1961 Barn Find
A local fellow recently died. He owned a 1961 Corvette. I am helping his widow sell the car. They had owned the car for a number of decades. It was last stored for many years in a storage facility. The car is all in pieces but the majority of the pieces are there. We are getting an inventory together of what parts are there. The car was a 283/230hp 4 speed car. The numbers do not match but this fellow had accumulated many correct numbered parts over many years and has a correct numbered block, heads, intake, exhaust, generator and many other not correct numbered parts (carb, distributor, more) The body is in good shape. We are stripping it now (it was originally maroon and had been red and green in it's life). The hard top is in good shape. There is no frame or convertible top (if there ever was one). The car looks to have been off the frame some time to us as the frame is in primer and is in good shape. I will post some more photos as we prep this car for sale. I have no idea about a value but would think it is a valuable car. It will need a complete restoration but is a good candidate for same. Thanks. Mike Martin, Madison, Ms
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
Mike, Reminds me of the condition that I found my 62. It's hard to tell but I don't see soft top latches on the deck so I might have been a hard top only car. Have fun! Eric -
Re: 1961 Barn Find
Eric: I think you are correct about the car being a non convertible top car. I think the car was initially a 3 speed car but now has a 4 speed #3851325.Comment
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
On the bulkhead behind the pass seat you might still see the green crayon marks indicating HT only or ST designated. Triangular reinforcements only in cars with ragtop.I'd look under the car at the floor pan to see if the car is one or two 61s.Never saw a crooked vin tag, but then again ????Was the body off the frame or was the frame painted with the body on?crossmember where the back end springs attach is often rotted. check vin stamp on frame, about where back pocket of driver would be. Slip some wood under the flexible body, feel for a slight depression and use a mirror or place some bondo on the geased spot to get an actual impression.what is the extent of the body work?Comment
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
Hardtop only cars do not have the T-Nut for the softtop in the well.
1957 AIM illustration of Hardtop only T-Nut
Hardtop Only T-Nut.jpgNCRS Texas Chapter
https://www.ncrstexas.org/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631Comment
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
I would guess that the body was off the frame to have the frame painted in the manner in which it is (but maybe not). Owners have owned the car for decades. In storage all that time. The car has been hit in the front and the bottom of the nose panel has been replaced. That seems to be the only significant body work done. Pretty sure the VIN plate is original. I'll check on that frame number. There was a second unusual (see photo).Comment
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
Mike,
Looks like you have all the info to check for the soft top. What makes you think that it was a three speed car? Shift Plate?
Also, it looks like from your earlier set of pictures that the frame was primed right over the control arm bushings and seals. If that is the case you might want to check the front suspension for condition.
Nice hood!
EricComment
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
Yes. I found a 3 speed shift plate.
The deceased owner had been collecting parts for this car (and also a nicer '62 that we are going to restore) for years. Evidently the old original engine was long gone. He bought a correct numbered block (3756519, dated H160) out of an outfit in Oshkosh, Wi in 2001. He had them stamp the pad on the block with the numbers "1100948 F0826CU". That was done so the block, which in NOT matching, does have the correct numbers. I think the owner never planned to sell this car and just wanted an engine that had matching numbers. He did the same on the '62 car (327/340). Thanks.Comment
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
Here is a photo on the 1962 car that these folks also own.Comment
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Re: 1961 Barn Find
There are a couple of rips in the fiberglass on this car which we plan to repair.
We use a polyester filler, Slick Sand, sometimes on non fiberglass cars. It is like a thick sprayable bondo. It is a two part resin. Could that be used as the gel coat on this car? If not, is there a sprayable resin that you folks use for the gel coat? Tks for any guidance.Comment
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