Dus10

messing around with the idea, of building an outlaw 10.5 type drag car based on a C1 or C2 body and frame.
basket case maybe, as i don't see cutting a nice one up.

firstgear

minimum $15k and up......basket case will get you $15k, but these cars you get what you pay for...meaning you may be missing some key trim pieces that will set you back an additional $Xk. (c1)

I would watch out for a basket case C2, because those usually (not always) mean that they may have bird cage problems (rust). If you want to run mid 10's then you will want a solid car to do that,. so buyer beware, in your case your life could depend on it......

Dus10

wow 15k and up, to much for me to buy a car and butcher it. Thats too bad, the body style on these cars are beautiful. A replica body just isn't the same

Kerrmudgeon

You could buy a new reproduction 57 body, not sure on the price, but perfect to go racing. And really the frame doesn't have to be original either, you could use any old GM frame, maybe from a small truck or midsized car. You don't need a title to go racing.

LSUvetteguy

62Jeff

$14,900

http://www.corvettecentral.com/concept_57/index.htm

Vogie

Uh, I think 10.5 is the rear tire size.

jrs 427

I don't believe some of these so called " interested in building a race car " types are really going to invest big money in a drag car. They would like someone to sell them a cheap car they could piece together a driver. If your a drag racer why wouldn't a replica body be sufficient? They are lighter and stronger than a 40 plus year old original body. Wouldn't a steel tube frame be stronger and easier to make adjustments on ? I think the majority are after the VIN tag and title. There are alot of pipe dreams about building racers out of classic cars but very few do.
More of them would like to convince an owner their car has low value and they will use it basically for a parts doner racer. Once on the trailer it is a chunk of gold.

67TBowl

My suggestion would be to buy a C1 or C2 Corvette that is already a drag car. Find one that needs a motor and then you could build your own motor or buy a crate motor. I believe this would be cheaper than buying a basket case and converting it to a drag car.

Best of Luck,
Mark

Dus10

The 57 body looks real nice. Yes 10.5 is the rear tire size.
Well because not everyone wants a replica body. Some people like to take these old cars and restore it, others like to turn them into street/strip machines. All so some classes do not allow the use of an aftermarket tube chassis. Like I said its an idea, and I came to the forum to get some kind of baseline on what the bodies are worth. Thanks to all the replied

jrs 427

Your dream car is for sale in the classifieds........ 64 coupe with a tilt front clip. Frame, VIN, suspension......and for the low price of $6000. or offer. Perfect drag race set up. Have no idea what planet your from but this one is on the east coast I believe. Snap up before another racer loads it on his trailer.

Trophy Blue

67TBowl

So that begs another question. What E.T. does a 10.5 drag car typically run?

Hitch

Sounds like a waste of money, to build a drag car with a stock frame and IRS. Good luck with that pipe dream...

Vogie

I think some of them are in the 7's or better. It's been a while since I looked at what they are currently down to.

I have a spare chassis that came from a 67 Coupe that became a drag car. Some classes require working doors and lights and ban lexan windows that makes a stock body a viable option. Some out there don't realize what it costs to build a competitive engine and drive train then put a legal cage in a car. A suitable stock configured rear, inner and outer axles, and trailing arms from Tom's to run in stock suspension classes cost quite a bit as well. I don't see the body as a major expense in a serious drag car.

jjtoma

I visited Virginia Speed in Virginia Beach. They had a late model camaro
in the shop runs low 7's at 195. 672"BBC, twin turbos on Methanol 3500hp!

babylonvette

i bought what was left of a parts car in 1999 it set me back 3 grand it is a 61 itcost another 15 to do the car with hunting, bartering, and horse trading, and i;m in the busniss that was over 10 years ago when cars were cheaper and there were lotsa parts arroun , 4 years ago i did 1 for a customer it cost him over 80 grand ,and he started with a complete car

Vogie

Based on what Babylonvette has experienced and what I have read on this site, it is potentially cheaper to take a basket case and build a drag car than it is to do a restoration. Once built, race cars tend to be a never ending project or a money pit and a really bad day can have you starting over if you are uninjured. A restoration would seem to have an end result obtainable and value at the end. A race car will always be a race car with collectible value only if famous and years later. Either way you decide to go, better have plenty of spare cash.

SLO 65

Here it is:

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/1818576581.html

I would buy this if it was located on the west coast.