HOLD

• Burroughs: 1963-1972 high horsepower convertibles
• Jordan: 1967 427/435
• Mackay: 1965 327/350 convertible survivor
• Michaelis: 1963 fuel injection coupe
• Pierce: “Z” code cars (ZL1, Z06, etc.), original spec M-22 cars
• Sinor: any unrestored originals
• Yager: 1958, 1967, 1968 and 1978 model years

SELL

• Burroughs: 1963-66 coupes under 360 HP
• Jordan: 1990-95 ZR-1
• Mackay: “basket case” cars with replacement block and no documentation
• Michaelis: 1966-67 427/425 and 427/435 cars
• Pierce: “Any car that will cost more to restore than it’s worth”
• Sinor: Any C3 or C4 that is not considered to be rare
• Yager: unique cars with high options

BUY

• Burroughs: 1953-57 cars at least 75% unrestored with little deterioration
• Jordan: 1968-69 L88
• Mackay: 1968-69 L88 “with documentation”
• Michaelis: 1968-69 L88 “with documentation”
• Pierce: L88 cars, tankers (1959-67 24 or 36 gallon fuel tank option), early fuel injection cars
• Sinor: well documented early fuel injection cars
• Yager: 1963 Z06, any rare C4

THE HOLY GRAIL

• Burroughs: 1967 L88 Daytona race car
• Jordan: 1963 Grand Sport #002
• Mackay: 1963 Grand Sport #004
• Michaelis: any 1963 Grand Sport
• Pierce: any 1963 Grand Sport
• Sinor: 1967 L89 with original engine
• Yager: Corvette CERV I or 1963 Grand Sport

This article will address restored cars, as both of the aforementioned organizations have judging criteria for unrestored vehicles (“survivors”) and other groups like the NCCC (National Council of Corvette Clubs) have modified and custom classes as well.

When a car is judged, it begins with a perfect score (actually several thousand points) in each of four categories: Interior, Exterior, Engine and Chassis, plus an additional operations check (everything needs to work, e.g. lights, turn signals, radio, etc.).  It is assumed that the car is in the same condition as it was when it left the factory, and only receives deductions in points when something is not up to that standard.  Bloomington Gold utilizes one judge for each category, while NCRS has two.  To aid the judges in their evaluation of each part, Bloomington Gold established the FDICC valuation method, and the NCRS adopted a later version.  With dozens of parts to inspect, judges use the FDICC method to assess each.  It is:

F: Finish

D: Date Code

I: Installation

C: Completeness

C: Configuration

Armed with this criterion, each part is evaluated in two categories: originality and condition.  An original part will receive no deduction if it passes the scrutiny of the judge, but it could lose points for condition if it is like new.  Conversely, an inaccurate reproduction part might receive a deduction for originality, but receive all of the condition points.  Originality has a greater value than condition, so generally it is better to have a slightly aged original part than to have a brand new part that is not accurate.

Judges use other terms or evaluation processes like “easily detectable”, “bracketing”, and most important, “typical factory production” as they assess each and every piece of a car.  The judging process happens pretty quickly.  Bloomington Gold judges are encouraged to take only 36 minutes to judge each car, while the NCRS will take about an hour.  The bottom line in either case is that when the judging process is completed, the value of a car can be significantly increased if it achieves the top levels of the process by either organization.  Those levels are:

Bloomington Gold: *Gold Certified  *Silver Certified  *Bronze Certified

NCRS:  *Top Flight  *Second Flight  *Third Flight

It is also helpful for you to know that if a car owner does not reach the level they desire in the judging process, they can take their car home, attempt to correct items the judges found to be not typical factory production, and bring it back.  In the case of Bloomington Gold, judging only happens once a year.  The NCRS, however, has a three-level process of chapter, regional and national judging.  While there is only one national event, there are about 10 regionals, and dozens of chapter events.  The national judging is more like Bloomington Gold process, as the level of judging expertise is at it’s highest level for all cars.  What that means is that it is possible to get one score at a small NCRS chapter meet, but not do as well at the national level.