Sometimes the heavy lifting has been done by the time the owner of a vintage car decides to throw in the towel on the restoration project.
No such luck for the next owner of this 1957 Corvette convertible.
Whoever picks up the gauntlet to bring this car back to life might want to start pumping weights now in anticipation of the hard work that lies ahead.
As the seller candidly admits in his listing on eBay, this fifth-year Corvette will need a “total restoration.”
So far, that assessment hasn’t scared off everyone as 13 bids have already been placed, with the highest climbing to $18,400 as the auction has a long way to go before closing next Wednesday, August 14.
Right now, most of the parts are said to be “loosely” installed, and the new owner will also need to repair damage on the lefthand lower rocker panel, as well as focus on the detail fit and do some underbody repair.
Optimistically speaking, the seller estimates 90 percent of the original parts are still on the car, though he admits some are “good,” some “bad,” some “ugly,” and even some “very nice.”
Included in the latter category is the side trim, rated as being in “new” or “good used” condition.
Unfortunately, other parts are completely missing, items like the deck lid trim, glove box trim, emergency brake assembly, and the crank and pistons on the 283 V8 engine.
Some parts will require rebuilding, including all the gauges, speedometer, tachometer, and radio, as well as the correct ’57 dual four-barrel carburetors.
The Donner frame is rated to be in “good” condition, but the hardtop and soft top will need to be restored. The car has a three-speed manual transmission from 1957, though the ad doesn’t indicate its current condition.
Inside, the red seat covers are described as “serviceable,” though the lower seat springs are gone.
With only 13 of these ’57s on the market right now on Classic Auto Trader and their owners asking for $75,000 to $125,000 or more, it looks like there is plenty of room to restore this car and not get upside down. Are you ready to hit the weights and lift this vintage Corvette – one of just 6,339 built that year – on your shoulders?
Source:
eBay Motors
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Ok, let’s start with the obvious: this is fairly desirable model (particularly in the dual fours are what it was purchased with) unfortunately, this little darlin’ has one foot in the grave. If one was looking for a weekend toy, I think it could be done for maybe 50 to 60K. NCRS quality on the other hand, 100 plus. If the bidding doesn’t get too crazy, and a person had unlimited time and funds, either could probably be accomplished without being completely upside down.
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