What’s Under The Tarp? 1964 Chevrolet Corvette
Generally, a 1964 Chevrolet Corvette is just another find. With a production total of about 22K copies, they’re not rare and surface often. The most notable facet may be that the coupe version follows directly behind the famous split-window equipped ’63; it’s extremely similar to its predecessor, it’s just lacking that fabulous Bill Mitchell rear window styling cue. In the case of today’s ’64 ‘Vette find, courtesy of T.J., it’s the circumstance under which it was found, it was pretty well buried and used as a storage surface for lack of a better description. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, this convertible is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $40,101, with 43 bids tendered so far.
The story is that this Corvette was parked in 1980 after having undergone a black to green repaint in ’77 and an engine rebuild in ’78. We’re told, “Never been in any accidents… All the original bonding strips are still intact…Body is very nice and original does have some damage to the front driver fender…Birdcage is in great condition.” The noted fender damage looks more like a scrape than anything more serious. The seller refers to the original Tuxedo Black finish as being rare but Corvsport claims that 3,454 examples were so finished in ’64 – the third most popular shade and tied with Daytona Blue. Having both hard and soft tops, as is the case here, is certainly welcome. The finish clearly has issues but the car, all-in-all, looks sound and complete.
The engine is claimed to be a 300 HP, 327 CI V8 though the seller mentions that the engine ID has been planed off, ostensibly as a result of the rebuild. With a claimed 54K miles, it seems unusual that the engine would have needed a rebuild, much less a required block decking, but who knows for sure what really happened so many years ago. There is a Muncie four-speed manual transmission in place that is stated to work, but it must have been statically tested as this ‘Vette is a non-runner.
The white interior is in surprisingly nice condition. There’s a small rip in the driver’s seat bottom but that’s the only noted takeaway. The white upholstery is not showing signs of yellowing, which is often the case, but the door panels are not quite as clean. The dash and instrument panel, along with the original Delco radio, look to be in excellent condition. The only thing that appears to need attention is the driver’s side carpet but the images aren’t clear and that’s a minor matter.
I find it curious that this Corvette sat for so long, doing nothing more than serving as a garage storage utility. The good news is that it has cleaned up really well and looks good. There are unknowns, of course, with the engine, and as previously noted, the exterior aesthetics will need attention but this no reserve barn find looks to be a very pleasant under the tarp surprise, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
With a missing dizzy cap and related, I’d agree about its non-running status!
Also it’s an HEI distributor and that air cleaner is way to short, the lid is too close to the top of the carb. Regardless, this one’s very good looking
No, I see a remote coil, but the rotor looks HEI
It’s up to almost $47,000. That’s all the money in the world for a low-option, non-running, ’64 convertible with a decked block. And you get no guarantees of anything from the flipper. No thanks.
That’s a standard ignition rotor, not HEI. In my opinion, it’s poor form to advertise a “rebuilt” engine without even trying to get it running. Also, a “never wrecked body” with front fender damage is pure flippertalk. I’m guessing it currently has a broken odometer and a locked-up block.
So after an engine rebuild, a new aluminum radiator, a $15,000 paint job to black, some brake work, and a few interior repairs the new owner will have a $50,000 car… assuming there’s no rust damage, the 4-speed is okay, and the trailing arm bearings are good. If that makes you happy, I wish you the best. However, it wouldn’t float my boat.
It is a standard points type distributor with the rotor from the same. Hopefully it is the correct tach-drive distributor. The vacuum advance assembly is also consistent with an old points type ignition. The cap, wires, and ignition shielding are probably still in the original owners garage. The air cleaner I *believe* should be the dual snorkle type with the inlets facing forward. The dash looks virtually perfect, the upholstery has some discoloration, and the steering wheel is cracked unfortunately. I remember when the 64’s were at the bottom of the C2 desirability list, now any C2 is money! Cool car for someone.
Who gave you 4 thumb up for wrong answer ? Not HEI
@ $45,000 and the seller is telling ” im guessing they decked the block and took the Numbers off the block”. umm?
$50k? OK, but only if you throw in that sweet Ricky Scaggs t-shirt.
He can keep the dirty old jeans.
I once sold a car for a friend to a couple of Swedes. When we arrived at an acceptable price I told the son he had to include the bitchin t-shirt he was wearing. He gave me the strangest look but when they came for the car, the t was handed to me freshly laundered.
Best comment of the day, thx!
JO
Cool!
Probably a rebuilt car from several sources. Good looking but
– i dont get upset not buying it. Too risky and too expensive.
The Bidding history tells be there’s plenty of scamming going on. Why would you plane a serial number off on a car that having the original Mill is important? Asking big bucks and its non running? Ign Shielding? know what you are buying.
Cheers
GPC
GPC, IF it has the original engine, and if it was rebuilt in the 70’s or so, the engine numbers weren’t that big of a deal, a typical rebuild typically included decking the engine to assure a good gasket seal. The matching number craze started taking off later. Interesting car with adventurous pricing…
How was it “running great” when parked without the cooling or ignition systems hooked up?
Look at the front of heads, do the engine have double hump heads ?
That was the gold standard when I was growing up in the 1960s.
Something´s fishy. Stay away. There are too many honest examples around, the Vette isn´t such a big deal, it´s rather common.
Forget about the car ,I want that vintage Ricky Skaggs picking party tee shirt!!