price of 69 big block

[Dale]

New to the board here. I don't know where to go to ask for some help. Could some one tell me a ball park price for a old 69 convertable 435 hp big block vette. I have a 69 tee top 350/350 now and have been working on vettes for 20 years. I know what it takes to rebuild them. I have never done a frame off on my 69 cause it don't realy need one it is realy nice. A friend of mine has two of them and they have been setting out side for about 15 years. They were running before they were parked. They are very ruff but complete. One has a hard top and one has a rag top. I think they are both four speeds. The front windshields are broken in both from the A pillers rusting. Typical for that to happen and would need to be fixed along with a total restore. One has the body big fender flares and one is stock. Both have after market wheels and flat tires. One has air. I think one has aluminum heads, a true 435. I tried to buy them before and he wouldn't sell them. He stopped by the other day and said when I'm ready to come and get them but we don't know what they're worth.

[Duke W.]

Re: price of 69 big block

I don't have any experience trying to resurrect Corvette basket cases, but I know several who had tried to resurrect basket case Cosworth Vegas, and all projects were eventually abandoned. Unless you really want to restore a car for the "experience" and spend a couple of thousand hours of your own time and several tens of thousands of dollars in parts and outside services, you are probably better off buying a running car. In my opinion, one year of sitting outside does more damage than ten years inside. After fifteen years outside the fuel and brake system will need major rebuilds, and all the interior "soft parts" are shot and need replacement, and of course you all looking at major bodywork and paint. Engines and the rest of the drivetrain can often come through without much damage, but you'll never know until you fire it up and drive it. Given the price of used big block parts, a pure economic analysis may indicate that the value of these cars is in the parts. Even with the value of a properly restored Corvette, prior threads have indicated that if there's significant corrosion in the birdcage, the car may be a gonner, and if you attempt to restore it you could be upside down in the deal real fast. I hate to see cars parted out whether they be Corvettes or Cosworth Vegas, but I also hate to see guys spend a ton of time and money on a project and end up with virtually nothing to show for it. The bottom line is we can't save 'em all.

Duke

[Jerry Clark]

Re: price of 69 big block

Hi Dale:

You mention one has aluminum heads, if they are the stock heads and came as an option this car is an L89, 435 and may be worth all the work it would take to restore, (all other 435 had iron heads). You alsp mention windsheild rust and this puts them both into a catagory of major repair and should only be considered as an investment if you are capable of performing all the work yourself or have very deep pockets and don't particularly care how much money you will have to invest.

jerry

[Robert C.]

Re: GO on that 69!!

Hi Dale, You are a lucky man, I hope! I came across a bb. 69 conv. About a year ago. The guy had the car mostly in boxes. paint was shot, engine disassembled, etc. I called a Corvette mechanic/friend, we flew over to his place and bought the car on the spot. He had 4 or 5 others waiting on the phone for directions to his house. Even under those circumstances he came down to $4,000. I sold the car without doing anything for a nice profit. Please call me if you decide you don't want the cars. I would buy them BOTH, ASAP. That is if the seller is reasonable and in the $10k for both range.


Texas Chapter NCRS

[Mike Militi]

Re: price of 69 big block

Dale,

These two vettes were advertised in the most recent NCRS Driveline...I know, I called on them. I'm from NY, already have a project LT-1 and I really like my marriage, so I lost interest. The L-89 sounded like a buy at about $10K you should negotiate depending upon what the car actually looks like and what documentation there is. If the L-89, (aluminum head model), has some documentation and is real, I'd go for it. I'd pass on the L-71. Good Luck!

Mike

[Patrick H.]

Re: GO on that 69!!

Dale,

IMHO, the $10,000 range would be high for the iron head car, assuming the aluminum heads are correct FOR THE CAR. If the aluminum heads are on the convertible, you may have a find if you wish to spend 5 years restoring the car. But, it would have to come with documentation.

I looked at a 69 435 coupe last fall, original but sat in a garage with a dirt floor for 15 years (slightly better than outside), and turned it down at $10,000. It would have cost $25k - $35k to restore, especially if you tried to use original type parts. For the $35k - $45k total investment, I'll buy one that someone else has done, as my 71 and 72 keep me busy enough. I'll have $8k to 9k restoration costs in the 72 convertible when I'm done, and it came with a new top and paint job! And, it's only being done to "driver" status! (OK, I went a little overboard for a driver.)

Look at the asking prices in the Driveline, or recent Vette Magazine and Corvette Fever value guides for these cars. Then, as the cars you are looking at will need EVERYTHING done to them, subtract the the restoration price above, assuming you do it all yourself. If the current price = maximum value - restoration price, then go for it. Otherwise, be prepared to have more into it than it is worth in the end. Also remember as you work on it, parts prices are not going down, but neither are values.

Remember, you may be best off buying both, and using one as a (gasp) parts car if it is in much worse shape. If you are in luck, the convertible has no flares, and ORIGINAL aluminum heads, while the coupe is iron head and modified. The flares will co$t you lot$ of money to fix. Seriously think about taking a restorer friend along to give you some objective input when viewing the car.

Projects are fun, but you have to go into them knowing what you are in for, as well as their true value. I wish you the best.

Patrick Hulst #16386

[Mike hom]

Re: yeah, you tell 'em

Occasionally, some of the posts on The Board remind me of conversations I get into at work. One manager will be criticizing a decision made by a corporate VP (I work for a VERY large company). The person will go on and on about how someone should tell them how the company REALLY works, and that they don't know poop from shinola, yada, yada. Anyway, I am usually the one to say "Yeah, you're right. Just march right up to the 12TH floor and tell that knuckle head he don't know NOTHING! I would, I sure would, if I felt as strongly about it as you do. Go ahead - someone has to have the guts to tell 'em".

Yep, I'd sure snap up those cars that have been out in the weather for 15 years. Lord yes I would. If only I didn't have a wife I'd call the guy right now . . .

[Mike Militi]

Re: yeah, you tell 'em

Mike,

Thanks for the input! I'm just offering my opinion, in an uncriticized manner, based on my experiences and situation...as is the case with MOST people that respond to these threads. I think Dale already knows the condition of the vehicles and how much work is involved. What he didn't know was if the time, energy and expense would be worth it. I think the responses he received answered his question.

Mike