Destiny!!!

[Camino LS6]

I have often remarked on the fact that though I have owned many cars, I have never owned a Corvette or a convertible. Some of you have probably heard me joke that someday I might have to combine the two.

Well, about a decade or so ago I left a note in a mailbox at a house where a Corvette convertible had long been siting in the driveway under a tarp.

Never heard a word about it.

Eventually, the car disappeared and I wondered what became of it.

So, a few days ago I get a phone call...

It's the owner of the Vette wondering if I might still be interested!

We are negotiating.

Edited July 4, 2011 by Camino LS6

[balthazar]

I like how you think you can slink out of here without giving at least minimal car details- well done!

[Camino LS6]

Put it this way, the inspection sticker expired in 1981...

[Camino LS6]

Elkhart green, chrome bumpers...

[Camino LS6]

under 50k miles...

[Robert Hall]

Interesting...something kinda like this? (Elkhart Green '72):

or this?

Edited September 17, 2010 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Camino LS6]

Original drivetrain.

Enough details for now?

Interesting...something kinda like this? (Elkhart Green '72):

Very impressive work, Cubitar!

You are precisely correct!

Condition is another matter, however...

[Robert Hall]

I like that color. I like how many of the late '60s-early '70s Corvette colors directly or indirectly name-checked racetracks..Elkhart being a reference to Elkhart Lake/Road America, and Monza Red, Monaco Orange, Goodwood Green, LeMans Blue, Can-Am white...

Edited September 17, 2010 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Camino LS6]

I love the color too.

[Intrepidation]

Sounds like a great project. Don't let it slip away!

[balthazar]

I saw one year, either 71 or 70, listed "War Bonnet Yellow"...

These are far more appealing than the rubber bumpered versions. There's an Elkhart Gr coupe in my neighborhood- been sittin without moving the 18 years I've lived here....

[Camino LS6]

I'm doing what I can, DF.

War Bonnet Yellow is a real Corvette color (one I don't care for).

The car I'm looking at has taken a 30 year sleep...

[Lamar]

I'm intrigued. This is probably my favorite of all the classic 'Vettes. Well, except for the 1983.

Keep us posted!

[Camino LS6]

Will do.

[Intrepidation]

I'm intrigued. This is probably my favorite of all the classic 'Vettes. Well, except for the 1983.

Keep us posted!

Funny man you are.

[Lamar]

Funny man you are.

Speaking of funny, I clicked the image in your signature. Google Chrome keeps it from having the desired effect.

But yeah, I find pleasure in the notion that there's only one existing Corvette that has the year I was born as its model year.

[Z-06]

Dear God of Corvette clans.

What engine?

[ocnblu]

Aw man. Very cool. Saddle interior? I hope you can get it. I want to see this thing.

[Camino LS6]

Aw man. Very cool. Saddle interior? I hope you can get it. I want to see this thing.

Most of the interior is absent, but yes, it was saddle.

Fingers crossed.

Dear God of Corvette clans.

What engine?

350, with a wuss-a-matic

[NOS2006]

That's just effing impressive, Camino. Good luck on purchasing it!

[Camino LS6]

Thanks, NOS.

I still can't believe the guy saved ny note all of that time!

[NOS2006]

Oh yeah, without a doubt. That's a LONG time to hold onto something like that. He probably put it on the car's dash and didn't open the car up again until he called you lol.

[cletus8269]

I'm intrigued. This is probably my favorite of all the classic 'Vettes. Well, except for the 1983.

i used to tease my cousin that if i won the lottery i'd buy everyone in the family am corvette of the year they were born... she was born in 83 hehehe

[cletus8269]

there is a white 72 t-top here in anderson saddle interior. sharp sharp car. one of the last good looking classic vettes.

[NOS2006]

i used to tease my cousin that if i won the lottery i'd buy everyone in the family am corvette of the year they were born... she was born in 83 hehehe

haha That is hilarious!

And cletus, I completely agree about the '72s being among the last good looking classic Corvettes.

[Camino LS6]

I'm trying to be patient about getting this deal done, but it won't be easy.

Should know within a week.

[Lamar]

i used to tease my cousin that if i won the lottery i'd buy everyone in the family am corvette of the year they were born... she was born in 83 hehehe

[67impss]

Camino that's sure is a great story on the note & phone call. And the 'vette is just like my neighbors son's car for 1972 he ordered with blk top 350 LT1 4spd. He had just went to work out of collage for Frigidaire with his Dad & used the class A discount(very little off a 'vette) listened to that exhaust note for the 3-4 yrs he lived in the basement (my br was next to the driveway)

In Collage he had the uncivil brother to his Dads GTO his with a manual of course.

Thanks for the memory

Of candlelight and wine, castles on the Rhine

The Parthenon and moments on the Hudson River Line

How lovely it was!...

(In my best Bob Hope)

Edited September 18, 2010 by 67impss

[Camino LS6]

Cool!

This car seems to have the power to generate stories.

I wish it was an LT-1 4spd.!

It would already be mine and have a very different future.

[Z-06]

i used to tease my cousin that if i won the lottery i'd buy everyone in the family am corvette of the year they were born... she was born in 83 hehehe

There were approx. 44 to 48 of those made, but never came to be seen by public. Some say they were crushed, some say they were secretly sold/given to GM insiders, all we know is that there was a mini-mini-mini production run of 1983s. If found one of those, she would be extremely lucky person.

Cool!

This car seems to have the power to generate stories.

I wish it was an LT-1 4spd.!

It would already be mine and have a very different future.

That is where you making it as a project car comes into picture.

[Camino LS6]

I hesitate to mess with the originality of a matching-numbers convertible. If it were a non-match, high-mileage car, things would be different.

This car is more of a barn find without the barn, very original, mostly complete, and very low mileage. So, mods are not in the plan.

[Camino LS6]

Negotiations are dragging on, but I remain optimistic.

[knightfan26917]

I still can't believe the guy saved ny note all of that time!

I can.

In 2001, my grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. At that celebration was one of my grandmother's HS friends ... who happened to drive her 1979 Monte Carlo to the events that day.

Apparently, my interest in her car caught her attention enough that she asked my grandmother for my address. Two years later, about a year after my grandmother's death and a few months after I purchased my '87 MC LS/CL as my 5th MC, I got a letter in the mail from my grandmother's HS friend asking if I wanted to buy her car. She had to sell it. As it turned out, her son decided he wanted the car after all, so I never had the chance to buy it. But, I was shocked that she remembered that I wanted the car.

Good luck on the continuing negotiations, Camino...!

Cort | 37.m.IL.pigValve.pacemaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic |* Rt 66+northwestUS, 2011?

MCs.CC + CHD.models.HO.legos.RadioShows + RoadTrips.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Count your blessings now 'fore they're long gone" ... Pink ... 'Who Knew'

[A Horse With No Name]

Camino...I am just so effin jealous....

Wow....

Keep us posted, dude...good things DO come to those who wait...ten years.

Maybe in another ten years you'll get a ute?

[Camino LS6]

Thanks guys.

Things are getting more complicated by the day, but I have a good feeling about it all.

Will post when something happens.

[Camino LS6]

Not looking good.

The title is AWOL, and there may be other problems that would hold up a transfer.

Crap.

May not happen after all.

[SAmadei]

Not looking good.

The title is AWOL, and there may be other problems that would hold up a transfer.

Crap.

May not happen after all.

Assuming he/she had it properly titled before, you can't do a rubbing of the VIN or send out a police officer to certify the VIN/title status to get the DMV to issue a replacement?

'Other problems' sounds like it could be a lien issue.

[Camino LS6]

He thinks he may have removed the VIN plate when he was working on the car - 30 years ago.

Otherwise, yeah, he could file for lost title.

He's double checking.

I'm waiting.

[SAmadei]

He thinks he may have removed the VIN plate when he was working on the car - 30 years ago.

Otherwise, yeah, he could file for lost title.

He's double checking.

I'm waiting.

Did he put it back? Or it had no VIN plate when you looked at it? Ugh... I'd trend lightly.

Where the hell these people get the idea that that's a good idea, I don't know.

[Camino LS6]

`To be honest, I hadn't yet looked for the VIN plate.

He couldn't find it on the car, and hasn't found it elsewhere either yet.

Unless this all gets sorted out - he can't even junk the car in this state.

I will wait and see what happens.

[A Horse With No Name]

I know a guy who has a 72 Roadster shell with a title. He offered me the car in exchange for a case of beer about ten years ago...I decided that a case of beer was worth more than that particular Corvette.

But it does have a vin and a clear, non salvage title. The rest of the car....not so much....which is a shame, because it is a real steel cities grey ragtop, originally a 4 speed car IIRC....but a small block car....

There is a junk yard in Michigan that junks nothing but corvettes and they ahve sent a lot of C-3'sto meet their maker. You could buy this car uber-cheap....add another vin plate...or...

There are "hidden Vin's" on cars....this car MAY have one...if so...apply for a lost title...see waht the pee ayy popo wants for a repop vin plate...and you are off to the races.

Or just build an SCCA race car out of the thing....a cage could be fun....as could 140 miles an hour....would be a great "vintage" project....

[Camino LS6]

I know a guy who has a 72 Roadster shell with a title. He offered me the car in exchange for a case of beer about ten years ago...I decided that a case of beer was worth more than that particular Corvette.

But it does have a vin and a clear, non salvage title. The rest of the car....not so much....which is a shame, because it is a real steel cities grey ragtop, originally a 4 speed car IIRC....but a small block car....

There is a junk yard in Michigan that junks nothing but corvettes and they ahve sent a lot of C-3'sto meet their maker. You could buy this car uber-cheap....add another vin plate...or...

There are "hidden Vin's" on cars....this car MAY have one...if so...apply for a lost title...see waht the pee ayy popo wants for a repop vin plate...and you are off to the races.

Or just build an SCCA race car out of the thing....a cage could be fun....as could 140 miles an hour....would be a great "vintage" project....

Lots of possibilities there, Stang.

I'm pretty sure I know where one of the "hidden" VINs is. And I know this can be done, but if the car has to be re-vinned it will trounce its value.

We'll see what happens.

[A Horse With No Name]

Think of it this way though...LOTS of these cars have been raced, wrecked, rebuilt et al.

It could still be a decent middle level car.

Oh, and I have a corvette story for you....one of the local VW TDI guys takes his 5 speed Jetta into the local VW dealership, I think it was in dayton or cincy or something. They have an old corvette on the back lot, four mis-matched mag wheels, covered in dust, but it runs, it's a new gasser jetta trade in, of all things. Convertible top is kinda shot...but the guy's TDI VW is getting up in miles. The guy offeres the vee dub in trade and they accpet in a second. Guy drives the 66 home, it's an ugly shade of puke orange or something....

Finds out from the tank sticker and the paperwork still in the glove box that it's an original blue 66 425 HP Big block 4 speed ragtop. Guy also had a 66 Chevelle SS 396, Gold with a black vynal top...with 21,000 original miles...so once complete and back to big block status, the Chevelle had a garage mate.

But the guy is a hot rodder at heart, and couldn't stand not cutting up something he owned. So he wold both cars to collectors, and now runs a 48 chevrolet Street rod, one of the ones with the "fastback" styling, really a neat street rod....

I love Corvettes. There is also a mid sixties ragtop sitting in a barn about 4 miles from me, everey once ina while the doors are open to that barn, and she is still sitting there. That Blue big block 75 ragtop is still sitting out down in asheville....if you can live with rubber bumpers....and if you can convince that guy to sell...

[Camino LS6]

Big block ragtop.... temptation city.

But the thing is, I wasn't looking for this car - it came to me. It's such a good story that I hate to let the deal fail.

Plus, it's a real 44k mile original that hasn't moved in 30 years. I doubt I'd find anything like that again.

I haven't given up yet. As you say, it would still have some value with a replacement VIN plate.

But my plans for it might have to change if that's the case.

[balthazar]

I know the '60s vettes had VIN plates on the steel reinforcement beam under the dash...

So this guy had the windshield out and then decided to remove (& lose!) the VIN tag ??

He can definitely get a replacement title... and there is a company that can repro your VIN tag provided you can convince them your case is legit.

Did he have any original paperwork for the car ??

Keep us posted...

[A Horse With No Name]

This may actually help your case and your negotiations. You could buy the car witha bill of sale...cheaply...and then part it out if the title thing doesn't work out...which it should.

[Camino LS6]

I know the '60s vettes had VIN plates on the steel reinforcement beam under the dash...

So this guy had the windshield out and then decided to remove (& lose!) the VIN tag ??

He can definitely get a replacement title... and there is a company that can repro your VIN tag provided you can convince them your case is legit.

Did he have any original paperwork for the car ??

Keep us posted...

There should be a VIN # stamped on the top of the trans housing at the back of the block. I told him to try to find an old registration for the car, and I plan to crawl all over the thing again - I'll find the VIN.

As far as original paperwork goes, I don't think he has it as he bought the car used.

I may hit you up for the name of that company.

This may actually help your case and your negotiations. You could buy the car witha bill of sale...cheaply...and then part it out if the title thing doesn't work out...which it should.

All true.

[A Horse With No Name]

If you know someone who owns a body shop or a towing company, they can often get titles for vehicles they have "stored"..and in Ohio they can get a clean, non salvage title.

Another avenue to pursue....

[Camino LS6]

Did a little research and now know where on the frame the VIN can be found.

[A Horse With No Name]

This sounds promising...I may have to drive over and buy you breakfast at the Hot Spot again....