SUPER ANAL EXPRESS
While helping a friend sell this Corvette, we unknowingly opened a can of worms with nit-picky potential buyers. Call it NCRS fever, or severe Corvette autism... whatever you want. Anytime you have an item that is collected in an "original" state, you'll find a certain kind collector that thrives on minutia. OK, I get it - if the trim tag and the protecto-plate are original and the carburetor was date stamped so it matches the engine stamp, I can respect wanting to know those details despite the fact I could personally care less. Even more dorky than the guy who flew an NCRS judge out to look at the car was a gentleman from the Central Valley of California who came and looked at the Corvette (in person, mind you) and then hit me with the following list of questions to answer after he'd spent about 2 hours looking it over. 'Please answer these to the fullest and best of your ability', he requested. Here they are:
Do you know how many owners the vehicle has had?
Do you have their names, addresses, and phone numbers and/or any other information about the previous owners?
To your knowledge, prior to your purchase of the vehicle, was the vehicle damaged in any way?(involved in accident, flood damage, electrical fire, etc., and/or physical damage of any kind?) If so, what occurred and what was the cost to repair?
Since you have owned the car, has the vehicle been damaged and/or involved in any type of accident, flood, or other occurrence?
If so, what occurred and what was the cost to repair?
Is the repair noticeable?
What parts of the car are original and/or are the correct replacements?
What parts of the car are "not" original and/or correct?
Who, when, where & why were these items replaced?
How often and how far do you drive the car on a monthly basis?
Do you start the car weekly? Monthly?
If you don't drive the car on a routine basis, how often do you start the vehicle?
How long do you let it run before shutting it down?
Relative to the current condition of the car and its parts, please comment on each question asked and please make comments on any part’s past and current operation and/or condition.
I have several other questions but just thought I would start with a few preliminary items.
And here are the rest, which came in an email 10 minutes later:
Engine
Can you look in your receipts and tell me
Did they balance the engine?yes
yes
Did they rebore the original block? yes
If so, what degree was the block over-bored?
Did they install hardened valve seats so the car could run on unleaded gas? yes
Are there currently any problems, issues and/or concerns with the engine? no
Are there any oil leaks or problems in the engine compartment area? no
If so, exactly where and to what extent is this leakage?no
When shutting the ignition off, does the engine diesel? no
What is the oil pressure reading at hot idle?
Cooling system
Other than the radiator being copper, are there currently any problems,no
issues and/or concerns with the cooling system?n0
Carburetor/accessories
What brand and model of carburetor is currently on the vehicle?
Is it the "correct" and/or original carburetor?
The picture on the Internet shows where a fuel stain mark on the aluminum
intake manifold from the back of the carburetor onto the manifold, has that
been repaired?.
Does it leak?
If so, where and to what extent?
Does it have a choke?
Does it work properly?
Once the engine warms, does the idle kick down?
At what rpm does the engine idle?
Are there any known problems, issues and/or concerns with the carburetor's
linkage?
Are there any known problems, issues and/or concerns with the carburetor's
operation?
Fuel system
Are there any known problems, issues and/or concerns with the fuel tank
and/or fuel system?
Battery and accessories
Does the battery have the original holder and heat shielding?
Are there any known problems, issues and/or concerns in this area?
Electrical System
What is the current condition of the electrical system?
I'm assuming all wiring harnesses in the vehicle were replaced during the
restoration, is that correct?
Any problems, issues, and/or concerns in this area?
Any current electrical shorts?
Do the night lights behind the gauges all operational and working?
If not, which gauge lights do not work?
Do the turn signals, brake lights, headlamps(high beam and low beam) work
properly?
Does the emergency brake light indicator in the dash work?
Does the headlamp down warning indicator in the dash work?
Does the AM/FM radio work on both bands?
Any static?
Radio night light operational?
Does the glove box light work?
Does the interior door lights work?
Alternator
Any problems, issues and/or concerns associated with the alternator?
voltage regulator
Any problems, issues and/or concerns associated with the voltage regulator?
Starter
Any problems, issues and/or concerns associated with the starter?
Does the starter have a heat shield?
Front Suspension
Does the front suspension need any additional work?
Are there any abnormal vibration or noise?
Any known oil leaks or problems in this area?
Rear suspension
Does the rear suspension need any additional work?
Are there any abnormal vibration or noise?
Any known oil leaks or problems in this area?
Clutch
I'm assuming the clutch was replaced during the restoration, is that
correct?
What is its current condition?
Does it currently operate properly?
Does it need any type of adjustment?
Is there any vibration , abnormal and/or unusual noise?
Any other problems, issues and/or concerns associated with the clutch?
Transmission
Is there any grinding at any time, either when shifting (either up or down),
under any conditions whether it be acceleration, deceleration, etc?
Is there any vibration coming up through the shifter whether it be at idle
or any speed?
Does the transmission including linkage shift smoothly and without problems?
Does the transmission have the heat shield between the body and the
transmission installed and in place?
If so, what is the condition of this heat shield?
Any other problems, issues and/or concerns relative to the transmission past
and current conditions?
Transmission Shifter
Is there any vibration , abnormal and/or unusual noise?
Any other problems or concerns relative to the shifter, linkage, past and
current conditions?
Brakes
Does the car pull when applying the brakes and stops straight?
Do the brakes squeal or leak fluid?
Any vibrations?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Exhaust System including Mufflers
Does this car have a heat riser ?
If so, is it operational and are there any problems?
Any exhaust leaks or other problems or concerns relative to the exhaust
system?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Power Antenna
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Shock absorbers
What kind of shocks absorbers does the car have?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Tires
What type and size of tires are currently on the car?
Do the tires you have on the car now hit the body at any time?
Do they fit properly?
How is the current alignment and balance?
Any abnormal wear?
Is there any vibration coming up through the steering wheel at any speed or
in any condition? When you drive down the road at a constant speed (such as
55 mph constant speed); if you momentarily take your hands off the wheel,
does the car drift to one side or another or does it go straight down the
road?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Front and rear bumpers
Are they the original bumpers?
Are these replacements original and/or correct replacements?
Have they been re-chromed?
Do they hang straight and aligned properly?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Front grille
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Heater, Heater core, defroster
Is this the original heater core?
Was the heater core replaced during the restoration?
Does it leak?
What is its current condition?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Emergency brake
Will it hold the car on a steep grade?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Horn
Do the horns work?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Outside Mirror
Does it vibrate?
Does it need constant readjustment?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Headlamp "motor" operation
Were the headlamp motors replaced during the restoration?
Do the headlamp motors open and close properly and normally at the same time
in terms of opening and closing of the lights?
If headlamps are on, and headlamps down, does the flashing red interior
light work to remind driver to rotate the hidden headlamps to the open
position?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Headlights
Are these the original headlights?
What are the replacements?
Does the high and low beam work?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Door glass
What are their current condition?
Do they open and close properly?
Any cracks, pitting, or noticeable problems in the door glass?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Window cranks including side-vent cranks
What are their current condition?
Do they open and close properly and completely ?
Any cracks, pitting, or noticeable problems.
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Outside/Inside door handles, window cranks, and locks
Do the door handles open and close properly from both the inside and
outside?
Do the door locks operate properly in all positions?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Gauges
Do all gauges including the fuel gauge, ammeter gauge, oil pressure gauge,
and temperature gauge, work properly?
Are they accurate?
Does the clock work?
Do all the back-round gauge lights work behind the gauges, radio, and clock?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Ignition switch
Was this replaced during the restoration?
What is its current condition?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Speedometer including cable
Does it work?
Is it accurate?
Does it make noise?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Odometer
Does it currently work?
Is it accurate?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Tachometer including cable
Does it work?
Is it accurate?
Does it make noise?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Cigarette lighter
Does it work?
Dash
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Interior including inside door panels, rear area behind seats, entire carpet
area
When the carpet was replaced, did they install sound deadening material
underneath the carpet?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
AM/FM radio
Is this the original and/or correct replacement?
What is its current condition?
Any static?
Does the radio back light work and visible at night?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Interior rear view mirror
What is its current condition?
Does it need constant adjustment?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Steering System
What is the condition of the steering gear?
If it has power steering, what is the condition of the power steering
control valve?
Has it been replaced?
Does the power steering control valve leak?
Has it been replaced?
How much play is in the steering wheel, is it within normal tolerances?
What is its current condition?
Is there any vibration , abnormal and/or unusual noise, wandering or any
other kind of problems, issues, and/or concerns in this area? ?
Steering wheel
What is its current condition?
Is it cracked, blemished, worn, or deformed in any way?
Any problems, issues, and/or concerns in this area?
Side glass including wind wing glass
Are there any cracks, blemishes and/or distortions?
Does the side door glass go all the way up and down without any problems?
What is the condition of the glass in the side vent windows including the
window cranks?
Any abnormal wind noise?
Do they leak water?
Any problems, issues, and/or concerns in this area?
Front windshield glass
Any cracks, distortions, chips, and/or blemishes?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Tail-lights including brake lights
What are their current condition?
Any electrical shorting in this area?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
front and rear turn signals
What are their current condition?
Any electrical shorting in this area?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Hood
Is the underside of the hood separated?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Windshield Wipers
Was the wiper motor replaced during the restoration?.
What is the current condition of the wiper motor?
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Hoses
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Belts
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Heat shields
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Weather stripping
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Wheels
Any problems, issues, and/or other concerns in this area?
Body
Please describe as accurately as possible the fit, finish, alignment, and
overall look and condition of the body and paint.
If you have any nicks, cracks, scratches, distortions, paint sagging, dents,
discolorations, blemishes or any other condition of the body and paint,
please describe and also take a clear digital picture of this area so I can
see what this area looks like.
If the body has nicks, exactly where, how many, and what is the size of
these nicks?
If the body has cracks, exactly where are the cracks, how many, and what is
the size of these cracks?
If the body has scratches, exactly where are the scratches, how many, and
what is the size of these scratches?
If the body has distortions, exactly where are there distortions, how many,
and what is the size of these distortions?
If the body has dis-coloration, exactly where are the dis-coloration, how
many areas, and what is the size of these discolorations?
If the body has any stress cracks, spider webs, exactly where are there
stress cracks, spider webs, how many areas, and what size are these?
Are there bubbles in the paint?
How many areas?
What size are these?
Can you email pictures of these distorted areas?
What is the fit, finish and integrity of the body including the seams?
Are there any abnormal or unusual vibrations or rattling of the body?
Does the car leak water anywhere at any time, whether it be when you put a
water hose on the outside with the windows rolled up and doors closed,
and/or in the rain?
If so, where does it leak?
Are there any abnormal or unusual wind noise when driving the car down the
road?
Do you have any parts for the car that are not now installed on the car?
What spare parts do you have?
Will these parts be part of the sale?
Do you have a car cover?
Will the car cover be part of the sale?
Is there anything that needs to be done with the car?
If you were to keep the car, what changes or modifications would you make to
put the car in perfect shape(mechanically and visually, not looking for
standards according to NCRS)?
Finally are there any other problems, issues, or concerns that I have not
specifically asked or inquired about?
Thanks for your patience and understanding in describing your car.
Sincerely,
Bill Feralton
Somewhere, California
209-xxx-xxxx
Remember, this guy came to look at it... you'd think he'd flip the key on and try the turnsignals to ascertain their current condition. Sheesh!