Will you pay $250,000 for a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette that is in an ultimate “barn find” condition? If your answer is no, then we will ask again “Will you pay $250,000 for Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s 1967 Chevrolet Corvette barn find?” For collectors who are big fans of Corvette and also big fans of Armstrong may consider to buy this car if money is not an issue.
A 1967 Chevrolet Corvette is recently up for sale in eBay and the price has hit over $250,000 with 73 bids among 43 potential bidders. It was all started from $100,000, then $110,000, $160,000, $190,000, and now $250,090. The car is covered in dust and looks like never been washed for at least a decade. So, what makes this Sting Ray so unique that it could draw a substantial amount of interest from car collectors around the world?
The biggest selling point of this car is that it was once own by the first person to set foot upon the Moon, Neil Armstrong. This car was delivered to Armstrong on December 15, 1966 from Jim Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne Florida with the intention to provide our astronaut a Corvette. According to the eBay seller, “This Corvette was bought by a NASA employee when Mr. Armstrong turned it in and was retained by the owner until I purchased the Corvette from him in February of 2012”. The seller also claims that the car has never been driven since September 1981, that’s 30 years!
From the pictures, the Corvette has some scars although it stays off road for a few decades. Four wheels wells are with damage and fender flares were added. The current owner claims that the only unoriginal parts on the car are the wheels, carburetor, water pump, and mufflers. The carburetor looks brand new under the car hood. However, with the advance internet technology we have today, it isn’t hard to source the original parts and restore it to its former glory.
Details about the car
- Car Model: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette
- VIN Number: 194377S104831
- Body Color: Blue
- Mileage: The odometer reading of the 427-engine Corvette shows 38,148 miles but it cannot be verified becuase it has stopped running since 1970s.
- Engine Power: 390 hp
- Specifications: Air-conditioning, tinted glass, electric windows, and radio. Four round taillights are in red; rectangular back-up lamps located at the center.
There are two reasons that make this car possible to fetch a price up to $300,000, one being it was once owned by the hero that first set his foot upon the moon, and another is the ultimate barn find condition. Now we are going to ask the same questions as we asked when we tell the story of the fourth oldest surviving unrestored Mini. What will you do if you stand a chance to buy this car?
- Clean it up and just keep it in garage.
- Not even bother to clean it. Prefer to collect it in barn find condition for another X years.
- Source for all the missing parts and restore it to its former glory.
