I will be looking at C1 project cars this weekend; want to find a restoration project. While there are many variables to consider, it seems to me that the two most important are the integrity of the body and the frame. I would appreciate any helpful hints when inspecting these two units to assess their integrity. Thanks.
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Re: C1 Project Purchase: Body and Frame Scrutiny
Richard,
Not wanting to dampen your enthusiasum but I really must advise against purchacing basket cases unless your sure that ALL of the parts are there.
Buying a body or chassis seems a great place to start but a lot of the parts on these C-1's are VERY hard to find and VERY expensive if you can find then at all.
For instance, I wanted a heater defrost switch for my 59 and the only place that I could find them was at a couple of the vendors that carry used parts and the CHEAPEST price I was quoted was $275 and that was just for a switch so you can imagine if you need a complete windshield frame many of the parts are not replicated so your at the mercy of anyone who has them for sale.
Do yourself a BIG favour and beg borrow or steal enough to buy a complete car.
It's a lot easier to paint, plate or refurbish parts than it is to find them.
Restoration can be a lot of fun but if things get too hard then your "Hobby" just becomes one more of life's headaches!
Good Luck and keep the faith, Mark.
My Vette Page -
Re: C1 Project Purchase: Body and Frame Scrutiny
Richard,
I didn't answer your questions in the first post so here's a couple of suggestions.
I suggest that you look in the wheel well areas as a lot of these cars (mine included) have been modified at one time or another for big wheels.
Mine had the front section under the bumpers and in fact even the ends of the bumpers chopped off as well as the lip that runs arount the top of the fender arch to give clearence for big wheels.
I spent a fair amount of time fixing the butchered areas of the wheel wells.
The other obvious areas is front and rear damage. Looking into the far upper and lower corners of the trunk area (and underneath)especialy the area where the pipes go through should display any repair areas. Not many repairers go to the trouble of neatening the fiberglass in these hard to see areas.
Get a good flashlight and turn the front wheels to one lock so that you can get your head underneath and check for loose of jaggard fiberglass repairs around the bumper brackets and headlight buckets and anywher else that seems logical.
The frame is fairly obvious so just check at all of the low points and at the seams and brackets.
I'm by no means an expert and have only my own experience with my 59 for reference but I hope that I may have been some help.
Good luck, Mark.Comment
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Re: C1 Project Purchase: Body and Frame Scrutiny
If you don't know these cars very well, take someone with you that does! As Mark pointed out, even the small parts will cost hundreds of dollars, if you are lucky enough to find them. If you have not gone through one of these cars before, extensively, a $10,000 basket case could look like a better deal than a $25,000 driveable car. If you don't know what to look for, you could EASILY spend another $25,000 before the basket case is on the road.Comment
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Re: C1 Project Purchase: Body and Frame Scrutiny
When I purchased my 60 it was already "body off".
I got a couple of parts catalogues and looked at the prices.
I did an inventory of everything with special attention to the
expensive parts. I was still pretty lucky. Apparently the car was
complete when the restoration was started. I would not even
consider a car that is not complete. If you plan on going for judging,
find one that is complete AND correct.
LarryComment
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