chance to top flight ?

[Jeff Bratton]

I have a 67 coupe 400 hp factory air, all # and dates match, paint is lacquer with clear mix, "i think" i have everything in order - one question - under carriage is original no new paint ect, but is does have some of the factory markings like shim marks orange on spindles green dobs on half shafts, is their a change to top flight even if everything underside does not appear new? Thanks in advance

[Dave S.]

Re: chance to top flight ?

Jeff,
The amswer is YES and it maybe a real possibility. I Top Flighted a 70 BB car 4 years ago that was quite original, but showed some age except for a correct repaint. You can afford to lose 270 small points, and when you have very few originality deducts it gives you some room for the condition deducts. You will need to be sure you address some of the larger point items like battery, tires, oil filter etc. Have fun preparing the car and go for it.

[Gary S.]

Re: chance to top flight ?

Jeff, as Dave mentions, not appearing "new" is certainly no hinderance to the route to Top Flight. I TF'ed an unrestored 72 coupe in 2000 with very good results. There were at least two other sharks at the Atlanta regional that were unrestored. A lot of folks (like me ) appreciate original, unrestored cars over those that have been fully restored. Nothing wrong with restored cars but someone here (Jack H. or Terry M. ?) made the dead on comment, "a car can only be original once." Get the judging manual, the AIM, the judging reference manual and do your own TF inspection. Fix what you can, clean what you can, and show the car. Then enjoy it.
Gary

[Henry J.]

Re: chance to top flight ?

Jeff, my experience with my 66 is similar to that described by Dave and Gary. They have given you good advice. Go for it!

[Jack H.]

Besides....

Even if you miss the mark on your first outing, you'll learn a bunch and should have FUN showing the car to your fellow club members. The silver lining is: there's no bar on where or how many times you can have the car judged and each outing starts with a fresh slate to encourage owners to improve upon their restorations. So, sit back, enjoy the process and have a ball! You can return any time for another shot without prejudice!!!!!!

[Terry M.]

Re: Besides....II *TL*

I absolutely agree with all the above posters, and in addition will throw out the advice Jack usually gives: One could drive the car to the meet and garner one full percentage point (or big point, as Jack calls it) per hundred miles driven. That one big point equals 45 little points. This can easily make up for the non-original tires that one might not have (and who would drive on the original tires if one had them anyway).
The quote "They are only original once," while used by many of us, is most often attributed to Regie Jackson in reference to his collection.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Besides....II

Exactly!

I'm interested in seeing if I can break 100 points soon by driving the car long distance to a meet. Even if I don't make it to that goal it will be fun trying. The car had a 96.9 3 years ago, and I've since fixed some of the problems. Of course, they'll find new ones, but 600 miles each way won't hurt me.

Patrick

[Jack H.]

Plus....

you'll enjoy the trip in your Corvette vs. the tow vehicle of your enclosed car hauler. AND, when you have the car judged, you can relax and not sweat the outcome 'basking' in the knowledge that with 600 miles driven to the meet, you're sitting pretty with 600/100 = 6% of your Flight score in 'reserve' (in your hip pocket) OR an additional 6 x 45 = 270 judging points.

Heck, instead of arguing this/that deduction with the judges, you might find yourself asking for the deduction(s) they missed! I did this once when I drove my '71 from Denver to Scottsdale (argued the NOS spare tire SHOULD receive a deduction because its DOT date code was actually one year too late for my car) and the judges were BLOWN away!

"We don't judge date codes on tires in this Division are you actually telling us to change the score sheet and TAKE points where we didn't??????"

"Yes, I am. Let's make the base score as 'correct' as possible because I came in with 968 miles driven and I'm NOT sweating the score/award outcome!!!!"

We tilted a few cold ones at the end of the day (I bought) and a GREAT time was had by both judges and owner as the NCRS experience was intended to be from the git go....

[Patrick H.]

Re: Plus....

Jack,

My spare is original to the car.

I'm getting my Bowtie signoff at the event, too. I think I may have a good chuckle if I get over 100% AND a Bowtie signoff after driving to the meet in a 58,000 mile nearly untouched car.

Patrick

[Gary C.]

Re: Plus....

Patrick

You are my hero. My 67 was recently approved for Bowtie, but I think I have chickened out and will haul it to Hearshey. When I purchased the car from the original owner I had every intention of driving it to Hershey, after all it is an old unrestored car and who cares if the paint takes another rock peck. Well, the car cleaned up so well I started having reservations and the very nice original windshield glass started looking more vulnerable. The old radiator has a drip to boot and the 1000 or so miles is starting to look like a long way.

Anyway, I hope you make it, it sounds like a blast. Maybe you will be inspiration for me to take the plunge.

Gary

[Patrick H.]

Re: Plus....

Gary,

Driving from Holland, MI to the Seven Springs Regional. I'm taking the car's previous owner as a passenger with me to SS. He was afraid to drive the car around the block because it's so nice and original. He almost had a heart attack when I told him we were DRIVING. Tough. My car.

I'd drive it to Top Flight at Hershey if I didn't need to have 30 year old tires on the car AND it had AC AND my wife wasn't keen about driving the minivan the whole way by herself with 3 kids. I may still change my mind. It's the tightest, best driving old Corvette I've had the pleasure of driving.

I'll drive it the 3 hours to Windsor for Bowtie next year.

Patrick