ZCarr

Hello,

I was wondering if it is still possible to get a swc project for 30k. I haven't seen any in awhile and was wondering if the prices have gone up for project cars.

Canuck62

Seen one listed in Canada,,, few hours from me
it sold for around 20K ,,, probably less than a day
that would be about 18K US dollar

Nowhere Man

The cheaper they are the more work and money you must sink into. There is no easy way

ZCarr

I have found a 58 that needs work for 30k. If I don't find a 63 project at Carlisle I am going to pick up the 58. I know it's best to buy the nicest one you can find but it would be nice to have one to tinker with while in grad school.

mark6669

Most SWC project cars are missing some or all of the 1 year SWC moldings at $150-500 each for 40 moldings it might not be such a good deal to buy a project car. I bought one 4 years ago for $25k missing 10 moldings took 2 years to find them and $2,200.
Mark

ZCarr

Mark,

Thank you for the information I wasn't aware that trim cost that much. I have to ask if reproduction pieces are available ( ones that fit well if the exist).

Nowhere Man

No repros are out there. Only used originals

vintagecorvette

Ther are now some reproduction trim pieces being made.

http://www.corvetteusa.com/trim.htm

vettebuyer6369

The 63 market is still hot, so cheap projects are likely few and far between, although people get lucky.

I would mention that after I bought my '58 I was surprised at the cost of some of the parts, especially the '58 specific stuff like the gauges and trunk spears. I wrote some painful checks on that car.

ZCarr

The 58 I am looking at has the trunk spears. I have the current owner verifying that it has the correct gauges for that year which I believe are one year only. When you were restoring your 58 did you have to find or restore the door post trim? That seems to be the only thing missing from this car trimwise and I want to know how difficult it is to find.

The 63 market is ridicilous but I really like the car in silver blue and would like to own one before I die. Even though I know it is a money pit and a terrible investment I would be willing to buy a 63 with no drive train in need of restoration for 30k.

Nowhere Man

Simple question. Have you ever sat or drove a finished car to make sure you can fit and you like it

ZCarr

I have not ever sat in one. I was going to see if someone would be kind enough at Carlisle to let me sit in one. I have read that they are a tight fit and I am 6'2 220 pounds so I do have concerns about that. I figured that a restored original model is beyond my means that this time so I could upgrade the suspension and brakes if I felt that it needed improvement.

ZCarr

I have a C5 and C4 which I enjoy but have decided I would rather go with an older car for my next project.

vettebuyer6369

Gauges have "dots" as indicators between the numbers rather than "lines."

I did have to replace the windshield posts and the door posts. They werent terribly hard to find, but they were expensive. I bought mine at Carlisle. The door posts are usually broken inside.

Your size will fit in the SWC better than the '58.

I found that the silver blue cars were less expensive than the red, Daytona blue, black and even silver cars, so that could help you.