Thread: 53 corvette worth saving?

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I know someone who found a 53 corvette in a barn that was sunk up to it's floorpans. The fiberglass is so rotten that you can poke your finger thru it and the frame is rusted completely out along with everything underneath. The only good thing is the Blue Flame engine which turns over by hand. Are these engine that rare? Going to drain everything and take the engine apart to see if anything is wrong with it. It's too bad that the body is gone.

Those engines with the side draft carbs were always a sleeper - part it out as much as possible - someone will be looking for any and everything from the Powerglide to original nuts and bolts as they only made a very few of the '53-'54 models

What he said

besides the restorers it would make a cool engine for a rat rod

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

besides the restorers it would make a cool engine for a rat rod

I'm thinkin' you could make enough off the motor/trans/diff to build several nice rat rods.

And if you can get a title-----

The VIN plate is valuable as well as the intake, carbs, and air cleaners. Like the other guys said, there are bits a pieces that are worth it for a restorer. They only made 300 units in 53 and they were built at a Glastron boat plant (I think in Ohio) before they had the St. Louis Corvette plant going for the 54 model year. It is worth recovering! Of course, the restoration is not worth doing unless you are a serious Corvette freak.

I can see why it was parked. The engine is junk. Tru a rod right through the block, and crank is shot. Carbs seems good and going to rebuild them. No vin #. Interior is gone except the origional cluster gauges which I will see if they work. Tranny is nothing but rust but shifter is good. Guess he can make some $$$ on parts.

The '53 was amongst the rarest of Vettes... plus many were intentionally sold to celebrities. If you could research the car, see if it has any noteworthy history, and see what current sale prices might be (if any have sold lately!)... it might just be a big money maker, no matter how bad it is!

The first 300 '53 Corvettes were hand assembled in Flint Michigan. I know an old guy that was involved with this build. He's in his 80's now. The building where they were built is long gone though.

Thanks for the info fitzwilly.....the bodies were made by Glastron in Ohio and the cars were assembled in Flint by GM.

I remember going with my parents to the nearest Chev dealer (in the next town over) to see the new 53 Corvette. Of course, it was in the center of the small showroom. My parents talked about the rumor that, in a wreck, the "glass" body would break apart and the glass slivers would kill you.....at the time, the trademarked word Fiberglas (one s) meant glass to the average person.

Then, in 1969, there was an ad in the Dallas paper for a 53 and a 54 corvette....I went to look at them. The 53 was a shell with a vin tag and frame while the 54 was somewhat complete....the guy wanted $300 total for both. We laughed at him. If only I had a barn that I could have stashed them in.

mike in tucson

I always liked the early vettes from 53-57 and about 5 years ago went to an auction where they had a 54 for sale with I think blue paint, and even thought it wasn't in the best of shapes, they still wanted $20,000. Didn't have $20,000 to spend 5 years ago and now being retired still don't have an extra $20,000 laying around

there is no such thing as a vette that cant be saved . how do you know it's a 53 if the vin is gone ??

Vin isn't gone, can't read it. Lady that owns it says it a 53 and she has the last regestration. It was parked in 62 when her son was killed in Nam. She called a laywer and decided she wants to keep it and told us nicely that she didn't want anyone around anymore. She"s 93 and as sharp as a tack. Since we worked on the engine in her garage and took it apart she told us that her gransone want's the car and to leave it like it is. End of story.

62 in Nam?