Once More Unto The Breach: A Classic Corvette Restoration Story

After restoring a 1961 Corvette over 10 YEARS and swearing ‘never again,’ Corvettes at Carlisle regulars Boband Carrie Frampton are back for another C1 restoration.

Restoration is a path that many Corvette enthusiasts are tempted to pursue. It affords one the opportunity to not only bring a classic car back to life, but to also be a pivotal part of the experience. Depending on who you ask, the experience can be incredibly rewarding as well as completely aggravating, often at the same time. But those who have restored a classic car–especially a Corvette—gain not only a unique and enviable ride; they also pick up quite a wealth of knowledge. And after it is all said and done: Would they do it again?

One couple that can answer that is Boband Carrie Frampton. The Framptons undertook a very ambitious project when they purchased a 1961 C1 Corvette at Corvettes at Carlisle in 1998. The sports car was in rough shape and had none of the original drivetrain. But it was too good to resist. It was going to need some serious work. Bob decided to completely strip it down and build a restomod. He thought it would take 2-3 years. In the end, it took 9 1/2 years to finish. And yes, it was so worth it.

But surely, theirs was a one-and-done experience? Well, Bob and Carrie recently took the plunge again, picking up a 1962 Corvette at last year’s Carlisle show. What made them decide to go from “Never again” to “one more time?”

“I did say that I would never do it again,” Bob says. “But after having such a great experience with the ’61 I thought, ‘Why not do it again?’”

That experience began in 1998. The Framptons were attending the Corvettes and Carlisle show, an annual tradition going back to the beginning. “My wife Carrie and I first started going to Carlisle after we were married in 1977. Just married, we could not afford to buy a Corvette, so the dream of owning one again just kind of faded away.” Faded, but not gone.

As the two strolled through the fairgrounds they spotted a 1961 Corvette for sale. “The price seemed too good to be true–you know what they say about something that sounds too good to be true–but we bought it anyway,” he says.

For the first few years, the classic car had issues, but was drivable. Bob had to rebuild the transmission and the front and rear suspension. However, the Framptons had waited a long time for that dream Corvette. So Bob decided to roll up his sleeves and build a restomod.

Once he started stripping the car down, he realized that this was going to be a lot. “The scariest part of the teardown was what I found after I stripped the paint off the car…. discovered how bad the body was,” he recalls.

Due to fire damage, it was necessary to replace the front end, nose, left side inner and outer rocker panels, left side quarter panels, half of the firewall, and more. And this is where the delays began in earnest.

“When I started, I really had no idea how to repair fiberglass and, until I stripped the paint off the car, I had no idea how bad the body was,” says Bob, now aware that this was going to take on a much longer timeframe. “I was working three shifts that changed every seven days, which made it very hard to get anything done. Also building a Corvette restomod is very expensive so I bought parts as I could afford them.”

In addition to the time, money, and effort; the list of repairs and the project itself could feel insurmountable. Bob learned to step away when needing a breath.

“Building a car can be very frustrating,” he agrees. “There were several times during the build that I just had to walk away from it. And yes, there were times when I thought about taking pictures of the car and all the parts and putting them on eBay.”

But he did not give up. And he did not lose his love for the Corvette. He kept going. What gave him that boost? “I think what helped maintain my passion to finish the car was going to Carlisle every August and seeing all of the beautifully restored solid-axle Corvettes. Also, my wife’s confidence in me that I could do it.”

After 9 ½ years, the car was finally finished. It has a 2009 430 hp LS3 crate engine under the hood mated to a Tremec 5-speed overdrive transmission. It has a rear suspension from a C4 Corvette, Jim Meyer coilover front suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, power steering and brakes, and air conditioning.

Finished in a rich Monterey Red, the hardtop and side coves feature Classic White, and the convertible top is a C4 Corvette dark blue stay fast material. The wheels are a reproduction version of chrome C6/ZO6. Inside it has a crisp Horizon Blue leather interior.

And in 2011, the Framptons brought their 1961 Corvette back to Carlisle, even securing a spot in the 50th Anniversary tent. Since finishing the build, the couple has picked up several awards for their fabulous C1 Vette. And every year they return to Carlisle where their custom C1 build is attendance Corvettes at Carlisle show.

“The best part of having a first-generation Corvette is all of the attention the car gets,” says Bob. “You don’t see many early Corvettes cruising down the road these days, so the car does get a lot of attention. When we take the car for a drive … people always come over and ask questions about the car and ask if they can take pictures.”

The New Kid on the Block

For now, Bob and Carrie are focused on the new kid on the block: their 1962 Corvette.

Having been through the process, Bob feels far more prepared for this build. He even anticipates that the Corvette will be done by 2022. “This time around being retired, I have a little more time on my hands. With all the knowledge I gained from building the first car I think I can build this restomod a lot quicker.”

He plans to approach the 1962 build very similar to the ’61. With one major exception being the 1962 will be an automatic with an aftermarket chassis. For the Framptons, it’s a journey that took them from diehard fans to Corvette experts.

“When we first started coming to Corvettes at Carlisle we were hunting for parts for our project, looking at all of the cars and talking to other Corvette enthusiasts to get ideas for our own project,” Bob says. “Now with the car finished we meet people all weekend who have questions to ask us about our car. So here we go again!”

We love a great restoration story, not just for the cars—although they are undeniably satisfying. But also, because they keep reminding us of how much of the builder goes into the process. If there was any question, this is truly Bob’s car through-and-through. “I am very proud of what I accomplished. I know every nut and bolt that went into building this car, so when someone asks me a question about the build I know the answer.”

Many thanks to the Framptons for taking the time to give us the good, the bad, and the ugly of restoration. Their Corvette restoration story demonstrates how all the hard work, sweat, and time they put into their Corvette vision, paid off beautifully.

As for their 1962 Corvette, hopefully, we will see it in 2022. Stay tuned!

Photos: Bob & Carrie Frampton

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