What to do with new ride

[96z28]

My grandmother is giving me her 62 Chevy II Nova. Its all original inline 6 auto black with red interior, 50,000 miles, always garage kept. Basically it looks like a brand new car. What I'm debating on is keeping it original and entering it in shows, keeping it original and selling it, putting a v8 in it and keep it clean for shows, or puttin the v8 in it and just having some fun with it. I'm really not sure how much a v8 would lower the value but if im never going to sell it then it shouldnt matter. Just try to help me out because im tore between what to do.

[Y2KHAWK]

It would be very rare!

[Joshu]

Personally, I would enjoy driving it more than staring at it. Have some fun

[Dave-S]

Don't do anything now. Keep it stock and take it to some cars shows.

[Christopherrr]

it's meant to reek havoc on the roads....drop something that'll make her scream and enjoy. BUT BUT! Keep her maintained and clean.

[Injuneer]

2-door or 4-door? Any rust?

[96z28]

Its a 2 door Fred, i couldnt see any rust at all. I havent had it on a lift or anything to see up under it so there could be some on the underside. I'll try to post pics ASAP.

[sneitzel]

If the car is in as decent shape as you describe I say leave it as is, clean it up real nice and take it to a few shows as an example of an all original unrestored car. Then decide if you want to put the time in to restoration or street rod. That's a decision only you can make.

Me personally, as much as I love to see a beautifully restored vehicle it pains me to see those cars relegated to trailers and climate controlled garages. Cars were built for one reason. To Be Driven! Otherwise they're life size models.

Scott

[Injuneer]

I can see your dilemma. I'd love to have a Chevy II 2-door with a high performance SBC in it. But to build something like that, I'd start with a basket case, not a low mileage piece of history.

I don't think a 6-cyl will ever be a high $$$ classic, but its still worth preserving, assuming its still structurally sound. An uncle of mine just sold his 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 convertible.... and that was a "collector" level car he had owned since new. But it was so badly rotted underneath that it had very limited value.

Is the Chevy II a 2-door coupe or 2-door hardtop?

[Steel2686]

Love the Chevy II. Always have.

I would keep it as is for a couple years. No need to make a hasty decision right now. See where you're at, and go from there.