Garage Find: 1961 Chevrolet Corvette
Even though the C1 was nearing the end of its lifespan, Chevrolet still threw in a few exterior revisions for the 1961 Corvette, including redesigning the rear end with boat-tail styling and adding quad round taillights in the process. The seller of this 1961 Corvette says the most recent owner purchased the car around 2001 with the intent of performing a restoration, but it was never completed, and this one’s just sat in a dry garage ever since. It’s located in Abington, Massachusetts, and seems like a favorable prospect if you’ve been searching for an early sixties example to take on as a project.
There’s no body tag present, so the trim combo is uncertain, but the seller thinks the original color may have been Honduras Maroon, as signs of this paint shade can be spotted around the car. It’s been decades since this one got resprayed, and once you get close the finish seems to reveal that not enough prep work was done before the fresh paint was applied, so it’s probably time to strip it all off and start over. The fiberglass panels appear overall to be in fairly decent condition, with a few imperfections here and there that will need to be addressed during the restoration process.
The factory powerplant is long gone, and in the bay now is thought to be a 1968 date-code 327. The engine is non-running and missing a few components, plus the seller indicates the crank won’t turn, so this might be a good opportunity for the future owner to install whatever he desires under the hood. This one was born with a manual transmission and features a 4-speed with a Hurst shifter inside. The seller indicates that the rear suspension appears to have been replaced, and also mentions that the undercarriage has also been repainted from the front wheels back.
Most of the interior components seem to present as driver-quality, and while many would benefit from some TLC, things inside appear to be at a pretty good starting point to take to a higher level. A few sections of the carpet are missing, but that’s good as we get to see parts of the floors, which remain reasonably solid as far as I can tell. This 1961 Chevrolet Corvette can be seen here on eBay, with bidding already up to $35,100, past the reserve and enough for a sale. Do you think this C1 seems like good project material?
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Comments
May have rebuilt the rear suspension but they didn’t get it set right. Car looks solid and if bought at a reasonable price would make a good car again.
I agree, but ‘a reasonable’ price might have been passed already. Even if you can do all the work it’s still not a bargain. My suggestion would be to get the mechanicals right, including the suspension, and drive it. As a C1 it will always draw a crowd…they just won’t hang around long.
Get your kicks on Route 66,,,although the show was never filmed in color, Buz said, “it was light blue initially, and changed to tan later in the series”. I never understood the logic of discontinuing the opening trunk( ’62?) I suppose for what they cost, GM figured Corvette owners don’t carry anything, they just buy new as needed. At just around $4grand with no options, only about 10,000 people bought a ’61 Corvette. I’d have to assume, most of those were in the military. Sounds like a lot of money, and it was, a ’61 Impala was about $2500 but a lot less than a ’61 XKE at almost $5500. So many neat cars, but a Corvette will go down in history as the nicest sports car made mainly because it wasn’t some finicky 12 cylinder Italian job, or a stubborn British car, it was USA all the way. An engine a 3rd grader could repair, Hurst shifters, Cragar mags, it didn’t get any better.
It’s no more a “sports car” than the ’61 Impala.
Better comparison would be a ’57 Chev. Straight frame (no X), coils in the front, leafs in the rear.
I’m no expert, but I’ve never seen a cove half-painted white.
What’s up with the front fender,cove and molding?
Aside from the body color leading edge the SS trim is standard on a ’61.
It is a bucket list dream car for me. I graduated from High School in 1961 (almost didn’t) and I went on to college, I doubt that would happen today. I digress ,but nonetheless having a 61 Corvette would be a great reminder of how fortunate I was.
These colors just don’t look right to me!
Great transition years. ’61&’62.
Greaser in the front. Rocker out back.
SOLD for $40,100.