Nice 67 Corvette "properly" restored

al8apex · #1 06-06-2011, 05:46 PM

This is a nice car but the thing I found most interesting was the restorer's approach in NOT over restoring it, having it match "as built" condition ... meaning NOT perfect and scratches where there would have been from the assembly process

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail...aign=BG0611_S88

From the description (lots of fluff, but some neat info as well):

As collectible Corvettes go, it is rather unassuming in appearance. Its Rally wheels are devoid of hub caps and trim rings, making it look even somewhat unfinished. But there truly is nothing lacking in this 1967 Corvette Sting Ray coupe. Indeed, it represents all the knowledge and experience of Bloomington Gold founder and Corvette expert extraordinaire David Burroughs, who in 1993 completed a five-year restoration of the car for owner David Painter.

First, the specifics: the Silver Pearl coupe was sold new in Evansville, Indiana, where it has resided ever since with a series of three owners. It is well equipped with the L68 427/400 HP Tri Power big block engine, transistorized ignition, a 4-speed manual transmission, telescopic steering column, air conditioning, power steering and brakes, power windows, headrests, AM/FM radio and tinted glass. But according to Burroughs, the main story is “the insane detail that differentiates this from any other Corvette.”

That “insane detail” is the result of decades of devotion to the ideal of preserving history, a devotion that led David Burroughs to his association with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s restoration center, where he learned their preservation and restoration techniques, and to the Corvette factory itself, where he spent years studying and mastering Corvette production processes.

“My trademark has always been that I’m looking for historic perfection, not cosmetic perfection. They’re two different things. I refer to most restorations as ‘novels.’ When you are writing a story to come out the way you want it, that’s different from journalism, in which you report the story as it is, not the way you want it to come out. Most restoration shops do ‘novel’ or cosmetic restorations; my restorations are ‘journalistic.’ That’s the big difference between what this Corvette and the other 99.9 percent of restored cars represent.”

The car literally showcases Burroughs’ insistence on translating that philosophy into a finished piece whose minutest detail mimics true factory production.

For example, the Silver Pearl finish was applied by a painter specially trained by Burroughs in factory paint processes. The finished paint was lightly buffed out, but only above the beltline, the factory having decided that since the area below the sharp break was typically in shadow, it therefore did not require the extra attention.

Similarly, checking under the seats reveals the presence of two-inch square pieces of carpet, typically cut out by production workers to expose the mounting points for bolting the seats in place. “Sometimes they would throw those little squares on the factory floor and they’d get swept up,” says Burroughs, “usually they would leave them on the carpet under the seat, so that’s what I did - those little pads of carpet are still there.”

The reproduction wiring harness came wrapped in tape that was too shiny and narrow. Burroughs had a supply of the original tape, so he rewrapped the wiring harness in that to make it look more accurate.

Scratches in the undercarriage are anathema to a cosmetically perfect restoration, but they are present on this Corvette in all the places they would have been on any one fresh from the factory - the transmission rear pedestal, for instance, a stamped steel piece painted black. Shipped in bulk, they typically arrived in less than ideal condition. Look under this car and you will see the shipping scratches on the pedestal. Not to make it look pretty, but to make it look accurate.

Although the results are not always evident, Burroughs applied that same unrelenting approach throughout the restoration. “There are a lot of things on this car that you would never see unless someone pointed them out. The wheels for instance: three are restored, one is not, and I would defy you to pick out which is which.”

The same is true of the factory air conditioning compressor. It is original to the car, but even the most seasoned judge would be hard pressed to determine whether or not it has been restored. Burroughs comments, “A lot of the things on the car I did not restore. I just rehabilitated them. Other things I restored and then deconstructed so that everything was back in sync again.”

Even with all that attention to a mass of arcane details, the car remains very original. “Fortunately, the big thing is, this car had not even a nick in the fiberglass, it was pristinely perfect. The frame didn’t have any rust on it; this was a great car to work with.

“Probably 95 percent of the components are original to the car. And I’d say that 95 percent of the nuts, bolts and washers are not only the accurate ones but also were put back in the same holes they came out of. I learned that at the Smithsonian Aerospace Museum restoration shop. That’s one of those secrets I keep, like how to tell a real L88 from a fake; there are a couple of things I learned at The Smithsonian and from the restorations I did that I’ll never tell. You’ve got to have a secret recipe or two to use now and then.”

Because David Burroughs knew this Corvette would be his last restoration, he committed to using every one of those secrets in returning the subject to its present state: exactly as it would have arrived at the dealer, including hold-down hooks and chains from a factory transporter.

Oh, and the missing wheel trim pieces? They lie on the rear carpet, where the factory locked them away to prevent their theft during transport. As a result, the silver painted wheels authentically remain without scratches.

**SS427** · #2 06-06-2011, 07:42 PM

I have never met David Burroughs or seen this 67 Vette in person but I must say I certainly respect the man for restoring it this way and I would love to see it in person. There are too many 'cookie cutter' restorations out there and I think it is a novel idea to restore one exactly how the factory would have done one complete with factory defects albeit there are many. I may be alone but I think this car will stand alone in the quality of the restoration. It might make it difficult for the judges as they are used to docking points for scratches, nicks and paint drips but hats off to David for his efforts. The amount of research alone that he must have had to do is staggering.

**RPOLS3** · #3 06-06-2011, 08:00 PM

Back in the middle 1980's while working at a Corvette restoration shop I had the privilege of meeting David Burroughs and observing first hand some of his restoration work. I remember at the time how "different" his views were from the "make the paint shiny and perfect" crowd.

I'm sure there are those that disagree with David's approach but I agree with Rick in that - for me at least - there are so many cookie cutter type restorations that his truly stand out. I happen to like the overspray, factory flaw type restorations and am drawn to those type of cars at the shows because they are so different and interesting.

Sorry for the hijack.........

Jake

al8apex · #4 06-06-2011, 10:47 PM

no hijack at all IMHO, that was the purpose of this post

that is why the original, "barn find" cars are so treasured

no one has realigned the body panels, etc

It IS refreshing to see a "real" car and I, for one, hope that trend continues

SBR · #5 06-07-2011, 02:07 AM

I am really anxious to see this car at Bloomington. I am freshing up one of my cars and I am trying my best to restore it as it was not how we wish it was.

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