1957 Chevrolet Corvette project car with two chassis

Chevrolet Corvette 1957 Description

This auction is for a 1957 Corvette project car, IN #E57S104334. It's in very poor condition. Just about every molecule needs some kind of repair or replacement.
Originally this Corvette was white with a red interior, nd was factory equipped with a manual transmission, arbureted engine, eater/defroster, ower soft top, M radio, ourtesy lights, nd power windows. It didn't have a hard top when new. The current rear end is an open 3.55. I don't know if that's the original ratio. The Florida title is clear (NOT salvage) and the car is legally licensed with 1957 Alabama plates. Both of the original frame VIN stampings are there and legible. However, 'm certain the stock-appearing VIN plate I got with the car is actually a reproduction.
I bought the body and chassis in Florida last summer. Evidently this '57 had been badly wrecked decades ago and then stripped for parts. The body fiberglass (from the firewall back) and the mangled frame were left outside for many years. It looks like someone attempted to repair the chassis by replacing the front cross-member assembly. However, hey didn't bother to straighten the front frame horns or the bent steering column first.
The body is a patchwork of panels needing major repair. The front outer fiberglass is a one-piece hand-laid nose made by "Legendary Corvette". The doors, irewall, ash, nd deck lid appear to be original to this car. The hood, ront fenderwells, adiator core support, uarter panels, nd trunk lid fiberglass came from other '56 - '57 Corvettes.
This '57 has most, ut not all, f the big parts needed to get it back on the road. For example, he body is now sitting on a never-rusty, straight '56 chassis. The original frame also comes with this '57, ut it is still twisted. As you can see in the photos, 've already cut out and blasted the original driver's side frame rail. I intended to transfer it to the '56 frame.
Almost all of the chrome and stainless body trim pieces are present. The engine is a disassembled '65 283 core that needs a .040" over-bore and rebuild. The transmission is a later Borg Warner 4-speed with a '57 - '59 Corvette shifter. The interior is a white vinyl custom job that was done around 1970. All gauges except the clock are there. I also have the signal-seeking radio and speaker assembly, ut they don't work. I have very few screws, uts, olts, nd fasteners.
The following significant parts are missing: power window switches / motors, ower top mechanism, indshield glass, ack / handle, pare cover, runk cardboard / mat, ngine fan shroud, ront wheelwell stainless trim, clutch linkage, gnition shielding w/brackets, arburetor / air cleaner, distributor, orns, nd probably thousands of small parts that I can't remember right now.
Please note that the photos don't show many items that DO go with the car. These include the engine, lutch, ransmission, hifter, ood, runk lid, nd radio. I just can't figure out how to post more than 24 photos. However, f you request additional photos, 'll be glad to send some to you.
If you don't want some of the parts, 'll consider an offer much lower than the B-I-N price based on omitting items you don't want. For example, f you don't want the '56 rolling chassis, 'll deduct $3,500 from the $20,000 B-I-N price. If you don't want the stock gauges and radio, 'll deduct another $750. The 283, -speed, nd driveshaft are worth $1,000, nd so on. You can base your offer on only those parts of this package that you want to own. Obviously the $20,000 B-I-N price is fair in my opinion. It's a lot less than the $32,000 I've spent in the last year on this project.
I know it's hard to determine the value of a project car from photos. I want the buyer to be happy with this purchase. No deposit is required, nd if you don't like the car when you inspect it personally, ou don't have to buy it at all.
My name is Jerry Bramlett. I can be reached at (251) 478-4003 from 8 am to 9 pm Central Time.