe you can negotiate the price lower by pointing out the missing trim tag. If you're worried about resale, there's probably a lot of cars out there with trim tags, that need some work. I might look for one of those first. There might be a bigger population of buyers when resale time comes.

Jim C.

[William C.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

Don't walk-RUN away

[Ronald L.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

Someone just bought one the the flea yesterday for $52. Problem solved

[Paul S.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

I think it would clearly impact value, if for no other reason than it will eliminate the car as a prospect for buyers looking for a restored to original condition cars, for whatever reason.

I just bought my 67 this Spring, and I passed on a few with fake trim tags (which were obvious even to me, a novice eye--e.g., Marina Blue white and blue interior car with a St Louis Body and a trim tag with no ECL codes; trim tags with an ECL code that excluded powerglide trans, on a car with a powerglide trans; ect...). I also passed on a few that were repaints in a different color than original.

For me personally, taking on any restoration project is begging to end up seriously upside down. But if you're going to do one, I would think a good candidate would have to have trim and vin tags and preferably a numbers matching block, to reduce the losses when, if or ever you resell.

While you might try to hedge your exposure on this particular car by a really favorable buy-in price, I wonder if the current owner who 'lost interest' in the restoration is willing to take a serious haircut.

I found a lot of sellers (of the cars I meantioned above) were quite put off when I told them what I found on their midyears, and none of them dropped their prices sufficiently (and most not at all) that I felt like the cars were a good buy for me.

[Richard K.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

I am probably going to stir up a hornets nest but so be it! Edward, buy a new trim tag from an outfit that does good work like "Trim Tags Inc". Know that you might have problems if you take it to a major NCRS meet so top flight honors could be out of reach. Fyi, I have been a vette lover and owner since 1977(1962 340hp/4spd-bought at Lincons in Seattle ), owned more than I can remember number of corvetts and NEVER desired to have them flighted, ( I already served my time in hell married to my first wife-just teasing!!) just drove them, showed them off, and enjoyed what hath ZORA wrought! And, I loved all of them! For those who want to take their cars into PERFECT-good for you, a metallic flight level is the way to go-thats why vetts are so great-your options are unlimited in the greatest nation's(America) greatest car-the Vett!-remember she went up against the best the rest of world could produce and numerious times kicked their a*s!

[Jim D.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

I am probably going to stir up a hornets nest but so be it! Edward, buy a new trim tag from an outfit that does good work like "Trim Tags Inc". Know that you might have problems if you take it to a major NCRS meet so top flight honors could be out of reach. Fyi, I have been a vette lover and owner since 1977(1962 340hp/4spd-bought at Lincons in Seattle ), owned more than I can remember number of corvetts and NEVER desired to have them flighted, ( I already served my time in hell married to my first wife-just teasing!!) just drove them, showed them off, and enjoyed what hath ZORA wrought! And, I loved all of them!

I agree 100%. Get a repo. trim tag and be done with it. A parts car because of a missing trim tag? You've got to be kidding (or high). Oh, and Lincoln Corvettes on Aurora in Seattle brings back a lot of memories

[Edward J.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

Well guys I took a look at this project car today,and its is exactly that, a good old New England car,some frame rust at the rear kick-ups and one piece press molded nose, two brand new rear Qtr panels. it is a numbers matching engine, 4 spd car. and alot of nos parts ready to be installed, inc. all new interior parts, all new gm emblems,and door handles, nos rocker panels in the packages, I think I will try my luck in carlisle next week.

Thanks to all the opinions guys. I Think I do agree with Richard the C2 is one beautiful car reguardless of the missing trim tag. and with that said I dont think that every mid year car will or can be a Top flite car, But without the interest of guys like us some car may never come back to life. so lets keep the interest for the best of all. trim tag or no trim tag.

[Jim C.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

You could get a repo trim tag. Sure. Just make sure that you fully disclose the fact that the car has a repo trim tag if you ever decide to sell it. The buyer shouldn't have to guess or wonder about that. It needs to be disclosed up front. If not, that's fraud, and it's wrong.

Jim C.

[Richard E.]

Re: 66 with No Trim Tag

Just buy the car and get a repro tag or God forbid run it with no tag...Repro
tags have been made since the mid to late 80's that i know of and alot of the red and black "put away keepers" that were judged back in the day would never "top flight" today...