http://www.carcreationsinc.com/html_2/contact.html As I stated in a post some time ago , here in Ca. is what is happening to most Corvettes today.We are getting fewer and fewer people.
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Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
I guess most folks want to keep their Vettes as close to original as possible, since they're getting " fewer and fewer people".
I know that I do.
Rich -
Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
Most things through out history have gone in circles. Let's hope it doesn't take too long for the trend to come full circle. Course if we wanted to speed up the process we could figure out a way for California to fall into the ocean, just kidding.
TerryComment
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Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
Roy, I responded to your post (that 75% of Vettes in California are hot-rodded) here's the link: https://www.ncrs.org/forum/tech.cgi/...es/read/107546 I was curious what opinions are with regards to "over restoration".
I've seen some nice Newman convertions. No different than tube chassis conversions in some respects, which have been around awhile, except that someone going the tube route might make his original frame available for someone else needing a "new" frame for restoration. Whereas cutting a frame up for a Newman conversion means one less Corvette that will ever be anything close to original. Actually any Corvette can only be original only once. I doubt anyone doing a Newman conversion would use a significant restorable Corvette to do the conversion. It's a matter of economics in either equation. The further a restorable Corvette is away from original the greater the cost to return it that form and potentially you could have far greater dollars invested than it would ever be worth. However, the same could be said of any conversion, so it comes down to what the person wants. Let's suppose someone wanted to build a conversion, blending the old and new, to have a "driver". What do you think a car like this could be sold for "used" a few years later when "it's just yesterday's hotrod",(to quote an instructor at Bloomington)? I'd guess a whole lot less than invested.
For myself, part of the allure of an older Corvette is the driving experience of the way the car was originally engineered, making exceptions for modern tires, of course.;)Comment
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Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
It REALLY makes for a driving experience with OEM tires.Comment
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Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
Roy,
It is just a sad fact that not every old Corvette is not a good candidate for restoration. I am building a C1/C4 conversion right now, but this car was not a car that would have ever been economical to restore. I did a 60 last time around and it made it to Duntov, so I am a big fan of restoration, but sometimes it just does not make sense. I think that you are seeing so many cars taken down the hotrod path because most of the ones that made sense to restore already have been. If you have an old C1 with a rotted frame, wrong engine, wrong transmission, wrong radio, ect., the most economical use of this car is either for parts or a new lease on life as a hotrod. The price differential is so great betwween an "numbers matching" car and one that is not, that a lot of people will not undertake a restoration, knowing that they are going to lose a pot of money if they do. I figured that if I was going to put that kind of money in my 59, I would rather end up with a car that I can drive every day and take off across country in if I want to, and end up getting 25+ miles to the gallon fuel economy to boot.
It is just sad that some of my resto friends can't appreciate such a car. Some just have such a narrow focus that they can't see beyond restorations and appreciate a well crafted car. I just love all manner of mechanical things and like the hotrods as well as the restorations.
Regards, John McGrawComment
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"Worth" is a matter of personal choice...
I knew a fella who had a '57 which at one time held the PA dragstrip record in its class. It was originally a base/pg car, but was, of course, completely altered for drag. Wild engine & spool were replaced with 350 & 3.55:1 rear (Muncie was kept). Wild paint was restored to turquoise/ivory, and matching interior, and hardtop. Was it "worth" it? He had a lot of fun with it. Did he sell it for a profit, after 20 years? Nope. Worth it? Yep, to him.Comment
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Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
I was parked next to a '59 that had been through a "conversion" and it was the first time I'd ever seen one. I don't remember the name of the company who did the work but it was a neat and tidy job. I think it opens up our hobby to folks who would never drive a stock C1. I have a hard time getting my wife to ride in mine because of the lack of modern conveniences and the way it rides. She feels drained and beat up after a trip of any length. I on the other hand enjoy0 driving the car, I guess I'm just a masochist!
This '59 won Best Corvette and Best of Show trophies that day against some pretty stiff competition. And the awards were by popular vote of attendees. So the public seems to appreciate and value them.
The fellow had just bought a '59, shipped it to the conversion factory and paid the bill when the finished car was delivered back several months later turnkey. He said he had well over $100,000 invested!
MikeComment
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Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
Droping a 100 G's is nothing for a hot rodder in Ca.Comment
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Re: Greatest # of Corvettes not NCRS
You got that right! I remember seeing a '69 or '70 Mustang restification project featured in one of the mags awhile back being done for a 17 year old kid in California. Had to be an easy 100 Grand done.Comment
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