Will This Flooded 1967 Corvette Ever Be The Same?

Image via Horsepower Depot/YouTube

Seeing a beautiful 1967 Corvette that was submerged in salt water during the chaos of Hurricane Helene is heartbreaking for us as enthusiasts. After all, the C2 Corvettes are amazing machines and the ’67 was the pinnacle and the end of the generation. We can see why someone would want to restore the car but wonder if it could ever be the same again.

How to Survive a Submerged Car

Sold at auction likely after the owner filed an insurance claim, this Corvette isn’t exactly numbers-matching. As the guys who bought it start going through the American sports car, they find under the hood is a modern LS V8 paired with a Tremec 6-speed manual.

Even though that diminishes the value on the market, we’re sure with this setup the ‘Vette is a blast to drive. After they drain the saltwater out of the sump and clean salt residue out of places like the exhaust system, they get the car running again, which is impressive.

But you can see when the vehicle is on the lift corrosion has already taken hold on different parts of the chassis. Most notable is a fuse box that was mounted down low, now a complete mess thanks to the salt exposure.

The guys who got this C2 Corvette running again do this sort of thing all the time: buy flood-damaged cars at auction and restore them. They claim that sitting submerged in water for hours or days doesn’t really ruin the vehicle for the long run, even though others say corrosion, mold, etc. can be issues for a long time after.

What do you think? Would you buy a car that’s been rescued from a flood, that runs and otherwise looks good and works well? Or do you think you’re just buying future problems?

Image via Horsepower Depot/YouTube

By Steven Symes

Steven Symes is an accomplished automotive journalist with a passion for all things related to cars. His extensive knowledge and love for the automotive world shine through in his writing, which covers a diverse range of topics.

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