Market for survivors...

[MosportGreen66]

Here is my take on cars that get fluffed, and massaged (even by the top experts) and altered into survivor status - those cars will always be labeled as such. Period.

Especially in the world of Corvettes, the level of forensic study on these cars is incredible. The top tier judges study literally every bolt. They can tell when bolts have elongated markings showing when they've been taken off and put back on. They study how for instance the exhaust bolts show consistency with the exhaust system. They're aware of what plating typically ages faster/slower/discolors/changes, etc.

For example - I know of a wonderful '66 Corvette L72 Convert that was about 35% original paint, 100% original interior, and OEM/born with motor/trans/rear. It was largely unmodified but used and then fluffed in like 1999 ish. That car recently shows up to Bloomington and was flagged as having been reworked into a survivor. The work to the untrained eye was flawless but its a manufactured survivor. I'd own the thing in 1 second please don't think I'm bashing. OEM side pipes and tags too. Great colors. The concern, however, is that when you try to bring it to a Corvette show and falsify its 'untouched condition' - risky business.

In the world of Corvettes (and I believe also in Vintage Certification world), the manufactured survivors do not compare to those untouched.

Dan