1965 Corvette Coupe WANTED!!!

nooshinjohn

Looking for a 1965 Corvette Coupe in parts-car/donor condition. I am looking for something I can use to build as a street-rod/resto-mod type car. The idea is to keep the body relatively stock, with the addition of a split-window and a few other very minor tweaks, and sitting the body on a C5/C6 running gear.... any leads would be appreciated.

Inspector 24

Maybe they'll be auctioning these off?
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/automobiles/corvette-number-eight-pulled-from-national-corvette-museum-sinkhole.html?_r=0



Seriously cool idea though, I've seen one done like this in person, modern running gear in a vintage body, fantastic.

charley95

Buy one already done. You will spend a fortune building one from scratch. Split window was 63 only, not meaning to be rude but I've been down that road many times. Let the other guy take the hit from investing too much into his car.

tonyb

Have to agree with Charley here. Rethink what your getting into....talk about a money pit.

charley95

If you build one from scratch and build it to top flight status you are well into 6 figures.

helipilotdoug

1965 Corvette Coupe WANTED!!! Don't we all!!! LOL Seriously John, unless you want to do the work yourself as a fun project, I'd take that advice. The cost involved in parts, not to mention labor, when you do it yourself will never be re-couped.

tonyb

You could buy a Ferrari for what you'd sink into that thing.

I know some people who have had the same thoughts as you John. They figure they can collect parts slowly and do the work themselves. Things is, they drastically under estimate the costs involved, spend a ton of money on parts, and too much time goes by and they lose interest or something else pops up to take up their time and money. So they sell everything at a huge loss.

You don't seem to be the type that has a bottomless pit of coinage to suck from, so maybe buy one already done, or get your Jag and invest the rest.

Toolfan66

I would just buy a C6-C7 mod it to your liking and be done with it. I love the old cars but they will never compare to the newer models.. JMHO..

I would like to have a nice 69 Camaro but for the money they fetch I would take a 2013-2014 ZL1 over it any day of the week..

charley95

Toolfan66 wrote: »

I would just buy a C6-C7 mod it to your liking and be done with it. I love the old cars but they will never compare to the newer models.. JMHO..

I would like to have a nice 69 Camaro but for the money they fetch I would take a 2013-2014 ZL1 over it any day of the week..

You couldn't have said it better. Old muscle is nice to look at but it's too prehistoric compared to the new stuff today.

oldrocker

I know a guy thats got one but way over priced.
I got one left, a 76 L82 with 69k original miles, was the first one I ever owned.
I suppose I should get rid of it someday as I never drive it anymore. If you do end up having a project, please keep me informed on your progress.

tonyb

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4435726686.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4415184388.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4457807908.html

Now if you take the top 2, compared with the 3rd, you think 40k will turn the 3rd into the top 2 ? That's a stretch John.

Inspector 24

Wow I didn't realize John was asking for advice on how to best spend his own time and money. :razz:

tonyb

Inspector 24 wrote: »

Wow I didn't realize John was asking for advice on how to best spend his own time and money. :razz:

He's not, but obviously may not know what he's getting into. We like to call that "advice" from his friends, something we hand out around here too.

tonyb

'64

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4457335513.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/4452325199.html

AsSiMiLaTeD

I know there are newer cars that perform better, but my dream car has always been the 1957 Corvette with the interior of the 1959 model. Sometimes it doesn't always boil down to what performs the best, a car like this is about more than performance IMO...it's about character.

It may be cheaper and easier to buy one that's done, but there's something to be said for pouring your heart and should into a project and then having a finished product to show for it.

A newer corvette will perform better, but it has no soul.

Jstas

Since we're talking pipe dreams, why stop at a mere, run-of-the-mill '65 Sting Ray? Why not go for a '63 split window? Or better yet, a '67 convertible with a L88 427 Tri-Power under the hood? Hell, let's go whole hog and go for a '63 Grand Sport!


All cars are money pits and you have to get them to a certain point before you will ever see a return on your investment.

I don't fault anyone for wanting to take on a project of passion like that 'cause your personal enjoyment and reward is about all you're gonna get out of it besides a temperamental, unreliable car.

However, many people buy these "project cars" with grand designs in their heads after watching the weekend warrior/shadetree mechanic shows on cable on the weekends and think "Look how easy it is! I can do it!" and.....they can't.

It is WAY more involved than anyone ever thinks it is. I swear the collector car market is artificially inflated because of the demand made by these pie-in-the-sky ideas people have.

Trust me, no "project" ever goes as planned and stuff ALWAYS gets in the way. Hell, I have a project that has been sitting for 10 years now. Mainly because a divorce and the purchase of a house took priority. Will I get to it? Yeah, eventually but it's not a 6 figure Corvette rotting away in a garage. It's my little Ranger, worth about $500 in scrap. But nobody will ever tell me not to cut it up 'cause it's "history". I still have it because it has sentimental value to it. My "hot rod" is the black Lightning parked in the driveway that gets driven in anger regularly.

But yeah, I thought I could have it done in 2-3 years...15 years ago. Hah! Yeah, right.

I spent more time working on everyone else's junk for money to pay for school and such than I ever did on my own stuff. Lotsa people I know have all kinds of nice hot rods and race cars because of my time and effort yet I still have a hulk on steel no where near where I planned to have it 10 years ago. They have nice cars because they paid someone else to do it. All the people who did the work? They don't have their hot rods and race cars. But they do have nice houses, loving families and successful businesses. Makes the "project car" pale in comparison.

So spend the money on it if you want to store someone else's restoration project for a decade or so while you kid yourself into thinking you have the time, talent/skill and money to do it...one day. I DO have the time, money and skill to do it and I haven't even gotten to it yet! How well does that bode for your chances?

EndersShadow

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

......but it has no soul.

Hey now.... dont talk about tony like that.....

decal

If you ask Polkfarmboy real nicely, he might sell you his Porche. It's a much better car !!!!

charley95

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

I know there are newer cars that perform better, but my dream car has always been the 1957 Corvette with the interior of the 1959 model. Sometimes it doesn't always boil down to what performs the best, a car like this is about more than performance IMO...it's about character.

It may be cheaper and easier to buy one that's done, but there's something to be said for pouring your heart and should into a project and then having a finished product to show for it.

A newer corvette will perform better, but it has no soul.

The best looking Vette's were the mid-years 63-67 IMHO. Old ones are great, but when I owned Vettes it was nice to go for long drives comfortably. The older ones are only good for afternoon drives and then your ready to get the hell out of them. Must be my old age but I like the newer fiberglass.

Toolfan66

I wouldn't say they have no soul, it's just because you see more of them because they are newer, that's why you mod it to your liking and give it some soul.

But I understand where you're coming from. I would love to have a 58 impala hot rodded, tubbed and the whole nine yards..

rooftop59

Toolfan66 wrote: »

I wouldn't say they have no soul, it's just because you see more of them because they are newer, that's why you mod it to your liking and give it some soul.

Exactly. Because something is old and rare that means it has soul? Why Tony has soul in spades!! (ducks for cover...)

ViperZ

So what's wrong with having a hobby of restoring and modding cars? Yes, people spend money on it. Some of you have sunk enormous amounts of money modding their SDAs - you could have bought much better sounding modern speakers for all that money, but you didn't?!

Jstas

There is "restoring and modding cars" and then there is "biting off more than you can chew".

The vast majority of people out there who get into something thinking "I can do this!" really have little clue about how difficult, expensive and time consuming it can be.

Things to remember when getting a "project car":
- Get something that runs. If not...
- The closer to running under its own power, the better
- Get a complete car. If not...
- The more complete the car is, the better
- It's going to cost 3 times as much money as you think, YMMV
- It's going to take at least 3 times as long as you think, YMMV
- You are going to need tools you've never heard of
- Your tool budget can equal and even surpass your project budget, YMMV
- Fabrication is an art form, it requires talent and patience, there is a reason good body guys make good money
- You'd better have a place where you can store the project in various states of disassembly for long periods of time
- You're going to make mistakes, some you won't be able to fix yourself
- Make friends with a machine shop, you're going to be seeing a lot of them
- Engines are more expensive than you think
- Paint is WAY more expensive than you think
- Prepare to get up close and personal with sanders, sanding blocks, sand paper and body filler.


I know a guy who has bought 4 consecutive project cars with the idea that he was going to be able to tackle them as projects with his kids. He has minimal mechanical skills/ability/tools. His kids are relatively uninterested. He ended up having a friend who is more mechanically inclined help him. His friend told him each time to get rid of the hulk, it was beyond him. He now has a running vehicle that he can work on tidying up and carting his family around on vacations with. That's what he should have gotten in the first place. Not a basket case "race car" with a broken sub-frame or a pair of old British sports cars that even combined together didn't make one running example or another British sports car that needed a new engine that he could only get from overseas.

charley95

He can also buy new car with more HP than he'll ever need and also get the mfr.'s warranty. No warranty to fall back on the project car.

Jstas

That's another thing, every problem you have with it, you are either relying on yourself or paying a mechanic to fix it.

tonyb

You guys are spot on....could be why John hasn't chimed in. LOL

Scared another one....

As far as my "soul" goes, that's been sold along time ago for a 6-pak and a cheap hooker. Think I got the shaft on that deal.

nooshinjohn

Thanks guys for all the feedback. Let me explain further where my head is at on this.

I was born in 1965, and the only 'Vette I ever drooled over is a 1 of 1 '65 "tanker" fastback red on red coupe with fuel injection. They built only two in '65 and only one still exists. It sold a few years back for 1.4 million dollars, so I will have no luck whatsoever getting my hands on that one. Seeing as though I cannot have what I want, I will build what I like.

The '63 coupe is perhaps the most iconic American car of the post-war era and I love the split-window, but prefer the front clip and b-post vent treatment of the 65's. My plan is to buy a complete, newly built rolling chassis with the running gear already in place
and place the body on the new frame. The interior will be heavily modded in order to bring the car up to modern comfort/convenience and perhaps some added safety features as well. Time frame from the start of the project to cruising PCH is going to be about 5 years, in order to lighten the wallet burden and make sure it is done right.

I worked assembly line, have been around cars all my life and I am getting into this with eyes wide open.

Toolfan66

Jstas wrote: »

There is "restoring and modding cars" and then there is "biting off more than you can chew".

The vast majority of people out there who get into something thinking "I can do this!" really have little clue about how difficult, expensive and time consuming it can be.

Things to remember when getting a "project car":
- Get something that runs. If not...
- The closer to running under its own power, the better
- Get a complete car. If not...
- The more complete the car is, the better
- It's going to cost 3 times as much money as you think, YMMV
- It's going to take at least 3 times as long as you think, YMMV
- You are going to need tools you've never heard of
- Your tool budget can equal and even surpass your project budget, YMMV
- Fabrication is an art form, it requires talent and patience, there is a reason good body guys make good money
- You'd better have a place where you can store the project in various states of disassembly for long periods of time
- You're going to make mistakes, some you won't be able to fix yourself
- Make friends with a machine shop, you're going to be seeing a lot of them
- Engines are more expensive than you think
- Paint is WAY more expensive than you think
- Prepare to get up close and personal with sanders, sanding blocks, sand paper and body filler.


I know a guy who has bought 4 consecutive project cars with the idea that he was going to be able to tackle them as projects with his kids. He has minimal mechanical skills/ability/tools. His kids are relatively uninterested. He ended up having a friend who is more mechanically inclined help him. His friend told him each time to get rid of the hulk, it was beyond him. He now has a running vehicle that he can work on tidying up and carting his family around on vacations with. That's what he should have gotten in the first place. Not a basket case "race car" with a broken sub-frame or a pair of old British sports cars that even combined together didn't make one running example or another British sports car that needed a new engine that he could only get from overseas.

Very well said, couldn't agree more..

charley95

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Thanks guys for all the feedback. Let me explain further where my head is at on this.

I was born in 1965, and the only 'Vette I ever drooled over is a 1 of 1 '65 "tanker" fastback red on red coupe with fuel injection. They built only two in '65 and only one still exists. It sold a few years back for 1.4 million dollars, so I will have no luck whatsoever getting my hands on that one. Seeing as though I cannot have what I want, I will build what I like.

The '63 coupe is perhaps the most iconic American car of the post-war era and I love the split-window, but prefer the front clip and b-post vent treatment of the 65's. My plan is to buy a complete, newly built rolling chassis with the running gear already in place
and place the body on the new frame. The interior will be heavily modded in order to bring the car up to modern comfort/convenience and perhaps some added safety features as well. Time frame from the start of the project to cruising PCH is going to be about 5 years, in order to lighten the wallet burden and make sure it is done right.

I worked assembly line, have been around cars all my life and I am getting into this with eyes wide open.

Other than the sentimental aspect of this, what is it that you don't like about the newer Vette's? I still think you are much better off buying something complete!

charley95

Better yet I suggest you go test drive a 11-13 ZR-1 and re-assess your wishes! 638 HP and you can travel cross country comfortably.

nooshinjohn

charley95 wrote: »

Other than the sentimental aspect of this, what is it that you don't like about the newer Vette's? I still think you are much better off buying something complete!

I was born in 1965 and the rest of them weren't....

The newer cars simply lack the raw sex-appeal of the C1/C2 cars. I do appreciate the way the new cars drive, which is why I chose the modern underpinnings. I am building a car for me, the way I want it to be. The only items that will be farmed out is the chassis build and the paint. Rosso Corso Red over palomino and red leather, done in a "Daytona" pattern is the direction I am going...


And Charlie... the Z0-6 may be the package that gets bolted in, mated with a supercharger, so 700+ is not out of the question.


Guys, I know this is a giant rabbit hole, but I remind everyone that you guys thought my tube amps would implode and they turned out to be legit high-end gear that look as good as they sound. My budget is coming in around 40k, so if I am smart about what I am doing and take the time to do it right the first time, I should have a car that will be worth the trouble for much less than buying somebody else's vision and then having to make it my own. I don't really care about using NOS/or original parts, nor do I care about "Bloomington Gold". I just want a 1965 Corvette Coupe done the way I want it.