A friend about 3 hrs away just wrote to me that his neighbor has a 57 or 58 or 59 vette with a 327 engine (replacing the 283)  needs alot of body work and tlc.  He is not well and does not want to continue with the work.  Can anyone give me any guidelines as to it's worth and what it could be worth.  I am looking for a project car.

Big difference in prices for the years you listed! Also different body styles. '57 would be the most valuable, price-wise. Bottom dollar, in boxes '57s can run $25-30,000, depending on how it was originally equipped !!

More info, maybe?
Basket cases can, and normally DO cost way more than they'll ever be worth, unless you just want a kewl driver. Be aware that any of the small trim pieces, if you want original stuff, will be $$$.


btw...I moved this from the NCM forumAdams' Apple2007-01-10 20:03:26

I'm not all that familiar with C1 values...but they are high. At least the price of admission is less (should be less) with a non-original engine. Since a car like that can't be restored completely, you can do what you like to rebuild the car and make some custom changes.

Last year at Corvettes at Carlisle, I saw a '57 Vette for sale...original fuelie, missing the entire drive train, front clip, interior, mismatched doors, only some remnants of the convertible top frame...the asking price was like $35K!

If you can buy it and be happy with the purchase price, feel free to do so. I'd love a C1...my wife would dearly love a '57...it's her favorite vette of all. It's just not likely in today's market.

You may get a good deal. It costs nothing to ask and negotiate. You can always walk away.

Thanks guys.  It's a find way up in the mtns of Vt.  Nothing happening soon but I guess worth looking at.

A driver 3-cond car is 48-55k insured value which is in reality street price.  Figure 8k paint, 3k chrome, 3k interior, 1.5k brakes, 1.5k steering, 1k exhaust, rims/tires 2k, gauges and dash 2k, top 1k, stuff 3k.  These are basic numbers.  You have at least 26k infront of you not incl repairs/motor/rear/suspension work or any fiberglass repair.  Heck with it, buy the car! 

Check the stacks at the library for back issues of CORVETTE MAGAZINE.  They feature a market guide by generation that has lots of good info on each year.  You may have to dig back several months to find the C1 article.  If you can't find it let me know and I'll look in my pile of past mags and get the article to you.

That will depend a lot on the year and condition.  Do you have a VIN#?  That will help pin down the year.  Having a 327 automatically drops the value.  Does he still have the original 283 or access to it?  I'd be happy to attemp to assist if you can get me some more info.  My Son and I are doing a ' 59 from the "Junk Pile's".  If you go to http://www.59registry.com/ and click on #5366 you can see where we are and how we've gotten there so far.  He is also the "Web-Master" for this site which now Boasts over 650 cars.  I'm sure we can help you out.

I believe the latest issue of CORVETTE MAGAZINE has C1 market values.