Purchasing a Vintage Corvette

[karlk]

Hello everyone,
My wife and I are interested in purchasing a C1 or C2 Corvette for an investment. Over the last few months I have been reading about them and we catch most of the Mecum Auctions. I am trying to get as much information as possible so we purchase the right car. We are planning on going to the Mecum Bloomington Gold auction in June, it looks like it might be the place to get a good deal. We were also going to go to the Atlantic City auction this month just to see what goes on. I also joined your Corvette Club this week. Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Karl Kritzer

[Glennm27]

Karl
Welcome to CCDV.

I think you'll find plenty of spectacular C1's and C2's at Bloomington. The Atlantic City auction may give you and idea of how the autions go, on a smaller scale but I highly doubt you'd find any high quality C1's or C2's there.

You should, as you seemed to be setting out to do, study up and learn all you can about these cars BEFORE you head to Bloomington....
I personally can not offer much info on these older cars, but there are some men in CCDV that are very knowledgeable and I'm sure willing to help.

We have a club meeting this Thursday the 12th. You should think about attending and meet some of these guys.

Best of Luck with your search...

[carboman]

I'd suggest you talk to Joe Conte at Conte's Corvettes in Vineland. He's been the business for over 30 years and can help you locate and/or purchase what you are looking for. His web site is www.contes.com

Since you are looking at this as an investment you'll was as perfect and original car as you can find. I'd suggest you get involved in NCRS. http://www.ncrs.org/

NCRS members can help you locate and evaluate a car that's right for you. Also, their judging guide books (available on line at their web site) are an invaluable tool when assessing if a car you are considering is worth the asking price.

There are many CCDV members that are active in NCRS.

Please let me know if I can be of any help. Good luck with your search.

Best regards
Mark

[Bob Weiss]

Karl,

My advice to you is to NOT BUY ANYTHING without having it looked at by a TRUSTED Expert. Pay an expert to advise you and inspect the car. Do this whether you buy from a dealer, auction or private individual. There are lots of fakes, reconstructed, heavily crashed and just incorrectly put together (Wrong frame for example)Corvettes out there.

Spend the money and HIRE AN EXPERT TO REPRESENT YOU. It is way to easy to get excited when you see the car of your dreams and overlook problems. The expert will bring you back to reality.

There are many many honest vendors and great corvettes that get sold. The good Corvettes don't go cheaply. If it seems to good to be true it usually is.

Bob Weiss

[OUTLAW]

Very good advice . I bought an older Mercedes last summer, out of state. I hired a Mercedes expert to inspect the car before I took possession. Best money I ever spent.

[Rick and Arleen Ball]

Bob is right about having the C-1/C2s inspected before plopping down your hard earned money.
As for Contes, I have known Joe for 11 years now. He is without a doubt the most honest and Reputable Corvette dxealers you will ever meet.
If you have any questions about a Corvette you have in mind feel free to PM me and I will give you my phone #.
I'd be glad to help you any way I can.
Rick

[Bob Weiss]

Thanks Gentleman. I have been around Vettes most of my adult life-But when I bought my 67 I hired an expert to look it over. I wanted it so bad I could taste it-But he also let me know what work had to be done. Even then I had a couple minor issues that were unexpected. BUT, I didn't get hurt and am way ahead as for investment value !!

Bob

[Joel Fellman]

Karl:
As the above informed members have already pointed out, the best thing you can do is have an expert closely check out any C1 or C2. The local Del. Val. chapter of NCRS members (many of whom are former CCDV members who were just interested in numbers + nuts & bolts info versus being in a more social club like CCDV) meets every other month (in Feb, Apr, June, etc) on the 3rd Wed evening at the Wm. Bolten VFW in Ft. Washington. But there are many CCDV current members who are just as knowledgeable.
One thing I can warn you about is frame rust/damage on those vintage Vettes. Having to replace a frame can easily set you back $10,K plus. So you need an authority or shop that extensively deals with those issues. People think because Vettes are fiberglass that they don't rust but underneath, what you don't/can't see is another story.
Hope to see you this Thurs. night at the CCDV general monthly meeting,
Joel

[Bob Weiss]

Karl, One other issue not previously discussed. If you are looking for investment value-you need to know production numbers. As a rule, the less they made the more valuable. That doesn't mean the "one of" car the is a no option, base motor car in an undesirable color is worth big money. It means that the high horsepower, fuel injected, 4speed 1957 corvette in the right color is worth more money. Generally, the higher the horsepower the higher the price. You also need to decide if you want a pure trailer queen show car investment or a very nice numbers correct driver.

By the way-make sure you fit in the corvette. if you are tall you may have a problem fitting in an early C1. I am 6'3" and can't comfortably fit in a pre 1958 corvettes. I once tried to drive a 54-forget it-it was impossible.

Just some thoughts.

Bob

[karlk]

I will be there, my wife may come also.
Thanks, Karl

[wu204lai244]

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