Follks,

I have/orginal owner, all matching numbers '67 L35 M40 convertible and a full set of NOS body parts...The car is starting to show some wear and a few scratches...Is it worth more all original or is it better to use the parts...and re-paint?

Thanks

Welcome to TC Peter!

Survivor vs. Restoration comes up here a lot. Here's a fairly short recent thread:

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=66075&highlight=survivor

If you do a search under "survivor", you'll get a lot of info and opinions.

If it is showing wear and scratches, I'm not sure why it would need all new panels. Unless where you come from, "wear" is code for complete outer body rust through and "scratches" means it looks like it has been beaten with a backhoe. ;)

An original 396/TH400 vert is a high dollar car either way, but we'd need to know a lot more about the condition of the car before we'd be able to offer good opinions.

Eric,

Thanks for the reply and link..It has by no means been beaten by a backhoe or have any places of rust through. It has always been and still is garaged but has seen about 85k miles worth normal wear. By wear and scratches I mean a bit of trunk lid and hood paint fade, scratches are few and far and maybe an inch long from who knows what but are not dings. It is not in show car condition but a very good condition "survivor".

It was originally purchased by my wife and her ex who unfortunately passed on rather suddenly and we have inherited it along with a whole bunch of exterior NOS parts. It runs great is all original except for the carpeting which has been replaced professionally. My wife's ex use to feather dust it before using it. It is Nassau bluethink that is the name) with a white top. You could change filters without getting your hands dirty it is that clean.

I guess being ignorant regarding Camaro's and their worth and running out of storage space for basically another Camaro in GM boxed parts. We thought of just having the car redone with the new parts, however some folks at the local Friday nite shows said the car was worth more in its original form...so we figured we ask around.

Our real deal is our '46 Chevy pickup.. http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/piotroski_pete_1946.htm

Again thanks for a start ... I'll gather up some pic's.

Pete

Survivor has the most potential. The guys collecting '40s vintage cars go bonkers over survivor cars and only restore cars that are too far gon to just maintain. The restored cars look nice and new but the mentality was "the car didn't survive" so it's got little or no mystic about it. Camaros are not quite old enough and the advent of aftermarket parts has stalled the "survivor" movement except for the more rare cars but there will be a day when a collector will pay more for a I6 3speed coupe survivor than a restored 327 car. Your ragtop has everything going for it to be a very desirable survivor....

First, nice truck! Love those old Stovebolts.

Second, I was trying to find a thread from the last couple of months about a 68 L35 (or L34, can't remember) M40 "survivor" vert that was for sale. It had been repainted once, but otherwise I think was all original. I seem to recall the asking price was in the $80K range. I think the opinion of most here was that the price was too much and that the repaint hurt it. The market is crazy for 1st gens, especially the performance models.

Third, if you know the body on the existing car is solid, you might consider selling the NOS parts. I can safely advise you because I have a 69 and none of the panels would work for me :). There are guys here that will be lining up and/or PMing you for NOS fenders, doors, etc. You may be sitting on many thousands in parts. Of course if you sell them and then the car gets hit in the Burger King parking lot, you'll be SOL...

Thanks for the advice Eric, it is appreciated. Dollar wise maybe, I should sell the truck to make room for the Camaro...and parts. Living in the northeast, we keep the everyday cars outside and the others get the garage but space is always at a premium. I think my wife's ex was worried about the Burger King thing too and that's why along the way he bought up as many parts for it as he could. He had a garage added on just for the parts.

Do you have any recommendations how to go about getting estimates for the NOS parts value? Not interested in making a killing, just don't feel like getting ripped either. I saw somewhere maybe it was on eBay where somebody was asking $500 for a set(4) of chrome fender trim...I've got 2 sets of those, but $500 can't be right...or is it just get what anybody will pay..?

DjD - Thanks...I guess we will go into maintain mode. The plastic rear window has yellowed with age..Is replacing the top considered normal maintenance..as long as one doesn't use a glass or zippered rear window(I don't think those were stock items)?

For GM NOS fender chrome trim, $500 isn't out of line. Ridiculous yes, but not out of line. Don't know about the 67s, but the reproduction moldings for 69 are such junk that the GM ones bring big coin. Same with sheetmetal. NOS 67 non-Rally Sport fenders are probably at least $1,200 to $1,500 a pair.

For values, you could watch ebay or come down to a Carlisle show. Ideally you'd want to try to sell them locally so you don't have to worry about shipping them. You're not in a rush, so we can talk about this some more; just don't let someone tell you that NOS fenders are only worth $250 each...Take your time, get a list together of what you have.

If the top material is good, you can probably just get a plastic window installed. I don't know if you can get "correct" date code plastic windows like you can side and windshield glass. Of course, then whomever installs it has to be good. What's it doing with the top up anyway? I know you're in the Northeast, but just bundle up and run the heater! vert's don't need the top up :)

Pete, just joining this thread. There are a lot of TCers in CT and MA that would love to help you sort through your stuff :D, but seriously, there is a lot of NOS stuff (where repros are bad) that go for big bucks. Other repros are very good, so the NOS stuff does not command the same $$ difference. As Eric said, knowledge is the key. Do you homework on prices. See if you have any duplicates, they can be sold first without worry. Survivor cars are worth more at auctions going to collectors, guys that drive them look more at restored cars.

On the top, you have to verify that the top is original anyway. If it has already been replaced, then you can replace it again. Survivor paint should be cared for. Get correct laquer paint to fill in chips with a small brush to preserve the paint and to keep rust from forming under surrounding paint. Scratches can be carefully painted and buffed (if you have the talent). Repairs like that are considered "maintaining", not repaints or replacing trim.

Stainless can be buffed, as long as the chrome is presentable and not badly pitted, keep it and protect it.

Also nice looking truck! I am a fellow stovebolt owner, 51 chevy shortbed, currently a jigsaw puzzle taking up room in my garage.

Do you do large scale RC? I used to be into that in my youth. Maybe one day, when all my other hobbies are cleared. I still have smaller U-control planes up in the attic.

Luck and post some pics!

Good grief $500 for some chrome fender trim..Thanks for all the advice.

I do have a list with most of the part numbers, I still need to gather up a few more. I think the top has been replaced..I know the boot is original and still fits nice..but my wife would know as she was the one who really liked the car, in fact the story goes they originally bought it with a small block but she thought it was "doggie" so they returned it and got the L35...and positraction for the snow you know, didn't want to get stuck taking the kids to school. Fortunately, shortly there after she got a stationwagon and the car never saw the snow again... I guess that's why it has auto, power steering and power windows too... mom's Muscle Car. :)

Kevin..Working on a 100" wingspan Corsair right now. That being the largest to date and smallest is a 38" Super Cub. I'll get some pic's up soon...

Yikes! 100"! I see why you need the truck. I still remember going to a show and seeing a B-17 large scale. That was monsterous with the 4 scale radials. Now they have the scale jets engine too. It will take a new learning curve for me to get back into the hobby! Love to see some pics!

I used to fly a 100" T6 at the reno style races ( lots of fun) I"m currently flying a 106" carden extra. That is when I'm not playing with cars

OK..We're gonna get kicked outta here..or maybe we should start a new r/c thread...but khul...!! One of my good friends from DE got me back into R/C..a guy named Vic Madison. Know him?

No I don't know him. I'm not as active as I use to be. I'm also doing a 67 396 car. Do you happen to have any good pics. of your car I'm looking for any motor or under neath or oil pan or any pics. you might have Thanks

I don't but...I keep it garaged at my daughter's place which is about 40 minutes away..Next time I go up there I'll get some for you..

Thanks Peter. Also can you look at the oil pan and tell me if its a single step or double. I posted a question over at CRG about 67 BB oil pans but I'm not getting much responce, Thanks

You got it..I'll try to get over there this weekend if not then I'll get over there by Wed. the latest..

I got over there and unfortunately forgot the keys so I couldn't move it out of the garage..but I did what I could and uplaoaded some pic's to the members gallery..Do you know whow I get them to the 1st Gen Catagory..?

in fact the story goes they originally bought it with a small block but she thought it was "doggie" so they returned it and got the L35...and positraction for the snow you know, didn't want to get stuck taking the kids to school.

Pete,
Sounds like a really nice car and one I would love to own in either case, but could you clarify if when they returned the car with the small block did they a) have the driveline replaced or
b) trade in the small block car for a big block car.

Rob,

I don't believe they took delivery and just re-ordered...The dealer was a friend of the family and so I guess it wasn't a big deal..I guess my use of "returned it" does imply they physically had it in their possession at the time (poor choice of words on my part) but that was almost forty years ago and stories do tend to get changed along the way.