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History Ray Farhner's Corvette - Part 2

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Ryan, Mar 4, 2011.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
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    Staff Member

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  2. 55chevy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 280

    55chevy
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    Restored to original, then modified again, people always gotta make it their own.
     
  3. Rolleiflex
    Joined: Oct 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,243

    Rolleiflex
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    I love the looks of the original configuration. It's to bad someone chose to deviate from that look. I hope at some point the Peterson Museum gets rid of the square headlights at the very least.
     
  4. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,434

    BrandonB
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from nor cal

    The original 63 fastback split window was perfect in itself, much like the 40 Ford. To change it is like revving past the redline on a motor. Good things will not happen.
     

  5. von Dyck
    Joined: Apr 12, 2007
    Posts: 678

    von Dyck
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    IMO you cannot make body modifications on any Corvette without hurting the original good looks. BTW my personal favorite is the '56/'57 Vette.
     
  6. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,496

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    I love the older versions, they look like factory styling studies. I wish more old custom Vettes hadn't been restored to stock.
     
  7. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
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    from Quincy, IL



    X 2...........IMO Farhners mods made this car fugly. Terrible waste of a '63 split window......and I'm not even a 'Vette guy.

    Ray
     
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  8. There are cars that shouldn't be fooled with. The vette is one of those cars.
     
  9. The only old vette's I really like are the hot rodded or custom ones but I think the whole asymmetrical thing is what kills the looks of this one. The passenger side view is kinda cool (although not something I'd do to one today) but when you see the driver side with the offset headlights I think it spoils the whole look.
     
  10. I've always kinda dug the asymmetrical styling exercises when done right (many, if not most are not in my opinion) and I think Farhner's is one of the best. I got the same nasty "shark" impression as Ryan when I first saw this car in the magazines. Farhner's Sting Ray is an iconic representation of that era in customizing and although split window's need nothing in terms of styling (again, my opinion), it would be a shame to loose one as recognizable as this one is to a restoration.

    -Dave
     
  11. flamingokid
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 2,200

    flamingokid
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    Customizing a Corvette is like turning a Series 70 Colt 1911 Pistol into a race gun...you can do it,but why?
     
  12. shmoozo
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 671

    shmoozo
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    from Media, PA

    I don't think it's completely impossible to improve upon the design of a '63 Corvette split window coupe, but I also don't think this particular effort was a step in the right direction.

    Personally, if I had a '63 Corvette split window coupe I'd do everything I could to restore it to its original configuration and preserve it that way.
     
  13. I love this Corvette the asymmetrical design rules! all good 60s show rods had it. Great to hear it has survived but a shame it was changed after it was restored.


    Get over it! It was customized when new. Not every Corvette needs to be original or restored to "Bloomington Gold" standard. I like restored Corvettes my dream vette would be a '67-'68 L88 or L89. I do prefer modified corvettes and one like this has more historic & interest value than a stock Split Window.

    I am sure you both would love this, Bob Nordskog 1963 "Asteroid"
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  14. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,434

    BrandonB
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    from nor cal

    Get over it! It was customized when new. Not every Corvette needs to be original or restored to "Bloomington Gold" standard.

    Nothing to get over, just stating my opinion and as far as my opinion of the "Astroid" goes, ugly but not as ugly as Farhner's.
     
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  15. Theo Douglas
    Joined: Nov 20, 2002
    Posts: 807

    Theo Douglas
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    That thing rules! I would totally drive the wheels off it.

    And yes, I mean the way it was originally customized.
     
  16. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
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    I remember seeing the Asteroid at a car show in the new Long Beach arena in around November of '62!
    I thought how did they do that in two months!?!
    Not only was the car just tit's, they had a custom ski boat trailer and Cadillac all done in the same flake!

    The only thing I ddin't like about it or the Farhner car was that they couldn't be driven on the streets of California without the cops busting them for the so easy "headlights too low" law. (they still use that one around here, but usually on lowered ricers.)
    Ive always been partial to cars that were cool without being definitely "outlaw."
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2011
  17. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
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    from Quincy, IL


    Get over what???? Merely expressed my opinion...as did you.....so other than disagreeing........what's to get over?

    The Asteroid is not my cup of tea either.......but if I had to be found dead in one of them, then I guess I'd choose the asteroid......otherwise, I'd choose ....uummmm.....let's see.......maybe a Bugeye Sprite :D

    Ray
     
  18. Automotive Stud
    Joined: Sep 26, 2004
    Posts: 4,304

    Automotive Stud
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    I always loved it in blue with the white interior. I'd like to see how it looks now, what era is it restored to? It's latest I would assume but I hope I'm wrong.
     
  19. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,006

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    I love the guys who think outside the box. Won't always work, and certainly won't appeal to everyone.

    Hard to fuck up a '63 'Vette, though. What's not to like about this car, other than the somewhat disconcerting headlights? I like it.

    The one-off . . . thank the Lord for the one-offs (and the folks with that creative drive.)
     
  20. shmoozo
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 671

    shmoozo
    Member
    from Media, PA

    Honestly? No. I don't. It looks like somebody slapped a bunch of shiny pipe on the side with no sense of line or form and altered the car's nose, sides and tail in ways that simply aren't improvements over the original.

    :(
     
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  21. flamingokid
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 2,200

    flamingokid
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    I couldn't have said it better
     
  22. grim
    Joined: Dec 15, 2006
    Posts: 384

    grim
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    Ryan, here's another early shot of it. I'm scanning old pics all day. I'll keep an eye out, if I come across any more in Ray's pile I'll post em' up. scan0227.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 2, 2022
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  23. slammed
    Joined: Jun 10, 2004
    Posts: 8,150

    slammed
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  24. wizzard23
    Joined: Dec 12, 2009
    Posts: 733

    wizzard23
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    The first show cars I ever saw were in a tent at the Kansas State Fair in the mid 60's. I was 10 or so years old at the time. I'm sure the show was promoted by Farhner. I imagine this Vette was there, but the one I really remember was the Boot Hill Express. Also my nieghbor at the time had a new Vette that Starbird had done, custom nose ,sidepipes thru the fender, red metelflake, etc.
     
  25. autobilly
    Joined: May 23, 2007
    Posts: 3,123

    autobilly
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  26. Kettleman
    Joined: Mar 28, 2006
    Posts: 149

    Kettleman
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    I like a lot of the features, just a couple that I would change. I think it could grow on me though, always thought the 63-67 Vettes were the best!
     
  27. No Time
    Joined: Jan 13, 2011
    Posts: 20

    No Time
    Member
    from Oregon

    As we can see it's hard to do, but it seems it's not impossible.

    I appreciate all the hard work on the car, but I think maybe they should have picked a different car. Just my opinion, and I'm most definately not a vette guy.
     
  28. Tom davison
    Joined: Mar 15, 2008
    Posts: 6,042

    Tom davison
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    The Stingray came to Ray's shop as a complete total in '63. It was brand new, untitled, and had hit a concrete bridge abutment head on at high speed. It was so bad that he paid $950 for it. Brand new.

    I was there and saw the shattered pieces of the car when they were delivered to Ray's shop on a flatbed truck. So no one destroyed a precious, stock Stingray.

    Besides, Corvettes weren't even collectible then anyway.

    The rear window configuration was left stock.
     
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  29. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,006

    BrerHair
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    So . . . there you have it. Guess all the nay-sayers either scattered or never checked back in to read Tom's statement of fact. Of course, they would probably say that Ray should have restored it to original spec.

    But then, if that's all he had done, we wouldn't be talking about him, would we? Just another '63 vette instead of a head-turning, head-scratching, controversial one-off jolt of history. Which some of us think is cool.
     
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