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I won a bid on a 1959 corvette. The numbers on the FI 283 and 4 speed transmission match. The body is in decent shape , (but still need a lot of work), the interior is completely thrashed and just about everything under the car. ( suspension, some floors and brakes) need to be replaced. They said it ran... the last time they started it ( about 10 years ago). I don't really care as long as the block is rebuildable. I am torn between doing a frame off restoration or.... going with an LS 3 crate motor and 4L65-E four-speed automatic transmission, and modern suspension including 4 wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering and A/C. I was also thinking that if I go with the LS 3 and auto trans I could have the stock motor and trans rebuilt and crated up in case sometime down the road I want to sell it. Seems like sort of a waste to take a classic vette with matching numbers out of the loop as they are getting pretty rare, but I am leaning towards beefing it up with more horsepower and better handling. The cost of either really isn't a consideration so it's not a matter of doing it cheaper or getting more if I sell it down the road. So.... what would you do? Back to stock or....
Ok guys... just for fun build your dream 1959 ( daily driver) corvette ....you've got 80k to work with.( after the purchase of the car). And it's all on my dime.
I would definitely keep it original. I hate to say that 80K is not enough for a full-on restoration, but you could get a decent paint job on top of rebuilding the brakes, etc.
Putting in a later engine, particularly one with a (gasp) slushbox transmission behind it, would be a sacrilege, really. Plus "Mr. Market" would punish you financially if you went to sell it.
If you don't want to keep it stock, by all means sell it on to someone who does, and go buy yourself a C6 or C7 if that is what you want.
There are shops around Santa Monica that do this kind of work, by all means go talk to a few of them.
Don't be in a hurry. Your first moves should be to evaluate the condition of the car as it is.
People tend to look first at rebuilding engines and transmissions. I suggest you "save that for dessert" because doing whatever you need to do to the body and suspension will take *a lot* longer than engine and/or transmission rebuild. I would get a good transmission specialist to inspect the transmission without disassembling it, it may not need anything. For that matter, who says the engine needs to be rebuilt?
I would definitely keep it original. I hate to say that 80K is not enough for a full-on restoration, but you could get a decent paint job on top of rebuilding the brakes, etc.
Putting in a later engine, particularly one with a (gasp) slushbox transmission behind it, would be a sacrilege, really. Plus "Mr. Market" would punish you financially if you went to sell it.
If you don't want to keep it stock, by all means sell it on to someone who does, and go buy yourself a C6 or C7 if that is what you want.
There are shops around Santa Monica that do this kind of work, by all means go talk to a few of them.
Don't be in a hurry.
My dad is a total car nut and has built many chevy " show cars" including a 67 Chevelle SS. 396. 55 Chevy Bel Air, 55 Nomad, 69 Chevelle Malibu, and 1969 Z28 Camero just to name a few. His nomad was featured at SEMA.
He's agrees with you on going back to stock. Lol
I did talk to my car guy here in SM and he is of the opinion that he could do it for the 80k after the cost of buying the car. He used to work with Ryan Friedlinghaus before West Coast Customs was ...West Coast Customs, and he's done a couple of my dad's cars and my b/f's McLaren SLR. As far as the newer Corvettes, I am not crazy about the body styles or reviews.
Thanks for the feedback... I am not in any rush... just picking some brains
Its your money, build it the way you want and daily drive the crap out of it!!!! Enjoy it, have fun. The old style looks with modern hardware would be awesome.
Well, here's a different perspective for you to consider. I'd do the LS3 engine and an automatic providing the transmission requires no cutting of the car for it to fit. I'd have the original engine rebuilt along with the transmission for the next owner to enjoy and it'll also make the car bring top dollar. The reason for the LS engine is simple, the original FI engine is NOT going to run very well or very long on our bug spray we call ethanol gas. You'll have to run an ethanol free gas IF it's even available in kalifornia. You could change it over to a carb or an electronic carb but then you just defeated the value of the car. For me, there's no doubt, LS engine and rebuild the old one for storage.
Having friends with the old Vettes I can tell you that your budget is short....way short. You can get a driver for that kind of money but if you're wanting a serious collector car, you'll be about 30-40 grand short. Not including cost of the car, frame off restoration on a 59 Vette is real close $125,000. Have a bud that finally got his on the road last summer and that's what he spent with him doing almost all of the mechanical work.
Well, here's a different perspective for you to consider. I'd do the LS3 engine and an automatic providing the transmission requires no cutting of the car for it to fit. I'd have the original engine rebuilt along with the transmission for the next owner to enjoy and it'll also make the car bring top dollar. The reason for the LS engine is simple, the original FI engine is NOT going to run very well or very long on our bug spray we call ethanol gas. You'll have to run an ethanol free gas IF it's even available in kalifornia. You could change it over to a carb or an electronic carb but then you just defeated the value of the car. For me, there's no doubt, LS engine and rebuild the old one for storage.
Having friends with the old Vettes I can tell you that your budget is short....way short. You can get a driver for that kind of money but if you're wanting a serious collector car, you'll be about 30-40 grand short. Not including cost of the car, frame off restoration on a 59 Vette is real close $125,000. Have a bud that finally got his on the road last summer and that's what he spent with him doing almost all of the mechanical work.
Daily driver is what I was basing my price on because that's what I am leaning towards. I just wanted to know what others thought as far as what they would do with such a vintage auto... go back to stock or modify, cost not withstanding.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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If it’s a daily driver, make it fun and safe. Keep it original if you want a trailer queen for an investment and car shows. A friend has a 1960, an older restoration, that needed new paint. With proper preparation of Fiberglas and disassembly that alone cost $80,000.
There is nothing like Original and would most likely even bring more money if you were to ever re-sell it. It would also be a bigger hit and more appreciated at car shows, swap meets, cruise-ins, etc.
I would build it as a daily driver. Get a good suspension, tires, brakes and steering under it and rebuild the engine and trans. Or rebuild what’s there. Redo the exterior nterior etc. then drive it and enjoy it. You can imo enjoy it that way a lot more than some guy who dumped 130,000 into it and only takes it put on the cncourse to be stared at and never actually enjoys the vehicle as he should because he’s too afraid to drive it.
Frame off resto. A resto-mod is an exercise in futility. It is, and always will be, a nearly 60 year old car. It's strength is nostalgic value. Trying to "modernize" it will end in tears. Mod cut.
Last edited by PJSaturn; 04-14-2018 at 10:44 PM..
Reason: Off-topic.
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