0Heartland Customs

Need a good donor car for a '63 SWC restomod project. The car will remain original on the exterior, interior etc. but will get all new 2014 underneath. Finders fee goes to someone that finds me the car!

Harry Hood

How about a 67 coupe with air condition. It has no motor or trans.

eyedrron

How much for the coupe?

BigDave6

Not mine, and I can't vouch for the stared condition. Car is in northern Canada.
Cheers!
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/...ationFlag=true

pullin-gs

If it's going to end up a resto-mod, why pay the premium for a real SWC? Get a 1964 coupe, put in a split-window, and save yourself about 20k+.

0Heartland Customs

Because a '63 SWC clone doesn't bring close to 300k on resale like a real SWC restomod does.

pullin-gs

"real SWC" restomod?
Back on topic.....since cost is not an issue, how about this one (mine)?:
95k and it's yours (its a real one).
Just kidding.....best of luck with your project!

mattba

Sent you a PM...

chevahaulic

The 63 " body only " owners are getting scarse. Why would anyone pass on a bargain coupe for a small finders fee? It's an old story played over and over, buy cheap, add a/c, LS-3, suspension, paint, leather, and to the auction for a huge profit.
An after market body makes perfect sense in this application. You get the new strong body, same design, optioned the way you order ( flairs, trunk, but laking that original tag ( vin plate ). If your building ( owning ) a resto- mod its a driver, not a garage queen. Why does it have to have the birth certificate ? I have a feeling it has a lot to do with ego vs someone calling it a " kit car ".
Personally I hope I never sell to a restocrater ( a new term ) or a foreign country. The Corvette is an American classic that belongs on American roads & viewed more often.

vettebuyer6369

Completely agree.

Once you commit to a full-on restomod (not just a modified car) and the 6-figure expectation that goes with it, I just don't see the upside to starting with an original body. What does it matter at that point? It's not like someone is going to bring it back to stock.

And to another point made above: when I was SWC shopping last year, it was remarkable how many times ''I have a buyer in Germany" came up from sellers, to the point where it was clear they weren't just blowing smoke up my XXX ... they were serious. It's a little unnerving that one reason these cars are becoming more scarce is the fact they are getting on a boat.

0Heartland Customs

I would agree with you on using the aftermarket bodies, however the "kit" bodies dont bring the money at resale. The customers that we build restomods for are willing to spend the money to have top level cars built, but they still care about their return if they ever choose to sell one. Maybe one day when ALL of the C1/C2 cars are gone, the aftermarket body industry till flourish, but right now it just doesnt make sense unless you are building a car that you plan on keeping forever. Also by the time I buy an aftermarket body and then all of the parts to go with it, I have as much in it as I would if I find a REAL car in the "project car" stage. So why have an aftermarket body if I can have the real thing for about the same price?
Food for thought.

sidepipe seeker

I Seriously Doubt!...an "Aftermarket Body" & "The real thing" are..."About the same price"..If this was even remotely true, Why would anyone buy an aftermarket body?!...that's comparable to saying...I could buy a real Renoir or a forgery for "About the same price". Plus since you are NOT using the original parts on a Split Window, as evidenced by you using a completely different drivetrain,suspension,braking,wiring,etc ,etc to build your "Restomod", why the claim " I find a REAL car in the "project stage"?. My research shows a aftermarket Split Window body can be purchased for $4,500.00

http://www.corbinrods.com/1963_corve...it_window.html

I DON"T believe there are ANY "Split" projects that can be had/purchased for $4,500.00...Mark

0Heartland Customs

Mark you are proving my point exactly, there is no reason to use a replica body! We do this every day and no every part of this business so let me break it down for you...

Replica C2 body with hood = 18k

This comes wih absolutely no parts to use or refurbish. So you will litrally have to purchase every single part, clip, bolt, screw in the car to build it. Sit down with a Corvette Central Catalog and start at Page 1 and start adding that up. I can tell you from experience, you will have as much or more than you will if you go out and find a project C2 body that has all the parts and start with that. The big difference is that when you are done you have the REAL thing which brings a premium price.

65silververt

Agreed! Not to mention the aftermarket bodies I have seen in person, downs body, are horrible and would cost a fortune to fit correctly.

The body the other poster linked to is a drag car body and would not work for a restomod project. Another huge issue is getting a state assigned VIN...in some states you would need to meet current EPA regulations. A replica 63 would be worthless in my opinion.

sidepipe seeker

I completely understand the cost to build a car, buying it "Piece by Piece". Herein lays my confusion/misunderstanding. You state your buyers want the "REAL thing", so my question would be..."How is a 63 Split Window Restomod the "Real thing", if by definition, a "Restomod" is a designer's concept & altering of the "Original Design"?

If you take a Renoir & add just "1" additional brush stroke, it is no longer "Original".

As there is by NO stretch of the imagination, a direct correlation between an "Original unmolested factory 63 Split" & a 63 Split Restomod....But as they say..."To each his own"...Mark

0Heartland Customs

The determing factor that makes the car "the real thing" is the presence of the original Corvette VIN Tag. We can sit here and talk about this until we are blue in the face, but it is a fact that an original '63 that has been turned into a restomod brings much more at resale than a '63 replica body or an original restored '63. Just a couple of weeks ago one brought 279k at the Mecum auction. Ever seen a replica Corvette even get close to that? I haven't


Jeff