Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

[Michael M.]

I would like to get your opinion on this car. There is some doubt, but I wonder what the experts think.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvette-EXTRAORDINARY-LT-1-CONVERTIBLE-W-ORIGINAL-TANK-STICKER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6168QQihZ016QQitemZ260229669923QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Jack C.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

Miles and miles from Top Flight. Besides what he says is wrong or missing, don't forget about the smog, exhaust and mufflers, headlamp shields, front air dam, rear corvette letters etc. etc.

[Robert E.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

In addition to above, I don't believe the LT-1 came with an aluminum rad or an expansion tank.

Rob

[Paul D.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

Looks like while taking all those pictures he could have gotten a better shot of the tank sticker. I wonder if anything other than the VIN is legible. Very pretty car and probably a fun driver, but I imagine his value is based more on "rare" and "restored".

[Terry B.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

Too many questions for me in this restoration. On the frame, why put on bushings that are weather cracked. Why the headers? There is a lot of black paint where there should not be on the frame parts. If this was a car worthy of this restoration, why do it half way. I would also like to see pictures before the restoration was started.

[Jeremy D.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

I really think something is not quite right in the chicken coop with this car....as mentioned, NO LT-1's had expansion tanks....the water pump is totally wrong, it's a '70 with later '1971/2 valve covers, ignition shielding is all wrong, no 5 port pump, one of the front grilles has been replaced and there's no headlight covers behind them, wrong alternator, metal fan shroud, wrong fan...and I could go on and on....that tank & sticker could be out of ANY car....my REAL LT-1's tank looks just like the one in the picture right now, dirt & all. If that car REALLY WAS an LT-1, the owner spent 17 months and a LOT of money screwing up what MIGHT've been a nice car...but I'm betting it was a 300 hp convertible that's been cloned. Anybody check out the pic of the rear diff front bushing fastener? The nut wasn't tightened down....Wish I could see how the 1/2 shafts are fastened....If there's no caps on the yoke, that would be another giveaway....Definitely not for me. I bet it'll be in ProTeam's stable soon

[Stuart F.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

Do you really think this will be in Pro Teams inventory soon? I thought Terry M. was more particular. He sure bids well on the TV auctions and talks a good story. Have not visited his dealership, but bought a lot of parts from him back in the 70's, and I think he got a raw deal from (who was it?) his partner.

Stu

[Harmon C.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

This is one car you would need to see in person and decide if it is a real LT-1. The restoration was done by someone who was just painting parts and cared less about judging. I agree that time and money could bring it back if the big items are original. I would say the price is at it's limit for the way it is restored.

[William C.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

Not a C-3 kind of guy myself, but what I see is new paint that screams clearcoat from miles away, and an engine pad that has no closeups and is painted over in the only picture I could find that it shows in, lots of shots showing lack of door rust, but whatever it looks like, I wouldn't even think about it unless it was close enough to go look at the engine myself ond only then if the guy was willing to take the paint off. BTW, given the way the exhaust system is welded as one piece from front to back, how would you ever get it out if you had to work on something?

[Jeremy D.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

The exhaust is hysterical....there's hangers where GM never put hangers in the first place!! If that car is a real LT-1, the owner is REALLY going to have to prove it....and from what I see, any bonafide evidence has either been eliminated, destroyed, or wasn't there in the first place. The tank sticker doesn't mean a thing, there's no VIN on the sticker to match it to the car. It could have come from any '70 convertible.
After seeing what Terry bought in Kissimmee and put on Ebay to try to get rid of (and he didn't, as far as I know, it didn't sell on Ebay, anyways) he may not be as savvy as everyone thinks he is. We all make mistakes....but even an idiot like me could've figured out the car had more to its story than what was being told/displayed. And, I know what he paid for the car, I saw it sold....and it was listed a week later for $30,000 more than he paid for it. And it's sad....it was one heck of a nice car. Then again, THAT may be the "Screwing Over" that he got....and if it is, I know who it was that screwed him over, and that makes the whole thing funnier than heck!!!

[Tom L.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

What happened to the power steering? The tie rods are in the inner holes and the outer holes are plugged, but the power steering components are gone. Power steering was not available on the LT-1 until some time in May of '70. This is supposed to be an early June car, so I guess it's possible, but where did it go?

[Alan S.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

So MANY pictures that give so LITTLE information and raise so MANY questions. BUT, the pictures were taken in a CHURCH parking lot; has this car been judged by a higher power than the NCRS or Bloomington Gold?
Regards,
Alan

[Jeremy D.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

I can't believe that there are SIXTEEN bids on this thing and it's already over $30K. The power steering is probably in the same place as the original oil pan....was probably never there. Is there any NCRS members that live near this car? I wish I was Trump rich...I'd fly out there and look over the thing myself just to make sure it's a fake. Then again....the church parking lot may have a lot to do with it....it seems to work in Pastor Mike's favor LOL!!

[Mike G.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

i saw that last night. its a real corvette but its not an lt1. he gives you the numbers on the pad and they are not lt1. the last 3 letters in the early june lt1 stamp pad should be CTU. that car is a base model with a high rpm tach and aluminum intake. one pic shows the rear half shafts and they have u bolts. lt1's have the bolts and blocks like the big block cars. not an lt1 carb on the car. bet it also has no ti box or ti distributor. if its been removed and replaced where is the ti wire harness. if that car were a real lt1 the price would be alot closer to 100k than it is.

[Mike G.]

Re: Need an opinion, do you believe this is real?

I can't believe that there are SIXTEEN bids on this thing and it's already over $30K. The power steering is probably in the same place as the original oil pan....was probably never there. Is there any NCRS members that live near this car? I wish I was Trump rich...I'd fly out there and look over the thing myself just to make sure it's a fake. Then again....the church parking lot may have a lot to do with it....it seems to work in Pastor Mike's favor LOL!!

you could not get power steering on an early june lt-1. that did not come out until late june with the new ctk block.