Saleofcar.com :Chevrolet

Chevrolet Corvette (1961)
for sale

Price: US $58,000.00

Description:

This 1961 Corvette was the fourth car born on April 26, 1961 at the famous Saint Louis, Missouri assembly plant. It was first titled on June 9, 1961 and remained with the original owner for the first 37 years of its life. In 1998 the second owner purchased the vehicle from a used car lot and then spent the next eight years doing a frame off restoration on the car. I purchased the car in 2011 and completed the frame off project to its present status. There are great documents that accompany this vehicle. Provided with the car is a copy of the original title when it was purchased new; an odometer statement (50, 207 in 1997) when the car was transferred from the original owner to the used car lot; a copy of the bill of sale from the first owner to the second owner; a cardboard tag that appears to have been a build sheet that was fastened to the springs of the seat frame; a red vinyl type of tag that looks like the one that goes around the coil springs; photos of the first owner standing beside the car when they owned it; photos of the second owner and his family standing beside the car when they purchased it; approximately 500 receipts to identify the parts purchased during the restoration process; plus over 175 photos that documented each step in the restoration process. This is an amazing journey through time to see the life of this vehicle captured in photos, documents and receipts. During the course of the restoration process the following things were done: 1. New paint and body preparation work completed in 2008. 2. New interior components purchased from Al Knoch Interiors (seat covers, door panels, carpet, dash pad, arm rest covers, sun visors, soft top fabric, etc. 3. New exterior trim purchased or restored (NOS grill, bumpers professionally re-plated, new side cove moldings, new outside door handles, new antenna, new mirror, new complete tail light assemblies, new emblems, etc. 4. A new exhaust system was installed. 5. All new brake parts were used (hoses, shoes, cylinders, etc.) Extreme care was given to removal of each part, properly labeling each item and then thorough restoration before re-assembly. 6. New Gas Tank 7. New Bearings 8. All new lines and hoses 9. New soft top (white) In addition to this complete restoration of the exterior and interior systems, proper care was given to retaining the originality of the drive-train components. This car retains most of its original engine and drive train parts with the original tags, part numbers and date codes listed below: 1. Engine casting number: 3756519 2. Engine stamp: 1107671 F 0419CQ 3. Cylinder heads: 3774692 4. Generator: 1102043/Date-1031 (has original tag) 5. Starter: 1107664/Date-1A19 (has original tag) 6. Carburetor: 3779178/Date-D1 (have original tag) 7. Intake manifold: 3746829 8. Radiator: 3150916/Date-61A (New Harrison installed/have original tag from first radiator) 9. Overflow tank: 61B (original) 10. Water pump: 3782609 (correct original) 11. Transmission: T-10 Borg Warner -/1961 12. Rear Axle: 3789812/Date-C181 (Posi) To further illustrate the attention to detail given to this restoration process let me add the other details that are important: the original, complete windshield washer assembly is still on the car; the original (un-restored) air cleaner assembly is on the engine; a correct GM part # 3788191 upper radiator hose was installed; all of the ignition shielding pieces were installed (new or NOS); the original shifter, radio, clock, knobs, switches, dash cluster, etc. were all retained; a new trunk mat and divider board were installed and the correct spare tire and jack are in place; all new weatherstripping pieces were used on the doors, trunk, hood and deck lid; and the original steering wheel is almost perfect! The car is finished in its original color of Honduras Maroon with white coves, black interior and a white soft top. This is a rare combination for 1961 as only 647 cars were built with this combination. As far as I can tell the car has not ever been in any wreck or had any substantial body work done due to an accident. According to information furnished to me the first owner did run over a dog while he owned the car and indicated the repairs were completed by the Chevrolet dealership from whom the car was purchased. Other than that the car body retains the majority of its original body seams and fiberglass. The frame is absolutely MINT. Several photos were taken of the frame when the body was lifted and during the restoration process. NO signs of rot, rust or deterioration was ever present! The cross-member in the front, the X frame in the middle and even the rear brace are all outstanding.
_{update: 2015-05-20}