Where are all the 1960s?

[Mark H.]

[Jim L.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

OK, I'll play.

I have a '60 which I've enjoyed for 41 years. It was a quasi-barnfind and is an original-engine 290 HP car.

It has my home-grown Big(ger) Brake system with finned drums and I've added wide wheels. It also has the dual deep groove pulley set up used on solid lifter Sting Rays.

The real treat (for me, anyway) is that the engine has an FI unit I've modified to be virtually immune to fuel percolation. JD would immediately notice the changes, but for the most part they are subtle and "period plausible".

About as reliable as an anvil, when I moved from right coast to left coast, I threw my suitcase in the trunk and drove it across country. Since then it's been to Steamboat Springs for an NCRS regional, to Yosemite a couple of times, and is usually my preferred ride when the Northern CA Chapter hosts its annual event about 100 miles away.

That's my '60 Corvette story and I'm stickin' to it.

Jim

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

I have 60 270 HP that I purchased in the late 90's. It was a Duntov car and I have driven it 55,000 miles since the purchase. Including Canada, New England, Mid West, and last but not least Coast to Coast. If it had AC I would drive it to Palm Springs next year. Getting too old for the 120 degree desert with no AC

[Joe M.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

I own a 1960 that I purchased in 1989. 138,000 miles.

[Bert L.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

Period photos of my '60, I'm it's third owner, I purchased it in 1974.
I have undertaken a body-off on it that is lasting much too long!....
Pix taken by first owner during a December 1960 vacation road trip to California.
(shot at Grand Canyon)
230/PG
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IMG_0003.jpg

[Mark H.]

[Tom D.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

Mark: There are a few in the Michigan Chapter. Red, or white and at least one black one.

[Jim L.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

These are great. Thanks for sharing. What I’m wondering is why the 1960 model year seems less available/harder to find. I see ‘58-‘59 and ‘61-‘62 for sale all the time. Not ‘60s. Not a numbers produced issue. Just seems weird.

That suggests that '60s are solid, decent cars with few vices and owners see no compelling reason to dispose of them.

Or maybe '60s just make good parts cars.

[Richard M.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

They're out there. Did this one for a buddy from LI NY a few years ago. He body-off'd and painted it up in NY. He brought it to his FL Winter house to assemble but never got to it, sold his house and had to get it out of there. He asked if I'd finish it for him. It was good timing for me as I had nothing to do and was bored. Boy did that change.

After about 200 hours of assembly work, redo this and that cuz I didn't like some stuff, new soft top, etc, he then trailered it from FL back to LI and sold it in NY to a dealer, then it went to GA to another dealer, then to a gentleman in Atlanta. That man found me(via my old website where I had pictures of the restoration) and told me he and his wife love it and always sent me photos of it winning lots of awards at car shows. A real crowd pleaser he said. One Corvette show with over 100 there, his took Best of Show. Made me feel good.

P2120032.jpgP2120033.jpgP2120034.jpgP2120035.jpgP2120036.jpgP2120037.jpgP2120040.jpgP2120043.jpgP2120062.jpg

[Gary S.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

THAT is a stunning car, both in color combinations and overall appearance. I would drool to have that in my garage.
Gary

[Tom E.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

I agree Gary, all of Richard’s work can be described in superlative adjectives like “exceptional work, perfect restoration etc”. Beautiful car for sure.

As for the number of 60’s in the market place I’ll offer my opinion... I did a few searches for cars ranging from 59-67 and I would say the number of cars available in each year is relative to the number of cars produced and their desirability. For example 1960 GM produced a little more than 10,000 cars compared to 1967 GM produced close to 23,000 cars. Makes sense there would be less cars for sale, especially when you remove the number crashed, burned etc over the last 60 years. Again, just my 2 cents. FWIW

Tom

[William B.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

My 60, big brake, fuelie, now Duntov, after a lot of work

1960-3 (3).jpg1960-25 (22) Carlisle invitation, aug 2019.jpg

[Tom P.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

I think the 60s got lost in the 70s.

[Jim L.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

I think the 60s got lost in the 70s.

If you remember the '60s, then you weren't really there.

[Roger W.]

Re: Where are all the 1960s?

Rich,
Beautiful Job. You should be very proud of your work.