Going through a stack of old magazines and parts catalogs fellow Vette owner gave me I came across an old Ecklers catalog from Summer/Fall of 1982. Thought there might be some interest in some of the body parts available back then.


Jim O.



|UPDATED|6/5/2002 1:07:18 AM|/UPDATED|

Oh man, I always liked those Can-Am style bodies like in your third picture. I'd still like one of those too someday.

A VETTE is made to drive,but whatever you choose wether an original showcar,modified/customized or just a hack to get groceries,the point being thier being used/seen AND SAVED from the breakers !

There are generally 3 categories:
Original (unmodified, unrestored, as it came from the showroom)
Restored (put back to showroom standards)
Modified (altered from showroom standard)

Then there is the original category. I have just purchased a 1970 LT-1 that sat for 23 years. Every original part will be rebuilt if needed. Otherwise they will not be touched. The original paint is in very good shape, but while repainting it may help it's looks, it would not be original. Any repairs that require new parts will get them, but the old ones retained.

As long as they are driven, it really doesn't matter.

HI

It took me 43 years to finally get a Vette. I'am not sure if I'am lucky as mine is very original except repaint everything else has numbers matching for early 71 build date. It seems a shame to modify something that has lasted this long intact. I would like to see a supercharger sticking out of my hood open headers sending a thunder through my bones and three number on my hood 427. I would like to have one for every catagory but no matter what I will always drive mine as just looking is what I've done for that first 43 years .

Chris

I've never been a big fan of heavily modified corvette bodies but I'm not going to knock someone for going this route if its tastefully done, it's just not my cup of tea. Same for the NCRS, I think it's great to restore the cars back to original factory specs, it's just not something I'm really into, I may be when I get older but not at this point in my life. I'm more into the extremely well balanced machine, I love pro-touring cars. The cars original body lines are there but every performance oriented part of the car has been upgraded to perform as well or better then there modern equivelant. I try to budget my 73 equally between- restoration, engine, suspension, and brakes. A very well balanced car is fun to drive in almost any circumstance, you can take it to the dragstrip and run descent, you can take it to an autocross and it can do well, and it's still works for a long distance cruise, it probably won't be the best at any one thing but that's the tradeoff for being decent at a lot. Figured there's not a much better platform then a corvette to start a project like this since in it's time it was very good at all of these aspects compared to other cars of its generation. I did however keep everything I ever pulled off of this car in case I do go NCRS down the road.

Pat Kunz

My vette had 11256 original documented miles on it when I bought it two years ago. I am going to keep it as original as I can, for as long as I can. I do drive it as it has 13300 miles on it now. But everything that gets fixed or replaced is like original, or as close as can be. I would like to have another one with all of the modifications , big engine, 6 speed, maybe a newer LT-1 like I just sold. Boy would that ever look good under the hood, along with running good. But I guess I will just have to rough it with my ol' stocker. Either way, you still get the looks from other people.

Maybe one day.............

blk79

Right now I'm into restoration. I'm trying to get every last thing on my '70 like it came from the factory. So I'm worrying about date codes, bolt head markings, original factory finishes, color / paint / plating / shine etc... It's fun. My husband on the other hand is my polar opposite. Everything he does to his '65 is to improve on the factory design. He's the die hard hot rodder. Some of our buddies tease us about keeping the 2 in the same garage together - something about matter / anti-matter explosion.

One of these days, I'm thinking about buying a wrecked vette, and parting it out. With the prices some people are paying for certain things, a poor ol retired guy might make a few dollars to buy a few beers with. I think it would be a lot of fun to completely tear one down. It would also be beneficial to other vette owners, being able to get some rare parts. I have the time, because every day is a Saturday...... I'll say one word about being retired, WONDERFUL!!!!! It gives me a lot of time to mess with my vette..

I bought my 73 because it was all original (restored) and there wouldn't be any "bubba" hack jobs. I enjoy knowing it drives like when the original owner took it off the lot, but I still feel the urge to add EFI and an OD transmission. Joe