Back after a decade and have some questions

[Dave C.]

Hey everyone, I am in the process of buying my third corvette, I started with a 72 LT-1 when I was 22, then a 66 450 horse , L-72 roadster, when I was 40, and now this 67 , 435 horse roadster for my upcoming 50th. The car seems to be an original 435 horse car, just wondering besides having a 6500 red line tach, and an 80 pound oil pressure gauge, what else should I be looking for, the car does have a rear sway bar , was it a larger diameter bar than all the other cars, or were all the big blocks the same?
i tried looking in the archives for this stuff, but I guess I'm not using the right search phrases.
Also I did the search for the dealer, though the site here, and the car was sold at Kayson Chevrolet, in Ossining, NY, just wondered, before I make the call, has anyone out there had any luck getting any old documents from these guys, ( they are still in business) and if so who I could contact there to get the best results.

thanks in advance

dave C

[Mark L.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dave, welcome to NCRS. My first advice is to proceed carefully. At the least get a new copy of the 67 Technical Guide and even better find someone who is an expert on these cars to have an inspection done.
Mark

[Ara G.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dave, Mark gives sound advice....and I'm not just saying that because both of us are Massachusetts natives..... 67 435 cars are the most faked car out there in the Corvette community I am guessing. Grab an NCRS judge to go with you to inspect the car. Noone in this hobby wants another story out there about a guys dropping over 100K on a car that turns out to be worth 40K. Clips, gauges, mounts, engine pad, casting dates, etc are essential to be authentic and verified by someone who knows before one offer should be made on the car (IMO). That is not an exhaustive list, that's just a starting point. One easy item you can look at before you even need to recruit an NCRS judge is if it's an AO Smith body car then you don't need to go much further. There are so many learned guys out there that you will have no problem finding a judge to go along with you if you get to that point. A 435 car is like a Black car - the car needs to prove to me that it actually is what it purports to be before I can even start to process the qualities and attributes of the car. Tread cautiously. Best of luck. Keep us posted. Regards. ARAMark - I hope you are well....

[Daniel Y.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dave,

after all that has been done and you are still interested. get the pad certified by Al Grenning. The present owner would need to get it done. good luck!

[Joe L.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Hey everyone, I am in the process of buying my third corvette, I started with a 72 LT-1 when I was 22, then a 66 450 horse , L-72 roadster, when I was 40, and now this 67 , 435 horse roadster for my upcoming 50th. The car seems to be an original 435 horse car, just wondering besides having a 6500 red line tach, and an 80 pound oil pressure gauge, what else should I be looking for, the car does have a rear sway bar , was it a larger diameter bar than all the other cars, or were all the big blocks the same?
i tried looking in the archives for this stuff, but I guess I'm not using the right search phrases.
Also I did the search for the dealer, though the site here, and the car was sold at Kayson Chevrolet, in Ossining, NY, just wondered, before I make the call, has anyone out there had any luck getting any old documents from these guys, ( they are still in business) and if so who I could contact there to get the best results.

thanks in advance

dave C

dave------


During the 1965-74 period, the rear sway bar was used only for big block Corvettes. While there were 3 different bars over the period, for any given year the bar was the same for all big block engines. The bars were 9/16" OD. The 65-67 bar had a "straight" cross-car section. Later bars had a few "off-sets".

From 1975-onward, a rear bar was used for Corvettes equipped with FE-7 suspension. This bar was 7/16" OD.

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Thanks for your responses guys, even though I have not owned a corvette in a while, I am well aware of how many faked 435 horse cars there are out there. Without me telling you how much I am paying for this car, what kind of value would you put on a 67 , 435 horse roadster with a proper date coded block and heads, that has been really nicely frame on restored.

[Michael J.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Does it have a tank sticker or any other documentation?

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

No documentation, or owner history.

[Michael J.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

I would venture a guess, if the car is in good shape (say a 2 or so), without documentation and probably not the original engine, of about 80K, +- $20K. However, the range is so wide based on other factors, it would be best to get a professional appraisal. But at the end of the day if you really like the car, you will have to pay what the seller will sell it for, good luck.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

No documentation, or owner history.

IMHO If there is no original POP or tank sticker or other GM paper work there is no way to tell if it is a real factory 435.

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Thanks, Michael , that's what I wanted to hear, I have a deal on the car for $74000.00 , and as much as I would love to own a fully documented, top flight car, I can't afford $200,000.00 right now. The car is a good solid 2, and I think it is worth taking a chance on.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dave,

Keep in mind if it's a 300hp car counterfeited to be a 435 hp car you are going backwards $20000-$25000 and maybe a little more.

Don't get to excited or let anyone rush you, get the car looked at for that money.

[Daniel Y.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Thats really low for a L71 even for a #2. is it Green? Originality is suspect. most likely motor was replaced or worse it might have been a small block. is this car in Ohio by chance outside of Columbus?

[Mike E.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

IMHO If there is no original POP or tank sticker or other GM paper work there is no way to tell if it is a real factory 435.

Ken, you are right on. For those who really know those cars, it's a lot easier to tell that it isn't. Dave, iff you can, utilize someone who knows and judges them. And if you choose not to, buy it, drive it, and enjoy it for what it presents itself to be if you feel that its value to you is $74k.

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dan,

the car is red, and not from Ohio, as for the value if it happens to be a fake, what about all the former small block cars that have been transformed into 435 horse cars, judged and given top flight awards by the NCRS, and now their worth $120,000.00 even with no documentation.