Former Road Racer: 1964 Chevrolet Corvette
I’m no Corvette purist. Some ‘Vette aficionados might wig out over the treatment that has been bestowed upon this 1964 hardtop but you have to appreciate the times that are now in the past. The extensive exterior modifications weren’t so unusual back before a C2 became unobtanium. And the seller adds that this Corvette “was an X Road Race, SCCA NASCAR World of Wheels vehicle“. OK, I’m interested in knowing more. This Chevy is located in Pompano Beach, Florida and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $20,000 with 30 bids tendered so far.
The seller tells us, “It was modified way back in the sixties and seventies. Old School Road Race flares and modifications were done by a professional fiberglass guy and are solid and done properly, they were not a prefabricated Graft in kit. This is truly a one-of-a-kind car unique to itself. Solid as a rock!“. Obviously, it could use some finishing but how finished, beyond paint, is open to interpretation. I’m generally not a fan of these types of Corvette modifications but I have to admit that I like the way this one sits and the Minilite wheels are just perfect!
Power is courtesy of a built 365 HP, 327 CI V8 engine. The seller claims that it’s a ’66 vintage motor (RPO L76) but the reality is that Chevrolet discontinued it at the end of the ’65 model year – a small detail really. Improvements include aluminum heads, a full electronic MSD ignition in the distributor, a high-volume racing fuel pump, a high-capacity fan, a brass Harrison 4 core radiator, and a polished M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed manual transmission with all new components including a McLeod clutch, pressure plate, and flywheel. With all this goodness, all the seller says about this car’s operating proclivities is, “The car runs drives and stops“. Also mentioned is the open header exhaust which is not connected to the existing side pipes.
The interior is pretty basic Corvette and is said to be in non-modified condition. The leather upholstery shows fairly well as to the door panels. The floors are stripped bare revealing their sound underlying condition. As for the instrument panel, all of the gauges are bright and clear – and in place. Add some carpet and this interior is good to go.
I think if this Corvette were mine, I’d continue the modified, road racer vibe. It seems too far gone down the customized road to try to return it to stock, and as stated earlier, this example is very representative of typical C2 modifications that occurred in the late ’60s and ’70s. That’s my two cents, what’s yours?
BTW, Happy Fourth of July, be safe!
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Comments
For something fun I like this car. Only problem I have is if they are using the “prior race history” as a way of getting more money out of it some proof of the racing history better be pretty good since there is no sign of roll cage or other safety equipment. SCCA, Nascar, or any other sanctioning body would not have let it run without it. Wouldn’t give more then the present bid as the repaint will not be cheap to bring it up to it’s former glory.
It has a radio so you can listen to music if the race is red flagged.
“World of Wheels” is/was a car show featuring mainly customs and hotrods. These shows typically ran several days a year per location, travelling around the US and Canada.
Based on the pics, this car was likely shown at least once. Some cars were part of the main show, and stayed “on tour”, being transported to every location, while others were sourced (or entered) locally.
While the builder may have wanted it to “look” like a race car, as bobhess pointed out, it had None of the required equipment or mods.
I am a(mostly) C2 guy. I have located several C2 projects that were genuine race cars. They are typically incomplete, basket-cases, often with no title or questionable VIN. Most had extensive cracking and damage throughout the body. All had interiors gutted, seats removed/replaced, and roll-cages attached to the frame etc. Most had glass removed/replaced with lexan. Some came with photos, clippings, and even trophies. I did take on a couple (a ’57, and a ’63) and rebuilt them to somewhat period-correct, driver-quality, street cars.
There are also a fair number of neglected former show-car and heavily customized project Corvettes floating around. While they are usually not worth trying to restore to NCRS standards, some are worth saving as customs.
This car would be (barely)affordable to bring back to “driver-quality”. To bring it back to show quality would be Very expensive. In addition to body and paint, the undercarriage had extensive chrome work. Then a full retrim of the interior would also add up.
In agreement this was either a show car or someones close interpretation of one. Get some paint back on it and get the interior back in shape and lower the compression hook up the side pipes and drive it.
Just be careful with the old Minilite wheels.They are known to fail with age.
For me I’m getting a bit tired of all these corvettes. i’m not a vette guy but if i was to get one it would be 66-67 versions.
Are the cat and mannequin included?
Race History?
Ya Right!
The only race track this car was ever near was a car show at the race track or maybe an autocross.
Just another old 60’s/70’s custom.
There seems to be quite a bit of BS in the ad.
As others pointed out, nothing about this car says road racing, and I don’t remember a NASCAR class for 63-67 Corvettes. The mods to the nose, and molded in front and rear spoilers, would never have been allowed by the SCCA in the 60’s or 70’s, and neither would the flares. Starting in the early 70’s SCCA allowed some flares, but the shape of wheel opening had to remained unchanged. I know SCCA rules, I’ve crewed on road racing Corvettes since the late 70’s, and still crew on Corvette vintage racers today.
The wheels are not Minilites. Minilites are 8 spoke, not 10, and usually have some distinct markings on the rim. I also don’t think they’re magnesium. They appear to be Western “Superlite” wheels, which were an aluminum 10 spoke knock off of Minilites made in the 80’s.
The seller likes to brag on the quality of the fiberglass work, but looking at the underside of the hood, and the lip of the flare in the left front fender close up, of have my doubts.
This was more likely someone’s 70’s street custom, and may have been entered in a local World of Wheels or ISCA show. There were thousands of similar custom Corvettes floating around in the 70’s.
Correct on the NASCAR part. That was supposed to be IMSA. The early morning brain fade thing.
Look at pic 10 on the eBay ad it will clear up what the car was built for probably in the late 70s early 80s
And no performance improvement from that Cub Cadet sized air filter.
Sold 31,205.00