Sting Ray Survivor: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette
This 1967 Corvette Sting Ray could be the perfect vehicle for anyone searching for a classic that only requires some cosmetic restoration work. It has no rust issues, but the paint and interior are starting to show their age. Alternatively, it could be driven and enjoyed as it currently stands, because there is no doubt that it would still attract plenty of attention. The Corvette is located in Kingston, New York, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $38,500, although the reserve hasn’t been met.
The Corvette is finished in Lynndale Blue, and as the owner rightly points out, only 1,381 Corvettes wore that color in 1967. The only rarer colors were Elkhart Blue and Tuxedo Black, with 1,096 and 815 cars, respectively. As you can see, the paint is looking very tired and faded, and the vehicle would benefit from a repaint. However, rust does not appear to be a problem. The owner supplies some clear shots of the frame, and it is as clean as you could ever hope to find. A big-block hood has been fitted to the car at some point, but the owner is happy to swap this for a standard hood if required. The headlights raise and lower okay, but the driver’s side one is a bit slow. The trim and chrome is all present, and it could be considered to be acceptable for a driver-grade car. If the next owner is seeking a high-end restoration, then the bumpers might need a trip to the plater. The Corvette is fitted with tinted glass, and I can’t spot any problems with this.
The Corvette still houses its original engine and transmission. It features a numbers-matching 327ci V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, but a date-correct 3.36 Posi rear end has been fitted at some point. This 327 is the standard 300hp unit, but it should still push the vehicle through the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds. The engine bay presents reasonably well for a survivor, although I suspect it might improve with some minor work and detailing. The owner states that the Corvette starts easily and that it runs and drives perfectly. You will find a walk-around video at the bottom of this article. As well as getting a decent look at the Corvette, you hear that sweet little V8 running. It sounds as crisp and clean as the owner indicates.
As a survivor-grade classic, the interior of the Corvette would be considered to be in acceptable condition. It does require some TLC to take it to the next level, but there is no reason why it couldn’t be used for many years as-is. It features the standard Black vinyl trim and is fitted with the Speed Alert and factory AM/FM radio. There is nothing horrendously wrong with the interior, but it just looks tired. There are no rips or tears on the upholstery and no issues with the dash. However, the seat covers are stretched, while the carpet is badly worn and faded. It is the little details that have caught my eye, and while none of them would cost a fortune to address, they would require time and patience. There is dust accumulated behind the gauge glass, which could be addressed without sending the gauges off for specialist attention. There is also wear on switch controls throughout the interior and years of accumulated dust in gaps and recesses. I honestly believe that new seat covers, a new carpet set, and some plain old-fashioned cleaning would magically transform the interior. A set of covers can be purchased for about $520, and a carpet set retails for approximately $320. Even if you went the whole hog on the seats and threw in new foam, that would add another $230 to the tally. That means for around $1,070 plus a bit of time, this interior could present really well.
The 1967 model year marked the last for the C2 Corvette, and there is no shortage of enthusiasts who will argue that the C2 was the best Corvette ever produced. The company built 8,504 Coupes during that year, along with 14,436 Convertibles. This Coupe has the potential to be an absolute beauty with a bit of work, but there will also be people who will argue that it should remain untouched. Into which camp do you fall?
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Comments
Good looking car, fantastic motor and drivetrain but a miserable frame and suspension. C3’s were better and the C4’s even more so. There are replacement frames available that can update the suspension to bring it up to superior levels. You could store what’s under it currently, upgrade it to something superior for now and put it back in the future if desired.
It’s been said before, “For the price of a Camry/Accord/etc….” What a beautiful car. This is a beauty that deserves the restoration and to be DRIVEN! GLWA
The 1967 model year GM ran out of small black hoods they put big block hoods on everything if it has a late production date this Hood could be correct
I’ve heard this.
Wonder how many?
What is the ratio of ’63-67 Vettes seen for sale in print and on the web vs seen in person? 10,000 to 1?
From the looks of it, this car may have been in a sand storm, with the windows open. The first couple of owners, may have lived out west.The current bid is up to $40,100.
Be prepared to spend another $6-8K for a top-notch repaint. And don’t take it to a dealer, unless you want your paint to peel after a couple of years.
Find yourself a good body shop. If it were me I would look into getting a more durable paint than just a base coat clear coat job. If you REALLY want the car to look amazing and you don’t mind paying a bit more, I would go with a urethane based paint such as DuPont Imron paint. It’s more expensive than other paints, but it makes a huge difference in durability, depth and shine
A speed alert speedometer? I wonder how many idiots ordered that.
Every time I see a Lynndale Blue ’67 coupe my heart skips a beat because that’s the year, and color of my first Corvette. this one listed could be the identical twin to mine right down to the $10.00 speed warning option but mine was vin. # 194377S107233 a bit earlier then this one.