which way do you think would be the best way to do a frame off restoration to a corvette keep it all numbers mathing or modify the chassis and the engine? which would be worth more to sell?

What do you want out of the car? A restored original or one modified to suit your personal tastes and desires? It's your choice.

Many if not most will argue a numbers matching car should be left that way. You can make performance mods to an original car that are invisible and you can be happy with the perfomrnace. A properly retsored numbers matching car will usually bring more down the road than a modified one.

You can always take the original motor out, store it and drop in a torque monster, change it back down the road if you like.

Ultimately, it's your car and your money. I say think it through and then make yourself happy whichever way you decide.

Well said!

Ken Styer

for resale , original is worth more and more easliy sold. modificatoions are personal and can limit a sale to those only who like it. so do you want to resell it soon or keep it a long while for personal use and sell it a long way down the road. If you want to keep it a long time do it your way and make yourself happy with its performance as you drive it.

I agree, it's your car-do what you want. It will be worth more original or at a minimum with all the original parts. This is especially true on the 68-72 "bumper" cars, then big blocks, 78 pace/anniversary, and 82 Collectors cars. The rest are more forgiving of modifications, but as he said mods are more in the eye of the beholder. Some may love them, others hate them.

There is this point to consider also.
When I first got my 79 I wanted to change many things, but didnt due to resources.
When I am at shows people who own Vettes are amazed that mine is so original.
And they wish their modified Vette was original like mine.
Im not going to change a thing, she is staying stock.
My goal is for it to be a Survivor.

Warm weather cant get here soon enough!

My 75 is going to be brighter red than original, and get dual exhaust, possibly headers and side pipes. Then perhaps a cam change in the matching numbers engine. I will keep it mostly stock, but not completely. I have a lot of work to do before I can drive.

Ken Styer

AS most have said its your car so its up to you. Also as most have said you can make mod's that will improve the car and that don't show. The important thing is documentation. If you are one of the lucky few that have the origninal documentation BUILD SHEET, Window Sticker, matching number car, ect then don't do any mods to the car it will be worth much much more original. If your documentation is rotting in a landfill in St.Louis as mine is, then a car with well done modifications will be worth as much as an original undocumentated car in the long run and be a lot more fun and most likely safer.

Thanks Glenn

One other thing you might want to consider before you go out and spend alot of time and money. Check out any local clubs,car shows and cruises. See if there are any cars there with the mods you are planning to install . Talk to the owners and find out the pros &cons of the mods . This way you will know exactly what your looking for. GOOD LUCK !

MY opinion: If you are modifying, you are not "restoring". If you are indeed going frame-off, do not modify it! It's more challenging and fun to get it to original configuration. Either way, there are precious few C3s that will get your money back, so pick your poison. Been there and done that, and I believe that at the end of the day, it's more satsifying to go the original route.