Cheers or Jeers: 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, #124

[wildmanjoe]

Cheers or Jeers: 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, #124

Link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item56480b9b86

1953 corvette serial number 124. 1st time offered for sale since approx. 1975. auction includes the following only: very very solid original steel frame with complete front suspension and complete rear suspension ( rear end is not correct and wheels are not included), original 53 only fiberglass body, with left and right side bare doors, hood, trunk and deck lid. also includes 6 cylinder blue flame motor with correct 53 only head and automatic transmission. clear north carolina title (date of issue 1969) with original flint issued vin tag. also includes 69 bill of sale (800.00). frame is in excellent condition and has the vin number clearly stamped in 2 places, body appears to be all original but it is in very very very rough shape. will require an inch by inch restoration. doors, hood, deck and trunk all have minor damage and will need alot of attention. the motor is correct but not the original unit. sometime in the 90s the last owner had is professionally restamped to appear original but IT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL MOTOR. trans appears to be correct but it is missing the tail housing. THIS IS ALL WE HAVE FOR SALE! just over 200 53s are estimated to still exist. perfect addition to any serious corvette collection. corvette or corvette parts inventory trades considered.

(H/T cletus8269)

[A Horse With No Name]

Wish I had the talent and finances to restore this thing!

[balthazar]

That IS rough. I looked over a '54 @ an auction a few years ago- wasn't quite as incomplete as this but still a monster project.

But that price is mad insane: jeers on the price.

[lt1george]

You'd have to have more money then brains to buy that 53 Corvette. Sorry.

[cletus8269]

was just looking through the vette section and saw a fire damaged 64. wondered if there were more roughed up vettes and came across this one. i think $50K is even too much for it in that shape considering the 53 that sold at BJ last year in scottsdale was top flight certified and went for $170K . it was number #243. oddly enough that same car sold for $297K in 2005... talk about depreciation when you drive it off the lot.

[ocnblu]

At this point it's like the Tulsa Belvedere. Too far gone.

[Camino LS6]

Price is beyond the pale.

To be honest, I wouldn't pay that much for a perfect '53.

'53 and '54 Vettes were, well... a bit underwhelming overall. And though they have collector value, they really aren't good for much beyond a static display when restored.

Jeers.

[balthazar]

^ R U saying they can't be driven, or can't be driven enjoyably?

It's just the I6 thing, isn't it?

[Drew Dowdell]

Too far gone for the price. It will take more than that just to get it restored.

[Camino LS6]

^ R U saying they can't be driven, or can't be driven enjoyably?

It's just the I6 thing, isn't it?

It isn't just the I-6, these cars just weren't all that good overall. Corvette was very lucky to survive its first few years - the later cars were so much better.

[cletus8269]

very true. as far as being a performance car, i wouldnt be interested in a vette until the fuelies showed up. mid years go without saying.

[ocnblu]

I keep looking for evidence of white paint, but all I see is blue. Does anyone see an original layer of white?

[balthazar]

^ Hmmm, that would suggest a '54 body there....

[Camino LS6]

Agreed.