1964 Barn Find

[Gerald C.]

Well, they are still out there. I received a call the other day that this person's Father has a 1964 that he bought new and they now need the money. It's a two top roadster that hasn't been run in 25 years. 4 speed car with a 365 hp motor. Numbers match, etc. 48,500 miles. I'm working on it!!!

I know the 1964 is the forgotten sister, but it is still a nice original one owner car.

Let's see if I get outbid or not.

Jerry

[George W.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Jerry,

Good luck with that; I had a '64 silver/silver 365hp coupe and it was awsome. Had a buddy who had an Olds J2 that claimed would run 160+; well he wanted to race me top end on I-57 in So IL for $100 (I didn't have a 100 so we ran for $50 and I borrowed that) It was 1967 and I was just home from visiting my friends in SE Asia, Nam to you good guys. We climed onto I-57 south at Marion, IL; I was to tail him and try to pass him when he turned on his left turn signal. My speedo was at 150mph when he turned on the turn signal. I was in his draft, didn't know what draft was back then, and blew by him. Got the $50 and he took me off his Christmas card list. Don't tell anyone the cops are still looking for us...ah the good ole days. Bottom line, the '64 might be the "forgotten sister" of the mid years, as it has always been called; but, the 365 hp vette engine is one of the best ever made. Get the car and have fun.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

George;

What gear were you running? I've had my 63 Convertible up near to those "indicated" speeds in Nevada (1963), but it was real scary as the C-2's like to go airborne at about 120 mph. I found that opening the headlights helped stabilize it some, but I'd never try that again - certainly NOT on bias ply tires. Mine still runs the 3.36 final.

Stu Fox

[Jim T.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Well, they are still out there. I received a call the other day that this person's Father has a 1964 that he bought new and they now need the money. It's a two top roadster that hasn't been run in 25 years. 4 speed car with a 365 hp motor. Numbers match, etc. 48,500 miles. I'm working on it!!!

I know the 1964 is the forgotten sister, but it is still a nice original one owner car.

Let's see if I get outbid or not.

Jerry

Good luck on the find, are you going to resale the 64 or keep it? What color is the 64? I like the 64, it was my first Corvette.

[George W.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Stu,

It was a 3.08 or 3.36 rear, I don't remember, and I-57 is wide interstate concret, as you know, and we were runing on the white line. I had my lights on (it was about midnight thirty as I recall) and I believe the "draft" helped keep me out of the rubbard; nevertheless, when I passed him the vette got squirrley but I am still hear to tell it. Actually, we both had a "shotgun" riding with us to hold half of the money. When I passed the OLds and pulled in front my passenger slid down in the seat and said "oh poop"; when I landed the 365 I said what is the matter with you, we won? He said did'nt you see that buck stand by the road on the right? (a lot of deer in So IL)
Any win is a win, ha ha. Drive 'em like you own 'em.

[Donald O.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Good luck on the find, are you going to resale the 64 or keep it? What color is the 64? I like the 64, it was my first Corvette.

Mine too, red with black gut, black soft top. 365hp with a 4.11 posi rear. Sold it for $1500. Yes that was the correct number. Sold it in late '69 as I was going to be with Uncle Sam's Misguided Children in SE Asia.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Mine too, red with black gut, black soft top. 365hp with a 4.11 posi rear. Sold it for $1500. Yes that was the correct number. Sold it in late '69 as I was going to be with Uncle Sam's Misguided Children in SE Asia.

Sold my 1964 327/300 4-speed 3:08 convertible with operating factory air in '69 for $1700 as well to go overseas.

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Jim,

Not exactly sure what I want to do with it if I get lucky enough to own the car. I may get it running and see what we can do with a Survivor Award, etc. I would get Ron's Restoration out of Fitchburg, Mass to help me decide what to do. Well, I guess I need to own the car before that decision is made. These folks NEED the money, but there is a 49 year relationship with this car and they are going to take a while to decide to sell it. The tax man cometh soon! I'll be patient with a check in my hand!

Jerry

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Sorry, forgot to answer the question about color, Tan on tan with the original seat belts, etc. Tan carpeting.

[Philip A.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Jerry
Good luck and do your due diligence on originality. I was called to check out an "all original barn find survivor '64 black on black coupe" that was in the process of being restored and was stripped of paint. It was in a shop for a front end alignment . This is what I found: 14" wheels up front & 67 Raleigh wheels on back. Dash board mounting tabs were red as was the console, the entire nose was replaced, the antenna was on the passenger side and there was no hole ever on the drivers side, yet the car has a radio!, the engine pad matched but was an obvious re-stamp. It was so far out of alignment the shop measured the frame and it was 1.25 inches out of specification. When it was finally aligned the shim packs were huge. Certainly did not meet my definition of "original" or "survivor.
Phil

[John D.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Right now 64 fuel cars are very hot and a lot of them are being restored. JD

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Well, the Father that owned the car passed away and the car is in probate. I gave my name and number to the attorney with what I think is a reasonable offer, so let's see what happens!

I'll keep you all posted!

Jerry

[Jim D.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Good luck Jerry. I'm waiting on a 1 owner 65 BB roadster that the owner won't sell (he's in his late 70's). I plan on buying it from his widow. He still plans on restoring it.

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

Jim,

These folks all want to "resore" these cars and there is a deep attachment to these cars. There is another barn find around here...a 63 coupe... and I can't get a response at all from the owners. Oh well, onto the next project.

Good luck with your BB endeavor.

Jerry

[Monte M.]

Re: 1964 Barn Find

You commented about it being a 64. A few of us got into a discussion the other night on a similar subject. One of the guys was looking at a base 71 coupe. Basically, no options. The car was really correct. A really nice survivor. But he hated the fact that it had no options. Plus, I kept pointing out to him that it was a lot less expensive than most other cars because it was an option free car.

His point was it was a base model car. He was trying to say nobody really cares much about base model cars. He was saying if it was a big block, or an LT-1 in the same condition, then it is really a car and something worth having.

You have a 64 there. It may not have the following some other years have. But that 365 HP under the hood sure makes it interesting to me.

I tried to tell my friend that yes, there are a lot of base model cars out there. Finding a very original one is not as big of a deal as if it were a more desirable car. I finally asked him to be honest and think about what he wanted the car for.

He wanted a nicer car than a base model car. I told him that answered his question. Get the car you really want. But do not disregard the poor little base car that was so original.

Every car has a buyer.

So, What I am trying to say is, yes, it might be a 64, but as long as you are going to have that beautiful 64 roadster, it sure is cool that it is a 365 HP car.

Over the years I have passed up a lot of really nice base model cars. If any of them had an engine like that 64, I think a few more of them might have come home with me.

Share some pictures when you get a chance.