Nostalgia alert, my 1959 Corvette revisited

Thanks guys, yes six years that almost cost me a marriage. Take the wife out to dinner? Nah I'm working on the Corvette. How she tolerated me I will never know. But she did, lasted 60 years.

Nut and bolt. Yes. Everything that could come apart did. But, I did not do the driveline. My good friend and Corvette specialist did the engine, transmission and differential. I took them apart, he put them back together. I laid down the primer but he painted.

But, I did the interior, body, suspension, and brakes. Every part sandblasted, primed and spray painted with automotive grade paints. No aerosals here.




A few years back I started keeping all the stuff I found in the cars, underseat mostly. Remember, like model engines and planes i bought the worst examples that I could find and none were well kept. Keep them in my Grandfathers old letter box.




I found this change in the Corvette, most flushed out with a hose from the rocker panels. Remember, fiberglass, no rust.



Also kept the screws that mounted the serial number plate. Rusty, I replaced with identical new ones. Eventually, I will send to the new owner along with some other things I saved.

It wasn't hard for me to let it go. We were moving to Florida with a lot to transport including two other cars. But, now I look at it and think of the time and effort I put into it and wonder. I still have a trick finger from weeks of sanding and finishing.

Not all fun.

The guy still loves my Corvette.  My son and the buyers son stay in contact and he sends Mark pictures.  

He just added a soft top.  Something I never did.  I ran the optional hardtop only.  Gotta, say......I like it.  But it adds to my sellers remorse.    But, I can look at it and know that I had hands-on every piece of that car. Just check above.

Thanks Lieven.  I enjoyed the photo tour.

There are indications that this is a unrestored example.  Betting that it is.  Adds greatly to the value.  Mine was a mess.  Frame rusted almost in two and boxed with steel braces.  Door edges were ground off because it was sagging in the middle due to the rusted frame and the doors would not open or close properly.  I had to rebuild those edges with fiberglass as I did with the hood. (Pictures above.)

Yes, 1958 w/ chrome treatments on the trunk.



Power Glide.  Two speed. Really lame.  Mine was a four speed with reverse lock-out.



I remember doing the interior.  Mine was red.  All reproductions.  Those doors...................fiddley.  Would drive a sane man nuts.  Repro and factory holes....Groan.



Like mine, base engine 283 with a single four barrel.  C code stamped on the block.  Mine came with 327 heads.  My good friend - Gerry Pings, Plastic car parts had everything necessary to return it to stock.  Big chrome piece behind engine was ignition shielding for the radio.  



Thanks again Lieven.......I REALLY enjoyed looking at it.  I wonder what shipping costs would be........................

I have pictures on top of pictures, on top of pictures.  

Mark put a set of Cragars on his first Mustang, a '65 rare K code.



and a later one.



I'm not sure what he's running on his current Mustang, but I think they are factory.

crankbndr wrote:I don't dislike the "Mags", the look is good on the Mustang. On the Corvette not so much. I liked the chrome rims with baby moons look on the older hot rods also but I like all things chromed.

I agree CB.  Gaudy hub caps/wheels distract from the builders creativity.  I have always like the baby moons too.  Clean and simple without saying - hey, look at me.  I bought a left over 2015 Honda Accord simply because the 2016's wheels were so ugly in their excess.  



BTW, the hub caps on my/Russ's Corvette.  Factory originals NOS, scoured the country over and paid for at great expense.  Worth every penny.