Petersen Corvette 60th Anniversary - Only Original Once

Petersen Automotive Museum Corvette Day - Value of Corvettes, Mar 1 2013

Special Car Store: The Petersen Automotive Museum hosted a series of expert panels in honor of the venerable Corvette's 60th Anniversary. Follow us for a series of articles on the original experts and legends of Corvette's checkered flag history. Part 1:

Bill Stephens: How can somebody with an unrestored car project know what that car is going to be worth and whether or not to leave it alone?

Mike Yager: Obviously, leave it alone. I've got a 54 Corvette with 2400 miles on it and when you look at it, it's a very pretty car. It's original, but when you look at the body seams of the car they show up. People go "boy, you ought fix that car up" - and wow, you just take away the value. I think you have fewer buyers of that original car, but the buyers who want it pay the price. So you never touch one. It's like an antique, I mean once it's refinished... everybody has a refinished car. But it's only original once - why would you change it? it survived that long. Leave it.

Mike Yagers, Petersen Corvette 60th Panelist