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Corvette Market
Premier Edition! 187 Corvettes Rated By Our Experts
Keith Martin's
Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
427ci, 435hp
$467k
TOP 100
Corvette Sales
of All Time
Fall 2007
Full Bloomington
Gold Coverage
Full Bloomington
Gold Coverage
Six Industry Leaders
Six Industry Leaders
Sound Off on the Marketf on the Market
C4 Fright Pig
Sells for $2,050
C4 Fright Pig
Sells for $2,050
www.vettemarket.com
Page 4
Publisher's
Publisher's
Publisher's
Note
Coming of Age
Corvette collectors are demanding more
documentation as prices rise. CM will be a key
part of your resource library
by Keith Martin
C
orvettes have been very good to me.
Although I've owned many over the
years, two especially stand out—a
black removable-roof 1992 6-speed
LT1 that I drove from Portland, Oregon, to
Fairbanks, Alaska, and a silver 1963 4-speed
327/340 Split-Window I recently drove on
my honeymoon, and is still parked in my
garage.
It has only been in the past few years that
the collector car market at large has discovered
Corvettes, both vintage and new. For decades, the focus of collectors was on foreign cars,
usually Italian, German, and English. Nearly everywhere, if a car didn't have an an all-alloy,
multi-cammed and carbureted powerplant, it was dismissed with disdain.
Everywhere, of course, except on the race track, where for 50 years Corvettes have been
showing their rear ends to these foreign intruders.
But as collectors have become more sophisticated, they have discovered Corvettes, and prices
have gone through the roof.
Key players weighed in
So when key players in the Corvette market,
including Mike Yager of Mid America
Motorworks and Dana Mecum of Dana Mecum Auctions, talked with us about the possibility of
starting a magazine that focused entirely on the Corvette market, we paid attention.
Having published Sports Car Market for nearly 20 years, we had the staff and resources in
place to analyze the Corvette market. Our database had already tracked over 2,000 Corvette
transactions (see them in a free sneak preview at www.vettemarket.com); our price guides had
followed Corvettes for nearly two decades.
All that (plus assembling a top-flight team of Corvette specialists) led to this, the premier
issue of Corvette Market.
In every issue, you'll find first-hand reports of over 100 Corvettes that we have examined at
auctions, complete with accurate condition reports, VINs, bid prices, and our thoughts on the
results.
In addition, there will be profiles of Corvettes from C1 to the present, with market opinions,
written by those who really know these cars. Plus, each issue will have “top sales” lists compiled
from our database.
As the Corvette market continues to mature, and collectors are demanding ever more docu-
mentation as they are asked to pay higher prices, CM intends to become a part of your own
personal collecting resource library.
Calling it as we see it
We will report the facts as we see them, give you our opinions on the present market, and our
predictions for the future.
We can't claim that we will always be right, but we can promise the primary focus of Corvette
Market will be to help you, if you are buying, to determine which Corvette is best for you, and
how much you should pay for it. If you are selling, the data in Corvette Market will help you
decide just how much to ask for your car.
We've found Corvette owners to be among the most knowledgeable enthusiasts anywhere,
and your comments and questions are welcomed. Email me at keith.martin@vettemarket.com.
Thank you for joining us in this inaugural issue; as you stick with us, we promise you will enjoy
the ride. ■
6 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 1 . Issue 1 . Fall 2007
Publisher Keith Martin
V.P. Business Development/
General Counsel Rob Sass
Art Director Kirsten Onoday
Executive Editor Paul Duchene
Managing Editor Stefan Lombard
Auction Editor Jim Pickering
Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson
Linda Clark
Tom Glatch
Daniel Grunwald
John Clucas
Dave Kinney
Richard Hudson-Evans
Norm Mort
Contributors Carl Bomstead
Marshall Buck
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Peter Frye
Mike Mueller
Donald Osborne
Web Design Valarie Huston
Information Technology/
Internet Bryan Wolfe
Controller Jimmy Carter
Financial Manager Nikki Nalum
Editorial Assistant Jennifer Davis
ADVERTISING SALES
Advertising Exectives Cindy Meitle
cindy.meitle@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 262
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john.scharff@vettemarket.com
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Cody Wilson
cody.wilson@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 213
Sales and Marketing
Coordinator Valarie Huston
valarie.huston@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 211
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To order new subscriptions 800.289.2819
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General P.O. Box 4797
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Corvette Market magazine (ISSN# 1939-6481) is published quarterly
by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100,
Portland, OR 97232. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and
at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Corvette Market, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information
in Corvette Market magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable
sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability
for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy, and completeness
of the information presented. All material, data, formats and intellectual
concepts in this issue © 2007 by Keith Martin's Corvette Market,
LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group and Automotive Investor in
this format and any other used by Corvette Market magazine. Copyright
registered with the United States copyright office.
PRINTED IN USA
John M. Vincent
Page 8
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 1 . Issue 1 . Fall 2007
Profiles
26 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
“The car sold for $212k last year, and we said at the time there
was a small amount of movement left. Thirteen months later,
at $396k, the seller obviously made a handsome profit.”
by Carl Bomstead
28 1967 Corvette L71 Convertible
“The typical price range for these is about $100k to $200k.
At $467k, buyers clearly appreciated the quality of this car.”
by Thomas Glatch
32 1969 L36 and Base Corvette Convertibles
“One sold and one didn't. The difference was in the options
rather than the details, an instance where Survivor status
mattered less than engine size.”
by Thomas Glatch
34 1984 Coupe
“The car stood out like some part of a circus freak show. You
felt compelled to look, but everything about it hurt your eyes.”
by Stefan Lombard
36 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Le Mans Safety Car
“They only made four of the things, so on a coolness scale, this
C5 coupe was definitely an eleven.”
by Dave Kinney
38 C6 Mini Profiles
“This was the least expensive, clean-titled, non-wrecked, bent,
folded, spindled, mutilated, or flooded C6 on eBay.”
by Geoff Archer
Market Reports
42 Mecum, Belvidere, IL—High Performance Auction
43 of 87 'Vettes sell for a $1.3m total.
by B. Mitchell Carlson and Dan Grunwald
52 Mecum, St. Charles, IL—Bloomington Gold Auction
72% sell-through means $8.2m at this Corvette mainstay.
by Dan Grunwald, B. Mitchell Carlson, Thomas Glatch,
and Linda Clark
72 Global Roundup
30 Corvettes sell here and there, with total results of $1.4m.
by CM Market Analysts
26 1953 Roadster
36
36 2003 Safety Car
On the Cover: 1967 Corvette L71 Convertible. Photo: Mecum Auctions
10 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Page 9
52
52 Bloomington Gold
Departments
6 Publisher's Note
12 Contributors: A few of the faces of CM
14 Industry Roundtable: Six heavyweights sound off on the
state of the market
16 Events: Things to do and places to be with your Corvette
20 Q&A: Slow C1s, C2 fit issues, and knock-off knockoffs
22 Affordable Classic: 1974–77 Stingray, looking better as time
goes by
23 20 Year Picture
47 Mystery Photo
80 Vette-o-bilia: Sting Ray for a penny, surely that's a record
82 Trick Stuff: Bolt-on power, updated ignition, and a C1 couch
84 Books & DVDs: Six essential books and a 'Vettespotter's guide
to the best and worst movies
86 By The Numbers: Top 100 Corvette Sales of 2007,
Top 100 All-Time, Top 5 by Generation
96 Resource Directory
98 In Miniature: 1953 Roadster, 1957 SS, Grand Sport Coupes
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 11
Page 10
Corvette Market
Contributors
Carl Bomstead
Automobilia Specialist and Auction Analyst
Carl Bomstead bought his first car when he was 14 and reckons 100 or more have passed
thought his garage since then. These included classics, sports cars, hot rods, and a C1 and C2
Corvette. The 1954 was recently traded, a decision he immediately regretted. In addition to
writing for Sports Car Market magazine, Bomstead has judged at the Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance for the past 13 years. He has also been Head Judge for two CCCA Annual Meetings
and at other national Concours d'Elegance. He has an extensive collection of automobilia,
and he currently owns five collector cars, which he drives regularly on events such as the
Copperstate 1000 and CCCA CARavans.
Thomas Glatch
Contributing Editor
Thomas Glatch has been contributing stories and photographs to automotive publications
since 1983. He was seven when he saw his first '63 Split-Window, and that started it all. He
began contributing to Corvette Fever magazine in 1989 and met his wife, Kelly, photographing
a 1958 Corvette. Their work has appeared in Corvette Fever, Corvette Enthusiast, Vette,
Corvette & Chevy Trader, and Corvette Magazine. Glatch still drags out his huge Sinar 4x5
view camera occasionally, but both typically shoot digital. Their photographs appeared in the
Bloomington Gold 2005 and 2006 calendars, and The Corvette Bible, by KP Books. They live
in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, with their children, Sean, 8, and Keara, 13.
Daniel Grunwald
Auction Analyst
Daniel Grunwald's father was a Buick dealer in the mid '50s, and the seeds of the old car
disease were planted. At age 16, Grunwald bought his first car, a Morris Minor, blew it up,
and traded it for a succession of GM products that he hot-rodded. In 1972, Grunwald traded
in his 1967 SS396 Chevelle for his first classic Corvette, a 1963 Split-Window coupe. His current
collection consists of a '72 El Camino, '49 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, '67 Corvette 427/435
coupe, '66 Nova project car, 1939 BMW R12, 1972 and 1999 Triumph motorcycles. Grunwald
has been an auction analyst for SCM since 2001. He and his wife Martha live in St. Charles,
Illinois.
Jim Pickering
Auction Editor
Jim Pickering grew up studying high-performance cars from the '60s and early '70s,
and being a Chevrolet guy, Corvettes have always been at the top of his list. He spent
several years as a mechanic before coming to Corvette Market, and during that time had
hands-on experience with all generations of Corvette—from solid-axle cars all the way
up through C5s. Pickering spends short, intense periods at Portland-area drag strips in his
12-second 468-ci '66 Caprice, and when he's not doing that, can be found sneaking up on
Mustangs in his '01 Camaro SS.
12 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Page 12
Insider's
View
The current state of the Corvette market
Industry Roundtable
The Corvette market has many facets, and in each issue, Corvette Market
magazine will present the viewpoints of the movers and shakers in the
Corvette market arena
Dana Mecum
President, Mecum Auctions
Corvettes are a mainstay in the collector
car marketplace. Those from the 1950s
through the mid '60s were collectible as early
as the 1970s.
The one aspect I have always liked about
Corvettes is the broad marketability—you
can sell a Corvette in anytown USA.
We look at our collector cars as invest-
ments and expect them to appreciate in value.
The added value of a Corvette is its liquid
ability to be sold again. You may not get your
appreciation in a quick sale, but you can hold
onto your money forever. I think it's a good
hunch that Corvettes outperform mid- and
long term stock funds.
The Corvette market today shadows
strong investment luxury items like art
and antiques and precious stones. Average
or common merchandise sells for average
prices; great merchandise sells for astounding
prices.
A great Corvette today must fit the fol-
lowing categories:
1. Original or great restoration
2. Judging credentials
3. Factory documentation
4. Ownership history
To explain #4—it's just like artwork. A
Corvette's prior owners add value. If it's been
in a great collector's hands, that adds special
value and comfort for the new owner.
The Corvette market overall is very
stable. Common car values are constant,
while the best investment-grade cars continue
to climb in value. Who ever thought we'd see
million-dollar Corvettes?
14 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Drew Alcazar
President, Russo and Steele Auctions
There has been a huge run of the
midyears (or first generation Sting Rays of
1963–1967) that has compounded their value
exponentially in the last 24 to 36 months.
Most enthusiasts will remember the run of
the L88 in the '80s that mirrored the present
run of the midyear Corvettes.
Thanks to this increase in value, there has
been a proliferation of cars with matching
numbers, but undocumented. The 427/425
flavor of the moment has created a plethora
of Corvettes that have attempted to meet this
demand, but have resulted in more supply
and less demand.
I see a cooling trend with two
exceptions: the 1967 435-hp car when it is
all original, numbers-matching, documented
(i.e. tank stickers, dealer invoices…not affidavits
that look like ink stains on bar napkins
or other figments of overactive imaginations)
and the 1963 Split-Window because of its
enduring hallmark status.
Mike Yager
President, Mid America Motorworks
America's love affair with the Corvette
continues to grow, and that means prices
are steadily ticking up. Even base model,
1968–72 “chrome bumper” Corvettes—once
considered entry-level investments—are now
appreciating quickly. It is still possible to find
a car in this category under $20,000, but I'd
be surprised if that holds true much longer.
The good news is that it's not too late to join
the party. Here are two opportunities that
make sense right now:
Bargain hunters may want to consider a
1973–1996 Corvette, which have become the
new starter models for Corvette enthusiasts.
These range from $4,000 to $20,000, and
should prove to be a good long term investment.
Just as importantly, they will serve you
very well as a daily driver that gets noticed.
Another opportunity is any non-stock,
non-matching numbers 1967 and earlier
Corvette. I've noticed that enthusiasts are
snapping up these cars to build “RestoRods,”
with crate motors, C5 suspensions,
and other performance options. They are
great examples of a car that has a lower value
as a collector's piece becoming a perfect
starting point for a unique custom Corvette.
Page 13
Jim Jordan
President, County Corvette
Without question, 2007 has brought a
correction to the Corvette market. Mediocre
Corvettes that were trading last year for six
figures are now stagnant.
The good news is that high-quality cars
are trading at all-time highs and cars with
solid authenticity and condition will significantly
appreciate.
Another gauge is the market for Corvette
restoration. The cost of restoration has a
considerable effect on the value of these
cars. With the average restoration exceeding
$125k–$150k, higher value cars will continue
to climb. We average 65 to 75 Corvettes in
various states of restoration or repair, and
the backlog for high-end restorations has
never been longer. It's amazing how many
unrestored big-block cars exist.
While there has been a decline in high-
end cars, driver-quality and high-quality
small-block midyears are very strong. The
market for mediocre cars will soften while
“no-stories” cars will stay strong. It's a
buyer's market with great deals to be had.
Buyers of high-horsepower cars, especially
midyears, should be sure to authenticate
cars and paperwork. Documentation can add
as much as 25% in value and build sheets,
Protect-o-Plates, and other pieces can be
replicated. The rapid rise in value has led to
the re-creation of many documents.
On the upside, speculators are moving
onto the next hot commodity, leaving the
hobby to the enthusiast.
Terry Michaelis
President, ProTeam Classic Corvettes
The Corvette market today is seeing a
resurgence of true collectors and enthusiasts
who are choosing to buy these classic vehicles
to drive and enjoy. Demand is definitely
growing as evidenced by the rising prices,
and it's outstripping the availability of nice
cars, which should drive prices up further.
Older Corvettes, especially 1953 to 1972,
have a solid pattern of growth that dates
back to the early 1970s. Today's market is a
world market and not just restricted to North
America. From the United States to Europe,
Australia, New Zealand, Japan—and now
Russia, Hungary, Croatia, South America,
and soon China—enthusiasts are digging
deep into their pockets to purchase a classic.
Additional factors, such as the disposable
incomes of Baby Boomers, will lead to
continued demand for Corvettes. This group
has the time and money to enjoy a classic car,
and I see the Corvette market growing more
each year.
Colin Comer
President, Colin's Classic Automobiles
The high-horse C2 (midyear) cars have
really come on strong recently. Always near
the top of any 'Vette list, 1967 435-hp cars
have gone from $75,000 cars seven years ago
to recent sales approaching half a million
dollars.
While it takes a special car to achieve
those numbers, even a garden variety '67 435
convertible is $200,000 today, over twice
what it would have cost in 2000. Only time
will tell if these prices for higher production
cars can be sustained. After all, they built
almost 3,800 427/435 cars in 1967.
C1 cars have seen steady price increases,
and I think these are the value leaders. Most
C2 cars have also gained. Documented cars
are charging to the front as educated buyers
walk away from suspect merchandise.
The ultra-rare cars (L88, L89, tankers, air
box, big brake, race history, etc.) are seeing
much deserved gains and are multiple times
the cost of regular 'Vettes. C3s have been
moving up rapidly as buyers get priced out
of C1 and C2 cars. Some special C3 cars like
L88s, LT1s, LS6s, etc. have doubled or tripled
in value.
Corvettes have been collectible since
nearly new, and thousands of clubs exist
(like the NCRS, with over 26,000 members).
There are several aftermarket parts suppliers
and Corvette magazines, and huge shows like
Bloomington Gold ensure that documented
and proven cars will always be strong. ■
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 15
Page 14
Event
Guide
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@vettemarket.com.
Corvette Calendar
Know where you need to be in the months ahead with our nationwide
calendar of Corvette events and auctions
Arkansas
10.4.07–10.7.07
Eureka Springs Corvette Weekend,
Eureka Springs
The event will feature a fuel economy run,
seminars, a car show, autocross, poker run,
and midnight cruise. Free. www
.eurekaspringscorvette.org
Arizona
9/29/07
Historic Prescott Corvette Show, Prescott
A Corvette show hosted by Prescott's Vette
Sette Club and featuring trophies for all six
generations. $20 fee covers a T-Shirt and the
club's charity donation. www.prescottvettesette.org
California
9/22/07
5th Annual Smith Corvette Show, Turlock
This annual all-Corvette show runs all day.
The Western States Corvette Council meeting
will take place during the show.
10/7/07
CCC/NCRS Fall Meet, San Luis Obispo
www.ncrs.org
10/18/07–10/20/07
American Le Mans Series, Laguna Seca
In the final race of the season, the Corvette
Connecticut
9/21/07–9/23/07
MASACC Fall Event 2007, Lime Rock
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Solid Axle
Corvette Club will host a BBQ and allow
C6.R will do battle in America's premier
sports racing series against cars from Aston
Martin, Porsche, Audi, Panoz, Ferrari, Acura,
and more. Tickets range from $15 to $55.
www.americanlemans.com.
members a lap or two of the Lime Rock circuit,
with a fun drive through the Berkshires
to follow. www.masacc.org.
Florida
9/1/07
14th Annual Corvettes@The Pier,
St. Petersburg
Held by the Indian River Corvette Club, with
awards given to the top three cars in class for
all six generations of Corvette, plus customs.
Don't miss the door prizes and live band.
www.ircorvettes.com.
9/22/07
10th Annual Dimmitt Corvette Show,
Clearwater
Presented by the Bay Area Corvette Club of
Clearwater, expect this year to be bigger and
better than ever, with great music, breakfast
onsite, door prizes, vendors, goodie bags,
and polo shirts to the first 100 pre-registered
entrants. www.baccvette.us.
C6Rs race into darkness at Laguna Seca
16 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
10/27/07
Roger's Cruz'in 2007, Orlando
Roger's Corvette Center and the Central
Florida Corvette Association (CFCA) will
host this event to benefit the Russell Home
for Atypical Children in Orlando. Features a
low-pressure judged show with hoods down
Richard Prince
Page 15
and a separate People's Choice show for
CFCA Members, plus music, door prizes,
BBQ, charity auction, and more. www
.rogerscorvette.com.
10/27/07
Corvettes at the Springs, Silver Springs
Sponsored by the Marion County Corvette
Club, this annual show is held at Silver
Springs Nature Park. This year will feature a
concert by Bobby Vinton which is part of the
admission to the Show. $30 per car or $15
per person. www.ocalacorvettes.com.
10/27/07
3rd Annual Vettes at the Village of
Baytowne Wharf, Destin
Last year over 250 'Vettes came out, and this
year expect over 300 on display. Cash and
door prizes totaling over $10,000, plus many
vendors and tons of Corvette information on
site. Free. www.playgroundcorvetteclub.com
11/3/07
Corvettes in Paradise, Islamorada
Hosted by the Florida Keys Corvette Club,
the event will feature over 300 Corvettes
with 20 judged classes. Dave McLellan,
former Corvette Chief Engineer, will sign
his great book, Corvette from the Inside.
Registration ranges from $20 to $40. www
.flkeyscorvetteclub.com.
11/10/07–11/11/07
Corvette Garden Party, Winter Haven
Held by the Bay Area Corvette Club at
Cypress Gardens, with raffles, vendors,
music, food, and judging for several classes.
Limited to 250 cars. www.baccvette.us.
1/17/08–1/20/08
NCRS Florida Regional Meeting,
Kissimmee
www.ncrs.org
1/19/08–1/27/08
Corvette Lovers Panama Canal Cruise,
Ft. Lauderdale
This event invites all Corvette enthusiasts
to an eight-night cruise from Ft. Lauderdale
with special guests Dave Hill, retired C5–C6
Corvette Chief Engineer, and Werner Meier,
owner of Masterworks Automotive Services.
Prices range from $690 to $2,270. www
.catchawaveproductions.com.
Iowa
8/31/07–9/3/07
Summer Festival, Council Bluffs
The Cornhusker Corvette Club hosts this
event with people's choice awards, funkana,
rally, poker run, fuel economy run, and seven
autocrosses. www.cornhuskercorvetteclub
.com.
SEPTEMBER
8/30/07–9/4/07
KRUSE, www.kruseauctions.com
Auburn, IN
9/1/07
SILVER, www.silverauctions.com
Sun Valley, ID
9/8/07
KRUSE, Edmonton, CAN
9/8/07
MECUM, www.mecumauctions.com
Canal Winchester, OH
9/14/07–9/16/07
KRUSE, Murray, KY
9/15/07
ICA, www.icaauctions.com
Sioux Falls, SD
9/15/07
SILVER, Eaton, CO
9/21/07–9/22/07
CAAA, www.classicautomobileauctions.com
Fredericksburg, TX
9/22/07
MIDAMERICA, www.midamericaauctions.com
Blaine, MN
9/28/07–9/29/07
KRUSE, Little Rock, AR
9/28–9/29/07
SANTIAGO, www.premierclassiccars
.com
TULSA, OK
OCTOBER
10/5/07–10/6/07
CARLISLE, www.carlisleauctions.com
Carlisle, PA
10/5/07–10/6/07
CAAA
Biloxi, MS
10/5/07–10/7/07
MECUM, St. Charles, IL
10/6/07
SILVER, Spokane, WA
10/11/07–10/13/07
KRUSE, Hershey, PA
10/12/07
RM, www.rmauctions.com
Hershey, PA
10/19/07–10/20/07
COX, www.bransonauction.com
Branson, MO
10/19/07–10/21/07
RM, Toronto, CAN
Auction Calendar
10/20/07
ICA, Louisville, KY
10/20/07
SILVER, Portland, OR
NOVEMBER
11/2/07–11/4/07
KRUSE, Auburn, IN
11/3/07
SILVER, Seattle, WA
11/10/07
KRUSE, Atlanta, GA
11/10/07
POTTS, www.pottsauction.com
Atlanta, GA
11/16/07–11/18/07
LEAKE, www.leakecarauction.com
Dallas, TX
11/16/07–11/18/07
MCCORMICK, www.classic-carauction
.com
Palm Springs, CA
11/23/07–11/24/07
ICA, Gilbert, AZ
11/23/07–11/24/07
ICA, Houston, TX
11/24/07–11/25/07
KRUSE, Las Vegas, NV
11/30/07–12/2/07
MECUM, Kansas City, MO
DECEMBER
12/7/07–12/8/07
SANTIAGO, Oklahoma City, OK
12/15/07–12/16/07
KRUSE, Houston, TX
JANUARY 2008
1/4/08–1/6/08
KRUSE, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1/13/08–1/20/07
BARRETT-JACKSON, www.barrett-jackson.com
Scottsdale, AZ
1/16/08–1/20/08
RUSSO AND STEELE, www.russoandsteele.com
Scottsdale, AZ
1/18/08
RM, Phoenix, AZ
1/18/08–1/19/08
KRUSE, Concord, NC
1/18/08–1/21/08
SILVER, Fort McDowell, AZ
1/25/08–1/27/08
KRUSE, Scottsdale, AZ
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 17
Page 16
vent
Guide
Send your Cor
Event
Guide
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@vettemarket.com.
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@vettemarket.com.
Candlelight tour of America's favorite
home—the Biltmore Estate. There will be
a sunrise photo shoot and two runs on the
Tail of the Dragon during the weekend.
Registration is $220 per person, and includes
a year-round pass or $40 gift certificate,
breakfast, dinner, and admission to the
grounds of the estate. www.corvettesatbiltmore.com.
New Hampshire
9/6/07–9/9/07
34th Annual Mountain Melee, Lincoln
This long weekend event has a road rally,
new Corvette giveaway, Show-n-Shine,
costume party, and a Yankee Swap, with
gourmet meals and plenty of entertainment.
www.seacoastvettes.com
Mid America Motorworks Corvette Funfest, Effingham, IL
Illinois
9/21/07–9/23/07
Mid America Motorworks Corvette Funfest,
Effingham
America's biggest free Corvette party returns
with over 14,000 Corvettes. Three Dog
Night will play Saturday night, and George
Barris will host a technical seminar during
the weekend. Corvettes from years ending in
“7” will have their own display. And it's all
FREE. www.mamotorworks.com.
11/17/07–11/18/07
26th Chevy Vettefest Nationals, Rosemont
The indoor show features a swap meet, car
corral, the coveted Triple Crown and Gold
Spinner Concours awards, with special
awards for modified Corvettes. Pre-event
tickets are $12 and $14 at the door. www
.chevyvettefest.net.
Kentucky
8/10/07–8/12/07
26th Annual National Corvette
Homecoming, Bowling Green
This annual pilgrimage to Bowling Green
will include an all-Corvette parade, drag
races, car corrals, plant tours, vendor areas, a
swap meet, seminars, judged car shows, museum
visit, and more. Judged car registration
starts at $15. www.corvettehomecoming
.com.
9/8/07
6th Annual Corvettes on the River, Paducah
Last year, more than 130 Corvettes came out.
Expect games, club competion, food, and a
judged show with trophies for the top three
in ten different categories. $20 to register.
www.fourriverscorvetteclub.com.
18 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Massachusetts
9/30/07
Vettes to Vets, Bedford
Come out to show your support for those
who've given up a significant part of their
lives for our freedom. Entrants get a commemorative
pin, and one car will be awarded
the Veteran's Choice Trophy. No admission
cost, but organizers ask for a small goodie
bag of donated items to benefit wounded
vets. www.vettes1.com.
Maryland
9/16/07
All Corvette Drag Racing & Fun Show,
Crofton
Held at Capitol Raceway. Get set for quartermile
bracket drag racing and a people's
choice fun show for Corvettes, with six
different classes. $40 to race, $20 to enter the
car show, $10 for spectators. www.corvetteclubofamerica.org
Mississippi
9/30/07
The 2nd Annual David Coward Memorial
Poker Run, Madison Lane
A charity poker run that traverses the scenic
Natchez Trace Parkway, with five draws
throughout the day. A dinner at Cock of the
Walk will follow. Each poker hand costs $20.
www.mscorvetteclub.com.
North Carolina
11/16/07–11/20/07
Corvettes @ Biltmore 2007, Asheville
Drive America's sports car for a Christmas
Nevada
9/28/07
Summer's End Corvette Gathering &
Show, Sparks
A gathering of 'Vettes from all over the West
at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino. The charity
event benefits local organizations, and
all pre-registered entrants are encouraged to
bring a donation for the Saturday night raffle.
$88 per person. www.corvettecruzin.com.
New York
10/07/07
Vettes @ the Vanderbilt, Suffolk County
This all-Corvette show will feature a judged
show with People's Choice award. Entry is
$20 to $30. www.longislandvettes.com.
Ohio
9/22/07
Corvettes for the Troops, Sandusky
Lake Shore Corvettes will host this one-day
social event with four car shows and a 1967
Corvette car corral. You don't have to be a
member, and proceeds from the $20 entry
and 50/50 charity help benefit America's
brave troops. www.lakeshorecorvettes.com.
Pennsylvania
8/24/07–8/26/07
Corvettes at Carlisle, Carlisle
The biggest Corvette show in the east returns
with a Callaway Reunion, 1957 Reunion,
burnout competition, autocross, NCRS
Gallery, NCCC judged showfield, free
seminars, and more. The Corvette Market
gang will be there, so stop in and say hello.
Admission is $12, with kids under twelve
free. www.carlisleevents.com.
9/9/07—Autumn Vettes '07, Monroeville
Sponsored by the Corvette Club of Western
Page 17
PA, this judged all-Corvette show will have
trophies in 18 'Vette classes, a DJ, 50/50
charity auction, dash plaques, door prizes,
and plenty of refreshments. $10 pre-show,
$15 at the door, with spectators welcome and
free. www.ccwp.org.
10/21/07
York County Corvette Club AACA
Museum Show, Hershey
Bring your Corvette to the AACA Antique
Auto Museum for goodie bags, dash plaques,
trophies, food, and door prizes. Each registered
car receives two admission tickets to
the museum. Pre-registration is $20, $25 at
the door. www.yccc.us.
10/28/07
American Legends at Long's Park,
Lancaster
This Corvette and all-GM vehicle fun
show is sponsored by the Lancaster County
Corvette Club and Faulkner Chevrolet to
benefit the Spina Bifida Association and
Christmas Angels project. Goodie bags and
event souvenirs are limited to the first 250
registered vehicles. Pre-registration is $15,
$20 at the door, with spectators free.
www.lcccpa.com.
South Carolina
10/13/07
8th Annual “Street Thunder” Open Car,
Truck, & Bike Show, N. Charleston
Sponsored by the Coastal Carolina Corvette
Club at the Texas Roadhouse, this event features
participant judging, cash giveaways, and
hundreds of door prizes. All proceeds benefit
local children's charities. www.4cccc.com.
Tennessee
9/16/07
10th Annual Corvette Show & Drag, East
Ridge
Trophies will be awarded for the top 20 cars
at the show, plus 1st through 5th places in
the various drag races. Also expect door
prizes, a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing, and
plenty of vendors. Registration is $25 for
show or race, or $35 for both.
www.mountaincitycorvetteassociation.com.
Texas
9/15/07
Vettes and Jets on the Lex, Corpus Christi
The Corpus Christi Corvette Club is sponsoring
this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, along
with the USS Lexington Museum on the
Bay, to see how many Corvettes they can fit
on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Be
a part of this world-record attempt. Tickets
are $12 for adults, less for seniors and kids.
www.vettesandjetsonthelex.com.
10/25/07–10/27/07
NCRS Texas Regional Meeting, Waco
Hosted by the NCRS Texas Chapter, this
annual event is expected to attract over 125
new and classic Corvettes from all over the
nation. The public is welcome, and many
of the 'Vettes will be flight judged. Expect
lots of Corvette-only parts and automobilia
vendors. www.ncrs.org.
2/15/08–2/17/08
30th Annual Corvette/Chevy Expo,
Houston
This is the largest indoor Corvette and
Chevy-only event in the Lone Star State,
with over 125,000 sq-ft of Bowtie good
stuff. Expect plenty of cars for sale, major
parts and accessories vendors, and a Miss
Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Contest.
www.corvettechevyexpo.com.
Virginia
9/16/07
Corvettes at Sterling, Sterling
The Old Dominion Corvette Club will
host this show as a fundraiser for charity,
with participant voting for the top three
Corvettes, plus a Dealer's Choice Award.
www.olddominioncorvetteclub.org.
12/1/07–12/3/07
MASACC Holiday Extravaganza 2007,
Williamsburg
Join the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the
Solid Axle Corvette Club for a trip to
Colonial Williamsburg, and be there for the
Grand Illumination of the historic city.
www.masacc.org.
Washington
9/13/07–9/15/07
NCRS Northwest Regional Meeting,
Leavenworth
www.ncrs.org. ■
National Corvette Homecoming, Bowling Green, KY
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 19
Page 18
Questions
&Answers
Please send your questions to questions@vettemarket.com. All submissions subject to editing.
Dreaming of the Motorama
Tell your neighbor that you bought the '54 because the exhaust note
reminds you of your vintage Chris-Craft
by Colin Comer
Forget space and pace,
just go with grace
I recently purchased a
beautiful '54 Pennant Blue
Vette with the Blue Flame Six.
It is a great car but has a distinct
lack of power. Between the six
in a row that doesn't go and the
lethargic Powerglide 2-speed
automatic, I fear stoplight
challenges from hybrid cars
with dead batteries. To add
insult to injury, my neighbor
recently bought a Pennant Blue
'55 Vette with the 170-hp V8. I
think I saw him driving out of
his garage in reverse gear faster
than my car will go in either of
its two forward speeds. What
are my options to wake up this
'54? Are they all like this or is
mine just sick? Please help; even
the kid down the street claims
he can beat me on his skateboard.—RSK,
Bridgehampton,
New York.
No, you likely do not have a
particularly sick '54. To use
a line they taught me in dealership
mechanic school, “They all
do that.” The '53–'54 'Vettes are
beautiful cars that just look a
lot more sporty than their powertrain
allows them to be. Even
when tuned to perfection, a Blue
Flame Six might produce around
110 hp in real world numbers.
By the time that power goes
through the torque converter
and the cast-iron Powerglide,
not much grunt is reaching
the rear wheels. A reasonably
common modification years
ago was to install a manual
transmission, which will really
transform the car. However,
given the value of the car and
the expense of this conversion, it
is not something I recommend.
A period supercharger would
help somewhat but would require
many modifications and I haven't
reference books as you can, take
the time and drive a few cars
before you decide you really want
one. Sometimes the reality doesn't
live up to the dream. However,
I think you will find if you buy a
really good car, it will.
Give no quarter
checking knockoffs
I own a 1966 convertible
with knockoff wheels. At a
1954 'Vette, slow and stylish
seen one for sale in years. Time
tested hot-rodding tricks like a
better camshaft and engine work
would help, but this is also a lot
of money for a limited return. My
best advice is to enjoy the car
for what it is—a great looking
remnant of the GM Motorama
days that makes up in style what
it lacks in absolute performance.
That, or hide from the skater
kid and tell your neighbor that
you picked the '54 because the
exhaust note reminds you of your
vintage Chris-Craft boat with the
Hercules Six.
Make sure you fit
in a midyear
I am a “newbie” to the
hobby but know my first
collector car purchase has to be
a midyear Corvette. I have been
smitten with the design since I
first saw one in 1963. What kind
of tips can you give somebody
looking to buy their first collectible
Corvette?—MLG,
Barrington Hills, Illinois.
Good choice. I love midyear
(1963–1967) 'Vettes, espe-
cially the coupes. As with any car,
don't look for a bargain; find a
trusted Corvette expert and have
20 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
him help you find a really good
car. There is a lot of junk out
there, and many 'Vettes are not
what they appear to be. Join your
local NCRS chapter and check
out the NCRS newsletter for cars
for sale. Go to a few club meetings
and let them know you are
interested in finding a great car.
Don't be afraid to pay a premium
for the right car in the right color;
it is always money well spent buying
the right car rather than an
“almost.” Also, take your intended
use into consideration. As
funny as it sounds, make sure you
fit in a midyear. If you are tall,
don't consider a '63 or '64 until
you have driven one; the steering
column is rather low and nonadjustable.
In '65, GM changed
the ergonomics slightly and the
'65–'67 cars have more legroom.
A host of other improvements
came on line in 1965, including
disc brakes. If you don't have to
have a '67, look at other years, as
'67s always command a premium.
If you intend to drive the car
much, consider a small-block car
over a big block. Air conditioning
is a great option for warmer
climates and was available from
the factory. Ask around, see what
others recommend, read as many
local show a Corvette “expert”
told me my wheels were not original
but were in fact reproductions.
How do I tell the difference?
—DWM, Scottsdale, Arizona
This has been a problem
for many people. Original
Kelsey-Hayes knockoff wheels
are extremely valuable and the
reproductions have become
so good it is hard to tell if you
don't know what to look for.
Unfortunately, many people have
paid a premium for a car with
“original” wheels only to discover
later that they have repros.
Here are a few simple tests that
will flush out most of the repros
without much trouble: Look at
the finish on the outside edges
of the “vanes” of the wheel (not
between the vanes). Original
wheels have a dull finish, while
the reproductions have a shiny,
glittery finish that almost appears
metallic. Also, look at the
thickness of the vanes; original
wheels have a very thin spoke
while the repros have a noticeably
thicker one. If in doubt,
go to the last (and foolproof)
test—the “quarter test.” Take
a quarter and try to insert it
between the vanes of the wheel.
It won't fit on a reproduction
wheel with the thick vanes, but a
quarter will fit between the thin
vanes of an original wheel. I can
hear change jingling and garage
doors opening right now. ■
Page 20
Affordable
Classic
1974–77 Corvette
Not Much Bang, But Not Much Bucks, Either
1975 was the low point. Output of the base L48 motor sank to 165 hp—
the lowest since Chevy abandoned the Blue Flame Six in 1955
by Rob Sass
T
he 1970s included some high points for the Corvette; 'Vette people still get weak
in the knees at the mention of the L88 and L71 engine options. Unfortunately,
those were the other '70s, the pre-disco, Vietnam-era, early '70s that were really
more like a brief holdover from the '60s. The real 1970s, the post-Vietnam,
Watergate/disco '70s, were not especially kind to America's only sports car.
The twin whammies of bumper and pollution legislation hit all the major manufac-
turers with full force in 1974, and most responded with varying degrees of success.
Nobody got it completely right. But for a retrofit to a design that dated to the early
'60s, the Corvette's urethane-covered bumpers (front only in 1973 and front and rear
for 1974) were well integrated, if not as attractive as the thin chrome pieces they replaced.
Not as successful was Chevy's approach to emission control. Where more expen-
sive European rivals like Porsche went with Bosch electronic fuel injection for 1974,
Chevy stayed with a carburetor and relied on lean running, air injection, retarded
timing, and lowered compression to tackle emissions regulations.
Letting down the legion of fans
As a result, the 1974 version let down the legions of Corvette fans used to the
pavement-pounding cars of the '60s and early '70s. The LS4 454 option expired (along
with real dual exhaust) after 1974. But by the last year of the big block, it was down to
just 270 net hp, or, adjusted for net vs. gross horsepower, little more than what the base
small block put out a few years earlier, and just 20 hp more than the L82 350.
22 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
News was worse for the base L48 motor. Its output
sank below 200 hp; it was rated at just 195 hp for 1974.
Nineteen seventy-five was the low point. Output of the
base L48 motor sank to 165 hp (the lowest since Chevy
abandoned the Blue Flame Six in 1955). The “hot”
L82 gave only 205 hp. Four-speeds became relatively
rare and sadly, the convertible was dropped after 1975
when it looked like the U.S. would outlaw convertibles;
truthfully, the model had been sagging in popularity.
Recession, inflation, and post-Vietnam malaise, rising
insurance rates, and stringent pollution regulations made
for sad times in general. It's no wonder people constantly
had to remind each other to “have a nice day.”
The only good news was that everyone was suffering
and even the 1974–77 Corvettes were among the fastest
and most powerful cars of their respective model years.
And a few undeniably positive things occurred during
these years. Former options like power steering, power
brakes, and leather upholstery were made standard. And
lamentable as these 'Vettes may be to fans of mid-year
cars and early C3s, they really aren't that bad to live
with, nor are they as pitifully slow as one might think.
Page 21
Not as slow as you might think
Most road tests reported 0–60 times in the mid-sevens to the low eights and quar-
ter-mile times in the mid-15 second range, depending on the engine option. This meant
they were as quick as a contemporary Porsche 911, Jaguar E-type V12, or Ferrari 308
GT4 and considerably quicker than a Datsun 280Z. Handling was as good as the C3
platform got when the Gymkhana suspension option was ordered.
There was no domestic car of the era worth the comparison, as the Mustang was
virtually missing in action with the Pinto-based Mustang II. Ford's real sports car, the
Italo-American DeTomaso Pantera, with a 264-hp 351, cost double a Corvette, was
half as practical, and twice as troublesome.
Accident damage and frame rust are the primary issues to look for with any C3
Corvette. Feel behind panels to make sure the factory bonding strips are still there.
Rough or poorly finished areas indicate fiberglass repairs. Headlights should go up and
down in unison and fit well when retracted. Another quick way to check for accident
damage is to open the fuel filler lid. The gas cap should be roughly centered. If the
frame has been tweaked at some point, the tank and the filler neck will have shifted,
moving the cap drastically off center.
Panel fit on Corvettes should be reasonably good. Doors and hoods were often
ground or trimmed to fit when the cars were being assembled. Finally, a certain
amount of waviness is acceptable on the sides of the car. They are, after all, plastic
rather than steel.
While Corvette bodies don't rust, chassis certainly do. The most likely places are
just in front of the rear wheels and where the frame curves up over the rear suspension.
Always have an expert check the condition of the chassis and the “birdcage”—the steel
windshield and cowl support.
Corvette interiors present no particular restoration issues. There are no expensive
wood veneers to refinish or wool carpet to replace. Leather seat covers generally cost
a few hundred more than vinyl. It's a nice upgrade, as the vinyl patterns on some of
the 1974–77 cars are not particularly attractive. A complete interior can be purchased
inexpensively and an advanced do-it-yourselfer is capable of installing it.
Corvettes are notoriously robust mechanically. Cast iron pushrod engines are
tough as nails. If the C3 Corvette has an Achilles heel, it is the rear suspension. Hubs,
half shafts, wheel bearings, and differential mounts should be looked at carefully,
20 Year Picture
$25,000
1974–77
Corvette L82
$20,000
$15,000
1974–76 Pontiac
Trans Am
$10,000
especially in 454 cars, although with significantly less
horsepower and torque, this isn't as much of a problem
as in earlier big-block cars.
Starting to look better as time goes by
While no match for the '68–72 cars, the '74–77 Vettes
are starting to look better as the years go by, especially
cars with the handsome slotted aluminum wheels that
became common after 1975. They are certainly plentiful
enough and at the prices they are trading for, it makes no
sense to buy a project.
From a collecting standpoint, a 4-speed LS4 convert-
ible from 1974 probably stands at the top of the heap,
followed by a similar coupe. Expect to pay well over
$20,000 for a good big-block convertible. After that, a
1974 L82 convertible would be relatively desirable. But
any well-optioned coupe with air in a funky 1970s color
like Orange Flame or Bright Yellow would be a pleasant
driver.
In general, 1974–77 Corvettes have been appreciat-
ing modestly. A few years back, they were plentiful in
the $6,000–$7,000 range for a standard coupe without
issues. Now, $8,000–$9,000 is more like it. For that
money, they represent a tremendous bargain. While perhaps
an underachiever for a Corvette, you still get V8
rumble, good looks, and reasonable performance. When
your alternatives for an under-$10,000 V8 “performance”
car from the 1970s include a Mustang II Cobra,
the Corvettes of 1974 to 1977 look fairly compelling. ■
ROB SASS has been collecting affordable classics
since age 16. He has written for the New York Times
and Business Week Online.
Prices are for cars in excellent condition. This information is provided by Black Book and Cars of Particular Interest
Collectible Vehicle Value Guide, www.blackbookusa.com.
$5,000
1978 Datsun
280Z
1988
1993
1998
2003
2007
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 23
Page 24
C1 profile
1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Despite lack of creature comforts and a 2-speed automatic, early Corvettes
show surprising power—at least at auction
by Carl Bomstead
T
he Corvette was introduced at the General Motors
Motorama at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New
York and it was a sensation. Its two-seater body was
wrapped around the conventional perimeter frame
chassis with independent front suspension and live rear
axle. The body itself was a revelation, constructed from
a revolutionary material called fiberglass that was only
beginning to establish its reputation for light weight,
strength, and efficient low-volume manufacturing
It was powered by Chevy's proven overhead valve
inline 6-cylinder engine. Fitted with three single-throat,
side-draft Carter carburetors, mechanical lifters, 8:1
compression, split exhaust manifold and dual exhaust
pipes, it made 150 hp and drove through Chevy's 2speed
Powerglide automatic transmission.
The 1953 Corvette offered here is number 120. It
has been lovingly and carefully restored with special
attention to preserving many of its most unique individual
features and markings that are characteristic of
the earliest Corvettes. The original Blue Flame Special
26 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
engine, LAY512502, has been removed and is preserved in carefully restored condition
on a rolling engine stand. Many of the original markings put on the Corvette's parts by
vendors and the Flint line have been discovered and protected during its restoration.
These include number 120 written on one of the headlight buckets, a rubber-stamped
date above the driver's door post, and red ink markings on the driver's side door pillar.
A 1953 Corvette is a rare and highly desirable addition to any collection, but a 1953
Corvette with originality, history, and careful preservation is almost never available
for public sale.
CM Analysis This car sold for $396,000 at the Worldwide Group's Houston Classic
Harley Earl's interest in sportier two-seater cars was apparent in his dream cars
auction held at Seabrook, Texas, on May 5, 2007.
of the early 1950s. The LeSabre of 1951 and the Buick XP-300 that was shown a year
later featured a wraparound windshield, a toothy oval grille, and a low sports car
stance. A low-priced sporty car was definitely in the works.
Apart from its fiberglass body, the car (code named “Project Opal”) used off-the-
shelf parts. It met with the approval of GM President Harlow Curtice and Chevrolet
Division GM Thomas Keating and was presented at the 1953 Motorama. The Corvette
was a resounding success, and after a few hectic months, full production began in a
temporary facility in Flint, Michigan, in June 1953.
Photos: The Worldwide Group
Page 25
300 Corvettes hand-built
Chevrolet manufactured only 300 hand-built Corvettes for 1953 and they were
carefully placed with handpicked celebrities in order to gain maximum exposure.
Briggs Cunningham bought one for his wife. John Wayne wanted one, but found the
Corvette too small for him. The striking styling aside, the Corvette could not find its
niche with the general public.
Fish or fowl? Boulevard cruiser or European-style sports car? Neither side flocked
to the car. The awkward side curtains, clumsy inside door latch, and poor water sealing
made it a tough sell to the former, and the latter scoffed at the thought of a 2-speed
automatic and anemic 6-cylinder engine in a sports car. Furthermore, all 300 came
with AM radios and heater, which pushed the list price to $3,734, compared to the
selling price of $3,345 for the Jaguar XK 120. As a result, production for the following
year, which moved to St. Louis, was scaled back from the projected run of 10,000 and
the decision to switch to steel bodies was delayed.
Few would argue with the idea that while the early C1s were styled with an appeal-
ing and attractive body, the build quality was marginal at best, and the performance
with the Blue Flame Six was disappointing. That said, how do we justify the $396,000
that was paid here?
We have several other recent sales of 1953 Corvettes to further confuse our analysis.
Two were sold at the June 15–17 Mecum Bloomington sale, with #107 making $296,625
and #210 selling for $283,500. Based on these sales we can easily conclude that someone
got a little carried away to the tune of $100,000 or so at the Houston Classic. But then
look at the sale of #157, which sold for $440,000 at the recent RM Ponder sale, while the
#003 Corvette sold at Barrett-Jackson in January 2006 for $1,080,000.
Muddying the waters
To further muddy the waters, this actual car sold for $212,000 (CM# 41422) at the
April 2006 Branson auction, with the Sports Car Market analysis stating that “…this
car was well bought and sold with possibly a small amount of movement left.”
The seller here obviously made a handsome profit for his 13-month ownership,
but does the new owner have anywhere to go from here? Even as the early Corvettes
continue to reach new high-water marks on the value charts, it's hard to imagine
1953s consistently selling in this range. The Mecum sales appear to be more the rule
Year/Make/Model
1953 Corvette roadster
1953 Corvette roadster
1953 Corvette roadster
1953 Corvette roadster
1953 Corvette roadster
Company
1953 C1 Details
Years Produced 1953
Number Produced 300
Original List Price $3,498
SCM Valuation $250,000–$350,000
Tune-up $300
Distributor Cap $25
Chassis # Driver's side door post
Engine # Stamped on machined pad rear of
distributor
Club National Corvette Owners Assoc.
P.O. Box 777A
Falls Church, VA 22046
More www.ncoa-vettes.com
Alternatives 1951–54 Jaguar XK 120,
1954 Kaiser Darrin,
1951–54 Nash-Healey
SCM Investment
Grade B
and this and the Ponder sale the exception. So overall,
this auction result should be considered a very good one
indeed, for the seller. ■
CARL BOMSTEAD customized his first car, a 1948
Plymouth, when he was 15. He has since served as a
judge at Pebble Beach, Kirkland Concours, and various
Classic Car Club of America national events.
Top C1 Sales in the CM Database at www.vettemarket.com
Price
Location
$1,080,000
$396,000
$297,000
$212,000
$210,600
Barrett-Jackson
The Worldwide Group
Barrett-Jackson
Cox Auctions
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Seabrook, TX
Scottsdale, AZ
Branson, MO
Scottsdale, AZ
Date
1/14/06
5/5/07
1/26/05
4/21/06
1/22/04
CM#
40401
45314
37010
41422
32424
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 27
Page 26
profile
by Thomas Glatch
C2 profile
1967 Corvette 427/435 L71
This car is not limited production, it's not an L89 or L88, and those are the
only '67s we've seen over $500,000 (except for Gus Grissom's car)
I
n the Corvette world, three models have dominated
the collector market: the 1957 with fuel injection, the
1963 Split-Window Sting Ray with fuel injection, and
the 1967 Sting Ray with the top horsepower 427 en-
gines. Other years may have offered better performance,
superior features, or better styling, but this threesome
tops the value list.
Demand for the 1967 427 Sting Ray has resulted in
this model hitting the sweet spot of performance and
style. That's ironic, since this Corvette almost wasn't
built. The curvacious Mako Shark-inspired Sting Ray
introduced in 1968 was supposed to be the 1967 model.
That car was delayed a year, mainly over indecision
on the coupe's roof design. The rush to bring a 1967
Corvette to market was eased by the fact that both the
'67 and the '68 rode on the same chassis. The new series
of powertrain options readied for 1967 could sit under
28 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
either body, so the majority of the engineering was done.
The base 300-hp 327 carried over from the '66 car. So did the L79 350-hp small-
block option. But the big news were the five 427 monsters on the option list. The
390-hp L36, with its mild cam, single Holley 4-barrel carb and lower compression,
was a carryover from 1966, and was designed for easy cruising. Next came the new
400-hp L68, essentially an L36 with the addition of the new 3x2 barrel tri-carb setup.
Like the L36, the L68 could be had with automatic transmission and air conditioning.
But the press fell all over themselves about the new L71 435-hp engine. This replaced
the 1966 L72 427 as the top street engine in the lineup. High compression, wild cam,
and the tri-carb ensured legendary performance. GM's concern for reliability meant
that automatic transmissions and air conditioning were not available on the L71. At
$437.10, the L71 package was expensive, yet 3,754 (16% of Corvette production that
year) were ordered.
The L71 was an evolution of the L72, which produced a claimed 425 horsepower
(SAE gross). The L71 replaced the single Holley 4-barrel of the L72 with three Holley
2-barrel carburetors, similar to what Pontiac had offered since the early 1960s. With
the tri-carb arrangement, only the center carburetor was functional during normal
Photos: Mecum Auctions
Page 27
driving. But stomp the accelerator
and the vacuum-activated
outer carbs delivered a torrent
of fuel to the hungry big block.
Chevrolet rated the L71 at 435
hp, but many thought the rating
of the L72 was conservative (in
fact there is data to suggest the
L72 the faster of the two). What
the L71's tri-carbs did deliver
was better fuel economy in
daily driving, since it was essentially
a 2-barrel engine until
the need for speed hit. Since
the only automatic transmission
available
to Chevrolet
in '67 was the aging 2-speed
Powerglide, the L71 was only
available with the superb M21
Muncie 4-speed manual, making
this an engine for serious drivers.
Two other little-known options were available. RPO
L89 added aluminum heads to the L71. No increase in
horsepower, but a reduction of 200 lbs over the front
wheels gave the L89 about the same weight bias as the
327 engine. Adding $368.68 to the L71 drove the cost of
the L89 Corvette over the $5,000 mark, but it was the
ultimate in street performance that year. Just 16 were
built in 1967, making the L89 the rarest option.
The other rarity was the L88. Generating over 500
hp, the L88 engine was hand-built at the Tonawanda,
New York, plant to blueprinted racing standards. Many
of those cars were purchased for street use, but the L88
was intended for racing only. With 12.5:1 compression,
a wild high-lift cam, and a huge single Holley 4-barrel,
the L88 inhaled 103 octane race fuel with abandon, and
bucked and snorted at anything less than serious rpm.
Details
Years Produced 1967
Number Produced 3,754 (L71)
Original List Price $5,160
SCM Valuation $108,000–$186,000
Tune-up $150
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # Driver's side base of windshield
Engine # Stamped on machined pad passenger
side of block, front of cylinder
head
Club National Corvette Owners Assoc.
P.O. Box 777A
Falls Church VA 22046
More www.ncoa-vettes.com
Alternatives 1970–73 Hemi 'Cuda Coupe,
1963–64 Shelby Cobra 427,
1957 Fuelie Corvette
SCM Investment
Grade A
But at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans, Dick Guldstrand topped 171.5 mph on the threemile
Mulsanne Straight with a near-stock L88, and led the GT class until the stock
connecting rods failed.
Since the Chevrolet Studio was busy with the next generation car, styling changes
to the '67 were minimal. A new hood for the 427 cars was developed, with a “power
bulge” that anticipated the '68 design. Federal mandate eliminated knockoff hubs, so
the factory alloy wheels were modified with a large hex nut. Other trim was cleaned
up, and new side vents added to the front fenders, an easy task with the Corvette's
fiberglass construction. In the opinion of many, this was the second generation's best
year for style.
Anticipation of the 1968 Corvette may have kept sales of the '67 down. Only 22,940
were built (14,436 convertibles, 8,504 coupes), versus 27,720 in 1966 and 28,566 in
1968. But in the collector market, the L71 or greater '67s have excelled. During the
heady days of the Corvette collector “explosion” in the late '80s, these were some of
the first to cross the $100,000 milestone.
CM Analysis This Corvette L71 convertible sold for $436,000, including commission,
at the Mecum Auction at Bloomington Gold in St. Charles, Illinois, on
June 16.
This was an exceptional Corvette, which attracted by far the highest price we've
seen for a '67 L71. A number of factors made this car special, and it was owned by the
late Roby Price, a prominent Corvette collector who was the Team Leader for 1967
Corvettes in the National Corvette Restorers Society.
29,000 miles and all manuals
This car has only 29,000 miles on the odometer, and is fully documented with the
original Protect-o-Plate, warranty book, owner's manual, radio operating instructions,
and previous owner's registration. The engine and drivetrain are original, along
with the battery, keys, and alloy wheels. Tires are correct NOS Firestone Redlines. It
was restored correctly, as evidenced by its numerous awards: 1989 Bloomington Gold
Certification, NCRS Top Flight awards in 1989, 2002, and 2003, and invitation to the
1991 Bloomington Gold Special Collection. If you were to own just one collectible
Corvette, this might be it.
However, auctioneer Dana Mecum felt the Roby Price car would sell for $100,000
more than it did. Typical price range for these cars is $108,000 to $186,000, so buyers
clearly appreciated the quality of this car. But this is an L71 (3,754 made), not the
scarcer L89 (16) or L88 (20), and the only '67s we've seen over $500,000 (with one
exception) are L88 or L89 cars.
This Corvette was also restored. Yes, it was correctly done, and its many awards
are proof of that, but it is still restored. There are a handful of Corvettes that have
received Bloomington Gold Benchmark awards, as a car that has earned both
Bloomington Gold Survivor for being at least 50% original and Bloomington Gold
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 29
Page 28
profile
C2 profile
Certification for being within 95% of “typical factory
production.”
Can't be counted a disappointment
Rare cars that are both perfect and original are
all the more valuable. But a Benchmark L71 reached
$340,000 at Bloomington Gold last year without selling.
The highest-priced restored L71 went for $275,000 at the
Russo and Steele auction last January, but that car was
once owned by astronaut Gus Grissom. The last 1967
Corvette built, an L36 coupe, sold at Barrett-Jackson
for $660,000, the highest ever for a non-L88/89 Corvette.
While the Roby Price car is exceptional, quite frankly, there are Corvette collec-
tors with buildings full of comparable cars. These cars don't change hands often, but
they are out there. So $400,000 for this car can't be counted a disappointment.
Will a 1967 L71 Corvette break the $500,000 barrier? It will someday, but it's
going to take a car that's rarer and more original than the Roby Price L71. ■
TOM GLATCH and his wife Kelly, have written for Corvette Fever, Corvette
Enthusiast, Vette, Corvette & Chevy Trader, and Corvette Magazine. He recently
contributed photographs to the upcoming book Corvette Bible, by KP Books.
Year/Make/Model
Top C2 Sales in the CM Database at www.vettemarket.com
Price Company
Location
1967 Corvette Sunray DXL88 coupe
1967 Corvette “Last Sting Ray” coupe
1967 Corvette L88 coupe
1967 Corvette L89 convertible
1967 Corvette L88 convertible
$900,000 RM Auctions
$660,000 Barrett-Jackson
$645,750 Mecum Auctions
$393,750 Mecum Auctions
$321,000 RM Auctions
Monterey, CA
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
St. Charles, IL
Monterey, CA
Date CM#
8/16/02 28923
1/18/07 44187
6/27/03 31535
6/24/05 38511
8/14/98 10967
30 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Page 29
When It Was New
The L71 hit the road just as the psychedelic part of the '60s
got underway. With its bulging fenders and crisp creases, it
was America's strongest styling statement, as well as its most
potent sports car.
Top News Stories from 1967
From Around the World: Military Coup in Greece; Six Day War;
First Heart Transplant
From the U.S.: St. Louis Cardinals beat the Red Sox in the
World Series four games to three
Top Songs of 1967
1. Kind of a Drag
The Buckinghams
2. Ruby Tuesday
The Rolling Stones
3. Love Is Here and Now
You're Gone
The Supremes
4. Penny Lane
The Beatles
5. Happy Together
The Turtles
6. Somethin' Stupid
Top Movies
1. The Dirty Dozen
2. You Only Live Twice
3. Casino Royale
4. A Man for All Seasons
5. Thoroughly Modern Millie
6. Barefoot in the Park
7. Georgy Girl
8. To Sir With Love
9. Grand Prix
10. Hombre
Top Television Shows
1. The Andy Griffith Show (CBS)
2. The Lucy Show (CBS)
3. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (CBS)
4. Gunsmoke (CBS)
5. Family Affair (CBS)
6. Bonanza (NBC)
7. The Red Skelton Show (CBS)
8. The Dean Martin Show (CBS)
9. The Jackie Gleason Show (CBS)
10. Saturday Night at the Movies (NBC)
(News, Music, and Movies of 1967 from www.HistoryCentral.com.)
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 31
Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra
7. The Happening
The Supremes
8. Groovin'
The Young Rascals
9. Respect
Aretha Franklin
10. Windy
The Association
Page 30
profile
by Thomas Glatch
the Corvette—at any speed. Tires whining, the awesome
rumble of the exhaust sweeping through the cockpit, the
emission pump pulley screeching, the fiberglass body
creaking; sounds of a genuinely exciting vehicle.”
6. L89 427-ci 435-hp tri-carb. Take the classic muscle
Chassis number 194679S124513
“V
ariety is the spice of life,” it's said, and in the late 1960s Chevrolet gave us
the entire rack. From mild oregano to screaming hot curry and jalapeño, the
1969 Corvette could match any taste.
First choice was the body: convertible or the hot new T-top that acted like a
convertible when the panels and rear window were removed. Either way, the C3 Corvette
was a stunning car in its day. Said Car and Driver magazine: “It's a brutal, masculine
looking machine with a shape that suggests a slightly overweight Group 7 sports racer or
one of the Le Mans Ferraris when they were winning…”
Other options could dress the Corvette in many distinctive ways, from chrome trim
for the fender louvers to side pipes and the gorgeous but heavy alloy wheels. Inside, there
were plenty of choices, too, from the standard vinyl interior to the Deluxe option with
leather surfaces. But the real decisions came when ordering the Corvette's power, with
no less than seven distinct options:
1. Base 350-ci 300-hp. Nothing to apologize for here, the standard small block could
move the '69 Corvette with authority, or idle in traffic with no problem.
2. L78 350-ci 350-hp. While not in the same league as the late lamented Fuelies, the
L78 was a joy to drive, with better balance than the big-block cars.
3. L36 427-ci 390-hp. Chief engineer Zora Duntov intended the L36 to offer effort-
less cruising, with automatic transmission and air conditioning options not hurting the
car's performance one iota.
4. L68 427-ci 400-hp tri-carb. The three deuce setup, similar to the one Pontiac used
on the GTO for years, gave the 427 better driveability and fuel economy. Unlike the
higher horsepower cars, you could still get automatic transmission and air conditioning
with the L68. A true Grand Tourer.
5. L71 427-ci 435-hp tri-carb. The legendary L71 was the top street performer of the
bunch, but with its wild cam and high compression, hardly a refined driving experience,
as Car and Driver found: “Despite any efforts to soften its latent toughness with
such niceties as power windows and an AM/FM radio, our Corvette came across as one
thundering, hammering brute of an automobile. Its giant exhaust pipes, its fat, blackwall
tires, and its disheveled surface gave it a fierce countenance indeed, but the incredible
power of the beast didn't become apparent until its giant engine began to thump away
and its wheels began to roll. Then it became a truly visceral experience to motor along in
32 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
of the L71 and add aluminum cylinder heads, and it came
back: balance. The alloy heads shaved 200 lbs off the
weight of the engine. The average motorist would not
notice the transformation, but someone driving an L89
would—quicker turn-in, better braking, that satisfying
feel of balance. Road & Track magazine commented: “No
question about it, the Corvette is one of the best handling
front-engined production cars in the world, under the
specialized conditions for which it was designed. What
the car is designed for is going fast on a smooth track,
and for this it can be bettered only by cars with less polar
inertia (mid-engine cars). ”
7. L88 427-ci 430-hp. A factory race car, and nothing
less, its hand-built engine was rated a laughable 430-hp to
discourage buyers from using it on the street. The L88's
element was places like Daytona, Le Mans, and Elkhart
Details
Years Produced 1969
Number Produced 10,531 L36 (coupe & convertible)
16,633 Base
Original List Price $4,969 L36
$4,747 Base
SCM Valuation $31,500–$61,500 L36
$24,300–$48,500 Base
Tune-up $150
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # Top of instrument panel at base of
windshield
Engine # Front of block below right cylinder
head
Club National Corvette Restorers Society
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives L36:
1965–67 Shelby Cobra 427,
1969–70 Boss 429 Mustang,
1966–1971 Pontiac GTO
Base:
1963-67 Shelby Cobra 289,
1961-69 Jaguar XKE,
1963-67 Austin-Healey 3000
SCM Investment
Grade B
C3 profile
1969 L36 and 1969 Base Corvettes
When you're going for the gold at the Bloomington auction, sometimes
options win out, whatever the condition
Page 31
Chassis number 194679S727531
Lake, propelled with over 500-plus raw horsepower. In 1986, Road & Track took an
original 1968 L88 to Willow Springs International Raceway and discovered “the thinrim
steering wheel extends back to the driver's chest, the controls are heavy if quick, and
the idling is something the radical cam doesn't allow. There's no shroud for the radiator
and traffic must be driven around, while summer heat comes pouring in. On the open
road the car is warm and noisy and leaves no road irregularity undetected. None of this
is a surprise, indeed it mostly serves to remind us that when Duntov told the public not
to buy the L88 for use on public roads, he was giving good advice.”
Quite simply, all seven Corvettes have a purpose; it depends on how the owner
intended to use the car. Corvette enthusiasts could easily call them The Magnificent
Seven. The Corvette marketplace, however, tends to ignore anything with less than 435
hp. Owners of documented, above-average L71, L89, and L88 Corvettes can just about
write a six-figure meal ticket. Own one of the other fine Corvettes from this era and the
expectations are much lower. That's great for buyers who appreciate what these cars
were intended for and are looking for a fine vintage driving experience. But for those
trying to sell one of these cars, well, it's more like The Magnificent Three.
CM Analysis Chassis number: 194679S124513
This 1969 Corvette L36 427/390 convertible (lot F57) sold for $38,850 at Mecum's
Bloomington Gold Auction on June 15, 2007.
With excellent resprayed Riverside Gold paint, this was otherwise an original car,
with a good original interior, worn and frayed top, clean engine compartment, and
original window sticker—a strong car with loads of originality.
This '69 Corvette had the same owner since 1971, who clearly pampered it over the
years. For me, the L36 and L68 427s are the best all-around Corvettes from the era, at
least if you are going to drive them on a regular basis. While not as original or as clean
as a few '69s at the auction, this is still a very nice driver that shows well.
Some details that made this car stand out from a number of similar Corvettes were
the clean engine compartment and the correct reproduction tires—something a surprising
number of sellers failed to take
into consideration. It didn't have
the pedigree of a Bloomington
Gold Survivor, but the owner
made the car look as original as
possible, which I believe buyers
appreciated. With Bloomington
Gold rating I suspect the bidding
could have gone higher than the
other car in this profile, since this
is a more desirable 390-hp 427
car. My examination of this car
Year/Make/Model
1969 Corvette L88 coupe
showed what looked like a high degree of originality,
but my cursory look is no comparison to a team
of Bloomington Gold judges reviewing every aspect
of this vehicle. As it was, this car sold for well below
market value for a 1969 L36 convertible, but it sold. A
real bargain for a car of this quality.
CM Analysis Chassis number: 194679S727531
This 1969 Corvette 300-hp convertible (lot F94)
was bid to $55,000 but did not sell at the Mecum
Bloomington Gold sale on June 15, 2007.
It had original paint, engine, top, and interior, all
in almost flawless condition. The engine was factory
smog-equipped as a California car. It was a Certified
Bloomington Gold Survivor.
This car was stunning. A Survivor needs to be at
least 50% original, but this one was clearly closer to
perfection. It was fully documented with tank sticker
(build sheet) and Protect-o-Plate. Even the factory
paint lacked the usual flaws (rivet bumps above the
front bumper, for example). Perhaps its only shortcoming
was the 300-hp base 350 engine with smog equipment.
Buyers recognized the quality of this Corvette, since
bidding was much above what similar cars were getting,
but the reserve was higher yet. These buyers missed out
on an absolute gem, but for a 300-hp car, the owner
was expecting too much. Had this been a 435-hp car,
the outcome would likely have been different. ■
Top C3 Sales in the CM Database at www.vettemarket.com
Price Company
Location
1969 Corvette L88 convertible $265,000 Mecum Auctions St. Charles, IL
1969 Corvette L88 coupe
1969 Corvette L88 coupe
Date CM#
$334,800 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ 1/14/06 40326
6/24/05 38512
$237,600 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ 1/14/06 40327
$181,125 Mecum Auctions St. Charles, IL
6/25/04 34233
1969 Corvette L88 convertible $169,560 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ 1/22/04 32419
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 33
Page 32
profile
C4 profile
1984 Coupe
I was taken by the car and considered bidding, even though it looked like it
had been used as a kennel in Death Valley
by Stefan Lombard
T
hroughout the 1970s, Corvette sales grew steadily each year, despite increasingly
stringent federal regulations that stripped the C3 of all the things owners had
come to expect—power, noise, and acceleration. By 1980, enthusiasts wondered
what had happened to their beloved Corvette.
GM's engineers and stylists had long kicked around a host of replacement options
for the aged C3, including a serious push by Zora Duntov and other design managers
for a mid-engined V6. But with the brand so recognizable as a long-nosed, low-slung,
front-engined V8, cooler heads prevailed—namely, the millions of Corvette enthusiasts
who knew a good thing when they drove it—and the mid-mount V6 idea was
passed off to Pontiac, where it eventually became the Fiero.
Thus, the goal for the C4 was to return Corvette to the top of the performance
pile while still adhering to federal regulations—no easy task. To beat the gas-guzzler
threshold (then set at 19 mpg), Chevrolet worked with Doug Nash Inc. and BorgWarner
to introduce a 4+3 manual transmission that would get the C4 under the EPA's radar.
The complicated unit would appear toward the end of the 1984 model year.
Only one engine was offered on the new car: a 205-hp 350-ci V8 featuring the
fuel-saving cross-fire injection system first introduced for 1982. It sat further back in
the chassis, creating a favorable weight balance front to rear. Chevrolet's revolutionary
fiberglass composite monoleaf springs, also carried over from the last of the C3s,
provided a weight savings of over 40 pounds at each corner over traditional steel.
Gone was the familiar T-top; the body came only as a targa top coupe, with a single
removable roof panel. With a 65-degree windshield and long, curved back glass, the
C4 offered a slippery .34 drag coefficient, the lowest for any Corvette. Up front, the
34 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Details
Years Produced 1984–1996
Number Produced 51,547 in 1984
Original List Price $21,800
SCM Valuation $6,700–$10,600
Tune-up $500
Distributor Cap $21.75
Chassis # Driver's side dash at windshield
Engine # Pad forward of cylinder head on
right side
Club Corvette Club of America
PO Box 9879
Bowling Green, KY 42102-9789
More www.corvetteclubofamerica.com
Alternatives 1983–85 Ferrari 308 GTSi QV,
1983–86 Porsche 928 S,
1984–86 Ford Mustang SVO
SCM Investment
Grade D
Page 33
radiator sat at a 15-degree angle, a position that not only
maximized airflow, but also significantly reduced the
distance at which a C4 Corvette could be picked up by
police radar. The folks in engineering clearly knew how
their new car was going to be driven.
The C4's cockpit featured a state-of-the-art flat-
panel liquid crystal display for the gauges, and standard
equipment included air conditioning, power windows,
side window defoggers, electronic seeking AM/FM stereo,
reclining bucket seats, tilt and telescopic steering
wheel, and a starter-interrupt anti-theft system.
Though Chevrolet failed to deliver its redesigned
Corvette for 1983, the brief delay proved worth the wait,
and it was uniformly praised by the motoring press. The
fourth generation car was the first radically changed
Corvette since 1968, and along with its new body, chassis,
and innards, it represented a new sporting philosophy that
would return “America's Sports Car” to its rightful place
among the world's best performance machines.
CM Analysis This C4 sold in St. Charles, Illinois, on June
17, 2007, at Mecum's Bloomington Gold
auction for $2,050—all the money and still a bargain.
The first Corvette I ever drove was a 1984 model. I
was sophomore in high school, and by then the car was
already nine years old, but I'll never forget the experience,
brief as it was.
The car belonged to my girlfriend's father Bryan,
who'd begun to warm up to me the moment I asked him
about it. It was light blue over medium blue with the
automatic, and every time I pulled up behind it in their
driveway, I was struck by the width of those Goodyear
tires.
After a couple months of my being a stand-up boy-
friend to Lisa, his only daughter, Bryan mentioned that
if I wanted to drive the car to the prom, that was okay
with him. I had no intention of going to the prom, and
had begun to realize that Lisa and I were not going to
last… but I really wanted to drive that Corvette.
Lisa arrived at my house one afternoon in the car—
perhaps as if she sensed what was coming and pulled
out all the stops in an attempt to salvage things.
“You can drive it, if you want,” she said, and I think
I was sliding into the low, curvy seat before she'd even
finished the offer. As I turned the key and the big V8
rumbled to life, the audible differences between it and
the V8 in our family van were night and day. Plus, the
van didn't have tires like those Goodyears. Lisa waved
as I backed out of the driveway, and off I went.
I didn't have time to get out of my Chicago suburb to
any long, straight, country roads, so I made a bee-line
for the dead-end street at the edge of my neighborhood.
There I spent ten minutes pushing myself into the seat doing burnouts with the steering
wheel in various states of rotation—burnout to the left, burnout to the right, burnout
straight ahead, and the always pleasurable burnout-to-doughnut combo.
When at last it came time to return the car, I believe I saw 70 mph—a ridiculous
figure down my 25 mph street. Lisa had to get going, and shortly after she pulled
away, I remember seeing two police cruisers trolling past my house, no doubt hunting
the madman in the two-tone Corvette. A week later, Lisa and I had our sloppy,
melodramatic break-up.
The worst Corvette ever
The Red Rat pictured here stood out among the rest of the Corvettes at Bloomington
because of its sheer state of decay. If you looked hard enough, you'd swear the fiberglass
was rusting. CM Auction Analyst Dan Grunwald called it the worst Corvette
he'd ever seen at auction, but he did note that the handbrake handle seemed to be in
good shape.
I was taken by the car, and for a while considered bidding. It looked like it had
spent its life as a carcass in Death Valley, and the interior appeared to have been
used as a kennel. With its lone Firebird alloy wheel nicely offsetting the three correct
Corvette ones, this mongrel begged to be put down, yet there it was, occupying its
rightful place as a Corvette on the lawn among 3,000 other Corvettes.
So, what to do with a C4 like this? Though it did in fact run, restoring it—even as a
father-son bonding project—was out of the question. Only a fool would turn it into a racer,
and it didn't even make sense as a parts donor, since everything looked worn out.
The answer: Cover the seats in sheepskin (burlap, Hefty bags, carpet samples—
anything), disinfect the steering wheel, and drive it until the other three wheels fall off.
The 350 will be hard to kill and, assuming the steering still works, it should be good for
at least one afternoon of burnouts to the left, right, and maybe even a few burnout-todoughnut
combos. The buyer, brave as he was, did just fine on this beater as long as
he counts the fun factor and simply walks away, leaving the keys in the ignition when
the first thing breaks. ■
STEFAN LOMBARD is the Managing Editor of Corvette Market and Sports Car
Market. His writing has appeared in Road & Track and online at forbes.com.
Year/Make/Model
1984 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
1985 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
1985 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
1984 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
1985 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
Top C4 Sales in the CM Database at www.vettemarket.com
Price Company
$18,150 RM Auctions
$17,200 eBay/Kruse
$9,500
Location
Phoenix, AZ
eBay/Kruse
$7,551 RM Auctions
$7,400
eBay/Kruse
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
New Braunfels, TX
Toronto, Ontario, CAN
Hot Springs, AR
Date CM#
1/17/03 30244
1/4/02 25201
3/16/02 26563
4/16/99 7870
3/9/02 26216
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 35
Page 34
profile
by Dave Kinney
C5 profile
2003 Corvette Le Mans Safety Car
When the car sold for much less than a standard Anniversary coupe, my
heart sank to the bottom of my wallet
Chassis number: 1GYY22GX35108983
C
orvette has a long history with racing and race events. Anyone with a passing
familiarity with Corvette knows of the long association with the Indianapolis 500,
as Corvette has paced the Memorial Day weekend event nine times, including the
streak of four years from 2004 to 2007.
But Corvettes have long been associated with other races, including the 24 Hours
of Le Mans, arguably the most storied, important, and indeed, sexiest race in the
world.
The 24 Heures du Mans is not, nor has it ever been, a race where the fastest car fin-
ishes first; instead it is about endurance as well as performance. All cars are required
to conform to rules set forth by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the race's sanctioning
body. Although the rules change from year to year, the race has been held annually
(with a ten-year break surrounding WWII) since 1923 on public roads near the town
of Sarthe, France.
While Corvettes, both close to stock and highly modified, have run the Le Mans
circuit for years with various class wins and occasionally mixed results, the only domestic
brand to have won overall at Le Mans is Ford with its GT40s.
A Safety Car serves many of the same functions in both Formula One and at Le Mans
as a Pace Car does in domestic races. Similar to the F1 setup, the Corvette Safety Car
has both yellow and green lights attached to the bar behind the T-tops. The green light
allows the driver behind the Safety Car to pass. When the lead car is positioned behind
the safety car, the yellow light is deployed and no passing is allowed. Le Mans also uses
a Pace Car, but once the race is started, the Safety Cars are the ones to watch.
36 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Details
Years Produced 2003
Number Produced 4
Original List Price N/A
SCM Valuation $20,000–$30,000
Tune-up $500
Distributor Cap N/A (8 coils @ $72.12 each)
Chassis # Driver's side dash at windshield
Engine # Pad forward of cylinder head on
right side
Club Corvette Club of America
PO Box 9879, Bowling Green
KY 42102-9789
More www.corvetteclubofamerica.com
Alternatives 1999–2003 Le Mans Safety Cars,
2004-2007 Corvette Indy Pace Cars
SCM Investment
Grade D
Photos: Richard Prince
Page 35
CM Analysis This car sold at auction at Barrett-Jackson, West Palm Beach, Florida,
When I first saw this car at Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, I assumed it was
on March 29, 2006, for $26,460.
a display car or a replica of one of the actual Safety Cars used in the 2002 Le Mans.
A little investigation revealed that it was much more than that. The car on offer was
indeed the real thing.
On the coolness scale, to me this C5 Anniversary Edition coupe was definitely an
eleven. Think about it—it's almost the final year of the C5, an Anniversary Edition,
plus this was an actual Corvette driven on the race course at Le Mans. With a custom
light bar as well as Le Mans and Corvette graphics, this car both physically and
visually had it all. It's certainly not the same as owning a winning race car or even
a Corvette driven in anger at an internationally known, sanctioned event. But as a
streetable car with a known history, it's both usable, a collector's item, and a Corvette
curiosity. Or so I thought.
Sell-off of GM surplus vehicles
This was part of a rather large sell-off of surplus cars from the GM Heritage Center,
facilitated through B-J West Palm Beach. Some were styling exercises, some were oneoffs,
and others like this Corvette appear to have been cars that just didn't make the
grade as a museum piece for the General. Castoffs, yes, and most of them were being
sold as museum pieces only, on a bill of sale with no title and no permission or rights to
use them on U.S. roadways. In other words, they were being sold as not conforming to
either EPA or DOT specs, and possibly both.
I did not come prepared to bid, and when the car sold at a price much less than retail
Year/Make/Model
for a standard Anniversary coupe, I have to admit that my
heart sank at least to the bottom of my wallet. I saw this
as a tremendous investment opportunity for a long-term
holder, even if its street use was at least a bit of a question
mark. The collective bidding crowd had spoken, but not
loudly.
Why did this car bring such a bargain price at auc-
tion? The obvious reason—limited use—has been covered.
Perhaps more to the point, this car, only a few years
from production, was hard for many to view as a future
classic.
In a Corvette auction scene filled with 25th
Anniversary, 35th Anniversary, 50th Anniversary, and
Pace Cars from your choice of years, owning a “few-ofa-kind”
Le Mans Safety Car certainly beats owning one
of the many of those others. ■
DAVE KINNEY is the publisher of Cars That Matter
price guide, as well as the owner of USAppraisal, an
automotive appraisal firm in Great Falls, Virginia. He
is a Senior Auction Analyst for Sports Car Market, and
writes for the New York Times Automobile section and
the British magazine Octane.
Top C5 Sales in the CM Database at www.vettemarket.com
Price Company
Location
1998 Corvette C5R LeMans racer
1999 Corvette Callaway C-12 coupe
1998 Corvette Callaway C-12 coupe
$340,000 RM Auctions
$157,500 Mecum Auctions
1998 Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car convertible $97,200
1998 Corvette LeMans Safety Car coupe
$62,640
Monterey, CA
St. Charles, IL
$121,000 Gooding & Company Oxnard, CA
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Palm Beach, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Date CM#
8/16/02 28880
6/24/04 34241
10/21/06 43482
3/19/04 32803
4/1/05 37757
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 37
Page 36
mini profiles A Selection of C6s that sold recently on eBay
C6
by Geoff Archer
2005 Corvette coupe—sold at $33,699
#160138517515-S/N
1G1YY24U455103722.
Sunset Orange Pearl/tan
leather. Odo: 24,000
miles. 15 Photos.
Greendale, IN. Terse
initial description
consisted of, “THIS
2005 CORVETTE
IS IN EXCELLENT
CONDITION
THROUGHOUT.” Later,
after the auction was up
and running, the seller added, “ATTENTION..THE WHEELS WERE
STOLEN. IT NOW HAS NEW CHROME 07 Z-06 WHEELS AND
BRAND NEW TIRES.” 22 bids, sf 5, bf 4. Cond: 2.
CM Analysis It was unclear whether or not the wheels were stolen
during the eBay auction. Who cares? This was the least
expensive, clean-titled, non-wrecked, bent, folded, spindled, mutilated,
or flooded C6 on eBay this July. Seemed like a good deal, and the
upgraded rims were a nice, shiny bonus.
2005 Corvette coupe—sold at $31,300
#280137286190- S/N
1G1YY24U755109742.
Machine Silver/black
leather. Odo: 25,650
miles. 23 Photos.
Riverdale, GA. $52,880
MSRP. Nicely optioned
with Head Up Display
and magnetic ride control. “Manufacturer Re-purchased unit. The
previous owner experienced steering column, rear axle, and fuel
system issues. In this situation General Motors will buy the car back
and repair anything needed to bring the vehicle back to original
manufacturer's specifications. Title will show “buy-back” but is NOT
salvage or anything of the sort.” 12,000 mile/12 month warranty on
repairs. 11 bids, sf 36, bf 3. Cond: 3+.
CM Analysis Personalized plate suggestion: “FCTRY2ND.” Do the
steering column, rear axle, and fuel system have any-
thing in common? Made by GM? Installed in this particular Corvette?
Warranty claimed by a litigious lemon law-er? We'll never know.
Unless I was hardwired with CARFAX and an OBDII reader, I would
have kept looking. Well sold.
2007 Corvette coupe—sold at $45,000
#160137491407. S/N
1G1YY26U675102071.
Machine Silver/black
leather. Odo: 436 miles.
21 Photos. Sedalia, MO.
“Clean local trade-in
with all the best features!
Looks , feels, drives,
38 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
and smells like a brand new Vette!! Original MSRP of $57,235.” 436
miles. Navigation, Bose stereo, Head Up Display, 6-speed paddle shift
automatic. 17 bids, sf 2, bf 59. Cond: 1.
CM Analysis Hmm. $57,235-$45,000=$12,235, and with only 436
miles on the clock, it equated to the first owner spending
$28/mile to own it. Yep, I think I'll put that extra $12 LARGE back in my
pocket... In fact, I think I might just spend my savings on a rude-colored
C3 with T-tops....
2007 Corvette coupe—sold at $44,995
#280135717864-S/N
1G1YY26U775109322.
Atomic Orange/tan
leather. Odo: 5,900
miles. 24 Photos, 15
of which prominently
feature the young lady
in the pink bikini...
actually there are two
different swimsuits, and
I can't even tell if they
are all the same woman. Dallas, TX. Are you actually reading this?
“Exterior: 100% original paint, no swirls, no scratches. Interior: 100%
Shows as condition of Coupe with 5k Miles. Mechanical: 100% Ride
and Drive.” Seriously, are you still looking at the picture? Head Up
Display, Navigation, XM radio, chrome wheels. 2 bids, sf 108, bf 4.
Cond: 2.
CM Analysis I'm still thinking about the sound of hot leather seats
flaying naked Fembot legs in the Texas heat. Oh, the
car? Yeah, this was pratically the definition of “market price”—with
national advertising, full, um, disclosure, and more than one qualified
bidder.
2007 Corvette Callaway coupe—sold at $79,545
#220134773850- S/N
1G1YY26U675121784.
Black w/silver stripes/
black. Odo: 1,800 miles.
10 Photos. Southfield,
MI. “This is our Callway
Corvette demo. It... was
on the Callway stand at the New York Auto Show next to the new C16
Cabrio... Factory alloys have been replaced with Dymag 19” front and
20” alloy/carbon fiber wheels... The engine is Supercharged and now at
560hp. This Callaway will do 0–60 in 3.4 seconds and the 1/4 mile in
10.9 at 126mph with a top speed of 198mph. The numbers alone cannot
convey the sensations and sound of this Callway at max acceleration.” 1
bid, sf 1, bf 0. Cond: 2.
CM Analysis In case your neighbors all have Z06s, here's your chance
to be different. In fact, this 'Vette looked so “bad” (in a
good way) it outta come complete with a Darth Vader costume to wear
at the local dragstrip. That said, only one James Earl Jones wannabe
auditioned for this role with a bid, signaling that pricing was, ahem,
out-of-this-world for a base 'Vette with a blower. ■
mini profiles Condition inferred from seller's descriptions; cars were not physically examined by the author. All
quoted material taken from the eBay listings. sf=seller's feedback; bf=buyer's feedback
C6s rarely appear at traditional land-based auctions, so CM turns to eBay for
a sampling.
Page 38
Market Report
Overview
187 Corvettes, $11m in Sales
Big-block driver C3s offered the most bang for the buck, while ZR-1s
struggled below their original sticker prices
by Jim Pickering
C
orvette's first generation—especially the early
examples—brought
some high prices both at
Bloomington and Belvidere, as well as other recent
sales across the globe. Although the earliest cars
were hopeless in terms of all-around performance due to
passenger car-sourced components, some of the highest
prices achieved in recent months were raised by firstyear
roadsters. Mecum's Bloomington sale saw several
'53s sell at between $280k and $300k, while earlier at
the Worldwide Group's Seabrook sale in May, another
'53 managed to bring $396,000—not a record, but still
very high considering the current market. Of the later
C1s available, one of the most striking examples offered
at Bloomington was a 1957 250-hp fuel-injected convertible
in Venetian Red. It had been Bloomington Gold
certified, earned the NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence,
and was part of the Special Collection. Equipped with a
Powerglide and body-colored coves, it sold at $152,250.
Christie's Greenwich, Connecticut, sale on June 3 sold
a restored 1957 convertible with the 283-hp engine for
$99,000, showing the market spread based on condition
and options.
C2s have traditionally had a strong following in the
market as well, as they offer classic styling and plenty
of performance from powerful engine options and fully
independent suspensions. Bloomington's high sale belonged
to a 1967 435-hp 427 convertible in black and
red that had been part of the Bloomington Gold Special
Collection in 1991 and had won numerous NCRS Top
Flight awards over the years. After lots of attention, it
sold for $467,250. Plenty of other big-block midyears
were available at both Mecum sales as well as across the
globe, and certain cars in the right condition were able to
bring in the neighborhood of $130,000 each, depending
upon options. Small-block cars also showed growth and
offered plenty of bang for the buck, and the lack of cubic
inches generally accounted
for about a 45%–50% reduction
in price from their
rat-motor relatives—Z06s
and Tankers excluded.
The shark cars have not
CM 1–6 Scale
Condition Rating:
1: National concours
standard/perfect
2: Very good, club
concours, some
small flaws
3: Average daily driver
in decent condition
4: Still a driver but with
some apparent
flaws
5: A nasty beast that
runs but has many
problems
6: Good only for parts
typically had the same following
as earlier midyears,
but prices are generally on
the rise for them as well.
While most of the driverquality
big-block C2s have
either been restored or have
jumped up in price, driver
427- and 454-powered C3s
are still available in the
$40,000 range. Several
427-powered
390-hp
40 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Top Ten Sales This Issue
1. 1967 Corvette
427/435 convertible,
$467,250—MBG, Lot #
S67, p. 61
2. 1953 Corvette roadster,
$396,000—WWG
Lot # 55, p. 72
3. 1963 Corvette Z06
Tanker coupe,
$367,500—MBG Lot # S63, p. 57
4. 1953 Corvette roadster, $296,625—MBG Lot # S91, p. 53
5. 1953 Corvette roadster, $283,500—MBG Lot # S53, p. 53
6. 1955 Corvette roadster, $178,500—MBG Lot # S55, p. 53
7. 1957 Corvette convertible, $157,500—MBG Lot # S125, p. 54
8. 1957 Corvette convertible, $152,500—MBG Lot # S32, p. 53
9. 1954 Corvette roadster, $148,500—WWG Lot # 54, p. 72
10. 1963 Corvette Z06 coupe, $139,650—MBG Lot # S122, p. 57
Best Buys
1. 1957 Corvette 283/283 convertible,
$76,650—MBG Lot # S117, p. 53
2. 1963 Corvette 327/365 convertible,
$67,100—WWG Lot # 32, p. 74
3. 1957 Corvette 283/283 convertible,
$99,000—C Lot # 29, p. 72
4. 1969 Corvette 427/390 convertible,
$38,850—MBG Lot # F57, p. 63
5. 2001 Corvette Z06 coupe,
$26,513—MB Lot # F27, p. 50
examples in varied conditions were present at Bloomington, with a '69 convertible
bringing $38,850 and a '69 coupe raising $24,150. Opting for the small block instead
expectedly raised the quality of car available at the same price, as shown by a #1 condition
1969 350-powered convertible that found new ownership at just $27,300.
Most C4s are still bringing used-car prices within the market, and although many
expected ZR-1s to become the first exception to that rule, it seems that Grand Sports
may have taken the first jump into profitable “instant collectibles.” A number of
ZR-1s were available at Bloomington still in their original wrappers, but none of them
was able to bring over its original sticker price. Conversely, a '96 Grand Sport convertible
fitted with the optional red leather interior topped out at $80,850, while a coupe
with the same options found a new home at $68,775. C5s are better all around than
the cars they replaced, and with the market flooded with decent used examples of
newer convertibles and Z06 coupes, it's not hard to see why the C4s continue to have
difficulty in the market in general. One of the best buys in late-model performance was
a 2001 Z06 that sold for $26,513 at Mecum's Belvidere sale in late May. Not only are
these nearly as powerful and easier to maintain than the more complex ZR-1, they're
cheaper in almost all respects as well.
It's clear that the market for collectible Corvettes continues to be solid, and although
the different generations are moving at different rates, almost all of the movement is
in a positive direction—especially if the cars in question are excellent originals or
high-quality professional restorations. u
Page 40
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Belvidere, IL
Belvidere High Performance Auction
Big blocks were still king of the hill, but their high reserves sent collectors to
small-block midyears and C3s
Company
Mecum Collector
Car Auctioneers
Date
May 23–28, 2007
Location
Belvidere, IL
Auctioneer
Mark Delzell,
Mike Hagerman,
and Jim Landis
Corvettes sold / offered
43 / 87
Sales rate
49%
Sales total
$1,328,177
High sale
1971 Corvette LS6 coupe,
sold at $120,750
Buyer's premium
1959 283/230 sold for a fair $50k
Report and photos by Dan Grunwald & B. Mitchell Carlson
Market opinions in italics
F
ans of America's sports car had plenty of choices at this year's Mecum Belvidere
sale, where nearly 1,200 cars crossed the auction block over six days with total
sales just over $26.6m. The quality and quantity of the muscle car offerings at
Belvidere generally rival or surpass any other auction in the country, and the
work is done without a lot of hype, which helps to reflect true values in today's market.
Eighty-seven Corvettes were available at this year's event, with representatives from
each generation. Mecum was able to sell 43 of them, making for a solid Corvette sales
rate of 49% by the end of the weekend.
Notable C1 sales included a 1959 convertible equipped with a 230-hp 283 that
brought $50,400—which, while not cheap, was a decent price considering the condition
of the car. C2s on the sold list mostly consisted of small-block cars, including
a 1963 Split-Window with factory a/c that
achieved NCRS Top Flight status in 1990. It
generated a lot of interest on the block, selling
for a fair $63,525. A 1966 coupe with the
350-hp 327 and a/c brought a decent $42,000,
while a 1966 coupe with the 300-hp 327 and
an automatic found a new home at $35,175.
Big-block cars had more trouble selling here,
including a 1967 convertible equipped with a
400-hp 427 that failed to find new ownership
at $80,000. Along those same lines, a 1965
convertible powered by a late-model fuel-injected
502 should have sold at an over-the-top
$90,000 high bid.
Small blocks were the big sellers in C3s
as well, including a mostly original 1971
Corvette Sales Totals
at Mecum Belvidere
$2m
$1.5m
$1m
$500k
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
42 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
convertible with the LT1 330-hp 350. With a hard top,
side pipes, and rally wheels, it brought $28,350. A coupe
from the same year with the 270-hp 350 in horrible condition
brought $12,600, while a 1975 coupe with a 350
crate engine managed to achieve $11,813. The highest
Corvette sale belonged to a 1971 LS6 coupe that brought
$120,750, but most
other big-block C3s struggled.
Among them were a 1969 L88 coupe with an automatic
that stayed with the seller at $95,000, as well as a needy
1969 435-hp convertible that failed at $62,000.
A 1996 convertible powered by a 330-hp LT4 and
equipped with a 6-speed sold at $18,375, while a 1995
ZR-1 in white with 11,000 miles on the odometer brought
$32,550. Several other ZR-1s were offered in various
conditions, but each failed to meet their reserves. One
of GM's fastest Corvettes ever—an '06 Z06 with the
505-hp LS7—was also present, but it didn't sell at a high
bid of $64,000.
A final total of $1.3m for 43 Corvettes shows a sus-
tainable market, but the dynamics of that market seem
to be changing. Big blocks are still king of the hill, but
high reserves are sending collectors to small-block
midyears and C3s more and more, and sales results here
reflected that trend. Still, Mecum came through with
something for everyone of the Corvette mindset, and the
company remains the place to be for those looking for
muscle—and Corvettes—in the Midwest. ■
$300 on the first $5,499,
$500 from $5,500 to
$9,999, and 5% thereafter
(included in sold prices)
Page 41
C1
#S142-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N F545003020. White/white cloth/
red vinyl. Odo: 93,803 miles. 235-ci 150-hp
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Good paint shows a
few flaws to the nose and around door edges.
Exterior chrome excellent,
interior chrome
vent tube. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $50,000.
Last seen at RM's Toronto sale in April '06,
where it didn't sell at $74,000 (CM# 41356). A
nicely done solid-axle Corvette in good colors
with no trim or hubcap dents. I liked it a lot,
but the owner liked it more, and he can't be
faulted for keeping it at this below-market bid.
shows pitting. Seat covers and carpet new,
dash and gauges dull. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD
AT $52,500. Although it wasn't perfect, this
car had a great overall look. Bids were a bit
sparse, so the owner was correct to hold out
for more money.
#T45-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S104800. Roman Red/red
vinyl. Odo: 86,358 miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 4bbl,
3-sp. A few paint chips to bright and shiny
paint. Left front wheel trim bent, fender spar
trim loose at rear, other chrome and brightwork
decent. Taillight lenses heavily cracked, new
interior shows some dull dash parts and poor
Very nice interior with clear gauge faces and
nice clock trim. Detailed engine appears all
GM. Cracked windshield weatherstripping,
other rubber still OK. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD
AT $55,000. This nicely restored convertible
made for a reliable driver with a high fun
quotient, so the owner was right to hold out for
more money.
radio installation.
Incorrect passenger side
dashpad, side plexiglass windows cracked on
hard top. Engine dirty from use. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $50,400. Not all factory correct, but
shiny driver with no huge flaws for sunny day
driving. Offered on Thursday, so I and many
others stayed near the podium to clip off a
bargain. As always, it wasn't cheap, but it was
fairly sold for what it was.
#F205-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S108712. Red &
white/black vinyl. Odo: 54,395 miles. 283-ci
230-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Shiny paint shows
no issues, trunk lid sits high when shut.
Nice chrome and trim, windshield surround
still nice, headlight trim fits well. Well fitted
interior with Hurst shifter, good door panels
and grab bar. Detailed engine has a loose
C2
#U75-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S112548. Blue/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 44,652 miles. 327-ci
340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Well done recent repaint,
new chrome excellent throughout. Top
well fitted, seats and carpets nice, console dull
#M31-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S105472. Red/red
vinyl. Odo: 639 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Includes hard top with crazed
side plexiglass windows. Good paint and
chrome, common headlight trim spear misfit.
Engine compartment nicely restored. Cond:
2+. SOLD AT $63,525. A 1990 NCRS Top
Flight car still showing well. Only 278 '63
Corvettes were built with factory a/c, making
this otherwise base-model example relatively
rare. I kept visualizing it sitting in my garage,
but someone else got it at fair money.
#F175-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 408337S103359. Blue/black
vinyl. Odo: 54,683 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint, original paint in
door jambs. Small cracks and misfit on headlight
housings. Doors shut well, but show
visible edge chips on both sides. Original
and dirty. Detailed engine and undercarriage,
knock-off wheels in good condition. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $61,000. Good fit and finish
overall. I personally always liked the 1963
coupes more, and I would rather have a later
model in a convertible. Perhaps this crowd felt
the same, as this bid was slightly under the
money for this car in this condition.
#M21-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S116920. Silver/black vinyl.
Odo: 73,030 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. A Split-Window coupe with factory
a/c. Several paint chips visible, chrome and
bright trim well fitted. Right outside mirror
loose, with chipping paint around the base.
seats have worn piping, especially on driver's
side. Engine detailed in original style, original
knockoff wheels and Redline tires nice. Cond:
2. NOT SOLD AT $38,000. A lot was still
factory on this car, but some was not. It still
might be able to qualify for Bloomington Gold
Survivor as it sat, as aside from the paint, the
car appeared to be at least 50% unaltered.
With that in mind, there was enough promise
here to hold out for more money.
#M70-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 408378S106732. Blue/blue vinyl.
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 43
Page 42
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Belvidere, IL
Odo: 69,243 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
One of 38 big tank coupes built in 1964. Fuelie
tags on fenders, power windows. Some visible
scratching and cracking on paint. Rust and
heavy pitting on bumpers, original knockoff
alloy wheels decent. Interior shows rust and
pitting on all metal surfaces. Six-inch tear in
driver's seat. Power windows. Non-original
parts on engine include carburetor. Cond: 3-.
NOT SOLD AT $100,000. A rare car with a
lot of original parts—but not totally original.
Due to its needs, the big buyers passed on this
one.
#S160-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S119067. Maroon/black
vinyl. Odo: 65,710 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Equipped with factory a/c. Dust
visible in paint, right headlight housing wavy.
Original chrome weak on front bumper, decent
elsewhere. Many new reproduction parts,
well-executed custom blue flames. Good
chrome and trim, extra large hood scoop. New
carpet and dull gauge faces, incorrect accessory
knobs. Hooker side pipes, wire wheels
installed. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $90,000.
If you have stone chips and don't want to paint
the whole car, why not just flame it? This one
clearly had a lot of work done to it, but none of
that work was the type that would increase its
value significantly. $90k should have had the
seller signing over the title.
#F183-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S11599. Marlboro
Maroon/black vinyl/black
58,485 miles.
leather. Odo:
427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. Nice paint and chrome, stainless trim
shows fit issues at windshield and spotting
on side pipe covers. Coker Redline tires and
seat. American Racing Torq-Thrust II wheels
fitted, newer convertible top. Seatcovers a bit
loose. Offered at no reserve. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $17,588. The big side 327 decals and extra
wide tires weren't to my taste, but this car was
still a decent buy at this price. Put the bumpers
back on and lose the stripe, and it's a nice
base-model '68 convertible driver.
alloys installed. Well-detailed engine with
original-style GM components. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $80,000. A high-quality
restoration of a 400-hp convertible. These are
still very desirable in this market, despite being
overshadowed by the faster 435-hp version.
This bid was light and the seller was correct in
looking for more. I suspect we'll see it again at
Bloomington Gold.
some non-typical finishes, detailed engine.
Several tears in original seats, original door
panels worn. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $42,000. A
decent buy on an a/c-equipped coupe with low
mileage. This one was not too far from being
show quality as it was, and a little work will
likely result in more money for the new owner
when he decides to move on.
#S245-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S120794. Blue with
blue flames/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo:
59,712 miles. 502-ci fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Shiny paint with numerous large chips and
#S48-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S122800. Blue/blue vinyl.
Odo: 8,656 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. New paint and interior, nice chrome
and stainless trim. Interior trim cracked and
missing screws on rear window, some interior
paint chipped, slight wear and fit issues
include door panels and turn
signal
stalk.
#S166-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
L88 coupe. S/N 194379S714242. Gold/black
vinyl. Odo: 26,374 miles. 427-ci 430-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Body and paint show well,
with one crack by driver's door handle.
Deep scratch and chips in windshield, other
glass OK. Nice chrome, Goodyear Polyglas
fort would have likely done wonders here. The
seller should replace the interior trim and
screws and try again.
C3
#F20-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S410836. Maroon/
black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 72,555 miles.
327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. New paint and
side pipes, door and panel gaps decent. Front
bumper missing, rear bumper in passenger
tires on Rally wheels a nice touch. Engine
completely detailed. One of 116 built in 1969,
body-off restoration from 2006. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $95,000. An L88 and an automatic?
Who needs 4-speeds when you have
gobs of torque... Although rare and in decent
condition, it failed to bring a market price.
We'll likely see it again at Bloomington Gold
in June.
Alloy wheels and side exhaust fitted. Gas
cap looks worn. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT
$53,000. Details, details. The small stuff can
prevent a very nice car from reaching the big
money category. This car looked to be worth
more than this bid, and just a little more ef-
44 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#S114-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S719839. Red/saddle
leather. Odo: 5,513 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Nice paint, decent panel gaps,
unmarked chrome and brightwork. Few interior
soft trim flaws. Small hole lets down
an otherwise nice convertible top. Factory
detailed engine, newer Redline tires. Cond: 1-.
Page 44
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Belvidere, IL
worthwhile, but lots of work was still needed
before this convertible was ready for the show
arena. A strong price considering its condition.
#F21-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
NOT SOLD AT $41,000. Big-block convertibles
are in demand, and although this one was
in excellent overall condition, the bidding ran
out at an under-the-money $41k. The owner
was wise to hold on to it, as there is a lot more
money out there for a red 427 drop top 'Vette.
#M58-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S701456. Yellow/
white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 413,379 miles.
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Paint has
cracks, chips, and preparation flaws. Engine
looks rough and dirty, PCV valve on valve
cover missing. Windshield starting to delaminate,
rear bumper crooked, door jambs show
coupe. S/N 194371S113301. Yellow/black
leather. Odo: 84,802 miles. 350-ci 270-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Heavy cracks and chips in paint,
crude repair in front door jambs to rusty birdcage.
Door gaps wide, all chrome pitted. Seats
heavily worn, but no holes yet evident. Rust
on seat brackets, worn console, poor aftermarket
radio installation. Broken fan blades, a/c
compressor missing drive belt. Offered at no
reserve. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $12,600. A truly
frightening Corvette. Window sticker said
“looks, runs and drives excellent.” From how
it looked, I couldn't agree, and I think I would
have had to chew my arm off if it started to go
up on this one.
coupe.
excess glue. Interior not much better, with the
driver's seat back torn. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD
AT $62,000. This looked like a lot of work, but
it showed well at 20 feet. Even in this condition,
435-hp convertibles are desirable. That said,
considering all the work needed, it seemed like
these dollars should have sold the car.
#F22-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194671X104365. War
Bonnet Yellow/black
vinyl. Odo: 75,938
miles. 350-ci 330-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Heavily
pitted and peeling side exhaust, good original
bumper chrome. Paint fading in areas, original
wheels rusty. Appears to have original seats
and door panels with newer carpet. Missing
ignition
cover
parts, some vacuum hoses
cut or missing. Hard top fitted. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $28,350. Original enough to be
windshield. New window rubber installed.
Factory a/c, detailed engine, new exhaust
system. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $24,000.
This car still showed some age in detail areas,
but most of the hard work was already done.
This bid was in the ballpark for a small-block
coupe, but a couple thousand more would have
likely closed the deal.
#F24-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67Z3S401774. Red/black
vinyl/black leather. Odo: 69,498 miles. 454-ci
275-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Power windows, factory
a/c has no belt. Paint decent overall, with
a few scratches noted throughout. Panel gaps
46 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#F260-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
S/N 194371S118450.
Blue/black
leather. Odo: 69,385 miles. 350-ci 270-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Thick recent repaint shiny, excellent
chrome throughout. Small paint cracks at
hood and headlights, sanding scratches on rear
window, chips and scratches on side glass and
scraped, door panels fit poorly. Some extra custom
chrome used in otherwise factory engine
compartment. Offered at no reserve. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $11,550. An amateur restoration of
an example from the last year of chrome bumpers.
It looked like a good driver, assuming you
didn't mind the rubber front bumper. Bought
and sold fairly.
#T95-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37J5S426467. Light green metallic/black
leather. Odo: 25,594 miles. 350-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Newer crate engine installed,
factory a/c. New paint shows touched-up chips
and scratches. Some chrome pitted, aluminum
OK, doors shut decently, new convertible top
installed. Nice chrome, glass chipped at edge
on passenger side and delaminating at windshield.
Cracking and normal light wear on
original leather seats, nice dash. Engine dirty
from use. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $19,950. Like
lot F25, the ugly “Vette” stripes made an appearance
here as well, but they should come off
nicely. It seems wrong to drive a 454 'Vette that
only puts out 275 hp, but a different cam and
aftermarket cylinder heads will wake it up in a
hurry if the new owner wants to go fast. A good
driver, at least until gas hits $4 per gallon.
#F23-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1AZ37JS5416523. Blue/saddle
vinyl. Odo: 94,680 miles. 350-ci 250-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent repaint has several
minor chips to nose. Door fit OK, panel
gaps decent. Factory a/c blows cold, console
cracked, Hurst shifter fitted. Driver's seat vinyl
Page 45
wheels polished. Interior has a cracked and
broken console, as well as cracks in dashpad
at speaker. Newer CD player poorly installed,
leather seats show rough and worn spots. Hood
insulation coming loose, engine clean. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $11,813. It has to be depressing
to have your Corvette passed by Honda
Accords... so the new crate engine may not
be a bad thing if it had more grunt than the
original 165 hp this car came with when new.
A fair deal all around.
#S254-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom coupe. S/N 1Z37L6S407049. Red/
black cloth. Odo: 75,473 miles. 377-ci fuelinjected
V8, auto. Radical custom with very
shiny red paint showing some scratches and
cracks. Grant steering wheel, competition seat
belts, custom headlights, huge cowl hood.
Rubber shift boot pulled loose, Holley fuel
likely from an old cover. Cond: 1-. NOT
SOLD AT $28,000. As a $13,653 option, the
Pace Car package pushed the price of a new
Corvette to $23,000, and only 6,502 were so
equipped—a little more than one car per U.S.
dealer. This one had really low mileage, but it's
hard to see these gaining any more momentum
in the market. The high bid should have been
enough, without regrets.
injection control unit sitting loose in passenger
seat. Big fender flares and wing added. Cond:
3. NOT SOLD AT $21,000. This car reminded
me of the “Corvette Summer” movie car. It
might go well next to Kinney's Barris custom,
but this one didn't have the Barris mystique.
This high bid should have been more than
enough here.
#T25-1977 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37L7S401990.
White/red
leather. Odo: 71,631 miles. 350-ci 180-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Decent paint shows some chips
and scratches. Appears to have a replacement
engine. Lots of overspray in front under hood.
Left inside T-top and other trim rough, including
dashpad. Inside door locks missing, all
Mystery
Photo
stuff dreams are made of, but someone liked
this one enough to spend $9k to own it. Marketcorrect
for condition.
#F215-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
25th Anniversary Pace Car coupe. S/N
1Z8748S902308. Black & silver/silver cloth.
Odo: 722 miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Cloth interior. Small visible paint flaws
include
touched-up door edges and chips
around hood edges. Panel gaps good, door
lettering as-new. Dried glue on steering wheel
#F25-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8789S447592. Silver/red
vinyl. Odo: 15,929 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. OK paint shows numerous scratches
and chips. Ugly side stripe with “Vette” script
added. Delaminating
windshield. Engine
claimed to have been built to 385 hp, with
new intake, cylinder heads, carburetor, etc.
Original parts included, offered at no reserve.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $8,000. Built as a driver
with much needed horsepower added. If it ran
and drove OK, then I would call this one fairly
bought. Not a bad price for any Corvette, but
those stripes need to go.
coupe.
#T261-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
S/N 1Z8789S430479.
Silver/blue
vinyl. Odo: 31,571 miles. 350-ci 195-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Fitted with a/c and glass T-tops.
Miles indicated claimed to be original. Paint
looks mostly original, with light chips and
scratches for its age. Engine recently washed,
Our photo, your caption
Be the author of the most accurate, creative, or provocative response and
receive an official, sure-to-be-collectible someday Corvette Market hat. Ties
will be arbitrarily and capriciously decided.
Fax your response to 503.253.2234; email: mysteryphoto@vettemarket.com;
ashtray and lighter parts gone. One headlight
stuck up. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $9,000. Smelled
like mothballs even with the windows open.
180-hp Corvette coupes are not generally the
snail mail: Mystery, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797. Please include your
name and contact information.
Response Deadline: October 1, 2007
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 47
Page 46
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Belvidere, IL
been prettied up for the auction, but considering
its condition, the odometer had likely rolled
over at least once. The low end of the scale on
these cars has been just over $12k, and this
under-the-money bid likely stemmed from its
questionable condition.
C4
#T27-1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
driver's seat torn at seam. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$13,650. This car had been nicely cleaned up
for the sale, and it looked honest all around.
This is the way to buy a 'Vette of this vintage if
you're looking for a nice driver. A fair deal for
all involved.
#T42-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z878AS422681. Brown/tan
vinyl. Odo: 15,717 miles. 350-ci 230-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. A few pinholes, chips and cracks,
as well as usual color mismatch on bumpers.
Large tear in driver's seat bolster. Original
cracks. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $6,750. The
1985 model year saw genuine fuel injection
return to the Corvette for the first time since
1965, aside from the throttle body injection
used in 1982 and 1984. As presented here, this
was just another used car, and the money bid
should have been enough to sell it, even with its
relatively low miles.
all-GM engine compartment pressure washed.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,750. Right on the
numbers for a late C3 in decent condition.
Better colors might have brought more money,
but as it was, this was a fair price for both parties.
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8780C5121652. Red/red
leather. Odo: 3,105
350-ci
200-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Paint shows both
runs and bubbles, body wavy in places, with
poor gaps around headlights and doors. Door
weatherstripping missing one end. New door
panels and seats. Console poorly installed,
color top panels included. Cond: 2+. NOT
SOLD AT $32,000. This car showed signs of
heavy wear for the miles indicated. The superexpensive
ZR1 option brought the base sticker
to $58,000 in 1990, and although many of the
more than 3,000 units built were put away as
speculation, the bid here is where the market
ends for these cars now.
dash repaired, speaker cover loose. Steering
wheel faded, shift handle shows visible rust.
“Cross-Fire Injection” engine dirty. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $8,000. This car had clearly
48 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#T21-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3388M5118538.
Red/white/red
leather. Odo: 79,282 miles.
350-ci 250-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Good
#T70-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
miles.
#F220-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J4L5801510.
Red/red leather. Odo: 10,290 miles. 350-ci
375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Panel fit good,
paint as-new. Wear and small tears in leather
on seat adjuster bolsters, remaining interior
components excellent. Both clear and solid
oxide tank mounted in back. Interior seat bolster
worn, ignition lock cylinder sits very loose.
Said to make 700 hp. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$24,000. This one looked good, but do you really
want to buy the ZR-1 that has 26,000 miles
on nitrous? All the money considering how
hard it was likely driven.
#F5-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
custom coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P8S5115154.
Red/gray leather. Odo: 28,509 miles. 355-ci
supercharged V8, auto. Upgraded ZR1 engine
claimed to make 560 hp. Polished Z06 wheels.
A few paint chips touched up throughout.
Some minor interior wear suggests light use.
Started life as a standard Corvette, LT5 engine
and other high performance parts added later.
Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $17,500. Lots of
coupe. S/N 1G1YY0783F5134352. Red/red
leather. Odo: 54,212 miles. 350-ci 230-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Visible paint cracks on tail,
chips to nose. Engine driven and shows corrosion
on all aluminum, including Tuned-Port
intake manifold. Interior shows heavy wear and
paint, new white top, heavy carpet wear on
driver's sill. Interior leather color flaking off
driver's seat. Engine mostly clean, except
antifreeze puddled on intake. Pioneer stereo
and polished wheels installed. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $17,500. This car looked
good considering its 79,000 miles, but the
bright green puddles on the intake called for a
new gasket set at the very least. It should have
easily sold at this premium bid, but the seller
was looking for more.
#S250-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J2M5801510.
Maroon/black
leather. Odo: 26,505 miles.
405-ci fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Some scratches
in paint, window rubber deteriorating. Bolt-in
roll cage and competition seat belts, nitrous
Page 48
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Belvidere, IL
power in a '95 with supercharged and built
engine. Although it was only partially a ZR1,
this car would be a lot of fun to drive, and
it still had a relatively unassuming look to
it. This high bid didn't make the deal, as the
builder likely had more in it... but getting more
than this price will be tough for him, as even
real ZR-1s are not gaining a whole lot in this
market.
#S19-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ22J6S5800052.
White/black leather. Odo: 11,325 miles. 350-ci
405-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Paint crack in
headlight door, some light patina to leather
seating. Windshield chipped in several places.
Looks like an 11,000-mile car should. Last
C5
#T43-1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22G9W5110390. Red/
black leather. Odo: 31,314 miles. 5.7-liter
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Several small chips
in paint, normal corrosion on alloy engine
parts. Glass top and windshield unmarked,
original
aluminum
wheels
decent.
Light
wear to interior carpet and seats. Cond: 2.
than one off the showroom floor. That said,
cars like this are still losing value, so the new
owner should not be afraid to take it out and
enjoy it a little.
#F28-2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G045111835.
Blue/light gray cloth/light gray leather. Odo:
37,504 miles. 5.7-liter 350-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. Good paint shows only minor wear,
top as-new. Loose ashtray door, light dirt and
year of ZR-1 production. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $32,550. The ZR1 option list price was
$31,258 on top of the $36,785 base Corvette
in 1995. New special-edition cars are a great
way to lose money, and buyers in the market
for a ZR-1 have plenty of low-mile examples to
choose from. With that in mind, it might be safe
to say the ZR-1 has become the best Corvette
bargain out there.
#F26-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3254T51110555.
Green/tan
cloth/tan
leather. Odo: 39,064
miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Panel gaps factory, paint shows several small
chips around nose and on door edges. Glass
nice, wrinkled seats have dye wearing off in
places. Engine compartment very clean, some
and wear, remaining interior components nice.
Offered at no reserve. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$26,513. This first-year Z06 was the king of
all Corvettes when it was introduced in 2001,
but all '05 and newer 'Vettes came standard
with more power. Still, these are quite capable
performers, and this one had normal wear for
the 13k miles indicated. Well bought.
#F217-2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
dirt on soft top. Offered at no reserve. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $18,375. Appeared to have been
very well cared for, with an appearance that
belied the 39k miles covered. The LT4 engine
has an edge over the standard LT1, with aluminum
heads and a bump in compression giving
30 more horsepower. This one was nice all over
and sold at a market price for its condition and
options.
50 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
50th Anniversary Pace Car convertible.
S/N 1G1YY32G835123150. Maroon/tan
cloth/tan leather. Odo: 1,535 miles. 5.7-liter
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Original mileage, with
no visible faults aside from those originating
at the factory. Wheels and tires as-new, interior
and top show no wear. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$41,200. This limited-edition 'Vette convertible
still smelled like a new car, but it cost way less
as-new. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $64,000.
This bid seemed fair enough, as $70k will buy
one new. With all the premiums added in, this
car would have cost the bidder around $67k. It
was for all intents and purposes a new car, but
if you want to pay a new car price, why not get
one from the dealer? ■
#S30-2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1G1YY26E565124991.
Yellow/black leather. Odo: 50 miles. 7.0-liter
505-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Another virtually
new car said to have only 50 miles on
the clock. Paint, wheels, glass, and interior
SOLD AT $21,000. A nice used car. This was
a big price for a '98, as their values are still
sliding downhill with most used cars from the
era. The low mileage on this car's clock helped
it considerably, and both the buyer and seller
should be pleased.
Best Buy #F27-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1H1YY12S015130857. Red/
black leather. Odo: 13,716 miles. 5.7-liter
385-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Excellent paint,
nice panel gaps, glass unmarked. Engine
compartment shows some use, tires and rims
only slightly worn. Driver seat base shows dirt
wear on carpet, dirty interior HUD. Clean
engine compartment, unmarked chrome rims.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $30,975. Not in bad shape
overall, but still just another late-model 37,000mile
used Corvette. A fair deal all around.
C6
Page 49
Photo: Mecum Auctions
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available with, knowing what to buy and how much to pay is critically important.
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Page 50
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
Bloomington Gold High Performance Auction
Bidders looking for 435-hp cars had no shortage, with dozens available in
various conditions
Company
Mecum Collector
Car Auctioneers
Date
June 15–17, 2007
Location
St. Charles, IL
Auctioneer
Mark Delzell,
Mike Hagerman,
and Jim Landis
Corvettes sold / offered
145 / 295
Sales rate
72%
Sales total
$8,255,306
High sale
1967 427/435 convertible,
sold at $467,250
Buyer's premium
A packed house in St. Charles
Report and photos by Dan Grunwald, B. Mitchell Carlson, Thomas Glatch, and Linda Clark
Market opinions in italics
T
he annual Bloomington Gold Corvette auction took place again this year under
sunny skies and humid weather at the Pheasant Run Lodge and Golf Resort in St.
Charles, Illinois. Held in association with Bloomington Gold judging, an educational
seminar, and an all-Corvette swap meet, it has become one of the largest
events of the year for the Corvette community. Literally thousands of Corvettes were on
hand, making this a Midwest mecca for 'Vette enthusiasts.
Hundreds of Corvettes at the auction were parked on the golf course fairways before
the auction, giving bidders and spectators the chance to look them over closely before the
sale. Warm temperatures tend to prevail here this time of year, but this year's event was
laid back and comfortable despite the heat. Buyers, sellers, and enthusiasts came from
all over the U.S. to celebrate and exchange cars and knowledge, and the crowds here
had a certain “All-American, No Replacement
for Displacement,” manner about
them. The
right car here can command six figures without
a second thought, and 17 did so this time
around.
The top sale of the weekend was our cover
car, an immaculate 1967 convertible with a
435-hp 427 and 4-speed. With 12,000 miles
showing on the odometer, multiple NCRS
awards over the years, and Bloomington Gold
Special Collection membership in 1991, it
managed to bring $467,250 (see profile on p.
28). Bidders looking for 435-hp cars had no
shortage, with dozens available in various conditions.
The only known 1968 COPO Corvette
was also present, ordered in British Green with
an orange vinyl interior. As interesting as that
52 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
$12m
$10m
$8m
$6m
$4m
$2m
Bloomington Gold
Sales Totals
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
combination sounds, it looked good in person, and the car
sold for $73,500. A 1996 Grand Sport convertible with only
6k miles raised $80,850, while a 1963 Z06 tanker found
new ownership at a very high $367,500. In contrast to all
these cars, one of the worst '84 Corvettes still on the road
was offered for sale on Sunday, bringing a healthy $2,050
for its condition (see the fright-pig C4 profile on p. 34).
A fair number of cars failed to sell due to overly en-
thusiastic reserves, which has been a problem lately in the
collector car market in the Midwest in general. A 1961
convertible with a 270-hp 327 failed to find a new home
at a market-correct $101,000, a '63 fuelie coupe in red had
the same fate at $135,000, and a '71 convertible equipped
with a 270-hp 350 didn't sell at $24,000. While these cars
ranged from excellent restorations to good drivers, their
no-sales were likely based in part on the high sale prices
achieved for stunning examples elsewhere on the grounds
throughout the weekend.
Although the total sales figure was off a bit from last
year's $10,391,000, the $467,000 top sale this year easily
beat out the 2006 high sale of Bunkie Knudson's wife's
pink Corvette at $367,500 (CM# 41998). The final sellthrough
rate dropped from 56% to 49%, which was likely
due in part to fewer cars on offer as well as higher reserves
for the cars present. Still, knowledgeable Corvette buyers
remain willing to part with hard dollars for the right cars,
and Mecum has a proven ability to put the right cars and
the right buyers together for long term relationships. ■
$300 on the first $5,499,
$500 from $5,500 to
$9,999, and 5% thereafter
(included in sold prices)
Page 51
C1
#S53-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001210. White/tan/red
vinyl. Odo: 2,653 miles. 235-ci straight
6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Paint shiny and well applied,
with one chip noted around buffed-through
headlight trim. Otherwise excellent inside and
out. One of 300 built in '53, part of the Paul
TOP 10
#5
past this high bid, which was under the money
for a running and driving example.
#S54-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S002008. Pennant Blue/tan/
tan vinyl. Odo: 409 miles. 235-ci straight 6,
3x1-bbl, auto. Equipped with heater, radio, turn
signals, windshield washer, and parking brake
alarm as all other '54s. Some wavy paint likely
the same as when new. Nice chrome, glass, and
Jones Collection for 13 years. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $283,500. Last seen at The Auction's Las
Vegas sale in November '92, where it sold for
$59,250 (CM# 13932). Sold alongside S54 and
S55, all offered by the same owner. A heater and
a radio were the only available options in 1953,
and records show all 300 cars were equipped
with both. A good buy on a first-year 'Vette in
excellent overall condition.
TOP 10
#4
#S91-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster.
S/N E53F001107.
Polo
White/tan/red vinyl. Odo: 121 miles.
235-ci straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Rough edges
and paint chips at tonneau lid corners, chip visible
on gas door. Engine compartment sterile,
trim. Engine compartment clean and expertly
detailed. Bloomington Gold 1994. From the
Paul Jones Collection. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$87,675. Another well-excecuted car, but this
one was just a bit down from the quality of lot
S53. Still a great example of a C1, and one of
only around 300 finished in Pennant Blue. Well
bought.
TOP 10
#6
#S55-1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N VE55S001044. Pennant
Blue/tan/tan vinyl. Odo: 482 miles. 265-
interior clean and well fitted. Bloomington
Gold certified. Number 107 of 300. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $296,625. Between this and lot S53,
we have some real money talking. First-year
cars will always bring a healthy sum, but we
may be on the verge of seeing the market for
these cars expand even further. Well sold.
#S5-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S003775. Silver/beige/red
vinyl. Odo: 25,409 miles. 235-ci 155-hp straight
6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Repaint from 1962 shows
chips, flaws, dull areas, and poor masking with
overspray on window weatherstrips. Original
looking engine with new parts not detailed. Tear
in original driver's seat, passenger seat shows
some age but only light use. Plastic horn button
crazed, some wear visible on chrome trim.
One owner from new. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD
AT $52,500. Being such an early car with just
one owner made this silver roadster rare, but it
definitely had some needs, not the least of which
was the paint. The bidders weren't interested
the Paul Jones Collection. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$178,500. Number 44 of 700 built. The introduction
of the V8 to Corvette started in 1955, and
the optional engine was fitted to all but seven of
the examples built that year. This was a great
car, and in this condition, it will always be worth
big money. Well bought.
#F75-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E56S003989. Venetian Red/
white/black vinyl. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Clean
engine fitted from a 1959 model, dressed to look
like the factory '56 unit. Fresh paint, smooth
ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent paint shows
light paint chips in passenger side door. Good
chrome and trim, spotless engine compartment
and interior. Bloomington Gold 1988. From
also restored. Optional radio, heater, parking
brake alarm, whitewall tires, and Positraction.
Appears authentic. Lights, heater, and horn all
work. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $76,650. These cars
normally fetch far more, so the buyer clearly
triumphed. A beautiful '57 convertible at a
below-market price. Very well bought.
TOP 10
#8
#S32-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S103320. Venetian
Red/red vinyl. Odo: 96,650 miles. 283-ci
250-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. NCRS Duntov
Mark of Excellence, Bloomington Gold certified
and part of the Special Collection. Excellent and
authentic restoration by Brent Ferguson in mid
'80s to original factory condition, including body
fit and finish. Some light cracking of windshield
seal, older engine detailing starting to dull slightly.
Radio delete plate, well-preserved 50-year-old
upholstery. “Field of Dreams” vinyl decal on
windshield. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $152,250. It
took a little while for the bidding to get to the
$137k reserve, but when it finally did, bidding
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 53
body, nice panel gaps. Newer black vinyl interior
shows no issues. Built for cruising, and will
turn heads anywhere it goes. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $40,163. Pity the 1956 Corvette owner. With
the exception of the engine, they are virtually
identical to the more favored 1957 model, but
often command less in the market. This pretty
'56 had the same owner for the past 36 years
and was in fine condition, but it was not original
enough to be considered “collectible.” Still, this
was a well-done car that would be a great driver
for a person looking for just that. A very good
buy at this price.
Best Buy #S117-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S100048. Eng. # F918EL.
Venetian Red/tan/beige vinyl. Odo: 110 miles.
283-ci 283-hp V8, 4-sp. Frame-off restoration with
many NOS parts. Documentation includes a binder
full of photos and receipts. Auxiliary hard top
Page 52
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Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
NOT SOLD AT $58,000. A very fine '50s
Corvette in one of the more striking color
combinations. With both the soft and hard tops,
and the 230-hp with Powerglide automatic, this
would be a fine cruiser that could also be shown
almost anywhere without apology. Bidding
reached the mid-point for these cars, and that
would have been about right for this one.
activity skyrocketed. This was strong money,
but it was a strong car. Oddly enough, having a
Powerglide helped here, because only 102 fuelies
were fitted with an automatic transmission.
#S141-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E575104085. Aztec Copper &
ivory/tan/beige vinyl. Odo: 97,857 miles. 283ci
283-hp fuel-injected V8, 3-sp. Bloomington
Gold 1996. Some paint color fade on top of
driver's door, drip on right cowl. Nice chrome
and trim, small scratch on left side window. Tear
in left side of soft top, decent seats and carpet,
& white/white/blue vinyl. Odo: 22,988 miles.
283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good paint shows
only light polishing marks and several chips.
Trunk fits high at base, bumpers scratched, trim
shows wear and age. Passenger dashpad pulling
away, aluminum grab bar dented, steering wheel
cracked. Well detailed undercarriage. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $68,250. A good looking local show
winner with a few flaws. This is just the way
to buy one if you're looking for a nice usable
driver. Market price for condition.
#S43-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S106996. Red & white/
white/red vinyl. Odo: 84,487 miles. 283-ci
270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint shows slight
preparation flaws and door edge touch-ups.
paint wearing off steering wheel. Detailed
frame, radio and heater delete. Cond: 1-. NOT
SOLD AT $105,000. A great presentation of a
rare car in a very rare and striking color combination.
Any flaws were small. Only 452 cars
were built in Aztec Copper, and of those, only
a handful were fuelies. The seller was right to
hang on to it, as it'll likely be able to bring more
in the future.
#S125-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S101903. Eng. #
F1212E6. Venetian Red/beige/beige vinyl.
Odo: 470 miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 3-sp.
2007 NCRS Top Flight Award winner at 98 points.
Nice frame-off restoration with NOS parts, paint shows
TOP 10
#7
#S97-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S103704. Blue & white/
blue vinyl. Odo: 46,500 miles. 283-ci 230-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Paint shows visible drips on
hood and orange peel throughout. Chrome
scratched at rear bumper and weak at windshield
surround. New interior. Detailed engine,
corrosion on radiator cap. Passenger side window
trim loose. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $57,750.
Some minor fit and preparation problems, but
nothing serious. The engine compartment and
interior showed some wrong screws and extra
lock washers, but for what it was, this was a
market-correct price.
Light driving dirt on engine, broken master cylinder
lid from hitting bottom of hood. New top,
weatherstripping, and interior. Some chrome
aging lightly, most still presentable. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $82,950. Red was the color of the
weekend, and although it wasn't perfect, this
car's dual quads and 4-speed helped it bring a
decent price for its seller.
overspray on inner front fenders. Chrome and
trim unmarked, non-painted exhaust manifolds
not as nice as other engine detailing. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $157,500. A prime investment for its
new owner. The '57 model literally saved the
Corvette from an early demise, and this was one
of 1,040 fuel-injected versions built that year.
Expensive, but still well bought.
#F71-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J5S109047. Crown Sapphire
54 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#F78-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S102012. Frost Blue/blue/
blue vinyl. Odo: 59,886 miles. 283-ci 230-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A nicely restored '59 with
excellent paint, fiberglass, and chrome. Interior
equally well restored. Engine very well done
with the correct look for the era. Owner claims
car is numbers-matching, and although it looks
great, this Corvette does not have the documentation
or accuracy to be of Bloomington Gold
quality. Equipped with both tops. Cond: 1-.
#F69-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N N/A. Jewel Blue/blue vinyl.
Odo: 17,714 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. An
authentic-looking Corvette with nice paint,
chrome, and decent matching interior. Updated
powertrain with a ZZ4 crate engine with aluminum
heads and a Griffith aluminum radiator. A
good-looking and functional car for those not
concerned with authenticity. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $46,725. The first-generation look is a
popular as ever, and this car was proof. With
its modern engine and decent overall condition,
this car was intended for cruise nights rather
than Bloomington Gold or NCRS. You could
buy a new C6 for not much more, but it wouldn't
have the same fun factor.
#S59-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S103083. Black/white/
red vinyl. Odo: 9,313 miles. 327-ci 270-hp
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Door gaps wide at front of
both doors, OK elsewhere. Chrome, paint, and
interior better than factory. Top torn on outside
right rear. Many original documents, including
window sticker and build sheet. Cond: 1-. NOT
Page 54
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Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
auction moved by someone with a good sense
of foresight.
SOLD AT $101,000. Corvette owners should be
aware that the top bows always seem to tear the
top fabric in the same spot, and this car was no
exception to the rule. This bid should have been
plenty for a dual-quad '61, even one this nice.
#F20-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S109399. Roman
Red/white/red vinyl. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Good paint shows some swirls, chrome
fair. Clean interior, non-original engine made
up to look correct for the year. A good looking
weekend driver. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $45,150.
#S86-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S103330. Red/black/
red vinyl. Odo: 38,525 miles. 327-ci 340-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Wonderbar radio, windshield
washers, both tops. Consignor claims original
miles. Older good quality repaint now cracking
at antenna base. Original lightly pitted bumpers
and chrome buffed out. Windshield gasket has
rippling in lower corners and was trimmed unprofessionally
with either an X-acto knife, power
knife, or hatchet. Poorly repainted steering
column, heavily yellowed turn signal arm and
gearshift knob. Older replacement upholstery
has minimal wear. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $56,700.
With ever-escalating solid-axle prices, this may
have been the best way into a driver '62, which
shield trim chromed over rough areas. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $49,350. Not perfect, but above
average and an excellent driver or cruise-in car.
At the lower end of the market, this was a decent
buy—especially if all the numbers matched.
C2
#S20-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Sting Ray coupe. S/N 30837S105481. Black/
black vinyl. Odo: 48,823 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. NCRS Top Flight in 2007.
Factory a/c, ps, pb, Positraction, tinted windshield,
AM/FM radio. Body character lines dull
rather than crisp from sanding. Thick, excellent
repaint heavily buffed out. Body cracks forming
at passenger side headlight and on right rear
fender top. High quality rechrome job on the
First-generation Corvettes have never lost their
appeal. With a replacement engine and an average
restoration, this car was hardly investment
grade. That said, it had a great look and would
have made a great cruiser. A usable car at a
good price.
#S62-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S113449.
Almond
Beige/black/red vinyl. Odo: 27,157 miles. 327ci
250-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. NCRS Top Flight
in 2004, scoring 95.5 points. Factory options
include heavy-duty suspension and Wonderbar
radio. Restoration performed to the highest
standards, body and paintwork surpass factory
specs. Highly buffed trim, wheel covers too
shiny. Clean and correct undercarriage, white-
is generally considered the best year to actually
drive among the trunk-back cognoscenti.
Even though it showed wear and tear, it had its
original powertrain and low miles, so there was
really no downside here. Well bought.
#F113-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S102792. Red/white/
black vinyl. Odo: 65,886 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Some visible chipping and
cracking in decent paint. Front bumpers show
scrapes, dents, and rust, other chrome just OK.
bumpers and replacement emblems. Buffed out
stainless trim. Excellent replacement interior
soft trim, accurately restored engine compartment.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $92,925. This was
way over the top money for a base level engine.
Both the factory a/c and recent NCRS blessing
are what pushed the envelope here, but I found
myself wondering if the cracks made their presence
known before or after it made Top Flight
status.
wall tires starting to yellow. Interior soft trim
replaced with high-quality reproduction items,
all of which show basically no wear. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $91,875. This car was the top sale a
month and a half previously at Mecum's spring
Kansas City auction, then selling for $78,225
(CM# 45069). This was not a case of $12k-plus
worth of upward market adjustment in that
timeframe, but rather the right car at the right
56 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Headlight to fender trim misfit, stone chips on
windshield. Cracks in steering wheel, driver's
seat springs worn. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $47,250.
The last year of the straight axle Corvettes with
the desirable 300-hp engine, but held back by
the Powerglide transmission. Still, fairly bought
at under $50k.
#S37-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S102044. Red/white/
red vinyl. Odo: 6,673 miles. 327-ci 340-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Minor paint preparation flaws
visible throughout, door edges chipped. New interior
and top, dashpad and grab bar show minor
flaws. Windshield weatherstrip cracking, wind
#S102-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S101409. Red/red vinyl.
Odo: 65,512 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Powerglide, ps, pb, Wonderbar radio.
Knockoffs dull and oxidized, with pitted spinners.
Older repaint broadcasts all body bonding
strips under the right light. Older replacement
bumpers and door handles, pitted gas tank
flipper lid. Door and hood gaps and fit appear
original. Spare tire tub freshly bought the morning
of the auction, driver's side headlight motor
intermittently operational. Replacement seat
vinyl and carpeting, cracked original steering
wheel. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $54,338. It may
have had a lot of eyeball, especially in all red
Page 55
assembly line with the N03 big tank, and 199
were born as Z06s, making this one of the rarest
of the breed. This was a lot of money for a SplitWindow,
but it was a reflection of both its rarity
and its condition.
since new, but it was just superficial. Once you
get past the cosmetics, a Split-Window coupe
with the base engine and an automatic in this
shape shouldn't really be commanding a price
north of $50k.
TOP 10
#10
#S122-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 30837S114581. Red/back
vinyl. Odo: 93,485 miles. 327-ci 360-hp
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Z06 option, full tinted glass,
pb, pw, AM/FM radio. Heavily sanded body, expertly
applied repaint. Nicely buffed chrome and trim,
driver's side upper windshield trim coming off.
Engine hp decal on valve cover worn and faded
to the point that it can't be read. Reupholstered
seats have slightly lumpy padding. Cond: 2.
Factory aluminum wheels likely not factory installed.
Very nice throughout. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $56,175. Aluminum knockoffs were introduced
as an option in 1963, but actual delivery
is uncertain because of leaks due to rim porosity.
They were sold over the parts counter, which
might be how this car ended up with them. While
possibly not completely authentic, this was a
very well done car in appealing colors, and it
brought above average money.
#S108-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
SOLD AT $139,650. The bidding started off
with a flourish of activity that slowly bogged
down until it nearly died at $133k. At that point,
the seller cut loose his reserve, and the bidders
woke up again. The big brake fuelie combo
in good colors made this Split-Window well
bought, despite needing some elbow grease to
get it show-ready.
TOP 10
#3
#S63-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 Tanker coupe. S/N 30837S117511.
Riverside Red/black vinyl. Odo: 40,010
miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. N03
big tank option, Z06 package. Shiny paint shows
slight drips at left side of hood and on headlight
doors. Panel gaps typically varied. Good bright
trim and chrome, some hard weatherstripping.
Engine compartment clean, interior nicely finished
in original-style black vinyl. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $367,500. Sixty-three cars left the
in place. Original interior has seam separations
and general wear on both seats. Carpeting added
over fuel tank in original style. Cond: 4+. NOT
SOLD AT $115,000. The consignor speculated
that this was the 1964 Paris Auto Show car, but
he could not substantiate it. Viewed by most as
ready to be restored. As a bit of a one-off, it's
hard to say if the consignor was prudent or foolish
to let it go, but it was a no-sale a few weeks
earlier at Mecum's Belvidere sale for similar
money. It would be pretty easy to go beyond
profitability to restore this, but the consignor
may end up proceeding down that route.
coupe. S/N 40837S106732. Daytona Blue/navy
vinyl. Odo: 69,245 miles. 327-ci 375-hp fuelinjected
V8, 4-sp. Delivered new to GM of
France for the European market. Factory options
include oversized fuel tank, ps, pb, and power
antenna. Minimal prep work on old repaint,
cracking on right front fender. Chrome all pitted
to some extent. Replacement engine fitted with
most original fuelie bits. Four different types
of spark plug wires used, no ignition shielding
#F79-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S105233. Tan/tan/saddle
vinyl. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very
good paint and chrome show only minor flaws.
Panel gaps as good as when new, trim and glass
unmarked. Well-fitted clean interior and top.
Numbers-matching engine, clean undercarriage.
#F65-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 40837S114275. Ermine White/black
vinyl. 327-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Excellent
paint over sharp body lines. Decent panel gaps,
nice chrome and trim. Interior clean and wellfitted,
numbers-matching engine in very good
condition. Factory knockoffs and side exhaust,
Vintage Air a/c added. A very nice driver. Cond:
2+. SOLD AT $43,050. Some Corvette buyers
are purists who crave originality. Others just
want a great looking car that shows and drives
well. This was the latter. A beautiful coupe that
raised about average money.
#S65-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S106628. Tuxedo
Black/black/red vinyl. Odo: 69,396 miles. 327ci
365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent paint shows
some issues, including some light chips and
polish swirl marks. Some weak chrome, glass
scratched in places, hard top plexi window
crazing. Interior mostly new, but paint drips on
passenger seat back and light rust on seat supports
take away from the presentation. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $59,850. Said to be still equipped
with its original drivetrain. With the high-horse
327, side pipes, both tops, and a 4-speed, what's
not to like? A fair price for condition.
#S121-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S105756. Eng. #
matching. Goldwood Yellow/black/black vinyl.
Odo: 94,486 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Second owner, never restored. Optional
tinted glass, pw, pb, ps, telescopic steering column,
wood wheel, and whitewall tires. Exterior
scratches and bare fiberglass in spots. Hood
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 57
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Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
doesn't fit correctly. Interior wear commensurate
with almost 100k miles. Runs great, according
to seller. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $43,000.
Probably fun to drive but needs cosmetic work,
and if the hood doesn't seat properly, what else
might be wrong? A reasonable offer for a project
car that didn't offer much performance.
#S88-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S114610. Rally Red/black
leather. Odo: 29,673 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Miles indicated claimed correct,
major components claimed original. Good older
repaint, decent replated bumpers. Original trim
includes lightly pitted door handles and beat-up
to near perfection. Power antenna, side exhaust,
Positraction, wood steering wheel. Nice paint,
clean interior, well detailed engine compartment
and chassis. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $47,250.
Corvette script was added to the hood in 1966,
and backup lights became standard. Holley
carburetors, used with some engines previously,
were standard with all 1966 motors. It's hard to
believe this coupe sold for so little considering
how nice it was, but convertibles are the hotter
ticket right now.
windshield stainless. Generally neatly detailed
under the hood, but not all GM components
and not to concours specs. Brakes converted
to stainless steel on all four corners. Somewhat
worn original seat leather, lesser worn original
carpet. Offered at no reserve. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $48,038. Claimed to be both “absolutely
original” and “freshened up as needed.”
Pick one or the other, as long as it's the latter.
Incongruent was the word that came first in my
mind, therefore this was sold well.
#S25-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S119425. Red/black/
black vinyl. Odo: 32 miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint well applied, with no issues
visible aside from minor polishing marks. Doors
shut solid, body straight and crisp. Excellent
chrome and stainless trim, nice top slightly wrinkled.
Goldline tires, knockoffs, side pipes. New
#F45-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S121077. Marlboro
Maroon/tan/saddle vinyl. Odo: 49,446 miles.
327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very good resprayed
paint on a mostly original car. Clean
interior, engine shows little use. Loaded with options
including factory alloy knock-off wheels,
Goldline tires, ps, hard top, and wood wheel. Not
stock. Long crack has formed in center of body
two inches behind and parallel to passenger door
frame. Correct restoration of interior features all
reproduction vinyl. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT
$190,000. Regardless of the ink still being wet
on the Bloomington Gold certificate, it was a bit
hard to swallow that a regular production '67
with cracks in the body was worth more than
$190k. As values are now a bit fluid on 435 hp
cars, the potential buyer may have dodged a
bullet here.
#S40-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S119211. Silver pearl/
white/white & blue vinyl. Odo: 53,209 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Special order
trim and color combination matches the body
fabrication tag. Heavily optioned with ps, pb, pw,
a/c, tinted glass, telescopic column, speed warning,
AM/FM radio, and alloy wheels. Body-off
restoration completed in '06. Expertly prepped
body retains a light hint of factory bonds. Paint
better than factory. Passenger side vent window
crank observed to be not operational. Premium
Bloomington Gold quality, but nice nonetheless.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $46,200. Certain color
and option combinations just look right, and
this car had it all: Marlboro Maroon paint, tan
top, saddle interior, knockoffs, and Goldlines.
However, this base-motor Corvette barely made
the lower end of the price range for these cars,
so it can be considered well bought.
interior, clean engine and undercarriage. Cond:
2+. SOLD AT $92,400. Last seen at Mecum's
Arlington Heights sale in November '97, where
it sold for $46,988 (CM# 22089). Very nice if
not all correct—but the paint had been done to
a much higher standard than was typically done
from the factory. The seller should be smiling.
#S132-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 19437S120590. Rally Red/black
vinyl. Odo: 52,121 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4bbl,
4-sp. Claimed matching numbers, restored
58 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#S38-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S120943. Black &
red/black/black vinyl. Odo: 2 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Bloomington Gold
certified within the last 48 hours of the auction
as a Gold class car. Copy of the original tank
sticker confirms side pipes, AM radio, and alloy
wheels. Body heavily sanded down, character
lines and body creases no longer crisp. Paint
application quite good, with a higher gloss than
quality reproduction interior. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $111,300. The consigning dealer strongly
hinted that this was one of the few COPO '67
Corvettes, but there was no tank sticker or any
other documentation to prove it. Since this was
a St. Louis-fabricated body, it's very plausible
to be a special order car, since the A.O. Smithproduced
bodies tended to be only painted and
trimmed in more heavily ordered standard color
schemes. Regardless, the combo came off quite
well, and that combined with the quality of the
restoration made it a good buy.
#S56-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S114840. Ermine White &
black/black vinyl. Odo: 28,595 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Off-road exhaust, F41
suspension, 4.11 Positraction, AM/FM radio,
and Rally wheels. Complete body-off frame
restoration completed in '05, NCRS Top Flight
with a score of 97.7 points. Sharp body character
creases, bonding strip locations still visible,
better-than-stock repaint. Perfect door and panel
gaps, superb original and reproduction stainless
steel trim. Engine bay correctly restored, excellent
interior includes refaced instrument panel
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and redyed console. Cond: 1+. NOT SOLD AT
$108,000. This restoration was about as fresh
and state-of-the-art as one can get. Thus, the
bid was way low, and it was no surprise that it
wasn't taken.
#S6.1-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S113573. Marlboro
Maroon/tan/saddle leather. Odo: 55,336 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory a/c, pb,
ps, and AM/FM radio. Older masked off bodyon-frame
repaint recently highly buffed out,
with visible original bonding strips. Light pitting
on the vent window frames. Oxidized alloy
wheels with pitted centers, newer replacement
F41 suspension, and factory aluminum wheels.
Paint close to perfect, with only minor issues
noted due to light use. All side and rear glass
delaminating, ignition cover chrome peeling.
NCRS Regional and National Top Flight and
Bloomington Gold certified in 2006. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $120,000. Built on the first
day of the 1967 production run. This car had
an excellent appearance overall, and while this
bid was close to the mark for the car, $10k more
would have placed it closer to market.
interior soft trim installed in a workman-like
manner. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $64,000. This
was silly money for a small-block, single top
'67 convertible in this shape. The seller tried to
come up with a cock-and-bull story about base
level engines being rare, but the only shred of
truth to this is because all of those non-original
big-block cars have to be built from something.
#S83-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S116355. Silver/white/
black vinyl. Odo: 48,609 miles. 427-ci 435-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Tank sticker verifies off-road
exhaust, F41 suspension, K66 ignition, and
tinted glass. Well-applied paint, typical slightly
inconsistent panel gaps. Lots of dum-dum visible
on outside edge of windshield trim. Windshield
paint masking not great. Bloomington Gold certified
in 1989. Two NCRS Regional Top Flight
awards, NCRS Performance Verification award,
#S46-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 19477S109334. Goldenrod
Yellow & black/black/black vinyl. Odo: 33,334
miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. 4.11
Positraction, telescoping steering column with
wood steering wheel, AM/FM radio. Very sharp
body creases, bonding strips are all but invisible.
Authentic repaint, better than stock door
on body. Replaced chrome, highly buffed out
original trim. Non-original engine block. Newer
replacement top and soft trim, all of which show
very light wear from limited use. Black interior
in leather instead of original vinyl, non-stock
wood steering wheel fitted. Speedometer stuck
at 55 mph. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $63,000.
While it was supposedly an original 435 hp car,
this one had a bit too many non-stock pieces for
the majority of bidders to take seriously. There
was no real interest here, and this car will likely
fare better somewhere without so many better
competing examples.
#S112-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S122339. Sunfire Yellow
& black/black vinyl. Odo: 39,689 miles. 427ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. NCRS certified
Top Flight, F41 suspension, K66 transistor
ignition, Positraction, side pipes, Redline tires,
Protect-O-Plate, all matching numbers. Decent
paint, typical panel gaps, chrome and trim nice.
Interior well fitted and correct. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $131,250. This is about what you'd expect
to pay for a nice, authentic 435 hp coupe in
this market. Both buyer and seller should be
pleased.
and hood fit. Spotless engine compartment, correctly
painted chassis and undercarriage components.
Very good original finish to console and
dashboard. New carpet, seat upholstery, door
panels, dashpad, and convertible top. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $136,500. Another example of the
current state-of-the-art restoration, and another
example of the level to which 435-hp convertibles
have adjusted. Market correct.
Chapter Flight award. Restoration supervised by
David Burroughs. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT
$180,000. This car had a great overall condition
and some good papers as well, and although
there was some age to the NCRS awards, it had
clearly been well-cared for. This car should be
able to top $200k, so the seller was right to keep
it at this price.
#S85-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S100108. Goodwood Green/
dark saddle leather. Odo: 28,359 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Fitted with side pipes,
60 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#S76-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S100304. Red/
white/black leather. Odo: 49,415 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Fitted with 17-inch
American Racing Torq-Thrust IIs. Highly
buffed out repaint cracking at the passenger
door area, some bonding strip rippling visible
Perfections Ltd. of Hartland, Wisconsin.
Original trim tags, matching numbers, CA
black plates, wood wheel, Redlines, re-stamped
transmission. Excellent condition inside and
out. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $240,000. This
car was drop-dead gorgeous, and it should have
been worth at least $20k more than this high
bid. It's hard to fault the seller for holding out
for more, as he'll likely be able to get it.
#S114-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S107811. Eng. # Matching.
#S113-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S117182. Eng. #
7117132. Rally Red/black/black vinyl. Odo:
7 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Welldetailed
rotisserie restoration by Corvette
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chipped, original chrome shows wear and light
pitting. Seat covers worn, springs weak. Hurst
shifter, telescopic wheel. Big block hood, hard
and soft tops, American Racing Torq-Thrust
wheels. Hooker painted side pipes. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $44,625. An excellent project car,
but definitely not a show contender as it sat. The
body looked quite solid with no trim dents, and
both tops were included with it. At this price, the
seller should be quite pleased.
Silver Pearl/black leather. Odo: 1,708 miles.
427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Sold on bill of
sale only.
Frame-off restoration, factory a/c,
leather interior with headrests, ps, pb, pw, AM/
FM, tinted glass, Redline tires, side mounted
exhaust. Matching numbers, original window
sticker included. NCRS Top Flight and Duntov
Awards. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $136,500. If you
were going to buy a 'Vette without a title, you
might as well have bought one of the best. This
'67 certainly fit the bill, and it brought a market
price. Both the buyer and seller should be
pleased.
#S6-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S110667. Marlboro
Maroon/black/black vinyl. Odo: 55,934 miles.
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Options
include heavy-duty J56 brakes and simulated
wood wheel. Bloomington Gold certified in
1993. Slight traces of bonding strips visible
in well-prepped and expertly repainted body.
Gleaming pit-free chrome, older professionally
#S7-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S117421. Lyndale Blue/blue
vinyl. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory
a/c. Some paint prep flaws and chips visible,
panel gaps varied but typical. Cleaned engine
features shiny rubber parts. Factory-style side
pipes and Redlines fitted, nose stripe done in
Bloomington Gold Certified in '89, part of the
Bloomington Gold Special Collection in '91.
NCRS Top Flight Awards in '89, '02, and '03.
Shiny paint has corner cracks just starting at
headlights. Chrome excellent, panel gaps good,
glass and trim unmarked. Engine compartment
looks as-delivered from the factory, interior
well fitted and correct. Like new everywhere.
Original alloy wheels and Firestone Redline
tires. Documented with all books and records.
The Roby Price car. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$467,250. This car had a crowd around it most
of the weekend, and the level of excitement and
speculation surrounding it wasn't misplaced.
Well done in all respects, it was the high sale of
the event. Although this was lots of money, this
car was one of the best big-block '67 convertibles
in the country, so the new owner has no
explaining to do.
an original fashion. Several small interior flaws
noted, including missing radio trim and lumps
in padded dash. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $96,600.
Lyndale Blue was in my opinion one of the best
colors offered in '67, and the new owner must
agree with me. This was a strong price, but a '67
with a/c, a big block, and a 4-speed is relatively
hard to find.
buffed stainless trim.
Concours grade engine
compartment and chassis detailing, fully restored
interior shows no visible wear, and has
reproduction tags placed in the appropriate
locations. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $140,000.
Marked on the windshield on Sunday morning
with “still for sale, $155,000.” Another case of
seller's remorse, as this should've been close
enough to get the deal done on the block the day
before.
#F122-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S104653. Silver/black/
black leather. Odo: 28,381 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Lots of paint chips, scrapes,
cracks, and pitting. Body features added rear
flares to allow wider tires. Glass scratched and
#S27-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S111258. Marina
Blue/black/black vinyl. Odo: 40,257 miles. 427ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Equipped with pw,
pb, ps, and a/c. Two tops. Claimed original engine,
transmission, and differential. Restoration
#S137-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S104248. Rally Red/
black/red leather. Odo: 76,107 miles. 427-ci
400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Older frame-off
restoration, L68 engine rebuilt 1,000 miles ago.
New paint, new top, factory options include
a/c, AM/FM radio, close-ratio transmission,
Positraction, and Redline tires. Cond: 2. NOT
SOLD AT $110,000. Another nice convertible
bid to triple digits. It wasn't quite enough for the
seller to let it go, and he was probably right, as
it's likely worth more—especially with its L68
engine. The seller made the right call.
completed in '07, a two-owner car until 2006.
Light crack in fiberglass at top of driver's door
jamb at front and rear. Detailed engine, Redline
tires mounted on original Rally wheels. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $131,775. This was a great, welloptioned
car, and it had lots of admirers at the
sale. The price can do the talking here.
TOP 10
#1
#S67-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S114878. Tuxedo
Black
& red/black/black
vinyl. Odo:
12,704 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
#F7-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S116214. Black/black vinyl.
Odo: 38,874 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. A nicely-restored '67. Excellent paint
and chrome show no issues aside from minor
polishing marks. Interior nice, all-GM engine
compartment clean. Fitted with Redlines and
side pipes. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $42,000. Big
blocks stole the show in 1967, but Chevrolet
also offered the L79 350-hp 327 option, and this
was one of them. Over 6,000 L79s were built,
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so they are not “rare” in the strictest sense, but
they have become relatively hard to find. This
one was in good overall shape, and it sold well
below market value. The buyer got a bargain.
#S143-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S119759.
White/
navy/blue vinyl. Odo: 52,588 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory radio delete.
Interesting body tag, in that there is no entry
from A.O. Smith for the paint and trim codes.
Consignor claims that it is an unrestored car.
Ancient repaint worn, ugly engine bay indicative
of no maintenance and lack of use. Brakes
no longer work, with stopping by parking brake
only. Cracked door panel tops and gauge faces,
door panel fit loose. Needs a jump to get started,
has a rough idle and a metallic lifter tick. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $89,250. While the aluminum
cylinder head L89 is a pretty rare critter, this
example was more than a bit rough around the
edges. With 1968s, originality isn't necessarily a
good thing due to their first year teething problems.
This final price was more a reflection of
those issues than of how it was equipped.
being done with colors at this time, both inside
and outside the automotive world. It actually
didn't look too bad, as the orange came off more
as a saddle tan. The only cheaper COPOs from
1968 are Chevy bucket trucks and a few Yenko
Stingers, so with that in mind, I'll call this well
bought.
#S116-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S411460. Silver/black vinyl.
Odo: 63,010 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4sp.
Equipped with a/c, simulated wood wheel,
and rear luggage rack. Fresh frame-off restoration,
excellent bare-body repaint over several
light pits in body. Light scuffing on all-original
chrome and trim. Fresh engine cosmetics include
renewed cad plating. New seat vinyl shows no
appreciable wear, while the remainder of the
interior is original and in reasonably good condition.
Offered at no reserve. Cond: 3+. SOLD
#S75-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S718658. Monaco Orange/
black leather. Odo: 74,571 miles. 427-ci 400-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Equipped with a/c, pw, and
side pipes. Shiny paint shows no issues, chrome
decent except where replated over bumper flaws.
Right side windshield trim dented, other trim
OK. Cracks on side pipe mounting sills, glass
unmarked. Engine compartment well detailed,
leather interior nice. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD
AT $64,000. This bid would have been all the
money for a #1 as little as a year ago, but here it
didn't motivate the seller to let it go.
generally good seat vinyl aged. Older soft top
in generally good and serviceable condition.
Cond: 4-. NOT SOLD AT $49,000. The consignor
made some broad hints that this could be
a COPO car due to the lack of info on the body
tag. I doubt it, as there was a lot of older and
original paperwork that came with the car. A.O.
Smith sometimes provided bodies untrimmed to
keep the flow of bodies going to the St. Louis
plant. Still, without a tank sticker, it's hard to tell
for sure. For what this was bid to, it should've
sold three times over. A victim of long-term iffy
storage, it needed a complete restoration.
C3
#S68-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible.
S/N
194678S419384.
British
Green/white/dark orange vinyl. Odo: 61,002
miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The only
known COPO 1968 Corvette, due to specialorder
paint and interior combination. Tank
sticker is still affixed to original gas tank, which
is wrapped in clear plastic and sitting on passenger
seat. Optioned with a/c, ps, pb, telescopic
steering column, hard and soft tops, and AM/
FM radio. Older repaint with masking issues
and dimples in fiberglass on the driver's side of
nose. Excellent original chrome and trim, alloriginal
interior shows moderate wear. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $73,500. I have no idea why someone
would've thought of this as a good color combo,
but then again, there were far more crass things
62 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#S24.1-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S720930. Yellow/
black/black vinyl. Odo: 60,529 miles. 427-ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good quality body
prep and repaint, door gaps wide at top and
tight at bottom. Factory-installed side pipes
nice, bumpers cloudy and not well aligned,
remaining chrome and trim slightly pitted.
Inexpensive radials with red stripe added. Well-
AT $25,200. Chrome bumper C3s continue to
pick up steam, increasing in interest and value.
This was market pricing, if not with an edge
slightly toward the seller.
#S60-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S408790. Cordovan
Maroon/black/black vinyl. Odo: 86,755 miles.
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. COPO L89,
M22 Muncie, 4.11 ratio Positraction. Ex-Reggie
Jackson. Original paint is heavily damaged on
most of the passenger side front fender, possibly
from brake fluid or antifreeze. Paint on the rest
of the body has some light cracking and a few
light scuffs. Presentable original chrome and
trim, generally well detailed engine bay and
undercarriage. Light wear to seats and carpet,
cared-for original leather interior shows just a
hint of wear and patina, carpet shows heavier
wear but doesn't yet need replacement. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $31,500. While not ready for a
trip to an NCRS event, this was a fair price for
a fairly decent big-block C3... especially if the
new owner isn't afraid of putting some sweat
equity into improving it.
#S73-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S720167. Maroon/
black/saddle vinyl. Odo: 43,161 miles. 427-ci
400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Factory a/c, pw, side
pipes. Good paint shows minor polish marks,
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chrome nice except for pitted center section of
side pipe cover. Some vinyl wear to hard top
edges. Blacked out undercarriage. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $97,125. This was a lot of money for
a C3 that wasn't especially rare, but with the
right options and its original order form and
title, this result wasn't all that surprising. C3s
should be watched closely, as they have not yet
peaked.
#S124-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S704264. Daytona
Yellow/black/black vinyl. Odo: 66,601 miles.
Nice paint, excellent chrome, glass unmarked.
350-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Near perfect
inside and out, including engine compartment.
Best Buy #F57-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 19467S715499. Riverside Gold/
white/black vinyl. Odo: 6,293 miles. 427-ci 390hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Excellent resprayed Riverside
Gold paint, otherwise completely original. Interior
shows very light wear, top has heavier wear and is
frayed at the edges. Good engine compartment,
original window sticker. A strong car with loads
looking for a good driver at a bargain price got
just that.
of originality. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $38,850.
This '69 Corvette had the same owner since
1971, and he clearly pampered it over the years.
The L36 390-hp 427s are great performing cars
without the wildness of the 435-hp cars, but the
L71 always commands the top dollars. This one
sold for well below market value for an L36. A
real bargain for a car of this quality.
#F8-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Fully restored, offered at no reserve. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $27,300. A cramped cabin and
rust-prone chassis aren't enough to justify the
embarassingly low price the seller got for this
show-quality convertible. The buyer must be
jumping for joy. This was a steal.
#F94-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S727531. Monza Red/
black/black vnyl. 350-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Original paint, engine, top, and interior, all in almost
flawless condition. Factory smog-equipped
California engine. Certified Bloomington Gold
Survivor. Fully documented with tank sticker
and Protect-O-Plate. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT
$55,000. Absolutely stunning. A Bloomington
Gold Survivor needs to be at least 50% original,
coupe. S/N 194379S732491. Fathom Green/
black vinyl. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fair
Fathom Green paint, pitted chrome. Good interior
with the usual wear. Average engine possibly
non-original. Options include ps, pw, and
tilt and telescopic steering column. Incorrect
radial tires. A decent driver. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$24,150. Though it had the same owner for the
past 17 years, there was nothing about this '69
to make it jump out from the crowd. Someone
#F87-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S720930. Daytona
Yellow/black/black leather. Odo: 60,528 miles.
427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Good paint
shows no issues. Chrome dinged, scratched, and
pitted throughout. Nice leather interior, decently
detailed numbers-matching engine. A good
driver or restoration project. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $31,500. This was one of about a half-dozen
390-hp 427 cars that went under the gavel on
Friday, where it faced a field of too many similar
Corvettes and did not sell. It was wisely re-run
on Sunday as lot S24.1, where is sold for a fair
price for its condition.
#F32-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S73129. LeMans Blue/black
vinyl. Odo: 6,628 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8,
4-bbl,
4-sp. Well-documented
with
original
but this one was clearly closer to perfection.
Even the factory paint was without the usual
flaws. Possibly its only shortcoming was the
300-hp base 350 engine with factory smog
equipment. Still, it should have been able to
bring slightly more here. Had this been a 435-hp
427 car... who knows?
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worn. Optional vinyl-covered hard top. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $48,300. Though bulkier and
less sporting to drive than earlier 'Vettes, these
gadget-filled, detuned models are enormously
popular and their values are rising within the
market. This one was less than sterling, so both
the buyer and seller got a fair deal.
tank sticker. Excellent paint shows smooth application
and no orange peel. Panel gaps decent,
body has few waves. Interior worn, numbersmatching
engine quite dirty. Options include
ps, tilt and telescopic steering column, and side
exhaust. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $35,000.
About a half-dozen '68 and '69 390-hp 427
Corvettes were included in Friday's auction. A
few sold, but this one didn't. The 390-hp L36 has
never generated the same kind of interest as the
top-of-the-line 435-hp L71, but they're far from
undesirable. Maybe it was a case of too many
similar cars in one place... Correct tires and a
clean engine would have gone a long way here.
#S30-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194370S410524. Medium blue metallic/black
leather. Odo: 63,148 miles. 454-ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Equipped with a/c, tilt
telescopic steering column, ps, pb, and AM/FM
stereo. Consignor claims original miles. Very
good repaint covers all of the windshield to body
trim and wiper panel. Wavy original bumpers
column, and Redline tires. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$32,813. The LS5 454 Corvettes were built for
effortless cruising, and this fine example would
have been perfect for that. Equipped with all the
right options, yet sold on the lower end of the
price range for these cars. Quite a bargain.
#S98-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S711561. Roman Red/
white/red leather. Odo: 59,054 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Tank sticker verifies
equipment. Recent body-off restoration generally
good, but lacking in several details. Heavily
prepped and sanded body smoother than original
and expertly repainted. Door gap on forward
passenger side wide enough to walk through,
rear gap is pretty much right. High-quality
#S19-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194371S102711. Ontario Orange/
tan vinyl. Odo: 26,707 miles. 454-ci 365-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory a/c, mileage claimed
original. Good repaint has no issues aside from
minor chips, although the color does not really
look like Ontario Orange—more like ripe peach
or mango. Exterior chrome unmarked. Detailed
engine and chassis. Some wear and pitting on
interior chrome trim, crack in left armrest. All
new weatherstripping. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$42,000. A much-updated low-mileage shark
with big block, 4-speed, and a/c. Fairly bought
and sold, with some future appreciation possible.
rechromed bumpers, mostly new trim. Original
engine compartment grubby. Anything that can
be replaced or restored in the interior has been,
and shows no appreciable wear. Cond: 3+. NOT
SOLD AT $71,000. This restoration wasn't as
spectacular as the consignor would have one
believe. Mostly it was a lot of eye candy, but
when it got down to nuts and bolts, $71k was
a long shot for this car. The consignor wanted
$75k, but no one really seemed very interested
at that price.
lightly scuffed, windshield starting to delaminate.
Very good original interior with the exception
of the seat upholstery. Heavy paint wear on
steering column. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $27,300.
The 390-hp flavor of 454 with an automatic,a/c,
and all the power amenities made this more of
a two-seat Caprice than a sports car. Sold well
condsidering its condition.
#F55-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194370S410924. Monza Red/black
vinyl. Odo: 53,400 miles. 454-ci 390-hp V8, 4bbl,
4-sp. Older body-on restoration still looks
good. Paint shows only minor flaws, including
chips and slight polish scratches. Black vinyl
interior has normal wear that minor detailing
could still improve. Numbers-matching engine
compartment dirty and in need of detailing.
Overall, a beautiful 454 Corvette in excellent
driving condition. Filled with factory options,
including ps, pb, a/c, tilt and telescopic steering
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#S111-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194671S102061. War Bonnet
Yellow/black/saddle leather. Odo: 90,962 miles.
454-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Equipped with tilt
wheel, rear window defroster, ps, pw, pb, alarm,
and a/c. Despite all the options and a binder full
of service records, there are obvious flaws to the
paint and body. Gaps decent, but wide in places.
Interior and engine compartment clean, but
#F44-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67K25510778. Bryar Blue/
blue/blue leather. Odo: 44,547 miles. 350-ci
200-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent paint, straight
fiberglass, flawless leather interior. Engine dirty
but easily detailed. Plenty of options include
a/c, tilt and telescopic steering column, ps, pb,
pw. Same owner for the last 21 years. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $28,875. Raw horsepower was no
longer the focus in 1972, and instead, the third
generation Corvette was being refined. This
nicely optioned car would have been perfect
for show and moderate go. The LT1 or LS5
engine options would have driven the price up
markedly, but those options made the Corvette
a much hairier beast. For those who appreciate
a car like this for what it is, this one was a real
bargain.
#S87-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J3S402586. Green/
white/tan leather. Odo: 67,702 miles. 350-ci
190-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Preparation flaws in
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performance, but the '76 was an improvement,
and this one was about as factory fresh as they
come. It sold at Sunday's auction at the very top
of 1976 prices, and while it's hardly a Corvette
that will skyrocket in value, this was a fair
price.
paint, windshield wiper scratches in glass.
Good original leather seats, exhaust trim misfit.
Aftermarket “Corvette” radio installed. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $28,875. 1973 was the last year for
the chrome bumper, and it was relegated to the
rear only. These cars are just starting to gain
some respect in the market, as their styling has
held up well over the years. This was a clean
car, and despite being fitted with the base engine
and an automatic, it was able to generate a very
respectable price. Well sold.
#F51-1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J420464. Ontario
Orange/black/black cloth. Odo: 98,703 miles.
350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Good original
paint in popular Ontario Orange. Clean interior
with aftermarket AM/FM/cassette added.
Dirty engine needs some attention. Recent top,
exhaust, low-end tires, and brakes. All in all, a
good looking, good driving C3 convertible that
(or at least from the last year before its ten-year
hiatus), $18k was far too much to pay for a
rattletrap like this. Very well sold.
#F64-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1267J5S422730. Bright
Yellow/black/saddle leather. Odo: 72,446 miles.
350-ci 165-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored yellow
paint shows some flaws, including orange peel
and minor scratching throughout. Very good
Deluxe interior has little wear. Good top, clean
engine compartment, major components numbers-matching.
Aftermarket high-quality tires
#F41-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car coupe. S/N 1Z87L8S903582.
Black & silver/silver leather. Odo: 44,000 miles.
350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Owned by the
same person for the past 20 years. Original paint
is good, with only a few nicks here and there.
Original graphics faded, interior clean with no
wear. Engine compartment clean and correct.
A very good '78 Pace Car that displays well.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $18,900. When new, a
needs some detailing and a set of higher-quality
tires. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $16,013. This was the
first year for the “soft” front and rear bumpers,
and the second-to-last year for the C3 convertible.
These were fine cars for their era, and this
one looked quite good for its mileage, though a
good cleaning of the engine and undercarriage
would have been a good investment for the
seller. Sold below the usual range.
#S84-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J5S40143. White/tan/tan
vinyl. Odo: 888 miles. 350-ci 270-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Options include a/c, tilt/telescopic steering
column, ps, pb, pw, power antenna, and luggage
rack. Thick older repaint recently buffed
out. Both doors rattle loudly when closed and
require a stout pull to open. Scuffed windshield
stainless trim, crack in right outboard taillight
lens. Engine bay dusty, unkempt, and serviced
with non-GM parts. Replacement seat upholstery
fitted well, moderate carpet wear visible.
Noticeable weathering and wear to top vinyl.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $18,638. Even though it
was from the last year of convertible production
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installed on 1976 aluminum wheels. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $20,738. The 1975 Corvette ragtop
was supposed to be “the last convertible ever.”
Proposed government regulations and soft sales
brought about what was supposed to be the end
of the road for the drop-top, so this car had a
little historic interest. But the '75 was also the
lowest horsepower Corvette since the early
'50s 6-cylinder cars, making for yawn-inspiring
performance. This one sold fairly at the lower
end of the market.
#U26-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37L6S419480. Red/saddle
leather. Odo: 30,800 miles. 350-ci 180-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Odometer reading believed to be
original. Equipped with tilt and telescopic steering
column and a/c. Flawless factory paint and
alloy wheels, excellent interior shows almost
no wear. Engine mostly clean, with only minor
use-related dirt and wear. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$16,800. 1975 marked the low point of Corvette
few of these cars sold for as much as $75,000,
although the sticker was closer to $14,000. Way
too many (6,502) were built to justify the excitement
in the market back in 1978, and prices
have remained flat ever since. This one would
make a fine driver with above average historical
significance. Sold at the low end of the market
for these cars. The buyer got a great looking,
historically interesting Corvette at a bargain
price.
#F95-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Silver Anniversary coupe. S/N 128748S438905.
Silver & gray/oyster leather. Odo: 62,262
miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Original
paint poorly touched up in spots, graphics sunfaded.
Interior worn at driver's seat, but still
presentable. Engine clean and mostly original.
Inexpensive incorrect tires. With proper paint
touch-up and a little TLC, likely an excellent
driver. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $11,288. The 1978
Silver Anniversary Corvette was one of the best
looking C3s built. The problem is, far too many
were produced to ever be of any real value,
so they are a good low-cost addition to any
collection or the perfect car for the first-time
Corvette buyer. And if you have to own one, get
the higher-performance L82 model, as this one
was. Well bought at this price.
#U17-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8789S432986. Beige/tan vinyl.
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$8,500, was a better place to put this money, as
this car needed some major work.
#F38-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Odo: 26,120 miles. 350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Door edge and black-out paint show chips.
Nice glass, tires and wheels show light wear.
New seats, console pad loose, rest of interior
shows age. Engine has dirt and some surface
rust, but looks all there and unmodified. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $8,500. Another first Corvette
starter car. The paltry factory 195-hp V8 would
not be that much fun, but it was a Corvette and
it looked complete. Put a good crate engine in
it for fun and keep the original for when you
decide to sell the car later. Market correct.
#U15-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8789S443417.
leather. Odo: 73,197
miles.
350-ci
White/oyster
195-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint chips around doors and
rear rubber bumper edges. Blackout trim paint
chipped and worn. Seat leather starting to crack,
coupe. S/N 1Z878AS429069. Red/tan leather.
Odo: 9,596 miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. A striking 1980 Corvette, with excellent
original paint and chrome. Interior equally likenew.
Engine compartment shows little use, but
could stand a light detailing. A low-mile pampered
car. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $17,250.
The C3 Corvette emerged from the horrors of
option. Clean engine compartment and chassis.
A really nice low-mile Collector Edition. Cond:
1-. SOLD AT $30,713. Chevrolet celebrated
the end of the third-generation Corvette with the
special Collector Edition model. At $22,537.59,
it was the most expensive Corvette to date.
While there are never-used examples out there,
this one was in excellent overall condition, with
the FE7 Gymkhana Suspension option and AM/
FM/CB radio. A first-class car that sold at the
top of the market.
coupe. S/N 1G1AV8784C5109774. Red/red
leather. Odo: 20,000
#F17-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
miles.
350-ci
the Seventies in very good shape. The circa 1963
chassis had received its share of updates, while
the circa 1968 body had yet another freshening
that made the '80 one of the best looking cars
of that generation. Bidding reached the upper
end of the usual range for these cars, but it still
did not sell.
#F27-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
driver's armrest pulled loose. Dirty engine is
missing heat riser tube. Not much more than a
driver. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $7,500. Actually
not that bad looking for a Sunday car. It was
honest with some visible flaws, and it would
have made someone a good first Corvette for
not a lot of money. Well bought.
#U19-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z878AS432370. Yellow/tan
leather. Odo: 76,896 miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Body shows painted-over chips
and cracks in several areas, color mismatched
on soft nose and tail. Shampooed but still dirty
carpets, dash panel broken with clear face crack
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8764B5100269. Beige &
dark bronze/camel leather. Odo: 36,672 miles.
350-ci 190-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very good
original paint, interior marred by aftermarket
cup holders and radio. Engine clean and correct,
incorrect tires faked to look original. One
of the first Bowling Green cars built. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $13,000. 1981 was the year
Chevrolet moved Corvette production from the
200-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. A 25-year-old Corvette
in like-new condition. Near flawless paint and
interior, very good engine needs some minor
detailing. A strong example of the last year
C3. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $17,850. If the look
of the third generation Corvette appeals to you,
this might be the car to own. The '82 Collector
Editions get the most attention, but this lowmile,
super-clean example had its own merits.
It sold at the average price for these cars, and
as it was in above-average condition, it was a
very good buy.
C4
old St. Louis plant to the state-of-the-art Bowling
Green facility. Of the 40,606 Corvettes built that
year, 8,995 were built in Bowling Green beginning
in June of '81, and this was the 269th car
off that line. Only a Bowling Green car could be
ordered with the two-tone paint option, intended
to show off the new plant's robotic paint booth
and basecoat/clearcoat paint system. This one
needed little to make it perfect, but the bid was
light and it didn't sell.
#F81-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
starting. Replacement radio. Ill-fitting mirrored
T-tops. Very dirty door jambs and dirty engine,
headlights fit low. Leaf design etched in side
glass. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $8,750. The quickie
paint job made this car a 20-footer. Lot U17, at
coupe. S/N 1G1AY0783C5117662. Silver
Beige/Silver Beige leather. Odo: 11,000 miles.
350-ci 200-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Very good
paint and graphics show only minor flaws.
Excellent interior with rare AM/FM/CB radio
#U16-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY0785ES132554. Red/black
cloth. 350-ci 205-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Body
cracked in places, paint chipped and scuffed all
over. Engine compartment dirty, valve covers
leak oil, hood struts worn out, parts of exhaust
missing. Interior looks like punishment for unfortunate
passengers. Both seats worn through,
dash shows hanging wires. Weatherstripping
hard, cracked, and missing pieces. Windows
loose, horn button missing, VIN tag rusty and
hard to read. Cond: 5. SOLD AT $2,050. Quite
possibly the worst Corvette I've ever seen. It
was equipped with factory alloy wheels—but
one of them was from a Firebird. This was a
barn find without the barn. It may have been
good for some parts, but even that seemed like
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that's exactly what he got at over $60k—but he's
still $300 in the hole if he paid sticker for the car
in '90, not including inflation.
a stretch. Still, the new owner was seen driving
it out of the parking lot after the auction, and it
didn't smoke or make any horrible noises. The
cheapest running and driving Corvette at the
sale... but would you want to drive it?
#F11-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY0781E51197. Bright Silver
Metallic/red leather. Odo: 94,814 miles. 350-ci
205-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Excellent paint,
door handles pitted, glass unmarked. Engine
compartment needs a good cleaning and detailing.
Red leather interior well worn in all
the usual places, but is all correct. Newer tires
not OEM. Overall condition a bit better then
expected from a 23-year-old Corvette with
almost 95,000 miles on the clock. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $5,550. 1984 marked the beginning
of a new generation Corvette, the first all-new
Corvette since 1963. While many had first-year
reliability problems, most '84s have had those
run as all of its contemporaries (as there was a
small-block Chevy buried in there somewhere),
this final bid would likely be the cheapest expenditure
any new owner would make. All in
all, it seemed like it should be worth a bit more,
but not much.
#F89-1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3184K5103454. Gray
Metallic/black/black leather. Odo: 78,381 miles.
350-ci 245-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Rare Gray
Metallic paint in good condition. Sun-damaged
interior well worn, with cracked leather seat surfaces
and a cracked and faded steering wheel.
with similar rectangular taillights to the '90 ZR1,
but the ZR1 package still included wider rear
panels to allow for 11-inch wide rear wheels.
Likely driven from the dealer to the seller's
garage, and not since. This price reflected the
current market for these cars, which is still lagging
behind their sticker prices when new.
worked out years ago. That said, the ride is a
bit too stiff, and the “Crossfire” throttle-body
fuel-injection and LCD instrument display can
be problematic. With a little detailing and some
interior TLC, the new owner will have a good
looking, good driving example of the first of the
C4s. A good buy.
#S106-1984 LOLA
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE IMSA GTP racer. S/N 711.
White & black/black vinyl. RHD. 350-ci fuelinjected
V8, manual. Fitted with the Le Mans
spec long-tail body. Recent restoration to race
rather than concours standards. Once good
quality repaint has some battle damage over the
right rear wheel and rock chips to nose. Racespec
engine bay, lots of scratches and dings on
long aluminum sill leading to race-spec cabin.
Fitted with single-bolt BBS basketweave race
wheels and Goodyear racing slicks. Turnkey
and ready to vintage race, although with no
mention of log book status. Cond: 3. NOT
SOLD AT $255,000. This was the first of
the IMSA Corvette GTP cars to compete at
Daytona in 1985. While not quite as exotic to
68 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Claimed new top frayed in places, new tires
and exhaust nice. Engine compartment fair, but
could be detailed. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $11,550.
This '89 convertible was one of 225 sprayed in
Metallic Gray paint from the factory. It looked
quite nice on the surface, but the worn interior
and top kept it from getting even average money.
The buyer got a good-looking, nice-driving C4
at minimal cost. Like many other Corvettes auctioned
on Friday, this one might have achieved
more money with some cosmetic detailing.
#S9-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J4L5803015.
Black/black leather. Odo: 111 miles. 350-ci
375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. The first year
ZR-1, still new in box. $60,600 sticker on
window. Bloomington Gold certified, no wear
noted anywhere. One of 3,049 built. Cond: 1.
#F82-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J8M580130. Bright
Red/red leather. Odo: 18,424 miles. 350-ci
375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. A low-mile ZR-1
with excellent original paint. Flawless leather
interior, clean engine and undercarriage. Only
a lower-mile or never driven ZR-1 would show
#S10-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J1M5801885. Steel
Blue/blue leather. Odo: 127 miles. 350-ci 375-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. A second year ZR-1, still
new in box. No condition issues noted, interior
still wrapped in plastic. Window sticker shows
$65,638. One of 2,044 built. Cond: 1. SOLD
AT $60,375. All '91 Corvettes were restyled
better. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $25,988. Imagine
owning a true supercar with the performance to
take on just about any car made, the reliability
of a Silverado pickup, and the price of a new
Impala sedan. That was this ZR-1. It's amazing
how many low-mile, pampered ZR-1s are out
there, as it's hard to see how such an amazing
car could get so little use. The buyer got a bargain.
SOLD AT $60,375. Stay with me now as this
gets confusing... First bid as a group alongside
lots S10, S11, S12, S13, and S14 to a no-sale
$305,000. Later offered individually to see if
the total would be higher. This crowd was likely
the seller's best chance at a high sale price, and
#F10-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3380M5110093.
Black/black/saddle leather. Odo: 49,622 miles.
350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Paint
shows well for a car of this mileage. Pitted door
handles, blackout trim and glass decent. Good
interior has the usual leather marks. Clean unwrinkled
top. Nice driver quality throughout.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $14,175. Interest in the
C4 Corvettes is understandably soft. There are
plenty of used C5 cars on the market, and there
are many reasons to prefer the C5 over the C4.
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Still, the C4 was a great car, and some people
prefer the look and feel of the fourth generation
over the newer models. This one had classy colors
and was a real bargain at this price.
#S11-1992 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J1N5800432.
White/white leather. Odo: 56 miles.
350-ci
375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. A 3rd year ZR-1,
also still new in box with no wear whatsoever.
Never titled, window sticker reads $66,818.
to what Jaguar did with the XKE)... but I doubt
this is what GM had in mind. While modified
Corvettes rarely generate the same value as
stock, this one went for double what most original
1994 Corvettes would sell for. Hard to judge
what such an oddity is worth, but considering
the active bidding, the new owner must have
thought it a good buy.
#F63-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
this ZR-1 is flawless inside and out. Excellent
paint, nice panel gaps, unmarked glass, spotless
interior and engine compartment. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $44,625. If you've ever wanted
to own a ZR-1—and if you've ever driven one
you've probably wanted to own one—this might
have been the one to get. This car had a lot going
for it: only 448 ZR-1s were built in 1993, it had
the classy 40th Anniversary package, and was
in like-new, 5,200 mile condition. For the price
of a new SUV, the buyer got a true supercar. A
good buy.
#S13-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ22H1R580087. Polo
Green/beige leather. Odo: 117 miles. 350-ci
405-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. New in box with
a $69,043 sticker price. Interior wrapped in
plastic, paint and body completely unmarked.
One of 502 built. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $60,375.
Few changes were made to the ZR1 package in
'92, including “ZR-1” badges above each side
fender vent. Bid to $57,500 initially, then sold at
the same price as S9 and S10. Another market
price for an unused example.
#S12-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J1P5800448. Ruby
Red/red leather. Odo: 33 miles. 350-ci 405-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Another ZR-1 in completely
unused condition. Interior wrapped in
plastic, paint and body perfect. One of 448 built.
Cond: 1. SOLD AT $60,375. 1993 saw the ZR-1
One of 448 built. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $60,375.
ZR-1-specific five-spoke aluminum wheels made
their debut in 1994, and were not available
on other models. Otherwise, the '94 model
year remained almost exactly the same as '93.
Another market price for a ZR-1 with that new
car smell.
get a performance bump from 375 hp to 405 hp
as a result of changes to the cylinder heads and
valvetrain. Four-bolt main bearings, platinum
spark plugs, and an EGR system were included,
and Mobil 1 synthetic oil was used from the
factory. The market has more or less spoken on
these cars, and this sale was no surprise.
40th
#F36-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Anniversary ZR-1 coupe. S/N
1G1YZ23JXP5800321. Ruby Red/red leather.
Odo: 5,200 miles. 350-ci 405-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. With just 5,200 miles on the odometer,
70 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
#F25-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
limousine. S/N 1G1YY22P1R5106502. Arctic
White/red leather. Odo: 20,000 miles. 350-ci
300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Equipped with
two TVs and 400 amp power. Very well executed,
with excellent bodywork and paint. Welldone
custom interior based on Corvette seats.
In a sea of Corvettes at Bloomington Gold, it
simply stands out and drops jaws wherever it
goes. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $40,950. Soon after
the 1963 Sting Ray was introduced, there were
serious plans to create a 2+2 version (similar
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P5R5100265. Copper
Metallic/saddle leather. Odo: 45,000 miles.
350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Excellent
paint, interior, and engine compartment. Not
new, but clearly pampered while enjoyed. Cond:
2+. SOLD AT $17,063. Other than being really
fine automobiles, there is nothing special about
the 1994 Corvette. Code 66 Copper Metallic
was canceled early in the production run due
to sun fading and difficulty applying the paint
in the automated Bowling Green spray booth,
so just 116 '94 Corvettes were painted in that
color. While it sold for more than the average
1994 Corvette, this was no average car. The new
owner got a good buy that likely will hold its
value better than almost any other 'Vette from
that year.
#S14-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ22J1S5800380.
Competition Yellow/beige leather. Odo: 66
miles. 350-ci 405-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
The last year of the ZR-1 and the last car of
this collection. Still new in the dealer wrappers.
$69,953 sticker price, one of 448 built. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $60,375. After the five cars were individually
totalled, the bid prices at the hammer
came to $362,250—better than the $305,000
they were bid to as one lot, but a whole lot less
than the owner's desired $425,000. Well sold
individually.
#S93-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Grand Sport convertible.
S/N
1G1YY3252T5600458. Blue & white/red leather.
Odo: 6,062 miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. Excellent paint, nice glass and top,
Page 69
good at a distance, but needs detailing up close.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $12,600. The last of the
fourth generation cars, the 1996 Corvettes are
excellent drivers. This one had seen its share of
use, but needed nothing more than a detailing
and paint touch-up to look really good. A good
driver at a good price.
C5
interior factory-fresh. Completely as-new inside
and out. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $80,850. The
Grand Sport package (RPO Z16) cost $2,880 on
this car and was limited to 1,000 units. 190 convertibles
were built with this package, and even
fewer of those were ordered with the optional
red leather interior. Even considering how nice
this car was, this was crazy money for any '96
Corvette.
#S100-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Grand Sport coupe. S/N 1G1YY2252T5600637.
Admiral Blue & white/red leather. Odo: 168 miles.
350-ci 330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Dealer
prepped, but carpeting still has a clear plastic protective
sheet over it from the factory. Several light
paint chips detected on nose, otherwise paint is
as applied at Bowling Green Assembly. Engine
compartment appears basically unused. All assembly
line inspection decals and markings are
including XM radio, Navigation system, power
top, and Head Up Display. Cond: 2+. NOT
SOLD AT $41,000. First year cars sometimes
have more value, such as the 1963 vs. 1964
Corvettes, but that's not always the case—and
certainly not for the latest model. Sorry, bargain
hunters, this one never made reserve. ■
as new. Interior has more dust than wear. A new
11-year-old car. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $68,775. It's
not that unusual to find a near-mint Grand Sport
on the marketplace; however this was one of
217 fitted with the more visually striking red and
black leather interior. These usually top out in the
$45k to $50k range, so everyone was more than a
bit surprised to see more than three bidders take
it over $60k. It took awhile, but it even kept going
past its $63,500 reserve. Sold exceptionally well.
One of the only “instant collectibles” I've seen
actually make someone money.
#F16-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P35T111384. Black/
black leather. Odo: 57,842 miles. 350-ci 300-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Paint pitted and nicked,
interior shows average wear for mileage indicated.
Engine compartment dirty. Looks very
all in nearly factory-delivered condition. Cond:
1. NOT SOLD AT $33,500. A really fine C5
convertible with many options, including Head
Up Display. This was an opportunity to buy
a nearly-new Corvette at a very good price.
Bidding reached the mid-point for these cars,
but it never passed its reserve and the car stayed
with the seller.
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 71
modified, C5 convertible. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$30,975. Modifying a Corvette is a double-edged
sword: you will enjoy greater performance, but
more than likely your investment will never be
returned. This 2001 C5 is a good example. With
$15,000 in owner-added upgrades, including
a supercharger, raised hood power bulge, and
Z06 air ducts, it sold at the average of what a
stock '01 convertible should sell for. The new
owner basically got those performance and
visual upgrades for free.
#F56-2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G325112166.
Silver/red leather. Odo: 8,538 miles. 5.7-liter
345-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. With low mileage
and obvious care, this is a basically brand
new C5 Corvette. Paint, body, interior, engine
#F9-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G415105774.
Black/black/black leather. 5.7-liter 535-hp supercharged
and fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Excellent
paint, good interior with cracked leather seating
surfaces. Clean engine compartment and chassis.
Owner-added performance and cosmetic
upgrades well done. A good looking, albeit
C6
#F47-2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY34U555120115.
Silver/black/black leather. Odo: 17,015 miles.
6.0-liter 400-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. A nearlynew
C6 Corvette, only a few paint nicks marred
an otherwise flawless car. Loaded with options,
Page 70
Market
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
30 Corvettes From Around
the World, $1.4m in Sales
Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson, Norm Mort, Carl Bomstead,
Dave Kinney, Donald Osborne, Julian Shoolheifer, and John Clucas
Market opinions in italics
A
lthough not as high-profile in the Corvette community as Mecum's Bloomington Gold
or Belvidere sales, many desirable Corvettes have crossed the block at recent auctions
across the world.
First-generation cars have had a strong history in the market, and those looking
to buy had plenty of choices at a number of locations. One of the most notable was a nearly
perfect 1953 roadster that sold at $396,000 at The Worldwide Group's Houston Classic on
May 5—a result that grew by nearly $200k for the same car in just over a year (see our profile
on p. 26).
Engine options continued to play a large role in sale prices for C2 coupes and convertibles,
with more potent powerplants generally leading to larger asking prices. However, that wasn't
always the case, as the Worldwide Group sold a 1963 365-hp fuelie convertible for $67,100 in
May—a price more in tune with a 300-hp carbureted model.
C3s have found some recent growth, but not to the same level as seen on the earlier cars.
Originality tends to bring the most, and factory high performance or low production are
still king when it comes to value. A customized 1971 coupe in red sold for $21,600 at RM's
Toronto sale in April, while a 1978 coupe fresh out of storage and completely original managed
to fetch $25,920 at Kruse's Spring Auburn sale in Indiana on May 31.
C4s are still struggling to lose their used-car stigma, but as is the case with C3s, excellent
low-production or high-performance versions are leading the pack. A RHD-converted 1987
convertible managed to raise $20,375 at the Shannons sale in Melbourne, Australia, in March,
while at the end of May, Kruse offered and sold a 1990 ZR-1 in Auburn for a full $42,120.
Combined Corvette sales at these auctions add up to a final total of $1,406,629. Of the 30
cars listed, 17 sold, making a final sales rate of 56%—all of which adds up to a solid and stable
worldwide market for GM's flagship sports car.—Jim Pickering
C1
TOP 10
#2
#55-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001120. Eng. #
LAY512502. Polo
TOP 10
#9
White/red vinyl.
Odo: 86,446 miles. 235-ci straight-6, 3x1-bbl,
auto. Original engine out of car, later engine
installed. Restored to better-than-new condition,
original assembly markings retained.
Paint far better than when new, with no marks
#54-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S001241. Black/beige
cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 2,209 miles. 235-ci
straight-6, 3x1-bbl, auto. One of four finished in
black. Numerous NCRS Top Flight awards. Paint
far better than new, door jambs over-restored.
Engine compartment much nicer than when it
side of dash, incorrect shift knob, newer seat
upholstery dried out. Steering wheel shows
a heavily pitted horn ring. Cond: 4+. NOT
SOLD AT $45,000. When the bidding started
at $16k, and then started to falter around $25k,
there suddenly seemed to be a lot of dealer
interest, as this car was starting to look like
the cheapest '54 to cross the auction block this
year. The music stopped at $45k, which was a
little generous for the car considering several
thousand dollars worth of chrome was MIA.
The $59k reserve was a dream. ICA, Iola, WI,
7/07.
#53-1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N VE55S001057. Pennant Blue/
tan vinyl. Odo: 909 miles. 265-ci 195-hp V8,
2-bbl, auto. NCRS Top Flight score of 99.7,
Duntov Award for performance. Only 700
produced due to glut of '54s still in Chevrolet's
inventory. Excellent paint, perfect
interior,
better than new under the hood. An amazing
#197-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S002473. Polo White/beige/
red vinyl. Odo: 5,390 miles. 235-ci 150-hp
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Seller claims it was
restored about ten years ago. Decent repaint
blotchy. Some chrome
missing,
including
grille surround, front corner trim, rear corner
trim, and all rear bumper pieces. Correct late
year long exhaust outlets heavily corroded.
Older engine repaint poorly prepped and peeling.
Compass added into passenger's outboard
or fiberglass bonds evident. Number 120 of 300
manufactured. Striking, albeit over-restored.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $396,000. Sold at the May
'06 Branson sale for $212,000 (CM# 41422),
with the comment that there was little left for
the next guy. Clearly that wasn't the case, but
it's still hard to believe this car grew by $200k
in just 13 months. Very well sold. Worldwide
Group, Seabrook, TX, 5/07.
72 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
left the St. Louis plant. Molded-in upper door
drip rails. Interior flawless. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $148,500. Another of the four black 1954s
sold at RM's Ft. Lauderdale event in February
for $85k (CM# 44289). As noted with that sale,
few accurate records exist on delivery colors
for the early 'Vettes. That was a lesser car, and
considering the condition of this one, the price
paid wasn't out of line. Worldwide Group,
Seabrook, TX, 5/07.
low mileage example. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD
AT $200,000. This car's low mileage was
a huge plus, as was its condition. Its heyday
was a few years back, although it still scores in
the high 90s. However, you can't drive it, and
it's been to the shows already. It belongs in a
museum, but at what price? I suggest a touch
more than what was bid, but far less than the
high estimate of $400k. Worldwide Group,
Seabrook, TX, 5/07.
Best Buy #29-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S105176. Eng. #
F6I2EL. Venetian Red/orange vinyl. Odo: 86
Page 71
miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. A
full-on restoration to a quality not often seen.
Excellent paint, brightwork done to a very high
standard. Underhood is clean and correct, with
all GM components. The interior is a correctly
done job, with excellent door panels, seats, and
a well-done dash. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $99,000.
This price was quite reasonable in this market.
With fuel injection, 283 hp, and a 4-speed
transmission, it's hard to ask for more in a '57.
The catalog stated that the numbers for the
engine, transmission, fuel injection unit, and
rear end are all correct for late 1957—but that
was not saying this was an original numbersmatching
car. Still, well bought. Christie's,
Greenwich, CT, 6/07.
#734-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J58S107721. Eng. # F1526CT.
Red & white/black vinyl. 283-ci 245-hp V8,
2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Decent body has no apparent
crazing or cracking. Older repaint shows some
chips to the front panels and lower edges of
body. Chrome micro-pitted and thin in places,
but all very straight and complete. Interior
door. Chrome excellent, some trim issues
evident throughout. Frame reconditioned and
painted in basic black with no real detailing.
Fresh black vinyl interior well fitted. Engine
detailed, disc brakes added. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $93,420. The 290-hp V8 was the most
powerful Corvette engine available in 1958.
This car was featured in the Toronto catalog,
and it brought big money despite having some
issues with its restoration. Still, it was numbers-matching
in all the right bits and pieces,
so both parties should be happy. RM, Toronto,
CAN, 4/07.
#10-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
resto rod convertible. S/N TSPV99011.
Emerald Green/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo:
400 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restoration
recently completed, heavily modified with
late-model performance goodies. Non-original
paint shows no issues whatsoever, brightwork
excellent. ZZ4 crate motor underhood, fourwheel
Mustang disc brakes. Interior finished
Seabrook sale in April 2005, where it was a
no-sale at $99,000 (CM# 38322). Not eligible
for NCRS awards due to over-restoration. This
was a stunning example, but what do you do
with it? It can't be driven, and it's been to all
the shows already. In fact, the paint was so
nice, I'd be afraid of dusting it as it might leave
a swirl or scratch. A lot of money for a lot of
Corvette. Worldwide Group, Seabrook, TX,
5/07.
#SP80-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S105601. Blue/blue
vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 11 miles. 283-ci 230-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice original 1961-only Jewel
Blue paintwork with new matching blue vinyl
interior. Stainless scratched, chrome excellent.
Detailed engine, painted chassis. Well done
worn, saggy, and tired looking. Engine bay
very dirty, engine said to run poorly. Another
20-yard museum-displayed car, but complete
and sound. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $52,884.
Typical of so many cars in museums, this had
become a little sad through years of neglect.
Cars need use, and this one was no exception.
This would have been a brilliant car to restore,
as it was all there and all straight; however, the
price was $6,000 above the top estimate, making
a restoration financially unviable. Even so,
it would be worthwhile if the new owner plans
to keep it and enjoy it. Bonhams, London, UK,
4/07.
#SP120-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J58S100781. Red & white/
white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 48,965 miles.
283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Excellent
paint starting to show some prep issues, blisters
on rear cowl, and a touch-up on the driver's
to high standard, with a/c and a modern stereo
fitted. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $50,600. This
car would have been worth a bunch more if it
had been restored to its original configuration
rather than modified. If you want a modern
Corvette, head to your Chevy dealer... for a
touch more you can buy a new one. This one
showed little financial upside, and as a weekend
cruiser, it was quite expensive. Worldwide
Group, Seabrook, TX, 5/07.
#25-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S106083. Red & white/
white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 245 miles. 283-ci
270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored to absolute
perfection. Chevrolet never
came
close
to
building anything this perfect. Excellent paint,
chrome, interior, and engine compartment.
Winner of many awards, 2nd best in national
ISCA judging. Owner said it was #2 due to
a minor nit, which he has fixed. Cond: 1+.
SOLD AT $101,200. Last seen at Worldwide's
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 73
throughout. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $75,600.
There was little wrong with this 'Vette other
than some poorly fitted windshield trim. How
can they miss the obvious? This was a full-market
price for a good example, but it was still a
decent buy considering the growing market for
excellent 'Vettes. RM, Toronto, CAN, 4/07.
#167-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S101107. Ermine
White & red/white/red vinyl. Odo: 73,806
miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Engine
predates the car by one model year. Very little
body ripple underneath decent newer repaint.
All chrome either replated or reproduction
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Corvettes at other auctions
replacement. Generally clean engine bay, with
some non-stock wiring variations on cowl.
Well restored interior, with all new vinyl and
carpet. New gauge faces, steering column paint
mismatched. Door pull knobs more yellowed
than gear shift knob. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD
AT $41,500. Herein lines the perfect hybrid
for someone who prefers the two-tone paint
combination and trim styling of a 1961 over
the 1962, but with the next year newer better
327 mill. Never mind that the car will never be
correctly numbers-matching. This one fooled
quite a few observers, as it looked the part of
an original car. The final bid may have been a
bit on the low side, but only by a couple thousand.
ICA, Iola, WI, 7/07.
#1014-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom convertible. S/N 20867S112405.
Roman Red/white/red & white leather. 468ci
supercharged V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Hard top
included. Older respray shows minor wear
and swirl marks. Dings on front bumpers and
grille, windshield and hard top trim nice. Full
custom interior with spectacular red and white
leather. Large-face
tach mounted to dash.
was the best of the Corvettes at this sale, and
it was consigned by the same seller as lot 167.
While quite nice, it would still take some work
to feel good about taking it to an NCRS event.
This final bid was a little light considering the
car's condition. ICA, Iola, WI, 7/07.
C2
Best Buy #32-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S114643. White/white
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 3,446 miles. 327-ci
365-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Quality respray
lacking luster. Door jambs over-restored, door
fit off. Chrome and trim nice, engine highly
same vintage. Cast iron intake fitted. Minimal
older engine detailing, engine bay rather dull.
Older replacement soft interior trim has light
wear and patina. Hurst shifter fitted. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $39,050. The reserve was eventually
surpassed at $35k, and one more bid past
that got the deal done. The engine was likely
swapped later, but a factory mix-up is not out
of the question—although it is highly unlikely.
Not a screaming bargain, but still a decent buy.
ICA, Iola, WI, 7/07.
#762-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N N/A. Maroon metallic/black
vinyl. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fresh
paint shows overspray on window rubber.
Mostly original chrome worn, with pitting
and minor scratches visible. Carpets appear
new, original black vinyl seats show minimal
wear. Underside recently resprayed in black.
Blown big block fully detailed with custom
suspension. Billet mag wheels fitted, tubbed
in the rear. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $80,000.
Noted “...as seen in countless magazines,”
the constant stream of enthusiasts were split
down the middle as to whether this was the
most terrible thing to ever happen to a 'Vette
or the coolest thing ever. Even so, it didn't sell
at a very high $80k. A restored example with
this same amount of work generally brings
about the same money, so this was a rare case
of modifications not hurting the car's value.
Kruse, Aubrun, IN, 5/07.
#168-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S113272. Roman Red/
black vinyl. Odo: 44,886 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Hard top only. Full frame-off
restoration to stock condition. Highly-prepped
body has nearly no waviness and is a nice
base for an equally excellent repaint. All new
weatherstripping and body seals, gas cap lid
bumper missing. All new chrome and stainless
trim. Near show condition engine compartment,
with only a bit of detailing work to make
it concours. Seat belts original and discolored,
replacement carpet shows heavier wear. Fully
restored dashboard and components, new dashpad.
Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $50,000. This
74 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
detailed. Correct knockoffs fitted. Interior very
presentable, with only minor carpet wear showing.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $67,100. The price
paid would be in the ballpark for an L75 327-ci
300-hp convertible. Corvette buyers had some
questions here, as the price should have been
$50k higher for a no-issues fuelie. Assuming
everything was sorted, this was an excellent
buy at well under market value. Worldwide
Group, Seabrook, TX, 5/07.
#154-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S104355. Silver Blue/black
vinyl. Odo: 45,463 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Older reconditioning job done
quite well. Originally Saddle Tan, decent repaint
shows well. Several body cracks in top of
passenger's door. Both doors also sit low on the
body, but function well. Average quality bumper
rechrome, clear RTV augments rear split
window seals. Motor not original, but of the
Basic engine detailing needs refreshing. New
narrow whitewall tires with original spinner
hubcaps. A clean driver. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD
AT $49,000. This decent Corvette coupe came
with all its original documentation, including
the original window sticker. This top bid would
have easily bought this car twelve months ago,
but with prices on the rise, the owner felt he
could do better. Kruse, Aubrun, IN, 5/07.
#84-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S118762. Red/black
vinyl/black leather. Odo: 64,406 miles. 427-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent ground-up restoration.
Equipped with side pipes and power windows.
Paint over-restored, with no factory seams
showing. Interior done to high standard, with
nice leather seats and clean carpeting. Engine
bay spotless, with no original overspray
remaining. Knockoffs appear to be aftermarket.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $112,200. Last seen at
RM Amelia Island in March '07, where it was
a no-sale at $98,000 (CM# 44703). The '67 big
block Corvettes tend to be more desirable, or at
Page 74
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Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
least bring more money. This example sold for
under the money, as another $20k would not
have raised any eyebrows. Very well bought.
Worldwide Group, Seabrook, TX, 5/07.
#177-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S106270. White/blue vinyl.
Odo: 81,996 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Consignor claims all powertrain components
original to car. Fitted with side pipes,
AM/FM radio, and wood wheel. Good quality
older repaint, excellent door fit on both sides,
factory specification hood gaps. All brightwork
alloy wheels with hokey gold anodized threeprong
spinners, '70s vintage in-dash cassette
deck, prerequisite chrome valve covers and
air cleaner. Ancient dust-impregnated repaint,
door latch chrome peeling off, one headlight
stuck up, weatherstripping expired.
Quasi-
either replated or replaced. Reproduction carpets
and seat covers, seat foam looks and feels
collapsed. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $36,500. It
does seem a bit out of place for a car with the
base-level engine to also have side pipes, but it
could be optioned that way from the factory. As a
nice driver, this was about as cheap as you'll get
a respectable '66 in today's market. However,
the consignor didn't agree, and the car stayed
with him. Mid America, Blaine, MN, 5/07.
#31-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S119193. Rally Red/black
vinyl. Odo: 3,432 miles. 427-ci 435-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Excellent panel fit and
paint, very good chrome shows some slight
waviness under plating on rear bumperettes.
Excellent interior fitted with AM/FM radio.
teak steering wheel patched in a few places.
Original interior has cigarette burns. Cond: 4+.
NOT SOLD AT $13,500. This car's only option,
per se, was its body color. During this era,
if a dealer ordered a basic Corvette without
choosing so much as color, he got an all-black
car with a vinyl interior. There was no upside
here. ‘68s had horrid build quality, so smart
buyers don't want unrestored examples... and
the aftermarket bits on this one made it even
less desirable. Mid America, Blaine, MN,
5/07.
#SP96-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194371S111862. Orange &
black/gold vinyl. Odo: 23,000 miles. 350-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Twenty-two coats of orange
metalflake and black and still not flawless.
Unmarked chrome and trim, 454 hood belies
the 350 underneath. Gold vinyl interior decent,
exhaust manifolds and EGR valve at the base
of the carburetor. Interior shows no wear whatsoever.
Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $24,000. Big
surprise here; another collector car auction,
another near virgin '78 Indy Pace Car Corvette.
Considering that the last one I saw sold at
Mecum's Fall Kansas City sale for $26,250 with
fewer miles and no brakes (CM# 43771), I'd say
that these have now nested in at just under $30k.
Mid America, Blaine, MN, 5/07.
#2754-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1787L8S439966. Red/red leather.
Odo: 500 miles. 350-ci 175-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Fitted with ps, pb, a/c, cruise control,
and tilt wheel. Resprayed nose, overspray on
bumperettes. Swirl polishing marks in finish,
glass and trim nice. Original red leather
interior shows no wear, seat foam deteriorating.
Almost new inside and out. Cond: 2.
Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $60,000. The ultimate
spec '67 Corvette coupe with side pipes.
Very well restored, but something here didn't
pass the smell test. A genuine car in this condition
with this engine should be a $175k item.
Either the punters knew something I didn't, or
this was a fish well out of water. Kensington,
Bridgehampton, NY, 6/07.
C3
#145-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S415156. Red/black vinyl.
Odo: 91,247 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
3-sp. Originally a bare-bones no-options car.
Consignor claims original miles. Non-stock
76 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
but odd considering body colors. Chassis
painted basic
black. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$21,600. The odd colors inside and out made
this 'Vette look like something a DC Comics
superhero would drive. Gold pinstripes tried to
tie it all together, but failed miserably. Even so,
lots of flash got lots of cash, and the seller did
well. RM, Toronto, CAN, 4/07.
#176-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car coupe. S/N 1Z87L8S900075.
Black & silver/silver leather. Odo: 2,293 miles.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Equipped with only
one option—cruise control. Consignor claims
original mileage. Factory paint appears to
have been buffed out at one time, considering
how lousy it was when new. Light superficial
cleaning of near-new engine bay. Light rust on
SOLD AT $25,920. This super low mileage
'Vette came from long term storage, yet it still
needed a respray. Either something happened
to it during storage, or the front bumper lost its
color and cracked over time—a known problem
with the urethane. Regardless, the price was
way over market for a regular C3, which had
to be due exclusively to its low miles. Kruse,
Aubrun, IN, 5/07.
#160-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8789S400492. Maroon metallic/light
tan leather. Odo: 63,496 miles. 350-ci
195-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Aftermarket items
include three-prong spinners on stock alloy
wheels, side pipes, and everything on top of
the engine block. Recent metallic repaint nice,
factory spec panel fit, windshield starting to
delaminate at lower center. Somewhere under
all the chrome, polished billet aluminum, and
an Edelbrock dual quad intake is the original
base-level L48 motor. Apart from some heavier
wear on the outboard driver's side seat bolster,
the original interior is still decent. Cond: 3+.
Page 76
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
brown and red color combo. Kruse, Aubrun,
IN, 5/07.
#2808-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3384M5112204.
White/white/red leather. Odo: 1,900 miles.
350-ci 250-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Paint
factory
fresh, panel
SOLD AT $20,020. Customs generally have
trouble selling alongside unmodified cars.
This seller was lucky, as he was able to find
someone who was willing to pay a premium for
his modifications. Sold exceptionally well, as it
exceeded the consignor's reserve by a thousand
dollars. ICA, Iola, WI, 7/07.
#771-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8789C5119639. Red/red
leather. Odo: 11,000 miles. 350-ci 200-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Fitted with ps, pb, pw,
cruise control, and tilt wheel. Decent older
respray shows some prep issues. Nose more
recently
repainted,
pitting visible on door
handles. Dash top and original red leather
paint was the only bright thing about this
example. Much money for a car needing much
spent, and that was just for the cosmetics.
Shannons, Melbourne, AUS, 3/07.
#2850-1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Callaway convertible. S/N 1G1YY3189K5105247.
Blue/white/blue leather. 350-ci 382-hp twin-turbo
fuel-injected V8, auto. Fitted with ps, pb, pw, ps,
power top, a/c, cruise control, and tilt wheel. Nonmatching
painted Greenwood rear spoiler and body
kit. Carpets wearing on sills, blue leather interior has
foam deterioration inside lumbar areas. Clean and
worn. Original, but clean under hood. New
OEM white letter tires on factory mags. A decent
driver Corvette. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$24,000. Considering the mileage, this bright
red Vette was not as concours as was expected,
although there was nothing really seriously
wrong with it. It was the right color, and this
bid was about the right price, too. The bidders
agreed, but the seller did not. Kruse, Aubrun,
IN, 5/07.
C4
#15-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3182H5117944. Eng.
# V01262LC1H117944. Yellow/black leather.
RHD. Odo: 81,282 km. Straight bodywork,
decent panel gaps. New paint shows plenty of
issues, including repairs in right rear wheelarch
and much overspray on window seals.
Converted to RHD after arriving in Australia
around 1995. Grubby console and dash, torn
floor mats, window seals crumbling. Looks
good from a distance, but up close is another
story. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $20,375. Plenty
of grunt and aggressive styling in a package
that was good all around. The C4 was a big
improvement on the preceding C3, but bright
78 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
tidy under the hood with Callaway twin turbos. Of
the 67 built, one of only two automatics. Fast and
rare. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $41,040. This Corvette
with its Callaway-tuned and installed intercooled
twin turbo system and mag wheels was rare, but
these 'Vettes just don't do it for everybody. It did for
one Corvette enthusiast, who paid top dollar to own
it. Kruse, Aubrun, IN, 5/07.
#2844-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J5L5800169.
Red/brown leather. 350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. Equipped with pb, pw, ps, a/c,
cruise control, tilt wheel, CD player, and two
tops. All original with very minor imperfections
in bright red paint. Like new original
unused. Only minor wear to chassis, factory
mags unblemished. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD
AT $21,000. There are a suprising number
of '90s Corvettes in almost pristine condition
due to the fact they were hardly driven. Did the
original owners find them boring, or did they
see them as future collectibles? This price was
perhaps a bit low for a convertible, but these
Corvettes may continue to slide slowly into
oblivion considering the C5's performance and
market pricing. Kruse, Aubrun, IN, 5/07.
#2836-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Lingenfelter 40th Anniversary convertible.
S/N 1G1YY33P3P5105174. White/white/
white leather. Odo: 7,200 miles. 502-ci 600-hp
fuel-injected V8, 5-sp. Equipped with ps, pb,
pw, a/c, cruise control, and tilt wheel. Decent
original paint, nose touched up at some point.
Some polishing swirls visible throughout.
gaps excellent, body
solid. Nice glass, blackout trim, and convertible
top. Red leather interior still looks new.
Engine clean and appears almost completely
Matte black
leather interior, spotless under hood and on
chassis. Like new in every respect. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $42,120. Another one put away
with hopes of a big return. This was a brand
new ZR-1 that had never been registered or
reported sold with full documentation. The
price was higher than many, despite the odd
underside shows minor wear.
Clean white leather interior, minimal wear on
white vinyl top. Custom headers and exhaust,
Fittipaldi aftermarket mags. Cond: 2+. NOT
SOLD AT $35,000. This triple-white Corvette
was reportedly an over $100,000 investment,
and it was bid to about a third of that amount
after 14 years and just 7,200 miles. Slightly
under the money considering what it was, but
not by much. Kruse, Aubrun, IN, 5/07. ■
Page 78
Motobilia
Vette-o-bilia
Online trash and trinkets, some valuable, some not. By Carl Bomstead
Corvette Loving Cup Raises Questions
I'd fabricate an interesting tale about how a relative won the loving cup
I
f you want to go Corvette tire kicking and look at over 500 or so without getting out of your PJs, eBay
Motors is your obvious cyberspace destination. You'll find examples from every year of Corvette production
offered, some with descriptions that should earn creative writing awards, and with starting prices all
over the board.
The problem is that most of the descriptions don't provide detailed information and the photographic
evidence that a knowledgeable Corvette guy needs in order to make a realistic bid. As a result, the rate of
successful sales, by my calculation, hovers close to single digits.
One exception was a 1967 427/435 coupe with 26,535 miles that was described in excruciating detail and
sold, after 30 bids, for $185,000. The numbers were decoded, including the important drivetrain, Holley
carburetor, and distributor. Over thirty photographs were posted, and many were close-ups of areas you need
to know about before bidding. Only question was, in the current market… wasn't the final bid a bit light?
But Corvette lovers don't stop at just cars. Here are some other offerings on a more modest scale, where
you don't have to worry about numbers matching.
as another, with 7 bids, sold for
$175 a couple days after this one
sold.
EBAY # 170129433024—
1966 CORVETTE COUPE
AMT PROMOTIONAL
MODEL. Number of Bids: 16.
SOLD AT: $638.88 Date Sold:
7/16/2007. Red plastic with
matching interior and highly
detailed chassis. No mention of
packaging. Prices for promotional
models can be all over the
board, with the rare and unusual
selling in this area. This one was
obviously high on the unobtanium
scale and sold accordingly.
I just wish it had the box.
EBAY #200129302672—
EBAY #160137507168—
CORVETTE OWNERS PIN.
Number of Bids: 15. SOLD AT:
$202.50. Date Sold: 7/19/2007.
These pins date to the ‘50s
and early ‘60s. Reproductions
abound so make sure what you
are getting. The repops are
clumsily made and sell for about
$10. Price paid was about right
1957 CORVETTE JIM BEAM
DECANTER. Number of Bids:
15. SOLD AT: $107.55. Date
Sold: 7/22/2007. This 1957
Corvette whisky decanter had,
according to the seller, never
been out of the box. Packaging
was in decent condition with
only minor wear, which is rather
amazing considering its age.
Liquor is sold on the Internet
with the caveat that it is strictly
a collector's item, so we can
assume the buyer will not be
tempted to break the seal and
have a sip of 50-year-old Jim
Beam, but instead will simply
admire his ceramic Corvette
sitting on the shelf.
CORVETTES 1961–1967.
Number of Bids: 17. SOLD AT:
$308. Date Sold: 7/11/2007.
These 1:24 scale die-cast
metal Danbury Mint models
were highly detailed and were
complete with the packaging and
all the paperwork. Included was
a '63 split-window, '68 with the
hard top and a cool '61 Gasser.
These sell for about $125 each
new, so they have never been
a decent investment but are an
inexpensive way to accumulate
an interesting collection.
to pay about $30 for that one,
so either I paid too much or the
buyer here got a bargain.
EBAY #270146046370—
1966 CORVETTE TROPHY.
Number of Bids: 17. SOLD AT:
$338. Date Sold: 7/23/2007.
There was no mention of why
this loving cup trophy was presented
by Corvette or to whom it
was presented. It was lightly tarnished,
which is not a big deal. I
think I'd fabricate an interesting
tale about it being presented to a
relative for outstanding achievement
at Corvette, but that's just
my imagination at work.
EBAY #260136570416—
EBAY #290136997767—
EBAY #300126540089—
COLLECTION OF
SIX DANBURY MINT
1954 CORVETTE SALES
BROCHURE. Number of Bids:
1. SOLD AT: $14.99. Date Sold:
7/14/2007. Corvette did not get
carried away on their brochures
for the early cars. There are two
others that are similar to this one
and a larger full-color brochure
that I was able to acquire when
I had a '54. As I recall, I had
CORVETTE STING RAY 1:24
DIE-CAST MODEL. Number
of Bids: 1 SOLD AT: $.01. Date
Sold: 7/12/2007. Seller went
on and on with his policies and
procedures but failed to say
much about this model other than
it was red, the doors opened,
and he did not have the original
packaging. As a result the piece
sold for a mere penny. I think he
spent way too much time on his
rules and regulations, and forgot
about creating excitement in
potential buyers. ■
80 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Page 79
Sports Car Market
Keith Martin's
The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
“Sports Car Market magazine is the
Cigar Aficionado for collectible cars.”
— Robert Lutz, President of GM North America, SCM subscriber since 1995
Special Introductory Offer
One year of Sports Car Market plus
our 130-page Collector Car Price Guide, just $36.
www.sportscarmarket.com
Page 80
Trick
Stuff
What you need for your Corvette and where to get it. By Stefan Lombard
By Stefan Lomard.
◄
For those days when your stock C5 or C6 just won't cut the
mustard, Callaway has just the thing. In partnership with
Magnuson Products, Callaway offers the Magna Charger, a 100%
bolt-on unit with more horsepower per pound of boost than any other
system, and average gains of more than 120 hp. The Magna Charger
is a “hybrid” roots-type forced induction system using Eaton internal
components, and employs two three-lobe rotors with front inlet and
rear discharge for maximum efficiency. The system is emissions-compliant
and requires only 1/3 hp at 60 mph. The Magna Charger comes
with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty, and comprehensive installation
instructions are inclu
$6,595. www.callaw
▼
You LOVE your '57. But let's face it—you can't hang out in
the garage all the time. Now you can bring your '57 Corvette
into the living room—or any room—with this comfortable Corvette
love seat with room for two. The shape and styling are unmistakable,
and the seat itself is made from fine American tanned leather. The '57
'Vette loveseat features taillights, exhaust pipes, and undercarriage
that illuminate with a dimmer located in the fender storage area.
Just plug in your couch, have a seat and entertain your guests—and
yourself. $3,995, available at www.jrdclassics.com.
►
If your old Ma
distributor is w
place it with this pre
Billet Tach Drive D
from MSD Ignition
features an accurate m
netic pickup, oversiz
shaft, vacuum advance,
and a billet
aluminum housing.
Inside that housing,
a sealed ball bearing a
long sintered bushin
a 0.500-inch steel sh
rpm accuracy. A spe
is mounted to the sh
the magnetic pickup
mechanical advance a
you to get the most p
of your 'Vette's engi
tailoring a timing cu
needs. The tach driv
compact so it clears t
and linkage, and it c
to fit different applic
tion with an MSD 6Ignition,
and you're g
cap and rotor. $386. w
rick
Stuff
What you need for your Corvette and where to get it. By Stefan Lombard
By Stefan Lomard.
◄
For those days when your stock C5 or C6 just won't cut the
mustard, Callaway has just the thing. In partnership with
Magnuson Products, Callaway offers the Magna Charger, a 100%
bolt-on unit with more horsepower per pound of boost than any other
system, and average gains of more than 120 hp. The Magna Charger
is a “hybrid” roots-type forced induction system using Eaton internal
components, and employs two three-lobe rotors with front inlet and
rear discharge for maximum efficiency. The system is emissions-com-
pliant and requires only 1/3 hp at 60 mph. The Magna Charger comes
with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty, and comprehensive installation
instructions are inclu
$6,595. www.callaw
▼
You LOVE your '57. But let's face it—you can't hang out in
the garage all the time. Now you can bring your '57 Corvette
into the living room—or any room—with this comfortable Corvette
love seat with room for two. The shape and styling are unmistakable,
and the seat itself is made from fine American tanned leather. The '57
'Vette loveseat features taillights, exhaust pipes, and undercarriage
that illuminate with a dimmer located in the fender storage area.
Just plug in your couch, have a seat and entertain your guests—and
yourself. $3,995, available at www.jrdclassics.com.
►
If your old Ma
distributor is w
place it with this pre
Billet Tach Drive D
from MSD Ignition
features an accurate m
netic pickup, oversiz
shaft, vacuum ad-
vance, and a billet
aluminum housing.
Inside that housing,
a sealed ball bearing a
long sintered bushin
a 0.500-inch steel sh
rpm accuracy. A spe
is mounted to the sh
the magnetic pickup
mechanical advance a
you to get the most p
of your 'Vette's engi
tailoring a timing cu
needs. The tach driv
compact so it clears t
and linkage, and it c
to fit different applic
tion with an MSD 6-
Ignition, and you're g
cap and rotor. $386. w
◄
◄
82 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Before you start your next road trip, check out this Deluxe Road Atlas
and Planner. It has a soft leather-look cover with a gold embossed
orvette or Chevy logo on the front, measures 8 1/2 x 11 1/4 inches, and comes
ith an atlas. An integrated clear vinyl flap allows you to draw out a route plan
ith the included felt pen, then wipe it clean when finished to plan the next leg.
he book easily tucks away in the cockpit of your 'Vette, and is available with
e C5 logo, circle logo, or Genuine Chevrolet logo with the Bowtie. $17.95
om www.corvettegoodies.com. ■
Page 81
What You Need to Know About Your Favorite Classic Car
INSTANT DOWNLOAD ON DEMAND
Keith Martin, the editors of Sports Car Market, and Road & Track have
teamed up to assemble the Buyer's Guide series of downloadable
40-page portfolios. Each contains the information you need as a
buyer, seller, dealer, collector or enthusiast.
Each booklet has detailed information describing what your
classic was like when it was new, and what it's worth today.
Guides include: In-depth profiles; Original specs and prices; Current market values;
Tables of recent sales and trends; What to look for when buying; Vintage advertisements
and Road & Track road tests
Available Guides
• 1967–70 AMC AMX
• 1964–67 Austin-Healey 3000
MkIII
• 1967–69 Chevrolet Camaro
• 1961–67 Jaguar E-type
Series I
• 1968–71 Jaguar E-type
Series II
• 1971–74 Jaguar E-type
Series III
• 1963–67 Chevrolet Corvette
• 1968–72 Chevrolet Corvette
• 1970–73 Datsun 240Z
• 1971–74 De Tomaso Pantera
• 1964½–66 Ford Mustang
• 1955–57 Ford Thunderbird
• 1962–67 MGB Mk I
• 1955–62 MGA
• 1956–59 Porsche 356 A
• 1960–65 Porsche 356 B&C
• Shelby Cobra
• 1969–76 Triumph TR6
Just $12.95 each. See all the available titles and download yours today at www.sportscarmarket.com
Page 82
Mixed
Media Trick
Books
&DVDs
Stuff What you need for your Corvette and where to get it
Corvettes as stars of page and screen. By Paul Duchene
Sweet Rides and So-So Flicks
A five-star Corvette role is more likely to be found in a one-star movie
C
orvettes have long been a staple of American movies, used to show youth, independence, money, midlife
crisis, high-speed excitement and danger, or purely selfish pleasure.
However, the star rating the Corvette gains for its use in movies (one star for backdrop to five stars
for starring role) often seems to be in inverse proportion to the quality of the film. In other words, a
five-star Corvette role is likely to be found in a one-star movie.
Here are ten movies in which America's sports car plays a role—some major, others not so.
Corvette Summer (1978)
Movie rating:
Corvette rating:
Starring Mark Hamill, Annie
Potts. High school student
Hamill is tracking stolen shop
class project Corvette in Las
Vegas when he falls for aspiring
hooker Potts. Pilfered car is
1973 'Vette made into maybe the
ugliest custom ever, and RHD
as well. But Potts is charming.
$11.99 DVD at Amazon.com.
Body Heat (1981)
Movie rating:
Corvette rating:
Starring William Hurt,
Kathleen Turner. Dim bulb
Florida lawyer Hurt is drawn
into a web of murder by steamy
siren Turner in her film debut.
Ingenious and gripping film noir.
Hurt's beater '64 convertible is
perfect for his character. $14.79
DVD at CDUniverse.com
The Dead Pool (1988)
Movie rating: ½
Corvette rating:
Starring Clint Eastwood,
Liam Neeson, Jim Carrey. Fifth
84 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
and last Dirty Harry film has
Eastwood checking out a death
threat list and drugged out rock
star Carrey. Look for black '63
radio-controlled model. $11.15
DVD at CDUniverse.com
Rush Hour (1998)
Movie rating:
Corvette rating:
Starring Jackie Chan, Chris
Tucker. Buddy film has Hong
Kong detective Chan coming to
L.A. to rescue Chinese consul's
kidnapped daughter. He's babysat
by cocky L.A. cop Tucker
and black '72 'Vette. $9.99 DVD
Amazon.com.
True Lies (1994)
Movie rating:
Corvette rating:
Starring Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee
Curtis. Lively remake of French
flick “La Totale” has nerdy
Ahnuld leading double life as
spy. Look for red/white '58
'Vette. $9.99 DVD at Amazon
.com.
Cleopatra Jones (1973):
Movie rating:
Corvette rating:
Starring Tamara Dobson,
Antonio Fargas. Blaxploitation
chop-socky thriller with Dobson
as karate expert chasing drug
lords. Lots of violence
and a modified black and
silver '73 'Vette. $8.99 DVD at
Circuitcity.com.
Page 83
Austin Powers: The Spy
Who Shagged Me (1999)
Movie rating: ½
Corvette rating:
Mike Myers, Heather Graham.
Dr. Evil time travels back to 1969
to steal Austin's mojo in more
swinging '60s lunacy. Check out
the stars 'n stripes '65 convertible.
$9.99 DVD at Amazon.com.
Billy Jack (1971)
Movie rating: ½
Corvette rating:
Starring Tom Laughlin,
Delores Taylor. Howlingly
bad protest movie that compounds
already knuckle-headed
thinking by dunking a '69 427
'Vette in a lake. Amazingly,
there were sequels. $9.98 DVD at
Amazon.com.
Six Best Books
Must-have Corvette books—expert Logan Gray's choices
W
ith 83 books about Corvettes currently in print, plus some NCRS publications, every single
aspect of America's sports car has been exposed to excruciating study.
With that in mind, CM contacted Vintage Motorbooks owner and expert Logan Gray
(vintagemotorbooks@comcast.net) for some recommendations.
He has been gathering, sorting, and selling collector car books for 40 years and has developed his
own opinions about “bests” based on research and feedback. These books can all be found on sites like
Amazon and eBay, usually for less than their suggested list prices.
The Most Popular Engine
Code Book By Far: Catalog
of Chevy V-8 Engine Casting
Numbers 1955–93, Cars & Parts,
Amos Press Inc., 212 pages
$24.95.
The Best Pocket-Sized
Reference Book: Corvette
Black Book, 1953–2007, by
Mike Antonick, Motorbooks
International, 158 pages, $16.95.
The Best Book to Research
Your Corvette or Guide You
While Shopping for a Correct
Corvette: Corvette by the
Numbers 1955–82. The Essential
Corvette Parts Reference,
by Alan L. Colvin, Bentley
Publishers, 596 pages, $49.95.
The Best Book of the
Corvette Story (and not
Live and Let Die (1973)
Movie rating: ½
Corvette rating:
Starring Roger Moore,
Yaphet Kotto. Moore's first
appearance as 007, but check
out outrageous 'Vette customs
by Les Dunham—there really
is a C3 under that “Corvorado.”
Lots of chases. $15.49 DVD at
Amazon.com.
Cannonball (1976)
Movie rating:
Corvette rating:
Starring David Carradine,
Veronica Hamel. Remake of
Gumball Rally with some funny
moments, and so-so stunts. Look
for Sylvester Stallone, Martin
Scorcese quickly, and a white
'76 'Vette. Better than
“Cannonball Run.” $12.99 DVD
at Amazon.com. ■
Just Out! Chevrolet Corvette
a numbers book): Standard
Catalog of the Corvette 1953–
2005, by John Gunnell, Krause Publications, 224 pages, $24,99.
The Best Corvette Overall Reference book: Catalog of
Corvette ID Numbers, Cars & Parts, Amos Press, 214 pages,
$24.95.
Best True Pocket-Sized Book for the Parts Shopper and
Matching-Numbers Researcher: Chevy Corvette 1953–1982
Factory Parts & Casting Number Guide, MSA-1, 100 pages, $15.
1963–1967, by William
Burt, Specialty Press, 112 Pages, $22.95.
Everything you want to know about the
design, development, and available options
of C2 Corvettes. Colors, interiors,
engines, transmissions, suspensions,
brakes, tires, wheels. It's all here, with
250 illustrations.
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 85
Page 84
By the
Numbers
Top 100 Corvette Sales of 2007
The CM database, at www.vettemarket.com, has over 2,000 entries and is
growing daily. Here is a snapshot of the Corvette market through the first
half of 2007
Rank Sold Price Year Model
Auction Co.
1 $660,000 1967 Corvette Coupe 427/390 Coupe “The Last Sting Ray” Barrett-Jackson
2 $467,250 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
3 $440,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
4 $396,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
Mecum
RM
5 $367,500 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
6 $362,250 1966 Corvette 427/425 A Production Race Coupe
7 $296,625 1953 Corvette Roadster
8 $285,600 1953 Corvette Roadster
9 $283,500 1953 Corvette Roadster
10 $280,800 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Tanker Coupe
11 $280,500 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
12 $280,500 1963 Corvette 327/250 Tanker Coupe
13 $275,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
14 $264,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
15 $258,500 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
16 $240,000 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
17 $231,000 1959 Corvette 427 LS7 Custom Convertible
18 $231,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Yenko Convertible
19 $220,000 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
20 $220,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
21 $216,000 1963 Corvette Z06 Tanker Coupe
22 $214,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
23 $204,750 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
24 $203,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
25 $198,000 1959 Corvette 350/355 Custom Convertible
26 $192,500 1959 Corvette 283/290 FI Convertible
27 $187,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
28 $181,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
29 $181,500 1958 Corvette 283/245 Convertible
30 $180,600 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
31 $178,500 1955 Corvette V8 Roadster
32 $178,200 1958 Corvette 350/345 Custom Convertible
33 $176,000 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
34 $170,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
35 $170,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
36 $167,200 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
37 $165,000 1958 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
38 $165,000 1958 Corvette 283/245 Convertible
39 $165,000 1962 Corvette 427/500 Custom Convertible
40 $162,750 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
41 $159,500 1958 Corvette 502/502 Custom Convertible
42 $159,500 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
43 $159,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
44 $159,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
45 $157,500 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
86 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Worldwide
Mecum
Mecum
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
RM
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
Lapeer, MI
Houston, TX
St. Charles, IL
Kissimmee, FL
St. Charles, IL
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
RM
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Kissimmee, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum
Mecum
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Kissimmee, FL
St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Kissimmee, FL
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
St. Charles, IL
Date
Lot #
1/21/07 1285
6/17/07 S67
6/9/07
5/5/07
229
55
6/17/07 S63
1/27/07 S83
6/17/07 S91
1/21/07 1294
6/17/07 S53
2/11/07 SP30
1/21/07 1280.1
1/21/07 1280
1/21/07 S719
1/21/07 1334
1/21/07 1242
1/21/07 1327
1/21/07 1261
1/21/07 1326
1/21/07 1267.1
1/21/07 1308
2/11/07 NR46
1/21/07 1334.1
1/27/07 S149
1/21/07 1321
1/21/07 1354
4/1/07
708
1/21/07 1021
1/21/07 S711
4/1/07
674
1/27/07 S181
6/17/07 S55
4/1/07
691
1/21/07 1261.1
4/1/07
659
1/21/07 1289
4/1/07
714
1/21/07 1298.1
1/21/07 438
4/1/07
704.1
1/27/07 S127
4/1/07
711
1/21/07 1346
1/21/07 1269.1
4/1/07
714.1
6/17/07 S125
Page 85
Rank Sold Price Year Model
46 $157,500 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
47 $154,000 1958 Corvette 283/290 FI Convertible
48 $154,000 1959 Corvette 283/290 FI Convertible
49 $154,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
50 $152,250 1957 Corvette 283/250 FI Convertible
51 $151,250 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
52 $150,150 1965 Corvette 396/425 Convertible
53 $148,500 1954 Corvette Roadster
54 $148,500 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
55 $143,000 1954 Corvette Roadster
56 $143,000 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
57 $143,000 1966 Corvette 454 Custom Coupe
58 $141,900 1969 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
59 $139,650 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
60 $137,500 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
61 $137,500 1955 Corvette V8 Roadster
62 $137,500 1959 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
63 $137,500 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
64 $136,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
65 $136,500 1967 Corvette 427/390 Coupe
66 $134,750 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
67 $132,000 1963 Corvette 454 LS7 Custom Coupe
68 $132,000 1961 Corvette 283/245 Convertible
69 $132,000 1962 Corvette 327/360 Convertible
70 $131,775 1967 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
71 $131,250 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
72 $128,700 1966 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
73 $126,500 1967 Corvette 427/400 Coupe
74 $123,200 1967 Corvette 427/400 Coupe
75 $122,100 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
76 $121,000 1963 Corvette Convertible
77 $121,000 1966 Corvette 427/450 Convertible
78 $121,000 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
79 $121,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
80 $120,750 1971 Corvette 454/425 LS6 Coupe
81 $118,125 1967 Corvette 427/390 Coupe
82 $117,700 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
83 $115,500 1961 Corvette 283/315 Convertible
84 $115,500 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
85 $115,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
86 $115,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
87 $112,200 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
88 $112,200 1967 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
89 $111,300 1967 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
90 $111,000 1964 Corvette 327/375 FI Convertible
91 $110,700 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
92 $110,000 1954 Corvette Roadster
93 $110,000 1967 Corvette 427/400 Coupe
94 $110,000 1972 Corvette 350/255 LT1 Convertible
95 $108,900 1967 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
96 $107,250 1965 Corvette 327/300 Coupe
97 $106,700 1954 Corvette Roadster
98 106,050 1969 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
99 105,000 1957 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
100 $104,500 1957 Corvette 283/283 Convertible
Auction Co.
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Worldwide
Barrett-Jackson
Location
Kissimmee, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
Scottsdale, AZ
Kissimmee, FL
Houston, TX
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum
St. Charles, IL
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
St. Charles, IL
Scottsdale, AZ
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Mecum
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Mecum
Mecum
Belvidere, IL
Belvidere, IL
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Worldwide
Houston, TX
Mecum
RM
RM
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Kissimmee, FL
Kissimmee, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Date
Lot #
1/27/07 S86
1/21/07 1291
1/21/07 1024
1/21/07 1239.1
6/17/07 S32
1/21/07 1338
1/27/07 S94
5/5/07
54
1/21/07 1007
4/1/07
709
1/21/07 390
1/21/07 1347
1/21/07 F550
6/17/07 S122
1/21/07 F541
1/21/07 1364
4/1/07
715
1/21/07 1027.1
6/17/07 S46
6/17/07 S114
1/21/07 1351
1/21/07 F518
1/21/07 1013.1
1/21/07 1235.1
6/17/07 S27
6/17/07 S112
4/1/07
696
1/21/07 1575
4/1/07
721
1/21/07 F548
1/21/07 1256.1
1/21/07 1263
1/21/07 1043
4/1/07
683
5/28/07 S209
5/28/07 S168
1/21/07 F516
1/21/07 101
1/21/07 1251.1
4/1/07
4/1/07
5/5/07
4/1/07
392
692
84
679.1
6/17/07 S40
2/11/07 SP31
2/11/07 SP23
1/21/07 998
4/1/07
728
1/21/07 1548
4/1/07
667.1
1/21/07 1244
21-Jan-07 1259
27-Jan-07 S128
27-Jan-07 F197
21-Jan-07 1250.1
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 87
Page 86
By the
Numbers
All-Time Top 100 Corvette Sales
The market votes with its collective wallet; here are the top sales as recorded
in the vettemarket.com database
Rank Sold Price Year Model
1 $1,080,000 1953 Corvette Roadster #003
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Auction Co.
Barrett-Jackson
$660,000 1967 Corvette Coupe 427/390 Coupe “The Last Sting Ray” Barrett-Jackson
$605,000 1968 Corvette Stingray 427 Race Roadster
$489,500 1962 Corvette 327/360 FI Convertible
$467,250 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$440,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
$396,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
RM
Gooding
Mecum
RM
$393,750 1967 Corvette 427/435 L89 Convertible
$378,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$367,500 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
$362,250 1966 Corvette 427/425 A Production Race Coupe
$334,800 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
$330,000 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
$308,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$296,625 1953 Corvette Roadster
$291,600 1957 Corvette 454/510 ZL1 Custom Convertible
$286,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$285,600 1953 Corvette Roadster
$283,500 1953 Corvette Roadster
$280,800 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Tanker Coupe
$280,500 1963 Corvette 327/250 Tanker Coupe
$280,500 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
$275,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$267,300 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Convertible
$264,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$258,500 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
$248,400 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$240,000 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
$237,600 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
$237,600 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
$231,000 1959 Corvette 427 LS7 Custom Convertible
$231,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Yenko Convertible
$231,000 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Tanker Coupe
$231,000 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Tanker Coupe
$230,050 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Tanker Coupe
$228,960 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$226,800 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
$221,400 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
$221,400 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$221,400 1988 Corvette Callaway Sledgehammer
$220,500 1963 Corvette Z06 Coupe
$220,000 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
$220,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$216,000 1963 Corvette Z06 Tanker Coupe
$216,000 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
Worldwide
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Gooding
Barrett-Jackson
Gooding
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
RM
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
RM
Mecum
RM
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
RM
Barrett-Jackson
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Palm Beach, FL
St. Charles, IL
Lapeer, MI
Houston, TX
St. Charles, IL
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
Kissimmee, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Russo and Steele Monterey, CA
Mecum
St. Charles, IL
Scottsdale, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Kruse
Auburn, IN
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Monterey, CA
Kissimmee, FL
Boca Raton, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Kissimmee, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Kissimmee, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Date
Lot #
1/14/06 1311
1/21/07 1285
1/20/06 161
1/24/06 27
6/17/07 S67
6/9/07 229
5/5/07 55
6/24/05 S1
1/14/06 1284
6/17/07 S63
1/27/07 S83
1/14/06 1271.1
10/21/06 17
8/18/06 S256
6/17/07 S91
1/14/06 1295
10/21/06 53
1/21/07 1294
6/17/07 S53
2/11/07 SP30
1/21/07 1280
1/21/07 1280.1
1/21/07 S719
10/21/06 744
1/21/07 1334
1/21/07 1242
1/14/06 1298
1/21/07 1327
1/14/06 1282.1
1/14/06 1325
1/21/07 1261
1/21/07 1326
8/18/06 157
1/21/05 298
2/10/06 SP17
1/14/06 1265
1/27/06 X27
1/14/06 1275
1/14/06 1236
1/19/04 685
1/27/06 X12
1/21/07 1267.1
1/21/07 1308
2/11/07 NR46
1/14/06 1263
88 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Page 87
Rank Sold Price Year Model
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
Auction Co.
$216,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$216,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$214,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$214,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$212,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
$210,600 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$210,600 1953 Corvette Roadster
$210,000 1963 Corvette 327/250 Tanker Coupe
$204,750 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$204,750 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$203,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$198,000 1959 Corvette Custom Convertible
$198,000 1969 Corvette Baldwin Motion Phase III Coupe
$197,640 1963 Corvette Z06 Coupe
$194,250 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
$194,250 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$193,875 1954 Corvette Roadster
$192,500 1959 Corvette 283/290 FI Convertible
$192,500 1957 Corvette 283/283 Convertible
$192,150 1967 Corvette 427/400Convertible
$189,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$189,000 1991 Corvette Callaway ZR-1 Speedster
$187,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
$187,000 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
$186,375 1963 Corvette 327/340 Coupe
$183,750 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$182,970 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$181,500 1958 Corvette 283/245 Convertible
$181,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$181,125 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$180,600 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$178,500 1955 Corvette V8 Roadster
$178,200 1958 Corvette 350/345 Custom Convertible
$178,200 1957 Corvette 283/283 Convertible
$176,000 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
$176,000 1965 Corvette 327/375 Coupe
$176,000 1966 Corvette 427 Race Coupe
$172,800 1961 Corvette 283/315 Convertible
$172,800 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
$171,150 1956 Corvette 265/225 Convertible
$170,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$170,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$169,560 1969 Corvette 427/435 L88 Convertible
$168,480 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$167,200 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$165,000 1962 Corvette 427/500 Custom Convertible
$165,000 1958 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
$165,000 1958 Corvette 283/245 Convertible
$162,750 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
$162,750 1966 Corvette 427 Convertible
$162,750 1971 Corvette 454/425 LS6 Convertible
$162,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$160,380 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$160,125 1962 Corvette 327 Tanker Convertible
$159,840 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Branson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Mecum
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
RM
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Mecum
Christie's
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Branson, MO
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
Kissimmee, FL
St. Charles, IL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Monterey, CA
Scottsdale, AZ
St. Charles, IL
Kissimmee, FL
Monterey, CA
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Kissimmee, FL
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum
Mecum
RM
St. Charles, IL
Kissimmee, FL
St. Charles, IL
St. Charles, IL
St. Charles, IL
Boca Raton, FL
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum
Mecum
Mecum
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Gooding
RM
Barrett-Jackson
Kruse
Mecum
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Monterey, CA
Scottsdale, AZ
Monteagle, TN
St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Kruse
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Mecum
Carlisle
Mecum
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Kissimmee, FL
Carlisle, PA
Barrett-Jackson
Kruse
Mecum
Leake
St. Charles, IL
Scottsdale, AZ
Auburn, IN
St. Charles, IL
Dallas, TX
Date
Lot #
1/14/06 1027
1/14/06 1303
1/21/07 1334.1
1/19/04 703
4/21/06 268
1/14/06 1279
1/19/04 705
10/14/05 X31
1/27/07 S149
10/6/06 S120
1/21/07 1321
1/21/07 1354
8/19/05 157
1/14/06 1294
10/6/06 S86
1/27/06 X18
8/18/05 47
4/1/07 708
1/20/06 S229
1/27/06 S51
1/14/06 1017
1/19/04 684
1/21/07 1021
1/20/06 S208
6/24/05 S38
10/6/06 S91
2/10/06 SP18
4/1/07 674
1/21/07 S711
6/24/05 S3
1/27/07 S181
6/17/07 S55
4/1/07 691
1/14/06 1017.1
1/21/07 1261.1
10/21/06 30
8/16/02 23
1/14/06 1252
10/15/05 734
6/24/05 S7
4/1/07 659
1/21/07 1289
1/19/04 683
11/25/06 739.1
4/1/07 714
4/1/07 704.1
1/21/07 1298.1
1/21/07 438
1/27/07 S127
4/21/06 S150
6/24/05 S17
1/14/06 1544
5/19/05 792
6/24/05 S6
11/17/06 467
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 89
Page 88
By the
Numbers
By the
Numbers
Top Five Corvette Sales, C1 Through C4
Our final numerical analysis from www.vettemarket.com highlights the five
best-selling Corvettes by generation, C1–C4
C1
1 1953 Corvette
Roadster
Sold at $1,080,000—BarrettJackson,
Scottsdale, AZ,
January 14, 2006.
showroom display in Mandan and
add some kick to the ND tourist
trade.
2 1962 Corvette
327/360 FI Convertible
Sold at $489,500—Gooding &
Company, Palm Beach, FL,
January 24, 2006.
Lot# 1311, s/n E53F001003.
Polo White/red vinyl, 330 miles.
235-ci I6, 3x1-bbl Carter Type
YH, Powerglide auto. This is
the oldest surviving production
Corvette, the third built. Fit and
finish are very much to factory
spec, such as it was. Original GM
documentation for delivery configuration
to the public. Handlaid
fiberglass, with expected flaws
in the paint. Sold in 1987 at Rick
Cole's, Monterey, for $35k, with
several problems after unfortunate
storage. The restoration aimed
to replicate the original build
process, and many Corvette theoreticians
agree this car is correct.
Well-known and documented. The
seller wants it to go to a museum.
The seller's hope that it would
end up in a museuem likely won't
happen. This represents the highest
price ever paid for a Corvette
at auction. Bought by David
Ressler, a North Dakota car
dealer who outbid some notable
Corvette aficionados to claim this
one. Perhaps it will end up as a
Lot# 27, s/n 20867S101261.
White & blue/red vinyl. FI,
4-sp. Ordered from the factory
with hard top, radio delete,
Positraction, and the RPO 687
performance option—big brakes
and steering. Raced at Le Mans in
1962 by Tony Settember and Jack
Turner. Quick-fill gas filler routed
through the rear window. Panel fit
is better than new. The entire car
looks new, but not too new.
Sold on the telephone, though
the underbidder was a woman
in the tent. Before the auction, I
couldn't stop talking about the
condition of this car to anyone
who would listen. There was
no pre-auction estimate, so we
had no idea if the hammer price
would be enough to sell it. Great
money for a nice racer with a
fully-stocked past.
3 1953 Corvette
Roadster
Sold at $396,000 by the
Worldwide Group, Seabrook,
TX, May 5, 2007.
90 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Lot# 55, s/n E53F001120. Polo
White/red vinyl, 86,446 miles.
235-ci I6, 3x1-bbl Carter Type
YH, Powerglide auto. Original
engine out of car, later engine
installed. Restored to better than
new condition, original assembly
markings retained. Paint far
better than when new, with no
marks or fiberglass bonds evident.
Number 120 of 300 manufactured.
Striking, albeit over-restored.
Sold at the May '06 Branson
sale for $212,000 (CM# 41422),
with the comment that there was
little left for the next guy. Clearly
that wasn't the case, but it's still
hard to believe that this car grew
by $200k in just 13 months. Very
well sold.
4 1953 Corvette
Roadster
Sold by Mecum in St. Charles,
IL, on June 17, 2007, for
$296,625.
burner blowing money at the C1
marketplace?
5 1953 Corvette
Roadster
Sold at $283,500—Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 17, 2007.
Lot# S53, s/n E53F001210.
Polo White/red vinyl, 2,653
miles. 235-ci I6, 3x1-bbl Carter
Type YH. One headlight trim
chrome buffed through and a
paint chip at the same place.
S53, 54 & 55 same owner.
Heater and radio were the only
available options in 1953. Part
of the Paul Jones Collection for
13 years. Lots of interest in these
three cars.
C2
1 1967 Corvette
Lot# S91, s/n E53F001107.
Polo White/red vinyl, 121 miles.
235-ci I6, 3x1-bbl Carter Type
YH. Rough edges and paint chips
at tonneau lid corners and chip on
gas door.
Between this and lot S53 we
have some real money talking.
Are we about to see an after-
Lot# 1285, s/n 194377S122940.
Silver Pearl & black/ black
vinyl, 67 miles. 4-bbl, 4-sp.
427/390 Coupe
Sold at $660,000—BarrettJackson,
Scottsdale, AZ,
January 18, 2007.
Page 89
Documented as the final 1967
Corvette to be built, sold new in
Houston, TX. Body component
fit and finish far exceed factory
specs—even the doors fit nicely
with good gaps at the top. Nice
trim and chrome, excellent black
vinyl interior. Having won the
NCRS Triple Crown within the
last year means it's as perfect as a
Corvette can be restored,
The effort in presenting the car
here seemed to almost match the
effort of restoration. I also found
it interesting that the odometer
read 67 miles. Some pundits were
estimating that this would crack
seven digits, but the hammered
price was much more realistic
for a rare ‘Vette in excellent
condition.
2 1967 Corvette
427/435 Convertible
Sold by Mecum in St. Charles,
IL, on June 17, 2007, for
$467,250.
Lot# S63, s/n 30837S117511.
Riverside Red/black vinyl,
40,010 miles. Good paint except
drips left side hood on front door.
Good bright trims and chrome.
Some hard weather strips.
Lot# S67, s/n 194677S114878.
Tuxedo Black & red/black vinyl,
12,704 miles. Tri-power, 4-sp.
Shiny paint with corner cracks
just starting at headlights. Like
new everywhere. A great car
to own even if you don't dare
drive it. Lots of excitement and
speculation on this car wasn't
misplaced. Nearly a half million
dollars for a Corvette—wow.
3 1967 Corvette
427/435 Convertible
Sold at $393,750—Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 24, 2005.
Lot# S1, s/n 194677S118300.
Lot# 17, s/n 30837S109324.
Saddle Tan/saddle leather,
50,647 miles. FI, 4-sp. Quality
older restoration with numerous
awards. Door fit off, as with
most Corvettes. Excellent paint,
nice chrome. RPO Z06 includes
a sway bar, stiff springs, larger
shocks and the L84 injected en-
N03 36-gallon tank (63 built)
and Z06 option, (199 built) make
this one of the rarest of the breed.
But you already knew that by the
$367,500 selling price, didn't
you?
5 1963 Corvette
327/360 Z06 Coupe
Sold at $330,000—Gooding
& Company, Oxnard, CA,
October 21, 2006.
Lot# 161, s/n TP100268. White
& red/black vinyl. The second of
three Corvette team cars that ran
the SCCA National circuit as well
as FIA distance races. Raced in
Owens Corning Fiberglas livery
with an L88 engine. The car was
found in 1990 and restored in
2000 to the original specifications.
Stated to be the most
victorious Corvette in history.
Little to fault here.
This car's history is known
since new, when it was raced with
SunRay DX sponsorship. The
price paid seemed a bit on the
light side considering what other
historically significant Corvettes
bring. We'll chalk this one up for
the buyer.
2 1969 Corvette
L88 Coupe
Sold $334,800—BarrettJackson,
Scottsdale, AZ,
January 14, 2006.
Marlboro Maroon & black/black
vinyl, 38,375 miles. Tri-Power,
4-sp. Delamination starting on
driver's vent glass. All else as
factory. Bloomington Gold with
full documentation.
Only 16 of these came from the
factory with the L89 aluminum
head option, and this is said to
be the only convertible known.
Really rare and really expensive,
but certainly a ‘Vette that will
only go up up up!
4 1963 Corvette
327/360 Z06 Coupe
Sold at $367,500—Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 17, 2007.
gine. Also equipped with power
windows and a 36 gallon “big
tank” with oversized filler cap.
Bloomington Gold in 1994.
Loaded with unique options,
one of only 63 built with the big
tank. Price paid had to have
been some sort of record for ‘63
Split-Windows, but considering
the desirable options and unique
history, it's only out of line by
$25k or so—which will be quickly
forgotten the first time out with
the new owner.
C3
1 1968 Corvette
Lot# 1271.1, s/n 194379S714904.
Riverside Gold/saddle vinyl,
2,563 miles. 4-bbl, 4-sp. Actual
mileage, and the lowest-mile L88
in existence. Five documented
owners from new. Radio delete,
heater delete, stored inside its
whole life. The paint is 90%
original, and looks excellent.
Museum-displayed for many
years, and the interior reflects
that. Three original tires.
SCCA Race Coupe
Sold at $605,000—RM,
Phoenix, AZ, January 20, 2006.
The Who's Who of the Corvette
world know it has a restoration
engine, so it was interesting there
was nothing mentioned in the
description about it. This will
forever be a looker, whereas, had
you bought the Fathom Green
L88, lot #1325, you'd be able
to rip up the pavement. And you
would have saved $100 grand.
3 1969 Corvette
L88 Coupe
Sold $237,600—BarrettJackson,
Scottsdale, AZ,
January 14, 2006.
Lot# 1325, s/n 194379S737301.
Fathom Green & black/tan
vinyl. 427/430, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Documented as the last L88 of
116 produced. Lots of other docs.
Dime-sized star crack on the right
fender. Paint is good otherwise,
and brightwork is nicely polished.
Clean interior and engine bay.
The owner states the car is “number-correct
and component-correct,”
though doesn't go so far as
saying it is “numbers-matching.”
This car sold a couple of hours
www.vettemarket.com FALL 2007 Corvette Market 91
Page 90
By the
Numbers
By the
Numbers
after lot #1271, the other L88 at
the sale. If you had stuck around
after the first one, you would
have saved yourself almost about
$100k, and you'd have yourself
a useable car, rather than a
museum piece. Well bought.
4 1968 Corvette
L88 Convertible
Sold at $135,000—BarrettJackson,
Scottsdale, AZ,
January 16, 2003.
distance kit. No-nonsense interior.
The L88 427-ci V8 produced in
excess of 430 hp and was a $1,032
option. If the Corvette line were
a family, this would be the scary
older brother. A huge price, but a
unique and imposing 'Vette.
C4
1 1991 Corvette Callaway
Sledgehammer
Speedster
Sold at $155,000—Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 24, 2005.
Lot# 702, s/n 194678S414479.
LeMans Blue/blue vinyl, 13,598
miles. 427-ci, 550-hp. Absolutely
all-original one-owner car except
battery and fluids. Engine room
rather unkempt but untouched
since '68 with all correct fasteners.
Windshield delaminating. Door
handles pitted. Nick (or polishing
burn) in left front fender.
As a heater delete convertible
from Minnesota, it was destined
to only have 13k miles—after
all, just how many nice warm
days do you have up there? Huge
price, but shows again that a car
is only original once, and valued
accordingly.
5 1969 Corvette
L88 Race Roadster
Sold at $130,680—Russo and
Steele, Monterey, CA, August
17, 2002.
Lot# S100,
Lot# S46,
s/n 1G1YY3384M5116978.
Black/peach leather, 4,137
miles. 350-ci, 402-hp, 6-sp. This
Callaway Twin-Turbo Speedster
is one of ten built. Dirt on seat
bolster and worn leather by the
parking brake. Delaminating
edges on windshield.
402 hp doesn't sound like a
lot today, but in 1991 this was
impressive. Original MSRP was
$186,625. The dollar cost per mile
driven is also impressive. Said to
be one of twelve, and formerly
owned by “Titanic” director
James Cameron, this car sold in
1999 for $110k. Well sold.
2 1996 Corvette Grand
Sport Convertible
Sold at $80,850—Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 17, 2007.
Lot # 1528,
s/n 194679S711387. Blue/black
vinyl. “The Kosher Corvette.”
Impressively campaigned by Herb
Caplan on the West Coast—46
wins in 49 starts. Paint proudly
displays rock chips from many ontrack
encounters. Huge Goodyear
racing slicks. Racing gauges,
s/n 1G1YY2252T5600637.
Admiral Blue & white/red leather,
168 miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuelinjected
V8, 6-sp. Dealer prepped,
but carpeting still has a clear plastic
protective sheet over it from
the factory. Several light paint
chips detected on nose, otherwise
paint is as applied at Bowling
Green Assembly. Engine compartment
appears basically unused. All
assembly line inspection decals
and markings are as new. Interior
has more dust than wear. A new
11-year-old car.
It's not that unusual to find a
near-mint Grand Sport on the
marketplace, however this was one
of 217 fitted with the more visually
striking red and black leather
interior. These usually top out in the
$45k to $50k range, so everyone
was more than a bit surprised to
see more than three bidders take it
over $60k. It took awhile, but it even
kept going past its $63,500 reserve.
Sold exceptionally well. One of the
only “instant collectibles” I've seen
actually make someone money.
4 1990 Corvette
ZR-1 Coupe
Sold at $60,375—Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 17, 2007.
Lot# S93, s/n
1G1YY3252T5600458. Admiral
Blue & white/red leather, 6,032
miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuel-injected
92 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Lot# S10,
s/n 1G1YZ23J1M5801885.
Steel Blue/blue leather, 127
miles. 350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. A second year ZR-1,
still new in box. No condition issues
noted, interior still wrapped
in plastic. Window sticker shows
$65,638. One of 2,044 built.
All '91 Corvettes were restyled
with similar rectangular taillights
to the '90 ZR-1, but the ZR1
package still included wider rear
panels to allow for 11-inch wide
rear wheels. Likely driven from
the dealer to the seller's garage,
and not since. This price reflected
the current market for these cars,
which is still lagging behind their
sticker prices when new. ■
V8, 6-sp. Doesn't show even the 6k
miles. As new in and out.
RPO Z16 Grand Sport package
cost $2,880 on this car and was
limited to 1,000 units. Even with
that option this is crazy money
for any '96 Corvette.
3 1996 Corvette
Grand Sport Coupe
Sold at $68,775—Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 17, 2007.
Lot# S9,
s/n 1G1YZ23J4L5803015.
Black/black leather, 111 miles.
350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8,
6-sp. The first year ZR-1, still new
in box. $60,600 sticker on window.
Bloomington Gold certified,
no wear noted anywhere. One of
3,049 built.
Stay with me now as this gets
confusing... First bid as a group
alongside lots S10, S11, S12, S13,
and S14 to a no-sale $305,000.
Later offered individually to see
if the total would be higher. This
crowd was likely the seller's best
chance at a high sale price, and
that's exactly what he got at over
$60k—but he's still $300 in the
hole if he paid sticker for the car
in '90, not including inflation.
5 1991 Corvette
ZR-1 Coupe
Sold at $60,375, Mecum, St.
Charles, IL, June 17, 2007.
Page 92
Dealer Showcase
Showcase
1957 Convertible
County Corvette
Dealer
1967 Convertible
Original 283-270HP Engine EG code
With 2 x 4 Carburetors, Early Car with
close ratio 3-speedTransmission, Rare
Cascade Green/Biege, Only 319 cars
Built, Auxiliary Hardtop, Rare Radio
Delete Correct Car with Owner History
Condition 1. $99,000.
1962 Convertible
Original 327-360HP Fuel Injected
Engine,T-10 4-speed, Positraction Rear,
Wonderbar Radio, 66,903 Miles, White
Exterior, Red Interior, Rare example of an
Original Fuel Injected car with its Original
Drivetrain, Unhit original body. Flawless
running and driving car with great originality.
Condition 1. $105,000
1961 Convertible
Great example of one of the rarest 67's
Corvettes ever produced. 427/390 Hp, 4
speed wide ratio trans. Original numbers
matching driveline. Red exterior on unhit
original body. Laquer paint. White/black
interior in near perfect condition. 37000
original, documented miles. White soft
top, black vinyl covered hardtop. The best
original documentation we have ever seen
on an original big block car going back to
original owner. Trim tag, protecto plate
and tank sticker original from GM. One
of the best cars we have ever had in our
inventory! DO NOT SNOOZE on this
one! Call for price 610.696.7888.
1967 Convertible
610.696.7888 • www.countycorvette.com
315 Westtown Rd., Suite 1, West Chester, PA 19382
Transmission, Marina Blue Exterior
(restoration by County Corvette) Bright
Blue Leather Interior, Power Steering,
Power Brakes, Power Windows, Side
Exhaust, Rally Wheels, BLOOMINGTON
GOLD CERTIFICATE 2002, CHEVY
VETTEFEST WINNER, ORIGINAL
TANK STICKER. Condition 1. $199,900.
4 speed close ratio transmission, Red
line tires, AM FM Radio, Tinted glass,
Special offroad exhaust, Shoulder
harnesses, Telescopic steering wheel,
Speed warning, Body off restoration,
Original Engine GUARANTEED IN
WRITING, We remanufactured this
engine and documented that it was never
apart and retained its original steel head
gaskets, Original Trim tag and VIN plate
GUARANTEED IN WRITING, This is
a REAL Factory equipped 435hp car not
a clone GUARANTEED IN WRITING.
Mint , exact fitting body, no damage anywhere.
Just opening and closing the doors
on this car is a pleasure being smooth and
precise. Stunning Concours paint. This is
an authentic, very rare, very desirable car.
Serious inquiries please. Condition 1 +
$199,900 REDUCED TO $159,000.
Summer special! Call for more details
610.696.7888.
1968 Convertible
Radial Tires, 4338 ORIGINAL MILES,
UNRESTORED ORIGINAL CAR
WITH ORIGINAL PAINT AND
ORIGINAL GOODYEAR TIRES,
ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER,
ORIGINAL BUILD SHEET, ORIGINAL
WARRANTY BOOK, ORIGINAL
OWNERS MANUAL, OWNER
HISTORY. Condition 1. $24,900
1982 Coupe
57,000 Original miles
Red exterior,Red Leather interior,
Removable Glass Roof Panels, Power
Driver Seat, Power Door Locks, Electric
Sport Mirrors, Cruise Control, Aluminum
Wheels , AM/FM ETR Stereo Radio With
Cassette. Condition 1-. $19,900
1979 Coupe
A real red/ red 61! Known locally from
new, this car retains its original paint,
interior (except dash pad and carpets)
and driveline. 283/ 230 hp, 3 speed
transmission. Never damaged and looks
incredible. NCRS Top flight award in the
late 90's rarely driven but well maintained.
Serviced by County Corvette since the
early 90's after being purchased from its
original owner in Delaware. Condition 2.
New 1967 Convertible
Very Rare 427-400HP, Air Conditioning
Convertible with Powerglide
Factory equipped options: Goodwood
Green, White stinger, Saddle interior,
leather seats, 427-435 , Transistorized
ignition, 4.11:1 Posi rear differential,
94 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
338 Original miles. White Exterior,
Red Leather Interior, L48 350
Engine, Automatic Transmission, Air
Conditioning, Power Steering, Power
Brakes,Power Windows, Power Door
Locks, Am/Fm Radio Stereo, Power
Antenna, Automatic Speed Control,
Aluminum Wheels, FE7 Gymkhana
Suspension, 225/70-15 Goodyear
Elkhart Blue Exterior with, Teal
Blue Interior, Teal Blue Convertible
Top( Restortation Trim tag) Original
427-435HP Engine, M21 close Ratio
transmission, Positraction Rear, Power
Steering, Speed Warning Indicator, Am/fm
Radio,Complete Body-Off Restoration of
an original 435 HP Convertible with its
Original Engine. Condition 1. $139,900.
1967Coupe
58000 original miles! Air conditioning,
300 HP-327, M21 Close ratio 4
speed Muncie transmission, Power
windows, Power steering, power brakes,
International Blue exterior, Bright blue
interior! Original Numbers matching
driveline. White top. Magnificent body
off restoration by our facility last year.
Was on display at the AACA Museum
in Hershey for the Corvette display in
2005. Restorations to this level are usually
reserved for big block specialty cars. This
Corvette is at the high end quality speaking
with a $100,000 restoration. None
finer in existence, if you are looking for
the best of the best here it is.
Condition 1+. Price reduced please call
for more information.
1980 Coupe
Torch Red Exterior, Light Beige Leather
Interior, Sport Seats, LT-5 Engine , 6
speed Transmission, 18650 Original
Miles!, Electronic Air Conditioning,
Power Windows And Locks, Cruise
Control, Delco-Bose AM/FM Stereo With
CD Player and Cassette, FX-3 Adjustable
suspension package, Z07 suspension package,
Glass removable roof panel, Only 140
Torch Red ZR1's made in 1995, Excellent
original condition. New “NOS” GSC
Goodyears with NO MILES on them.
Window sticker, Build Sheet included.
Condition 1-. $49,900.
Original Light Biege Exterior, Biege
Leather Interior, 350 CI Engine ,
Automatic Transmission, Posi Rear, Cold
Air Conditioning, Power Steering, Power
Brakes, Power Windows, Power Antenna,
Tilt/Telescopic Steering Wheel, Am/Fm
Stereo Cassette ,Sport Mirrors, Goodyear
Eagle ST Tires, SECOND FLIGHT NCRS
at Wildwood N.J. Regional Meet 2004
with 92.7 Score. Owner History. Condition
1-. $16,900.
1995 ZR1 Coupe
Page 94
Resource Directory
Resource
Directory
Auction Companies
GoFastAuction.com Go-
FastAuction is an Internet oasis
for classic, vintage and antique car
aficionados from around the world.
Our auto auction and classified
listings are the definitive source
for locating classic cars and
related parts or accessories.
www.gofastauction.com
Kruse International.
800.968.4444, 5540 CR llA Auburn,
IN 46706. Largest Collector
Car Auction Company, holding
over 35 auctions per year. Home of
the 480-acre Auction Park in Auburn,
IN, where the 37th Annual
Labor Day Auction will be held
with over 5,000 cars and 150,000
people. www.kruse.com. (IN)
Mecum Collector Car
Auctioneers. 815.568.8888,
815.568.6615. 950 Greenlee St.,
Marengo, IL 60015. Auctions:
Orlando, Kansas City, Rockford,
Bloomington Gold, St. Paul, Des
Moines, Carlisle, and Chicago.
Nobody Sells More Muscle
Than Mecum. Nobody. www
.mecumauction.com. (IL)
Palm Springs Auctions Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290,
760.323.7031. 244 N. Indian Canyon
Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
www.classic-carauction.com. (CA)
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th
Street, Phoenix AZ 85040.
info@russoandsteele.com; www
.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
The Worldwide Group.
866.273.6394, Established by
John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The
Worldwide Group— Auctioneers,
Appraisers and Brokers —is one of
the world's premier auction houses,
specializing in the procurement
and sale of the world's finest automobiles
and vintage watercraft.
www.wwgauctions.com. (TX)
Automobilia
Custom Diecast Inc Ever
thought about having your car in
diecast ? Have you tried to find
a diecast version of your car at
shows and hobby shops ? The #1
home for custom diecast replicas.
www.customdiecastreplicas.com
Vette Collectibles Licensed
Corvette diecast, apparel and nov96
Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Put your company in the CM Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 x211, or email advert@vettemarket.com
elties. We are a one-stop shop for
collectors and Corvette enthusiasts
alike. www.vettecollectibles.com
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
Corvette Repair, Inc.
516.568.1959, The most recognized
Corvette restoration shop
in America. The leader in NCRS,
Triple Crown and Bloomington
Gold Achievements. www
.corvetterepair.com
Corvette Central
800.345.4122, Parts and accessories
for everything from the
Blue Flame Six to the new C6.
www.corvettecentral.com
County Corvette 610.696.7888,
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com
Mid America Motorworks
800.500.1500, America's leader in
1953-2008 Corvette parts and accessories.
Request a free catalog at
www.mamotorworks.com
Classic Car Transport
Intercity Lines, Inc..
800.221.3936, 413.436.9422.
Rapid, hassle-free, coast-to-coast
service. Insured enclosed transport
for your valuable car at affordable
prices. State-of-the-art satellite
transport tracking. Complete
service for vintage races, auctions,
relocations. www.intercitylines
.com. (MA)
Motor Auto Express, Inc..
360.661.1734, Enclosed Transport.
MAX cares for what you care
for. We offer Personal, Private,
Professional services with liftgate
loading for your vehicles. Please
contact Randy McKinley, Owner.
maxiet@gmail.com. (WA)
Exotic Car Transport.
800.766.8797. 20 years serving
manufacturers, dealers, collectors,
and owners of fine automobiles.
www.exoticcartransport.com. (FL)
FedEx Custom Critical
Passport Auto Transport.
800.325.4267, fax 314.878.7295.
Fully enclosed transport from the
industry originator. Specializing
in events, including Pebble Beach,
the Colorado Grand, and BarrettJackson.
Liftgates for safe loading
and winches for inoperable vehicles.
Inquire about ultra-expedited,
three-day, coast-to-coast service.
www.passporttransport.com. (MO)
Insurance
Hagerty Collector Car Insur-
ance. 800.922.4050. Collector
cars aren't like their late-model
counterparts. These classics actually
appreciate in value so standard
market policies that cost significantly
more won't do the job. We'll
agree on a fair value and cover you
for the full amount. No prorated
claims, no hassles, no games.
www.hagerty.com. (MI)
Motor Sport Personal Acci-
dent Coverage. 441.297.9439.
Email,mcooke@evolution.bm.
Limits up to $1,000,000 including
accident medicaland helicopter
evacuation. Comp Capital Ltd. can
obtain coverage atcompetive rates
including drivers over the age of
65. Either 12 monthpolicy covering
a whole season and or for specific
events. Pleasecontact Mark Cooke
and or Kevin Way.
Corvettes for Sale
Cardiff Classics 760.632.5555,
Located on Pacific Coast Highway
101 in beautiful Encinitas. www
.cardiff-classics.com
Cn' V Corvettes 1-800-875-
8390,We mechanically service and
recondition our Corvettes like no
other Corvette dealer does. From
underside to the top we go to extremes
to make you proud of the
Corvette you purchase from Cn'V.
www.cnv-corvettes.com
Corvette Central Parts and
Accessories for all corvettes.
Corvette Central has been a leading
manufacturer and distributor
of Corvette parts and accessories
since 1975. We offer the most
comprehensive and detailed parts
catalogs on the market today and
produce a different catalog for
each Corvette generation. All
catalogs are also online with full
search and order features. From
Blue Flame 6 to the new C6, only
Corvette Central has it all.
www.corvettecentral.com
Corvette Mike. 800.327.VETT,
Whether you are looking for a vintage
1953 Corvette—or the latest
Corvette model—Corvette Mike
is your one-stop shop for anything
Corvette. West Coast and New
England showrooms. Leader of the
Pack since 1982. www
.corvettemike.com
County Corvette.
610.696.7888, The most modern
and best equipped Corvette-only
facility in the nation. www.countycorvette.com
Family Classics 949.496.3000,
Our showroom houses some of the
world's most prized classic cars,
hot rods, muscle cars and modern
exotics. If we don't have what you
want, check back - or tell us what
you want. We're equipped to find
numbers matching 100-point restorations,
low-mileage survivors
or just beautiful, reliable drivers.
www.familyclassiccars.com
Park Place 425.562.1000, The
West Coast's largest luxury, sports
and special interest automobile
dealership. “No one has what we
have. Period.” www.parkplaceltd
.com (WA)
eBay MotorsWhatever it
is…you can get it on eBay.
www.motors.ebay.com
ProTeam Classic Cor-
vette Collection and Sales.
419.592.5086; fax 419.592.4242.
The world's largest classic Corvette
collection. 1410 N. Scott
Street, Napoleon, Ohio, 43545.
Toll Free 1-888-592-5086. Email:
proteam@proteamcorvette.com.
www.proteam-corvette.com
Motororcar Porfolio located
in the Marriott Hotel in downtown
Canton Ohio, we offer you unique
classic automobiles at excellent
prices. All of our vehicles have
been evaluated by master mechanics
specializing in the field. Over
fifty years of combined experience
allows us to select only the finest
vehicles. This assures appreciation
in value, and protects your investment.
www.motorcarportfolio.com
The Chevy Store At The
Chevy Store, you will find only the
highest grade, investment quality
Corvette and specialty Chevrolet
automobiles. We take pride in
providing our clients with the
finest selection anywhere. Offering
investment quality corvettes
and Chevrolets for over 30 years!
503-256-5384 (p) 503-256-4767(f)
www.thechevystore.com
Garage & Tools
Baldhead Cabinet Company.
877.966.2253, Offering a fine selection
of quality metal garage cabinets
suitable for shop and residential
garage applications. SS and custom
colors available. Many modules to
choose from. Call for a custom quote
and drawing. See ad in this issue.
www.baldheadcabinets.com. (CA)
Griot's Garage. 800.345.5789,
The ultimate online store for automotive
accessories and car care products.
www.griotsgarage.com. (WA)
Page 95
Metal Line Cabinets Your va-
cation photos get put in an album.
Your china has its own closet. Seriously,
even your toothpaste gets
stored inside of a fine hardwood
or metal and glass cabinet. So why
does the really important stuff (like
your tools, toys, etc.) have to reside
on an open shelf or inside a homecenter
white particle board box? It's
time to show your stuff it matters.
It's time for Metal Line Cabinets.
www.metallinecabinets.com.
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Parts & Accessories
Royal Purple. Royal Purple®
manufactures a wide range of
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Museums
MY Garage Museum
800.500.1500, Housed on the campus
of Mid America Motorworks,
in Effingham, IL the MY Garage
Museum contains numerous oneof-
a kind Corvettes such as the
CERV 1 research vehicle and the
1964 Bill Mitchell World's Fair
styling study car. www
.mamotorworks.com/mygarage
National Corvette Museum
800-53-VETTE, The National
Corvette Museum in Bowling
Green, KY was established as a
501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation
with a mission of celebrating the
invention of the Corvette and preserving
its past, present and future.
www.corvettemuseum.com
St. Louis Car Museum.
800.957.5707; 314.993.7104. Providing
the most discerning enthusiasts
with the world's finest automobiles
for nearly a generation.
We buy cars and offer competitive
consignment services, as well as
climate controlled storage. Call for
details. www.stlouiscarmuseum
.com. (MO). ■
Page 96
In
Miniature
How details make models into masterpieces. By Marshall Buck
Excellent But Un-Limited
Though Danbury Mint would have us believe this is a limited edition, it is
anything but. Editions stop being “limited” past 500 in number
Grand Sport Coupes
(Car #80, s/n 005, driven by Dick
Thompson at Nassau in 1963, and car
#00, s/n 003 driven by Jack Saunders
at Nassau in 1964.)
These Chinese-made Exoto models
Ratings (
Quality:
Authenticity:
is best)
½
½
Overall: ½
in 1:18 scale are very good, but no
better than that. The first versions, #80
among them, were introduced several
years ago, and most of the 29 variations
Exoto offers are still available.
You read correctly—29. You get a fair
amount for your money depending on
which one you buy.
I justify the $149 I paid for #80, but I have a much
tougher time with the current prices of $190 to $250,
especially since there are at least 5,000 of each being
produced. Expect to pay $300 or more for one of several
currently hard-to-find or claimed sold-out pieces.
Paint finish is great, as is overall fit and finish of most parts, and they display well,
but a few big issues exist on every Exoto Grand Sport. Tire sizes and shapes are wrong.
Exhaust pipe quality is poor and lacks detail. Engine and chassis detail are good until
compared to the current crop of highly detailed 1:24 Danbury Mint Corvettes. The
door hinges are the old “dog leg” diecast and toy type, which today are considered substandard.
And the white stripe on #00 is incomplete over the front hood vents.
All the same, I'd suggest adding one Coupe and one Roadster to your collection.
Available from: Motorsports Miniatures, P.O. Box 4, East Meadow, NY 11554;
800.249.3763; info@motorsportsminiatures.com; www.motorsportsminiatures.com
1957 SS
This 1:18-scale model is a
good but not great representation
of the Sebring racer.
Mass produced by AUTOart
in China, it's a reasonably
well-detailed model that will
look good in any collection. It
appears to be closer to the way
it is restored now than when it raced for 23 laps at Sebring.
Proportions, though not perfect, are close. I'll give them
high marks for overall fit and finish, and with all opening
panels, it has enough working parts to please most collectors.
Open up the rear deck and you will see simulated duct
work for brake cooling along with some simple suspension detail and little bungie
cords holding the spare in place.
Engine detail is basic but underwhelming; I'd display the model all closed. The
Ratings (
Quality:
Authenticity:
Overall:
1953 Corvette
In our premier issue,
Ratings (
Quality:
it's only appropriate
we kick off with a 1953
roadster. The car shown is a 1:24-scale model produced
in 2003 as a 50th anniversary commemorative by
the Danbury Mint, and it's one of the best 1:24-scale
model cars I've come across. I'm especially impressed
because this is a mass-produced model made in China.
Fit and finish are excellent, with a wealth of detail
Authenticity:
Overall:
everywhere. The engine bay shows a delicate throttle
linkage and the upholstery is nicely executed with
simulated white stitching. It features working doors
with proper hinges, hood, trunk, convertible boot lid,
gas cap door, steering, and suspension. In the trunk
you'll find side curtains in a little pouch, which can
be fitted in place along with a separate convertible
top. The chassis is fully detailed, and there's even a
spare tire under a simulated round wood panel beneath
the removable floor mat.
Minor gripes include an ill-fitted trim piece, a slight
issue with the driver's door fit, and the mesh screens
over the headlights. At best, they're okay, as the scale
is too large.
It's hard to believe they did all that for a retail price
is best)
of $135 until you consider that around 15,000 were
produced. My own example carries the serial number
of 14,261. Though DM would have us believe this is a
limited edition, it is anything but. Editions stop being
“limited” past 500 in number.
Available on eBay or on www.diecast.org, a site
devoted primarily the Danbury and Franklin Mints.■
leather straps for the front and rear body panels are made of rubber and don't really
stay in place as intended. I would also have liked to have seen a better rear license plate
with 00 00 00, as was on the car originally instead of the cheesy 57SS.
The SS has been very briefly modeled by two other manufacturers in 1:43- and
1:24-scales; both of those are long out of production and exceedingly scarce.
Available for a reasonable $79.95 fromMint Models, 166 Sparrowbush Road, Suite
4, Latham, NY 12110; 800.341.4699; service@mintmodels.com; www.mintmodels.com
98 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
MARSHALL BUCK is the founder of Creative
Miniature Associates (www.cmamodels.com). He has
been involved with high-end automotive miniatures
since 1982 as a collector, model maker, manufacturer,
and broker. He wrote a featured model column
for Vintage Motorsport magazine from 1988 to 1999.
is best)