1961 Corvette

[Camaro4]

I'm looking at a 1961 Corvette to buy. It's supposed to be a NCRS blue chip car. It is supposed to be a survivor and all original car. How to I research it further to find out if it what it is advertised to be? I have the VIN if needed.
Thank you
John

[tom406]

I recommend hiring a qualified appraiser or inspector who is knowledgeable on C1 Corvettes and is independent of the seller. Good NCRS quality requires a lot of confirmation and validation. You can do a lot of research on your own
, buy reference books, etc., but at the prices these bring, it doesn't pay to go in unprepared.

[Camaro4]

Thank you for your response. I've got a person from the NCRS that is going to contact me and get an appraisal. I just thought if there was something I could do while I am waiting on him.
Thank you

[TimG]

The VIN will tell you nothing but the sequence build of the car. If you are a novice, be careful, there is lots to know about these cars. Not to minimize the car you're looking at, but many are "said" to be blue chip, original cars when they truly are not. A good appraiser will know in 10 minutes if it is as advertised and if they should keep looking at it.

[tom406]

Immediate things to do would be to do a Google search of the VIN and see if any sales history pops up from a dealer or auction. Second would be to verify the serial number plate spot welded to the steering column and make sure it looks similar to other 1961 serial number plates and that the number matches the title/registration. Look underneath the hood and front fender wells and look for evidence of crash repair or a filled hole in the hood giving up its history as a hot rod with a tall intake/carb setup. Many were cut and filled, and the edges of the patch always shrink over time.