-
-
Re: Over restoration
If you have it nice, then have it judged. It isn't fatal.
If you do well, great! If you don't do so well, at least you will know what things are not quite the way they came from St. Louis. Maybe.
The thing is, judging isn't determining if you are going to heaven or a lake of fire, it is about finding things right and wrong on your car IN REGARDS TO how they were built at St. Louis on the average.
There were always those really good ones and those really bad ones and even a few quirks with things not expected.
Do it for fun, and don't sweat it. And never get into a frenzy if a judge says "this is wrong" and immediately change it when you get home. Sometimes the judge is wrong and sometimes you have an exception. Study what is "wrong", look for other examples, and buy the "right" part if you find it easily and at a good price. Hang on to that part and if you decide yours really is "wrong", then change. But hang onto the "wrong" part.
But above all, DRIVE IT! Zora was a racer, not a show guy. He raced anything with a motor basically, and he built them to drive, not sit in a show.
For all the reputation Bill Mitchell had as a show guy, he built the '59 Stingray, and each show car he built had a big hunkin' engine in it that would burn up the pavement, not the wimpy base motor. He really was a driver, too.Comment
-
A very broad and general statement
I think you will find that generally, the fit and finish of each year improved as the year went on, and from one year to the next unless there was a body change.
So generally, an early '63 would be worse than a late '63, a late '63 may be better than an early '64, most '64s are better than a '63, and so on.
Also a '67 would be better than most '68s, but late '68s are better than early '68s. '69s should almost all be better than any '68 since the body is virtually the same, and the same would be true for the '72 over the '71 over the '70.
But at the same time, fiberglass is more art than science and panels can get funny and wavy and if it was an evening shift or a weekend or just before Superbowl or if the guy was mad at his boss or if it was the car coming down the line that one of the well-liked co-workers or one of the disliked bosses or a thousand other variables.
But none will look like a million bucks or a Rolls Royce, becasue quite frankly, they were a darn good $3000 sports car then and now, and that is all GM put into them.Comment
-
NCRS Would Say...
Have it judged...but, drive it.
The value difference between "show" and "driver" has less to do with their intended function than it does with the condition of the cars. A "show" car would likely be restored, probably body off the frame, and in excellent overall condition. A "driver" is not likely to have had a full restoration, but attention will have been focused on making it highly reliable with good performance. It may have cosmetic faults that are visilbe only when the viewer is closer than 10' viewing distance. Buyers pay more for cars that "look good" leading to the "show value" for nice cars.
If you have done a body off restoration, the car should have "show" value if you have done a good resto...your appraisor shouldn't have to ask you what you're going to do with the car. Driving the car, however, does age the restoration faster, and that's why people trailer them to meets. Technically, NCRS does not have "shows" of the usual "shine and show" genre; the cars are judged to an originality standard allowing many winners at every event.
Welcome aboard, Brent. Don't be intimidated or embarrassed; just jump in. Everbody started out knowing nothing once. The archives are tricky if you don't know how the software works; it finally clicked for me about a year ago...as a result of something posted here.Comment
-
Re: Over restoration
Brent,
Sometimes it's just fun dealing with questions for which there are no answers that "fit the mold" Mike Cobine did hit the nail on the head when he said that glass cars are more art than science because of all of the variables. Drive it, enjoy it, and don't worry. We are all lucky to have one, regardless of how it left the factory.
DaveComment
-
Re: Over restoration
Thanks to those who have answered my "check the Archives" questions thus far. I have since realized how to navigate the Archives section better, but it's still not that easy to get the exact answer sometimes. The patience some of you show with the newbies does not go un-noticed.
I have no idea how I would own a 70 LT1 and never drive it. Tough one for me. But I appreciate the "queens" and the work that goes into it. I can't wait to have my car judged someday, and I know it will be a great learning experience. I welcome the jabs and comments directed at what isn't right. The best part about it will be the fact that at the event, you won't be able to say, " check the Archives" !! :-)Comment
-
Re: Over restoration
Another nice attribute to an unrestored 'vette, is what you see is what it is. As nice as restored 'vettes are, you can just never be to sure of whats underneath that shiney exterior.Comment
Comment