How's this for a hand me down?

[navy2kcoupe]

I went to the shop that does all my car repairs yesterday to pick up the 95 Crown Vic after it had been worked on, and the owner of the shop said "Look in the garage across the street". I turned to look when what to my wondering eyes did appear but a yellow C3 as seen from the rear!" (sorry bout that.......I just HAD to do it!). I walked across the street to look and started talking to the guy sitting in it. It had been his Father-In-Laws, and when the F-I-L passed away he left it to this guy. The F-I-L was the original owner, and bought the Vette in 1970. Bright yellow convertible, black top, black leather interrior, 4 speed, 390HP 454, 39,600 original miles, never been in an accident, never driven in the rain, garaged all it's life..........you get the picture. This car has "survivor" written all over it, and this guy is trying to decide what to do to show it. I looked under the hood, and it shows 37 years worth of life, like a little rust starting to appear on the valve covers, and the air cleaner "Turbo-Jet 390HP" sticker starting to disappear around the edges, but shows NO signs of having been tampered with. I felt up under the fender wells, and they haven't been repaired that I can tell. He told me that it was the original paint (BRIGHT yellow, and still very shiny), and the original chrome (starting to show signs of rust), and that he was thinking about having it re-chromed. I invited him to join CAC and ask questions, and told him that all I would do until I had the car inspected would be to polish it!
What a GREAT hand me down, and what a GOLDEN opportunity to do what's right for the car. All of the distributor shielding was there, and the plug wires even had braiding over them that was grounded to the valve cover bolts. He told me that the car had been involved in an event at Daytona (didn't say what event), and that the car was on the poster for the event. He told me that he even had a copy of the poster. If any of you guys are into C3 Vettes and what is necessary to have the car certified as a "survivor", please chime in, and I'll print off the replys and give them to this guy. This is his first Vette (imagine that!!!!!) and he doesn't want to do anything that will detract from the value. By the way......NO A/C from the factory, and still that way!
Andy (sittin' up here and shaking my head at this) :wavey:

 

[Kap142]

Andy, contact 72ragtop. He's very sharp on original and is into NCRS. Send him a PM. You'll appreciate his knowledge base.

Ken

 

[Ms. AntiVenom]

Nice hand me down indeed!! I would like to see a photo

Greg and his dad have a 71 together they are going to take it to

for survivor certificate soon, I dont know the details to do it though, Maybe there is something on the webpage


We have a 72 vert in here right now (without rules) he is wondering what color it should be, I think yellow is the best on those, I've been trying to convince him, He has an 04 millennium yellow why not!

 

[ynkedad]

That's

one lucky fella!:thumbsup:
I'd like to have seen pics as wel!:yesnod:

 

[Rich427]

NCRS has a Survivor class and there are some people in the hobby that believe that survivors like this are more valuable if left alone. That means there is a market for survivor cars with some rust on chrome, aging air cleaner lid stickers, etc. So, you initial advise I believe is sound. Other than a little minor detailing don't do anything until he has researched what he has and decides what HE wants to do with it.

The great thing about this hobby is we all have opinions and each one of us might handle this situation a little differently. This new owner might decide that he can't stand to see the surface rust on the bumpers and wants to have them re-chromed. To a survivor person they might get upset, but it is his car to do with what ever makes him happy.

I think the one good thing about this story is putting this car into the hands of this new owner is probably going to get this car out and about a little more frequently than in the past. I personally think that is a good thing!