This 1964 Restored Belvedere 2-dr post  is for sale in Michigan. Inspected by certified classic auto appraiser Jason Phillips,  It’s a high end, very showable car. 440/bored472 C.I. engine, mated to a stock 4 speed, 8.75 rear 3:91 posi, which have all been fully rebuilt (receipts viewed). Resto pics show car stripped down to bare metal. Very clean, all steel original survivor body hand blocked straight and flat. Impressive, right down to  the rocker bottoms and jamb surfaces. Excellent magnetic adhesion all around exterior and underneath. Fully rebuilt suspension front and rear. Collision free, rot free underbody with no patch panels. Nicely restored period interior with great glass and trim all around. Very high quality rebuild/restore on a radio delete car. 17″ American racing wheels in rear, 15″ matched fronts, are like new, mated to Mickey Thompson ET street radials in rear, show virtually no wear. Upgrades away from factory (other than wheels) include the bored 440, MSD/billet distributor, disc brakes and gages. Rest of car looks bone stock.  In today’s dollars, it would cost well over $80,000 to do one up this nice out of a solid survivor body. Car rocks down the road, tracks and brakes nice with plenty of power and aggression in throttle. See videos posted on youtube.com of test drive and walk around. $1800 rebuild on factory 4 speed completed in July 2011. Rear end rebuild done in 2010, engine approximately 2000 miles ago. This owner has spent a lot of money to build a very nice car. We’re asking $45,000.00. 800-301-3886 or 810-691-2664. email cars@autoappraise.com. Request a well written, narrative report, along with over 300 photos completely detailing this car. Feel free to come yourself and drive it, or send your own KNOWLEDGEABLE Mopar inspector.

Update: Thanks for looking, we have sold this car.

Technorati Tags: 1964, auto appraisal, auto appraiser, Belvedere, classic car, for sale, Mopar

This truck has an all steel body and fenders, as well as running boards. The body is clean with excellent magnetic adhesion. It’s been in a storage locker for approximately 3 years. Red exterior was professionally applied, and still looks great, minus it’s small usage wounds, chips and oxidation. All the chrome was replaced when done a few years back, but the salt air is eating away at today’s thin aftermarket plating. We have over 200 still photos and will be happy to get those to you for an up close look at what we discovered during this 3 hour long inspection. With a professional level detail and some fresh fuel, it could certainly be enjoyed as it sits.

During the frame off, a GM front sub-frame was added with independent coil overs. Welding looks professionally executed.  The front suspension was upgraded to rack and pinion with power disc brakes. It handles and steers great. The rear end was upgraded to late model GM 10 bolt with standard multi-leaf and drums. Gear ratio is unknown and it’s seems quiet. No leaks seen. All newer shocks. The frame was sandblasted and repainted chassis black, and all new fuel lines, brake lines, clips, gas tank and mounting hardware were used underneath. Hidden power brake booster on rail is accessed through removable door in floor.  New dual exhaust was installed on stock 350 manifolds. Mufflers and some brackets/components underbody are showing surface rust from salt air, see photos. The interior has been restored in a taupe grey paint on dash, seat frame and cab interior. Replacement cardboard headliner is slightly warped but in good condition. Door card inserts look nice and handle chrome looks newer. All new gages with a clean updated underdash wiring and ducts for vintage A/C which blows cool. Seat cover is excellent a seat is firm. Nice aft-mkt. wood steering wheel needs a horn cap. All replacement glass with new seals were installed. All pieces in excellent shape. The box received a new wood planking kit and trim, but boards could stand to be re-varnished, and chrome slats cleaned up with an SOS pad. Orange peel is heavier in insides of box and some scratches noted on tailgate. Underhood the firewall is stock and was repainted exterior color when truck was disassembled. Steel black inner fenders are in good shape but in need of detailing. Rebuilt small block 350 runs great, sporting finned aluminum vette valve covers. Gaskets were recently changed by the current owner.  Some of the brackets need detailing and repainting. Updated aluminum radiator with electric fan works well. The truck seems to run cool. Mild to stock cam noted with nice smooth acceleration. 350 turbo tranny was rebuilt with no performance shift kit noted. Shifts are firm and crisp both up and down. The truck seems to have very nice drivability.   810-691-2664

UPDATE: This truck has been sold, Thanks.

Technorati Tags: chevrolet, classic car

This 1963 Ford T-Bird is a wonderful survivor car. The owner, who recently passed purchased it in 07 for close to $50,000, according to the records.  It has excellent magnetic adhesion all around with visible factory spot welds present everywhere. It’s had one nice repaint in the original medium blue metallic. Paint underhood and inside trunk appears original.  All trim is still very presentable, some with varying grades of patina present, but all very acceptable on a 2-/3+ show-able driver car. The complicated top system has gone through the typical $3000.00+ rebuild of all the solenoids with a replacement canvas that is very nice. This top works flawlessly, see pics. You’ll see in the YouTube test drive linked below that the 390 c.i. engine runs very well and the tranny shifts nicely. The underbody and trunk remain very solid. No patch panels, no repairs, no rot. All is very solid underneath. It could use a good long day’s worth of steam cleaning and paint detailing to the underbody on a hoist, to really make the bottom stand out. All dye holes are clean and uniform on the frame rails, and the spot welds from the rail flanges to the pans are easily seen. It’s obviously a collision free body. Interior is a combo of mostly new vinyl components and carpet, mixed in with well survived original pieces. The whole car presents in a really nice fashion. The previous owner, spent a lot of time and money in upkeep, and it shows. Links are posted below to youtube videos of the car. Autoappraise.com conducted a 3 hour long inspection on this car. We have over 200 photos and a well written detailed narrative report that will soon be viewable on our blog, see link below. The best thing about the car….just get in and drive, it’s ready for summer without delay. We are asking $35,000. 800-301-3886 or 810-691-2664, or email cars@autoappraise.com. http://www.autoappraise.com

Technorati Tags: auto appraiser, classic car, Classic car chat, for sale

The current owner purchased this Corvette in the summer of 75, and it has remained in his garage ever since. It’s original code 74 Dark Red paint is still in very nice shape, and has had some cosmetic repaint work done to repair stone chips a few years back. The code 142 referred to by many as “Silver moon” interior still looks very nice and has survived well. This is rare interior color fior 1975, less than 1000 units of the 38,000+ came equipped this way. Mileage claim is supportable, based on how clean the date coded side glass is, firmness of window regulators, lack of substantial interior wear in driver’s compartment, as well as limited wear showing on pedal rubbers. Left seat bolster wear along with carpet wear are present, and acceptable for this level of mileage. The underbody is very solid, no frame damage or rot ever, easily seen because it has NOT been masked with undercoat.Cosmetic oxidation and surface rust are present, and could certainly clean up and detail out nicely if one so chooses.  Original bonding strips signify no past collision history.  The engine, transmission and rear end have all been verified as “number’s matching” by Jason Phillips, owner of Auto Appraise Inc. The car runs and shifts excellent, has recent tires and updated stainless calipers with newer pads. The stock A/C blows cool and all equipment is in good working order, right down to the ignition buzzer. Comes with original owner paperwork. You’re invited to come and see for yourself or send an appraiser. We have over 50 photos and a detailed narrative report that was written after a 3 hour long inspection and test drive were completed. Contact our office for a password to view report and more pics. http://www.autoappraise.com . e-mail us cars@autoappraise.com. 800-301-3886 Click on the link below to see a walk around video that’s about 2+ minutes long. We are asking $14,900.00.

UPDATE: Thanks for looking, we have sold this client’s car.

Technorati Tags: auto appraisals, auto appraiser, chevrolet, classic car, corvette, numbers matching

This 1963 340 HP Chevrolet Corvette has been meticulously frame off restored over a 3 year period by an experienced Corvette enthusiast. It’s a correct, original red on red roadster with it’s original number’s matching engine, transmission and rear end. Look closely at photos and you will see the real difference when someone spends over $125,000 doing up a rock solid original car. This car is right, down to the correct color fuel line clips. Bonding strips and fiberglass from under are clean and clearly visible.  The restoration has less than 3500 miles of road time logged. It’s truly a beautiful car….as close to a show car as you would want to drive occasionally. From date coded hoses to paint daubs, this is an amazing car. In today’s dollars, it would be difficult to even do this car again due to the lack of  NOS chrome available. Aftermarket parts are just not the same.  Another 200 photos can be studied along with a comprehensive inspection report at http://www.autoappraise.com. You’ll need to email cars@autoappraise.com and ask for a password to additional info. Here’s a shorter version of what’s in the report. Please access and read the report before you call, as I am on the road often and am not always easy to reach. 810-691-2664. We are asking $67,500.00

Casting numbers, casting dates and stampings were located and photographed. BODY TAG: k3 build date, 490m trim, 923A paint. ENGINE: 3787820 casting, F253 julian cast date, F0630RE assembly stamp, with corresponding VIN stamp 3120xxx. Brioche marks are visible on pad surface. Other engine component numbers were documented and can be accessed in report. TRANSMISSION: 3831704 main case, 3788421 scatter shield, vertical flange stamp corresponds to VIN 3120xxx. REAR END: Stamped “CE” code, dated 7 15 63. To summarize, the vin tag is correctly spot welded and the trim tag correctly riveted, and all the numbers above correspond and are correct for this car. Links to youtube.com are posted below, including cold start and test drive. If they don’t connect directly, just copy and paste them into youtube.com.

UPDATE: Thanks for looking, we have sold this client’s car.

Technorati Tags: classic car, corvette, for sale

1970 Plymouth Cuda AAR for sale 44,000 actual miles in Michigan
Stock original number’s matching J code 340 6 pack motor. Stock original A833 numbers matching 4- speed trans with pistol grip. Original Trans Am fender tags, original build sheet. High end repaint in correct code EF8 Ivy Green Metallic. Metallic flow-out is excellent panel by panel. No evidence of tape lines, run, or overspray. Excellent reflective quality where bold print can be read in reflection from 24” away. Correct style matte finish on top of hood, fenders, spoiler, and doors. OEM replacement AAR decal kit. Amazing example of an un-hit, factory survivor original body. Factory spot welds are visible all along lips of door skins where wrapping shell, all along quarter panel seams and door jams, wheel lips, pinch welds, and the like. No replacement sheet metal and no repair panels evident. Digital paint gauge readings were recorded during this report. No evidence of heavy filler content noted anywhere in vehicle. 95% of body has very good magnetic adhesion. Exterior body is super clean and straight, straighter than production period. Doors open and close nicely, with no notable sag. Hinge pins are original. Sill plates appear to be original units, and show no signs of heavy scuffing due to sagging doors. Original fiberglass hood is in excellent condition, due to its straightness and flatness. (note that most fiberglass hoods inspected have a bow in the center created by hood spring tension). This car has never had hood springs installed (although they are included with car). Impressive interior equally well survived in every way, showing practically no casual wear, well supportive of the miles showing. The exceptions are heat cracks in vinyl dash pad, which was ordered to replace, but never installed, and the hidden aftermarket CD player in the glove box, wired to the aftermarket 6×10 speakers mounted in the rear package tray. Steering wheel, dash components, seats, carpets, headliner and door panels are all in excellent condition. Excellent trunk with solid original pan. Spare, jack, mat are present. Underhood area is detailed to showable quality, solid in every way. Factory matched core support stamp, all decals, and stock ignition set up. Except for intake, underhood is bone stock original. Underbody is very solid. No torn dye holes, no crooked rails, all original ribs in floor panels are easily seen. No patches or decay. Original plugs still mounted in lower ¼ panel splashes. This is what garage kept low miles original really looks like. Recent carb work adds to how well it runs. It starts and idles as it should. The clutch feels strong and the brakes stop nice and straight. It’s a lot of fun to drive. We have a full 5 page written report that outlines every detail about the car, as well as nearly 200 pictures. A YouTube test drive video will soon be available to view the car running and driving. We are asking $78,500, and no partial trades are being considered unless you have a late model, very low miles Corvette. Reply to cars@autoappraise.com or link to our website at http://www.autoappraise.com . 810-691-2664. Thanks

UPDATE: Thanks for looking, we have sold this client’s car.

Technorati Tags: 1970 Plymouth Cuda, AAR, classic car, E body, for sale, Mopar, muscle car, numbers matching, Trans AM

As an automotive writer, sometimes I just get stuck for ideas…blank screen. In my 20 year career as a classic car appraiser, I’ve constantly seen a lot of spectacular cars, many I would write about, if I could just get passed the idea that I’m droning on about it in a boring way. I’m not that interested in writing about a car’s production history, although sometimes you’ll catch me doing this. History on cars can be read practically anywhere one looks. History can also be boring. I mean, how many of us actually paid attention in high school history class anyway? Old production history doesn’t tell you much about the classic car parked in front of you either. As an auto appraiser, it’s my goal to bring to the table some of the interesting things that I discover during an intense auto inspection. Yes, I DID say intense! For example, I often see the same style repairs on “first gen” Camaro quarter panels. Most body shop technicians I speak to like to do “lay overs”, instead of full quarter panel replacements. There are pros and cons to this method, (mostly cons in my opinion) many I will discuss in an upcoming article. These are things I feel have not been discussed or brought to light that are far more interesting than how many Camaro’s were actually produced. When you’re attempting to purchase a car long distance, these are things that are hard to discover about the car and weigh out before you commit to the process. It is my goal as a writer to bring up issues such as these and shed a little light on the subject. If you have any thoughts or ideas that you wish to share or items you wish to see written about, feel free to forward them to us at http://www.autoappraise.com. Entitle them, questions for auto appraiser Jason Phillips, or sign up to our blog as a contributor.

Technorati Tags: auto appraisal, classic car

As an auto appraiser I’ve been asked many times about the VIN stamp on 1969 Z-28’s. People see the engine assembly info on the motor stamp pad, but see no vin derivative next to it. Most of the vin numbers I’ve verified are on the stamp pad near the oil filter. Knowing which casting number your block has is a big help.

Technorati Tags: auto appraiser, classic car, muscle car