Opportunity to purchase 69 coupe original drivetrain 350 hp 4 sp that has been in barn storage. Good news probably under $5k. Bad news car has served as Hyatt Regency for rodents/ misc varmints. Eng compartment full of "nests". Many "signs" of rodents in interior. My question is I assume this car has no survivor value since all wiring and interior would need replaced. Since it is smallblock I am guessing it is probably not financially smart to frame off. Is this probably driver potential only ?
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Re: 69 barn find
David. It sounds like a good candidate for a driver project at best. I'm sure you checked the frame since it was sitting for some time. Probably could use a new braking system as well. Post a few pix if you can.Jack Corso
1972 Elkhart Green LT-1 Coupe 43,200 miles
Top Flight 1994, 2018 & 2021 -
Re: 69 barn find
Frame and windshield frame rusting would be a lot of work if it has to be done. Some Corvette owners replace wiring just because its is old. Replacement wiring is available from a vender advertising in the NCRS Driveline. New interior pieces are available, again Corvette owners have been replacing interiors for years to make their Corvettes appear they just came from the factory. Best thing about your barn find in my opinion is that the 69 has the optional 350HP engine and 4-speed. The car is 44 years old and desirable in my opinion. Did the owner leave the windows down so the misc varmints had free access?Comment
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65 350 TI CONV 67 J56 435 CONV,67,390/AIR CONV,70 454/air CONV,
What A MAN WON'T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDEComment
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Re: 69 barn find
I had ONE mouse nest in my car after it was done. (A new "neighbor" shot all of the barn cats in the area as a "favor"). I found it right away and removed the surrounding panels and cleaned everything as well as I could. After five years of Fabreeze and bowls of baking soda in the car, I have finally gotten rid of the smell. Bottom line, unless you are prepared to strip EVERYTHING out and power wash the bare interior, you are in for one stinky experience. Also, new wiring is almost a given. If you have the time, energy, and desire to do your own work, it sounds like a doable project.Comment
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Re: 69 barn find
Sounds like a pretty good deal, David. My old days of buying these types of cars for $1,800 appear to be long gone.
This car could be anything you want (concours or driver) but it would make financial sense to make it a nice driver. If you can do a lot of the work yourself, it should take less than $15k to rework the engine, paint, interior and buy some tires and other mechanicals. Alot of the price depends upon where you live if you have others doing work for you. The good thing about this is that you don't have to do everything at once. Get your engine, tires, and mechanicals straight first. Later you can do the paint, and interior in the future. You can drive it in between.
As you've stated, the rodent infestation could be a prblem, but I would'nt consider it the primary concern. Considering that you live in the "rust belt", Jack's advice about checking the frame could be the deal breaker for this car. Not because the frame might need to be replaced, but because of the cost of doing that related to the ultimate value of the car.
Good luck with this. I think it's a great deal if you can use some of the problems to reduce his price.
PaulComment
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Re: 69 barn find
[QUOTE=David Goss (38975);Bad news car has served as Hyatt Regency for rodents/ misc varmints[/QUOTE]
Now that is funny! Good chuckle to start my Saturday.KramdenComment
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Re: 69 barn find
Do the math, $10k for paint and body, $1,500 for wiring and vacuum hoses, $2k for interior, plus anything else you find. Brake calipers, engine stuck?, all weatherstrip, chrome plating, most cars such as that are bottomless money pits.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 69 barn find
Thanks to all for thoughts and advice. No pictures yet as car is 2 hrs away. Being checked out by friend. If frame is good and price is right might be fun project without much downside. Anybody advertise hazmat suits in Driveline for use in de- infestation?Comment
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Re: 69 barn find
Not sure what part of the country this is in, but in my neck of the woods, the deer mice are most all carriers of Hanta Virus, something that you don't want to get. Total disinfection is a must, and a HazMat suit is not overkill either.Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: 69 barn find
Exactly. When you buy a car like this you should'nt expect to make any money. You buy it because you want it and to have fun. If cared for it will appreciate over time and you'll get some of your money back. Whether it's a money pit or not is'nt the issue. It's all about the cost of fun and bringing it back for others.
As I've stated before and I'll say again, Jim Perkins once told me that you restore cars to have fun with them and to save them for the next generation.
PaulComment
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