Please help a rookie restorer..

[John M.]

Alright as a rookie restorer I need your opinions on an age old topic. I have a very rare special 67, what makes it so rare? It’s a complete numbers matching car, 427/400 with the powerglide auto tranny, the car has factory air, factory exhaust, power windows, power brakes, power steering, tinted glass, tele scoping steering and speed warning!
The car has been in a restoring condition for 33 years I am the 3rd owner and it has 38k original miles.
First before I ask you the age old question let me tell you my intentions, I plan on finishing the restoration and drive/keep the car someday hand it down to my son. I know this is a car that is worth over 100k easily and could make a huge profit by selling it, but I’m doing it because this is the car I’ve wanted my whole life and I’m not in it for the $$ even though I could use it.
So with all that being said my question is should I paint it original color Goodwood green (lacquer) white stinger and white soft top, by the way I have both tops or should I go with a different color of my choice and clear coat base coat for longevity reasons??





thanks for your help.

[Edward J.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

John, as I have learned from this site is its only original once. painting the car would take away from the value of a unrestored car. if you have a unrestored original car , I would go to a local chapter meet and have it accessed.

[Michael W.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

This questions gets asked frequently.

1) any deviation from 'factory correct' will most likely reduce the value, if that's important to you now or in the future

2) it's your car, and no one but you can decide what's right.

3) you're going to get opinions that go from one extreme to another, see point #2 above.

[John M.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

you have a point the car was painted once from Green to red, which it is partly now. So I guess It will never be fully original because of the paint. I do plan on taking it to get judge someday when she is finished, I have had numerous NCRS members come and view it they all have agreed that this is a very rare car.

[Tom H.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

It's your car, but since your intentions are to have it judged. Do it right. Do it once. Paint it the way the car was born. If you are going to hand it down to your son, hand him a well done, correct car !!

Just my opinion. It's your car. Enjoy it the way you want !!

[Chuck S.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

...I have had numerous NCRS members come and view it they all have agreed that this is a very rare car.

What recommendations did those NCRS members viewing the car have? The actual condition of the car mechanically and from the originality point of view, as well as your preferences, has everything to do with best direction for your car.

[John M.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

well they kind of made me mad... They said this car is so rare that I should paint it back to goodwood green bring it to NCRS, then to Bloomington then sale it.. This isn't my plan, they think I stupid because I want to drive it and hand it down. I'm sorry everything can't always be about money... They said I should buy a beater if I really want to drive it. I can promise you this the only way I sell this car is everything in my life is on the edge and there is just no other option.

[Dan A.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

In your description you list what I think you believe to be the original configuration of the car. One of the things listed is "factory exhaust". Did you mean that it was originally equipped with side exhaust? If so what do you base that upon? Did the NCRS people you speak of confirm this?

I ask based on the photo in your post.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

well they kind of made me mad... They said this car is so rare that I should paint it back to goodwood green bring it to NCRS, then to Bloomington then sale it.. This isn't my plan, they think I stupid because I want to drive it and hand it down. I'm sorry everything can't always be about money... They said I should buy a beater if I really want to drive it. I can promise you this the only way I sell this car is everything in my life is on the edge and there is just no other option.

Based on those comments, it sounds like the car is in very original condition with the only exception being the paint color change. Perhaps it was a Duntov award candidate before the paint change...others can elaborate but it might still be, but with fewer "stars". So...it would indeed be a rare car.

People, even NCRS members, enjoy Corvettes in many different ways. NCRS is about restoring the cars back as near as possible to original condition, and...the oxymoron to some...to enjoy them by driving them as much as possible.

When you've laid on your back on cold concrete, skinned your knuckles big time, bled, begged and cajoled repro parts to fit, finally lovingly caressing the chassis, interior, body and engine compartment into beautiful (maybe better than) original condition...it's hard to bring yourself to drive this masterpiece to a meet. For it's judging, it has to ride on a tandem wheel chariot.

Then, when that stress is over and bullets have been sweated, and your efforts confirmed with awards, some know they have to move on by liquidating this asset to at least get back what they've put into the car. They can get back their cash, and for a rare car, maybe even a little bit more. But...the hours of their lives, they've given away free for the pleasure of the endeavor.

It doesn't HAVE to be about the money...and besides it's your money. Maybe you don't even want to change the color...just drive the car and enjoy. But...for the color change, you will be penalized on the judging field. However, this is not life or death; Get it in there and get it judged...establish a base line. If the car is in VERY original condition, you will get most of the credit for originality, and probably get some compassion for condition as well.

One thing, however, is certain: Whoever you "hand it down" to will be a very happy camper once he finds out what it's worth.

Edit: Mmmm, Wow...You slipped the photo in while I was typing. John, I don't mean to **** you off like those other guys, but this is a resto candidate where potential outweighs value by a wide margin at this point. If this car is potentially very valuable, the quality of your restoration will be the factor that maximizes it's value. Study well.

[Michael W.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

well they kind of made me mad... They said this car is so rare that I should paint it back to goodwood green bring it to NCRS, then to Bloomington then sale it..

2) it's your car, and no one but you can decide what's right.

3) you're going to get opinions that go from one extreme to another, see point #2 above.

Just smile and nod John. Remember that opinions are like, well you know.

[John M.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

In your description you list what I think you believe to be the original configuration of the car. One of the things listed is "factory exhaust". Did you mean that it was originally equipped with side exhaust? If so what do you base that upon? Did the NCRS people you speak of confirm this?

I ask based on the photo in your post.

Yes sorry factory side exhaust, the ncrs members confirmed it from the body markings

[Patrick H.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

Based on those comments, it sounds like the car is in very original condition with the only exception being the paint color change. .

If it's the car in the photo in his first post, which has no front end and is at least 50% disassembled, I'd suggest that there is a bunch of "originality" that is long gone on this car.

That's not necessarily a problem, but one glance at the photo suggests to me that there's not a lot of "originality" to save, and he's best off going for a well done restored car.

There are plenty of cars with a Duntov Award with BC/CC paint (saw one a week ago today) that are driven. If he really wants to drive it I'd go for the BC/CC and think longevity over "facsimile of originality" when I had to make a choice.

Patrick

[Chuck S.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

If it's the car in the photo in his first post, which has no front end and is at least 50% disassembled, I'd suggest that there is a bunch of "originality" that is long gone on this car.

That's not necessarily a problem, but one glance at the photo suggests to me that there's not a lot of "originality" to save, and he's best off going for a well done restored car.

Yeah, no question, Patrick...see my edit above.

I read his original post, posted my question without going back to see the added photo, and then wrote the above based on reported NCRS members comments. They must have been wearing rose-colored glasses. It's going to be about the money, for sure...the money going OUT for the restoration.

[John M.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

If it's the car in the photo in his first post, which has no front end and is at least 50% disassembled, I'd suggest that there is a bunch of "originality" that is long gone on this car.

That's not necessarily a problem, but one glance at the photo suggests to me that there's not a lot of "originality" to save, and he's best off going for a well done restored car.

There are plenty of cars with a Duntov Award with BC/CC paint (saw one a week ago today) that are driven. If he really wants to drive it I'd go for the BC/CC and think longevity over "facsimile of originality" when I had to make a choice.

Patrick

Awesome thoughts didn't know how bad the judges would be with the CC/BC, I was hoping to have the car ready for the Orlando NCRS event 2012, I was going to bring a fist full of pics down this year and hopefully get some answers . I would like to have the car in a body shop by the end of this year. I need to finish the firewall components first

[Patrick H.]

Re: Please help a rookie restorer..

Awesome thoughts didn't know how bad the judges would be with the CC/BC, I was hoping to have the car ready for the Orlando NCRS event 2012, I was going to bring a fist full of pics down this year and hopefully get some answers . I would like to have the car in a body shop by the end of this year. I need to finish the firewall components first

It's tough to do with photos like that.

I'd suggest you take digital photos, upload them to a hosting site (Webshots, ImageShack, etc) and then link to them and ask questions here. You'll have real-time answers and not have to wait for the next event.

A few hundred photos can be very useful (see my link in the signature below).

Patrick