69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Opinions needed. I just purchased this 69 Z Survivor with the intension of doing a full high end restoration.The main reason for the purchase was I did not want to buy a fake or a restamp. I own a high end restoration shop but I mainly do Boss and Cobra Jet stuff. Now that I have the car, it is a amazing time capsule and feel the I will hurt a piece of history.But I'm smelling forty years of a Ohio garage,stiff seats, low power(compared to what I'm used to)chips and scratches. So do I leave it alone,trade it, or restore it??? It is the perfect color combo and options that I wanted and its the real thing.
Thanks
Ken Maisano
Mascar Autobody

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/p...6-12-12072.jpg

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

..... That is a great looking survivor Z28


..... If it has the original paint.... I would leave it that way.

..... but that is just me.

.... It is a very popular color combination and would not be hard to sell.... either way you go.

Good Luck [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif[/img]

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Is this the same Z from a post here in the past year?

If so it deserves to be scrubbed and left scratched and dented as is.

There are lots of real Z's to restore over and over again.

Ryan

Of course you own it you get to do whatever you wish with it.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

I wonder why you say &quot;low power&quot; All that 302 needs is some tuning to make it &quot;wake up&quot;. Do you have anymore pics?

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

I would fine tune the motor and survivor detail the body. Think of the time and money you would invest getting it to be &quot;perfect&quot; in your eyes and you would maybe upside down in resale. Put your billable labor man hours into fixing the fords and enjoy the high winding 302.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Why does everyone want to automatically restore these cars...Leave...it....alone. Step away and enjoy it as is. Mine is unrestored. I say that because it's not a survivor, it has been repainted maybe 3 times. Yours is a survivor, it doesn't need $100,000.00 thrown at it to look good.


Oh and congrats on the buy, nice car. Finally, somebody bought it.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Would like to see more pics Ken. I bet that engine compartment looks great being a survivor! Fabulous Z!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Ken, I say leave it and love it! It may also have a positive effect on you after being surrounded by all those Fords! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

&quot;full high end restoration&quot; cars are plentiful, and you are right, you have NO IDEA of what they were once they are done like that. This car will become one of those ...

LEAVE IT ALONE

If you were going to flip it anyway, it really doesn't matter what the interior smells like. Besides, original GM cars have a different smell than original Fords do (try it some time at a car show).

<span style="font-size: 23pt">LEAVE IT ALONE</span>

Park it next to McD full high end restoration car and see what car everyone looks at ... it won't be the resale red one that has a &quot;full high end restoration&quot;

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Question comes to mind on that rear script emblem. When I put a rear spoiler on a non-spoiler 69 Z, I used a different trunk lid, a blank. The &quot;without&quot; lid I took off had the stripes applied at the VN factory, and the script emblem was not neatly in the stripe like this one, it was out of the stripe.

Do the unrestored cars that you guys have seen have the emblem within the stripe? Or was mine just a bad day car.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbsides</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Question comes to mind on that rear script emblem. When I put a rear spoiler on a non-spoiler 69 Z, I used a different trunk lid, a blank. The &quot;without&quot; lid I took off had the stripes applied at the VN factory, and the script emblem was not neatly in the stripe like this one, it was out of the stripe.

Do the unrestored cars that you guys have seen have the emblem within the stripe? Or was mine just a bad day car. </div></div>


I think it depends on when the car was built. Early production got the 1968 stripe dimensions. Some time during production the rear stripes dimensions was changed. The passenger side stripe is actually wider than the driver side too, so the emblem would fit inside the stripe. One thing I heard was it cut down on the time it took to mask off around the Camaro emblem. Others here may have some other info as well and maybe some corrections to my reply. I'm curious myself why the rear stripes went wider.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Wow, what a great car. I would like to see pictures of the rest of the car too. Ken, does it have original paint? If it does, and if the rest of the car looks anything close to as good as it looks in your picture, it would be a down right shame to restore it.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Yes the car is original paint and I bought this car to keep not flip. But I like to over restore my stuff. Balanced and blueprinted engines modern camshafts, straight panels and glass paint.That was my plan for this car,but it is so nice ,it would kill me to do it to this car..I also injoy driving and running my cars hard.This car just feels old (because it is) and is not a joy to drive.My recent built is a 70 Trans Am and I just love to drive it.Looks all original but will run mid 12s and cruise in comfort all day.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

I looked at this car a few years back at a Mecum auction. Would restore if I owned it. How is the underside? If I remember it still had the original engine mounts. Nobody ever wants anyone to restore anything. I think that's a joke. If the car needs it don't fool yourself. Really neat car. John

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Alot of people that have a &quot;survivor&quot; or so called &quot;survivor&quot; cars never really survived much in their lifetime like people think. John is right, if the car needs it, do it. Just don't over do it!

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Ken, At corvettes carlisle a few years ago an older gentleman [original owner]pulled in with a single 4 barell driver 57 corvette with 1/2 original paint, and the rest bare glass and original primer. The car was missing a bumper For 2 days there was a crowd around his car that would make you think the bud girls were handing out flyers for NOPI nationals there,while in the background sat approximately 40 57 corvettes,10 or so fuelies,almost all cars were NCRS top flight. People looked over at them and kept walking because there were too many of the same . Im sure if his car was for sale it would eventually be turned into a red NCRS 270HP fuelie to sit along side the other 10 at the show, and then there would be no crowds around anyones 57.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

I think that if the car would do well in survivor classes at major shows, I'd leave it alone. If not, then no harm in restoring it.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

So that means restored car are worthless?Do you know what it takes to restore a car in hours and money?

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the427king</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ken, At corvettes carlisle a few years ago an older gentleman [original owner]pulled in with a single 4 barell driver 57 corvette with 1/2 original paint, and the rest bare glass and original primer. The car was missing a bumper For 2 days there was a crowd around his car that would make you think the bud girls were handing out flyers for NOPI nationals there,while in the background sat approximately 40 57 corvettes,10 or so fuelies,almost all cars were NCRS top flight. People looked over at them and kept walking because there were too many of the same . Im sure if his car was for sale it would eventually be turned into a red NCRS 270HP fuelie to sit along side the other 10 at the show, and then there would be no crowds around anyones 57. </div></div>

<span style="color: #3366FF"> Yep.. experienced and well said!</span> [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif[/img]

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 302moz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So that means restored car are worthless?Do you know what it takes to restore a car in hours and money? </div></div>that's why I said to get the motor humming and drive it as is.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Go to a car show anywhere in the world. Rough to nice survivors, hard ridden drivers, and period untouched race cars always have the biggest crowds around them and take in the most interest. Check out the crowds around cookie cutter restorations. There aren't any.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Do NOT restore! Leave it as is. find one that needs paint not a survivor car. I would walk past a 100 Restored Z'S to look at this one.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fast67VelleN2O</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go to a car show anywhere in the world. Rough to nice survivors, hard ridden drivers, and period untouched race cars always have the biggest crowds around them and take in the most interest. Check out the crowds around cookie cutter restorations. There aren't any. </div></div>

I've said the same thing at least a dozen times since the first and only time I had gone to a SuperChevy show at Pomona, 1998. There was like one Survivor out of Hundreds of cars. That was the only car I went back to look at a second time. All those restored cars just looked the same after 15- 20 rows of cars.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Its Kens car. I&quot;m sure he will do with it what pleases him and for his own reasons.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Hi, What is it? X77 or X33 ? Appears to have roof rail molding but,no wheelopening moldings or quarter gills .....

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Well maybe the &quot;car guys&quot; are the ones coming back and forth to the unrestored cars but not in my case. My lemans blue 69 SS nova is a survivor and does not draw much attention at a local car show. Only from a few that appreciate it. I love survivor, original cars but until peoples minds change they draw little attention around my parts. I have seen to many cars that people call survivors and always wonder what that car has really survived.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

As time goes on there will be less and less survivors as people can't resist the temptation to do stuff to them. My personal opinion is the value will go up more on the untouched car more than the touched car and you even spent money touching up the touched car. It sounds like you want something fun to drive that hauls ass. Why not just build a modified car ? I have both stock and modified and the only stuff I really drive is the modified stuff.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As time goes on there will be less and less survivors as people can't resist the temptation to do stuff to them. My personal opinion is the value will go up more on the untouched car more than the touched car and you even spent money touching up the touched car. It sounds like you want something fun to drive that hauls ass. Why not just build a modified car ? I have both stock and modified and the only stuff I really drive is the modified stuff. </div></div>

I think you have it right on the money and reading all these posts seem to enforce the idea of leaving the car alone and playing with something else.. I think I will remove the carpet and wash it,also replace the underlay, but box the original(it really does smell)The car does have some small damage on the Rt lower quarter panel.Question can I repair that area? will that hurt the car? or leave that alone also..Thanks for all the options. http://[/img][img]http://i408.photob...urvivor004.jpg
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/p...6-12-12087.jpg

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Ken, aren't you the guy from Overhaulin'?

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Leave the Right 1/4 panel alone.
If it's detected fixed,(and it will),in the future,it will only raise flags to others as to what else has been recently &quot;fixed&quot;.

You might also run across a past owner who might have a great story as to what happened to the 1/4 panel,and you fixing it will take the essence out of his story.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TMagda</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ken, aren't you the guy from Overhaulin'? </div></div>

http://s408.photobucket.com/user/enn...ASTY1.mp4.html

Yes. Checkout my Facebook for some of our fun projects. Just completed
Mr Nasty 69 Boss 302
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Masca...44748208954595

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Ken, Personally, I'd fix the that lower, Use lacquer and blow it in as low as possible. I wouldn't clear the whole quarter or even to the body line, just keep it real low, leave the pinchweld on the quarter alone or it will looked like it was rusted and fixed. Worst case scenario is it looks like it was fixed 30 years ago and that in my mind is better than that dent, otherwise leave it alone

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Leave it and drive it. Why turn it into another restored car. There are thousands of those out there!

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

I am also in the antique tractor hobby and guys are paying a premium for original paint, unmolested, super nice originals..and these tractors are selling...restored ones not so much...they are a dime a dozen.

An elderly neighbor on the road I grew up on died 4 years ago and his heirs put up his all original 8N he bought new fro auction..original paint, tires etc..1100 original hours no rust or dents, in heated garage it's entire life, never been rained on sold for $7500 while restored ones are going for 4-5k. Guys were coming down to look at it and taking pics of it for restoring theirs.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

really depends on how nice the car is. Tough to tell by pictures. NO need to restore it but maybe a repaint? If it is junky looking why think because it is a &quot;survivor&quot; that it will be worth more? There are still survivor Z/28's and many other cars out there in survivor condition. Really depends how bad it is or if you get sick of looking at it in that state of condition. If it makes you feel better calling it a survivor than leave it but don't start fixing things here and there and blowing in the front valance, rear quarter or left door bottom etc. Just my opinion though.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Cool looking Z!! WOW!!
I will chime in and say please do not restore. Just clean the heck out of it and enjoy.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the427king</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ken, At corvettes carlisle a few years ago an older gentleman [original owner]pulled in with a single 4 barell driver 57 corvette with 1/2 original paint, and the rest bare glass and original primer. The car was missing a bumper For 2 days there was a crowd around his car that would make you think the bud girls were handing out flyers for NOPI nationals there,while in the background sat approximately 40 57 corvettes,10 or so fuelies,almost all cars were NCRS top flight. People looked over at them and kept walking because there were too many of the same . Im sure if his car was for sale it would eventually be turned into a red NCRS 270HP fuelie to sit along side the other 10 at the show, and then there would be no crowds around anyones 57. </div></div>

^^^That.^^^

At Pebble Beach nowadays if you want to impress your rich friends you show up with your dusty barn-find (chateau-find) European car--the rarer the better. It's the new automotive virginity, the completely untouched (and valuable) survivor car. Just watch &quot;Chasing Classic Cars&quot; and see how Wayne and his clients salivate when some '30s Bugatti is dragged out of a garage after 50 years sitting inop.

An untouched, unrestored '69 Z has to be something special given the flood of them that have been restored, cloned, etc. over the years. You are its caretaker, for the time being. Do the future a service and preserve it as-is.

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Hey guys. I have all the pic from this Z in a file on my computer. It's actually a mhtml file I copied when I was looking at it the first time it was on ebay. There are about 50 or so pics but I don't have a clue how to even post them in this format. Any ideas?

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Pictures of when the car was found.
They did some great clean up,detail work.If I found it like that,I would have done a full restoration on
her.


http://s9.photobucket.com/user/StefanoBi...947644748417702

Re: 69 Z Survivor Cortez Silver
 

Yeah Ken, after seeing those photobucket pics I would have to change my mind from leave it alone to do it. I didn't see those pics, I must have got the after pics. There is 112 of them. Do you have those?