Profiles
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8
135 Corvettes Priced, Analyzed, and Rated By Our Experts
Corvette Market
MULSANNE MONSTER
Keith Martin's
The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
'68 L88 Makes $572k in Monterey
Summer 2009
www.vettemarket.com
Complete Bloomington Coverage
15,600-mile '65 427/425 Coupe, $143k
Will the New ZR1 be Collectible in 20 Years?
Page 2
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 2 . Issue 8 . Summer 2009
22 The $572k C3
18 Big-Brake C1
20 15,600-mile C2
Profiles
C1 1961 283/315 Big-Brake Fuelie—
18 by John L. Stein
C2 1966 427/425 Coupe—Sold at $143,000
20 by Michael Pierce
“Although it was touted as ‘one of the finest unrestored
Corvettes in existence,' once a car has been taken apart
and put back together, it's no longer original.”
C3 1968 Scuderia Filipinetti L88 Race Car—
22 by Thomas Glatch
On the Cover: 1968 Chevrolet Scuderia Filipinetti Corvette L88 Coupe
Photo: Darin Schnabel
4 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Not Sold at $130,000
“Being part of a collection owned by a famous person
does not necessarily increase the value of a car, unless
that person was defined by it—and it by them.”
C4 1988 Corvette Challenge Race Car—
24 by John L. Stein
C5 2003 Z06 Hard Top—Not Sold at $19,000
26 by B. Mitchell Carlson
Sold at $572,000
“The French operation avoided the massive expense and
logistical nightmare the American teams faced in getting
their cars, supplies, and crews across the Atlantic.”
C6 Mini Profiles of C6 Coupes
28 by Geoff Archer
”The C5 Z06 was only available in the hard top, which
proved to be unpopular. It had the fewest sales in the
years that all three body styles were offered.”
“Though rough around the edges and finished like a
theft recovery, this blown beast represented a ton of
bang for the buck.
Sold at $42,200
“Technically, the Challenge cars weren't all that special,
but they carried an all-important Chevrolet motorsports
connection, and of course their VINs were tracked.”
Page 3
Market Reports
32 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL
117 Corvettes total $5.9m at Bloomington Gold
B. Mitchell Carlson, Dan Grunwald, and Mark Rudnick
60 Global Roundup
45 Corvettes from nine auctions bring $508k
by CM Market Analysts
Feature
16 Bloomington Gold: Complete list of Benchmark, Gold,
and Survivor certificates awarded this year
32 On the grass at Bloomington
Departments
6 Publisher's Note
8 Insider's View: Will the new ZR1 be collectible?
10 Q&A: Engine noises, complex dashes, ZR-1 reliability
12 Events: Things to do and places to be with your Corvette
14 Auction Calendar
30 Market Overview
70 By The Numbers: Top 231 Corvettes sold since June
76 Trick Stuff: Best goodies and gizmos from Bloomington Gold
78 In Miniature: Last of the C3 convertibles
78 Speaking Volumes: How to Rebuild Corvette Rolling Chassis
80 Resource Directory
82 Vette-o-bilia: Rare brochures and “vintage” cookies
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 5
Page 4
Publisher's
Note
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 2 . Issue 8 . Summer 2009
Publisher Keith Martin
Art Director Kirsten Hegg
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
Chip Lamb
Norm Mort
Dale Novak
Contributors Carl Bomstead
Marshall Buck
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Michael Pierce
John L. Stein
Senior Web Developer Jerret Kinsman
Information Technology/
Internet Bryan Wolfe
Over 100 Corvettes and a panel of CM experts
Join us at Barrett-Jackson
The Corvette Market Insider's Seminar, in just two short years, has become recognized as
the place for Corvette collectors to gather and exchange opinions and information about the
market.
Our expert panelists last year included: David Burroughs, CEO of Bloomington Gold; Jim
Jordan, President of County Corvette; Kevin Mackay, President of Corvette Repair; Michael
Pierce, NCRS Judge; and Roy Sinor, NCRS Senior Judging Chairman. The free-ranging discussions
touched on topics including: “Has the C1 market peaked?” “What's the best buy in a
C2?” “Will C3s continue to appreciate?” “Have C4s finally bottomed out?” and more.
Participants also got to vote on what cars they would put into a million-dollar Corvette
collection.
This year, the seminar will be held as a part of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car auction
in Scottsdale, from 9 am to 11 am on Thursday, January 21, 2010. Admission will be complimentary
for Corvette Market subscribers, and also for registered bidders and consignors at
Barrett-Jackson.
More information will be available in the next issue of CM, and also will be included in
the Corvette Market Insider's Newsletter (it's free, sign up at www.corvettemarket.com) and
posted on the CM web site. You can also email Mary Artz at mary.artz@corvettemarket.com,
or call her at 503.261.0555 x 204.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Inside CM #8
The Corvette market continues to be a moving target. In this issue, we discuss some hits
and misses. The sale by RM of the 1968 Scuderia Filipinetti L88 for $572,000 proves that
serious collectors are not afraid to raise their paddles. At the same time, the general decline in
auction sales percentages and overall revenues demonstrates that buyers are just being more
careful. It takes a great car to bring a good price; two years ago, if your Corvette was shiny
and had sidepipes, you could generally get a good price for it.
This issue features complete coverage of Dana Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale, along
with 45 Corvettes from other auctions around the world. A regular feature—and one exclusive
to CM—is the top Corvette sales of the summer, in this case 231 of them. The combination of
the detailed auction reports and the listing of the top sales lets you build your own personal
database of the kinds of Corvettes you are interested in. And the data in CM gives you more
accurate, timely information than any printed price guide could ever hope to.
We've also included a sneak preview in this issue of Monterey, by profiling the results of
some of the key Corvettes that sold there. In the next issue, we'll have the complete blow-byblow
report.
Thank you again for being a part of the Corvette Market gang of collectors. You continue
to be some of the most thoughtful, informed, and action-oriented collectors I have had a
chance to get acquainted with, and I look forward to seeing you at the next CM event. ■
6 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Intern Bloor Redding III
Financial Manager Nikki Nalum
Operations Manager Jennifer Davis-Shockley
Print Media Buyer Wendie Martin
Director CM Television Roger Williams
ADVERTISING SALES
Advertising Executives Ted Alfano
ted.alfano@corvettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 211
Cody Wilson
cody.wilson@corvettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 213
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions Coordinator Mary Artz
Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 204
9 am to 5 pm, M-F
service@corvettemarket.com
503.253.2234 fax
CORRESPONDENCE
Phone 503.261.0555
Fax 503.253.2234
General P.O. Box 4797
Portland, Oregon 97208
FedEx/DHL/UPS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100
Portland, Oregon 97232
Web www.corvettemarket.com
Corvette Market magazine (ISSN# 1939-6481) is published quarterly
by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100,
Portland, OR 97232. 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 © 2008 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
Page 6
Insider's
View
The current state of the Corvette market
The ZR-1 was an engineering benchmark in 1990,
but values have gone nowhere in almost 20 years.
Will the new ZR1 be collectible when the year 2029 rolls
around? What will be different this time?
Drew Alcazar
President, Russo and Steele
Scottsdale, AZ
Remembering how painful it was to sell
my 1990 ZR-1 for $28,000 six short years
after purchasing it new, one might think me
a bit “bearish” on the new ZR1. Not so, and
here's why.
Although the 1990 version had highly
advanced engineering for its time, service
was problematic and potential secondary
buyers shied away from visions of expensive
repairs and the quandary of your local Chevy
dealer vs. Mercury Marine.
Most notably, however, the performance
war had just begun, and continued advancements
in horsepower came at a rapid rate,
with much less perceived maintenance hassle.
Fast forward to today's ZR1 and you
find many of the same elements at play. A
wonderfully advanced, technically superior,
ultimate-horsepower car sets a high-water
mark for performance and luxury once again.
What has changed?
I believe we may be in the twilight years
of these performance machines. How much
power is enough—638 horsepower? How
much more can be rationally put into the
hands of street drivers before insurance
issues and federal regulations once again
darken the doorstep?
Should my sad prediction be correct, the
new ZR1 may be the ultimate example of
late 20th century technology and bravado.
Maybe one day Grandpa will show up with
a few gallons of outlaw high-octane juice to
take the kids for a hair-raising ride around the
block? As the famous line from “The Road
Warrior” says: “Last of the V8 Interceptors.
What a beaut!”
8 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Craig Jackson
Chairman and CEO, Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
It's true that for many years, the ZR-1 did
not catch the eye of collectors. But they've
begun to increase in value, as demonstrated
by several ZR-1s that have commanded
strong prices at Barrett-Jackson auctions over
the past two years. In fact, some of the
active-suspension chassis and one-off concepts
were in high demand this year from the
GM Collection.
The same reasons behind the rise in 1990-
era cars will also influence the values of the
current ZR1 long term. The ZR1 is one of
the most advanced and highest performance
cars of its time.While maybe not as flashy
as a Ferrari or Aston Martin, the car incorporates
brilliant innovation and engineering,
like an aluminum V8 that makes over 100
horsepower per liter, carbon-ceramic brakes,
magnetic control suspension, and carbon
fiber body panels. And unlike many of the
foreign exotics, it is reasonable to service and
repair.
In addition to being a showcase for
technology, the ZR1 will be hand-built
in small volumes, with each car well
documented. Given the federal government's
control of GM and the administration's focus
on environmentally “friendly” cars, it's
highly unlikely we'll see anything like the
ZR1 again for many years, once production
stops. This means the current generation
ZR1 represents a golden era for American
performance cars, especially ones from GM,
that may be long gone by 2029.
Jim Jordan
President, County Corvette
West Chester, PA
Predicting the 2029 collector car market is
a task that can only be done by measurement
of past and current markets, thus estimating
future trends.
Having survived five and a half decades
already, the trend is set for the Corvette to
survive another 20. In 2029, a 39-year-old
Corvette will have three predictable conditions:
parts car, restored car, and survivor
car. The difficulty with the ZR-1 has been
and will continue to be availability of parts,
expense of repair, and outdated performance.
The ZR-1 will always have the label as
“King of the Hill” of its era and because of
that will find its way into collections. Short
of those amassing generational collections,
though, the ZR-1 is unlikely to be the envy of
the neighborhood. The best overall investing
philosophy is “Keep it Simple.”
Simplicity gets you the best results, and
one thing that can be assured is that the
already-difficult-to-maintain ZR-1 will be
anything but simple to own and maintain
in the long run. The very best of the best,
however, may be so rare that those looking
to complete a collection will pay staggering
prices that will make you say “If only I had
kept that 300-mile 1990 ZR-1 I had!”
Page 7
Dana Mecum
President, Mecum High Performance
Auctions, Marengo, IL
First of all, the original ZR-1 was not a
1990 model, but was built in 1970–72. The
option became available once again in 1990.
The 1990–95 series of ZR-1s were very
desirable. If you were a Chevy dealer, you
had to have special equipment to handle
them, and some sold for up to three times
sticker price.
The key detail was that the motor was
designed by Chevrolet and Lotus and built
at Mercury Marine in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Somehow, if a car sells for a premium when
it's brand new, its collectibility seems to be
tainted.
The 1970–72 ZR1s were actually the
last years of high performance for Corvette.
There was a period between the early 1970s
and 1989 when GM just didn't offer any highhorsepower
cars, so when the 1990 ZR-1
came out, it reinvented the Corvette as king
of the hill.
Throughout the 1990s, the same thing
happened to the ZR-1 that happened to the
Corvette tuners (the companies that added
extra horsepower to 'Vettes on an aftermarket
basis): The factory started producing
high-horsepower cars and the new product
was so advanced, the ZR-1s lost their desirability.
ZR-1s will always be somewhat collectible
because they're limited-production models
that were famous when they were new. What
also helps is that the motors are complex—as
time goes on, it will be harder to locate parts
and when that happens, the car becomes
more expensive.
I'd call the 1990s ZR-1 a mid-range col-
lectible. It will never be high-end because so
many people who bought them new put them
into storage. There are plenty of low-mileage
ZR-1s out there.
Roy Sinor
NCRS Judging Chairman, 1996 to present
Tulsa, OK
The 1970–72 ZR1s were limited-pro-
duction road course terrors, and the 1990
through 1995 ZR-1s may still hold several
international endurance records. So why
did the C3 ZR1 become collectible after ten
years, while the C4 ZR-1 is static almost 20
years later?
In my opinion, this is due to several fac-
tors. First, the C4 ZR-1s lead a horsepower
and torque resurgence. The C3 ZR1s were the
last hurrah in their day but were a state-ofthe-art
push rod small-block.
The C4 ZR-1 was a radical departure
from push-rod design to a Lotus four-cam,
32-valve engine, not typical of a U.S.
automaker. It scares many people when it
comes to maintenance, even though it has a
stellar performance record.
It took 20 years before a small-block
Corvette engine produced more power than
the C3 ZR1, and it was the 375-horsepower
C4 ZR-1 that did it. But the C4 ZR-1 did not
hold the top spot for long. A 405-horsepower
push-rod C5 Z06 surpassed the “King of the
Hill” in just six years; then five years later a
505-horsepower C6 Z06 appeared.
So will the 638-horsepower C6 ZR1 be
collectible? The industry will decide, not the
enthusiast. If a push-rod, non-supercharged
Corvette produces 690 horsepower within ten
years, then the C6 ZR1 will fare just like the
C4 ZR-1.
But if we fall into the same trap with the
CAFE rules that we fell into in the 1970s
with the EPA numbers, and in 20 years the
638-horsepower ZR1 is still the highest
horsepower production Corvette ever built,
then it will be collectible. In the meantime,
the C4 ZR-1 remains the most underrated
Corvette in the market place.
Mike Thelin
General Manager, The Chevy Store
Portland, OR
I've found the 1990 ZR-1 isn't as collect-
ible to people who enjoy those cars as much
as the 1995 is, of which there were only 448
built. ZR-1 enthusiasts really seem to like
those cars.
Chevrolet made 3,000 ZR-1s in 1990, and
prices have dropped by two-thirds in relation
to what they cost new. I think the window
stickers were about $65k and dealers were
marking them up $20k–$25k over that. We
just had a nice black one that did pretty well,
but the 1993–95 models sell for a bit more.
Down the road 20 years from now, the
only way you could estimate value on the
new ZR1 depends on how many cars they
build. I think history proves any special
Corvette like that is collectible, but in relation
to the price they're selling for now, I'd
think they'll be worth less than today.
I don't think they'll build anywhere near
as many new ZR1s as they did in 1990—1343
is the highest VIN known so far. There's
no question the new ZR1's incredible, more
hand-built than production, but who knows
what they'll do to improve it? That could
have an effect if it comes out in a year or
two—like the last ZR-1—with more horsepower
and changes that make the car better.
That's why people want the '95s.
It's a crazy market. If I knew what would
be worth more in a year or two, I'd be buying
it. Still, I'm glad GM stayed the course and
spent the money to get this car into the hands
of enthusiasts.
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 9
Page 8
Questions
&Answers
by Colin Comer
No, they don't all
do that
I recently purchased a '62
resto-mod convertible that's
been fitted with a late-model LS1
V8 and 6-speed manual from
a 2000 Corvette. I've noticed a
pronounced valve ticking at idle
that goes away as soon as I apply
a bit of throttle, but it almost
always returns after I let it idle.
I took it to a few shops and
got the typical “they all do that”
response, and while that might
be the case, I'm afraid the noise
will scare off buyers when it
comes time to sell it. Should I
tear into the motor to try to find
the culprit? What should I expect
to pay, and what do you think
it'll do to the value of the car if
I just leave well enough alone?
—D.T. Philadelphia, PA
This is a tough one to give a
definitive answer to without
more details or hearing it for
myself, so I will just rattle off
some random thoughts.
First, usually I would tell you
to run like your hair was on fire
from a shop that says “they all
do that” or “that's normal,” but
the LS motors do seem to have a
number of noises that are almost
routine. That isn't to say they
should have noise, but it isn't
uncommon. You don't mention
whether this happens when the
engine is cold, hot, or some
combination, which is crucial to
a good diagnosis.
That being said, here are
some common LS motor noises
as reported by my trusted GM
dealer technician buddies: piston
slap when cold; lifter noise when
cold; lifter noise at idle due to
faulty oil pump pickup o-ring
causing the oil to aerate and
foam (look for the GM service
bulletin on this one); bent
2. If I'm lucky enough to
find somebody to upgrade the
electronics so I can keep driving,
how will that be viewed at
Bloomington Gold? Am I smartest
to put the new micro modules
inside the old black boxes, or
just stockpile all the correct
parts I can find while they're still
around? Advice please. —A.K.
Dallas, TX
1985 Corvette
pushrods from missed shifts and
over-revving the motor; EGR
and exhaust flow noises that can
sound like ticking; noisy fuel
injectors or fuel rail hammering;
along with a multitude of other
non-LS specific noises that it
could be.
I've also seen many resto-
mods with aftermarket or custom
valve covers that have a rocker
arm interference issue, so that
is worth a look as well. Bottom
line: Since I can't guess what
the noise is, I sure can't guess
what it will cost to repair. Any
engine that makes a ticking noise
will certainly scare off buyers,
so have it properly diagnosed
and repaired, if for nothing else
than peace of mind that you are
not moments away from a major
mechanical issue.
Find a good technician at
a Chevrolet dealership and let
him take a peek. These guys see
(and read about) more LS motor
issues in a month than some
independent shops will in the
next decade, and combined with
dealer-only info and factory tech
support, that often eliminates
all head scratching. Best of luck
in getting the tap dancers out of
your resto-mod's engine.
Your 1985 C4 cluster
is an easy fix
I have owned a 1985
Corvette for 15 years, and
10 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
it still only has 78k miles on it.
Now I'm starting to have some
issues with the electronic dash
(partial digits, reluctance to
change displays, etc.). Is this
some kind of digital senility?
Are there some simple answers
that can “wake it up”? Should
I just replace it with an N.O.S.
unit? —S.S. Tempe, AZ
Unlike parachute pants,
some remnants of the 1980s
we still deal with on a daily
basis—one of them being digital
dash clusters. Fear not, while
ultra-high tech in its day, today
a 1985 C4 cluster is an easy
fix. For $185, Corvette Parts
Service Company in Indiana
will completely refurbish your
malfunctioning dash, and their
web site even shows you how to
remove it yourself. www.corvettedashclusterservice.com
Order a ZR-1 care
package
I have a 1991 ZR-1, which
I plan to keep until I'm too
old to drive (no cracks about
investment please—I like it).
What I am concerned about is
the age of the electronic engine
management systems. I have two
concerns:
1. These cars were not made
in very large numbers, so will I
actually be able to find the correct
modules?
Typically, unless submerged,
exposed to corro-
sives, or hit with electrical spikes
from jump starting, welding on
the car, and the like without
disconnecting the battery, the
factory engine control units
(ECUs) are trouble-free and
should last indefinitely. Even if
one should fail, I don't think finding
a competent repair service
or good replacement unit should
be an issue for quite some time.
I'm not sure what the “micro
modules” you refer to are, but as
the old air cleaner decals used to
read, I highly suggest you “Keep
your GM car all GM.”
However, the parts I would
stockpile if available are any
ZR-1-specific ones such as those
for the engine, shocks, and the
like. As you know, your engine
is a Lotus-designed, Mercury
Marine-assembled jewel that
has little in common with the L89
350 V8 of the standard C4. There
are a few Chevy dealerships
that specialize in ZR-1 parts,
such as Tom Henry Chevrolet in
Pennsylvania, and a call to one
of them might be a good idea.
Have them make you a care
package of the most requested
service and replacement parts
for your ZR-1, and rest easy
knowing you can keep your car
on the road as long as you wish.
Just remember: Maintain it like
you want it to last, and most
likely it will. ■
Please send your questions to questions@vettemarket.com. All submissions subject to editing.
What's That Ticking Noise?
Any engine that makes a ticking noise will certainly scare off buyers, so have
it properly diagnosed and repaired, if for nothing else than peace of mind
Page 10
Insider's
View
Event
Guide
California
10.09.09–10.11.09
Monterey Sports Car Championships,
Laguna Seca
The American Le Mans Series races into
darkness at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in
the series finale. Watch the fastest Corvettes
in racing battle it out in the GT2 class, and
make sure to take advantage of the hospitality
of the Corvette Corral, which features
special parking, food and beverages, and
unique entertainment. Three-day admission
and Corvette Corral Pass is $85. www
.americanlemans.com.
10.18.09 & 12.06.09
Antique Auto, Corvette, Porsche, Street
Rod & VW Swap Meet & Car Show,
Pomona
The West Coast's largest show of its kind,
held at Fairplex in Pomona, from 5 am to 2
pm, rain or shine. General admission is just
$8, and kids are free. www.pomonaswapmeet.com.
10.30.09
Hooked on Corvettes! Willows
This all-Corvette event at Thunderhill
Raceway is all about high-performance
driving. The Corvette community has
responded to these special marque days with
great turnouts, so expect nothing less this
time around. Even if you're not a member of
local clubs, come out and get to know them.
Track time is available for all skill levels,
and all novice drivers will have a coach, with
other coaching available to anyone. No convertibles
without rollover protection. $275.
www.hookedondriving.com.
Florida
10.17.09
Vettes at the Village, Baytowne Wharf
This show-n-shine is open to all years and
models, with trophies for C1 through C6 and
subgroups for modified Corvettes, with special
awards for best engine, best paint, best
interior, best of show, and furthest traveled.
$25. www.playgroundcorvetteclub.com.
10.24.09
Dimmitt Corvette Show, Clearwater
This show is hosted by the Bay Area
The current state of the Corvette market
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@vettemarket.com.
Corvette Club. Special guest Reeves
Callaway will be on site for test drives and
rides in Callaway-optioned Corvettes. The
first 100 pre-registered entrants get a T-shirt
and goody bag, and you can expect door
prizes, a muffler rapping contest, 50/50
raffle, vendors, a complimentary breakfast,
lunch vendors, and much more. Twenty-two
trophies will be awarded, including People's
Choice. $30. www.baccvette.us.
11.07.09
Corvettes at the Springs, Silver Springs
Sponsored by Silver Springs and the
Corvette Club of Marion County.
Approximately 400 Corvettes from
throughout Florida and surrounding states
will gather at Silver Springs for this one-day
show-n-shine event, which is presented on
the concert field of the world-famous Silver
Springs Attraction at the corner of State
Road 40 and County Road 35. www
.ocalacorvettes.com.
12.05.09
Brevard County Corvette Clubs Toy Run,
Titusville
This is the ninth annual Toy Run to help
disadvantaged children have a happier
Christmas. A parade of Corvettes proceeds
with a police escort to Port Canaveral,
where Santa and the local fire department
collect the gifts. There is a social afterward.
The suggested donation is $20 in gifts,
books, or gift certificates for infants and
kids up to 18 year olds. Contact George and
Kristy Halkovic, halk@cfl.rr.com.
Illinois
10.25.09
Windy City Corvettes Four NCCC
Rallyes, Crystal Lake
Don't miss out on the chance to drive in four
NCCC Rallye events hosted by Windy City
Corvettes and Lakeside Corvettes. www
.windycitycorvettes.com.
11.21.09–11.22.09
Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals,
Rosemont
This mega-show is held at the Donald E.
Stephens Convention Center, and includes a
car show, swapmeet, tons of vendors, special
Nickey Chicago and Mr. Norms displays, an
L88 showcase, and more. Dick Guldstrand
and Santa Claus are among the honored
guests, and the event will also feature Triple
Diamond judging for Corvettes. $15. www
.mcacn.com.
Kentucky
Corvettes at the Springs by the Corvette Club of Marion County
12 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
11.05.09–11.07.09
Vets ‘n Vettes, Bowling Green
The National Corvette Museum will once
again welcome and honor the men and
women who have sacrificed to protect our
freedoms with this second annual Vets
‘n Vettes event. Held the weekend before
Veteran's Day, the event is three days full
Page 12
Insider's
View
Event
Guide
Mississippi
11.07.09
Vettes By The Shore, Bay St. Louis
This one-day show is held in the Hollywood
Casino parking lot, with plenty of events,
awards, and vendors to keep you wanting
more. www.msgccc.com.
Pennsylvania
10.25.09
American Legends at Long's Park,
Lancaster
A Corvette and GM fun show that will
feature tons of food, music, trophies, and
door prizes, with a cash prize drawing, an
auction, and plenty of fun. Proceeds benefit
Spina Bifida Resource. $20 at the door.
www.lcccpa.com.
11.01.09
3rd Annual Corvettes for Chip, Kennett
Square
This show started in 2007 as a combined
effort between the Corvette Club of Northern
Delaware (CCND) and Keystone State
Corvette Club (KSCC). That year, 165
Corvettes attended and donated $2,500 to
the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation. Last
year, 235 Corvettes attended and donated
over $3,000 to the CMCF. This year, they are
hoping to draw over 300 Corvettes. The Chip
Miller Charitable Foundation was formed to
raise funds for the research, education, and
awareness of amyloidosis, which took his life
in 2004. Several special Corvettes from the
Miller Collection will be on hand, including
the 1959 “Purple People Eater” race car. $25
at the door. www.corvettesforchip.com.
Tennessee
10.16.09–10.17.09
Corvette Expo, Sevierville
Gates open at 9 am on this annual, show
held at the Sevierville Events Center.
The event will feature a little something
for every gearhead taste, including
a Horsepower and Hot Rod Show, a
Thompson-Carr Collector Car Auction, a
swapmeet, a cruise, an NCRS display, and
much more. $10. www.corvetteexpo.com.
Texas
10.14.09–10.17.09
NCRS Lonestar Regional, Killeen
www.ncrs.org
14 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
The current state of the Corvette market
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@vettemarket.com.
of remembrances and fun activities not only
at the museum, but also in Bowling Green
and South Central Kentucky, including a
scenic drive to Bourbon country for a tour
of Maker's Mark. Separate event pricing
ranges from $17 to $30. www.corvettemuseum.com.
Virginia
10. 17.09
2009 Fall Corvette Cruise,
Front Royal
Another great drive put on by
the Shenandoah Valley Corvette
Club, which will once again
benefit Toys for Tots. Join other
Corvette owners for a scenic
cruise of valley roads during one
of the most beautiful times of the
year. Registration begins at 8:00
am and is either $15, with all
proceeds going to Toys for Tots,
or a new toy in its packaging.
www.svcorvetteclub.org ■
Fall Corvette Cruise with the Shenandoah Valley Corvette Club
Auction Calendar
OCTOBER
1-2—CARLISLE
Carlisle, PA
1-4—MECUM
St. Charles, IL
3—COYS
Ascot, UK
3—ICA
Wichita, KS
7-10—BARRETT-JACKSON
Las Vegas, NV
8-9—RM
Hershey, PA
9—KRUSE
Lebanon, PA
9-10—SILVER
Las Vegas, NV
9-10—VICARI
Biloxi, MS
12—SHANNONS
Sydney, AUS
16-17—COLLECTOR CAR
PRODUCTIONS
Ontario, CAN
16-17—KRUSE
Las Vegas, NV
17—VANDERBRINK
Latimer, IA
17—MIDAMERICA
Chanhassen, MN
23-24—DAN KRUSE
CLASSICS
Fredericksburg, TX
23-25—COLLECTOR CAR
PRODUCTIONS
Ontario, CAN
24—COYS
Padua, ITA
24—ICA
Louisville, KY
24—MECUM
Branson, MO
24—SILVER
Medford, OR
28—RM
London, UK
29—H&H
Sparkford, UK
NOVEMBER
6-8—KRUSE
Auburn, IN
7-8—BUD WARD
Hot Springs, AR
7-8—ICA
Gilbert, AZ
14—BONHAMS &
BUTTERFIELDS
Los Angeles, CA
18—BONHAMS
Harrogate, UK
20-22—LEAKE
Dallas, TX
20-22—MCCORMICK
Palm Springs, CA
23—SHANNONS
Melbourne, AUS
27-28—ICA
Houston, TX
27-29—VICARI
Daytona Beach, FL
DECEMBER
3-5—MECUM
Kansas City, MO
4-5—AUCTIONS AMERICA
Raleigh, NC
7—BONHAMS
London, UK
9—H&H
Buxton, UK
11-12—SANTIAGO
Oklahoma City, OK
Jim Strathearn Photography
Page 14
Bloomington
Gold
Bloomington Basics
Hang around the judges, listen to their conversations, and observe what they
are judging. It's a unique experience for the observer, owner, and spectator
by Michael Pierce
B
loomington Corvette Corral began in 1973
as a one-day Corvette get-together and
swapmeet. At the first show there were 1,500
attendees, 112 Corvettes in the concours, and
19 vendors. The next year, the event expanded to
two days, attendance tripled, vendor spaces quadrupled,
and the Corvette count went up 600%. In
1975, the Corvette count was 1,200… and it's just
kept growing over the following two decades.
In its early years, Bloomington judged
Corvettes one against each another, like most
shows, to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, plus
providing some special awards. The winners were
determined to be exceptional in some combination
of rarity, color, quality of restoration, visual appeal,
cleanliness/condition, the judge's knowledge
base, and of course, politics. Aside from the lucky
winners, everyone else went home empty-handed.
In 1978, David Burroughs changed all the rules.
He developed a judging system in which Corvettes
were judged against a standard of originality and
condition (instead of against each other). How they rolled
off the assembly line was the benchmark, with the goal
being to be as close as possible to factory original.
Consequently, every car entered for Certification
(judging) has an equal chance to win a Bloomington
Gold (95%–100% restored or preserved to the condition
in which it left the factory), Silver (within 90%–94% of
typical factory originality), or Bronze (85%–89%).
Original, unrestored Corvettes are especially honored
with the unique Survivor and Benchmark Awards, which
were created in 1990. To qualify for the Survivor Award,
a Corvette must be 1) over 20 years old, 2) pass a 20-mile
road test, 3) remain over 50% unrestored, un-refinished,
or unaltered, and 4) retain finishes good enough to use as
a color guide for restoration of a car just like it.
The Benchmark award is the ultimate recognition
of authenticity. It means that a car is both Gold certified
(preserved to at least 95% of the way it left the factory),
and passes all four Survivor tests above. Since 1990,
fewer than 100 cars have achieved Benchmark status.
Play the lottery
The entry fee to have your Corvette judged is $450
and includes two four-day passes. There is always a waiting
list for the judging.
In 2002, Bloomington Gold moved to its current loca-
tion at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois,
about 35 miles southwest of Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
For four days in June, thousands of Corvettes and tens
of thousands of entrants, spectators, and aficionados take
over the 18-hole golf course, plus several blocks surrounding
the resort.
The swapmeet is legendary among Corvette fanatics;
16 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Judges at work
last year, a friend of mine bought a set of N.O.S.
dog-dish hubcaps and wide wheels for his original
'62 Big-Brake fuelie tanker. Expensive? Very, but
how many real, not-replica parts like this have you
ever seen for sale?
Burroughs sold his interest in Bloomington
Gold in 1990. Auctioneer Dana Mecum purchased
the Bloomington Gold business in 1997 after a
not-so-successful management era that followed
Burroughs' departure. Mecum's vision was to
restore the show's premiere brand reputation and
also create a venue that would support his core
business—collector car auctions in general and
the Bloomington Gold all-Corvette auction specifically.
Burroughs was hired by Mecum to help
with this project. The plan was to have Burroughs
focus on the traditional aspects of Bloomington
Gold and Mecum on the auction. It has worked.
Watch, and listen to the judges
The certification process is simply awe-inspir-
ing. If you hang around any of the knowledgeable judges, you can hear their conversations
and observe what they are judging. Their attention to detail is simply incredible.
For example, there are those who specialize in number-pad stampings, others in VIN
tags. It is a unique experience for the observer, owner, and spectator.
The judging teams take a maximum of 36 minutes to completely judge a car in four
categories (interior, exterior, underhood, and chassis). To become a judge is an exacting
process, and each member of the team is highly knowledgeable.
Most people who attend do not have their cars judged. They come for the swapmeet
(400 vendors), auction, special displays, restoration workshops, Corvette memorabilia,
auto-related vendors, and to view many of the rarest, smallest-production Corvettes anywhere.
Spectators drive in, park on the manicured lawn of the resort golf course, along
with thousands of other Corvettes, and spend the day strolling through the displays.
Directly across the street from the resort is a Hilton Garden Inn and within a few
blocks, many other places to stay, eat, shop, and tell car lies. In fact, one of the best
restaurants I have ever been to is located in Geneva, IL, about two miles away. You
should make reservations and probably ditch the jeans, but the food, service, decor and
wine list are all extraordinary. It's called Niche—don't miss it.
In 2008, Burroughs introduced the Survivor Collector Car Show, an event held on the
Sunday of the Bloomington show. It is a show for all makes and models at least 20 years
old that are original and unrestored. There are various awards that can be earned. The
ultimate is Zzenith, earned by just 13 of the
50 cars entered in 2009.
Bloomington Gold and the Survivor
Bloomington Gold
Collector Car Show happen every June.
If you haven't been there yet, you're missing
out.
If you have, you know why so
many people return year after year. It's the
“Granddaddy” of all Corvette Shows. ■
The following brands are all registered
trademarks of Bloomington Gold and David
Burroughs: Gold Certified, Silver Certified,
Bronze Certified, SURVIVOR, BENCHMARK,
ZZENITH, and Freeze Frame.
Where: Pheasant Run Resort, St.
Charles, Illinois
When: June 24–27, 2010
More: www.bloomingtongold.com
Survivor Car Show
Where: Pheasant Run Resort,
St. Charles, Illinois
When: June 27, 2010
More: www.survivorcollectorcar.com
Page 15
2009 Certificate Recipients
BENCHMARK
Thomas & Kaye Bullock—Rocky Mount, NC
1969 350/300 Convertible
James Cahill—Teutopolis, IL
1988 350/240 Coupe
Lynn Dennis—Mount Ayr, IA
1978 350/180 Pace Car Coupe
Larry Gerig—Fort Wayne, IN
1954 Roadster
David Gulley—Maumelle, AR
1978 350/220 Pace Car Coupe
Peter Hendricks—Marietta, GA
1971 350/270 Coupe
Kenneth Joseph—Navarre, OH
1965 327/375 FI Coupe
Ralph Lackner—Hominy, OK
1977 350/180 Coupe
Danny Lewis—Hartselle, AL
1967 327/300 Convertible
Keith Melebeck—Abbeville, LA
1967 327/350 Convertible
Terry Michaelis—Napoleon, OH
1969 427/430 L88 Coupe
1972 350/200 Convertible
1981 350/200 Coupe
Christopher Piscitello—Dallas, TX
1967 427/390 Convertible
Stephen Plaster—Lebanon, MO
1974 454/270 Convertible
Victor Preisler—Calabasas, CA
1970 350/370 LT1 Convertible
Lee Richardson—Peoria, IL
1986 350/230 Coupe
Brad Stein—Shorewood, IL
1978 350/200 Silver Anniversary Coupe
Bill Thorne—Salem, OH
1989 Convertible
Mike Yager—Effingham, IL
1988 350/245 B2K Coupe
GOLD
Ken Alflen—Port Charlotte, FL
1957 283/200 Convertible
Fred Alley—Troutville, VA
1967 427/400 Coupe
Lars-Erik Arnell—Carmel, IN
1957 283/270 Convertible
William Baker—Albuquerque, NM
1959 283/270 Convertible
Ronald Berggren—Littleton, CO
1963 327/360 FI Coupe
Joseph Bizzarri—West Chicago, IL
1991 ZR-1 Convertible
Barry Blocher—North Manchester, IN
1964 327/250 Coupe
Michael Borowiak—Wheaton, IL
1997 Coupe
David Borror—Dublin, OH
1967 427/435 Convertible
Steve Bramati—Deer Park, IL
1967 427/435 Convertible
Dave Brewer—Longwood, FL
1965 327/365 Convertible
Dennis Brown—Hot Springs Village, AR
1957 283/283 FI Convertible
Stan Chester—Benton, AR
1967 427/435 Convertible
Ambrose Claybar—Orange, TX
1967 427/435 Convertible
William Coffin—Whispering Pines, NC
1963 327/360 FI Coupe
Robert & Doris Coons—Monroe, LA
1969 350/350 Convertible
Jerry Cosler—Lebanon, IN
1960 283/290 FI Convertible
Bruce Crookham—Wycombe, PA
1966 427/425 Convertible
Donald Crowe—Springville, AL
1961 283/270 Convertible
Don Curtes—Menomonie, WI
1956 265/225 Convertible
Thomas Deeley—Collierville, TN
1967 327/350 Convertible
Paul Dehnert—Mill Valley, CA
1967 427/435 Convertible
Guido DiRe—Valley Stream, NY
1969 427/430 L88 Coupe
Jack Downam—Fort Wayne, IN
1958 283/290 FI Convertible
Paul Endres—Pontiac, MI
1956 265/240 Convertible
Don Felts—Oxford, MS
1968 427/435 Convertible
Thomas Fetchik—Aurora, OH
1967 327/300 Coupe
Edward Foss—Roanoke, IN
1970 350/370 ZR1 Convertible
1972 350/255 ZR1 Coupe
Richard Foster—New Castle, IN
1993 40th Anniversary Convertible
Marion Galloway—Crete, IL
1969 350/350 Coupe
James Genovese—Akron, OH
1960 283/290 FI Convertible
Larry Gerig—Fort Wayne, IN
1958 283/290 FI Convertible
Brian Grey—St. Peter, MN
1962 327/340 Convertible
Lynn Haas—Fort Myers, FL
1966 427/425 Convertible
Michael Harling—Dallas, TX
1963 327/300 Coupe
Rich Haydinger—Moorestown, NJ
1967 427/435 Convertible
Greg Heinrich—Henderson, NV
1967 427/390 Convertible
1972 350/255 LT1 Coupe
Mary Hermanson—Madison, WI
1963 327/300 Convertible
Kevin Jensen—Muscatine, IA
1958 283/290 FI Convertible
Scott Jones—Valley Stream, NY
1967 427/435 Convertible
Randal Kell—Alexandria, VA
1961 283/270 Convertible
Ed Kelty—Lexington, KY
1966 427/390 Convertible
Michael Ksiazek—Burr Ridge, IL
1965 327/350 Convertible
Walter Kunz—Trenton, IL
1965 327/300 Coupe
William Lacy—Florissant, MO
1967 427/435 Coupe
John Malmquist—Madison, WI
2004 Z06 Commemorative Coupe
Robert Mayhue—Fort Smith, AR
1969 350/350 Convertible
Kelly McClain—Woodstock, IL
1960 283/245 Convertible
Brian McCormick—Naperville, IL
1969 427/435 Coupe
Terry Michaelis—Napoleon, OH
1953 Roadster
Joe Mikuzis—Mokena, IL
1966 427/425 Convertible
Ronald Miner—Avon, IN
1961 283/230 Convertible
Tim Montileone—Springfield, MO
1962 327/340 Convertible
James Morgan—Kansas City, MO
1960 283/245 Convertible
David Morgan—Darien, IL
1995 ZR-1 Coupe
Victor Ninio—Woodland, CA
1978 350/185 Pace Car Convertible
John O'Donnell—Plymouth, MN
1961 283/315 FI Convertible
Bob Patrick—Paintsville, KY
1954 Roadster
Dwight Paul—Austin, TX
1965 327/375 FI Coupe
Joe Perri—Chicago, IL
1963 327/360 FI Convertible
Angelo Petrolla—Youngstown, OH
1967 427/400 Coupe
Phillip Pitalo—Allen, TX
1978 350/220 Pace Car Coupe
Dominic Presty—Eads, TN
1970 350/370 LT1 Convertible
Elliott Pritch—Fort Lauderdale, FL
1966 427/425 Coupe
Randall Rapp—Collinsville, IL
1965 327/365 FI Convertible
Peter Rosa—Norwell, MA
1966 427/390 Coupe
Alex Rusynyk—Miramar Beach, FL
1953 Roadster
Lawrence Sachs—Scarsdale, NY
1966 427/390 Convertible
Fred Sarbello—Danbury, CT
1970 350/370 Convertible
Craige Schultz—Glenview, IL
1964 327/250 Coupe
Harvey Schutzbank—Scarsdale, NY
1966 427/425 Coupe
Robert Shellberg—Carrollton, TX
1982 350/210 Coupe
Bobby Shepherd—Rochester, IN
1963 327/360 FI Convertible
Ken Siegfried—Pontiac, MI
1960 238/290 FI Convertible
Ken & Mille Smith—Paola, KS
1957 283/283 FI Convertible
Scott Smith—Cleveland, TN
1966 327/300 Convertible
Robert Smith—Palm Harbor, FL
1967 427/435 Convertible
Michael Sparr—Lincoln, NE
1965 327/350 Coupe
Jonathan Spivey—Oak Park, IL
1962 327/340 Convertible
Mitch Stamos—Orefield, PA
1970 350/370 LT1 Coupe
James Stuempfle—Westchester, PA
1967 427/435 Coupe
George Swartz—Westchester, OH
1955 Roadster
Terry Watson—Harwood, MD
1953 Roadster
Brian Webb—Tallahassee, FL
1955 Roadster
Hal Wehmeyer—Mountain Home, AR
1966 427/425 Coupe
Clare Weidman—Eagle Rock, VA
1967 427/435 Coupe
Craig Willetts—Winston-Salem, NC
1964 327/300 Convertible
Tommy Young—Fort Wayne, IN
1958 283/290 FI Convertible
Gary & Joan Zawacki—Ridgefield, CT
1967 427/400 Convertible
SURVIVOR
Richard Andrews—Shawnee, KS
1978 350/220 Pace Car Coupe
Rocky Baldino—Beltsville, MD
1971 454/365 Coupe
Ambrose Claybar—Orange, TX
1967 427/435 Convertible
Jack Corso—North Brunswick, NJ
1968 427/400 Coupe
James Davis—LaPorte, IN
1962 327/300 Convertible
John Fortson—Martinsville, IN
1966 327/300 Convertible
Edward Foss—Roanoke, IN
1962 327/340 Convertible
Scott Freese—Omaha, NE
1969 427/435 Coupe
John Gerton—Mt. Vernon, IN
1959 283/290 FI Convertible
Jack Gillette—Lake George, NY
1967 327/300 Coupe
Sam Green—Little Rock, AR
1978 350/220 Pace Car Coupe
Greg Heinrich—Henderson, NV
1972 350/255 Coupe
Patrick Howard—Chicago, IL
1977 350/210 Coupe
Andy Jones—Kansas City, MO
1965 327/350 Convertible
Jason Jones—Homer Glen, IL
1989 350/254 Coupe
Anthony Loria—Maitland, FL
1959 283/230 Convertible
Humberto (Sonny) Maldonado—Austin, TX
1966 327/300 Coupe
Evan Metropoulis—Greenwich, CT
1967 427/435 Convertible
1969 427/430 L88 Convertible
Terry Michaelis—Napoleon, OH
1970 350/370 ZR1 Convertible
Phillip Pitalo—Allen, TX
1978 350/220 Pace Car Coupe
Sylvia Ramos—Naperville, IL
1978 350/185 Silver Anniversary Coupe
Robert Rosendahl—Menomonie, WI
1967 427/390 Coupe
John Roxas—Hinsdale, IL
1967 427/390 Coupe
Bob Rubens—Homer Glen, IL
1970 350/370 Convertible
Bob Russo—Marlboro, NJ
1967 327/350 Convertible
Tim Schuetz—Waukesha, WI
1965 327/375 FI Coupe
Craige Schultz—Glenview, IL
1982 350/200 Coupe
Robert Shellberg—Carrollton, TX
1982 350/210 Coupe
Steven & Doris Stadheim—Ellendale, MN
1979 350/225 Coupe
Gary Terwilliger—Smithfield, VA
1962 327/300 Convertible
Bill Webster—Olathe, KS
1982 350/200 Coupe
Dale Winters—Barnhart, MO
1978 350/220 Silver Anniversary Coupe
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 17
Page 16
C1 profile
1961 283/315 Big-Brake Fuelie
Befitting their creators' mission, many Big-Brake Corvettes soon headed to
the track in the hands of drivers like Fitch, Guldstrand, and Bondurant
by John L. Stein
Chassis number: 10867S107602
Engine number: 100659F0912CT
A
t first it seemed like the big changes for Corvette in 1961 were the body, particularly
at the rear, with a sharp beltline cutoff and near-Kamm-style tail with
exhaust tips dropped below the body. With it, Corvette introduced the fourtaillight
arrangement that established an identifying feature that is still seen
on Corvettes nearly five decades later. Up front, the bulky teeth that Corvettes had
employed for years disappeared, replaced with a subtle rectangular mesh set deep in
the oval opening.
Inside, the Corvette engineering team was hard at work making their car better,
faster, and more comfortable. The transmission tunnel was narrowed for more interior
room but more importantly, continued development of the 283-cubic-inch Chevy V8
raised output, including a 25-hp increase in the solid-lifter, fuel-injected engine from
290 to 315 horsepower. The 4-speed transmission's case migrated to lightweight aluminum
and the radiator was revised to a cross-flow configuration for better cooling.
The ultimate options for the 1961 Corvette were the solid-lifter 315-horsepower
fuel-injected engine with the Big-Brake package (RPO 687), featuring stiff shocks,
big brakes with front and rear cooling air scoops and finned drums, wide steel wheels,
and a quick-steering adapter. The Big-Brake option could be ordered only with the
solid-lifter engines (either with fuel injection or dual with four-barrel carbs) and also
required the Positraction rear axle.
Finished in Honduras Maroon with white coves and Fawn Beige vinyl interior,
this 1961 Corvette fuelie, owned by noted collector Reggie Jackson, is one of very
few 1961 Corvettes ordered with the rare combination of the 283/315 cold air box,
fuel-injected engine and RPO 687. Restored some time ago, it also has hard and soft
18 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Details
Years Produced 1961
Number Produced 10,939
Original List Price $3,934
CM Valuation $67,000–$122,000, plus $60k-$75k
for big brakes and fuel injection
Tune-up $500
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # Top of steering column under hood
Engine # Right front cylinder head deck
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Road
Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1963 Corvette Z06
1967 Corvette 427/435 Tri-Power
1966 Shelby GT350
CM Investment
Grade A
Photos: Simon Clay / Bonhams & Butterfields
Page 17
tops and radio and heater delete.
The production numbers tell part of the story. Although there were only 1,462
315-hp fuel-injected cars out of 10,939 Corvettes produced for 1961, the number of
RPO 687 cars is even fewer, at just 233. Considering that it cost $333.60 plus the
$43.05 for the required Positraction (RPO 675), the paucity of RPO 687 cars is easily
understood.
The Reggie Jackson 1961 Big-Brake car is one of very few Corvettes built in the ul-
timate configuration available to a few performance-oriented buyers. It's an example of
the steady progression of Corvette into a competitive production-racing sports car with
factory-developed performance equipment. It was recommended to Reggie Jackson by
some of the most informed Corvette authorities, and is a prize of the highest order.
CM Analysis This car was not sold at a high bid of $130,000 at the Bonhams &
Butterfields auction in Carmel Valley, California, on August 14, 2009.
Among solid-axle Corvettes, few are more rare and desirable than the early RPO
684 (337 built from 1957 to 1959) and later RPO 687 (598 built from 1960–62) BigBrake
cars. Produced in very limited numbers and intended for racing, they remain
the highest form of solid-axle desirability, with the exception of the 300 first-year 1953
models and a few cars with distinguished history, such as the 1960 Cunningham Le
Mans racers.
This was by all appearances a lovely car. Finished in the handsome Honduras
Maroon with white coves, and featuring a Fawn Beige interior and tasteful painted
steel wheels with hubcaps, it definitely touched all the bases.
Strong offer in a down market
And the fact that it included the Big-Brake and heavy-duty suspen-
sion package, together with the highest-horsepower engine available
in 1961, two tops, and radio and heater delete, pegs it at the very top.
Curiously, the car was bid to B&B's low estimate, but in failing to sell,
we might surmise the seller was looking for something closer to the high
estimate of $150,000. Either way, this was serious money offered in a
challenging market, where collectors are being very selective about
what they are spending serious money on.
Being part of a collection owned by a famous person—in this case
Reggie Jackson—does not necessarily increase the value of a vehicle,
unless that person owned the car back in the day and was at least partly
defined by it—and it by them. Nevertheless, when a person of acclaim
invests in any given car, this is often taken as a validation of the car
itself. This is perhaps the case here, because there was no mention of its
pre-Jackson ownership history in the auction catalog.
Befitting their creators' mission, many Big-Brake Corvettes like this
one soon headed to the track in the hands of drivers like John Fitch, Dick
Guldstrand, and Bob Bondurant, and they were significantly modified
by their keepers and then thrashed, crashed, rebuilt, and then thrashed
again until they became used up and uncompetitive. From there they
could have gone to the wreckers, or been returned to street duty in some
fashion. Others were purchased by performance enthusiasts and simply
lived quieter lives on the street, where they were driven sparingly and
always returned to a loving garage.
What are the origins?
For me, the $130,000 question is where did this car come from? Is it
a bitsa? A resurrected racer? Or a lovingly kept driver, since restored
to new condition? The former owner certainly had sound advice when
purchasing it, and the restorers certainly put it right. So it's too bad that
most of the auction catalog copy was devoted to romancing the RPO
687 cars in general, with precious little on the details of this particular
one.
Troubling also was an online catalog footnote revising the chassis
number from 10837S100659 to 10867S107602. Perhaps this was a simple
data-entry error, but it introduces more questions, and
questions on a car of this caliber can often be a dealkiller.
Further, no mention was made of the car's restoration
date, its restorer, or any NCRS or Bloomington
Gold-type certifications, which lend important validation
to any Corvette worth collecting.
Bottom line: Anyone in the market for this kind of
stunning and highly desirable solid-axle Corvette generally
does his homework. And while bidding started out
aggressively, perhaps there were just too many questions
that needed answering.
We'll likely never know why the bidding stalled at the
low estimate of $130,000, and why the seller couldn't let
it go. If it had sold there, my analysis would have been
that this car was bravely bought, but with an upside
once the overall economy approves. But without more
historical clarification, bidders stopped short of where
the seller wanted to be. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams &
Butterfields.)
JOHN L. STEIN served as editor of Corvette Quarterly
from 1998 to 2005, the only independent editor to lead
GM's flagship magazine.
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 19
Page 18
C2 profile
1966 427/425 Coupe
Once cars have been taken apart, cleaned up, and put back together, they
are no longer original
by Michael Pierce
Chassis number: 194376S108199
Engine number: T11291P6108199
A
t first glance, one might think this is just another nicely restored big-block
Corvette. But that perspective is to be significantly altered with the realization
that this is a 15,000-mile original car that wears its original paint and interior.
Chip Miller was, and still is, widely considered one of the most influen-
tial innovators of the Corvette hobby for collectors and fans alike. He established
Corvettes at Carlisle, and his private collection of low-mileage, unrestored, original
Corvettes was hand-selected from more than 40 exceptional cars that he owned over
the years. His cars were kept in climate- and humidity-controlled storage, where they
were lavished with care and attention, and each was considered the finest of its type.
This rare L72 427/425 was originally delivered in 1966 to Sherwood Chevrolet of
Montrose, Pennsylvania. By 1972, it had passed through just three appreciative owners
and was in the care of Tom Denner. Chip Miller discovered the big-block coupe
at the Cavalcade of Corvettes in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and, after realizing how
impressively preserved this car is, he purchased it for roughly $6,400.
After some time with the car, he became deeply attached to it and was heard to
say that he would never sell the car. He held it in the same regard as his 1953 model
and L88 and claimed, “There can't be a nicer original '66 interior on earth.” Over
the years this car earned a long list of awards, from a Bryner Award of Excellence
to NCRS verifications and, in 1989, it was included in the Bloomington Gold Special
Collection—strong testaments to its high quality.
The only work that has ever been done to the car was a chassis-only restoration
undertaken by Kevin Mackay. This was done after much deliberation and saw the
body lifted off the frame, the chassis sympathetically restored, and the engine, suspension,
and other mechanical components thoroughly detailed. However, only the frame
was touched.
Miller was true to his word and never sold the car. It was purchased by Michael
Schudroff from his estate, and has remained in his care ever since. To date, the car
has covered 15,642 miles; the rare Milano Maroon paint is exceptionally nice, given
20 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
its age, the saddle interior is nearly perfect, and the car
looks fabulous with its teakwood steering wheel and
goldline tires—three of which are original. The car even
wears a Pennsylvania inspection sticker from 1975. It
Details
Years Produced 1966
Number Produced 9,958 coupes
Original List Price $5,475
CM Valuation $68,000–$125,000
Tune-up $350
Distributor Cap $12
Chassis # Cross brace under glovebox
Engine # On block in front of right cylinder
head
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Road
Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1965 396/425 coupe
1965 327/375 FI coupe
1965–66 Shelby GT350
CM Investment
Grade B
Photos: Gooding & Company
Page 19
seems this car is equipped with F41 suspension, a Positraction
rear end, 4-speed gearbox, and off-road exhaust—great options
that further enhance its rarity and prestige.
The extensive file of documentation that accompanies this car
includes the 1966 owner's manual, accessory book, radio-operating
instruction pamphlet, owner protection plan, countless articles about
the car, judging sheets, receipts, photos of the minor chassis restoration,
letters, correspondences, and awards. It is one of the finest
big-block Corvettes to be found anywhere, and with its unblemished
history, impressive provenance, and vaunted status in Corvette
circles, it will be an astute addition for any collector of low-mileage
or original cars.
CM Analysis This car sold for $143,000, including buyer's
premium, at the Gooding & Company auction at
Pebble Beach, California, on August 16, 2009.
This is another unique piece of Corvette history to change
hands at the Gooding auction, and it brought an amount in the
current-market '67 427/435 territory. In fact, Gooding's suggested
auction catalog value was even higher, at $160k–$200k.
The original owner just wanted to go fast
The original Pennsylvania owner probably had one thing in mind when he or-
dered this car: Go fast. The following options were checked on the dealer order form:
maroon exterior, saddle vinyl, 427/425 (L72), quick take-off wheels (P48), goldline
tires (T01), off-road exhaust system (N11), special suspension (F41), AM/FM radio
(U69), and a teak steering wheel (N32). Transistor ignition (K66) and a close-ratio
Muncie transmission (M21) were required with the RPO L72. The car was built
December 18, 1965.
This Corvette was always maintained and lovingly cared for. Chip Miller bought the
car and a trailer in 1972 for $6,400, selling the trailer for $400 to lower his overall cost.
Several years ago, Lance Miller sold his recently deceased father's coupe at the
first Carlisle Auction. Michael Schudroff of Carriage House Motor Cars in Greenwich,
Connecticut, made it part of his vast collection of “cars that matter.” This '66, and
the 1963 Rondine Corvette he purchased a couple of years ago for $1.76 million at
Barrett-Jackson (CM3, p. 36), were joined with 48 other of his post-war collector and
special interest cars at Gooding this past August.
Between NCRS and Bloomington Gold, we have seen dozens of low-mile, original,
and unrestored Corvettes. Ed Foss is probably the most notable collector of these
Corvettes anywhere. He has 50, all with original paint, exhaust, drivetrain, and lots
of paperwork. Lance Miller offered him this coupe several times before it was eventually
auctioned off. The reason for the car not being part of the Foss Collection? “Too
many miles,” Ed told me. “They have to have less than 10,000. I drew the line when I
started collecting.”
The work changed the car's value forever
Although this '66 has been touted as “one of the fin-
est unrestored Corvettes in existence,” I'm not sure that
it is the case. Once cars have been taken apart, cleaned
up, and put back together, they are no longer original.
Far too many original Corvettes have undergone this
process in the past.
In the late 1970s, Chip Miller sent his '66 to Kevin
McKay in Valley Stream, New York. There was a great
deal of undercoating on the chassis, so McKay took the
body off the frame, stripped it, cleaned everything, and
reassembled the car. Although McKay's work is the finest
and his knowledge of these cars immense, it changed
the collector value forever. Let's face it, cars like this
will be driven sparingly, mostly on and off the trailer for
concours and car shows.
This coupe received a very early NCRS Flight Award
(pre-1984), was invited to be a part of a Bloomington
Gold Special Collection, and was the cover car for
Vette magazine in March 1987. If this '66 had a recent
Bloomington Gold/Benchmark and/or Survivor Award,
or recent NCRS Duntov/Bowtie Award, it might have
pulled closer to the $160k–$200k that was hoped for.
In today's market, cars with any stories suffer. In the
not too distant past, many collectors paid way too much,
and when the music stopped, there were no chairs to sit
on. With this car, Corvette fanatics can (and have, and
will continue to) sit long into the night arguing about
whether the chassis should have been detailed.
One faction will maintain that, since the undercoat
wasn't applied at the factory, doesn't the removal of it
make the car more “factory-correct”? And the other
will say that it should never have been touched. Still another
group of collectors, those like Foss, may complain
about the “high miles” on this car.
There is no right or wrong here, and the market has
spoken. At this price, even though substantially below the
low estimate, I believe this car brought all the money in
today's market. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of Gooding &
Company.)
MICHAEL PIERCE is a longtime NCRS judge who
ranks in the top few dozen and has judged Corvette
events around the world. His own cars have won Top
Flight, Bloomington Gold, and Duntov awards.
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 21
Page 20
C3 profile
1968 Scuderia Filipinetti L88 Coupe
Henri Greder and Jean-Claude Aubriet carried the Corvette torch at
Le Mans admirably from 1968 to 1973 with this very car
by Thomas Glatch
Chassis number: 194378S410300
T
he Greder Corvette, s/n 410300, holds a unique place in Le Mans history, not
only as one of the most successful, and well-traveled, Corvette race cars in the
world, but also as the survivor of one of Chevrolet's “back door” racing programs,
managed and implemented by Zora Arkus-Duntov. The central figure is
Henri Greder.
Greder nearly won the 1963 Tour de France in a factory-entered 427 Ford Galaxie.
This earned him a Ford of France ride in a 4.7-liter GT40 at Le Mans in 1966 and 1967.
In preparation for the 1968 24 Heures du Mans, GM's European promotions director
(and up-and-coming chairman) Bob Lutz and Greder approached Swiss racing patron
Georges Filipinetti with the idea of entering a two-car Corvette team at Le Mans.
Filipinetti accepted, and two L88 Corvette coupes shortly arrived from Detroit,
fully race-prepared for the 24 Hours under Zora Arkus-Duntov's supervision—this car,
for Greder and Umberto Maglioli, and the other for Sylvain Garant and Jean-Michel
Giorgi. Zora, knowing the demands of 24 hours at speed at Le Mans, fitted very tall
2.56 rear end gears to take full advantage of the legendary 427-ci L88 engine's power.
The combination was clocked down the Mulsanne straight at 191 mph and turned in a
sub-four-minute lap in testing.
The Corvettes were fast but suffered from what the French called the “ennuis de
freins”—brakes not measuring up to the inertia of one and a half tons accelerated to
nearly 200 mph by the big-block L88. Greder recalls having to brake for the Mulsanne
turn at the 500-meter mark.
In the 1968 race, Greder and Maglioli dominated the Porsche competition and led
the GT category until the sixth hour, when a carburetion problem melted a piston.
Garant wiped out the other Corvette in the Dunlop Curves in the 14th hour.
Returning in 1969, now with Reine Wisell as co-driver and Ronnie Petersen as
backup, Greder's L88 Corvette endured 16 hours of aggressive downshifting, using
engine braking to relieve the brakes' “ennui,” before the gearbox gave up, again while
leading the GT category. Following Le Mans, Greder placed 6th overall at Magny
Cours, then in September reprised the Tour de France, a 5,000-km marathon over nine
days, including eleven events at nine different tracks. Greder and the Corvette finished
2nd and won the GT category, earning the description “La phénoménale Chevrolet
22 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Corvette” in Maurice Louche's history of the Tour de
France Automobile.
The 1968–69 Greder car was sold to Jean-Claude
Aubriet and entered by Aubriet's Ecurie Leopard a
further four times at Le Mans from 1970 to 1973, finishing
as high as 18th overall and 2nd in class, as well as
Details
Years Produced 1968
Number Produced 80 in 1968
Original List Price $5,610
CM Valuation $400,000–$600,000
Tune-up $150
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # Plate on top of instrument panel at
base of windshield
Engine # Pad on front of block below right
cylinder head
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Road
Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1965–67 Shelby Cobra 427
1955–57 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing
1965–66 Shelby GT350
CM Investment
Grade A
Photos: Darin Schnabel
Page 21
contesting an active schedule of other races, including
the Tour de France in 1970 and 1971. Six years at Le
Mans, much less consecutive, as in this case, is a record
unequalled by any single chassis in Le Mans history.
The Greder Corvette was sold in 1989 to Bob Rubin,
then to Marc de Peescara. It was acquired by its present
owner in 2000 and was gone through thoroughly and
professionally in the owner's own shop to prepare it for
historic racing. Its first appearance was at the Monterey
Historics in 2001. It subsequently has been displayed
several times at important events without further historic
competition.
Today it is powered by the engine it had when
acquired in 2000, a 1970s vintage 454 in the guise of
the classic L88. It is prepared for historic racing with
a lightened flywheel, carbon fiber clutch, M22 “Rock
Crusher” close-ratio gearbox, and J56 heavy-duty
brakes. In addition to FIA Historic Vehicle Identity and
a new Historic Technical Passport, its documentation
includes copies of the original ACO entry forms from
its six appearances at Le Mans.
CM Analysis This car sold for $572,000, including
buyer's premium, at the RM Auction in
Monterey, California, on August 15, 2009.
There is no better international stage for an auto
manufacturer than the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A class
victory for the Chevrolet Corvette at Le Mans would
surely show the rest of the world that the U.S. could
build a real sports car. Many Americans have tried
their luck at Le Mans with Corvettes, but they learned
a harsh lesson: Success at home was no guarantee of
success at Le Mans.
Briggs Cunningham made the first attempt in 1960
with a factory-supported team of three Corvettes. Only
one finished, and the engine had to be packed with ice
to nurse it home, but they earned a surprise GT class
victory. In 1962, Californian Hugh Powell's Corvette,
with drivers Tony Settember and Jack Turner, was as
high as 3rd in class when the transmission failed in the
13th hour. Corvette legends Dick Guldstrand and Bob
Bondurant were leading the GT class in 1967 with their
thundering L88 when the near-stock Chevrolet-built engine failed in the eleventh
hour.
In 1972, David Heinz, with the “backdoor” support of Goodyear and Chevrolet,
built his “Rebel” '68 L88 Le Mans car in just eight weeks and finished 15th overall
and 7th in the GT class.
Even John Greenwood failed in three tries in the 1970s
But Heinz's entry was initially rejected by l'Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO),
and it took the influence of U.S. Ferrari distributor Luigi Chinetti to eventually get the
entry approved. Ironically, the ACO invited Heinz to return the next year, but the '72
effort was far more expensive than anticipated and the team never went back. Even
the great John Greenwood and his well-funded Stars-n-Stripes cars failed in three
attempts in the 1970s. It would be another 20 years before a serious challenge was
mounted, this time by Reeves Callaway, who earned a 2nd in GT2 in 1995 with his
Corvette-based creations.
Cunningham's first-in-class in 1960 wasn't duplicated until 2001, when the Pratt
& Miller Corvette Racing juggernaut began its string of Le Mans class victories (and
an incredible 4th overall in 2006). Yet within that 41-year drought, it was the Frenchbased
Corvette of Henri Greder and Jean-Claude Aubriet that performed as well as
any American team.
Brakes have traditionally been the Corvette's Achilles heel at Le Mans, and Greder's
more aerodynamic third-generation car was fully 20 mph faster than Guldstrand's '67
car, which further strained the brakes, yet somehow Aubriet was able to temper speed
with endurance to at least finish the '73 event. The Frenchmen understood the unique
challenge of the 8.36-mile Le Mans course, their French-based operation avoided the
massive expense and logistical nightmare the American teams faced in getting their
cars, supplies, and crews across the Atlantic, and their nationality skirted the insular
nature ACO scrutineers sometimes showed to American entries.
Many Corvette histories fail to mention this French Corvette connection, perhaps
because it was not an American team and so had no real visibility in the States. But
Henri Greder and Jean-Claude Aubriet admirably carried the Corvette torch at Le
Mans from 1968 to 1973 with this car. And it could have been equally ignored on the
auction block. But it wasn't.
Even the restoration—geared toward vintage racing, rather than museum quality
—did little to dampen the bidding enthusiasm, which reflects Greder and Aubriet's
accomplishment. Even without a correct L88 engine, I call this very well sold indeed;
it is perhaps the most successful European-raced Corvette in history, and has a story
that deserves to be told. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
THOMAS GLATCH has been an automotive writer since 1983. His work has appeared
in Corvette Fever, Corvette, Sports Car Market, and elsewhere.
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 23
Page 22
C4 profile
1988 Corvette Challenge Race Car
Since this car has nearly 9,000 hard-fought miles on the clock, the new
owner can show it, coddle it, or drive it in anger on the track anytime he wants
by John L. Stein
Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce
Jenner, future Corvette GTP driver
Tommy Kendall, Juan Manuel Fangio
II, future factory Corvette C5-R driver
Andy Pilgrim, and this car's driver, Peter
Cunningham, among many others.
Technically, the Corvette Challenge
Chassis number: 1G1YY2185J5113483
C
hevrolet went racing with the Corvette in 1988, producing 56 cars for the inaugural
season of the Powell Development America-inspired SCCA Corvette
Challenge Series. The white coupe offered here is one of those original 56.
The Challenge cars were identically outfitted with standard equipment, in-
cluding the 245-hp cross-fire fuel injection engine, Doug Nash 4+3 manual transmission,
Z51 Performance Handling Suspension package, AC3 6-Way Power Driver Seat,
UU8 Delco-Bose Stereo, Z6A Side Window and Side Mirror Defog System, and 24S
Blue Tint Glass Removable Roof Panel. After assembly in Bowling Green, Kentucky,
the cars were modified for competition by Protofab of Wixom, Michigan, which installed
racing seats, a full roll cage, onboard fire-extinguisher system, Bilstein shock
absorbers, and special Dymag wheels.
A rare and valuable factory race Corvette, this Corvette Challenge car was
campaigned as number 76 and driven by Peter Cunningham. It has 8,838 miles and
features its original factory white paint with Corvette Challenge Series decals, the
GM/Protofab-installed roll bar, and special-issue Challenge Series Dymag wheels.
CM Analysis This car sold for $42,200, including buyer's premium, at Mecum's Original
Had I attended this auction, I would have needed a sedative to keep myself from
Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 15, 2009.
buying this car—especially at the price for which it sold. That's because it's a remnant
of arguably the most exciting Corvette marketing program in history—the 1988–89
Corvette Challenge Series, which exposed the racing capabilities of a big field of C4
Corvettes to audiences in major demographic areas around North America.
Built Corvette's name as a world-class sports car
The high-speed, fender-rubbing competition helped build Corvette's reputation
as a world-class sports car at a time when competition from Porsche's evolving
911 and 944 series, BMW's new M variants, and even the Mustang GT was heating
up. Better still, the series attracted stars like Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford,
24 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
cars weren't all that special, with principal
differences including individually
dyno-tested engines, the aftermarket
racing wheels and suspension dampers,
a roll cage, and a racing seat. But they
carried a unique (and all-important)
Chevrolet motorsports connection, and
of course all the VINs were known and
tracked. The Corvette Challenge powertrain
was known as B9P, although
this code was not offered as a regular
production option. The cars were priced
at $33,043 ($3,354 more than a base
coupe), plus $15,000 for the Protofab
race-prep work.
The fourth-generation Corvette model
(beginning in 1984 and ending in 1996) is generally held
in low regard by collectors, with a few outstanding exceptions,
including the Callaway Twin Turbo, the final
1995 version of the 32-valve ZR-1, the Grand Sport of
1996, and the Corvette Challenge race cars. With just
Details
Years Produced 1988–89
Number Produced 116 (56 in 1988, 60 in 1989)
Original List Price $33,043
CM Valuation $26,500–$40,000
Tune-up $500
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # Lower left windshield corner
Engine # Right front cylinder head deck
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Road
Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1993 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351
1997–2003 Lotus Esprit V8
CM Investment
Grade B
Mecum Auctions
Page 23
56 built for 1988 and another 60 built for 1989, they are
about as rare as big-tank mid-years.
Unlike those cars, however, they were built by
Chevrolet for the express purpose of racing. On the
auction circuit today, earlier Corvettes with special
racing-oriented options (such as the big-brake '57 RPO
684, '60 RPO 687, and '63 RPO Z06) attract far higher
bids, which makes the $42k this unit sold for seem like a
relative bargain.
Since this particular car already has nearly 9,000
hard-fought miles on the clock, the new owner can show
it, coddle it, or drive it in anger on the track anytime he
wants for the rest of his days on earth, and he'll scarcely
degrade or damage it in any way; that is, unless he
backs it into a wall.
Attention and kudos wherever it goes
Since the Challenge cars were essentially stock
C4s, repair parts are readily available, and the car
will attract conversation and kudos wherever it goes.
Someday there may even be a vintage race just for
Corvette Challenge cars, and when this happens it will
likely meet with glowing success, a fond reflection of the
late-'80s “Happy Days” period for Corvette.
As an account executive on Chevrolet Motorsports
advertising at the time of the Corvette Challenge Series, I attended a number of races
and recall that the excitement was brilliantly high. Watching the pack of cars thunder
into the first turn was dramatic and exciting stuff, and with big spectator counts and
the prestige of a professional title on the line (Stu Hayner won a $100,000 bonus for
taking the '88 championship), the drivers were all super-motivated.
Energy was high in Warren, Michigan, as well, as the Chevrolet division was in-
volved with Indy Cars (via the Ilmor-built Chevy V8 racing engine), the impending
launch of the ZR-1, excitement over Corvette active-suspension prototypes, and various
entries in the IMSA road racing series. These were heady times, and the Corvette
Challenge Series ran high on the list for two years.
About this car in particular: After learning it had been sold, I contacted Cunningham
to ask his recollections. He drove the entire 1988 season in the car, which was owned
by MPS Motorsports of Dayton, Ohio, and he earned one podium and finished in the
top ten in all the other races, except for a mechanical DNF in the final race at St.
Petersburg, Florida.
With no serious shunts during the year, the car survived the series in reasonable
shape. “It was an excellent series—a lot of pretty good drivers were in it, and it was
unbelievably competitive,” he recalls. “Car setup was the only thing you could do. It
was so critical to qualify up front, and your wheel alignment was critical to do this.”
Cunningham knew about his old car being sold in Indy, but wasn't particularly sad
to have missed it. “I never wished to own my race cars,” he said. “Tommy Kendall had
his Challenge car, and Bill Auberlen collects his old cars. Two of my World Challenge
cars are in the Honda museum, and that's enough for me.”
Two words summarize my feelings about this Corvette: Well bought. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.)
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 25
Page 24
C5 profile
2003 Z06 Hard Top
While Corvette has always been about performance to some level, not
everyone wants a bare-bones bone-shaker—or even a clutch pedal
by B. Mitchell Carlson
Chassis number: 1G1YY12S035121160
W
hen Chevrolet revisited its past to introduce a new Z06 two-door hard top in
2001, it also added $7,000 to the base car's $40,475 sticker price.
The new Z06 offered a new, more powerful engine, the 386-hp LS6. The
LS6 had a new block, new intake and exhaust manifolds, new cylinder heads,
unique camshaft profile, and higher capacity fuel injector. All Z06s had titanium
exhaust systems and came with 6-speed transmissions.
They didn't have run-flat tires or a tire pressure monitoring system, but they did
carry a larger front sway bar and stiffer rear springs. Interiors were leather, and the
tach redlined at 6,500 rpm, instead of the LS1's 6,000 rpm.
By 2003, horsepower was up to 405 hp. This car features Quicksilver exterior
paint—an original Z06 color—black leather interior, memory package, electrochromatic
mirrors, head-up display, air conditioning, power windows, power locks,
and more; it is described as having every option. It also has an aftermarket Borla
exhaust, exhaust panel dress-up plate, and tinted rear window. It has never seen rain
and has been stored inside.
CM Analysis This car was bid to $19,000 and did not
sell at Mecum's annual auction in Des
Moines, Iowa, on July 18, 2009.
With new-car dealers begging for sales, GM on fed-
eral life support, and the government prodding us with
the “cash for clunkers” program—all occurring during
the timeframe of this auction—it was a lousy time to try
to sell a C5 Corvette, and especially a Z06.
While the Z06 cost substantially more than the stan-
dard Corvette when new, today resale values have all
but reached parity. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons
is due to the march of technology. The base-level C6,
when introduced in 2005, reached near equality to the
C5 Z06 in the horsepower race in one fell swoop. And
it could be had with a slushbox transmission option.
26 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Page 25
Details
Years Produced 2003
Number Produced 8,635
Original List Price $51,155
CM Valuation $27,500–$36,900
Tune-up $350
Ignition Coil $68 x 8
Chassis # Driver's side dash at windshield
Engine # Pad forward of cylinder head on
right side
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Road
Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary coupe
2006 Corvette Z06
1995 Corvette ZR-1
CM Investment
Grade C
It took a year for the Z06 to get back to the top of the
horsepower heap in 2006, with 505 ponies.
Today, we are back to the current state-of-the-
art Z06 playing second fiddle again, now to the ZR1.
Indeed, several automotive pundits in all forms of media
will tell you that the best choices in a C6 are the ZR1 and
the base model (even inclusive of the new 2010 Grand
Sport), and that the Z06 is the caboose in the train. The
base model has similar performance for less money,
and the ZR1 is the Götterdammerung of performance
on a global market basis that puts it in the top ten list
of all performance cars—money be damned. This gives
the impression of the Z06 being something of a compromise.
The hard top proved to be unpopular
In addition, the C5 Z06 could only be had with one
body style: the close-coupled hard top coupe. It proved
to be an unpopular body; it had the fewest sales in the
years that all three body styles were available in the
base model before the hard top was made Z06-only. The
hard top has the same interior as the convertible, with
severely limited in-cabin storage. While this is tolerable
for the drop top (hey, you could just lower the roof to
take home those 2x4s you bought at Home Depot), the
hard top is good only for a weekend's set of maps in the
cockpit and Barbie-doll-sized luggage in the trunk.
When I was shopping for a C5, the hard top in any
flavor was flat-out off my list, as I prefer to have some
access to the rear cargo area while on the road (such as
reaching behind the seat for a can of pop in the cooler).
And I like the cargo-swallowing abilities of the hatchback.
(As an aside, I've always had an issue with the nam-
ing conventions on the hard top vs. the coupe on the C5
and C6 Corvettes. I feel the hard top is actually more
of a close-coupled coupe, something of a 21st century
three-window coupe, and it should've been named so,
yet hard top stuck, denoting a plastic version of the
rag top that doesn't move. Along those lines, the coupe
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 27
should've been called the fastback that it really is. Actually, as far as the SAE is concerned,
it's truly a hatchback, but the Corvette marketing folks would probably have
me drawn and quartered for even suggesting that.)
One thing I don't see affecting Z06 (or any late-model Corvette) values is GM's
current precarious position. The heritage, general demand, and aftermarket parts
support make it the one vehicle that, even if GM was to be shut down totally today,
would be supported beyond our lifetimes by a number of different entities. This is
regardless of flavor or vintage of Corvette.
Not everyone wants a bare-bones bone-shaker
The final market influencer is that fewer creature comforts could be had on the C5
version of the Z06. Several of the features (TPS) and options (selective ride control)
were not available with the Z06, and the ones that were (such as Memory Package)
were only available à la carte. While Corvette has always been about performance
to some level, not everyone wants a bare-bones bone-shaker—or even a clutch
pedal—on a regular basis.
All of this has led to a situation that in some cases means that a well-optioned
base-level convertible or coupe can be worth more than a Z06. Our featured car died
on the block pretty much at the lower end of dealer wholesale. Kelley Blue Book, for
example, pegs wholesale value between $19,550 and $20,550. Needless to say, as this
was the second-to-last car to cross the auction block, only dealers hoping to score
a good deal on some fresh meat and lookie-loos were around, so dealer wholesale
pricing applied.
Further up the food chain, KBB puts the private party value in the $23,000 range,
and retail at $26,685. Other price guides are also in this ballpark (including Corvette
Market's). This means, value-wise, it runs shoulder to shoulder with a commensuratemile
50th Anniversary coupe and is actually cheaper than the drop top Anniversary
car.
As I mentioned, this Z06's position in the auction also hurt it; it was essentially a
deal killer. Late-model cars at collector car auctions are usually ignored by potential
buyers. Most folks came to try to get a GTO or '66 Mustang, so a Z06 is seen as a case
of “I bought it because I missed the Chevelle I wanted, it was cheap, and I had $20k
burning a hole in my pocket.”
If the consignor had it either at the beginning or at least further from the end of the
sale, there would have been more folks around to potentially bite. Since a 2003 Z06
can easily be found on a used car lot or at a dealer auction, why hang around for it?
Most would search for one on eBay or Craigslist when they get home.
All of this is not to say that these are cars to avoid. In fact, the Z06 is an excellent
buy in the most-bang-for-your-buck performance category—especially right now.
If you want a purer performance car or track car, a C5 Z06 is money well spent.
However, just as with any car, and especially with those produced in relatively large
numbers, buy for love, not for future investment. ■
B. MITCHELL CARLSON covers two dozen auctions a year, and his writing appears
regularly in Old Cars Weekly, Kelley Blue Book, Sports Car Market, and elsewhere.
His daily driver is a C5 coupe.
Page 26
C6
by Geoff Archer
2005 Corvette coupe
#180401682547. S/N 1G1YY24U555100554. Black/black leather. Odo: 57,000 miles. 20 Photos.
Garden Grove, CA.”SUPERCHARGED!! Between 550-600 HP. Racing Sparco seats with harness.
Racing Headers, Racing Exaust, Custom Racing Wheels (19” back, 18” front) HUD (heads up
display) DVD, Navigation, 6 speed... Professionaly lowered, 4 inch Cal Hood. Windshield has
crack. Small minor dent in front. If you have the need for SPEED this is the PERFECT CAR!!!
Check Engine light is on because of the modifications. Airbag light is on because the original seats
were taken out (never deployed). Car drives like a dream.” 8 bids, sf 12. Cond: 3-.
CM Analysis SOLD AT $23,000. Though rough around the edges and finished like a theft recovdon't
try to resell it anytime soon, or I'll rescind my slightly well bought judgment.
2006 Corvette coupe
#110433780984. S/N 1G1YY25U265125881. Velocity Yellow /black leather. Odo: 15,700
miles. 6 Photos. Fort Collins, CO. Original Owner. “Pristine condition with no known nicks, dents,
or scratches. 6 speed manual transmission, Z51 high performance package. 15,700 mostly highway
miles. Always garaged and stored in the winter. LS2 V8 engine with 400 HP. We just got back from
a trip to Minnesota and got 28 miles to the gallon! You will love this fabulous sports car!” 9 bids,
sf 157. Cond: 2.
could have saved a couple grand buying one of three or four other C6s on eBay, you
would have paid for that choice with 20k–30k more miles. Well found (and bought).
2007 Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows Edition coupe
#170383060236. S/N 1G1YY26E175132006. Arctic White & Monterey Red/red & black leather.
Odo: 3,000 miles. 4 (terrible) Photos. Saugus, CA. “First introduced at the Feb.1st, 2007 Chicago
Auto Show. The Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Z06 was honored and was the first signed limited edition in
Corvette history. A total of 399 were built. 300 were built for the U.S., 33 for Canadian market and 66
for export market. This is car #227. This is the only Arctic white ever offered in the history of the C6
Z06's history! Garaged in Southern California and has never been washed. Purchased and maintained
to be a collectable car.” 1 bid, sf 18. Cond: 2.
CM Analysis SOLD AT $58,000. There are plenty of customary “never beens” in car sales—never
be a clay bar in that explanation somewhere. Regardless, this rare sale defines market price for lowmileage
Ron Fellows Edition Z06s.
2008 Corvette ZHZ Hertz Edition coupe
#200375117608. S/N 1G1YY26W885130084. Velocity Yellow & black/black leather. Odo:
17,167 miles. 23 Photos. Orangevale, CA. One of 500. “Damaged on the front and back... runs and
drives... has a California Salvage Certificate and is sold AS-IS. It is currently not registered. The
buyer will have to register it in his state of residence, which may or may not involve some extra
steps compared to registering a clean title car.” Damage does not correspond to any of the more
famous Hertz car wipeouts: fireball in Atlanta in December '08, driving into the restaurant in Dallas
in July '08, etc. 1 Buy-It-Now bid, sf 721. Cond: 4.
CM Analysis SOLD AT $18,000. Like the prom queen going home with the quarterback, or the
fat kid getting a job at McDonald's, there is something so perfectly inevitable about
a shredded rental 'Vette. Sure would be funny if you brought this out on the show circuit as-is.
Does Chevy VetteFest have a “Best Comedy” category? Barring that, I hope the new owner
parted it out, because fixing it up (with a salvage title at this price) would never be profitable. ■
been raced, never been wrecked, never been abused.... Never been washed? There must
CM Analysis SOLD AT $27,000. A car doesn't have to be a bargain to be well bought. While you
ery, this blown beast represented a ton of bang for your buck. Keep wailing on it and
A Selection of C6s that sold recently on eBay
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
Sure would be funny if you brought this out on the show circuit as-is.
Does Chevy VetteFest have a “Best Comedy” category?
28 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Page 28
Market Report
Overview
Summer Corvette Sales Hit $6.4m
Recent sales reflected a buyer's market, but good cars with documentation
continued to bring high prices
by Jim Pickering
E
arly to mid-summer sales saw the Corvette market
continue to be a tricky place for both buyers and
sellers alike. And as has been the case for the better
part of the last year, the majority of auctions around
the globe struggled to match their totals from a year ago.
It's been a buyer's market for Corvettes, and although a
number of cars sold over the summer months still brought
good prices, many individual sales continued to hinge on
sellers being flexible in regard to their pricing.
Mecum's Bloomington Gold auction is the largest all-
Corvette auction in the world, with around 300 Corvettes
crossing the block each June alongside Bloomington
Gold's annual Corvette show and judging field. Senior
Auction Analyst B. Mitchell Carlson was joined by
Auction Analysts Dan Grunwald and Mark Rudnick on
the ground at the event, where 117 of 274 cars sold for a
final total of $5.8m. By the numbers, last year's $8.7m
from 131 of 192 cars looked much more favorable than
the results achieved this year, but all three of CM's
reporters noted a number of decent prices achieved for
every generation of Corvette—at least in terms of the
current market. The sale was led by a 1968 Corvette L88
coupe at $318k, with other strong sales including a 1957
283/283 fuelie convertible at $90,100, a 1991 Callaway
Twin-Turbo Speedster at $121,900, and the “First of the
Sixties” 1960 283/290 fuelie convertible at $275,000.
A fair number of high-profile one-off and rare optioned
Top Ten Sales This Issue
1. 1968 Corvette L88 427/430
coupe, $318,000—Lot# S119, p. 42
2. 1960 Corvette 283/290 convertible,
$275,000—Lot# S60, p. 34
3. 1963 Corvette 327/360 coupe,
$153,700—Lot# S63, p. 38 (BG)
4. 1991 Corvette Callaway Speedster,
$121,900—Lot# F57, p. 52
5. 1966 Corvette 427/425 convertible,
$111,150—Lot# 243, p. 62
6. 1964 Corvette GM Styling coupe,
$106,000—Lot# S108.1, p. 38
7. 1960 Corvette 283/230 convertible, $95,400—Lot# S70, p. 36
8. 1957 Corvette 283/283 convertible, $90,100—Lot# S57, p. 34
9. 1957 Corvette 283/270 convertible, $84,800—Lot# S62, p. 34
10. 1957 Corvette 283/283 convertible, $82,150—Lot# S139, p. 66
Best Buys
1. 1969 Corvette 427/400 coupe, $74,200—
Lot# S82, p. 44
2. 1970 Corvette 350/370 LT-1 coupe,
$34,450—Lot# S95, p. 44
3. 1981 Corvette coupe, $15,370—
Lot# S43, p. 48
cars were also available at this year's event, all of which
were good indicators of the condition of the top of the
market. The majority of these failed to sell, including the
1963 “Harley Earl” 327/300
convertible which stalled
at $985k, the 1967 “Bill
Mitchell” 427/400 convertible—built for Bill Mitchell's
wife by Zora Arkus-Duntov—which was bid to an insufficient
$675k, and a 1967 427/435 coupe ordered by Ed
Cole for his neighbor, which failed to find new ownership
at $550k. A 1971 ZR2 coupe also joined this group, going
unsold at $500k after selling at last year's event for $550k.
In each of these cases, the expected money was simply
higher than the final bid price, and while each of these
cars' rarity and condition makes it easy to understand
why their sellers held fast to their reserves, it'll be difficult
for those sellers to find higher prices anywhere else
anytime soon.
The same trends seen at Bloomington held true
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
throughout the rest of the auction world, with buyers
showing themselves to be even more picky when it came
4. 1990 Corvette ZR-1 coupe, $17,225—
Lot# F18, p. 50
5. 1974 Corvette 350/195 coupe, $5,300—
Lot# F108, p. 66
to both condition and documentation than they were just
a year ago. A fair number of no-sales again showed buyers
and sellers were not always seeing eye to eye, but
again, a variety of cars brought solid prices, including a
1978 350/185 coupe that sold for $14k at VanDerBrink's
Iola sale in July, a 1994 coupe that brought $18,550 at
Mecum's Des Moines sale in July, and a 1966 427/425
convertible that sold at $111,150 at Bonhams &
Butterfields' Greenwich sale in June.
Recent sales have shown that buyers are still will-
ing to pay decent money for the most original and most
well-documented cars they can find, but they've also
shown that with all Corvettes—both high end and entry
level—a current market-correct expectation on the part
of the seller has become vital in making a deal. ■
30 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Page 30
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction
Most of the C1 through C3 models were hit and miss on the selling front—
with more of an emphasis on the miss than on the hit
Company
Mecum Auctions
Date
June 26–27, 2009
Location
St. Charles, Illinois
Auctioneers
Mark Delzell, Mike
Hagerman, Jim Landis &
Bobby McLaughlin
Corvettes sold / offered
117/274
Sales rate
43%
Sales total
$5,858,752
High sale
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
L88 coupe, sold at
$318,000
Buyer's premium
Pace Cars sold well in St. Charles
Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson, Dan Gruwald,
and Mark Rudnick; intro by B. Mitchell Carlson
Market opinions in italics
M
ecum Auctions retained its title of having the largest all-Corvette auction in
the world during Bloomington Gold, which is held each June at Pheasant Run
Resort and Spa in St. Charles, Illinois. However, this year's event seemed
to be off a beat as far as sales were concerned, with final totals dropping
from last year's $8.7m to this year's $5.8m. It almost seemed like a repeat of Mecum's
Spring Classic the month before in Indianapoils, where the big guns were brought
out to be sold with much fanfare, but like that event, when all was said and done, the
big-ticket items in large part went home in the same trailers.
The venue could hardly be blamed for this result, as the big change this year was to
put the auction in the MegaCenter on the Pheasant Run grounds. This was adjacent to
the event's usual tent location, and indeed the
car staging wasn't all that different from previous
years. The major benefit for those at the
auction was that it was in this air-conditioned
building, rather than the typically sultry tent.
Previously, the MegaCenter had vendors in it,
but this year, half of them were moved to an
air-conditioned tent in the vendors' area, with
Corvette Market magazine still holding down
the fort outside at two locations—in the swapmeet,
and out in the judging field. Holding the
auction inside was a welcome innovation, and
it allowed easy conditions for the shooting of
Mecum's live television broadcast of the event
on HD Theater.
Most of the C1 through C3 models were hit
Corvette Sales Total
$12m
$10m
$8m
$6m
$4m
$2m
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
32 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
and miss on the selling front—with more of an emphasis
on the miss than on the hit. That being said, solid prices
were still achieved for many, including a 1957 283 fuelie
convertible that brought $90,100, a 283/290 fuelie convertible—the
first production 1960 Corvette—which
brought $275k, and an L88 coupe that was the high sale
of the event at $318k.
Low-mile C4s sold fairly well, and most of the cars
offered here were low-mile examples, which is indicative
of the types of cars that are selling in today's market,
with folks buying the best quality examples they can afford.
Additionally, if you wanted a red 1990 ZR-1, this
was the place to be. Not only were there plenty to choose
from, but they were selling for just a touch more than a
nice base-model 1990—if not less. Also on the C4 front,
limited-edition packages—especially Pace Cars—did
rather well if they had minimal miles. One that really
got knocked out of the park was a 16-mile 1995 edition,
bringing home the bacon at $38,160 on Friday, backed up
by an 8,864-mile twin fetching $26,500 on Saturday.
By the numbers, this year's $5.8m for 117 of 274 didn't
compare favorably with last year's $8.7m for 131 of 292,
but at nearly $6m sold, the sky is hardly falling in the
Corvette market. Come October, during the company's
Fall Classic on these very grounds, we'll see if this was
just a speed bump for the top end of the market. ■
$300 up to $5,499, $500 up
to $9,999, 6% thereafter,
included in sold prices
Page 32
Market
Report
C1
#F54-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S001775. Polo White/red
vinyl. Odo: 51,009 miles. 235-ci 150-hp
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Older repaint starting
to show cracks, body typically wavy through-
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Variable gaps on
hood and trunk, some misfit and dents on left
side spear trim. Wavy paint on hood, light pitting
on side window trim. Top shows storage
dirt. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $73,140. Last seen
here last year, where it sold at $87,675 (CM#
45560). This car was awarded Bloomington
Gold status in 1994, and it was just starting
to show a little age to that level of restoration.
Although below the level it sold at the last
time around, I'd call this a fair price in this
market.
TOP 10
#8
out. Speaker emblem missing, steering wheel
cracked, chrome still excellent. Flat headlight
grilles. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $54,060. An older
restoration just starting to show its age, and
still a showstopper despite my nit picking.
Market price for condition.
#S74-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E54S002408. Red/red vinyl.
Odo: 4,837 miles. 235-ci 150-hp straight 6,
3x1-bbl, auto. Nice paint with one crack above
left headlight. Very good trim fit, chrome
unmarked and shows well. Detailed engine
#S57-1957
CORVETTE
CHEVROLET
convertible. S/N
E57S192583. Venetian Red/red vinyl.
Odo: 26 miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected
V8, 3-sp. Fresh restoration. All new high-qual
lenses cracked, wiper scratches to windshield.
Good seats, generally aged interior. Rear frame
has significant rust holes on both sides. Parish
plastics vintage hard top. Cond: 4. SOLD AT
$28,620. Apparently Pontiac wasn't the only
marque with a Swiss Cheese frame. Current
owner for 21 years said it was just time to let
it go. I hope the new owner looked it over well,
as the needs were far too many to call this a
bargain.
#S59-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S108369. Crown Sapphire
& dark blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 38,270 miles.
283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Offered
for sale by the second owner, who has had it
two years. Very original except for cove color
and two-tone seats added by original owner.
ity paint and chrome, including windshield
surround. Pitted antenna, hood latch doesn't
release on right side. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$90,100. This Corvette was well restored and
had a great look, and up close, it was hard to
fault. Still, I'd consider it well sold at the price
paid.
TOP 10
#9
#S62-1957
CORVETTE
CHEVROLET
convertible. S/N
E57S106303. Black & silver/black
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 1,743 miles. 283-ci 270hp
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. New chrome, good paint
with a few flaws and some orange peel. Driver's
Older partial
repaint on left quarter panel
with correct carb tags. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$75,260. Corvettes from 1953 and 1954 don't
provide the greatest driving experience due to
their lack of power (compared to the V8s that
came later) and an automatic transmission,
but this was a car I would have loved to put in
my own garage. Beautifully done throughout,
and both well bought and sold.
#S83.1-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S002008. Pennant Blue/tan
canvas/tan vinyl. Odo: 513 miles. 235-ci
from old surface damage. Engine shows some
rust and paint chipping, but it's said to be all
original. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $105,000.
Originally had white coves. The consignor was
present throughout the sale to explain all the
known history of this car to potential bidders,
but even so, it wasn't enough to generate a bid
he was comfortable with. It's hard to visualize
any better future offers in this market.
door handle button very loose, antenna pitted,
gas door doesn't open. New interior with
thick dash paint. Right door panel trim hangs
loose, right roll-up window doesn't fit at top.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $84,800. A good looker
with some minor flaws, but most of the issues
noted would be easy to fix over the course of a
weekend. Well bought and sold.
#F3-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S107701. Silver/silver
hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 47,559 miles. 350-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Some paint chips, trim dented
and showing some attachment issues. Cracking
weatherstripping around windshield, pitting
and wear to chrome around windows, taillight
34 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
TOP 10
#2
#S60-1960
CORVETTE
CHEVROLET
convertible. S/N
00867S100001. White/white vinyl &
hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 13 miles. 283-ci 290hp
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Very good paint and
chrome with one single chip by gas door. Good
panel and trim fit, no hubcap dents. Interior
completely redone with reproduction materials
and showing no wear. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
Page 34
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
$275,000. Last seen at Mecum's Indy sale in
May '09, where it failed to sell at $290k (CM#
120506). High quality and expensive restoration
to the first 1960 Corvette off the line. It's
not likely it looked this good when GM built it.
Across the block, it was not sold at $290,000,
but a deal was put together post-block at this
number. There will only be one first, but this
seemed a bit over the top for what was basically
a run-of-the-mill 1960 fuelie.
TOP 10
#7
#S70-1960
CORVETTE
CHEVROLET
convertible. S/N
00867S107896. Cascade Green &
white/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 21,142
miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good
paint with no major issues. New chrome, interior,
and top. Filled right side mirror holes,
good trim fit. Gas door fit rough even for a C1.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $95,400. A nice car with
a base engine that just didn't pop for me. Very
few flaws, but not much excitement, either. The
bidders liked it, and someone paid an overmarket
price to own it. Well sold.
#S110-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S103047. Ermine
White/black canvas & white hard top/black
vinyl. Odo: 10,495 miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. A low-mile Corvette with original
paint, both tops, and factory chrome, interior,
and drivetrain. Non-DOT tires, T-3 headlamps.
Paint shows less cracking than
expected,
trim shows several small dents. Interior seats
cracked through the surface. Rust and paint
loss on engine. Bloomington Gold certification,
Top Flight and Bowtie awards. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $150,000. This car's condition
was incredible for a 59-year-old original.
A one-of-a-kind in this shape, but it went back
home after the seller turned down an impressive
bid on the block. Condition and originality
are everything when it comes to Corvettes, but
at the end of the day, this one didn't have the
options to make what the seller wanted.
36 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
carb. Gas door fit a bit worse than typically
seen. Comes with two tops. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $48,760. Fresh red paint, good hubcaps,
a 4-speed, and two tops—ready for a sunshine
cruise with your best girl. It's odd that the fuelinjection
system which had been removed at
some point in the past was not re-installed, as
the correct unit would certainly have raised the
final bid here.
#S48.1-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S112464. Maroon/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 41,257 miles.
327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Couple of
paint scratches and pinholes, new chrome.
Windshield delamination on both sides, grinding
mark on passenger's side window frame.
Undercarriage detailed to factory specs, engine
shows some surface dirt and greasy finger
door panel coming loose. Newer 350-ci engine
and Hurst shifter. Said to be an original fuelie
car. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $34,450. A somewhat
quick fluff-and-buff restoration here, but it still
looked like a good 15-foot driver. With some
documentation and the proper injection unit,
this could have brought substantially more, but
as it sat, it sold well.
#F62-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S102449. Red/red vinyl
& hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 44,381 miles. 327ci
360-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. New paint, interior,
and most chrome. Micropitting on windshield
surround, several trim dents noted. Originally
a fuel-injection car, now fitted with a 4-bbl
#S5-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S103161. White/
white hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 29,702 miles.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older paint shows
chips, cracking, and masking lines, with large
broken-out paint spot where right mirror was.
Some trim
dents, chrome generally
good.
Thick dye-painted padded dash with cracks at
grab bar, splits in driver's seat cover, driver's
prints. Dog dish hubcaps. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$51,410. There were few visible flaws in this
car's 1992 restoration, and in the realm of
straight-axle Corvettes, this is the easiest year
and engine combo to live with. Well bought.
#F52-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S115124. Red/white
vinyl & red hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 19,567
miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fresh,
thick, shiny, red paint with a couple of small
overbuffs. New chrome aftermarket radio, dull
console and armrest chrome trim. New wind-
shield and surround chrome, rattle-can engine
detail and thick undercarriage paint. Lots of
Armor-All on tires. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$37,000. Is beauty more than skin deep here?
There appeared to be a number of shortcuts
taken, but it looked really good at ten feet. If it
drives out well, this would have been a decent
price for both parties, but the seller was still
looking for more.
C2
#S25-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S102897. Ermine White/
blue vinyl. Odo: 21,028 miles. 327-ci 360-hp
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Good paint and chrome,
sanding scratches on rear glass and buffedthrough
spot on headlight bucket. Clean
engine, exterior shows some poor masking
and trim fit areas. Interior with weak armrest
Page 36
Market
Report
TOP 10
#3
#S63-1963
CORVETTE
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
chrome and tear in driver's seat back that appears
to have been caused by a back pocket
screwdriver. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $67,310.
A fuelie Split-Window that was said to have
matching numbers. I would have liked to have
seen more documentation on the originality of
the engine, but if all was as advertised, I'd call
this well bought.
CHEVROLET
coupe. S/N
39837S101194. Red/black Vinyl.
Odo: 1 mile. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8,
auto. Fresh restoration to very high standards.
Driver's door gap a bit wide at top, visible
door trim dent on passenger's door. Top Flight
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $55,650. 1964 coupes
sometimes have a hard time finding love, as
there's no Split-Window, and not as much was
updated as in '65. Still, this one found a new
owner at a decent price pretty easily, and that
can be chalked up to the quality of the work
done.
award in 2009. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $153,700.
Perhaps over-restored, because it was just
too good throughout to be factory original.
However, it's a Split-Window fuelie, and the
$153k sale price further supports the quality
of the work done.
#S100-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
“Harley Earl” convertible. S/N N/A. Blue/
blue & white leather. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Some discoloration to side exhaust pipes.
A custom-built car given to Harley Earl by
GM. Fitted with numerous components that
were never available in 1963 as well as lots of
parts that were never available to the public.
Normal glove box door fitted with accelerometer,
inside and outside air temp gauges, and
TOP 10
#6
#S108.1-1964
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE “Ozzie Olson” GM
Styling coupe. S/N 40837S104833.
Blue/white leather. Odo: 51,031 miles. 327ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory a/c. New
bright blue metallic repaint in the original
color done well. Grille original, chrome shows
well for age. Fitted with six taillights, chrome
wire knockoff wheels, and reproduced GM
Survivor certified, with mileage said to be
actual. Claimed to be totally
original, but
there was at least a partial repaint at some
point. This bid was a bit under the money for a
Survivor, even in this market.
#F115-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S100853. Maroon/
black vinyl & hard top/white vinyl. Odo: 51,577
miles. 327-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Visible
bubbles, chips, and cracks in paint. Bumpers
rechromed over flaws, pitting on door handles,
#F53-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 40837S116925. Silver/silver
leather. Odo: 85 miles. 327-ci 365-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Right door and headlight gaps
appear wide. Fresh body-off restoration with
new paint, interior, and highly detailed engine.
mirrors, and some trim. Interesting glued-on
vinyl over cracks in door panels. Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $50,000. This looked like it
might have been a decent driver. The former
owner looked to have done some budget resto
work, but the work showed that he seemed to
care about the car—and at the $50k bid, it was
clear he cared about the car more than the
money.
styling sidepipes. Blue color coming off tires,
original leather seats show age, paint is starting
to come off radio speaker. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$106,000. From the McDorman Collection.
The Ozzie Olson styling car built by GM.
Started here as lot F56, and later sold as lot
S108.1. GM styling cars are hard to come by,
and although this one needed a bit of work to
be perfect, the price paid was reasonable considering
this car's rarity and documentation.
an oil temp gauge. Custom two-tone interior
and sidepipes also special to this car. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $985,000. This car was built
in an era when the factory could compete with
Winfield, Roth, and Barris in the custom car
field. Although the factory's stuff was not as
radical, GM's cars were built for daily transport
use rather than just for show. With the
heavy hand of government involved, cars like
this will never happen again. This was a lot of
money bid, but as they say, go find another.
38 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
#F112-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S113048. Yellow/
black vinyl & hard top/black vinyl. Odo:
76,006 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Chips, nicks, cracks and touch-ups to paint.
Exterior chrome has light pitting and scrapes,
chrome missing in places on air cleaner. Rusty
master cylinder, some surface rust and driving
dirt on engine and related components. Fitted
with a/c, sidepipes, and tinted glass. Cond:
3+. NOT SOLD AT $52,000. Bloomington
#S71-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S111919. White/white &
blue vinyl. Odo: 85,112 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good paint with light buffthrough
on door edges and variable panel
fit. Fitted with tinted glass, a/c, sidepipes,
knockoffs, and Goldline tires. Some side glass
scratching and side window trim dents. Detailed
engine compartment, thick crackled paint on
steering box. Chrome shows some subsurface
flaws. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $53,000. Last seen
at Mecum's Kissimmee sale in January '08,
where it sold at $58,275 (CM# 49078). Tinted
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St. Charles, IL
glass looks great on Ermine White car, and this
one was a great high-end driver with good options
and an easy-to-live-with 300-hp engine.
Well bought and sold.
#S93-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S122825. Milano
Maroon/black canvas & maroon hard top/
white vinyl. Odo: 21,450 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Some paint chips and bubbles,
scratches on rear bumper. Pitting on inside
of vent window trim, chips to console paint,
wear on right door panel. Some wires hang
low under dash. Clean engine. Fitted with
in fiberglass at headlight corner and hood
bulge. Fitted with knockoffs, Goldlines, and
sidepipes. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $65,000.
The 390-hp 427 is one of the most usable bigblock
engine options, and it should make this a
good and dependable driver for the owner to
enjoy while he waits for a stronger bid.
#F58-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Grand Sport Replica roadster. S/N
30867S110973. Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 25
miles. 427-ci 500-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Dick
Thompson/Roger Penske Grand Sport replica.
Nice paint with lots of custom race car equipment
and modifications. Only chrome is on
telescopic wheel, two tops, and alloy wheels
with Goldline tires. Said to have original miles,
one repaint, and two owners. Good documentation.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $47,170. Original
cars continue to be strong, and this one was
a decent buy considering the options, mileage,
and condition, and despite the base engine and
automatic transmission.
#S7-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S124010. Silver/white
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 79,974 miles. 327-ci
350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Dull, faded old paint
with many visible panel lines, aged chrome,
OK trim. Torn seats, tired and dirty interior,
dingy engine with some stock parts missing.
inset door handles, and it shows some pitting.
Fake Halibrand-style knockoff wheels fitted.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $64,660. This car looked
too good to race, but it will make a great display
piece in someone's collection. A decent
deal for both parties.
Blows oil smoke from exhaust. Cond: 3-. NOT
SOLD AT $31,000. Said to be original and it
was... kind of. Some repaints were noted upon
closer inspection, including driver's door and
back on left side, and all of it needed attention.
Many components were replaced or were in
need of replacement. If sold, it would need to
be re-restored, and this was all the money.
#S107-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N N/A. Nassau Blue/white canvas/white
vinyl. Odo: 61,285 miles. 427-ci 390hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Some chips and bubbles in
paint, few pits and scratches in chrome. Cracks
40 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
#F105-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S110844. Ermine
White & red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo:
45,543 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Chrome and interior good, paint shows slight
aging with hood corner cracking and some light
front-end driving chips. Chrome around vent
panes starting to become pitted, windshield
just starting to delaminate. Screw missing and
some chips and mask lines on console plate,
roughness on steering wheel hub. Very wide
driver's door panel fit at glass, torn fan shroud
with newer fan and pulley. Tank sticker. Cond:
2. NOT SOLD AT $140,000. Ermine White
and red on a 435 is a rare and desirable color
combination, and sidepipes just added to the
appeal. Awarded two Top Flight Awards, and it
was just starting to show age throughout. 435hp
cars have taken a pretty serious hit in the
marketplace, with recent examples of decent
driver-quality cars selling below the $100k
mark. I'd call this a current market-correct bid
considering the condition, color, documentation,
and awards.
#S31-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S114393. Elkhart Blue/blue
vinyl. Odo: 72,241 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4bbl,
auto. Fresh paint with high metallic content,
new chrome. Some dirt on seats, wrinkles and
misfit to driver's seat. Wiper arms are not typical
of Corvette production. Clean engine with
correct hoses and some extra wiring, taped-up
radiator, overflow tank puttied near the neck.
Fitted with power windows, headrests, a/c, and
Redline tires. Undercarriage clean but not factory
detailed. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $42,400. Last
seen at Mecum's Kansas City sale in December
'06, where it sold at $60,900 (CM# 43757). This
car's condition had not changed in the three
years since it last appeared at auction, but the
market had, and while the last price achieved
was considered fair at the time, now as a noreserve
car, it brought a price in line with the
current market.
#S48-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S115864. Silver &
black/black vinyl/silver vinyl. Odo: 6,178
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
LT-1 engine conversion. Newer paint and
chrome, visible prep flaws at right door, variable
panel fit, some trim scratches. Modern
teak wheel, new interior with dents in seat trim.
Speakers cut into in kick panels for new radio.
Fitted with a/c. Big-block stinger hood and
sidepipes. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $58,300. A decent
conversion to a more modern drivetrain,
but there's no real power advantage with the
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300-horsepower LT-1. Great color combination
with Redlines and alloys, and a good
driver for the money.
#S49-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S110424. Black/white
vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 65,601 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Some flaws in generally
very good paint, crack on headlight bucket,
on alloy wheels. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT
$675,000. Specially ordered for GM designer
Bill Mitchell's wife Marian by Corvette chief
engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov. Not too far from
stock, but the extras and the Bill Mitchell history
make this COPO '67 a rare one. Again, an
expensive bid, but it's the only one.
C3
couple of bubbles noted elsewhere. Door gaps
a bit wide. Chrome around vent windows pitted,
dent in windshield surround, some yellowing
on window crank knobs in interior. NCRS
Top Flight at 98.2 points in 2007. Documented
with window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, sales
invoice, and title. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$77,500. A base 300-hp convertible in a great
color combination with the right awards and
a load of documentation. Could have sold for
this bid with no regrets.
#S105-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
“Ed Cole” coupe. S/N 194377S118305.
Goodwood Green/saddle vinyl. Odo: 46,661
miles. 427-ci 435-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Claimed factory L89 engine with aluminum
heads and 3.55:1 Positraction. Good newer
paint and chrome, “like new” interior with some
repair to driver's headrest. 1996 Bloomington
Gold certification. Includes copy of original
order and invoice. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$550,000. A very authentic factory COPO car
ordered by Ed Cole for his neighbor. It was one
of the stars of this sale and was expected to
bring over the $550k final bid, but that's a hefty
price to pay in this market, even considering its
rarity and provenance.
“Bill
#S102-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Mitchell”
convertible.
S/N
194677S117714. Ermine White/red vinyl.
Odo: 83,731 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2bbl,
auto. New paint and interior, some seat
cover wrinkles, misfit carpet at console. Fitted
with telescopic wheel, two tops, sidepipes,
a/c, power steering, and power brakes. Clean
engine, painted A-arms and red paint accents
42 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Collection. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $20,670. Last
seen at Mecum's Indy sale in May '09, where
it failed to sell at $23,000 (CM# 120505). This
1968 base engine coupe's value lies in its celebrity
ownership, as a base engine automatic
coupe with a/c was hardly the hot Corvette in
1968—arguably the height of the muscle car
era. Given its current condition and configuration,
this was a fair price.
#F135-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S413729. Silverstone
Silver/dark blue vinyl. Odo: 70,504 miles.
327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Exterior paint,
panel fit, and chrome very nice. Glass in good
Engine area presents as factory original and
is in very good condition, with some aging
evident. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $318,000. This
highly original, largely unrestored 1968 L88
coupe came with a Protect-O-Plate and owner
history back to day one. A documented original
L88 in this condition would probably have
brought more a year ago, but this is the current
market level.
#F110-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S712060. LeMans Blue/
bright blue leather. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. Exterior paint, panel fit, chrome, and glass
in good condition. Metal rivets that hold bonding
strips to metal support between hood and
headlamps are starting to pop up, indicating
a corrosion problem which wasn't addressed
before the repaint. Windshield is aftermarket
replacement. Interior in good condition, seat
covers upgraded from original vinyl to leather,
#F60-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S414314. Silverstone
Silver/blue vinyl. Odo: 43,426 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Once owned by Apollo
13 Astronaut Jim Lovell. Exterior paint,
chrome, and glass all in good condition, body
panel fit is factory typical. Interior original and
moderately aged and worn, engine compartment
unrestored. Presents as an unmolested
but aged driver. From the Bob McDorman
condition, replacement windshield fitted.
Interior presents nicely, with replacement seat
covers and original seat belts. Engine compartment
appears factory original, with AIR system
in place. A high level driver. Cond: 2. NOT
SOLD AT $18,500. This 1968 base engine
coupe was in very good condition and came
with some documentation, service records, and
new radial tires. A turn-key early Shark car
that needed nothing to be enjoyed and proudly
driven. In its current condition, it could have
brought a few thousand dollars more to the
table.
#S119-1968 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE L88 coupe. S/N
194378S413628. International Blue/
dark blue vinyl. Odo: 23,820 miles. 427-ci 430hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. One of 80 produced with the
L88 engine option. Very original and mostly
unrestored. Exterior paint in good condition
with a few minor blemishes, chrome and glass
very nice. Interior nice but shows aging—particularly
at door panels and weatherstripping.
TOP 10
#1
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and Hurst shifter has replaced the original
unit. Engine area factory original, AIR system
missing. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $37,500.
Restored, but without attention to originality
and detail. According to the trim tag, the seats
should be vinyl and the engine stamp pad indicates
the engine is a 390-hp unit with a single
4-bbl carburetor. In its current condition, the
high bid of $37,500 was a fair offer.
#F116-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S727012. Riverside Gold/
black leather. Odo: 45,283 miles. 427-ci 435hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Optional L89 engine,
one of 390 built in 1969. Exterior restored in
1990 and still looks good, interior is original
and shows some wear and aging. Engine area
is factory original, fully intact, and in good
shape. An investment-grade Corvette in good
replacement windshield and a missing AIR system,
it traded hands at a fair price. Both buyer
and seller should be happy.
Best Buy #S82-1969 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE coupe. S/N 194379S726931.
Daytona Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 3,039 miles.
427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Exterior
lacquer paint, chrome, and glass all in excellent
condition. Interior as-new, engine area
factory original and appears fresh. Comes with
excellent documentation as well as multiple
NCRS Top Flight awards, Bloomington Gold
Certification, and a Chevy Vettefest Triple
paint, body panel fit, chrome, and glass all
excellent. Interior nicely restored to as-new
condition. Engine area is factory original and
fresh. Recent frame-off restoration. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $40,000. The only thing lacking
in this car's presentation was documentation
and national awards received. The high
bid of $40,000 was likely about half the cost of
the restoration alone—without the cost of the
donor 350/350 4-speed convertible. The seller
is wise to await a better offer before letting it
go.
condition. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $67,000.
Other then the L88, the 1969 427/435 L89
engine offers the ultimate in C3 high performance
and Corvette muscle. This car was in
very good condition and came with a binder of
documentation, owner history, and appraisals.
The high bid of $67,000 may be fair in today's
market, but I think the seller was wise to hold
onto the car, at least for now.
#S69-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S701411. Daytona Yellow/
black vinyl. Odo: 54,890 miles. 427-ci 435-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. L89 with aluminum heads,
one of 390 in 1969. Exterior paint, chrome,
and glass in good condition, including replacement
windshield. Interior restored and looking
showroom new. Engine area is factory original
and nicely restored, but is missing AIR system.
Fitted with power steering, power brakes, and
power windows. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $67,840.
This car was the recipient of a body-off restoration;
however, it was not to a concours or
NCRS Top Flight level. The car came with the
tank sticker and ownership history dating back
to 1975, but being a coupe with an aftermarket
Crown Award. Fitted with power steering,
power brakes, and a/c. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$74,200. First seen last August at the Corvettes
at Carlisle auction, where it failed to sell at
$94,000 (CM# 118010). This Corvette ticked
all the boxes for someone looking for a great
big-block with both documentation and the
right awards, and at this price, it again showed
that we're in a buyer's market. Very well
bought.
#S17-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 197370S400860. Marlboro
Maroon/saddle vinyl. Odo: 65,665 miles.
350-ci 370-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Exterior paint
appears to be original and aged, with considerable
checking, especially on driver's side
door. Chrome shows aging, interior is mostly
original and worn, with tears in seats. Engine
Best Buy #S95-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
LT-1 coupe. S/N 194370S411924. Daytona
Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 45,135 miles.
350-ci 370-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Original and
unrestored. Paint fairly good but does show
aging and some checking. Chrome and glass
nice. Original interior with mild aging but no
excessive wear. Engine area factory original
with some age-related issues. Cond: 3-. SOLD
AT $34,450. An unrestored 1970 LT-1 with
documentation is a very desirable item in the
Corvette market. This car was in very good
condition, and it came with its Protect-O-Plate
and complete owner history, so I'd call it very
well bought at the price paid.
#F33-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
area factory original and aged, AIR system
missing. An LT-1 that has not been particularly
well maintained. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $22,260.
Last seen at Mecum's St. Charles sale in June
'03, where it failed to sell at $21,500 (CM#
31543). Best described as a driver worthy of
restoration, and in its current condition, without
any documentation presented, it brought
fair money. Well bought and sold.
#S77-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194670S409946. Daytona
Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 47,105
miles. 350-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Exterior
44 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
coupe. S/N 194371S120409. Classic White/
red vinyl. Odo: 42,488 miles. 350-ci 300-hp
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V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Moderately customized exterior
in good condition, with paint, body panel
fit, chrome, and glass all presenting nicely.
Interior in good condition and sports Hurst
shifter. Modified from original with added side
exhaust, front spoiler, and aftermarket wheels.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $14,840. Modified
Corvettes have a relatively
limited
resale
market, unless the seller is able to find a buyer
who shares the same taste in mods as he did.
Considering this car's current condition, the
seller appears to have achieved full value. A
fair buy for the new owner.
#S68-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR2 convertible. S/N 194671S117850.
Ontario Orange/black vinyl & hard top/black
vinyl. Odo: 21,028 miles. 454-ci 425-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. One of two built in 1971. Comes
with excellent provenance and has been exhibited
in the 1999 Bloomington Gold Special
Collection, 2000 National Corvette Museum's
Concours d'Performance, and in 2003 was
original and nicely detailed. Has received a
quality body-on restoration. Cond: 2+. NOT
SOLD AT $34,000. Last seen at Corvettes at
Carlisle in August '08, where it failed to sell at
$40,000 (CM# 117994). A red-on-red Corvette
convertible with a/c is a great summer cruiser,
and this car was beautifully restored to show
level condition. As this was in its original
colors and had two tank stickers and a/c, the
seller was wise to walk away from this bid, as
there's more money out there for it.
#S72-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
LT-1 convertible. S/N 1Z67L2S520743.
Sunflower Yellow/black vinyl & yellow hard
top/black vinyl. Odo: 21,852 miles. 350-ci
255-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Bloomington Gold,
Bloomington Survivor, and Bloomington
Benchmark award winner. In excellent condition
inside and out, showing little wear and
outstanding preservation. With the exception
built engine and drivetrain. Fitted with power
windows, power steering, and power brakes.
Absolutely stunning. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT
$75,000. One of three Mille Miglia Red LT-1
convertibles with factory a/c. $75,000 is a lot
of money for a 1972 Corvette; but this Corvette
was worth all that and then some due to its rarity
and the quality of its restoration. Seller was
right to wait.
#S130-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
LT-1 coupe. S/N 1Z37L2S516529. Steel
City Gray/black leather. Odo: 42,498 miles.
350-ci 255-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Exterior paint,
chrome, and glass all in good condition. Rear
passenger's side quarter panel shows repaired
body damage, driver's door hangs poorly, passenger's
door gaps wider than typical factory
production. Interior in good condition, with
new front carpeting and door panels. Engine
factory-original,
unrestored, and neat, with
inducted into the Bloomington Gold Hall of
Fame. Exterior, interior, and engine area all in
excellent condition. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD
AT $500,000. The ultimate in Corvette performance,
rarity, and acclaim. Last year, the
car was bought at Mecum's Bloomington Gold
Auction for $550,000 (CM# 117104). While
this bid was just a bit shy of that number, the
current owner needed more money to give up
ownership. A one-of-a-kind Corvette that will
always be of interest to major Corvette and
automobile collectors.
#F104-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67K2S511421. Mille
Miglia Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 58,346
miles. 350-ci 200-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optioned
with factory a/c. Exterior paint, body panel
fit, chrome, and glass in excellent condition.
Interior showroom fresh, engine area factory
of a few minor paint chips on front surround,
the car is flawless. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$85,000. It's extremely rare to find a 1972
LT-1 convertible that's unrestored and in this
condition. Being the last year for the famed
LT-1 engine, with the lowest horsepower, the
high bid of $85,000 would seem to be a generous
offer. However, as a car in this condition
with prestigious national awards, it would be
extremely difficult to replace. The owner was
wise in waiting for a better offer.
#S94-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
LT-1 convertible. S/N 1Z67L2S522967. Mille
Miglia Red/black vinyl/black leather. Odo:
92,000 miles. 350-ci 255-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
LT-1 with factory a/c. First class concours
level body-off restoration. Exterior, interior,
and engine area restored to better than factory
production. Less than 100 miles on original re-
AIR system in place. Fitted with power steering,
power brakes, and a/c. Refreshed, but not
restored. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $34,450. This
LT-1 had received some cosmetic refreshening,
including a repaint as well as new carpets and
door panels. Considering this one's condition
as well as the options offered, the winning bid
was an appropriate price, and both the buyer
and seller should be pleased.
#F31-1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J4S404656. Medium
Red/white vinyl/saddle leather. Odo: 52,145
miles. 350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nicely
restored exterior, with paint, chrome, and
glass in excellent condition. All body panels
fit nicely, with appropriate gaps throughout.
Interior restored to original appearance, engine
area appears factory original and is in good
condition. Presents as a well-maintained highlevel
driver. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $17,490.
This shiny red 4-speed C3 convertible was
46 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
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very nice inside and out, and I expect it'll turn
heads for the new owner. The low horsepower
engine and urethane bumper are the only things
holding it back pricewise, but it wouldn't take
much to wake up the performance a bit without
sacrificing a lot of originality. Well bought.
coupe. S/N 1Z37X6S411332. Mahogany/
Firethorn
#F94-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
leather. Odo: 318 miles. 350-ci
210-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. An unrestored, highly
optioned, highly documented 318-mile car.
Exterior paint oxidized and showing checking,
urethane bumpers aged, stressed, and front
bumper has a significant crack. Original windshield
shows delamination. Interior in very
seum. This winning bid is as much as any 1978
Pace Car seems to draw, so I'd call this a good
deal for both the buyer and seller.
#F125-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8763BS414086. Dark Blue
Metallic/tinted glass/dark blue leather. Odo:
64,893 miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Exterior paint is original and in only fair condition,
with chips and scratches throughout. Rear
window molding missing some black paint.
Interior original and showing wear and aging.
Would best be described as a highly original
with replacement seat covers and front carpeting.
Engine area appears factory original and
mildly aged. A solid driver. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $10,000. Being a red-on-red Corvette with
new brakes, tires, shocks, etc., this was an
excellent entry-level turn-key car for the new
owner. An appropriate price, and a good deal
for both buyer and seller.
#F34-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Collector
good condition, engine area factory original
and only mildly aged. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$34,980. This coupe had virtually every option
available in 1976, and its documentation was
unsurpassed. The question is, what do you do
with a low-horsepower rubber bumper Corvette
with 318 miles? Finding a buyer for something
like this is no small task, as they would need to
really appreciate unrestored original Corvettes
and their aging issues. The seller was wise to
accept the high bid offered, which I would consider
fair considering the miles, condition, and
documentation.
#F55-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace
Car
Edition coupe. S/N
1Z8748S900267. Silver & black/silver leather.
Odo: 27 miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
A well-preserved, unrestored original Indy
Pace Car Edition coupe. Exterior, interior, and
engine compartment are as delivered from the
factory. Engine area shows slight aging and
corrosion on hardware, but otherwise is spotless
throughout. From the Bob McDorman
showroom new, and engine area is factory
original and shows only mild aging. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $15,370. An excellent entry-level
Corvette that needs nothing but to be proudly
enjoyed and maintained. A car in this condition
does not come along everyday, and I'd
consider it well bought by the new owner.
#F27-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Collection. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $29,680. This
car came with the original window sticker
still affixed to the passenger's side window, as
delivered to the dealership. With 27 miles and
complete documentation, this L82 Indy Pace
Car was a find for a Corvette collector with
a significant collection or an automobile mu-
48 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8784C5119810. Red/dark
red leather. Odo: 72,305 miles. 350-ci 200-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Arizona car with power
steering, power brakes, and power windows,
and presumably a rust-free frame. Exterior
in good condition, with what appears to be
a repaint. Panel fit factory typical, with appropriate
gaps throughout. Original glass in
good condition, interior nicely reconditioned
driver in need of TLC. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD
AT $10,000. A 1981 Corvette with a 190-hp
engine and automatic transmission is one of the
lowest performance Corvettes since 1955, and
as such, the demand for these cars is limited.
With a fair number of miles and in driver condition,
the high bid of $10,000 was a very fair
offer. The seller should have accepted the bid if
he was really interested in selling the car.
Best Buy #S43-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8764BS401177. Beige/
camel cloth. Odo: 13,263 miles. 350-ci 190-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Basically a brand new 1981
Corvette. Exterior paint, glass, wheels, and
tires all in excellent condition. Interior appears
area is factory original and showing mild
aging. Well maintained. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$18,020. In 1982, Collector Edition Corvettes
made up approximately 26% of the production,
so they can hardly be considered rare or
particularly collectible. This was an original
unrestored example with moderate mileage,
and it sold at an appropriate price. A decent
deal for both buyer and seller.
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8789C5119639. Red/red
leather. Odo: 12,200 miles.
#F121-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
350-ci 200-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Exterior in excellent
condition, with paint, body panel fit, and glass
flawless. Interior is in showroom condition,
engine area is factory original with just the
slightest aging evident. An outstanding, low-
Edition coupe. S/N
1G1AY8783C5105219. Silver Beige/Silver
Beige leather. Odo: 23,743 miles. 350-ci 200hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Original paint and
original date-coded glass in excellent condition.
Factory-installed interior still looks to be
in good condition, showing slight wear. Engine
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St. Charles, IL
mileage, well-preserved 1982 Corvette. Cond:
2+. NOT SOLD AT $18,000. Last seen at
Kruse's Auburn sale in May '07, where it failed
to sell at $24,000 (CM# 45959). Red-on-red
Corvettes have a strong following, and this
was an excellent example. The car presented
as a time capsule, so while $18,000 was a high
bid for a 1982, this car, with its low mileage
and outstanding condition, could be worth a
bit more to the right buyer.
C4
#F6-1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY0787F5126867. Polo
White/tinted panel/red leather. Odo: 26,341
miles. 350-ci 230-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Optional leather sport seats, Z51 Handling
package, heavy-duty cooling, power door locks,
tinted roof panel, and AM/FM/cassette stereo.
Indicated miles claimed actual, two owners
from new. Excellent original paint, minimal
nose and wheelwell chipping. Headlight door
fit on driver's side off a bit, rest of panel gaps
worn gloves to keep the steering wheel looking
this good. A fair exchange from buyer to seller,
provided that the new buyer intends to keep it
as garage art.
#F88-1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3183J5111172.
Silver/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 7 miles.
350-ci 245-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Optioned
with electronic climate control, Z52 suspension
package, twin heated sport mirrors, twin power
leather sport seats, Delco/Bose cassette stereo,
and illuminated left visor mirror. Exactly 6.5
miles on the car as it was being staged to cross
the auction block. Never titled,
still on the
and seat wear, with more wrinkling than wear
on the latter. Door glass defroster vents broken
on each door. Commensurate carpeting wear
for an 86k mile car. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT
$7,750. Out of the slew of low-mile C4s here,
this was one of the few daily driver grade cars
offered. As such, it didn't see much action on
the auction block. Bid to a market level.
#F25-1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3184K5124787. Dark
Red Metallic/black canvas & red hard top/tan
leather. Odo: 19,403 miles.
350-ci 245-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Factory options include
both tops, leather seats, and electronic climate
control. Seller claims original miles. Good
original paint, minimal light chipping along
nose and wheelwell lips.
Cleaned-up engine
compartment, full aftermarket exhaust system
with Super Turbo mufflers. Outboard seat
bolster wear heavier than rest of interior wear,
good. Driver's side seat bolsters worn, but it's
not out of line for the indicated miles. The remainder
of the interior shows minimal wear and
aging. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $9,600. Claimed
to be lady owned since new, which is neither
here nor there since either gender is capable of
either being fastidious about maintenance or
lazy and abusive. However, the car gives off the
aura of more of the former than the latter, so
I'll call it well bought.
35th
#F44-1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Anniversary Edition coupe. S/N
1G1YY2182J5117720. Polo White/tinted
panel/white leather. Odo: 5,340 miles. 350-ci
245-hp fuel-injected V8, manual. Optioned with
4+3 manual transmission. Mileage claimed actual,
minimal to non-existent wear both inside
and out. Some moderate wrinkling of driver's
seat bottom and outboard bolsters, steering
wheel rim yellowing noticeably with age.
Clean and detailed engine bay displaying the
only two non-stock parts: Interstate battery and
replacement upper radiator hose clamp. Slight
chipping of paint on left rear alloy wheel, right
along bead lip. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $25,970.
The example was previously on loan to the
National Corvette Museum by the consignor.
These all-white cars are usually a nightmare to
keep looking nice, and this one was definitely
a pickled time capsule—the owner must have
50 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
MSO. Minor factory flaws in the paint, top appears
to have never been folded. Seams in door
panels starting to separate from sitting. A brand
new 1988 Corvette, pure and simple. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $25,970. There were a few things
manifesting on this car simply because it had
always been parked, and all of the issues were
basically due to deterioration from atrophy.
They were meant to drive, not sit as sculpture,
but sitting will always be this car's destiny.
The bidding bogged down at $22k, then the
consignor lifted the reserve and things picked
up quite a bit until the end.
coupe. S/N 1G1YY2186J5112939. Silver/
black
#F143-1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
leather. Odo: 86,154 miles. 350-ci
245-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Optional twin
leather power sport seats, dual roof panels,
and Z52 suspension. 1996-style alloy wheels.
Excellent original paint, careful touch-up of
few rock chips on nose. Topically cleaned up
engine compartment. Moderate steering wheel
curb rash. Two light scratches on upper portion
of front valance, otherwise original paint
is rather well preserved. Clean but undetailed
bone stock engine bay. Steering wheel rim,
driver's seat, and carpeting with light wear.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $17,225. Amid some
spirited bidding, the reserve was lifted at $16k.
but not out of hand—yet. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$14,045. The consignor mentioned on the window
sheet that this was “a Bloomington Gold
Certification / Survivor candidate.” A swing
and a miss on several counts. Sure, you could
go there, but only after reinstalling a stock
exhaust and a bunch of AC-Delco underhood
parts. Even then, this would still not be as turnkey
as the seller would have you believe. Still,
a good car with low miles, so it was a good
deal for both parties.
Best Buy #F18-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J5L5800446. Red/red
leather. Odo: 34,730 miles.
350-ci 375-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Factory options include
both roof panels, dual power seats, selective
ride control, electronic climate control, and
AM/FM/CD stereo. Fitted with aftermarket
stainless exhaust system and modern Goodyear
tires. Stock alloy wheels with corrosion and
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St. Charles, IL
This was a bit of a step down from the $24,995
on the For Sale sign left in the car by the
consignor. The first of several early ZR-1s that
sold for less than market value. Well bought, as
standard issue late C4s pulled similar money
with fewer miles on the clock.
#F36-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J4L5800129. Red/
tan leather. Odo: 3,678 miles. 350-ci 375-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Fitted with dual power
leather sport seats and Selective Ride Control.
Mileage claimed correct. Retains all components
that were installed at Bowling Green
when new, except for battery and fluids. Like
new overall, with no perceivable wear to paint
or upholstery. Still has some new car smell left
heavily worn of the ZR-1s offered out here, so
the selling price seemed to be market correct, if
actually mildly high, since better cars sold for
only a couple of bids more.
TOP 10
#4
#F57-1991
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Callaway
Twin Turbo speedster. S/N
1G1YY3383M5117068. Silver/light blue
leather. Odo: 2,471 miles. 350-ci 403-hp turbocharged
V8, 6-sp. Number 8 of 9 “production”
Series I speedsters. Autographed by Reeves
Callaway on console cup-holder cover. Likenew
paint and interior. Edges of rear quarter
wrap-around glass starting
to delaminate.
interior. Well, it was actually gray leather illuminated
through the blue tinted Lexan roof
panel. While it may be one of two ZR-1s done
up in black and gray, it was low production for
a reason—most buyers wanted flashier colors.
Considering that better ZR-1s sold for this
much or less, this one should've sold, too.
#S42-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J3M5800768.
Turquoise Metallic/tinted panel/black leather.
Odo: 33,440 miles. 350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. Tinted roof is the only option. Good
original paint, although it doesn't really jump
out at you. Windshield starting to delaminate
along the edges, radiating out from black
in it. Clean and well detailed engine compartment
and undercarriage. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $21,465. This ZR-1 was exhibited in the
Bloomington Gold Special Collection in 2004.
Between that and the minimal miles, I figured
that the consigning dealer would hold out for
more than this, but he actually took the reserve
off at $19,750, which yielded three more bids.
Well bought, provided that you don't belong to
the camp that feels that C4 ZR-1s are heading
down in value rather than staying flat.
#F79.1-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J2L5802560.
Red/tinted panel/black leather. Odo: 38,253
miles. 350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Factory options include selective ride control,
dual power seats, and tinted roof panel. Fitted
with '91–'93 era stock alloy wheels shod with
newer tires. Well-cared-for original paint with
minimal chipping, door glass seals cracking
Surgically clean engine bay, post-op clean undercarriage.
The only flaw is that the consigning
dealer—Bob McDorman Chevrolet—put
his dealer badge smack dab in the middle of
the rear fascia above the license plate alcove.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $121,900. Last seen a
month ago at Mecum's Spring Classic, at that
time a no-sale at $140k. Bought by an SCM
Platinum subscriber and advertiser, who has
a high-profile collection of one-off Corvettes
where this will fit in quite nicely. The safe bet is
that he'll have his detail crew carefully remove
the dealer badge from the unobtanium-grade
rear fascia.
#F106-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J1M5800932.
Black/gray leather. Odo: 14,233 miles. 350-ci
375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Factory-optional
tinted roof panel. Fitted with 1995 model year
alloy wheels. Generally well-kept-up original
paint, some light chips on front and rear
fascias. Cleaned-up engine bay and undercarriage.
Dashboard around glove box door has a
very uneven texture and fit—either a manufacturing
defect or setting from age. Aftermarket
edging. Engine bay, although cleaned off, is
somewhat dull in appearance. Overall interior
wear is correct for the mileage displayed.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $24,910. Last seen at
RM's Phoenix auction in January '07, then
selling for $24,200—or $710 less than here
(CM# 44111). While the consignor talked up
the car as being one of the more rare colors,
much of the market would prefer something
else, such as all of the red ones out here. Sold
well enough.
#S3-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY33P1P5108669.
Ruby Red/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 66,826
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Factory optional dual power sport seats and
AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo. Aftermarket
chambered dual exhaust system. Theft recovery
code etched into windshield above VIN
tag. Good quality body prep, masking, and
repaint, heavier wear of door and door glass
seals. Patched leading edge seat bottom on
quite significantly. Seat upholstery is about
as wrinkled as a senior center pool party.
Moderate soiling and minimal wear on all
carpeting. Aftermarket engine brag tag stuck to
cup holder cover on console. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $19,080. I last saw this car at Mecum's
Kansas City sale this spring, at that time sold
for $20,670 (CM# 119845). It was the most
52 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
embroidered carpeted floor mats are several
hues off stock carpet. Remainder of interior has
commensurate wear for miles indicated. Cond:
2. NOT SOLD AT $22,000. The consigning
dealer tried to make this something that it really
wasn't, claiming it had a rare “Steel Blue”
driver's side, moderate seat bolster and carpeting
wear. Vinyl headrests are newer, have
less wear, and are slightly darker than the
original leather. Claimed to be one of 500 40th
Anniversary convertibles. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$11,130. All 6,749 40th Anniversary edition
cars were painted Ruby Red—no exceptions.
However, several aftermarket vendors sell
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Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
headrest upholstery embroidered with the 40th
anniversary logo in your choice of color. A nosale
on Friday afternoon as lot F26 with a $9k
bid, proving that once in a while a rerun can
get lucky.
#F65-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Anniversary Edition coupe. S/N
1G1XX23P3P5119666. Ruby Red/tinted
panel/Ruby Red leather. Odo: 12,272 miles.
350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Optioned
with tinted roof panel and Delco-Bose CD/cassette
sound system. Well-cared-for
original
paint, lots of wax residue on black plastic door
handles. Chalky undercarriage and engine
bay rubber components from oxidation and
retaining mold release. Light wear on seat
so they started backing off by the end of the
day, allowing someone to get a decent buy.
#F117-1994
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Custom limousine. S/N
1G1YY22P1R5106502. Arctic White/red
leather. Odo: 21,206 miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Extended the length of two
additional doors (with only one added door per
side), fixed glass moonroof has a glass panel
big enough to have come off the Sears Tower.
Repaint holding up well, no body cracking.
Side window trim and seals a bit tattered,
window tint starting to delaminate. Six sport
bolsters along power seat adjust panels, light
carpet wear on both sides. All other wear commensurate
with indicated mileage. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $19,345. I've seen a number of 40th
Anniversary coupes cross the block in the last
year, and this one was toward the top of the
heap for both selling price and condition. As
such, well enough bought. The cheap Dane in
me thinks this was a bit spendy, but in realty
this is about right for the mix of miles, condition,
and configuration.
#F140-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
40th
Anniversary Edition coupe. S/N
1G1YY23P8P5102068. Ruby Red metallic/
tinted panel/Ruby Red leather. Odo: 24,091
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Good original paint heavily buffed out to betterthan-new
finish and gloss. One nasty scratch
beneath passenger's side turn signal and side
seats, wet bar, dual a/c, and dual TVs. Light to
moderate interior wear overall front and rear.
Bone stock powertrain, ambulance grade 200amp
alternator. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $22,260.
I was unable to discern who did the conversion,
but it was significantly better than the
scary 1974/81/-82 I saw in Indianapolis (CM#
120517). Claimed to have been the VIP perk
car for the Chevy dealer in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, and declared sold here two years ago for
$40,950 (CM# 45662). The reserve was wisely
cut loose on the final bid, so call in the reservation
now for your son or daughter's prom ride.
#F113-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P8R5100955. Torch
Red/tinted & painted/black leather. Odo:
39,133 miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8,
auto. Options include dual roof panels, dual
power seats, and AM/FM/CD stereo. Fitted
with aftermarket chrome alloy wheels of the
same style as 1996 OEM wheels. Highly buffed
marker lens corner on front fascia. Moderate
wear and rippling of door glass seals, but with
no tears or chunks missing. Dealer-prep engine
bay detailing, dusty, unkempt undercarriage.
Interior shows wear commensurate with mileage.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $13,250. Lower end
of market pricing for a good example with low
miles. Perhaps folks were getting punch-drunk
from the parade of minty ultra-low-mile C4s,
54 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
out original paint, with some light touch-ups
visible. New door and door glass seals, new
headlight actuator motors. Light to moderate
overall interior wear, commensurate with
miles indicated. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,105.
Certainly below average miles for a 1994 used
car, but with a field full of sub-10k mile cars,
this one stood out for not really standing out.
Sold well enough.
#F120-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P9S5117124. Torch Red/
throughout. Clean, washed-off undercarriage,
light wear starting on console lid and edges
of seats. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $19,080. The
description card in the window stated “Best
color combination Red/Black.” I love it when
consignors try to tell me what my tastes are.
Then again, since I tell you my subjective opinions,
turnabout is fair play. I have one car with
a black interior and have vowed to never have
another one again, and red always conjures up
“make it look pretty to sell quick” in my mind.
A good color combination for most buyers?
Sure, I can go along with that, as it did sell for
some fairly strong money.
#F80-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car Edition
convertible. S/N
1G1YY32P4S5111785. Violet & white/white
vinyl/black & purple leather. Odo: 16 miles.
350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Sixteen
red leather. Odo: 21,883 miles. 350-ci 300-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Preferred Equipment
Group 1, dual power sport seats, dual roof
panels, low tire pressure warning system,
and Delco/Bose CD/cassette sound system.
Mileage claimed correct. Retains all paperwork
since the car was ordered by the original and
only owner. Excellent factory paint buffed out
and polished to better than factory standards.
Moderately well detailed engine compartment,
minimal attention to chassis. Aftermarket clear
plastic door sill protectors, light fading and
wear on seats. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $20,670. A
lot of money for a C4 with almost 22k miles.
Being an all red coupe can't make this car
worth that much, but someone certainly liked
it well enough. Well sold.
#F74-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32PXS5112875. Red/
black cloth/black leather. Odo: 14,086 miles.
350-ci 4-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Equipped
with selective handling, luggage rack, AM/
FM/CD sound system, cruise control, and dual
power sport seats. Mileage claimed actual.
Superbly kept-up original paint, top looks like
it has never been stowed. Cleaned up and detailed
engine bay, but with recent clearcoating
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St. Charles, IL
miles since manufactured, never dealer prepped.
All shipping covers and most tags still in place,
but some are getting worn from people sitting
in the car and driving it in short stints. Original
window sticker has never been removed, but
ancillary stickers from windshield are sitting
on passenger's seat. New York title issued to
the car when new, but never issued licensed
plates. Literally a new 1995 Corvette. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $38,160. If you absolutely positively
had to have one of the few brand-new virgin
1995 Indy Pace Cars out there, this was one
worth chasing down. Based upon the amount
of interest in the car, it was a crowded field for
the chase. Just like lot F88, there isn't much
to do with it apart from rolling it in and out
of trailers for Survivor-type shows. However,
if that's your gig, have a field day, as driving it
would be sheer stupidity for what was spent.
#F92-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P7S5104761. Polo
Green/tinted panel/black leather. Odo: 1,824
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Factory options include Preferred Equipment
Group 1, Z07 Adjustable Suspension, dual
power leather sport seats, Delco/Bose CD &
cassette sound system, and tinted roof panel.
Mileage claimed correct. No nicks, scrapes, or
other damage in finish, neatly detailed engine
compared to the body, even though both wear
original paint. Light wear just starting to manifest
on soft top from being cycled up and down.
Clean and lightly detailed engine bay, undercarriage
with light dealer-applied undercoating.
Minimal to no discernible interior wear. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $29,150. The Collector Edition
could be had with black, gray, or red leather
seating, as this one was. Claimed to be one of
54 with both the LT4 and red guts, although the
LT4 had the lion's share of desirability here.
And it proved to be quite desirable, selling for
more than a final year C5 Commemorative
convertible would generally bring.
#F102-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3258T5104306.
Yellow/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 17,993
miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Optional LT4 powertrain, dual power seats,
and Delco/Bose CD sound system. Stainless
steel Borla exhaust. Seller claims correct miles.
Approximately 3-inch long crack across upper
corner of windshield on driver's side, door
glass seals have a couple small chunks broken
compartment, light surface rust on the brake
components. Minimal to no perceivable wear
to interior. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $26,500. A
more realistic mileage car with a more realistic
selling price than lot F80. That car was fine if
you wanted a static monument; this one was
a far better choice if you wanted a really nice
car that could actually be driven to an event.
A good deal for both parties involved.
#S46-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Grand Sport coupe. S/N 1G1YY2259T5600631.
Blue & white/black leather. Odo: 23,836 miles.
350-ci 413-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. LT4
motor internally tweaked and measured on a
chassis dyno. Other modifications include roll
cage with quick-removable links along doors,
shift light in main gauge cluster, racing harnesses,
and Fiske alloy wheels. Excellent original
paint, no touch-ups or nicks found. Motor
compartment and undercarriage. Aftermarket
embroidered carpeted floor mats protect likenew
carpeting, rest of interior shows minimal
wear. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $19,000.
Claimed to be a rare color for 1995, despite
being the second most popular hue for the year
(remember that greens were big colors in the
auto industry at the time—how many gazillion
Tahoes were painted this hue?). The auction
team said on the block that it will take about
$25k to get it sold, but this was all the market
was willing to bid on the day.
#F97-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Collector
Edition convertible.
S/N
1G1YY3256T5112839. Silver/black cloth/red
leather. Odo: 7,936 miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuelinjected
V8, 6-sp. Optional LT4 powertrain.
Front and rear fascias come off a shade dark
56 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
off on passenger's side. Minimal paint chipping
on front and rocker panels. Light wear on
cloth top over top bows. Cleaned-up engine
bay. Light overall interior wear commensurate
with indicated mileage. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD
AT $21,000. Claimed to be one of 17 LT4
convertibles in Competition Yellow. As it was
not as pristine and minty-fresh as most of the
other low-mile C4s out here (and there were a
ton of them to choose from), the final bid really
should've sold the car.
#S21-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car Edition
convertible. S/N
1G1YY32P0S511707. Violet & white/white
vinyl/purple & black leather. Odo: 8,864 miles.
350-ci
300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. All
original components except battery and fluids.
Fitted with stainless steel door sill protectors
and engine brag tag on cup holder cover.
Immaculately preserved original paint with no
discernible nicks or scuffing. As-new engine
sports several modifications, most of which are
not blatantly obvious due to good workmanship.
Driver's seat and footwell carpeting
with heavier than average wear, rest of interior
has minimal wear. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT
$24,000. Unlike the other '96 Grand Sport (lot
F126), this was born to run—not destined to
be an investment. As a track car, it could've
rightfully sold for this bid, but the engine work
alone probably cost this much, so back on the
trailer it went.
C5
#F20-1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22G1V5102931. Black/
gray & black vinyl. Odo: 97,842 miles. 5.7-L
345-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Selective Real
Time Dampening, electronic climate control,
and AM/FM/single-CD stereo. Claimed to
have had an “entire restoration in 2005.” Z06
brake calipers, Z06-style wheels, Sumitomo
M&S performance tires, K&N air induction,
performance
exhaust,
black-out
taillights,
embroidered carpeted floor mats, and new
upholstery. Average quality repaint with mediocre
masking. Original paint buffed enough
Page 55
that the edges of hood and hatch are showing
bare plastic. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $14,575.
I've seen plenty of repaint and reupholstery
“restorations” in my day, as well as the real
deal, and this wasn't a restoration. Shoveled
money into modifications is more like it. At
least the focus was on making the car stop better,
rather than the usual Chevelle mentality of
making it go fast without regard to the brakes.
Considering the car as a rough first-year C5
with several grand worth of parts stuck on it,
it was sold well, and the consignor should be a
happy camper.
#F22-1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22G3W5109378. Black/
oak leather. Odo: 109,870 miles. 5.7-L 345-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Original paint buffed
enough that edges of hood and hatch are showing
bare plastic. Nose peeled off and repainted,
with uneven gaps and a mismatched paint hue.
Heavy scuffing and wax residue on front chin
spoiler. Headlight operation wonky, as full
headlights pop up in parking light position and
single CD stereo. Dealer installed chrome
alloy wheels. All original components except
for fluids. Light chipping on nose and rocker
panels, light floor mat wear, and light dust on
undercarriage. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $23,320.
Purchased new by a retired businessman from
Sioux City, Iowa, who only used as his summer
car when he was home for three to four months
in the summer. High retail for a 1998 convert,
but since it had very low miles, I'll call it a
good deal for both parties—especially for
owner number two.
#S20-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G2Y5114306.
Light Pewter Metallic/black cloth/black leather.
Odo: 69,985 miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Optional sport seats, performance
axle, dual zone climate control, and body side
moldings. Updated with standard-issue C6style
alloy wheels and stock tires, side moldings
have been removed. Slight hue mismatch of
front fascia, panel gaps slightly off, more wear
on headlight covers and leading edge of hood
than fascia. Heavier seat bottom wear and foot
well carpet soiling, but otherwise interior looks
grind for nearly a minute after folding down.
Settling of seat padding resulted in baggy fit of
original leather. Original floor mats now missing.
Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $10,812. Think of
this as the “before” exhibit for lot F20 and you
get an idea of how this car fits into the general
scheme of things. It took a lot of arm twisting
on Dana's part for the consignor to cut it loose,
but reality finally soaked in. Sold well for a
beat-on early C5 with issues.
#F39-1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G9W5130340.
Light Pewter Metallic/Oak cloth/Oak leather.
Odo: 16,837 miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Consigned by the original owner.
Fitted with variable real time dampening,
memory package, electronic dual zone climate
control, dual power sport seats, performance
axle ratio, body side moldings, and AM/FM/
good. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $18,550. The seller
claimed that the laminated window sticker
and build sheet were the original items. Nope,
they were straight from the National Corvette
Museum, where they will not only print them
up for your car for $30 if you are a member, but
will also laminate them for an additional tenspot.
If they had been the originals, the former
would still have adhesive on the ends and the
latter would have been crumpled from when it
was stuffed into the front of the chassis. Sold
for lower to average retail.
#S84-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Lingenfelter
383 convertible.
S/N
1G1YY32G8Y5124323. Arctic White/black
cloth/red leather. Odo: 6,623 miles. 383-ci
475-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Factory installed
options include memory package, twin power
sport seats, bodyside moldings, power tele
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 57
Page 56
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
increased by any amount since then. And more
importantly, interest from potential buyers has
cooled even more.
scopic steering column, and Head Up Display.
Upfitted with the LPE powertrain, suspension,
and exterior styling upgrades. In like-new condition
overall, with minimal signs of wear or
use. Rear tires show the most wear (go figure).
National Corvette Museum decal affixed to the
windshield. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $39,220. As
this was about $10k to $15k over the value of
a bone-stock minty 6k-mile Y2K convertible,
adding on the value of the Lingenfelter conversion
makes this a deal that is more smoking hot
than the back tires on the car.
#F59-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
John Cafaro Skunk Werkes convertible.
S/N 1G1YY32G315105586. Silver/black
cloth/black leather. Odo: 9,232 miles. 5.7-ci
350-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Customized
for C5 design chief John Cafaro with a 10inch
windshield chop. Most other mods are
careful aftermarket parts selection, including
Skunk Werkes body kit, high rise center bulge
hood, rear spoiler, lowered suspension, HRE
19-inch and 20-inch alloy wheels, Donaldson
#F109-2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 Custom coupe. S/N 1G1YY12S925116411.
Black/black & red leather. Odo: 13,700 miles.
427-ci 750-hp twin-turbo V8, auto. Built-up
4L65E automatic transaxle conversion, 6-piston
front/4-piston rear Wilwood brakes with
slotted rotors, custom painted carbon fiber
hood, Auto Meter gauges mounted between
stereo and relocated electronic HVAC controls,
custom seat upholstery, and HRE alloy wheels.
stuck to windshield. Fitted with aftermarket
battery quick disconnect on negative lead;
otherwise is exactly as used at the Speedway
and in like-new condition. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$33,920. Festival cars from both the Indy 500
and the Brickyard 400 pop up once in awhile
(we've seen several at Mecum's Indy auction
over the last two years). Not that being car #1
really makes it worth that much more, as it was
bid to what any other one would be expected
to do. Last seen on this very turf last fall, then
a no-sale at $29k (CM# 117097). It nearly did
the same thing here, as it was bid to $28,500 on
the block against a desired $35k, but became a
post-block sale by the end of the day.
C6
Overall very clean, high build quality showing
minimal wear or usage throughout the whole
car. Tires indicate some fun has been had. Cond:
2-. NOT SOLD AT $43,000. A bit too aggressive
for regular street use, so making for an
easier high-speed commute wasn't likely what
the builder had in mind when swapping out the
6-speed for an automatic. Those Pilot Sports
make it a scary car to drive on the street—let
alone on a cool rainy day—although they are a
dream on the track. Had a reserve somewhere
north of $50k, which likely just covered all the
mods with a free 14k-mile Z06 tossed in for
free—the usual modified car quandary.
air intake, and Corsa exhaust. Interior further
tweaked with suede bits, leather-covered rollover
hoops, billet aluminum trim, and 4-point
Simpson racing harness on passenger's seat
only. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $37,500. Note
to the Corvette interior trim planning committee:
Don't do a BMW, and forego suede for interior
trim. I remember seeing Euro-spec M5s
in the 1980s with suede inside, and they were
ratty looking in less than a year. I saw this car
not sell at Mecum's Indy auction last month for
$65k, and I can't say that my interest in it has
#F40-2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Brickyard 400 Pace Car convertible. S/N
1G1YY32G735121714. Millenium Yellow/
black cloth/black leather. Odo: 878 miles.
5.7-L 350-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Festival
car number one, assigned and licensed to a descendant
of late Indy Motor Speedway owner
Tony Hulman. Still retains event access passes
#F119-2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 Pre-Production coupe. S/N
1G1YY22Y3650016EX. LeMans Blue/black
leather. Odo: 18,450 miles. 7.0-L 505-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Used by GM for final
development of the production Z06 and ZR1—
both at GM's facilities in the U.S. and at the
Nürburgring, Spa, and on the Autobahn. Fitted
with Sparco racing seats, roll bar, racing harnesses,
fire suppression system, and mountings
for test equipment in rear hatch area. Proudly
wears its Nurburgring Industry Pool access
sticker for 2005 on driver's side of hatch glass.
Freshened up with stock LS7, full stock powertrain,
wheels/tires, and repaint before being
released by GM. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $63,600.
During the development of the ZR1, this was
one of the cars that helped lend credence to
the “Blue Devil” project folks inside of and
observing from outside of GM. This was my
favorite of all the C4 and latter cars out here,
simply because of its unique purpose. A tempting
proposition, but with that darn pesky EX
VIN, it may end up as a track car. Hopefully,
a forward thinking collector will preserve it as
is for posterity. ■
58 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Page 57
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Page 58
Market
Report
C
C1
#S154-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S001441. Red/black cloth/
red vinyl. Odo: 8,473 miles. 235-ci 150-hp
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Braille front fiberglass
finish even worse than original, OK older
repaint on top of it. Somewhat typical difficultto-open
hood for a 1953 to '55. Good older
rechroming, now with some light pitting. Seats
and door panels redone quite well, dash padding
wrinkled. Carpets becoming rather faded
and worn, especially on transmission hump.
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
45 Corvettes, $508k Sold
orvette Market's Auction Analysts kept a close eye on the market throughout the
late spring and early summer months, covering cars as they crossed the block at
locations all around the world. Every car is different, and each of these reports
gives not only a price that each individual car was bid to across the block, but also
an informed view on why it performed the way it did. This is the essence of the market,
and it cannot be matched by any printed price guide. This information should be an
essential part of your thoughtful collecting.
Auctions covered this issue:
Bonhams, Monaco, MCO, 5/18/09—Jérôme Hardy
MidAmerica Auctions, St. Paul, MN, 5/30/09—B. Mitchell Carlson
Bonhams & Butterfields, Greenwich, CT, 6/7/09—Donald Osborne
Kensington, Bridgehampton, NY, 6/13/09—Donald Osborne
VanDerBrink, Sioux Falls, SD, 6/13/09—B. Mitchell Carlson
Mecum Auctions, St. Paul, MN, 6/20/2009—B. Mitchell Carlson
Bonhams, Sussex, U.K. 7/3/09—Paul Hardiman
VanDerBrink, Iola, WI, 7/11/09—B. Mitchell Carlson
Mecum Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/17/09—B. Mitchell Carlson
Market opinions in italics
Odo: 22,251 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl,
4-sp. Very good panel fit, paint, and chrome
throughout. Well done interior shows soiled
driver's seat and steering wheel. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $95,000. From the collection
of musician Max Weinberg. Formerly the wellknown
“half car,” restored down the middle
by Vette Dreams of Long Island, NY, and
displayed. Later finished in a new restoration.
We know this car from the Christie's Monterey
auction in August '07 (SCM# 46179), where it
was a no-sale at $140k against a $200k low
estimate. Six miles later, I'm sure Mr. Weinberg
would love to drum up that bid. Kensington,
Bridgehampton, NY, 6/09.
TOP 10
#10
#S139-1957
CORVETTE convertible.
CHEVROLET
S/N
E57S105399. Venetian Red &
Shoreline Beige/tan cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 4,635
miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Radio and heater delete. High quality frame-off
restoration a few years ago, with mostly better-than-stock
body prep and panel fit—except
passenger's door alignment. Heavily reinforced
inner wheelwell openings. Excellent quality
#61-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S105936. Whtie &
silver/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 7,089 miles.
283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Only options
include dual-quad 245-hp motor with California
emissions (PCV system in lieu of a road draft
tube), and contrasting coves. Bloomington Gold
certification #1563 awarded in 1988, with a recent
frame-off refreshing done—primarily on
chassis and powertrain. Better-than-stock body
Nearly impossible to jump start the car to get it
running, and the one time it lit before it crossed
the block, it blew a lot of black smoke. Cond:
3-. SOLD AT $47,700. 1954s seem to bring
out the worst of all C1s. It was claimed that
this example had been sitting in a warehouse
for the last 27 years, and that seems to check
out based on how the car looked here. It was
probably restored on the fly back then and left
to rot (the “too nice to drive, have to keep it in
storage” mentality). The reserve was dropped
at the final bid, but it was all the money in the
world. Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
60 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
repaint, replated or replacement chrome and
trim. Show-quality engine compartment detailing.
Stock exhaust routing, although outlets
terminate inside of rear bumperettes instead of
past them. Interior with minimal to no wear.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $82,150. I saw this sell
at Indy a few months prior at $83,740 (SCM#
120500), and it then showed up at Bloomington
Gold, being bid to a $70k no-sale. At least we
are getting the general impression that a '57
fuelie should have about $75k to $80k worth of
demand. Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
#21-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S101617. Cascade Green
& Shoreline Beige/beige vinyl/beige vinyl.
and paint work, concours-ready engine bay and
undercarriage lacking only replica inspection
markings and tags. Squeaky clean like-new
interior with mostly reproduction components.
Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $75,000. Spent less
than 30 seconds on the block, as the auctioneer
refused to start below $75k for an opening
bid. While saving some time for the tent full of
lookie-loos and bottom-feeder dealers, it was
pretty much a waste of time for the consignor
except for cheap exposure for a possible future
deal. VanDerBrink, Iola, WI, 7/09.
#S137-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S102499. Red/black
vinyl & red hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 44,386
Page 59
miles. 327-ci 360-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Two top
option. Claimed to be an original fuel-injected
car, now has non-Corvette 4-bbl induction.
Recent cosmetic fluff-up of older restoration,
including trim-off repaint, rechromed bumpers,
selective replacement of emblems, new windshield,
new seals, and mid-level quality interior
soft trim. Original body panel fit. Fluffed up
engine bay is show ready, but would be eaten
alive at a concours. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$45,000. This was at Mecum's Bloomington
Gold auction in St. Charles last month, and
was declared sold for $48,760. Out here, it
certainly wasn't going to find a new home for a
lesser bid. Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
C2
#38-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S118850. Saddle Tan/
white vinyl & tan hard top/saddle vinyl. Odo:
29,057 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Optioned with both tops. Non-original period
300-hp coded block and 1970s vintage cylinder
heads. Mileage claimed actual since new. Old
repaint crazed on tops of fenders, blatant evidence
of crack repair on forward end of right
front fender. Good door and panel gaps, newly
replated bumpers and vent window surrounds.
Original interior upholstery, with light to moderate
overall wear and soiling.
Aftermarket
Hurst shifter, modern sound system mounted in
glovebox. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $20,000.
Bid way below the current market level. Even
if you blow off the mileage claim and reinforce
it as a parts-is-parts engine, it should still be
worth at least $10k more than the pittance
offered here. No real interest. VanDerBrink,
Iola, WI, 7/09.
#255-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1946755119289. Red/black
leather. Odo: 58,318 miles. 327-ci 400-hp V8,
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 61
Page 60
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
#41-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
4-bbl, 4-sp. Fully prepped Lingenfelter smallblock
with all the modern goodies, including
side exhaust, a 4-speed, and a Posi. Common
in the U.S., but quite unusual on the French
South Riviera and probably not appreciated
as it should be by most. The perfect smiling
tool, provided you have ear plugs. I heard this
engine and it is a raw beast. Put together nicely
and sorted out, with restoration costs exceeding
$50k. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $45,000. This
one missed its estimate by $10k. This toy was
all about the engine and having fun, not about
car collecting. Nobody in the room was willing
to shed $50k for it, and I would agree, as you
can probably find the equivalent in one form or
another on eBay Motors for a lot cheaper these
days. Bonhams, Monte Carlo, MCO, 5/09.
#S142-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S118181. Black
/black vinyl /black vinyl. Odo: 80,484 miles.
327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Documentation
includes Protect-O-Plate. Optional a/c, full
tinted glass, power windows, 3.36 Posi diff,
AM/FM radio, Comfort and Convenience
group, and knockoff alloys. Teak steering
wheel added later on. Three-year full frame-off
restoration completed in 2006, very limited use
since. Better-than-stock body prep, with only
coupe. S/N 194375S120320. Ermine White/
red vinyl. Odo: 71,757 miles. 350-ci V8, 4bbl,
3-sp. Optioned with a/c, AM/FM radio,
and power rear antenna. Original motor “lost”
during driver-grade cosmetic restoration, now
powered by 185-hp 1973 C3 engine. Newer
alternator and fresh brake lines from master
cylinder out to all four ends. Clean unaltered
body with good prep and paint application,
mostly new trim and emblems. Newer reproduction
interior soft trim, door seals, and
carpeting. Heavier scuffs on bottom of dash
#S101-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S124147. Nassau
Blue /black vinyl /black vinyl. Odo: 62,343
miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good
repaint shows waviness and bonding strip
broadcasting, one nasty paint run on right rear
corner directly below character line. Door edges
sanded smooth, jambs retain original texture.
Shaved front wheelwell lips, good untouched
rears. Lightly wavy and lightly scuffed original
immediately below radio. Cond: 3. NOT
SOLD AT $23,000. A 3-speed manual was
the base transmission on all Vettes of the C2
era, but we get so used to seeing 4-speeds that
it's an oddity to find one still in a car. For the
“but who wants a wussy 3-speed” arm-chair
quarterbacks, remember that this box was just
as robust as a 4-speed (more so if the 4-speed
isn't a Muncie), and that the drag racers (the
winners, not the whiners) preferred them—one
less shift to make. With a $25k reserve, the factory
a/c should've offset the N.O.M. factor, and
made it a no-brainer to buy. VanDerBrink,
Iola, WI, 7/09.
#62-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S124354. Silver/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 52,313 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Non-original engine.
Claimed to have had a complete frame-on restoration
in March '09. Good external body prep,
rear wheelwell lips shaved quite deeply, right
side has no inner lip at all along top of wheel-
bumpers, good fit to newer replacement top.
Good engine cosmetics, but not to show quality.
Older replacement seat coverings, rest of
interior original and showing moderate wear.
Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $46,000. The paint
on this one just doesn't jump out. It was even
more dull than original, and it really needed
to be compounded out—or just reshot if you're
made out of money or like to do that. Bid to
market price. Mecum, St. Paul, MN, 6/09.
#20-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194676S119112. Marina Blue/
black vinyl. Odo: 25,959 miles. 427-ci 425-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Good panel fit, as per factory.
Well-done paint, chrome is fair to good
with much fading on bumpers. Interior shows
almost no wear, except for corrosion on bright
trim. Triple Bowtie winner, NCRS Top Flight,
minimal body seam broadcasting beneath
high quality repaint. Excellent fit for the replacement
soft top, along with repro interior
upholstery. Excellent chrome. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $54,590. Actually, an all-black Chevy
wasn't all that hard to do. In fact, all black was
the standard color configuration if a dealer
didn't choose a color for either the paint or
the interior (hence the STD code for a black
vinyl interior on the Body by Fisher tag). The
restoration work was done well enough on this
fairly basic car to cause the bidding to go a
little past the $51k reserve. Well bought and
sold. Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
62 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
well. Both doors have wide upper rear gaps.
Fresh bumper replate, skewed fit to all front
brightwork. Buffed out original stainless trim
and mostly reproduction emblems. Newer top
and interior upholstery, with good to average
fit and minimal wear. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD
AT $38,000. Even being a good driver-grade
restoration with a replacement motor, this was
still worth a little bit more than the bid. Not a
whole lot more, but a little more—somewhere
in the $40k+ range. MidAmerica, St. Paul,
MN, 5/09.
Bloomington Gold, Survivor Certification.
Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $117,500. A very
appealing coupe with great mechanical specs
and plenty of awards. I'd assume the evident
touch-ups in the door sills and bodywork apparent
in the jambs must have happened when
the car was nearly new, many years ago. Sold
at RM's Ft Lauderdale sale in February '08 for
$140k (SCM# 60900), not driven since. There
was no real interest here today. Kensington,
Bridgehampton, NY, 6/09.
TOP 10
#5
#243-1966 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible.
S/N
194676S120140. Nassau Blue/black
vinyl/white leather. Odo: 32,171 miles. 427-ci
425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very good panel fit and
Page 61
paint. Chrome generally smooth except for pitting
on vent window frames. Interior appears
original, with worn seat belt webbing as well
as some scars and soiling on side panels and
glovebox door. Former NCRS winner. Cond:
2+. SOLD AT $111,150. A great color combination
in a desirable spec C2. Very strong
price for spec and condition, and well sold in
the current market. Bonhams & Butterfields,
Greenwich, CT, 6/09.
#F66-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Pro Street coupe. S/N 194376S117370. Black
Cherry Metallic/black vinyl. 350-ci supercharged
V8, 4-sp. A Pro Street quarter-mile drag
machine with a full roll cage and billet aluminum
rear wing. Body mostly intact, apart from
wheelwells, cowl, and relocated headlights.
Good quality paint, interior fitted with matching
race seats, five-point harnesses, black patio
carpeting, aluminum dashboard with aftermarket
gauges, small diameter steering wheel, and
Hurst competition shifter. Motor is a Rodeck
painted-on redlines. Wheelwell lips reinforced
with resin (I hope), or possibly putty. Fresh
bolts and hardware on seats and bumpers, light
top wear and weathering. Mostly high quality
replacement interior components, aside from
modern sound system retrofitted to fit the
dash. Powdercoated frame and major suspension
components. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD
AT $52,500. Being something of a Heinz 57
small-block convertible, the amount bid here
should have been more than sufficient to effect
a change in ownership. Mecum, Des Moines,
IA, 7/09.
#S131.1-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S118978. Red &
white/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 1,903
miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional
a/c, power steering, and AM/FM radio. Rally
wheels, reproduction bias-ply Redline tires.
Claimed to have been a Bloomington Gold car
at one time, but exactly when is not specified.
Older repaint in good condition other than
deep scuffing on rear deck. Light body seam
broadcasting, authentic finishes in door jambs,
windows, and luggage rack. Claimed 1969
warranty replacement engine block, with original
heads and induction bolted to it. Average
quality older light repaint, original paint in
door jambs. Rechromed bumpers, front one not
mounted squarely.
Aftermarket tube headers
and chrome valve covers, plus bolt-bucket special
hardware on the motor. Non-stock exhaust
without mufflers, so it has a robust exhaust
note. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $25,000. I'd
say it was more like a GM replacement engine
block, as most dealers tended to be very suspicious
on 435-hp motors (“I was just minding
my own business at the intersection, when
out of nowhere the motor scattered its guts
on the pavement when the light turned green.
Honest!”). That is, if it really was originally a
435-hp car. $40k reserve on a $25k car; next...
VanDerBrink, Iola, WI, 7/09.
#S86-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S724496. Dark blue
metallic/black cloth & blue hard top/black
leather. Odo: 6,995 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Fitted with Cragar SS wheels,
original rally wheels included. Newer cosmetic
restoration. Better quality non-stock repaint,
but Body by Fisher tag still masked off. Fresh
bumper chrome and reproduction emblems.
small-block with a 6-71 blower set up to run on
Methanol. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $14,000.
The oddest thing about this whole deal was a
copy of Noland Adams's Corvette Restoration
& Technical Guide, Part II (for C2 Corvettes).
Call it a hunch, but there's not a whole lot in
that book that will pertain to this car—apart
form deciphering the dataplate to find that it
was originally painted Milano Maroon with a
saddle vinyl interior. The seller was looking for
$25k, which I figure would cover the cost of the
motor. As can be surmised by the bid, there was
almost no interest in the car here. Mecum, Des
Moines, IA, 7/09.
#S84-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S106452. Silver &
black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 4,147
miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Fitted
with sidepipes, power brakes, and power antenna.
Wears '67 big-block hood with black
stinger stripe. Rally wheels painted to match
body, Goodyear Arriva radials grooved with
better than original door gaps. Average quality
bumper replate, mostly reproduction emblems.
Minimal wear and wrinkling on replacement
soft top. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $86,000.
The only physical “proof” displayed with the
car that it was Bloomington Gold certified was
a sticker on the vent window. If you make the
claim like this consignor did, you had better be
able to have some documentation to back it up.
Otherwise, you can't complain about getting a
market value bid like this one did. Mecum, Des
Moines, IA, 7/09.
C3
#31-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S414890. Silverstone
Silver/black vinyl. Odo: 79,693 miles. 427ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Equipped with
optional power steering, power brakes, power
Good quality replacement top fitment, newer
reproduction interior soft trim. Recently rebuilt
brush-painted original motor, fitted with various
aftermarket trim bits. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$37,100. The reserve was taken off upon reaching
the last bid in the room. Plenty paid for an
entry-level chrome bumper big-block that was
done to personal tastes rather than restored to
stock. Mecum, St. Paul, MN, 6/09.
#119M-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S727922. Can-Am White/
saddle vinyl. Odo: 7,000 miles. 350-ci 350-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Salvage title. Factory options
include power steering, power brakes, power
windows, tilt/telescopic column, and a/c.
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Extensive front end damage, with most of the
pieces sitting on a pallet in front of the car.
Original paint is in excellent condition, but the
front clip is splintered along fender bonding
seams and the nose is pretty much shattered.
Motor starts and runs, no radiator fitted. Good
original interior with light wear. Cond: 5+.
SOLD AT $6,400. This would've been the
nicest car at the auction if it weren't for the
shunt on the nose. While it would've otherwise
been a decent car, it is not the #3 condition car
that the auction company rated it before the
sale. With a patch job out of the question—and
most likely at least a new front end needed to
fit it—this was sold quite well. VanDerBrink
Auctions, Sioux Falls, SD, 6/09.
#S140-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S734817. Red/black leather.
Odo: 73,536 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Originally Riverside Gold with standard
black vinyl interior. Fitted with optional sidepipes,
power brakes, tilt/telescopic steering
column, and AM/FM radio. Adequate older
repaint, light pitting and scuffing on chrome
stock. Heavier interior wear, especially on
the driver's seat. Cond: 4+. NOT SOLD AT
$15,250. This gets my “Corvette Summer”
award of the auction, with all of the usual
stuff that was done to C3s to make them the
“stroke” ride of that decade. Amount bid was
more than plenty—even as a real-deal bigblock.
MidAmerica, St. Paul, MN, 5/09.
#102-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194370S417293. Monza Red/
saddle vinyl. Odo: 2,350 miles. 400-ci 385hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Non-original small-block
with non-original TH-400 automatic. Factoryoptional
power steering, power brakes, and
a/c. Decent repaint on a real Monza Red car
with good prep. Like-new replacement windshield,
replacement
interior soft trim done
with good workmanship. Only carpeting is
starting so show appreciable wear and soiling.
SOLD AT $8,000. I suppose that one could
clean this up and just run it. However, it runs
OK, not great, so it wouldn't be a daily driver.
The body had more issues than all of my exgirlfriends
combined, so more than a repaint is
needed. The interior is shot, so you might as
well just strip the car down to the bare frame
and start all over. $8k is not the place to be
on this car. Well sold. VanDerBrink Auctions,
Sioux Falls, SD, 6/09.
#F55-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37K2S506194. Sunflower
Yellow/black leather. Odo: 87,349 miles. 350ci
200-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory-optional
a/c. Claimed to be a mostly original car. Paint
somewhat flat and heavily worn in door jambs
where it rubs against door seals. Windshield
starting to delaminate along lower passenger's
corner. Presentable slightly pitted and scuffed
and trim. Older replacement PPG windshield,
small Harley-Davidson sticker on the
rear
glass. Good quality leather seat kit installation,
along with newer carpeting. Cond: 3-. NOT
SOLD AT $27,500. This consignor's reserve
of $35k was downright crazy in this market,
especially for a modified, driver-grade bigblock
C3. Bid was current market-plus pricing,
and he'd have been smart to take the money.
Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
#87-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom coupe. S/N 194370S410008. Red/
black leather. Odo: 81,473 miles. 454-ci 390hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional deluxe interior
with leather and AM/FM radio. Aftermarket
sidepipes, reproduction rally wheels, repro
Polyglas tires. Visible prep issues under old
repaint that's now crazing over most surfaces.
Hole drilled in the fuel filler lid, most likely
for a CB antenna. Decent original brightwork.
Original engine block, everything else non-
64 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
The only stock thing bolted to the engine is
the a/c compressor. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT
$12,000. As this car was near the end, it took
less than a minute to slam it out of the auction
tent after spending a minute getting up to this
bid—versus a $16k reserve. Actually, the company
got the consignor down from $17k, but
close only counts in hand grenades and atomic
weaponry—not auctions. I'll side with the top
bidder on this one, as it's a pretty driver all day
long. VanDerBrink, Iola, WI, 7/09.
#105M-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67K2S519365. Sunflower
Yellow/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 23,571
miles. 350-ci 200-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optioned
with power windows. Older repaint a shade off
of original color, which is easily seen in door
jambs. Exterior heavily scratched, some of
which goes deep into fiberglass mat. Bubbling
to fiberglass between hood and headlights, several
paint chips hastily touched up. Both front
side marker light lenses missing, windshield
cracked. Older replacement top is at best serviceable.
Decent original bumper chrome, trim
cloudy. Interior very dingy and dirty. Cond: 4.
bumpers and trim, mostly worn-off engine paint
in overall dingy engine bay. The a/c compressor
belt is missing, while other belts and hoses
are newer. Driver's side outboard seat bolster
has tearing and heavier wear, carpet soiled.
Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $19,000. Since the
top didn't fold into the trunk, this bid was way
out in fantasy land for the car. It sort of slinked
off the block without a definite call of what it
needed to be bid to in order to sell—but this
should have been more than enough. Mecum,
Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
#S174-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67K2S515422 . Sunflower
Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 6,966
miles. 350-cc 200-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Options
include power steering, power brakes, AM/FM
cassette, and tilt/telescopic steering column.
Fitted post-factory with LT-1 hood, original
paint on rest of body starting to flake off and
has been touched up at right rear quarter panel.
Gouge in leading edge of driver's door, lightly
pitted but presentable original chrome and trim.
Front suspension sits low, rear suspension sits
high. Dull, weathered soft top, interior mostly
original with some light wear. Cond: 4+. NOT
SOLD AT $12,750. Sure, it could have really
used a paint job, but in the overall scope of
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things, if you wanted a chrome bumper C3
drop-top to drive and not worry about, you
could definitely have done worse. However, it
was fully priced and then some for what was
bid. The auctioneer said that the owner must
get $14,000 for it, and I say that owner needs a
reality check. Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
#22-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67T3S141908. Red/black
vinyl hard top/saddle vinyl. Odo: 15,609 miles.
350-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally
painted Elkhart Green, retaining the original
and now heavily worn interior. Fitted with aftermarket
Keystone Classic wheels and singleloop
interior roll bar. Minimal to lousy prep
work, with more ripples than most of the local
lakes. Ten-footer cheapie repaint with lots of
SOLD AT $5,300. Since plastic bumper C3s
are no longer the bottom-feeders of the Corvette
world, you could definitely do worse. Sure, it's
not even Bloomington Kryptonite certifiable in
the shape it's it, and it really had some body
needs that will need to be addressed in short
order, but it seemed to have had basic driveline
needs taken care of. Went a couple of bids past
the $4,500 reserve for a decent buy—especially
if the new owner will do his own work on it, or
just run it until it dies. Mecum, Des Moines,
IA, 7/09.
#S14-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37J5S438083. Medium Saddle/
saddle leather. Odo: 73,220 miles. 350-ci 165hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory options include
power steering, power brakes, power windows,
luggage rack, and tilt/telescopic steering column.
Originally configured for a/c, but compressor
is missing. Aftermarket rear valence
with integrated spoiler and taillights. Older
repaint darker than original Medium Saddle,
in coves. Usable original interior recently
cleaned up, apart from removing a pair of
USA IDL stickers from the dash and console
top. Offered at no reserve. Cond: 4-. SOLD
AT $3,922. Last seen here a year ago, where
it failed to sell at $3,900 (CM# 116630). Now
wearing a State of Minnesota-blessed VIN,
after it was hustled off the block at last year's
sale. Other then than, not much changed (for
better or worse), selling for $200 less than its
bid from a year ago. You may leave the auction
circuit now. MidAmerica, St. Paul, MN, 5/09.
#335-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37L7S401958. Maroon/black
velour. Odo: 27,061 miles. 350-ci 180-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Good order, with no chips,
scrapes, or scuffs in body. Repaint still nice,
Cragar mags fitted, interior has survived well.
overspray,
serviceable original brightwork.
2006 Pennsylvania inspection sticker in windshield.
Good condition original interior upholstery,
with heavier wear on carpeting. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $10,600. The auction description
claimed this car had the LT-1 motor, but it was
built a year after that engine was discontinued.
This one was just a run-around car, as it was
not so horrible that you'd have to tear it apart
again. Plenty paid for a convertible without a
soft top and a Corvette that reinforces a lot of
bad stereotypes about C3s. MidAmerica, St.
Paul, MN, 5/09.
Best Buy #F108-1974 CH EVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37J4S423334. Dark Brown/
saddle leather. Odo: 47,879 miles. 350-ci
195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory-optional a/c,
power steering, power brakes, power windows,
tilt/telescopic steering column, and luggage
rack. Seller claims actual miles. Original paint
lightly crazed, with some chipping on panel
edges and on hood vents. Light seam splitting
along the tops of both front fenders. Good door
and panel fit—or at least to as-new specs. Seat
bottoms and carpeting staring to show heavier
wear, but overall the original interior isn't too
bad. New water pump and hoses. Cond: 4+.
66 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
panel edges have numerous touched-up paint
chips. Rear window sealed with clear RTV.
Newer brake lines, non-stock exhaust system.
Driver's seat back has several seam separations,
rest of interior presentable. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $6,500. It's not worth redoing
this back to stock, as there is no return on what
you'd spend, and it runs out well enough just to
use it as-is until is wears out. A nothing-special
driver that got bid to the current market level.
Mecum, St. Paul, MN, 6/09.
#71-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37L6S414999. Black /red
leather. Odo: 22,146 miles. 350-ci 185-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory options include ps, pb,
leather, and a/c. Both bumper skins appear to
have been epoxied back together from several
small pieces and then given a lousy rattle-can
repaint. Original white paint shown by blank
space on left front A-pillar where VIN tag was,
although there's a new Minnesota-assigned
VIN sticker on door pillar. Pop-up headlights
have been converted to rectangular quad lamps
Emissions gear junked, now fitted with Holley
4-bbl and headers. Off road since 2005. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $16,871. Sold new in the U.K.
(but not until 1978, hence the S plate), in the
current hands since 1991. As far as Corvettes
go, this is not a desirable year, but that didn't
seem to bother U.K. buyers. Sold market-correct
for tidy generic car. Bonhams, Sussex,
UK, 7/09.
#26-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37L6S409153. White/dark
brown leather. Odo: 19,457 miles. 350-ci 185hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory options include a/c,
power steering, power brakes, power windows,
alarm, tilt/telescoping column, AM/FM stereo,
and rear defroster. Fitted with dealer-installed
luggage rack. Non-original L48 installed, but
consignor is willing to supply the original
motor. Collision damaged 15 years ago and
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repaired well. Better quality repaint dates from
that time, although the masking wasn't as good.
Appropriately in Tobacco leather, as it was a
smokers' car. Average seat and carpet wear for
a used car. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $8,000.
The original motor included with the car stick
rarely helps sell cars at collector auctions.
That tends to work better for an eBay auction
or private sale, as most buyers are prepared to
haul a dead motor home. Whatcha going to do,
toss it in the back of this C3? On top of that,
dealers just want to flip the car for a profit, not
have a 600-pound chunk of iron to deal with.
The final bid was proper for the car as it was...
no matter how many engines it comes with.
MidAmerica, St. Paul, MN, 5/09.
#S63-1977 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37L7S429911. Black/black
cloth. Odo: 48,882 miles. 350-ci 180-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Optional power steering, power
brakes, power windows, a/c, cruise control, luggage
rack, and tilt/telescopic steering column.
Mileage claimed correct. Original paint buffed
to knock down original orange peel, and now
displays lots of polishing swirls. Point on nose
has some paint cracking from light impacts.
Decal on fan shroud indicates a/c has been
smoked glass roof panel option was introduced
in 1978, but very few got to these standard
Corvettes. Most were installed on Pace Cars
(especially for those who ordered their car
“with every single option”). At least someone
was able to get a deal done on a Corvette here,
as this was the only one that changed hands.
Well sold. VanDerBrink, Iola, WI, 7/09.
#S69-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8769B5103678. Silver/
tinted panels/silver gray leather. Odo: 74,548
miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Options
include tinted roof panels, AM/FM/8-track
stereo, and a/c. Decent respray, with the only
obvious masking lines around fuel filler cavity.
Scuffing on base of windshield from where
AM/FM/cassette deck the only deviations from
stock. Clean, lightly detailed original engine
compartment, stock-style stainless
steel ex-
retrofitted to R-134a. Minimal interior wear
commensurate with indicated miles. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $8,300. Why I hate all black cars,
reason number four. It was 85 degrees on sale
day, and not only was it impossible to touch the
car with the bare hand (I used several layers
of napkins to open the door), but I actually felt
the heat radiating off the car while I was evaluating
it. Even with cloth seats, this must have
been unbearable for the assigned driver. No
wonder the a/c was religiously kept in shape.
The reserve was lifted at the final bid, for a
market-correct price—one way this car wasn't
smokin' hot. Mecum, St. Paul, MN, 6/09.
#52-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z87L8S421879. Black/tinted
glass panels/red vinyl. Odo: 78,567 miles.
350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory options
include a/c, tinted glass roof panels, power windows,
power seats, and tilt/telescopic steering
column. Heavily prepped from bare fiberglass
body, repaint in original black is far better than
when it left St. Louis. Rear fascia Corvette emblem
missing. Lots of work done to the motor,
yet the consignor refused to open the hood at
any time. All replacement interior installed
very well. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $14,000. The
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 67
haust system with generic polished outlets that
point directly down. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD
AT $16,000. While later production C3s have
seen some increases in prices, despite the
market, the final bid here should have been
enough—even for a low-mile original all-red
car. Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
windshield wiper arms have contacted it repeatedly.
Cleaned off clear-coated engine bay.
Replacement seat upholstery, rest of interior
original. Carpeting around center console is
loose. Brightwork on door panels is discolored,
with some silver paint touch-ups on edges of
vinyl. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $11,925. Reserve
was off at $9,700, and surprisingly, the car
went quite a bit past that level. Sold well,
considering that it's not as original as the consignor
thought it was. Mecum, Des Moines,
IA, 7/09.
#S129.1-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY876XBS427532. Red/tinted
panels/red leather. Odo: 11,382 miles. 350-ci
190-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mileage claimed correct.
Factory options include tinted panels and
power door locks. Well preserved original paint
and interior, T-pad and electronically tuned
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C4
coupe. S/N 1G1AY0789E5115887. Black/red
leather. Odo: 80,913 miles.
#125M-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
350-ci 205-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Fitted with late 1980s
vintage Pontiac alloy wheels. Last licensed in
Iowa in 1994, suffered a catastrophic roll-over
around that time. Stored outside since, engine
bay nearly stuffed full of leaves. Nose missing,
with just two square feet of hood left, rear has
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
#F94-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY2182H5119767. Firethorn
Red/tinted panel/saddle leather. Odo: 89,031
miles. 350-ci 240-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Factory options include tinted roof panel,
Bilstein suspension, electronic climate control,
and power driver's seat. Aftermarket mudflaps,
cat-back exhaust, rosewood shift knob, console
pad, and sill protectors. Average respray with
a couple masking short-cuts on window seals,
40th
#S4-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Anniversary
convertible. S/N
1G1YY33P3P5120340. Ruby Red/Ruby Red
cloth/Ruby Red leather. Odo: 49,954 miles.
350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Claimed
to include optional removable hard top, but
is not on-site. Original paint shows quite a
few nicks, and not just on the front.
weathering on soft top, but still very serviceable.
Generally kept up, but not cleaned up
Light
been significantly cracked, and the original
paint is heavily scuffed and faded. Roof panel
sitting loose in rear hatch. Windshield has a
hole from the outside going in. Cond: 6. SOLD
AT $975. It's worse than that, it's dead, Jim.
One wonders why the narrower Poncho wheels
were put on the car—perhaps it was a contributing
factor to the accident. Any way you look
at it, this was an organ donor, and it was purchased
by the owner of the local pick-a-part
junkyard. Well sold. VanDerBrink Auctions,
Sioux Falls, SD, 6/09.
#S122-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY0783E5145318. Polo
White/red leather. Odo: 4,563 miles. 350-ci
205-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Fitted with
aftermarket rear spoiler. Mileage claimed actual.
No nicks or blemishes in the paint, apart
from typical light orange peel courtesy of GM.
Driver's door sill has heavier heel gouge and
aftermarket carpeted floor mats have some
moderate wear, but otherwise all stock interior
is like new. Retains GM-installed Motor Trend
non-OEM replacement windshield. Claimedto-be-replacement
seat leather worn and soiled,
carpeting recently replaced and shows almost
no wear. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $8,400. Another
Corvette getting frequent flyer miles from
Dana, as it was a no-sale at $7k in Kansas City
in March (SCM# 120126). While being firm
and fast at $8k back then, now the consignor
cut it loose at $6k—and it continued to get a
lot of action. I'm not certain if it was worth the
shipping and hassle for another grand, but at
least the consignor got sick of carting it around
and kicked it out the door at a prudent price.
Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
#S64-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY2383M5104184. Red/tan
leather. Odo: 55,965 miles. 350-ci 250-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Factory-optional dual power
leather sport seats and electronic climate control.
Mostly original well-cared-for paint apart
from a respray on nose. Interior wear commensurate
with indicated miles. DIN-mount AM/
FM/CD stereo displaces the stock entertainment
either under the hood or beneath the car. Wear
on the carpeting, door sill, steering wheel rim,
and driver's seat is all commensurate with
indicated miles. Dealer's sticker still affixed to
left rear valance. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $12,985.
Previously used as an occasional summertime
driver, rather than a hopeful future collectible.
Hopefully the seller got 50k miles worth of enjoyment
out of it, since it sold for average late
C4 convertible driver money. A fair exchange
for all involved. Mecum, Des Moines, IA,
7/09.
#F23-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P7R5114944. White/red
leather. Odo: 21,886 miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Equipped with dual power
leather seating, dual roof panels, and electronic
climate control. Seller is the second owner,
and he thinks the mileage is correct. Overall
condition seems to bear that out, with minimal
Car of the Year decal in rear window. Heck,
it even still has a new car smell 25 years later.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $19,080. Too bad about the
hokey rear spoiler, otherwise the car would be
a lock for Bloomington Gold Survivor status.
Still, you'd have to hit a lot of auctions to find
a better low-mile late-1984 than this one—although
they are out there. Either that, or just
wait a week and go to Bloomington Gold. The
consignor was prudent to let it go at the final
bid. Mecum, St. Paul, MN, 6/09.
68 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
system. Dealer-quality engine bay clean-up and
quasi-detailing, fresh AC-Delco replacement
battery. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $10,500.
This car has a bad habit of turning back up at
Mecum auctions after being declared sold. We
tracked it in January '08 at the Kissimmee auction,
selling out there for $10k (CM# 49069),
then at Indy in May '09, selling for $20,670
(CM# 120512). This time, the price was just
below the water line for the car's condition.
Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
chips or scuffing to original paint. Clean,
well maintained engine bay, with all original
or GM replacement components. Aftermarket
clear plastic door sill cover plates. Heavierthan-expected
wear on outboard driver's seat
back bolster, rest of interior like new. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $18,550. Mirroring what I saw
at Bloomington Gold, low-mile later series
C4s seem to be moving up in price lately. This
one even went past the seller's $17k reserve,
making for a very strong sale. Mecum, Des
Moines, IA, 7/09.
#S50-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P9S5117365. Black/
painted panel/black leather. Odo: 97,611 miles.
350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Factoryoptional
dual power sport seats, climate
Page 67
control and AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo system.
Well-cared-for original paint with several
touched-up nose chips. Door and glass seals
starting to crack and tear. Stock wheels with
more corrosion under clear coat than curb rash,
but they all have some. Bone stock cleaned up
but not detailed engine bay. Center console lid
torn along hinge, but otherwise interior wear
is commensurate with miles indicated. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $8,000. When it hit the auction
block, it was declared to have become no reserve,
and started with a $2,500 opening bid.
Not an investment grade car, but it sold toward
the lower market price for a good commuter
car—until the a/c goes south on a hot day. Then
you'll wish you'd bought a white convertible
instead. Mecum, St. Paul, MN, 6/09.
C5
#F75-1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N G1YY32G9X5116326.
Black /black cloth/black leather. Odo: 39,581
miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Stock chrome alloy wheels, brake calipers
painted red. Aftermarket Borla cat-back exhaust,
simulated wood dashboard and console
coverings. Original paint shows some polishing
swirls and the occasional touch-up. None
Display. Aftermarket Borla exhaust, exhaust
panel dress-up plate, and tinted rear window.
Possible repaint on nose panel, as it's slightly
off hue and has absolutely no nicks or chips.
Engine bay quite dusty—no attempt was made
at detailing the car beyond hitting it with a hose
before it was driven to the site. Interior wear
commensurate with indicated mileage. Cond:
3. NOT SOLD AT $19,000. As the owner of a
C5 with a few less miles than this one, I know
that unless you only run the car in the city on
perfect days or put on a nose bra, you WILL
get slight stone chips on the beak. It's actually
easier (and sometimes cheaper) to peel off and
repaint them than to install clear chip guard.
Besides, it's plastic, it's not gonna rust out
anyway. The Mecum staff was all but begging
for bids on the car, as it's used car lot fodder
and was at the end of the sale. Mecum, Des
Moines, IA, 7/09.
C6
#S26.1-2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY24U955103621. Red/black
leather. Odo: 51,162 miles. 6.0-L 400-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Options include tinted
roof panel, Z51 suspension, Head-Up Display,
Navigation, HomeLink, OnStar, and heated
seats. Fitted with aftermarket 20-inch Forte
coated alloy wheels shod with new Falken rubber.
McNeil floor mat troughs fitted to interior.
Squeaky clean engine bay and undercarriage.
of the induction is stock ahead of the MAF
sensor. Light seat and carpet wear commensurate
with miles indicated. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$21,995. The consigning dealer purchased the
car from its 75-year-old owner, who had to sell
it because he was going blind. Play with your
toys while you still can. Went one bid past the
reserve, yielding a respectable deal for a wellkept—albeit
mildly customized—C5 rag top
driver. Mecum, Des Moines, IA, 7/09.
#S178-2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1G1YY12S035121160.
Quicksilver/black leather. Odo: 51,436
miles. 5.7-L 405-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Factory
options
Electrochromic
include Memory Package,
Mirrors, and Head-Up
The only discernible interior wear is on steering
wheel rim.
Otherwise, it is a bone-stock
C6 with far less wear and tear than expected
for the mileage. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$24,750. Another late-model Corvette that was
begging for bids. The troubled late-model car
market just makes things worse for specialty
cars that turn up at collector car auctions—especially
with a room full of dealers. There
were hints at a deal possible past $26k, but in
this crowd, it was a pipe dream. Mecum, Des
Moines, IA, 7/09. ■
Advertising Prints
13" x 19"; Just $15.95
Available online at
Vintage
www.sportscarmarket.com
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 69
Page 68
By the
Numbers
Most Expensive Corvettes Sold,
June to August 2009*
Rank Model
1 1968 Corvette L88 Coupe
2 1968 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
3 1960 Corvette Convertible “First of the 1960s”
4 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe “Ed Cole”
5 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
6 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
7 1969 Corvette 427/430 L88 Coupe
8 1960 Corvette 283/290 Convertible
9 1963 Corvette 327/360 FI Coupe
10 1966 Corvette 427/425 Coupe
11 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
12 1957 Corvette 283/283 Convertible
13 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
14 1991 Corvette Callaway Twin-Turbo Speedster
15 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
16 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
17 1964 Corvette Coupe “Ozzie Olson GM Styling Car”
18 1954 Corvette Roadster
19 1966 Corvette 427/450 Convertible
20 1963 Corvette 327/300 Coupe
21 1967 Corvette 427/435 L71 Coupe
22 1957 Corvette 283/250 FI Convertible
23 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
24 1960 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
25 1965 Corvette 327/375 Convertible
26 1967 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
27 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
70 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Top Seller—1968 Corvette L88 Coupe, $572,000
Sold Price Location
$572,000 RM, Monterey, CA
$318,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$291,500 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$217,300 Mecum, Monterey, CA
$207,760 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$161,120 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$159,000 Mecum, Monterey, CA
$156,350 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$153,700 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$143,000 Gooding, Pebble Beach, CA
$140,400 Silver, Reno, NV
$129,320 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$125,080 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$121,900 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$111,300 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$111,150 Bonhams & Butterfields, Greenwich, CT
$106,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$104,500 Gooding, Pebble Beach, CA
$102,820 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$100,357 Coys, Nürburgring, DEU
$99,000 RM, Monterey, CA
$99,000 Gooding, Pebble Beach, CA
$98,280 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$95,400 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$95,400 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$95,400 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$95,400 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
Date
8/15/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/15/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/15/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
Lot #
537
S119
S60
S86
S109
S115
S208
S125
S63
8/16/09 160
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/7/09
51
432
S99
S61
F57
S104
243
6/27/09 S108.1
8/16/09
6/27/09
8/8/09
8/15/09
8/16/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
S91
248
375
55
2536
S70
S113
S103
F69
*As recorded in the Corvette Market Digital Plus database (www.corvettemarket.com). Auction sales only.
Photos: Darin Schnabel
Page 69
Rank Model
28 1961 Corvette 283/245 Convertible
29 1957 Corvette 283/283 Convertible
30 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
31 1967 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
32 1957 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
33 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
34 1963 Corvette 327/360 FI Coupe
35 1954 Corvette Roadster
36 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
37 1954 Corvette Roadster
38 1969 Corvette 427/400 Coupe
39 1954 Corvette Roadster
40 1969 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
41 1969 Corvette 427/435 L89 Coupe
42 1963 Corvette 350/360 FI Coupe
43 1961 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
44 1963 Corvette 327/340 Coupe
45 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Roadster Replica
46 1969 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
47 2006 Corvette Z06 Coupe
48 1963 Corvette 327/340 Coupe
49 1970 Corvette Stingray 454/390 Convertible
50 1966 Corvette LS6 Custom Coupe
51 1962 Corvette 327/360 FI Convertible
52 1966 Corvette 427/425 Coupe
53 1960 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
54 1962 Corvette 327/250 Convertible
55 2007 Corvette Z06 Coupe
56 1965 Corvette 350 Coupe
57 1965 Corvette LT-1 Convertible
58 1966 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
59 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
60 1961 Corvette 283/245 Convertible
61 1967 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
62 1965 Corvette Convertible
63 1964 Corvette 327/365 Coupe
64 1964 Corvette 327/365 Convertible
65 1959 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
66 1965 Corvette 327/250 Convertible
67 1967 Corvette 427/400 Coupe
68 1954 Corvette Roadster
69 1966 Corvette 427/390 Coupe
70 1967 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
71 1962 Corvette 283 Convertible
72 1969 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
73 1962 Corvette 327/340 Convertible
74 1965 Corvette 327 Coupe
75 1967 Corvette 327/300 Coupe
Sold Price Location
Date
$93,600 Bonhams & Butterfields, Carmel Valley, CA 8/14/09
$90,100 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$88,510 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$87,980 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$84,800 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$82,150 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$81,000 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$78,840 Silver, Reno, NV
$77,000 RM, Rochester, MI
$75,260 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$74,200 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$73,140 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$68,900 Mecum, Monterey, CA
$67,840 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$67,310 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$65,190 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$64,800 Silver, Reno, NV
$64,660 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$63,600 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$63,600 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$63,600 Mecum, Monterey, CA
$63,180 Shannons, Sydney, AUS
$62,100 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$61,600 RM, Rochester, MI
$59,890 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$59,625 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$59,360 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$58,320 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$58,300 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$58,300 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$57,770 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$57,240 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$57,240 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$56,700 Silver, Reno, NV
$56,160 Silver, Reno, NV
$55,650 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$55,120 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$55,000 RM, Rochester, MI
$54,590 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$54,270 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$54,060 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$54,060 Mecum, Monterey, CA
$53,530 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$53,460 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$53,460 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$53,460 Silver, Reno, NV
$53,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$53,000 Mecum, Monterey, CA
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
7/18/09
6/14/09
8/9/09
8/1/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/15/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/15/09
7/12/09
6/14/09
8/1/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/1/09
7/18/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
8/15/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
8/15/09
Lot #
281
S57
F66
F96
S62
S139
2431
393
234
S74
S82
S83.1
S62
S69
S25
S15
460
F58
F64
F119
S55
24
490
223
S30.1
F45
S37
1213
F86
S48
F77
2489
F100
417
715
F53
F48
241
S142
2486
F54
S48
F87
2470
1239
428
S71
S167
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 71
Page 70
By the
Numbers
Rank Model
76 1954 Corvette Roadster
77 1959 Corvette 350/340 Convertible
78 1959 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
79 1954 Corvette Roadster
80 1962 Corvette Convertible
81 1960 Corvette 350 Convertible
82 1962 Corvette 327 Convertible
83 1962 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
84 1954 Corvette Roadster
85 1962 Corvette 327/360 Convertible
86 1963 Corvette 327/340 Coupe
87 1973 Corvette Convertible
88 1954 Corvette Roadster
89 1969 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
90 1965 Corvette 327/300 Convertible
91 1960 Corvette 350 Convertible
92 2004 Corvette Commemorative Edition Roadster
93 1967 Corvette 327/350 Coupe
94 1966 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
95 1965 Corvette 327/250 Convertible
96 1966 Corvette 327/300 Coupe
97 1964 Corvette 327 Coupe
98 1962 Corvette 327/250 Convertible
99 1968 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
100 1967 Corvette 327/350 Coupe
101 1963 Corvette 327 Convertible
102 1969 Corvette 350/350 Convertible
103 1969 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
104 1961 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
105 1995 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
106 2000 Corvette 383/475 Lingenfelter Convertible
107 1961 Corvette 283 Convertible
108 1964 Corvette 383/600 Custom Convertible
109 1961 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
110 1995 Corvette Indy Pace Convertible
111 1969 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
112 1965 Corvette 327/300 Coupe
113 1967 Corvette 327/300 Convertible
114 1976 Corvette 350 Coupe
115 1961 Corvette 350 Convertible
116 1970 Corvette 350/370 LT-1 Coupe
117 1972 Corvette 350/255 Coupe
118 1968 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
119 1972 Corvette 454/270 Convertible
120 2003 Corvette Brickyard Pace Convertible
121 1961 Corvette 327 Convertible
122 2006 Corvette Convertible
72 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Sold Price Location
$52,920 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$52,920 Silver, Reno, NV
$51,840 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$51,700 RM, Rochester, MI
$51,410 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$50,880 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$49,820 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$49,680 Silver, Reno, NV
$49,140 Silver, Reno, NV
$48,760 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$48,600 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$47,965 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$47,700 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$47,300 Russo and Steele, Monterey, CA
$47,170 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$46,980 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$46,750 RM, Monterey, CA
$46,440 Silver, Reno, NV
$46,110 Mecum, Monterey, CA
$45,580 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$45,580 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$45,360 Silver, Reno, NV
$44,280 Silver, Reno, NV
$43,290 Bonhams & Butterfields, Tacoma, WA
$42,400 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$41,750 Silver, Reno, NV
$40,163 Coys, Nürburgring, DEU
$39,750 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$39,220 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$39,220 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$39,220 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$38,880 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$38,690 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$38,500 RM, Rochester, MI
$38,160 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$37,100 Mecum, St. Paul, MN
$36,180 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$34,980 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$34,980 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$34,450 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$34,450 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$34,450 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$34,020 Silver, Reno, NV
$33,920 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$33,920 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$33,480 Silver, Reno, NV
$33,156 Silver, Jackson Hole, WY
Date
6/14/09
8/9/09
6/14/09
8/1/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
7/18/09
8/15/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
8/15/09
8/9/09
8/15/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
8/9/09
9/12/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
8/8/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
8/1/09
6/27/09
6/20/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
7/5/09
Lot #
2497
175
508
212
S48.1
F24
S47
304
348
F62
2459
F89
S154
F457
S93
545
339
426
S231
S83
F50
767
457
47
S31
392
235
F99
S136
S120
S84
409
F122
252
F80
S86
534
S137
F94
S5
S95
S130
427
F78
F40
607
77
Page 71
1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible—$111,150 at Bonhams & Butterfields,
Greenwich, CT
Rank Model
123 1964 Corvette 350/370 LT-1 Convertible
124 1969 Corvette 350/300 Convertible
125 1972 Corvette 350 Coupe
126 2004 Corvette Commemorative Edition Convertible
127 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Coupe
128 1996 Corvette Convertible
129 1959 Corvette 350 Coupe
130 1971 Corvette 454 Convertible
131 1970 Corvette 350/300 Convertible
132 1995 Corvette Indy Pace Convertible
133 1969 Corvette 427/390 Coupe
134 1970 Corvette 350 Convertible
135 1971 Corvette 350 Convertible
136 1978 Corvette 350 Coupe
137 1988 Corvette 35th Anniversary Coupe
138 1988 Corvette Convertible
139 1971 Corvette Stingray Convertible (RHD)
140 1964 Corvette 327/300 Coupe
141 2003 Corvette Coupe
142 1991 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
143 1972 Corvette 350/200 Convertible
144 1971 Corvette 454/365 Coupe
145 2004 Corvette Convertible
146 2002 Corvette Coupe
147 1970 Corvette 454/390 Coupe
148 1998 Corvette Convertible
149 1970 Corvette 350/370 LT-1 Coupe
150 1994 Corvette Limousine
151 1999 Corvette Convertible
152 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Coupe
153 1969 Corvette 350/350 Coupe
1954 Corvette Roadster—$54,060 at Mecum, St, Charles, IL
Sold Price Location
$32,940 Silver, Reno, NV
$30,780 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$30,510 Silver, Reno, NV
$29,700 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$29,680 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$29,150 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$28,620 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$28,090 Mecum, Monterey, CA
$27,540 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$26,500 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$26,460 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$26,460 Silver, Reno, NV
$26,235 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$25,970 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$25,970 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$25,970 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$25,740 Shannons, Sydney, AUS
$25,440 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$25,380 Silver, Reno, NV
$24,910 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$24,380 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$24,300 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$24,030 Silver, Jackson Hole, WY
$23,760 Silver, Coeur d'Alene, ID
$23,436 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$23,320 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$22,260 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$22,260 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$21,995 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$21,870 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$21,600 Leake, Tulsa, OK
Date
8/9/09
6/14/09
8/9/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
8/15/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
7/12/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
7/5/09
6/13/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
7/18/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
Lot #
327
2441
131
103
F55
F97
F3
S13
522
S21
527
407
S14
F139
F44
F88
3
F46
976
S42
F38
719
42
69
1246
F39
S17
F117
F75
1119
2512
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 73
Page 72
By the
Numbers
2003 Corvette Brickyard Pace Convertible—$33,920 at Mecum, St. Charles, IL
Rank Model
154 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
155 1973 Corvette Pro Street Coupe
156 1968 Corvette Coupe “Jim Lovell”
157 1995 Corvette Coupe
158 1975 Corvette 350 Convertible
159 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Coupe
160 1993 Corvette 40th Anniversary Coupe
161 2001 Corvette Z06 Coupe
162 1993 Corvette Coupe
163 1984 Corvette Convertible
164 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
165 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
166 1995 Corvette Convertible
167 2000 Corvette Convertible
168 1994 Corvette Coupe
169 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Coupe
170 1973 Corvette 350/350 Convertible
171 1982 Corvette Coupe
172 1974 Corvette Convertible
173 1968 Corvette 327/300 Coupe
174 1996 Corvette Convertible
175 1973 Corvette 350 Coupe
176 1974 Corvette 350 Convertible
177 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
178 1976 Corvette Coupe
179 1969 Corvette 350/350 Convertible
180 2001 Corvette Convertible
181 1980 Corvette Coupe
182 1968 Corvette 402 Custom Convertible
183 1981 Corvette Coupe
184 1994 Corvette Coupe
74 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
1996 Corvette Convertible—$17,490 at Mecum, St. Paul, MN
Sold Price Location
$21,465 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$21,330 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$20,670 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$20,670 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$20,140 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$19,980 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$19,610 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$19,440 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$19,345 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$19,080 Mecum, St. Paul, MN
$19,080 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$19,080 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$19,080 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$18,550 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$18,550 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$18,090 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$18,020 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$18,020 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$17,755 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$17,604 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$17,490 Mecum, St. Paul, MN
$17,490 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$17,490 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$17,225 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$16,871 Bonhams, Sussex, UK
$16,470 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$16,308 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$16,165 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$15,370 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$15,370 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$15,105 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
Date
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/20/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
7/18/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
Lot #
F36
536
F60
F120
S36
1183
S19
753
F65
S122
F79.1
S138
F74
S20
F23
447
S24
F34
F136
803
6/20/09 S126.1
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
7/3/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
S30
F31
F18
335
1250
1145
F67
S146
S43
F113
Page 73
Rank Model
185 1971 Corvette 350/300 T-top
186 2000 Corvette Coupe
187 1969 Corvette 350/350 Coupe
188 1997 Corvette Coupe
189 1989 Corvette Convertible
190 1979 Corvette Coupe
191 1993 Corvette Coupe
192 1995 Corvette Convertible
193 1993 Corvette Convertible
194 1982 Corvette Collectors Edition Coupe
195 1977 Corvette 350 Coupe
196 1973 Corvette 350 Coupe
197 1996 Corvette Coupe
198 1973 Corvette Coupe
199 1980 Corvette Coupe
200 1981 Corvette Coupe
201 1976 Corvette 350 Coupe
202 1978 Corvette Coupe
203 1993 Corvette Convertible
204 1998 Corvette Coupe
205 1979 Corvette 350 Coupe
206 1972 Corvette 383 Coupe
207 1994 Corvette Coupe
208 1982 Corvette Coupe
209 1992 Corvette Coupe
210 1985 Corvette Coupe
211 1992 Corvette Convertible
212 1981 Corvette 350 Coupe
213 1989 Corvette Custom Coupe
214 1982 Corvette Coupe
215 1995 Corvette Coupe
216 1995 Corvette Coupe
217 1987 Corvette Coupe
218 1977 Corvette Coupe
219 1985 Corvette Coupe
220 1995 Corvette Coupe
221 1995 Corvette Coupe
222 1988 Corvette Convertible
223 1977 Corvette 350 Coupe
224 1990 Corvette Convertible
225 1994 Corvette Coupe
226 1981 Corvette Coupe
227 1978 Corvette 350/220 Coupe
228 1981 Corvette Coupe
229 1986 Corvette Coupe
230 1974 Corvette Sting Ray
231 1974 Corvette 350 Coupe
Sold Price Location
$14,840 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$14,796 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$14,575 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$14,575 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$14,045 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$13,250 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$13,250 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$13,230 Silver, Coeur d'Alene, ID
$12,985 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$12,960 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$12,852 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$12,420 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$12,420 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$12,312 Silver, Reno, NV
$12,190 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$11,925 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$11,660 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$11,130 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$11,130 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$10,812 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$10,800 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$10,100 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$10,044 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$10,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$9,720 Silver, Reno, NV
$9,600 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$9,288 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$9,180 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$9,180 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$9,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$8,748 Silver, Reno, NV
$8,424 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$8,400 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$8,300 Mecum, St. Paul, MN
$8,208 Silver, Jackson Hole, WY
$8,100 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$8,000 Mecum, St. Paul, MN
$7,560 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$7,500 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$7,344 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$7,344 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$7,100 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$7,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$7,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$6,264 Leake, Tulsa, OK
$5,300 Mecum, Des Moines, IA
$4,200 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
Date
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/13/09
7/18/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
7/18/09
Lot #
F33
455
S147
F20
F25
F35
F140
20
S4
113
1235
183
1122
1005
F15
S69
6/27/09 F16
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
8/9/09
6/14/09
7/18/09
6/20/09
7/5/09
6/14/09
6/20/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
6/14/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/27/09
6/14/09
7/18/09
6/27/09
F19
S3
F22
1125
F9
114
F27
912
F6
1171
202
411
F142
921
1224
F94
S63
83
785
S50
172
S2
1231
1118
S141
F17
S8
1128
F108
F2
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 75
Page 74
Trick
Stuff
B
What you need for your Corvette and where to get it. By John Gunnell
All That Glitters at Bloomington Gold
Finished in Polo White, with “old school” Corvette logos and vintage lights
and horns, the bike catches attention like a classic Corvette
loomington Gold is a huge show in Illinois where hopeful
Corvette owners go to win awards—like Survivor Certification
and Gold Certification.
To confuse these folks, it's held in St. Charles these days,
rather than in Bloomington, where it used to be. Most Corvette lovers
find the event anyway.
When they arrive, there is plenty of “trick stuff” to buy. So we
thought this issue's “Trick Stuff” column should be used to give out
our First Annual Trick Stuff Bloomington Gold Awards.
AND THE TRICKEST NON-PRODUCT AWARD GOES TO…
Mike's Bike
Undoubtedly the “trickest” item at Bloomington Gold in 2009 was
the Corvette bicycle that Mike Yager of Mid America Motorworks
had his in-house designers whip up. Finished in Polo White, with “old
school” Corvette logos and vintage lights and horns, the bike catches
attention like a classic Corvette and provides even better gas mileage
than a tri-carb “Stovebolt Six.”
Although Mike has thousands of other Corvette parts and products
in his thick Mid America Motorworks catalog, you won't find this bike
listed yet. So why not order something else, and when you send your
order in, tell him “Mike . . . we want a bike, too!”
Mid America Motorworks, www.mamotorworks.com.
AND THE CAST IN STONE AWARD GOES TO…
The Nickey Mantel
Well, you could have a “Nickey mantel” in your home if you owned
a Nickey Corvette and you wanted Maier Precast to make you one with
the Nickey backwards-K logo on it. But you better check with Steve
Bimbi first, 'cause he owns the brand.
As for Maier Precast, the Illinois company's graphic designer can
custom-etch any type of automotive graphics into the mantels, hearths,
bars, coffee tables, sinks, and outdoor counters the company sells.
Maier's products are made out of a lightweight concrete so they can
be installed in most homes without flooring reinforcement. Most of the
mantels and hearths come in five or six pieces, allowing for easy installation.
The standard colors for mantels are white, gray, and buff, but
Maier offers the option of painting the piece to match your wall, trim,
or finish. Maier countertops are made out of Glass Fiber Reinforced
Concrete (GFRC), which allows pouring material thinner than regular
concrete. GFRC weighs only 10% as much as conventional precast
The Corvette of bikes
Diane's napkin rings
concrete. There are no molds or
standard sizes, so each counter is
made to your requirements.
Maier also offers computer design services to etch your personal
Corvette into your concrete creations. Because of the custom nature
of this work, prices differ according to the job. Maier Precast, www.
maierprecast.com.
AND THE PEWTER CERTIFICATION AWARD GOES TO…
Diane's Neat Napkin Rings
Diane R. Everce, president of CarArtWork in Louisville, Kentucky,
suggests you rev up your next automotive social gathering with her
custom-made Corvette napkin rings.
The Corvette napkin rings are handcrafted in lead-free pewter,
come in sets of four and are available with both C5 and C6 emblems.
Each set sells for $40.
CarArtWork, Inc., www.carartwork.biz.
AND THE GIVE ME A BRAKE AWARD GOES TO…
Van Steel's Wilwood Brake Kits
In August 2007, Van Steel and Wilwood collaborated on the light-
est, most technologically advanced brake package ever produced for
the '65–82 Corvette. This direct bolt-on system provides forged, lightweight
calipers with two-piece rotors. It is 33% lighter than factory
brakes, and rotating mass is reduced 22%.
The Wilwood SL6R caliper is a forged billet, 6-piston, mono block-
type caliper. The billet aluminum combines super strength and ultralight
weight. Wilwood's
“Differential Bore Design”
utilizes special stainless
steel pistons and location
for optimum brake pad
balance and wear.
The SL6R caliper
is black or can be upgraded
to a red finish. In
kit form, the caliper has
the Wilwood DP-20 pads,
which are an aggressive
Now that's a sink
76 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Somebody stop me
Page 75
street or track material. A full line of Wilwood or Hawk pads are available.
Wilwood “Big Brake” kits for the 1965–82 Corvette come in 13- or
14-inch diameters, with slotted or cross-drilled and slotted designs.
Rear rotors are designed to utilize the factory parking brake with no
modifications. These kits are priced from $2,074–$2,332.
Van Steel, www.vansteel.com.
AND THE SPEED WRITING AWARD GOES TO…
Corvette Thunder, 50 Years of Corvette Racing
Corvette Thunder, 50 Years of Corvette Racing, 1953–2003, tells
this story as it should be told—with hundreds of photos and first-person
recollections
from drivers who
made history racing Corvettes.
Motor-sports historian Dave
Friedman spent more than a year
compiling this photographic history
of Corvette racing, filled with
hundreds of unpublished, or rarely
published, photos. The more than
600 black-and-white and color
photos in the book bring to life the
greatest moments in Corvette racing,
plus there are interviews with
Dr. Dick Thompson, Dan Gurney,
Bob Bondurant, Dick Guldstrand,
Jim Jeffords, and more.
Corvette Thunder
Corvette Thunder, 50 Years of
Corvette Racing, 1953–2003, is
now available at $75, plus shipping
and handling. To get a copy
signed by both Dick Guldstrand
and Dave Friedman, contact
Guldstrand Motor Productions,
818.551.6880.
MEANWHILE, BACK ON THE
WEST COAST…
Yesterday, Today, and
Tomorrow
With this new chassis
kit from Jim Meyer Racing
Products, you can take the C1
Corvette of yesteryear, blend
in today's Corvette technology,
and make a car that
will be up to date tomorrow.
The kit is set up for the LS1 V8
and includes suspension, steering
goodies, and Wilwood four-wheel
power disc brakes. It will make your
C1 go, stop, and handle like a world-class 2010 'Vette. For a
good look at what it takes to install the kit, as well as a few options, go to
www.jimmeyerracing.com. ■
C6 goodies for the C1
NEW!
“Fair”, “Good” and
“Excellent” prices for all
models, 1900–88. FREE!
NOW ONLINE! The world's largest collector car price guide based
on over 500,000 sold transactions from
www.collectorcarpricetracker.com
For the collector who needs to know what things are selling for, right now.
Take your free test drive today.
. Updated weekly.
www.vettemarket.com SUMMER 2009 Corvette Market 77
Page 76
In
Miniature
By Marshall Buck
Speaking
Volumes
By Paul Duchene
How To Rebuild Corvette Rolling Chassis
1963–1982
By George McNicholl,
Motorbooks Workshop,
222 pages, $34.95
The term “frame-off”
restoration sets a lot of
buyers' minds at rest
when they're at auction.
It suggests the car they're
looking at has been away
from its home garage for
months, while experts
fettled all the little details
and basically rebuilt it from the ground up.
It is, in many people's estimate, beyond their
1975 Corvette L82 Convertible
Back in the mid 1970s, disco music was everywhere, and the American auto indus-
try was still discovering how to meet D.O.T. and E.P.A. standards while also offering
cars we'd buy. The C3 Corvette convertible was dying; 1975 was the last year for a
convertible until 1986. Unlike the convertible, disco is mostly dead and buried, and
never made a real comeback. Life is good.
Danbury Mint has produced a stunning 1:24-scale model of the 1975 convert-
ible, fully optioned and finished in Bright Green. This shade of green could only be
had from the mid 1970s, and dated as it may be, it does look great on the model. As
we've come to expect from DM, the paint is flawless, high gloss, and oh-so smooth.
Complementing the highly detailed exterior is an equally well-detailed tan interior.
The Rally wheels wear Firestone Steel Radial 500s, which thankfully do have the
white sidewall lettering. There's eye candy everywhere you look, including all the
separately made and applied Corvette emblems and scripts. Watch out for the very
well scaled and hypodermic-needle-sharp raised antenna; it belongs in a doctor's
office. Under the luggage rack is a hinged gas cap door, forward of that is the hinged
lid over a folded convertible top, then farther forward is the wonderfully detailed interior
with all gauges and switchgear in place. The overall detailing of the dash, console,
and door panels is absolutely top notch. The seatbacks tilt forward, the storage lids
behind them lift up, and the sun visors are movable. Little or nothing has been left out.
Even the carpeting and carpeted floor mats are included. It takes several good looks to
appreciate some of the more subtle details, such as weather stripping and labels inside
the driver's door. A separate convertible top in black is included in case rain clouds
appear.
Open up the engine bay and you'll be treated to a plethora of fine detail. It ap-
pears that DM has included everything—wires, hoses, clamps, components, labels,
and more. The engine in this one is the optional L82—still asthmatic with only 205
hp, and not a “monster” as claimed by the DM marketing guys. Where I do agree with
them is the fact that the realism and quality of reproduction are superb. Much too
much to list here, and it's all great. Throw back two or three martinis, and you'll swear
you're Gulliver in the land of Lilliputians. The chassis is
beautifully detailed, and even parking brake cables are in
place. An abundance of working features are incorporated
into this C3 model.
I would never want a real car in this color, but I really
love the model, and I highly recommend it. Add in the high
level of detail, accuracy, fit, and finish, and you have an
absolute winner.A must for any Corvette model collector,
and very reasonably priced at $120.
Available from Danbury Mint, 800.243.4664.
78 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
'75 Vette Details
Production Dates: 2008–
Quantity: 15,000 approx.
Ratings:
Overall Quality:
Authenticity:
Overall Value:
Web: www.danburymint.com
abilities. Not so, according to author and Corvette
restorer George McNicholl, whose handy book strips
away the mystique from such a profound enterprise.
McNicholl details the chassis restoration of four
Corvettes he personally rebuilt—1965 and 1967
convertibles and 1969 and 1972 coupes.
The Corvette chassis is fundamentally the
same from 1963 to 1982, so the information in this
book serves a range of enthusiasts. McNicholl's
information is encyclopedic and includes the detail
differences between the various year frames as a
starting point.
Along with step-by-step procedures, he also in-
cludes advice on how to prepare parts you won't see
again anytime soon, once they're reinstalled (axle
shafts, torque control arms, etc.) and also sensible
upgrades (fiberglass rear spring in place of the stiff
steel one, for example).
McNicholl lists GM part numbers and prices the
various parts you'll need—the brake system replacement
is thoroughly examined—and even explains
how to upgrade to disc brakes on earlier cars.
His aim is to help the enthusiastic owner rebuild
a car to be driven, rather than shown, though showlevel
attention to detail is left in the hands of the
workman.
However, one thing is certain; anybody who does
rebuild the chassis of his Corvette to this degree is
bound to enjoy it more, as they'll know how it works.
And the mystique of all those parts you normally
can't see—the skeleton of the car, if you like—will
have been removed.
Provenance:
There's no substitute for hands-on experience,
and it's visibly beneficial here. You know McNicholl
had to answer a lot of questions to his own satisfaction
before proceeding.
Fit and Finish:
Excellent photos, clear, step-by-step directions,
and soft bound, so you can hold it open with a brake
caliper or a tie rod while you refer to it.
Drivability:
If you've got a C2 or C3 that's been making puz-
zling noises underneath, or you love it and have been
thinking THIS is the winter to dive in and overhaul
it, go ahead. It's not going to be as hard as you think.
Knowledge is power.
Page 77
For 21 years, Keith Martin's Sports Car Market
has been the
informed, authoritative voice of the
collector car hobby.
Subscribe Today
www.sportscarmarket.com/special
Call 877.219.2605 x 204 ask for the “McLaren” special offer.
Page 78
Resource
Directory
Auction Companies
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)
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)
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
County Corvette 610.696.7888,
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
Mid America Motorworks
800.500.1500, America's leader in
1953-2008 Corvette parts and accessories.
Request a free catalog at
www.mamotorworks.com. (IL)
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
Put your company in the CM Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 x211,
or email advert@vettemarket.com
transport tracking. Complete
service for vintage races, auctions,
relocations. www.intercitylines
.com. (MA)
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)
Corvettes for Sale
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. (MI)
County Corvette.
610.696.7888, The most modern
and best equipped Corvette-only
facility in the nation. www.countycorvette.com.
(PA)
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. (OR)
Museums
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.
(KY) ■
Ad Index
Barrett-Jackson...................................84
Bloomington Gold...............................3
Bob Bondurant School of H.P.D.......51
Bruce Shaw........................................65
Chubb & Son Inc.................................7
Classic Reflection Coachworks......... 11
Collector Car Price Tracker...............77
Continental Western Group...............37
Corvette America...............................55
Corvette Correction............................57
Corvette Expo Inc..............................53
Corvette Repair Inc............................39
Corvette Specialties ...........................61
Corvettes Of Houston........................49
County Corvette...................................2
Eastern Corvettes ...............................80
Factory Reproductions.......................83
Grundy Worldwide ............................29
Heacock Classic ................................33
Intercity Lines ....................................57
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc........61
Keith Martin's Guide to
Car Collecting ....................................59
Leland-West Insurance ......................43
Long Island Corvette Supply Inc ......61
Midwest Corvettes and Classics .......67
National Corvette Museum ...............65
National Corvette
Restorers Society ...............................65
Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions....41
Pro Team Corvette .............................45
Reliable Carriers ................................47
Russo And Steele ...............................31
Seatbelt Solutions...............................77
Silver Auctions...................................13
Sports Car Market..............................79
St Joseph School................................65
Superior Glass Works ........................15
Swissvax.............................................35
The Chevy Store ................................25
Thomas C Sunday Inc .......................69
Zip Products .......................................55
80 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
Page 79
“The best Corvette magazine out there!”
—Terry Michaelis, President, Pro Team Corvette
Subscribe Today!
Subscribe online at www.corvettemarket.com/special
Call 877.219.2605 x 204 and ask for the “L88” special offer.
Page 80
Vette-o-bilia
T
Online trash and trinkets—some valuable, some not. By Carl Bomstead.
Crunch Time
Cookies, rare brochures and posters, a crystal '57, and a custom lighter
show eBay traffic has plenty of Zip-po
he one who decides the house décor has relented and suggested a few Corvette pieces just might be
okay in the rec room. With a green light, no time need be wasted as “she who must be obeyed” has been
known to change her mind.
EBay provides fertile ground for shopping, and with a few key strokes I found a '57 Corvette table
with working headlights for only $550, a front clip wall hanging for $1,100, and a smaller front clip wall shelf
for $300. Add in a Corvette pinball machine for $3,500 and a restored Corvette gas pump for $900, and we
are good to go. All I need to do now is ask for the credit card…
Here are a few other items I found for the house that won't cause such a fuss:
EBAY #160356655985—
CASE OF CORVETTE
COOKIES. Number of Bids:
1. SOLD AT: $24. Date Sold:
8/25/2009. This was a case of
24 boxes of Corvette cookies
that dated to 1999. Each box had
cookies that were in the shape
of C1 through C5 Corvettes
with descriptive information on
the back. The seller cautioned
against eating them—as if someone
would. Of course, I have to
wonder just what you are going
to do with a box of stale, hard
cookies sitting in the garage,
matching your prized Corvettes.
Date Sold: 8/22/2009. This was
the press kit GM sent to automotive
publications announcing
the 1963 Sting Ray. It was to
be released August 23, 1962,
and included a four-page press
release and five photographs of
the Corvette, including the SplitWindow
coupe. It was stated to
be in excellent condition, with
only minor wear. It caused quite
a stir, with spirited bidding and
an over-the-top winning bid.
a few years, so this is a rare piece.
As such, the price seems most
reasonable, especially if you own
or covet a '59 Corvette.
This seven-inch crystal model of
a 1957 Corvette had a 24k gold
electroplated removal hard top.
It was issued by the Franklin
Mint and was complete with the
box and all the papers. These are
seldom offered, so the price paid
was not an issue.
EBAY #300341200878—
EBAY #27044367505—SET
OF SIX CORVETTE
POSTERS. Number of Bids:
4. SOLD AT: $306. Date Sold:
8/23/2009. This set of posters
was offered by Corvette News
in 1966 and 1967. The posters
were 12″x16″ and were said to be
in excellent original condition,
having never been displayed.
The set included a 1956 Corvette
at Daytona with Zora ArkusDuntov,
the 1962 Riverside
Grand Prix, and Roger Penske in
a 1962 Grand Sport. Seems most
reasonable, but the cost of framing
will be the major expense
here.
1998 CORVETTE INDY 500
PACE CAR POSTER. Number
of Bids: 13. SOLD AT: $133.50.
Date Sold: 8/30/2009. This
8″x14″ poster was titled “The
Only Pace Car That Matters.”
The frame was Pace Car Purple
with a clear plastic cover. A
dramatic poster that was in good
condition and a must-have, especially
if the real thing is sitting in
your garage.
EBAY #310161979819—
EBAY #390037441864—
EBAY #270443299845—
1963 CORVETTE STING
RAY PRESS KIT. Number of
Bids: 15. SOLD AT: $1,602.89.
1959 CORVETTE
ACCESSORIES SALES
BROCHURE. Number of Bids:
Buy-It-Now. SOLD AT: $119.99.
Date Sold: 8/06/2009. This mailer
described the 1959 Corvette
Standard and Optional equipment
and was stated to have minor
wear. Mailers were only used for
82 Corvette Market SUMMER 2009 www.vettemarket.com
EBAY #370247424529—
1957 CRYSTAL CORVETTE
BY FRANKLIN MINT.
Number of Bids: 4. SOLD AT:
$244.50. Date Sold: 8/25/2009.
CORVETTE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY ZIPPO
LIGHTER. Number of Bids: 27.
SOLD AT: $84.33. Date Sold:
8/21/2009. This commemorative
lighter was laser-engraved in
24k gold with several different
Corvette logos. The display
box was also engraved and was
complete with a certificate of
authenticity. The unique lighter
attracted a lot of attention with
27 bids, but the final price was
not out of line. ■