Nostalgia alert, my 1959 Corvette revisited

That’s very nice , I’d have a hard time getting rid of that. It’s the same age as me , but it looks way better

That car is awsome beautiful! Congrats to you Bob and to your son...I am always wondering where genuine parts for such rarity and old cars can be found for such a perfect restoration?

A red version was driven by Johnny Depp in the Rum Diary movie with later wife then foe (wifoe?   ) Amber Heard in the passenger seat..

beautiful car Bob, It is certainly rare that one still has contact with the present owner and the fact that she still looks good after all these years proves the quality of the restoration.

I could not figure out this nr 20 thing for 1959 as some early production model, but searching on the internet shows that for every year, serial numbers started with nr 1.

What they said Nah that is great i am sure it makes you and Mark happy to see it and the recognition!! She is beautiful

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.

There’s one almost like that for sale in Finland:

https://www.nettiauto.com/chevrolet/corvette/13516491

rsv1cox wrote:

I see a few silver quarters, dimes and half dollar there!

KariFS wrote:There’s one almost like that for sale in Finland:

https://www.nettiauto.com/chevrolet/corvette/13516491

Amongst others, this one is for sale in the south of France:



https://www.jfauto.com/occasion-chevrolet-corvette-1958-ref-230396.html

All the same paint scheme and the prices are very close. It's a 1958 model with chrome strips on the boot lid

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.  

I had two Impala a 62 & 63 both had 283 two speed Powerglide drivetrain. The 62 would top out at 90MPH. The 63 blew its engine so dropped in a 327 I had with a mild cam and glass packs, sounded cool with the looping idle. Those 2 speed autos were bulletproof.
  They were both two door, 63 was SS with factory air that was in the family for 25+ years. Rare 63.

  You see this guy had his 59 Vette stolen, that must hurt.
It would stand out though with the ugly wheels! LOL

https://www.ktvu.com/news/antique-red-corvette-stolen-from-oakland-80-year-old

Personally, I like those wheels. I remember seeing them in Hot Rod magazine from 50 years ago. I had a look on the web and they were made by Cragar.



This was the first Hot Rod magazine I got. It's a 1978 issue and I was 12 years old. I couldn't read it but I drooled over the pictures. I still have it and was taped together many times.



Also, I didn't understand adverts like this one except that it concerned exhausts.

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.

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.

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.