Profiles
Search This Issue
Page -1
12
Turn a Classic '58 into a Fuelie? / 135 Car Auction Report
Corvette Market
$980k
Keith Martin's
The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
ZOOT-SUIT STING RAY
Harley Earl's
Summer 2010
► Chip Miller's Dream Lives:
1960 Corvette Returns to Le Mans
► Bloomington Gold:
www.corvettemarket.com
Ten Great Corvettes and Ten Great People
► Three L88s Bring $772k
Page 2
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 3 . Issue 12 . Summer 2010
26 Earl's C2
28 C3 L88s
32 A pair of C5 racers
Profiles
C1 1957 283/250 Fuelie convertible
24 by Thomas Glatch
1963 327/300 “Harley Earl” convertible
$980,500 at Mecum
Historically speaking, the Harley Earl zoot-suit Sting Ray
never accomplished much of anything, and never blazed
any highly important concept trails as did Earl's brilliant
1953 Motorama show car or Mitchell's original Mako Shark
26 by John L. Stein
1968 427/430 L88 coupe $159,000 at Mecum
1969 427/430 L88 coupe $365,000 at RM
1969 427/430 coupe $192,500 at RM
Hearing a Corvette L88 fire up is guaranteed to move you.
That's because, like the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel's
“Messiah” on Christmas Day (or maybe the Troggs' “Wild
Thing” at a backyard double-kegger) the sound drills deep
into your soul
28 by Mark Rudnick
On the Cover: 1963 327/300 “Harley Earl” convertible
Photo by Sam Murtaugh, courtesy of Mecum Auctions
4 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
1989 Callaway Twin Turbo Convertible
$68,200 at Worldwide
The ‘57 Fuelie has that rare recipe of performance and
style, with a sprinkling of mystique. But not all fuel-injected
‘57s were created equal
$33,000 at RM
The setup seemed right for this Twin Turbo to pull
significantly more dollars than it did. Blame it on C4
Corvettes in general, as they are still far too “new” to be
considered classics
30 by Chip Lamb
C5 2003 Pratt & Miller C5-R Le Mans Racers
not sold at $775,000 at Mecum
Since the C5-Rs were a no-sale at Mecum Indy, perhaps
someone else will soon have a chance to enjoy one of the
most stirring Corvette drives available to mortal man.
With a fresh Pratt & Miller race tune-up on their authentic
Katech engines, they are ready to compete not only in
current ALMS or FIA events, but also in historical classes as well.
32 by B. Mitchell Carlson
Mini Profiles of C6 Coupes
A few grand can make all the difference when buying a
used car, particularly when you are in high school , and
you ride a bicycle to your job at Hot Dog on a Stick
34 by Geoff Archer
Page 3
Market Reports
38 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL
137 Corvettes make $4.8m at Bloomington Gold
by B. Mitchell Carlson and Dan Grunwald
56 RM Auctions, San Diego, CA
Classic Muscle & Modern Performance sees 28 Corvettes
bring $2.5m
by Carl Bomstead
66 Global Roundup
135 Corvettes from nine auctions total $10m
by CM Market Analysts
Features
18 Bloomington Gold: The ultimate certification is Benchmark.
by CM Staff
20 The Great Hall: Ten great Corvettes and 10 great people
welcomed to the Great Hall
by CM Staff
22 Le Mans: 1960 Cunningham Corvette's 50th anniversary lap
at Le Mans
by Lance Miller
18 Bloomington Gold
Departments
6 Publisher's Note: Bring your Corvette to Monterey
8 Insider's View: Should you make your ‘58 a Fuelie?
10 Q&A: Putting a Split Window back into a ‘63
12 Courtroom Corvettes: The problems of recovering a stolen car
14 Events: Things to do and places to be with your Corvette
16 Auction Calendar
36 Market Overview: CM reporters cover the globe
78 By The Numbers: Top 85 Corvette sales
80 Price Guide: Current Corvette pricing
84 Trick Stuff: Spray-on car wash, Fuelie pistons and more
86 In Miniature: 1963 Sting Ray Split-Window coupe
86 Speaking Volumes: The Corvette Factories
88 Resource Directory
90 Vette-o-bilia: Trains, cars and giant billboards
Page 4
Publisher's
Note
By Keith Martin
The Way to Monterey
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 3 . Issue 12 . Summer 2010
Publisher Keith Martin
Art Director Kirsten Hegg
Managing Editor Chester Allen
Technical 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
Operations Manager Mary Artz
Senior Web Developer Jerret Kinsman
Information Technology/
Internet Bryan Wolfe
At Bloomington, from left: Tom Mann, Keith and Wendie Martin, Mary Artz, Cody Wilson,
Alex Martin-Banzer and Tyler Standish
induction of the first members of the Great Hall (more about that on p. 20) and the Survivor
show on Sunday.
I'd like to personally thank all the subscribers who came by our booths and introduced
T
themselves. Your feedback, such as telling us what you most like about CM, and also letting
us know what features you would like to see added as we grow, is highly appreciated.
For my daughter, Alex, and my wife Wendie's son, Tyler, this was their first show as rep-
resentatives of Corvette Market (of course, our 3-year-old, Bradley, is a veteran). As you
might expect, Alex and Tyler wanted to buy a Corvette. They had a chance to chat with Dana
Mecum, and he explained that getting the Corvette of their dreams was easy at his on-site auction:
“Just raise your hand when you see one you like, and keep it in the air until the auctioneer
says ‘Sold!'. Don't worry about paying for it, we know where to find your dad.”
Auction Week in Monterey
Monterey represents something completely different. There will be plenty of collectible
Corvettes crossing the block, typified by the 1967 L88 offered by Mecum. But they will be
part of a pack that includes Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars, Porsches and Mercedes. CM, along
with its sister publication Sports Car Market, will be present at every auction, and we encourage
you to say hello.
We encourage you to bring your cars to Corvettes at Concorso (www.corvettesatconcorso.
com), held in conjunction with Concorso Italiano at the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey
on August 13. SCM contributor and NCRS senior judge Michael Pierce will award trophies
in several categories, including “Farthest Driven,” “Most Original” and “Corvette I Most
Want in My Garage.” Plus, all participants will get a commemorative T-shirt. CM readers get
a discount on admission – go to the website for further details. This is my 12th
he Corvette Market gang has barely unpacked its bags from our annual trip to
Bloomington Gold, and we're about to repack for Monterey.
Each year, Bloomington becomes more important to CM, its subscribers and the
world of serious Corvette collectors. CM was involved with the Certification field, the
Information Technology Mike Newkirk
Production Assistant Jeff Stites
Financial Manager Nikki Nalum
Print Media Buyer Wendie Martin
Director CM Television Roger Williams
ADVERTISING SALES
Advertising Executives Tom Mann
tom.mann@corvettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 211
Cody Wilson
cody.wilson@corvettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 213
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions Coordinator Moira Blackflower
Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1
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
year as emcee
of Concorso Italiano, and I look forward to sharing some American thunder with my Italian
friends.
A Corvette of our own
It's time for Corvette Market to once again have a Corvette of its own. A few years back
we owned a 1991 C4 that we drove from Portland to Anchorage, using the Al-Can Highway.
Most recently, we had a 1963 Split-Window coupe that we still miss.
Our budget is $35,000 – we'd like you to tell us what should be our next Corvette. Some of
the options in our price range include a 1959 283/220, a 1964 327/300 coupe, a 1995 ZR-1 and
a 2003 C5 Z06. We're looking for a good driver, not a show car, in its original colors ( respray
is okay) and with its original drivetrain. If you have a recommendation or something you think
we'd be interested in buying, contact me at keith.martin@corvettemarket.com.
See you in Monterey. ■
6 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 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 © 2010 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
To Inject Or Not To Inject?
Whether or not to replace an original-equipment carb with a period-correct
Fuelie unit is a matter of personal choice, but everyone has an opinion
C
M asked our subscribers: “Let's say you own a 1958 Corvette with a matching-number 283-ci / 230-hp
engine with its original four-barrel carburetor. One day, you're at a swap meet and, for a ridiculously
low price, buy a NOS factory fuel-injection setup for a '58. Inside is a factory fuel-injection that has
the correct sequential serial number and part number for your '58. Do you convert your car to a fuelie
and gain the extra 60 horsepower, or leave your car alone?” This is what you had to say…
Jan Hyde, via email: Your clever
question made my day.
If pure passion ruled I would
go with the Fuelie hands down.
If pure economics rule,
collectors may pay more for a
numbers-matching original ‘58
carb car versus a non-number
-matching Fuelie, even though
fuel units add some $15 to $20k
in value. Car condition and
other factors would enter into the
calculation. Also, keep in mind
these units can be switched out
without any permanent damage,
so it might be good to keep that
fuel unit on the shelf.
I grew up with Fuelies when
they were the ultimate hot setup,
and I never lost my love for them,
so I may be a bit biased. Fuelies
run cleaner, are better on gas,
and are better looking and more
distinctive than carb induction.
Contrary to myth, Fuelies are
not a mystery, parts are available
and people in the NCRS,
SAAC and some race shops can
set them up. There are service
manuals and a lot of helpful
literature including Ken Kayser's
book on Ramjet Fuel Injection.
Neil Thomas, via email: I would
and keep the original carburetor
parts in a safe place so when you
wanted to sell the car you can
offer both options.
Ernie Hoffer, via email: Inject it
and save the old parts. Does the
car have an automatic? That's
okay. It is an easier conversion if
it is a radio delete. The original
OEM emblems are available on
eBay. I see so many fuel-injected
performance. Bolt it on!
The only caveat is that a large
percentage of these Rochester
mechanical fuel units have
been difficult to get running
correctly. For many mechanics
and owners, they were difficult
to tune 50 years ago when they
were current. Today, the number
of experts (Bramlett, Hodges,
Degregory and Reade, to name a
few) is very small. That is one of
the major reasons why so many
original fuel injector units have
been available over the years.
Many were bought or sold at
swap meets in the early days
for a couple of hundred dollars.
Current market value (restored)
is now twice the original price
of the entire Corvette; about
$10,000.
Chris Schaff, via email: I would
not install it if I was going to sell
the car. However, if I'm keeping
the car, I would install it, especially
after owning a fuel-injected
car. No comparison to carb if
tuned right.
What if you could make your engine bay look like this?
cars that have been converted to
carburetors, and the value is hurt.
That's why you should save the
parts.
G. Mike Goodwin, Canoga Park,
CA: Of course fuel it up, more
reliable better running.
Vaughan Whalen, via email: To
find a cool piece like that, give it
a shine and put it on the mantel.
Or build another motor to maximize
the injection. To be logical,
you'd need more than the injection
unit; isn't there a special distributor?
If you want the Corvette
to go faster there are other ways
like pistons and camshaft and it
would stay looking stock to boot.
8 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Michael Pierce, Portland, OR: If
you have intentions of having
your car judged either by NCRS
or Bloomington, the answer is
“no.” The encyclopedic—sometimes
pedantic— knowledge
of these judges in determining
whether or not this ‘58 left St
Louis with fuel injection makes
it virtually impossible to swap
out the carburetor without detection.
Additionally, you would
also have to find the correctly
numbered, configured and dated
distributor.
For everyone else, vintage
mechanical fuel-injection pegs
the Cool Meter and when properly
set up, brings unparalleled
E.V. DiMassa, Universal City, CA: If
the numbers are correct and the
parts match up... I say go for it.
I know the car would be considered
“not stock” after that, but the
argument could be made that the
fellow who bought the car way
back when could have done it
then, so why not do it now?
Ron Cooper, via email: No big
deal installing injection for your
pleasure, but if you're interested
in selling, you need to be honest
and divulge what was done.
Tim Gilmore, Austin, TX: I
wouldn't put the fuel unit on the
car and disturb a nice, original
car. There are fuel-injected cars
out there that would need that
unit, and I'd be sure it ended up
on a car that needed that unit.
Page 7
Joe Martinez, via email: I would
definitely buy the unit. Once installed,
however, I would be sure
to keep ALL of the old parts. The
VIN would be a giveaway as to
what the vehicle originally came
with, but having both units would
definitely be a plus should one
ever decide to part with it.
Jack Tockston, Gig Harbor, WA:
Whether or not to replace an
original-equipment carb with
a period-correct Fuelie unit is
a matter of personal choice. If
the car is totally original with all
purchase and delivery documents,
it's best to keep it as delivered.
The swap doesn't offer a significant
bump in performance, but
it offers a potential increase in
maintenance issues.
However, if the swap was
performed for esthetic or auditory
needs—the owner loves
“the look,” or that “hiss!”—and
all original removed parts were
properly retained and stored,
the Corvette could later be
returned to its documented “As
Delivered” state. Either way, it's
best to remember originality is
rewarded with maximum appreciation
in value.
Danny May, Harrison, OH: It de-
pends on ownership. Are you a
casual Corvette enthusiast who
loves to drive your normally
aspirated ‘58 Vette on at least
a monthly basis—or are you a
“for profit” collector? Or are you
somewhere in-between?
Changing the original 4-
barrel to fuel injection will be
expensive and require additional
tuning and frequent adjustments
by a pro to get it to behave correctly
for reliable driving. But
fuel injection will definitely increase
the value and desirability
of your Corvette when put on the
block for sale. The increase in
performance would raise the fun
factor too.
So, if it was my car and the
price was right for the (complete)
correct injection system, I would
swap it out, and keep the original
manifold and carb in a safe place.
Jerry James, CA: I would install
this gift in a New York minute. I
did this exact procedure on a ‘61
2x4 (290 hp, if I remember correctly)
many years ago in Colorado.
Got the unit used at Bloomington,
went to Chevrolet and
purchased a rebuild kit, rebuilt it
and stuck it on. Made a wonderful
difference in performance and
I loved the fuel injection whistle.
Understand that I had all the rest
of the motor to go along with it.
If your scenario would involve
a lower-horse motor or your ‘58
was absolutely numbers matching
and a garage queen, then I don't
believe I would. I truly enjoyed
the Fuelie and it gave me many
years of service until the car was
stolen.
If I had it to do again, there
would be no question about it.
The early fuel injection units
were really fairly bullet-proof
once properly sorted out.
Dave Lavine, Minneapolis, MN:
The question should be: “Why
wouldn't you do it?” Of course,
at the same time, you should save
all the parts taken off the car in
order to install the new parts.
Chuck Wegman, via email: No
way. I would put the unit away
for the next time I need a little
cash in retirement.
Charles Barnett, via email: Of
course you would put it on if it
matched. The value would go up
$10K plus, and it would be more
of a sports car.
Bill Millis, via email: Don't do it!
I have owned eight fuel-injected
Corvettes and own one now. They
are wonderful, go like stink, and
are at the top of the pecking order
of early small blocks. However,
you need racing fuel at $8.50 per
gallon for them to run properly,
hard starts when warm, not everyone
can tune them like a Holley,
and parts are problematic.
Lyle Davidson, Leesburg, VA: If
restored and installed correctly,
it can be one of those wow moments
when started. There are
very few ways to tell on the C1s
and C2s whether a Corvette was
born with an injection, so one
could really stretch the truth here.
However, honesty is always best,
and those who know will pick it
apart with correct stampings and
castings all over the unit. The
VINs on the car actually do make
a huge difference as to what unit
was used.
There were roughly four
unit types per year from low to
high horsepower. Those units
will need to relate to your motor
and heads if you're looking for
correctness. I have rebuilt units
from the earliest 1957 Sebring
Cars 7014360 and 7014520 to
the 1965 7017380. There are
huge differences year-to-year in
their engineering. I personally
enjoy the low-horse units with
the high-horse injectors because
of the sleeper effect they evoke.
Finally, Fuelies have the rare
gear driven distributor, which
is the only distributor to make
the “Unit” work. I've heard this
story more times than I can
count about the “Old Finned
Thing” in a garage and no distributor
to make the “Old Finned
Thing” work.
Dick Kiehl, via email: Keep it cor-
rect and just sell the fuel injector
unit. The block will not be correct
if it's changed to a Fuelie.
Pete Hof, Australia: My thoughts
for what they are worth. If you
are looking for cash then convert,
but if it's your car to keep, and
you are honest about it, it needs
to stay as it was intended.
You are what you are, and
even if you did alter the car,
you would still know it was not
genuine. Better off holding on to
the Fuelie unit and looking for
another project to bring something
back from the dead.
Paul Hardiman, via email: I'd
leave the car stock and see what
Mike Yager at Mid America
would swap me for the injector
kit.
Bill Taylor, Seabrook, TX: Yes, I
would install the fuel unit. I did
this with a 1957 Chevrolet Bel
Air coupe when I was in high
school in 1964. I would not pass
it off as original, and I would
keep the original carb.
Bob Massie, via email: I had a
1960 Corvette with a 283 and
4-barrel carb, and my buddy
had a 1958 283 with fuel injection.
It was a numbers-matching
car. I always enjoyed listening
to Harvey's pea-green 1958,
even though mine also sounded
very good. I would install the
fuel injection in a heartbeat!
Performance-wise, it was not all
that different, but the sound was
really cool at the time, and it was
pretty responsive.
Curtis Smith, via email: First, I
am happy to find the fuel injection
unit. Next, I would have it
refurbished. Then I would put
it on display in my office. I am
completely fascinated with all
things mechanical, and mechanical
fuel injection always interests
me. Electronic fuel injection is
just not the same when it comes
to presentation. Then, after staring
at it for a while, I would go
out to the garage, fire up the
1958, and go for a ride. After I
came back, I would look at the
fuel injection unit and dream
about one day running it on my
car while the carb took its place
on the shelf. Always good to have
possibilities.
Russ Baltzer, via email: Keep it
stock! Too many conversions out
there hurt us all.
Besides, Fuelie maintenance
is tougher than the carburetor. I
know—I have both.
Bob Immler, via email: If the car
were only shown, I might add
it. But, if the car were driven, I
would not add it.
I have a 1962 with 340 hp and
4-speed. My dad bought the car
new. He chose the 340 over the
fuel-injected engine because it
had a carburetor.
A carb he—and I—could
tune. A fuel-injected engine
would be more difficult. That's
my two cents. ■
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 9
Page 8
Questions
&Answers
Please send your questions to questions@corvettemarket.com. By Colin Comer
Putting the Split Window Back into my '63
The proper way to do it is to go to the factory bonding seams and do it like
GM did, including gel coating the new glass when you are done
Restoring the lost
rear-window split
I just got a great deal on a
1963 Corvette coupe that's
in pretty good shape overall,
but someone installed 1964 rear
glass at some point, which meant
removing the split. I couldn't say
no to the asking price, but I'd
really like to have the right 1963
look. How hard is it to reinstall
the split?
What all will be involved?—
B.F., Oklahoma City, OK
It depends. For somebody
well versed in fiberglass re-
pair and bodywork, it is a fairly
involved but straightforward job.
I certainly wouldn't recommend
trying it unless you are 100%
confident you can cut a car apart
and bond it back together, and
make it appear as if it was never
cut apart. Paragon Corvette
(as well as others) sell a new
roof section for Splits, as well as
some other support sections you
will need.
The proper way to do it is to
go to the factory bonding seams
and do it like GM did, including
gel coating the new glass when
you are done, so the new paint
has some longevity. Plus, you'll
obviously need new glass, trim,
and interior panels. It isn't a
weekend shade tree job, or an
inexpensive one if done by a
shop.
If the rest of the car is indeed
in good shape, reinstalling the
split windows is a good idea, as
that is where the value comes
from on these cars—and their
iconic status in part revolves
around those two rear windows.
Get a few estimates from people
that know what they are doing,
and also carefully evaluate the
remainder of the car to make
But what if your split is missing?
sure it justifies such expenditure.
You don't want to over-improve
a lump of coal, but if it the car's
biggest sin is the missing split,
then do it. Let us know how the
story ends.
Selling a 38-year-old
friend
I am the original owner. I
bought my 1973 Corvette
Stingray Coupe on Sept. 30, 1972
from Chris Volz in Milan, Indiana.
I have had it for 38 years, and I
can't maintain it the way I want to.
I would like to sell it. Maybe
you could advise me on the
best way to go about selling my
Corvette—S.F., via email
First, are you sure you
want to sell it? After 38
years, a car becomes a part
of your family. Perhaps there
is a competent local shop that
could help you maintain it. Just
a thought.
If you do still wish to sell, I
have found eBay to be a powerful,
low-cost selling tool. While
it may not sell through an eBay
auction right away, I find that
10 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
most good cars will sell in the
weeks following to somebody
that doesn't like online bidding.
If you wish to go the live auction
route, Mecum Auctions specializes
in Corvettes and has many
auctions across the country
throughout the year, including
their All-Corvette auction at
Bloomington Gold in June. A live
auction, with a car that is well
detailed and well represented,
can sometimes bring a substantial
premium for the seller
versus a private sale. Whatever
you decide, I wish you the best
of luck.
Transmission swap can
be changed back
I bought a 45,000-mile 1986
Corvette coupe about four
years ago as a sunny weather
driver, and while I love the car,
I hate its 4+3 manual transmission.
A friend of mine with a C5
suggested I upgrade to a 6-speed
manual, but I'm hesitant to do
so. Will a transmission swap
hurt the value of my car when
it comes time to sell?—G.S.,
Nashville, TN
Anybody who has lived with
a 4+3 transmission would
not see a later model 6 speed as
a negative. Plus, if you save all
the original parts, it can always
be changed back. Go for it!
Headers versus factory
manifolds
I have a 1966 Corvette
coupe with a non-original
327 and a 4-speed. My mechanic
tells me one of my factory-style
exhaust manifolds is cracked,
and he suggested I install a
set of headers for a bit better
performance. Will they really
help, or should I just try to find
another cast-iron manifold?
What should I expect to pay for a
proper factory piece?—A.K., Los
Angeles, CA
Yes, headers will offer a
noticeable performance
gain over factory manifolds, especially
if the engine is tuned to
take advantage of the increased
breathing and the rest of the exhaust
is reasonably free flowing.
The downside is non-original
appearance, and sometimes
headers can have a slightly tinny
sound compared to manifolds.
You also must be careful with
spark plug wire routing so they
don't get burned.
Because your car has a non-
original motor, and you sound
more concerned with performance
than appearance, I'd give
the headers a try. Get ones that
are coated rather than painted,
as paint won't last a week in the
real world, and then you will
have rusty headers. If you want
to stay stock, without knowing
which manifolds you have, I can
only guess that $200 to $500 will
get you a non-cracked replacement.
Hope this helps. ■
Page 10
Courtroom
Corvettes
The legal side of the hobby. By Bruce Shaw, Esq.
The Problems of Recovering a Stolen Car
You tendered the title and car and watched him drive away—only to find out
a week later that his cashier's check was counterfeit
I
t's Sunday afternoon, and your
wife and kids are over at her
mother's house. You have a cold
beer in one hand and a computer
mouse in the other. It's time for your
weekly pastime, surfing the Internet
for your 1965 Corvette that was stolen
in California five years ago.
Suddenly, there it is. Someone in
Ohio has listed your 1965 Corvette
on an online sales website.
The Online Seller states in the
ad that he's owned the car for three
years. The Online Seller says he has
invested more than $25K to restore
the car. He's asking for $65K. You
got $35K from your insurance company
five years earlier.
You think your 1965 Corvette
is finally coming back home. Well,
maybe....
Proof of ownership
There are a few questions that need to be asked. Do you actually still own the
Who really owns this Corvette?
Corvette? If you were insured and you were paid off by the insurance company, you
almost certainly “subrogated” your ownership rights to the car when you settled.
“Subrogated” is a legal term for transferring your ownership rights to the insurance
company for the settlement check. Now, the insurance company owns the car – not
you. Perhaps you can contact your insurance company and see if you can buy your
rights back – or urge them to file a theft report.
OK, let's assume you didn't have insurance and you still have your title.
Was the Corvette really stolen?
Let's assume the deal went down this way. You placed an ad to sell the Corvette in
your local newspaper.
Bill W., a well-dressed, reputable-looking person, saw the ad, came to look at the
Corvette, negotiated a price of $30K and gave you a cashier's check. You tendered
the title and car and watched him drive away—only to find out a week later that his
cashier's check was counterfeit. You were never able to contact Bill W. again. You
immediately called the police and filed a stolen car report. A year went by. Unknown
to you, the Online Seller of today purchased the Corvette from Bill W. and took title
to the car.
This is Bad News, as the Corvette was never legally “stolen.”
The Uniform Commercial Code controls the sale of goods in the United States.
The Code is federal law and all states have adopted their own version of it. The Code
deals with the ownership of the “title” to the property. There is “void title” (no title)
and “voidable title” (good transferable title).
In this case, because you willingly transferred the title, you conferred to Bill W. a
voidable/good title that he can then pass on to the next person. For the Corvette to be
actually stolen, the transfer would have had to be done non-voluntarily, and you would
not have known or approved of the transfer of title.
In this case, the Online Seller is what the law calls a Bonafide Purchaser for Value,
12 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
and he doesn't have to give the car back to you. His new
Ohio title is valid. You and your insurance company are
cut off from any legal rights against him.
Bonafide Purchaser for Value status requires:
That the person has no knowledge of any prior
wrongdoings surrounding this Corvette.
That he pays adequate consideration for the Corvette.
The buyer can't pay a small sum that is “too good to be
true.”
That the person takes reasonable precautions that the
deal is on the “up and up.” His reward is that the title
that he got from Bill W.—your title—is as good as gold.
The rationale behind all this is that the law wants to
protect the party who is least able to protect him/herself.
In this case, the Online Seller never knew of any wrongdoing
or fraud. In contrast, you, as the original seller
to Bill W., decided on your own volition to accept his
certified check. You could have asked for cash or a wire
transfer of funds into your account.
Now, let's look at a different set of circumstances.
The problem of entrustment
Let's say you did not advertise your Corvette for sale.
Instead, you took it to Jim's Collector Cars to sell for
you on consignment. The law calls this “entrustment.”
Basically, you trust a car dealer to sell your car and give
you the money. A few weeks pass, and you go by Jim's
Collector Cars, but your car is not on the lot. You stop in,
and Jim tells you he sold the Corvette—and he will send
Lost and Found:
Page 11
you the money in a few days. Jim has actually sold the car and delivered your title to
the Online Seller. But you never received the money for your car, so you attempt to file
a stolen car police report.
Once again, you are out of luck. In the eyes of the law, the car was not stolen.
What's worse, the law states that if you leave property with a merchant that deals in
that type of good, such as Corvette cars, the merchant has been given the power to
transfer all of your rights to a buyer in the ordinary course of his business. This is true
regardless of what agreement you made with the merchant before you left your car on
his lot.
Years later, when you see the Corvette online, you call the police and call your
lawyer. You want to sue the Online Seller and retrieve your car. Unfortunately, under
the Entrustment Laws, you are —once again—stopped from taking any action against
the Online Seller for the return of the car. The Online Seller received good title from
Jim's Collector Cars—even though you received nothing.
An actual theft of a Corvette
Finally, a scenario where you win! Well, almost….
You wake up one morning and your beloved Corvette is missing from your drive-
way. The car title was in the glovebox. The car was not insured. You report the car
was stolen. For years, nothing turns up, until you see that a person in Ohio has listed
the car for sale on the Internet.
You call the Ohio police, who impound the Corvette. You make plans to go to Ohio
and pick up your Corvette. But there is one problem: The Online Seller has a clear
Ohio title. He has his original bill of sale from the thief, a copy of your original title
(your signature is forged on the back) and a cancelled check that shows he paid $50K
for the Corvette.
Here is the good part: The thief obtained “void title,” which is legal lingo for no
title, as he had stolen the car and did not pay for the
Corvette or receive a good title for the Corvette. The law
states that a thief can only transfer to another person
a quality of title no better than what he received. The
thief had, in legal terms, a “void title.” That means your
forged original title that was transferred to the Online
Seller is legally void.
The bad part is that you will probably be required to
compensate the Online Seller for any improvements or
difference in fair market value that occurred during the
time the Online Seller has owned the car. In other words,
if it was worth $20,000 when it was stolen, and $50,000
today, you might owe him $30,000. This compensable
part of the law varies greatly from state to state.
So, what are the lessons to be learned?
Always insist on either cash or wired funds as the
medium of money transfer.
Be extremely careful about “entrusting” your
Corvette for sale.
And know thy buyer. ■
BRUCE SHAW, ESQ. is an attorney specializing in
collector car fraud. He is a former Bloomington Gold
instructor, and an NCRS national judge. His comments
are general in nature and are not intended to substitute
for consultation with an attorney.
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 13
Page 12
Insider's
View
Event
Guide
Arizona
July 26—30; August 20—22; September
22—26, 2010 Bloomington Gold Tours,
Flagstaff. The 400-mile Colorado Rocky
Mountain Tour departs northern Arizona
through Monument Valley, and then
travels east into Colorado and the San Juan
Parkway towns of Cortez, Durango and
Silverton. Any Corvette is eligible, and the
tour includes deluxe lodging, fine dining,
plenty of group activities, a welcome basket,
a commemorative guide, and more. $1,450
per person.
Later this summer, the Route 66/Grand
Canyon Tour follows a 200-mile route on
the famed highway through Hackberry,
Seligman and Williams to the South Rim
of the Grand Canyon. Again, any Corvette
is eligible. $75 per person, lodging not
included.
September brings the new Vintage 500
Tour. Participants stay in Flagstaff and hit
the roads to Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon,
Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki national
monuments and the South Rim of Grand
Canyon National Park. $1,695 for one
person, $1,895 for two. www.bloomingtongoldtours.com
California
July 28—30, 2010
National Corvette Museum High
Performance Driving, Willows
Don't miss this two-day performance driving
program hosted by Hooked on Driving
and benefitting the NCM. Beginners are
welcome and will receive coaching from
trained instructors. Intermediate, advanced
and race-prepped cars will run in separate
groups. www.corvettemuseum.com
The current state of the Corvette market
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@corvettemarket.com.
August 13, 2010
Corvettes at Concorso, Seaside
Bring your Corvette to Monterey and park
it on the lawn at Concorso Italiano as part
of Corvettes at Concorso. Corvette Market,
along with Barrett-Jackson, will host this
second annual event. Corvettes will have
their own corral, along with a complimentary
hospitality tent and CM awards, presented
by CM's Michael Pierce, including
“People's Choice,” “Farthest Driven,” and
“Most Original.” CM Publisher Martin will
serve as emcee for Concorso Italiano itself.
All Corvettes at Concorso entrants will
receive a commemorative T-shirt. CM will
have a booth on site, and we will also be at
most events during the weekend. This even
is usually $125, but save $25 when you register
at www.corvettesatconcorso.com and
enter promo code corvette2010. For more
information, go to www.concorso.com.
Look for the CM crew at The Quail
Motorsports Gathering, Automobilia
Monterey, Pebble Beach RetroAuto and
at the auctions hosted by Bonhams &
Butterfields, Russo and Steele, RM, Mecum
and Gooding.
Colorado
July 22—25, 2010
‘Vettes on the Rockies, Breckenridge
The 37th
annual event is held in Summit
County, with the Beaver Run Resort in
Breckenridge as the host hotel. Highlights
include a funkana, autocross, fashion show,
pit crew challenge and show-n-shine. Events
range from $35 to $295. www.lgcacorvette.
com
Idaho
August 14—15, 2010
Oregon Trail Run, Boise
Valley Corvettes puts on this fun cruise to
Joseph, Oregon, with a stop in Baker City
for lunch at the Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker
and a quick visit to the Oregon Trail Center
before heading out to Enterprise, OR.
Sunday includes a leisurely break at The
Mountain Air. www.valleycorvettes.org.
Illinois
Corvettes at Concorso
14 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
www.corvettemarket.com
September 17—19, 2010
Mid America Corvette Funfest,
Effingham
Page 14
Insider's
View
Event
Guide
The current state of the Corvette market
A Corvette fun run, a lunch with legend
Mike Yager, a “Cars and Stars” cocktail
party, a Corvette auction, installation of
after-market products, an Exhaust Wars
Sound-Off and other popular events fill the
calendar of this Corvette celebration. Parties
fill the night, and there is plenty of room for
Corvette clubs. There will be thousands of
Corvettes at this popular festival. Tickets
start at $25 and run up to $250. There is a
T-shirt to show that you've been there—and
done it all. www.corvettefunfest.com
Kentucky
September 2—4, 2010
Corvette Museum, 16th
Anniversary,
Bowling Green
Drive your Corvette on road tours to popular
attractions in Kentucky and Tennessee,
attend Corvette seminars and ogle the 1960
and 1985 Corvettes in the 25th
and 50th
Anniversary displays. New members will
enter the Corvette Hall of Fame, and there
will be Corvette lovers from across the
United States. Why not tour the spectacular
Corvette Museum? And think of all the
cars! www.corvettemuseum.com
Michigan
August 27—28, 2010
The 21st
Annual Corvette Crossroads
Auto Show, Mackinaw City
Hundreds of Corvettes will cruise local
roads and be on display at the Mackinaw
Crossings Mall parking lot. The festivities
include a parade of Corvettes across the
Mackinac Bridge. All Corvettes are welcome.
www.mackinawchamber.com
Nevada
July 30—August 8, 2010
Hot August Nights, Reno
More than 800,000 people can't be wrong;
the cars are the stars at Hot August Nights.
Spend the week at concerts, sock hops and
auctions. And there's always the endless
stream of Corvettes, hot rods and custom
cars cruising the strip. Most events are free,
but the glitttering casinos remain pay-toplay.
www.hotaugustnights.com
New York
July 25, 2010
‘Vettes at the Beach, Sylvan Beach
The Syracuse Corvette Club once again
hosts this all-Corvette show, where more
than 400 Corvettes are expected. Don't
miss out on raffles and a 50/50 drawing. All
the profits are donated to central New York
community groups and charities. Cars will
not be judged, but trophies will be awarded.
$15. www.syracusecorvetteclub.com
16 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
www.corvettemarket.com
Auction Calendar
AUGUST
5-8—SILVER
Reno, NV
7—KEENAN
Cumberland, ME
12-13—BONHAMS
Carmel, CA
12-14—RM
Monterey, CA
12-14—RUSSO AND STEELE
Monterey, CA
13-14—MECUM
Monterey, CA
14—COYS
Nurburg, DEU
14—VANDERBRINK
Britton, SD
14-15—GOODING & CO
Pebble Beach, CA
16—SHANNONS
Melbourne, AUS
20—BONHAMS
Gstaad, CHE
20-21—MOTOEXOTICA
Springfield, MO
28-29—ICA
Deadwood, SD
SEPTEMBER
2-4—WORLDWIDE
AUCTIONEERS
Auburn, IN
3-5—CLASSICAL EVENT
AUCTIONS
Waterloo, IN
4-5—SILVER
Sun Valley, ID
10-11—BRANSON
Branson, MO
10—BONHAMS &
BUTTERFIELDS
Tacoma, WA
11—BONHAMS
Beaulieu, UK
11—BONHAMS
Reims, FRA
11—BUD WARD
Fort Worth, TX
11—SPECIALTY AUTO
AUCTIONS
Sioux Falls, SD
11—VANDERBRINK
Portland, IN
12—BONHAMS
Westport, CT
16-19—MECUM
St. Charles, IL
17—BONHAMS
Sussex, UK
17-18—LEAKE
Houston, TX
18—CLASSIC MOTORCAR
AUCTIONS
Canton, OH
18—VANDERBRINK
Eden, SD
23-25—BARRETT-JACKSON
Las Vegas, NV
24-25—SANTIAGO
Tulsa, OK
25—BONHAMS
Brookline, MA
25—MIDAMERICA
St. Paul, MN
25—SILVER
Portland, OR
25—VANDERBRINK
Hardwick, MN
25—VICTORY AUCTIONS
Perry, GA
30-OCT 1—CARLISLE
Carlisle, PA
OCTOBER
1—H&H
Buxton, UK
2—COYS
Ascot, UK
7-8—RM
Hershey, PA
8—VICARI
Biloxi, MS
11—BONHAMS
Dubai, UAE
15-16—BUD WARD
Hot Springs, AR
15-16—TOM MACK
Charlotte, NC
16—SPECIALTY AUTO
AUCTIONS
Loveland, CO
22—DAN KRUSE CLASSICS
San Marcos, TX
22—H&H
Sparkford, UK
22-24—COLLECTOR CAR
PRODUCTIONS
Toronto, CAN
24—SHANNONS
Melbourne, AUS
27—RM
London, UK
Pennsylvania
August 27—29, 2010
Corvettes at Carlisle, Carlisle
More than 4,000 Corvettes and many
more Corvette lovers will roar into one of
the biggest Corvette events in the world.
Autocross, dyno testing, burnouts and a
parade through Carlisle are popular. A
giant swap meet, Installation Alley and
a 158-Corvette American flag are part of
this year's extravaganza. And there is so
much more. Tickets start at $14. www.
carlisleevents.com
Washington
August 13—15, 2010
20th
Annual 5-Star Classic, DuPont
The Classical Glass Corvette Club of
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@corvettemarket.com.
Tacoma hosts this event, which includes
Friday night hospitality, a show-n-shine,
live music, two judged shows, vendors, an
evening gala, morning poker run, autocross
and more. Events are priced from $10 to
$40. www.classicalglasscorvetteclub.com
August 22, 2010
XXX All Corvette Show and Burger
Bash, Issaquah
This is not a sketchy, adult-only event.
This is one of the largest Corvette shows
in the Northwest. The show is open to all
Corvettes and Corvette clubs. Located at the
famous XXX Root Beer Drive-in, this event
is a mega cruise-in for Corvette people.
www.corvettemarqueclub.com ■
Page 16
Bloomington
Gold
It's All About Condition
The ultimate certification is Benchmark
by the CM Staff
The scrutineers at work
A
t most car shows, the competition is fierce for the ultimate prize,
“Best in Show.”
But Bloomington Gold is completely different. According to
founder and CEO David Burroughs, “The cars here compete to
achieve a standard. And every car that achieves a certain level of typical
factory correctness at Bloomington is a winner.”
This year had the largest ever entry field for Bloomington Gold cer-
tification, with 164 cars registered and an extensive waiting list. Having
your car judged is not inexpensive, at $575 for 1953-72, and $450 for
1973-2010.
Over 200 components are judged, with approximately 8,500 “cred-
18 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
its” per car as a starting point. Points are deducted for those items that
are not “factory typical” or have deteriorated. There are three levels of
Certification, Bronze (85-89% of components factory typical), Silver
(90 – 94%) and Gold (95% - 100%). In addition, there is Survivor certification,
awarded to Corvettes that remain over 50% unrestored.
The ultimate certification is Benchmark, which means that a car has
been judged to have achieved both Gold (extraordinarily correct) and
Survivor (extraordinarily unrestored and original).
This year, just 27 cars achieved Benchmark Status. Corvette Market
was a sponsor of the Bloomington Gold Certification process, and CM
Publisher Keith Martin returned for the third year as emcee. ■
Page 17
2010 Certificate Recipients (CMers are in red)
Benchmark
James Anderson—East Dundee, IL
1970 454/390
Richard Andrews—Shawnee, KS
1978 350/220
Robert J. and Fenwick F. Binder—
Gonzales, LA
1990 350/375
Steve Campbell—Salem, OR
1962 327/340
Edward Foss—Roanoke, IN
1975 “12 original miles”
1962 327/360
1967 427/400
Kevin Goodman—Forest Grove, PA
1972 350/255
David & Mary Gulley—Maumelle, AR
1982 350/200
Deanna M Haler—Hastings, MN
1981 350/190
Peter Hendricks—Marietta, GA
1976 350/180
Harry Larson—Nebraska City, NE
1970 454/390
Kevin Lee—Franklin, TN
1988 350/240
Rob Morgan—Dallas, TX
1990 350/375
Frank Pelly—Poland, OH
1973 454/275
Tony Salter—Conway, AR
1980 350/190
George Urban - Port Barrington, IL
1990 350/380 FI
David Wiehle—Maple Park, IL
1990 350/245
Jeff Will—Jordan, MN
1981
Dale Winters—Barnhart, MO
1978 350/220
Blake Yager—Effingham, IL
1990 250
Greg Yerke—Janesville, WI
1966 327/350
Dan Young—Hawley, PA
1966 427/390
1966 327/300
Dennis Young—Poplar Bluff, MO
1965 327/350
Mark Davis—Barboursvi, WV
1977 L48 350
Gold
Joseph Abruzzese—New York, NY
1963 327/300
Mark Amanti—East Otis, MA
1970 454/390
John Ames—Brooksville, FL
1957 283/283
Dale Anderson— Ham Lake, MN
1960 283/230
John Armour—Park Ridge, IL
1963 327/360
Richard Barzelatto—Mahopac, NY
1967 427/435
Steve Berry—Cincinnati, OH
1954 235/155
John Bierkamp—Macomb Twp., MI
1963 327/340
David Blunt—Foristelle, MO
1965 327/365
David Borro— Dublin, OH
1967 327/300
Kingston Bowen—Palm Coast, FL
1966 327/300
David Brewer—Longwood, FL
1959 283/270
1963 327/360 FI
1965 327/375 FI
Keith Busse—Fort Wayne, IN
1969 427/435
1970 350/370
William Carter—Hayti, MO
1985 350/265
Paul & Susan Chemler—Naperville, IL
1967 327/300
Mike Craig—Osage Beach, MO
1955 265/195
Richard & Barbara Crary—Bucyrus, OH
1965 327/350
Eugene Cummings—Lake Forest, IL
1960 283/245
Albert & Kent Curtis—Antioch, IL
1967 427/390
Richard Davis— Belleair Beach, FL
1963 327/360
Scott Davis— Apple Valley, CA
1955 265/195
Lynn Dennis—Mount Ayr, IA
1967 427/390
Richard Foster— New Castle, IN
1995 300
1993 ZR1
More C3s every year
Ara Gechijian—Greenacres, FL
1967 427/390
Sam Green—Little Rock, AR
1978 350/220
Roger Gress—Grand Rapids, MI
1972 350/200
David & Jonathan Gulley—Maumelle, AR
1969 427/390
Lynn Haas—Ft. Myers, FL
1967 327/350
1967 327/300
Fred Harle—Springfield, MO
1965 327/375 FI
James Herbert —Owings, MD
1962 327/250
Ted Hughes—Seward, NE
1961 283/270
Robert Hurdle—Columbia, MO
1990 350/375
Stanley J. Kaczor—Northbrook, IL
1963 327/340
Joe Kasprzyk —Jacksonville, IL
1954 235/155
2009 638
Alan Kazanjian—Lowell, MA
1958 290 FI
Pam Lambert—Gilbert, WV
1993
1995 350/300
1997
1996
1994
1998
Mike Maher—Iowa City, IA
1967 327/350
John Malmquist—Madison, WI
1960 283/270
Ernest Mario—Wilmington, NC
1959 283/270
Terry Mccale— Olathe, KS
1973 350/190
Richard McCann—Wheaton, IL
1986 350/350
Lawrence Merchantz—Evergreen Park, IL
1969 350/350
Bernie Myers—Chatham,
1967 427/435
C.D. Nelsen—Franklin Park, IL
1963 327/360
Bill Pioti—Mansfield, MA
1965 396/425
Gerald Pockrus— Harlingen, TX
1967 427/435
Diane Quackenbush—Lake Villa, IL
2004 405 HP
Bob Rankowitz— New London, CT
1967 427/400
Greg Schatz—Suffern, NY
1957 283/270
Edward Schultz, Jr.—Warwick, RI
1956 240
Phil Schwartz— East Hills, NY
1967 427/435
Walter Seeds—Lawrenceburg, IN
1960 283/245
Ward Seifrid —Algonquin, IL
1963 327/340
Larry Serres—Burnsville, MN
1961 283/245
Terry Serres—Hampton, MN
1961 283/245
Greg Simon—Chesterfield, MO
1962 327/340
Sinan Sinanyan— Porter Ranch, CA
1967 400
Tom Skeuse—Stockton, NJ
1967 427/390
Jay Stahl—Roscoe, IL
1965 327/375 FI
Norris J. Stoute—LaFayette, LA
1967 427/400
Debbi Strati-Padawer—Purchase, NY
1977 L48/180
Richard Thoma—Whitehall, WI
1967 427/435
Joseph B Youkneveich Jr.—Blackwood, NJ
1968 427/435
Silver Awards
Thomas Baker—Grafton, MA
1975 350/165
Peter R. Flemming Sr.— Madison, NJ
1967
Gordon Henry—Troy, MI
1971 350/330
Jeff Miller—Elyria, OH
1967 327/300
Brian Murray—Romeo, MI
1971 454
Bob Piccione—Phillipsburg, NJ
1966 427/425
Marc Wilcox—Tyler, TX
1967 327/350
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 19
Page 18
The Great Hall
Bloomington Gold 2010
Ten great Corvettes and 10 great people inducted into The Great Hall
by SCM Staff
to honor key people who have made the Corvette legend what it is.
The Great Hall has as a subtitle: The People. The Cars. The Stories. Each
F
year for the next five years, 10 cars and 10 people will be inducted into the
Hall. In year six, all 50 cars and all 50 people will be brought together.
This year, CM Publisher Martin moderated a lively panel discussion be-
tween the nine honorees present (inductee George Barlos is deceased), and
then he was the emcee for the actual induction ceremonies. William Locke is
the director of the Great Hall program.
Racing has always been a part of Corvette heritage
The 2010 Inductees (Biographical information courtesy of Bill Locke, Bloomington Gold)
or 25 years, the Collection has been a trademark of Bloomington Gold.
Each year, a different group of important Corvettes was featured.
This year, David Burroughs initiated something different. In addition
to honoring cars, he is, through a program called The Great Hall, going
Noland Adams
Authenticity Historian and Author
Mr. Adams has authored
countless articles, instructional
videos, and the two leading books
on Corvette restoration. His 40+
years of research has assisted
hundreds of Corvette owners.
Richard Fortier
Paragon of parts for America's
finest restorations
Paragon Reproductions
was the benchmark for quality
reproduction parts, many made
from the original GM molds. Mr.
Fortier's goal was to make his
parts more “continuation parts”
than new reproductions. He
succeeded.
Dick Guldstrand
Corvette Racer & Technology
Entrepreneur
First behind the wheel of a
Corvette in 1959, he raced an
original Grand Sport for Roger
Penske, as well as the only 1967
L88 ever to compete at LeMans.
A true Corvette racing legend...
and a 2010 Inductee in The Great
Hall at Bloomington Gold.
James E. Krughoff
Visionary Corvette Collector
Jim's advice to anyone look-
ing to buy a Corvette... “Buy
the best quality car you can
afford.” He did just that in the
early 1970s by paying 8 times
current market value for a 1,500
mile original 1965 fuel injected
convertible. That single purchase
changed the Corvette market.
George Barlos
Restorer's Link to the St. Louis
Corvette Assembly Plant
Plant manager of the St. Louis
Corvette assembly plant from
1957 through 1981 (when the plant
closed and production moved to
Bowling Green, KY). Mr. Barlos
was the perfect link between the
restorer's questions and the factory's
facts.
James Gessner
Corvette Racing Historian
Falling in love with the
Corvette in 1957, this Great Hall
Inductee has owned more than
400 cars, including 70+ Corvettes.
Mr. Gessner was instrumental in
Corvette race car research, and
has helped create the Registry of
Corvette Race Cars.
20 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Al Knoch
Pioneer in Reproduction Interiors
Born in Detroit, Al Knoch
started in his basement making
his early interior patterns, and
borrowed $10,000 from his uncle
to start his first shop. Now, his
quality Corvette interiors are
used by Corvette owners and
restorers around the world.
Bob McDorman
National Show Promoter & Collector
A 45-year Chevrolet dealer,
Bob McDorman has done it all...
hosted a popular Corvette show
at his Ohio dealership, collected
over 500 Corvettes, and sold 50
times that number over the years.
He's loyal to the brand, and is
full of passion for the Corvette.
Page 19
Bill Mock
Mister 1967
Fresh out of college, Bill
bought his first Corvette in 1967
(a 1966), and met his future wife
at a drive-in root beer stand (with
her 1965 Corvette). The rest
is history! Bill was key in the
formation of the Bloomington
Gold Certification standards, and
is a recognized 1967 expert.
1956 Sebring Racer
Putting Corvette on the Map
Owners: John & Sally Neas
“The Real McCoy” was the
Chevrolet advertising slogan.
This Corvette was on the team
managed by John Fitch, racing
at Daytona and Sebring, and
was the only 1956 production
model. These cars were
the beginning of the on-going
Corvette racing history.
1963 Gulf 1 Racer
Building the Brand of “Fast and
Cool”
Owner: John Justo
Gulf Oil Company under-
stood the marketing value of
racing. This car is one of 15
special built “factory racers” for
independent owners/racers, and
one of only two delivered to Don
Yenko Chevrolet. “The Flying
Dentist,” Dr. Dick Thompson,
won the 1963 A-Production
Championship with this
Corvette.
1966 Penske Racer
Zora's Prototype big block engine
technology “takes the gloves off”
Owner: Kevin Mackay
Roger Penske, with Sunoco
sponsorship, hired Dick
Guldstrand to assemble a team of
racers for Daytona and Sebring.
They achieved class wins in both
races. The secret racing version
of the newly introduced 427
cubic inch V8 proved itself in
this 1966 prototype coupe.
Jim Prather
Editor & Publisher, First Monthly
Corvette Magazine
Vette Vues Magazine, the first
monthly Corvette magazine,
began life with a 5 page issue in
June of 1972, printed on a single
sheet mimeograph machine. The
magazine was the catalyst of the
Corvette hobby for 20+ years;
not missing a single month of
publication in 38+ years!
The Cars
1957 Factory Racer
One of the First “Race Ready”
Factory Corvettes
Owners: Bill Connell & Joel Lauman
Driven to the track, raced,
driven home, and then to work
the next day... that was the
history of this fuel injected
Corvette. One of only 43 cold air
box induction system cars built,
this was Job # 1.
Raced only one year, the car
retains its original pilot-line built
engine.
1963 Split Window
The Iconic ‘63 Split Window Coupe
Owner: Bob Lojewski
Only 5,300 original miles,
this high performance Z06
optioned fuel injected Corvette
is one of only 199 built in 1963,
and the only production year
for the legendary “split window
coupe.” At age 47, this Great Hall
Corvette is in factory-delivered
original condition.
1967 L88
The Legendary 12-mile L88 Created
the Buzz
Owner: Roger Judsk
This rare, one of 20, 1967
430HP L88 was purchased to
become a drag car. The plans
changed; the car was warehouse
stored until 1975. Showing only
12 miles on the odometer, the
Corvette was captured for all and
raised the world's awareness of
the L88 Corvette.
1953 Corvette EX122 Motorama
Showcar
The Corvette that inspired Zora
Arkus-Duntov
Owner: The Kerbeck Collection
Built by Chevrolet
Engineering in the GM experimental
studio, EX122 introduced
the world to America's first
two-seat sports car. Shown to
the public at New York City's
Waldorf Astoria Motorama, the
new Corvette was a hit.
1957 Corvette SS
GM's Styling & Racing Statement
Owner: Hall of Fame Museum,
Indianapolis IN
Harley Earl was the genius
who revolutionized automobile
styling, and wanted a separate
model for racing. The Corvette
SS was built to capture wins at
Sebring and LeMans in 1957.
Under the direction of Zora ArkusDuntov,
the SS was born, however
only one example was ever built.
1965 Fuel Injected Convertible
The First EXPENSIVE Collector Corvette
Owner: Ed Foss
This is the car that raised
the bar for Corvette collecting.
Purchased in 1976 for $40,000,
nearly 8 times its price when new.
Totally original, with just over
1,500 original miles, the car represents
a beautifully maintained
high performance Corvette.
Mako Shark II - Manta Ray
Inspiration for the Third-Generation
Corvette
Owner: General Motors
First shown at the New York
Auto Show in 1965, the “Mako
Shark II was built to gauge
public reaction to a dramatic new
style for the Corvette body. A
total success, the 1968 Corvette
was the end result, under the
master pen of styling chief Bill
Mitchell. ■
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 21
Page 20
Corvette Returns
to Le Mans
Another Run Down the Mulsanne
As we headed under the Dunlop Bridge, I kept thinking—is this real?
by Lance Miller
Three racers in their natural element
Paris, France.
And I'm grateful they did, because without them, it never would have happened.
“It” refers to the fulfillment of my father's dream. My dad was Chip Miller, co-
A
founder of Carlisle Events, and creator of the famous Corvettes at Carlisle. To say Dad
was a Corvette enthusiast is putting it mildly. I mean, he just loved Corvettes, and he
managed to acquire some pretty cool ones, such as the '59 Purple People Eater.
But the car he wanted more than any other was the #3 1960 Cunningham Corvette
that gave “America's Sports Car” its first-ever victory at Le Mans. Driven by
Americans John Fitch and Bob Grossman, #3 came first in GT class and 8th
overall.
A big moment in Corvette history
Dad just couldn't get over the fact that this barely modified, new-to-the-scene
American sports car—driven by two Americans—had made such a bold statement
in its first visit to Le Mans, the world's most famous endurance race. That made him
proud, and he just had to have it.
Eventually, he did. In 2000, his good friend Kevin MacKay, owner of Corvette
Repair in Valley Stream, NY, tracked the car down. After seven years of negotiation,
he bought it on my father's behalf. The restoration took 18 months, but when Kevin
and his guys were done, it looked, and ran, just like it did on that day in 1960 when
Fitch and Grossman took the checkered flag at Le Mans.
22 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
h, France! Land of Renaults, Peugeots—and big honkin' Corvettes. Seriously.
I saw so many Corvettes at Le Mans; I thought I was back in Carlisle,
Pennsylvania, my home town. But instead of coming from places like Rome,
NY, and Paris, TX, these Corvettes and drivers came from Rome, Italy, and
Dreams of a Le Mans Corvette reunion
By now, there was no stopping Dad. He was deter-
mined to reunite John Fitch with the car at Le Mans on
the 50th
anniversary of the victory.
But then, on March 25, 2004, something did stop
Dad. A rare blood plasma disease called amyloidosis.
He was just 61.
For those of you who knew my father, and I know a
lot of you did, because he was so active in the Corvette
hobby, I don't have to tell you what a wonderful guy he
was. I've often heard people say they felt honored just
to be his friend, so you can imagine how lucky I feel to
be his son.
I can't imagine a better father, teacher or friend. His
death was a big blow to us all, but he really believed in
that adage he used to say all the time: “Life is good!”
And I felt that fulfilling his dream was something good
I could do to honor Dad and raise awareness of amyloidosis.
So, that brings me back to the European Corvette
enthusiasts.
Dad had wanted the high point of the reunion to be
a parade lap of fifty Corvettes, led by John in #3 with
him at John's side. But the Automobile Club de l'Ouest,
Richard Prince
Page 21
which is the organizing body at Le Mans, gets tons of requests to participate in the
pre-race festivities. I knew right away that this wasn't going to be easy. So I got in
touch with Gerard Planche, president of the European Corvette Club. Gerard, along
with Corvette Racing's Todd Christensen, helped pull the strings to make it all happen.
Todd also arranged great hospitality for our group.
CM Publisher Keith Martin asked me to capture some of the emotion of the re-
union. Maybe the best way is to include the entry I made in my journal on the day of
the race. I wanted to have a record of the trip for my daughter. But she's just 15 months
old, so she won't read it for a while. I don't think she'll mind my sharing it with you.
June 13, 2010
Today I was able to fulfill my Dad's dream: To drive around the Le Mans Circuit
with John Fitch at the wheel of the same Corvette race car he drove to victory 50
years ago. At 93, John's truly a legend here, and he enjoys every second of the muchdeserved
glory. I have the utmost respect for him, and I've had the rare opportunity of
truly getting to know this amazing man.
The parade lap was something I was really looking forward to. The sound of the
car was so sweet to my ears. The aroma of the exhaust was flowers to my nose, and the
thrill of the car's power was out of this world. It was an amazing feeling. Something
I could never duplicate. I loved waving to all the screaming and cheering fans. It was
such an incredible moment. As we headed under the Dunlop Bridge I kept thinking
– is this real?
I knew Zora Duntov, Bob Grossman and my father were looking down proud.
They could hear the sweet music too.
There was a lot of emotion going through my mind. I was so happy—yet sad at the
same time. I was thrilled to be involved with all of this, especially since my hard work
really did pay off. Things came together so well.
John Fitch and the author
But it was so sad that it wasn't my father in the pas-
senger seat. This was his moment. He would have done
anything to be a part of the amazing day, and I really
do think his spirit was with us during this incredible
journey around the track.
You're right, Dad. Life is good! ■
(To learn more about amyloidosis, go to chipmiller.org.)
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 23
Michael Brown
Page 22
C1 profile
1957 283/250 Fuelie Convertible
Like Chevrolet selling a detuned ZR1 for timid drivers today, this low-output
Fuelie was a concept that just didn't add up
by Thomas Glatch
Chassis number: E57S105735
O
nly three years after its introduction, for 1956 Chevrolet introduced a restyled
Corvette that was a significant departure from earlier models. Fast, sleek and
extremely clean in appearance, the new body style was more than just a work of
art – the now-iconic design lent America's sports car a much more sporting iden-
tity. As a result, the overall excitement surrounding Corvette soon notched into high
gear, and the '56 model outsold previous versions by a margin of nearly three to one.
Wisely, GM elected to not deface a figure of beauty for 1957, and the dramatic body
styling remained unchanged – although it would mark the last year for the simplistic
two-headlight design. Engineering enhancements were another matter entirely. With
aggressive competition from Ford's Thunderbird and the Mercedes-Benz 300SL,
Chevrolet was serious about putting its adversaries in the Corvette's tire tracks, and
the arrival of engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov to the team fortunately meant a sharpened
focus on racetrack-quality performance. The Corvette was soon available with an
array of high-performance V8s, including a dual four-barrel carburetor setup good
for 270 horsepower, and a fuel-injected version with 283 horsepower – a laudable
one horsepower per cubic inch. This increase in power necessitated other optional
upgrades to round out the sporty two-seater's performance, including heavy-duty racing
suspension, front brake air scoops and finned brake drums as found in Regular
Production Order (RPO) 684.
With an intimidating front-end chrome grill that resembled a shark's mouth, the
roadster ate up the competition. In fact, it was promoted as one of the fastest production
cars of its time. Published data of the day illustrated a 283/250 fuel-injected
24 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Details
Years Produced 1957
Number Produced 182 (250-hp manual transmission)
Original List Price $3,875
CM Valuation $60,000–$115,000
Tune-up $500
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # VIN plate on the steering column
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 1957 Ford Thunderbird
1959 Jaguar XK150
CM Investment
Grade A
Photos: Worldwide Auctioneers
Page 23
example achieving 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.7 seconds
and the quarter mile in 14.3 seconds.
The 283/250 example offered here was acquired by
R.E. Monical about eight years ago. It is an original,
correct-numbers fuel-injected car as confirmed by the
original engine stamping “F702EM,” wherein “EM”
denotes the 250-hp fuel injected engine with manual
transmission – a $484 option when new. The Rochester
FI unit carries part number 7024520, which was the second
version utilized by Chevrolet on the 1957 Corvette.
This is not only the correct part number for this car;
it is also believed to be the original unit. The optional
manual transmission added an additional $188.30 to the
price tag.
Finished in Venetian Red with beige coves and a
red and beige interior, this example is well appointed.
It features the desirable Wonderbar radio, plus a clock,
emergency brake warning light, spinner wheel covers,
and the vastly preferable four-speed transmission (one
of 664 installed). Also of note, 931 ‘57 Corvettes were
ordered with the RPO 491 auxiliary hardtop in place
of the soft top, and this is believed to be one of those
examples. In the day, this Corvette's overall cost would
have been more than $3,875 compared to $2,611 for a
base Bel Air convertible.
Recently, the staff at the Monical Collection re-
moved the fuel injection unit and had it completely and
correctly rebuilt. Today the fuel-injection system functions
extremely well, and the engine runs as it should.
Although the body-off restoration is now about 17 years
old, this Corvette remains in excellent condition with
paint and chrome finishes appearing fresh. Only nine
miles have turned on the odometer since completion.
The engine and its surrounding bay are tidy with very
nice details, the underbody is clean, the trunk is neat,
and the chrome is very presentable. Additionally, the
body fit is quite good for a Corvette of this vintage.
CM Analysis This car sold for $68,200 at Worldwide
Auctioneers' Houston Classic Auction in
Houston, Texas on May 1, 2010.
The fuel-injected 1957 Corvette is one of those Holy
Grails that is not only on most Corvette collectors'
short lists, but also the short lists of “non-Corvette” car
lovers as well. That's because the ‘57 Fuelie has that
rare recipe of performance and style, with a sprinkling
of mystique, which makes it one of the most valuable
Corvettes in history.
But not all fuel-injected ‘57s were created equal. John
Dolza designed the mechanical injection, which was
manufactured by GM's Rochester division, with racing
in mind. Not only was the system good for roughly 10
horsepower over an identical dual-quad engine, but it
cured the flooding or starving that high-speed cornering
and braking could induce in carbureted power plants.
Yet on the street, Fuelies could be difficult to start
when cold (though later versions were improved), and
few mechanics could work on the complex system. But
756 ‘57 Corvette buyers lived with those idiosyncrasies
to have the fastest car in town.
Here the plot thickens, or perhaps dilutes is a better
Seat Time
David Pollard, via
term. For the Monical Collection car, while a genuine
1957 Fuelie, is not one of those storied one-horsepowerper-cubic-inch
283/283 wonders. Instead, it's one of
the detuned 250-hp versions introduced the same year.
RPO 579A (for manual transmission) and 579C (for
automatic) was essentially the cruising 245-hp engine
with the addition of fuel injection. That's right Elvira,
you could actually team the low-output 250-hp Fuelie
engine with the plebian two-speed Powerglide slushbox,
which is an arrangement never offered with the potent
283-hp fuel-injected version.
What was Chevrolet thinking when it created the 250-hp Fuelie? In all likelihood,
email: I was 15 in 1967, and
my big brother had two
Corvettes. Ken was 9 years
older. He owned a lowmileage
‘63 roadster and
a ‘57. My father was too
busy to teach me how to
drive, so Ken volunteered.
I was stoked, as he taught
me to drive in his ‘57. He
didn't trust me in the Sting
Ray. I was fine with the '57,
as I loved that car. I loved
it so much that later in life
I acquired a very nice,
low-mileage, one-owner
‘56. The ‘56 was not as fast
as the ‘57, but it was every
bit as nice, and the ladies
loved it.
this was targeted as a “wife's car” – a civilized Fuelie with the panache of fuel injection
and the ease of use of an automatic. Though perhaps a defensible strategy for
gaining incremental sales over the likes of Ford's more feminine Thunderbird, in fact
the 250-hp model cost as much as the “real” 283-hp cars. Just 182 manual and
102 automatic versions were built for 1957. Even so, Chevrolet continued this largely
unloved option through the 1960 model year, when only 100 were ordered. It's like
Chevrolet selling a detuned ZR1 for lady drivers today – a concept that just doesn't
add up.
The Monical Collection ‘57 is nicely restored, but with a large portion of original-
ity remaining, including the original fuel-injection unit. That's rare, since back in the
day many Fuelie owners replaced the cantankerous systems with tried-and-true carburetors.
But at the end of the story, what was unpopular in 1957 is just as unpopular
today. Without the pedigree of Bloomington Gold Survivor certification, $68K is about
all anyone could realistically expect from this Corvette. Well sold. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers)
TOM GLATCH has been contributing stories and photographs to automotive magazines,
books and calendars since 1983.
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 25
Page 24
C2 profile
1963 327/300 4-Speed “Harley Earl” Convertible
When someone spends $100m for Warhol's “Eight Elvises” painting, how can
you begrudge another for dropping a measly mil on a showboat Corvette?
by John L. Stein
as his personal car. It features the base Corvette 327 cubic-inch, 300-horsepower carbureted
V8 engine, a four-speed manual transmission, and finned aluminum knock-off
wheels.
Myriad special features that GM created for the car make it truly unique, including
A
a dramatic stainless steel side-exit exhaust system and 1965-style four-wheel power
disc brakes with dual hydraulic circuits. This historic Sting Ray also features metallic
blue paint and custom blue leather seats with white trim, stainless-steel door
and foot-well inserts, and plush carpeting. Special passenger-side instrumentation
includes an altimeter, accelerometer, inside and outside air temperature gauges, and a
manifold-vacuum pressure readout, while the main instruments feature the later 196567
Corvette's flat design panel.
CM Analysis This car sold for $980,500, including buyer's premium, at Mecum's
Original Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 22,
2010.
Since former President Bill Clinton challenged the definition of “is” in reference to
his Oval Office dalliances, I figure some philosophical bemusement is also fair game
in matters of Corvette investment. So here goes: How much is “one of one” worth if
there are no others to compare it against? And what defines worth, anyway?
26 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
mainstay of the Bloomington Gold Special Collection, this Harley J. Earl
Corvette is a one-of-a-kind factory special with a singularly historic pedigree.
General Motors commissioned the custom-built 1963 Sting Ray under Shop
Order 10323 as a gift for the legendary GM designer, who subsequently used it
Details
Years Produced 1963
Number Produced 10,919 (all convertibles) 1 (this car)
Original List Price $4,037
CM Valuation $980,500
Tune-up $350
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # Cross brace under glove box
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
1967 Corvette 427/430 L88
1966–68 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
1965–67 Shelby Cobra 427
CM Investment
Grade A
Photos: Sam Murtaugh Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
Page 25
Fortunately, in this case the answer is unimpeach-
able. In an actual free-market economy, the worth of
anything – singularly or in multiples – is defined by what
someone is willing to pay on that day. And in this case,
it was just shy of a million clams for Harley J. Earl's
one-of-a-kind personal Sting Ray. The buyer stepped up
and paid up. That's fair enough for me.
Even so, as a lifelong Sting Ray devotee, this particu-
lar auction made me sit up and ponder. Why? Because in
recent months, some very attractive and credible former
C2 race cars have failed to sell at significantly less than
what was paid here. The wide monetary divide between
race cars that actually made history and a car that was
fundamentally a retiree's fashion accessory made me
wonder what, exactly, was the draw with Harley Earl.
Hatched as a Riverside Red Fuelie
Some particulars about the car are useful here. It
rolled out of Corvette's St. Louis, Missouri assembly
plant as a fuel-injected Riverside Red fleet car—most
likely for GM executive use. About that same time, GM
Design was working on a concept car for the Chicago
Auto Show, utilizing the same styling cues that would
later be adopted on SO 10323. Once the Chicago show
car was completed, Design staff similarly modified our
subject car for Earl. They also replaced the brutish
Fuelie motor with the milder 300-horse carbureted version
and installed air conditioning to improve the car's
usefulness in Earl's south Florida retirement home.
Since the car itself is not particularly special—un-
less you count an early set of disc brakes, a shoebox full
of avionics, side pipes and sparkly paint special—the
million-dollar question is, what's the point? Because to
me, this is a garden-variety, low-horsepower Sting Ray
pimped up for GM's ex-styling boss. It wasn't even his
design. It was just a present to him from GM. And he
might not have even appreciated it all that much, as he
sold it two years later to an Army veteran.
From there, it slid off the radar screen until the early
1970s, when a group of racers bought it with intentions
of building a dragster. Fortunately, they stopped short
of doing so when they realized the car was something
special. Eventually they proffered it at Corvettes at
Carlisle in 1980, where it became widely known once
again.
GM Design eventually helped restore the Corvette
back into the form that Earl saw when he got the car in
1963. The restoration included a new coat of Medium
Blue paint, correct trim and badges. It drew a top bid
of $985,000 against a $1.3 million reserve at Mecum's
Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction in St. Charles,
Illinois on June 27, 2009. The car was then tucked
away again before finally selling almost a year later
in Indianapolis at nearly the same money, the reserve
obviously lowered.
When presentation trumps substance
I'll admit I've got a problem with poseurs. A mil-
lion bucks for a 1967 L88, I can kind of see that – those
cars were the best year of the best body design during
the best period, they were built to race, and many of
them did. But this GM Design gift to the retired Earl
is basically a showboat, with its egregious Duesenberg
side pipes and Sputnik gauges on the passenger side.
Plus, Earl wasn't the kingpin of GM Styling when the
Sting Ray came out. The torch had already passed to the
equally flamboyant Bill Mitchell, who was credited with
leading the Sting Ray design effort. So what we have
here is a Mitchell design property modified by staff for
the former design chief.
Historically speaking, the Harley Earl zoot-suit
Sting Ray never accomplished much of anything. The
car never blazed any highly important concept trails,
such as Earl's brilliant 1953 Motorama show car or
Mitchell's original Mako Shark. Although disc brakes
and flat-face instruments debuted for 1965, the external
header pipes were never integrated into production,
nor were the ancillary gauges. So the car was then,
and remains today, a curiosity that defined GM staff's
interpretation of what their previous commander liked
most – flights of fancy.
Seat Time
Lyle Prior, Kansas City,
MO: I bought the Harley
Earl car in the late 1980s
from Joe Clark for $65,000.
As I recall, I paid him
$25,000 down.
I had a very bad oil
investment problem, and
I ended up giving the car
back to him.
I still have an
Automobile Quarterly
book that Joe gave me
when the car was delivered
to me.
One man's ten-spot is another guy's million
When I think about what $980,500 can buy in other Corvettes, I have to stop and
suck in a few breaths. A perfect '57 Fuelie, a '63 Z06, a Tri Power '67 L71, a '69 L88,
a Corvette Challenge racer and a 1995 ZR-1 added together still don't equal what the
buyer spent on the Earl car. But to each his own. And I do concede that the “one of
one” factor carries plenty of weight, and that if you had an underground shrine to
Earl, the designer of all things lavish at GM in his time, this car would make your
bunker complete.
Also in defense of the price paid, cars of this rarity and cost are not really cars any
longer – they're objets d'art. After all, when someone pays $100 million for Warhol's
“Eight Elvises,” how can you begrudge another for dropping a measly $980,500 on
a one-of-a-kind Corvette? It wouldn't be my first choice, but then again I'm not a
buyer with that kind of coin. Understand that for some guys $1m like $10 for the rest
of us. Frankly, I don't think too much about peeling off a 10-spot for a tuna salad
sandwich and iced tea when I feel like it. And in the case of Lot S116 at the Indiana
State Fairgrounds on a cloudy Saturday last May, perhaps the buyer didn't either.
All of this leads me to conclude that, although the Harley J. Earl Sting Ray wasn't
designed by him, never won a race, and never presaged any critical styling elements
for Corvette, the price paid was still exactly right. That's because when there's only
one, whatever it sells for is market correct on that day. For this reason, this Sting Ray
was simultaneously well bought and sold, and I hope the new owner enjoys the hell
out of it. ■
(Introductory copy courtesy of Mecum Auctions.)
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 27
Page 26
C3 profile
1,650 Horsepower, L88 Style
The L88 engine was the definitive bad boy of GM's Mark IV engine family,
and its sole mission was to develop the brute force necessary to kick ass
by Mark Rudnick
Lot 163, $211,750—RM San Diego
(Three L88s crossed the block recently, and we asked CM analyst Mark Rudnick to
compare and contrast them. – CM.)
CM Analysis If the clanking of solid lifters is music to your ears and the lumpy sound
of a long-duration cam makes your heart pound, hearing a Corvette
L88 fire up is guaranteed to move you. That's because, like the Hallelujah Chorus
of Handel's “Messiah” on Christmas Day (or maybe the Troggs' “Wild Thing” at a
backyard double-kegger) the sound drills deep into your soul.
Whatever your musical preferences, for those drawn to the altar of fiberglass, the
1967–69 L88s are indisputably the zenith of production Corvettes – and ownership
of these highly coveted second- and third-generation cars naturally confers special
status within the larger Corvette community. After all, over 1.5 million Corvettes have
been built, but there were only 216 St. Louis-built L88s, and they were the most powerful,
baddest machines of their day, save perhaps for a few side-oiler 427 snakes.
The L88 Corvettes were born in the heyday of America's celebrated muscle-car
era, a time when Detroit engineers where burning up their slide rules to put more
horsepower under the hood to meet the growing demands of America's horsepowerhungry
youth market. Both manufacturers and buyers coveted the bragging rights
associated with horsepower ratings and quarter-mile performance. This was a time,
wonderfully captured in the George Lucas classic “American Graffiti,” where desolate
back roads often served as the arena where social stature was sorted and pecking
orders were engrained.
When too much was just enough
The L88 engine was the definitive bad boy of GM's Mark IV engine family, and
its sole mission was to develop the brute force necessary to kick ass on the track.
Roughly based on the 427-cid, 435-hp L71 engine, the L88 incorporated a monstrous
850-cfm Holley carburetor perched atop a high-rise cast-aluminum intake manifold.
This setup was fed by a cowl induction system delivering high-pressure air under the
rear hood edge and then forward through a low-restriction air cleaner. Other L88
features included aluminum heads, an aluminum radiator with no shroud, heavy-duty
forged engine components, and a burly 12.5:1 compression ratio.
Also included were K66 transistorized ignition, F41 heavy-duty suspension (con-
sisting of special front heavy-duty coil springs, a rear heavy-duty seven-leaf rear
spring, and front and rear heavy-duty shock absorbers), a J50/J56 heavy-duty power
brake combination, and the heavy-duty M22 “rock crusher” close-ratio four-speed
28 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
transmission. Perhaps equally telling of Chevrolet's intent
for the L88 was the list of options that were denied
when RPO L88 was selected. Corvette L88s could not
be ordered with air conditioning, power steering, power
windows or a radio – all components which had little or
no value on the racetrack and only added to the car's
weight.
This was not an engine option intended for the
Corvette customer looking for a mild-mannered sports
Details
Years Produced 1967–69
Number Produced 216 (20 in 1967, 80 in 1968, 116 in 1969)
Original List Price $5,336.65 (1967), $5,610.90 (1968),
$5,813.15 (1969)
CM Valuation $1,225,000–$2,050,000 (1967),
$200,000–$500,000 (1968–69)
Tune-up $150–$200
Distributor Cap $20
Chassis # Cross brace under glove box (1967),
driver-side windshield pillar (1968–69)
Engine # Engine pad in front of right-side
cylinder head
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Road
Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1965–67 Shelby Cobra 427
1970–71 Plymouth Barracuda Hemi
1969–70 Ford Mustang 429
CM Investment
Grade A
Darin Schnabel ©2010 Courtesy of RM Auction
Page 27
Lot S174, $159,000—Mecum Indianapolis
car to parade down Main Street on Friday night or to take out for a Sunday jaunt. Nor
was the L88 Corvette planned for Walter Mitty types, who fantasized about racing
without possessing either the skill or experience to safely handle the power delivered
by this engine. In reality, the L88 was developed for qualified racing drivers, but
to meet the homologation requirements of the SCCA and FIA, the engine had to be
factory-built and street-legal. Thus, the L88 option code was listed without fanfare
on Corvette order forms from 1967 through 1969. Chevrolet naturally did whatever it
could to discourage the option's appeal and availability to the non-racing public, including
artificially listing its output as “only” 430 hp compared to 435 hp for the L71.
Three L88s Get Sold
One 1968 and two 1969 Corvette L88s have traded ownership recently at auction.
First up was Lot S174 at Dana Mecum's Original Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis,
Indiana on May 22, 2010. This 1968 four-speed coupe, s/n 194378S419533, was finished
in Silverstone Silver with a black interior and sold for $159,000. Though presented
without national awards, distinguished race history or an impressive provenance, this
nicely restored example was still determined by the cognoscenti in attendance to be
a “real deal” L88, and its all-important original tank sticker was displayed in the
windshield during the pre-auction inspection period.
Unfortunately, the car was not secured, and, at some point during the weekend, the
tank sticker went missing. On a 1968 L88 (one of only 80 built) this is a major problem.
Strong documentation of authenticity, in which an original tank sticker is a prime
element, is generally considered to be at least 25 percent of an investment-grade
Corvette's market value. So the sticker's mysterious
disappearance had a well-warranted negative impact
on the bidding, undoubtedly contributing to the winning
bidder's advantage in acquiring this particular car at a
very attractive price.
Awards and documentation essential
The next two L88s offered at auction were Lot 151 and
Lot 163 at RM's Classic Muscle & Modern Performance
auction in San Diego, California on June 19, 2010.
These two Corvettes were part of a larger group of 77
cars offered without reserve by the Glen Konkle collection.
Lot 151, a 1969 Monza Red four-speed coupe, s/n
194379S736298, had it all. The car hit the block with
Bloomington Gold, NCRS Top Flight, Gold Spinner and
Triple Crown awards, just over 2,000 miles on a quality
body-off restoration, loads of documentation including
the original sales receipts and Protect-O-Plate, and
limited and clear ownership history.
In a time of ongoing economic uncertainty, it says
something about the enduring value of L88s that this car
brought in a healthy $401,500. Admittedly this figure is
more than 20 percent below the $446,250 that the same
car commanded at the Mecum Fall Auction in October
Lot 151, $401,500—RM San Diego
2007, but that was before the economic bubble burst and
collector-Corvette price escalation skidded to a halt. In
any event, the most recent sale proves that there is still
serious money waiting to make advantageous buys on
investment-grade Corvettes.
Lot 163, a Riverside Gold coupe, s/n 194379S710256,
is one of only 17 L88s built with an automatic transmission
for 1969. Originally drag-raced (hence the
automatic) on the East Coast by Bard Chevrolet before
receiving a quality restoration by Nabers Brothers in
Houston, Texas, at auction the car was presented in excellent
condition, showing just 21,121 miles on the odometer.
It also came with Bloomington Gold Certification
and clear ownership history. The $211,750 winning bid
is somewhat below the figure one would expect for a car
of this quality and rarity. However, the market spoke
and the car was bought well.
It's not a stretch to call any L88 a true blue-chip col-
lectible Corvette. All of these cars had their virutes, the
red/red more than the rest, which was reflected in the
price that it bought. L88s continue to bring big dollars
from sophisticated buyers who know exactly what they
are looking at. ■
Seat Time
Brian Bolotin, New York, NY: I am the owner of a 1969 Corvette convertible 427/430
L88 (VIN# 194679S720068) I know you referred to a coupe, but I couldn't resist. This triple
black ‘69 L88 is one of the rarest Corvettes known, and it is one of only two L88s to exist
in this color combination.
This car also has a great history. It was special ordered by Tony DeLorenzo from
his racing sponsor, Hanley Dawson Chevrolet in Detroit. Tony actually ordered this as
his daily driver! Tony took delivery of #20068 in early 1969 and drove it daily until Curt
Wetzel, a good friend of his and a fellow racer, convinced him to race prep it and sell it
to him. After Tony agreed, they drove it to the Detroit airport in a raging snow storm and
loaded it into the belly of a Pan Am aircraft bound for Frankfurt, Germany. Curt then
proceeded to race the car in Germany, beating Porsches and BMWs.
The car went through a frame-off restoration in 2004 by Ken and Gary Naber. To
date, this car has received numerous awards, including NCRS Top Flight, Bloomington
Gold, Bloomington Gold Special Collection, Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame, Chevy
Vettefest Gold Spinner and Triple Crown.
Larry Hill, Virginia Beach, VA: I own a 1968 L88 coupe. It is a survivor car, having
received the Bloomington Gold Survivor award two times and Bloomington Gold
award twice. It is streetable, and it feels like a full race car for the street. It really is cool.
Seat-of-the-pants feel is strong. Until I bought my ZR-1,
most late-model Corvettes a run for the money.
I would have said it would give
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 29
John Hollansworth Jr., Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
Darin Schnabel ©2010 Courtesy of RM Auction
Page 28
C4 profile
1989 Callaway Twin Turbo Convertible
Languishing national economy or not, the time seemed right for this Twin
Turbo to pull significantly more dollars than it did
by Chip Lamb
Chassis number: 1G1YY3188K5123674
I
ntroduced to the press at Riverside International Raceway in late 1982, the longawaited
fourth-generation Corvette was stylish, sophisticated, worldly – and unlike
any Corvette ever before.
But the excitement didn't last. Though the 1984 model racked up the second high-
est build in Corvette history (thanks to a 1.5-year long run), its 51,547 production soon
dropped to 39,729 for 1985 and then to 35,109 for 1986. The 350-cubic-inch, tuned-portinjection
engines were just not cutting it, and with the four-cam, 32-valve ZR-1 stuck in
the developmental pipeline, the Corvette's relatively low sales compared to other GM
models made the company hesitant to further invest in improving the breed.
Unfortunate as the situation was for Corvette, it played out beautifully for Callaway
Cars in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which had already been creating high-performance
turbocharger packages for different manufacturers. GM became a believer too, after
purchasing one of Callaway's twin-turbo Alfa Romeo GTV6s and discovering that it ran
rings around a standard Corvette.
A meeting quickly ensued, and just a few months later, Chevrolet announced a new
Corvette option for 1987. Regular Production Option (RPO) B2K specified a 350-cubic
inch Corvette V8, with breathing enhanced by a pair of small turbochargers. Even more
notably though, it marked the first externally supplied Corvette high-performance package
available through participating Chevrolet dealers and covered by a full GM warranty.
Times were changing in the competitive arena, and fast.
The Callaway Twin Turbo's power rating began at 345 hp in 1987 and then grew to
382 horsepower with an astounding 560 lb-ft. of torque for 1989. To handle this massive
output, a Callaway-modified GM Turbo 400 automatic replaced the Corvette's standard
700R4 automatic transmission. The carefully engineered swap included the addition of a
Laycock de Normanville-type overdrive unit, as well as integration with the Corvette's
Delco Powertrain Control Module. Despite this trickery, however, only 10 Callaway
Corvettes were equipped with the automatic option in 1989, thanks largely to the new
availability of the widely heralded ZF six-speed manual transmission.
The finished product was impressive to say the least, with 0–60 times in the mid
four-second range, quarter-mile elapsed times in the 12-second range, and top-speed
potential approaching 180 mph. Best of all, while these extremely limited-production
30 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Corvettes offered supercar-type performance, they were
also surprisingly easy to maintain, with everyday drivability.
This particular 1989 Callaway Corvette has accumu-
lated only 1,055 miles, and it has been owned by discriminating
collectors since new. The Bright Red exterior and
matching interior are truly stunning and befitting a car
Details
Years Produced 1987–91
Number Produced 68 (1989)
Original List Price $63,334
CM Valuation $20,000–$35,000
Tune-up $125
Distributor Cap $12
Chassis # Lower-left windshield corner
Engine # Lower rear side of crankcase
Club
Corvette Club of America
P.O. Box 9879
Bowling Green, KY 42102
More www.corvetteclubofamerica.com
Alternatives
1988–89 Corvette Challenge Racer
1991–96 Greenwood Corvette
1990–95 ZR-1
CM Investment
Grade C
Photos: Darin Schnabel ©2010 Courtesy of RM Auction
Page 29
with its performance capabilities. Exclusivity is guaranteed,
with this car being one of only 69 Callaway Corvettes built in
1989, as well as one of the few equipped with the available automatic
transmission. It also includes a rare matching hardtop,
as well as other desirable Corvette options. In excellent overall
condition, this well-preserved Callaway continues to run and
drive as new.
CM Analysis This car sold for $33,000, including buyer's
premium, at RM's Classic Muscle & Modern
Performance Auction in San Diego, California on June 19,
2010.
As noted in the RM auction catalog, General Motors was in-
deed grasping at straws in trying to make its flagship Corvette
a modern competitor in the emissions-strangled 1980s. On
sale in early 1983, after a full year's hiatus since the last
third-generation model left the new Bowling Green, Kentucky
production line, the C4 platform heralded sweeping changes
in design, engineering, manufacturing and complexity. The
first models rode very harshly and, as noted, weren't exactly
runaway performance champions right off the train.
To GM's credit, the company recognized the car's problems immediately and set
about making meaningful changes – ultimately including the Callaway connection. In
fact, GM's sampling of Callaway's twin-turbo Alfa was certainly not the first time the
company had done this sort of thing. True fact: GM also purchased a Porsche 959 to
evaluate its potential competitiveness against the upcoming ZR-1, and that car reportedly
still exists within the General Motors Heritage Collection.
But while the four-cam ZR-1 was still embryonic, and the prototype mid-engine
“Indy Pace Car” or “CERV-III” was barely a fantasy, GM realized it had to fire a salvo
of some type to reestablish Corvette's dominance against various European competitors
– as well as the powerful domestic sporty cars such as the Mustang GT. On the dealer
lots, the C4's improved handling, more-attractive styling and even the reemergence of a
convertible variant for 1986 was just not enough of a winning proposition.
Callaway/GM relationship historically unique
Callaway's C4 was very different than hot-rodded Corvette versions from Greenwood
and other performance tuners. Simply put, Callaway enjoyed an exclusive vendor arrangement
with GM that others could only dream about, and the issuance of a Regular
Production Option code, in this case B2K, was not repeated for any other aftermarket
performance company.
The cars with this code on their build stickers left Bowling Green with standard
powerplants, then landed at the Callaway workshops in Old Lyme for conversion. Here
the base-specification L98 was modified for over 10 pounds of boost with twin turbo-
Seat Time
Chuck Kyle, Lewisville, TX: I owned a 1990 Callaway Twin Turbo Aerobody convert-
ible for 13 years. I just sold it last November, and I still miss it.
The Callaway Twin Turbo is an amazing car that still remains ahead of its time.
It offers a driving experience like no other; the smoothness, quietness, and torque
have to be felt to be believed. My car was #005 and it had 76,000 miles on it when
I sold it. I never had any major problems with it, just factors associated with age and
mileage. The car really ran like a bear and was always a thrill to drive. I never grew
tired of it. It drove like a stock L98 until the turbos kicked in at about 2000 rpm, and
then you had just better hang on, it was a rocket ship ride from there on out. On the
highway it delivered 28 mpg and never missed a beat.
I now own a ”warmed over” C6 with about 544 HP and I love it, but it can't com-
pare to the Callaway. I'll always love the Callaway.
John Kyle, Miami, FL: I have owned 5 Callaway twin turbos, and they are monster
cars with bullet-proof motors. A Callaway will pin you to your seat when the turbos
kick in, and the monster torque is unleashed. It is a unique thrill.
These cars lifted the Corvette into comparable—or even better—performance
than most Ferraris and Lamborghinis in the late 1980s/early19 90s. I have found them
to be low-maintenance, fun to drive and with great support from the Callaway factory
in Old Lyme. They are “supercars” that I can service at my Chevy dealer!
chargers, making a whopping 382 horsepower at just
4,250 revs per minute. This hefty output required either
a manual gearbox or, in the case of our auction car, the
unusual automatic transmission.
While the entire run of Callaway Twin Turbo Corvettes
numbered only 448 (coincidentally the same number as
each of the final three ZR-1 production years), its considerable
press coverage at least kept Corvette in the
footlights of consideration for enthusiasts until the ZR-1
finally arrived. And to its credit, General Motors at least
offered a supercar that had Ferraris and Lamborghinis
struggling to keep up.
Automatic transmission a serious resale flaw
As with most of the cars offered by RM during the
weekend, this particular Callaway has negligible miles
from new, and maintains most, if not all, of its original
features inside and out. It also benefited from retaining
most of its stock Corvette aesthetics, rather than being
outfitted with the $6,500-plus Callaway Aerobody kit.
It is also fortunate that the car came with an origi-
nal auxiliary removable hardtop and most of the other
Corvette options available at the time. Still, two important
factors held it back from bringing more money. Most
important was that the automatic transmission, fancy
Laycock overdrive or not, would never be the first choice
of most performance drivers. Second, Callaway also did
little, if anything, to retune suspensions on the B2K option
to match the engine output.
Of late, Corvette enthusiasts have rightfully shown
particular interest in highly original cars, especially
when one is offered in a true no-reserve auction such as
RM San Diego. Price guides tend to be forgotten when
bidders realize it may be a very long time before they
will have another chance at a car such as this original
Callaway.
Languishing national economy or not, the setup
seemed right for this Twin Turbo to pull significantly
more dollars than it did. Blame this on the plight of the C4
Corvettes in general, because even at 25 years old, they
are still far too “new” to be considered classics. But time
has a way of taking care of that perception, and as the
years roll on the price paid here will very likely ultimately
be seen as a bargain. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of RM.)
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 31
Page 30
C5 profile
2003 Pratt & Miller C5-R Le Mans Racers
GM considered both cars “physical assets,” and assigned them asset ID
numbers not unlike machine tooling or assembly plant machinery
by B. Mitchell Carlson
Chassis numbers: C5R-008, C5R-009
A
fter decades of arm's-length involvement in Corvette racing, in 1998 the
Chevrolet Motor Division finally created its own team to showcase the new
fifth-generation Corvette platform. Built by Pratt & Miller Engineering in
Michigan, the C5-R was from the start a purpose-built racecar utilizing the
most advanced technologies and materials available. Its mission: Beat Ferrari, Viper,
Saleen and Porsche in the world's toughest endurance race, the 24 Heures du Mans.
Pratt & Miller eventually built 11 C5-R Corvettes from 1998 to 2004 – 10 for
GM's factory Corvette Racing team and one for a privateer team. Two of them are
presented here. Chassis number C5R-008 was driven by Oliver Gavin, Kelly Collins
and Andy Pilgrim at Le Mans in 2003 where, wearing No. 50, it finished second in
GTS and 11th
overall. It shared the podium with the No. 53 sister car, chassis number
C5R-009, driven by Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell and Franck Freon, which is also
offered here.
At the conclusion of their racing careers, both Corvette C5-R s/n 008 and s/n 009
were completely restored by Pratt & Miller to original specifications, including the
distinctive blue 50th Anniversary livery they wore at Le Mans. With less than 25 miles
since restoration, they are in brand-new condition throughout. They are also fully
race-prepared, including new Katech-built 427 engines rated at 600 horsepower, and
the original jacking and fire systems. This incomparable pair of racecars represents a
historically significant chapter in Corvette's glorious racing history.
CM Analysis These cars failed to sell – either individually at $350,000 apiece, or as
a pair for $775,000 – during Dana Mecum's Original Spring Classic
auction in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 21, 2010.
Considering the millions that Chevrolet invested in developing the C5-R, the idea
that the cars that finished second and third in class at the Circuit de la Sarthe during
Corvette's 50th
Anniversary year would, only seven years later, end up at an Indiana
auction seems nothing short of preposterous. So is the notion that the cars would
escape GM's control in the first place. But to paraphrase the late Jerry Garcia, what
a long strange trip it's been for GM.
Since a good measure of comfort can be found in truth, here is how it happened:
32 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
After grinding through a troublesome Le Mans and losing
to Ferrari in the GTS class, the twins made a handful
of appearances before segueing to other duties. Serial
number C5R-008, the second-place No. 50 GTS at Le
Mans, became a pit-crew trainer for Pratt & Miller.
C5R-009, the No. 53 car, was repainted in Corvette
Details
Years Produced 1998–2004
Number Produced 11
Original List Price NA
CM Valuation $500,000–$750,000
Tune-up Don't ask
Distributor Cap $80
Chassis # Tag riveted to the roll cage near the
left side of the instrument panel
Club
Vintage Sports Car Drivers
Association
P.O. Box 68003
Grand Rapids, MI 49516-8003
More www.corvetteracing.com
www.palmeter.com/C5RInfoIndex.htm
Alternatives
2005 and later Corvette C6.R
2004–05 Maserati MC-12
1990–98 Ferrari 348 Challenge
1998 McLaren F1
CM Investment
Grade B
Photos: Richard Prince/rprincephoto.com
Page 31
Racing's trademark Millennium Yellow and black, and returned
to active duty as the No. 8 car for Boris Said and Dale
Earnhardt, Jr. during the 2004 ALMS season. It then became
even more famous – though not admirably so. Dale Jr. had
just come out of the pits at Infineon Raceway when he spun in
a corner and crashed. Freshly refueled, the car still had some
race gas in its filler neck, which splashed out and ignited the
bodywork. Junior insists to this day that his late father – only
three years gone at that point – carried him out of the car.
After the shunt, s/n 009 was relegated to a corner of Pratt &
Miller's shop.
The big wheels turn slowly at GM
Initially, our Mecum consignor wanted only C5R-009 (or
what was left of it), and sent a formal offer to GM. But he soon
heard that s/n 008 might also be available. After all, GM had
already sold other C5-Rs to American and European teams
by this time. And with the launch of the C6 platform imminent,
the company was actually looking for a short list of collectors
who would be worthy owners for some of the remaining C5-Rs. As something of a
self-admitted “groupie” of Corvette Racing – among his involvement in other aspects
of the Corvette community – our consigner made the list.
GM considered both cars “physical assets,” and assigned them asset ID numbers
261098 and 219909 – not unlike machine tooling or assembly plant machinery – with
GM's Global Asset Recovery Program set to handle their liquidation. Once our consignor
became registered as part of the bidding process (mostly by signing a plethora
of GM's “as is, where is” contracts), he then waited for the cars to be put through
one of the closed online auctions. Amazingly, these irreplaceable icons were listed
together as one lot of used race car parts.
Days of waiting turned into weeks and months, but the good news with the bu-
reaucratic delay was that Pratt & Miller was busy restoring the cars in the meantime,
getting them fully assembled with bodywork in primer by the auction. The time span
ultimately stretched from September 2004 until May 9, 2005, when the consignor was
informed he was the winning bidder.
Two period-correct and track-ready cars
Surprisingly, the sales agreement from GM was barely over a page long – less
than most of the cars GM sold through several recent Barrett-Jackson auctions.
Predictably, the sales agreement allowed on-track use but prohibited operation on
public roads.
Upon buying the cars, our consignor had them painted and detailed to match their
Le Mans appearance, right down to the decals, European-spec taillights, and unique
drivers' seats. Since then, he has shown them as static exhibits at a handful of events.
Seat Time
If love is a drug, the Corvette C5-R is blood-boiling, psychedelic, adrenaline-
pumping, heart-fibrillating speedball, and I am locked forever to its enrapturing
power. Ten laps around Indiana's Putnam Park at the helm of the C5-R in 1999 forever
altered my view of performance cars and performance driving. For it provided
a literally cathartic experience – a mind-bending few minutes that changed my
view of the world now and forever.
Piloting the C5-R is like the classic dream of flying. You're omnipotent; just press
the go pedal and the 600-hp Katech engine blasts you down the track with almost
unspeakable ferocity. Tug back lightly on the Hewland shift lever and the next
close-ratio gear comes up. The car goes through gears as quickly as a superbike
on the quarter mile. Stand on the pedal and the big brakes haul this 2500-lb. missile
down like someone threw out the Queen Mary's anchor. And now turn the wheel
(it's amazingly light feeling with Corvette production power steering) and the car
follows, instantly, precisely, confidently.
The car moves me quickly beyond the range of my experience – despite years
of lapping sessions and racing in cars, bikes and karts. Two corners show 1.5 g's or
higher, and every corner shows over 1 g, and I know the C5-R's not even sliding, not
even a little. It will take a lot more than 10 laps for this zero to get to hero.—John L.
Stein
They have only been on a public track once – during
the Brian Redman International Challenge at Road
America in 2007.
The reasoning behind consigning them at Mecum
Indy was that the seller had accomplished what he
wanted, which was to get them away from GM, restore
them to their former glory, and exhibit them as such.
With that done, he's now focusing on fine-tuning his
collection. He's keeping “Cars I love to look at” – ranging
from 1953 Corvette number 103 through a 1969
L88 – and “Cars I love to drive,” meaning one of each
Corvette model from a 2001 C5 convertible to a 2009
ZR1.
The window may still be open
Since the C5-Rs were a no-sale at Mecum Indy, per-
haps someone else will soon have a chance to enjoy one
of the most stirring Corvette drives available to mortal
man. With a fresh Pratt & Miller race tune-up on their
authentic Katech engines, they are ready to compete not
only in current ALMS or FIA events, but also in historical
classes as well. But while they would be competitive
anywhere – and the occasional track exhibition would
at least keep them limber – it would be a shame to put
them back into combat.
Instead, these two cars should have spaces reserved
for them at the National Corvette Museum. They served
their tour of duty with honor and made America proud at
Le Mans, and even NASCAR types have an attraction to
C5R-009 with the short-lived (although admittedly fiery)
Dale Jr. affiliation. But cars cost money, and these days
that's in short supply for donation-supported museums.
Which leaves continued private ownership as the
next logical step for this pair. So if you're a serious
Corvette collector who wants to preserve the history of
America's most beloved sports car, it's time to step up.
We're all counting on you.
As the cosignor's purchase price from GM is con-
fidential, we can only speculate on the his break-even
point. In my opinion, the asking price of $750,000 for the
pair may reflect more what the seller has invested than
what the market will pay. At this point, he's determined
to wait out the market, but I wouldn't be surprised if
something else comes along that catches his eye, and the
C5Rs get turned into a somewhat smaller pile of money
so he can move on. ■
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 33
Page 32
C6
by Geoff Archer
2005 Corvette coupe
#280521852913. S/N 1G1YY24U655114902. Silver/gray leather. Odo: 44,447 miles. 36 Photos.
Sacramento, CA. “44k miles. This coupe is fully loaded with options such as: power windows,
power locks, power seats, leather, cd player, premium sound, ABS, alloy wheels, automatic, and
much more. Few months ago this Corvette was involved in a minor rear end collision. This Chevy
runs, drives and looks like a dream. This Vette is sold on 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.” 1
Buy-It-Now bid, sf 890, bf private. Cond: 3.
CM Analysis SOLD AT $21,000. A few grand can make all the difference when buying a used
car... particularly when you are in high school, and you ride a bicycle to your job
at Hot Dog on a Stick. Seriously, although this highly-rated eBay seller gets top marks for such an honest presentation, it is still hard to watch this
e-commerce calamity: for a few grand more you could have bought a c6 with no stories, and that would have preserved the ability to re-sell in the
future. Fair price for the condition, but you should have passed.
2006 Corvette Z06 coupe
#130401204917. S/N 1G1YY26E865116531. Yellow/black leather. Odo: 40,300 miles. 24
Photos. Greer, SC. “This particular Z06 is extremely clean. The paint is in great condition. As far as
the interior goes, it also looks like a 10k mile car. The car does have some performance modifications
that were all professionally done by Ryan's Peformance Machines (R.P.M.) in Garner, NC.
The mods were performed around 34k miles. Keep in mind the car does drive like 100% stock, and
can be driven anywhere without ANY problems. The car did make 540 rwhp and 496 rwtq on the
dyno.” 18 bids, sf 901, bf private. Cond: 2.
CM Analysis SOLD AT $39,000. The seller's tweaks do look like the sorts of things most people in the market for a yellow Z06 would dig. Although
on eBay at the same time. So I say it was both well bought (free upgrades are good) and well sold (best you can hope for is price parity with a stock
example).
2008 Corvette Z06 coupe
#200432024903- S/N 1G1YY26E885118640. Black/black leather. Odo: 4,887 miles. 23
Photos. Los Angeles, CA. “This Z06 was used in the movie Transformers. This information was
provided to me by the manager at the Carmax in Irvine CA. This car was given to the production
company for use in the movie. Because this car was given for movie use, the warranty was voided
by Chevrolet. I verified this information with GM of North America. They faxed me the build
sheet as well. This car runs absolutely perfect, very fun to drive, the tires are practically new, and
the clutch feels strong.” 36 bids, sf 345, bf private. Cond: 2.
was purchased, there could have been up to a year of remaining coverage that was
voided by the movie role. The in-service date is not provided. Having that info would certainly
help characterize this transaction, because without it, this sales figure looks to be at the lower end of average for an '08 Z06 in this condition.
2009 Corvette ZR1 coupe
#230485442397. S/N 1G1YR26R595800330. Atomic Orange/linen leather. Odo: 44 miles. 24
Photos. Apollo Beach, FL. “COMING FROM ONE OF FLORIDA'S MOST PRESTIGIUOS
PRIVATE CAR COLLECTIONS. TOP OF THE LINE CORVETTE IN BRAND HISTORY.
BALANCE OF THE CHEVROLET FACTORY WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. ONE OF 35
ATOMIC ORANGE (no longer available) ZR1'S AND THE ONLY ONE WITH THE LINEN
OPTION INTERIOR BEFORE IT WAS DISCONTINUED FOR THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. THIS
IS A ONE OF ONE ZR1 THAT IS A TRUE COLLECTOR CAR. 100% FACTORY ORIGINAL.
NO NEED TO GO INTO LONG DETAIL BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF
THIS CAR.” 9 bids, sf 759 bf private. Cond: 1.
CM Analysis SOLD AT $105,100. The MSRP of this specific vehicle was not provided, but it is reasonable to assume it was within a few hundred
purchase a one-of-one car in a a nearly new state. Fair deal all around. ■
34 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
bucks of this transactional price. So nobody made money on this deal, but somebody was able to get the proverbial ‘mulligan' and
CM Analysis SOLD AT $46,500. The factory warranty is 3 years, so depending on when this car
messing with anything factory usually hurts resale, here the seller matched the price of a stock yellow Z06 w/48k miles that was also
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
A few grand can make all the difference when buying a used car... particularly
when you are in high school, and you ride a bicycle to your fast-food job
Page 34
Market Report
Overview
Summer Corvette Sales Total $10m
The market again showed itself to be solid throughout late spring and early
summer, with high-end Corvettes continuing to bring good prices
by Jim Pickering
T
he start of the summer auction season again reflected
strong results for Corvettes at auction at
locations around the U.S, following the same basic
growth trend we've seen since the start of 2010: for
the most part, good cars continued to bring good money,
and excellent well-documented original examples again
commanded top dollar. However, collector confidence
was still an issue in some locations, with both a lack
of top-tier examples and a good grouping of no-sales
contributing to lower final totals than this time in 2009.
RM Auctions hosted its all-no-reserve “Classic
Muscle & Modern Performance” auction in mid-June,
and of the 102 lots on offer, 28 were Corvettes, selling
for a combined $2.5m. Senior Auction Analyst Carl
Bomstead found a number of both excellent deals and
very high prices across the auction block, including the
high sale of the event, a 1969 L88 coupe finished in a oneof-one
combination of Monza Red and Saddle leather.
With excellent documentation and low miles, it brought
$401,500. Another L88, known as “Automatically
Yours,” was also offered, and was one of 18 produced
with a TH400 automatic. While a bit below the Monza
Red high seller in terms of condition, equipment, and
history, it was in very good overall condition, and it sold
at $211,750 (Both cars are profiled on page 28). On the
other hand, Bomstead found several decent restorations
which failed to achieve prices close to their pre-sale
estimates, including a 1965 327/375 fuelie which made
$58,300 against an estimate of $90,000—further evidence
that although the money is there, the cars on offer
need to be exceptional in
order to raise it.
Mecum's
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
annual
all-Corvette auction at
Bloomington Gold took
place in St. Charles in
late June, with 137 of 303
Corvettes selling for a final
total of $4.8m. It's the largest
all-Corvette auction in
the world, and CM Auction
Analysts B. Mitchell
Carlson and Dan Grunwald
were on site to cover the
cars as they crossed the
block. This year's sales
were off just a bit from
last year, where $5.9m was made from 117 of 274 cars. Although Mecum's television
coverage did not return this year, and some overnight rain likely dampened spirits a bit,
Carlson noted the main reason for the drop in totals to be due to fewer headline cars,
with more driver-level run-of-the-mill examples populating the list of consignments.
The high sale of the weekend was a 1956 265/240 convertible which made $159,000,
followed by a 1960 283/290 convertible that brought $124,020. Bloomington's typical
show-stopping big-block C2s were not as numerous this year, and a good portion of those
available failed to sell—and only one brought a sale price over $100k. But, there were
good prices achieved as well, including a 1957 283/245 convertible that made $85,330,
a 1956 265/240 convertible that brought $100,700, and a 1981 coupe that made $40,280.
Although the market may still be in the midst of recovery, decent cars are continu-
ing to bring current market-correct prices based on their conditions, and buyers are
still willing to pay up for the best, most original, and rarest cars available. ■
Top Ten Sales This Issue
1. 1963 Corvette Harley Earl Custom
convertible, $980,500—Lot S116, p. 68
2. 1969 Corvette L88 coupe,
$401,500—Lot 151, p. 62
3. 1969 Corvette 427/435 convertible,
$231,000—Lot 119, p. 62
4. 1967 Corvette 427/435 convertible,
$214,500—Lot 126, p. 60
5. 1969 Corvette L88 coupe,
$211,750—Lot 163, p. 64
6. 1956 Corvette 265/240 convertible,
$159,000—Lot S80, p. 40
7. 1967 Corvette 427/400 convertible, $137,800—Lot S104, p. 69
8. 1965 Corvette 396/425 convertible, $129,250—Lot 174, p. 58
9. 1960 Corvette 283/290 convertible, $124,020—Lot S128, p. 42
10. 1967 Corvette 427/435 convertible, $123,750—Lot 169, p. 62
Best Buys
1. 1967 Corvette 427/425 convertible,
$123,750—Lot 169, p. 62
2. 1970 Corvette LT1 convertible,
$39,000—Lot 192, p. 64
3. 1961 Corvette 283/270 convertible,
$72,600—Lot 374, p. 68
4. 1966 Corvette 427/390 convertible,
$66,250—Lot F72, p. 44
5. 1990 Corvette ZR-1 coupe,
$18,550—Lot F80, p. 52
36 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Page 36
Market
Report Mecum
St. Charles, IL
Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction
C3s were the Corvette du Jour for this sale, with 105 crossing the block
Company
Mecum Auctions
Date
June 25-26, 2010
Location
St. Charles, IL
Auctioneers
Mark Delzell, Mike
Hagerman, Jim Landis,
Bobby McLaughlin, &
Matt Morauec
Corvettes sold/offered
137/303 (45%)
Corvette sales total
$4,812,507
Corvette high sale
1956 Chevrolet Corvette
265/240, sold at $159,000
105 C3s crossed the block
Intro by B. Mitchell Carlson, report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson
and Dan Grunwald
Market opinions in italics
M
ecum Auctions retained their title of having the largest all-Corvette auction
in the world during this year's Bloomington Gold event. However, this year
it seemed to be off a beat as far as sales were concerned. While they had 29
more consignments, with 20 more sales, the actual money brought in was
about a million dollars less than last year. Some could argue that it was because of
no TV coverage this year, but one can't use the argument that it was the weather, as it
was hot and humid like it seems to be almost every year here on the two sale days—although
there was heavy rain overnight between the two sessions.
It all boils down to a year of lesser cars. Simply, there were no big headline cars
this year. No Harley Earl-owned cars, no factory race cars. Nope, for the most part,
it was an offering of nice but run-of-the-mill
regular-issue Corvettes.
To underscore this, the top sale of the
Mecum Sales Total
weekend was a 1956, pulling down $159,000.
C1s have generally been soft over the last
two years, and with the exception of this lone
example, that was the case this weekend.
While top-shelf C1s garnered seven of the
top ten sales—the top four all selling for six
figures—nice 1959 through 1962 drivers with
lower-end horsepower motors could be had all
weekend for under $50k.
As far as C2s were concerned, the big dogs
were generally not here. 435 hp cars were
scarce, as were mid-year big-blocks in general.
The few that were here got the highest
bids, but they all failed to sell. In fact, only
38 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
$12m
$10m
$8m
$6m
$4m
$2m
0
one C2 was hammered sold for over $100k. I got the
feeling that those owners were sitting on their hands,
and their cars, waiting to see for certain that the market
is stabilizing before putting them back into the market.
C3s were the Corvette du Jour for this sale, with
105 crossing the block. This year, later special edition
models—such as 1978 Pace Cars—brought less money.
That trend generally continued into the C4s, but with a
few exceptions. C5s and C6s were few and far between,
although the ones consigned were generally good lowmile
cars. The cheapest car was a gold 1984 coupe that
brought $2,900, and apart from cosmetics, it wasn't too
bad of a car.
Although it seems like Mecum may have stumbled
in comparison to their other sales this year, the
GoldAuction traditionally has been hard pressed to go
over a 50% sales rate. The company's Back To The '50s
auction the weekend before was only marginally better,
but also with that same track record. The fact of the matter
is, auctions that are part of a greater event just don't
set the world on fire, while stand-alone sales like Indy or
Kansas City do well because of the singular reason for
being there is to buy or sell cars. So don't think that the
upswing in the market has petered out—just remember
that it's taken the weekend off to go to a car show that
happened to have an auction attached. ■
Buyer's premium
Prices reported include
graduated buyer's fee
$300 on the first $5,499,
$500 from $5,500 to
$9,999, 6% thereafter.
2010
2006
2007
2008
2009
2005
2004
2003
2002
Page 38
Market
Report Mecum
St. Charles, IL
C1
#S119-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S003946. Pennant Blue/
beige vinyl. Odo: 1,106 miles. 235-ci 150-hp
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Pin holes, bubbles
and old repairs visible in paint. Chrome a bit
weak, with both side spears showing repairs
moisture and long term storage. Interior looks
mostly original with alligator cracking on dash
paint. Holes drilled at left base of windshield
surround. Tape holds tail light lens on. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $34,715. There was a lot of originality
here, but the car didn't want to run, and
the storage issues will need to be sorted. The
selling price allows for those expenses, but
only if nothing major appears.
#S149-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E56500402E. Blue/parchment
vinyl. Odo: 38,269 miles. 265-ci 240-hp
V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. All fresh top to bottom, with
a factory-new look. Taillight chrome a bit weak
near the lens. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $100,700.
and waves. New interior and top. Driver's door
doesn't shut tight, passenger's door fit off more
than factory. Clean engine compartment with
claimed recent tune-up. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$68,900. A new paint job and a few details will
do wonders here, and as the car has already
been restored, doing so won't damage any of its
originality. Fairly bought and sold.
#S42-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S004599. White/beige
cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 53,834 miles. 235-ci 150hp
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Older mid-level
repaint now showing chips, cracks, and prep
flaws. Extra wide gaps on both doors. Cracks
This car was cataloged as having a 283-ci engine
that was date-code correct, but according
to my sources, in 1956, it should have been a
265. Still, six figures speaks for the level of this
restoration on this '56, and it was one of the
top ten sales of the event.
TOP 10
#6
#S80-1956
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
E56S003843. Cascade Green &
white/white canvas/parchment vinyl. Odo:
20 miles. 265-ci 240-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp.
Flawless restoration with no issues anywhere.
NCRS Top Flight award winner the first time
and bubbles on dash paint, seam splitting on
driver's seat. Most chrome looks aged but is
dent free. New weatherstrips fitted to doors.
Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $46,000. This C1
roadster was a bit tired, but it had possibilities
for someone looking to get a light project.
Having said that, the $46,000 bid seemed fair.
#S164-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N BER545003357. Polo White/
beige canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 58,556 miles.
235-ci 150-hp straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Lots of
age cracking and in what appears to be original
paint. Chrome shows some pitting and surface
rust, wheels all show rust areas on bottom from
out in 2010, with 98.6%. Said to be one of
111 fitted with the 240-hp engine. Correct
date-coded windshield and side glass. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $159,000. The best no-questions
restorations still bring top dollar, and they usually
bring decent prices here. This was the top
sale of the event, and rightfully so, as there was
nothing to fault anywhere.
#S92-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S100401. Venetian Red/
red vinyl. Odo: 76,301 miles. 283-ci 283-hp
fuel-injected V8, 3-sp. Left front fender shows
several large flaws in paint, and overall has
more orange peel than factory. New interior
chrome and top, fitted with power windows
and power top. Gobby trim fix on bottom
40 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
throughout. 2009 NCRS National 98.1 score,
Bloomington Gold certified in 2010. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $116,600. No stories, no excuses.
This car actually went to Pebble and then had
to be “dumbed down” a bit to follow factory
finish levels for the NCRS and Bloomington
Gold. A proper price for a top-money car that
needed nothing.
gauges. Engine compartment clean and looking
proper, with all expected components in
place. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $85,330. NCRS Top
Flight award in 2010, and came with a 30-day
drivetrain guarantee. Cascade Green is a great
period color, and this car in this condition will
turn heads anywhere it is driven. Well bought.
#S83-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S108492. Red & white/
white canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 27,241 miles.
283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Flawless
paint, chrome, and interior. Excellent panel
gaps, smooth and straight body. Engine
compartment as clean as the exterior. Superb
right of windshield. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$82,500. Last seen at Mecum's St. Charles sale
in October '04, when failed to sell at $47,000
in Cascade Green with a tan top (CM# 35246).
Minor issues held this car down a bit, but I
think it should be worth more to the right buyer.
#F101-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S101276. Cascade Green
& white/parchment vinyl. Odo: 71,700 miles.
283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Great paint
and chrome with no issues aside from one small
dent in gas door. Interior like new, including
Page 40
Market
Report Mecum
St. Charles, IL
#F94-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S108368. Crown
Sapphire/blue vinyl. Odo: 97,767 miles. 283-ci
270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent paint, some
chrome starting to show age. Right taillight
lens cracked. Extremely shiny (almost slimy)
have been factory original. Not over restored,
but done just right. The bid seemed light here,
perhaps partly due to the great company this
car was in.
TOP 10
#9
blackwall tires. Hard top only. Interior chrome
shows pitting, driver's door lock knob missing.
Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $62,000. A pretty
driver in a great color. The price bid was on
the light side, but it had to be close. In today's
market, the details are more important than
ever, I suspect small fit and finish items were
what it came down to here.
#F90-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S104025. Red & white/
black cloth/black vinyl. Odo: 55,110 miles.
283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Couple of
large blisters in front end paint above grille.
Most chrome shows some age. Cracked tail
light lenses, worn out window fuzzies, heavily
scratched right side window. Dull and dirty
#S128-1960
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
00867SD109498. Red/black/red vinyl.
Odo: 52,258 miles. 283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected
V8, 4-sp. Great paint, chrome, and interior.
vinyl. Odo: 41,076 miles. 327-ci 360-hp
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Numerous front edge
chips and some light cracks, chips, and visible
panel lines. Clean engine shows light
wear but no rust. Engine and trans said to be
numbers matching. Certified as a Survivor and
Bloomington Gold Benchmark. Cond: 2. NOT
SOLD AT $145,000. Fuel Injection, Survivor,
and Benchmark pretty well describes this one.
Although conventional wisdom might suggest
that a convertible is worth more than a coupe,
with 1963s, the Split-Window coupe is still top
dog. It's hard to peg prices on Survivor-grade
cars like this, but I'd call this bid all the money.
Spotless throughout, with great attention to
detail. Bloomington Gold certified in 2009.
Cond: 1. SOLD AT $124,020. If this car had a
flaw, it was that it looked better than new—and
to the preservation crowd, that can mean quite
a bit when it comes to valuing a car. Well sold
at the price paid.
#S135-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S107863. Silver &
white/black canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 94,406
miles. 283-ci 315-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Completely restored inside and out, with highlevel
attention to details. Superb paint and
chrome, consistent panel gaps, clean interior.
interior chrome and no chrome left on shifter
arm. New paint on engine. Paint should be
Roman Red, but looks more coral in tone.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $48,495. Last seen at
Mecum's Indianapolis sale in May '10, where
it was listed as sold at $48,760 (CM# 163326).
Details, details, details. The price paid here
reflected the small stuff yet needed, and with
just that in mind, it was about on-the-money.
But with the slightly off-color paint, I'd call it
well sold.
#S77-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S103339. Black/black
canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 174 miles. 283-ci
290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Complete
body off restoration in 2007 with all numbers
claimed to match. Radio and heater delete,
heavy-duty brakes, 5-leaf springs. Dash pad
pulling loose on right side, wrinkles in grab
bar fabric. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $87,000.
This car had a few visible flaws in the paint,
but none of it was worse than what would
42 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
#S75-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S112973. Navy blue/
white vinyl/navy vinyl. Odo: 80,318 miles.
327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint prep
flaws in body by both headlight buckets. Wiper
scratch on windshield. Dull gauge faces, seat
padding flat, new carpet fitted. Some non-stock
engine parts installed in otherwise original-
looking compartment. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$39,750. Sting Ray coupes always cost more
originally, but generally, that's not the case
today. When it comes to mid-years, the only
exception to the rule is the '63, as the coupes
are still usually more expensive due to the oneyear-only
Split-Window design. With the 340hp
engine and decent driver condition, this
first-year Sting Ray drop top can be considered
well bought.
#S165-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Fitted with desirable power windows. Cond:
1. NOT SOLD AT $65,000. Factory-new
showroom condition. 1961 was the last year
of the two-tone cove color option. There were
nine '61s to choose from at this auction, and
although this was fitted with the desirable 315hp
fuelie motor, the overall number of cars
available may have had something to do with
the light bid here.
C2
#F108-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S112749. Red/black
coupe. S/N 30837S111219. White/tan vinyl.
Odo: 16,640 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Lots of paint scratches and chips. Missing
antenna, rusty and corroded seat belt buckles.
Engine shows lots of rust and peeling paint.
Page 42
Market
Report Mecum
St. Charles, IL
Missing ignition cover parts. Cond: 3-. SOLD
AT $34,185. This seemed to start and run well,
but it looked like an older restoration that was
just coming out of damp storage. It clearly
needs someone to love it again, and hopefully
the love will last throughout the rebuild.
#F64-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 40867S114247. Tuxedo
Black/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 24,257
miles. 327-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Rough
paint clearly done years ago, peeling and pitting
chrome. Torn soft top, peeling and rusty
chrome in interior. Seats worn, console plate
colors, an easy-to-maintain 390-hp big-block, a
4-speed, and a top that goes down. At $66k, it
was well bought at the low end of market pricing
for its condition.
#F57-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S1076094. Mosport Green/
green vinyl. Odo: 57,176 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Several large scratches on
right front, some nicks and chips to doors,
color mismatch between passenger's door and
tires and power windows. Some paint chipped
and original wear evident under the hood.
Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $125,000. A
Survivor documented with its original bill of
sale, title, and state registrations. NCRS Top
Flight, Rerformance Verification and Duntov
Awards (98%). What price is originality in a
first-year big-block coupe? Today it was more
than $125k, and I think the seller was right in
hanging on.
#F107-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
missing. Engine looks to be as filthy as the rest
of the car. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $28,090. Needs
absolutely everything, but it wouldn't be overly
hard to restore if time, love, and money are
available. I don't see an upside here, as even
at this price, when the restoration is complete,
the new owner will be far enough underwater
to need scuba gear.
#F144-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 40867S102832. Silver &
black/black vinyl/black & white leather. Odo:
61,864 miles. 427-ci 450-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
1964 title with '67 front fender vents, '67 hood
and new 427-ci engine. Aftermarket power
brakes, power steering, aluminum radiator, and
custom seats. One headlight corner paint crack.
Weak chrome on rear bumpers, no windshield
coupe. S/N 194376S122931. Nassau Blue/blue
vinyl. Odo: 79,224 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Good paint, center windshield trim
misfit. Scratches on both side and rear glass,
which are both very dirty inside. Good chrome
quarter panel. Wiper scratches on windshield,
chrome shows scratches and waviness. Very
clean engine. Base engine and slush box won't
win races, but it should prove to be a sweet
solid driver. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $41,075.
A good driver-level mid-year Corvette at the
right price for its condition and options. Both
parties should be pleased.
#F95-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S109045. Blue/blue vinyl.
Odo: 56,215 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Some chrome dull and pitted in places,
paint shows a few cracks and edge chips. Some
cracks in original door panels. Modern a/c installed.
No mention of matching numbers on
engine, but said to have the “correct” intake,
and interior, a/c said to blow cold. Non-typical
wiper arms installed. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$51,940. Nassau Blue was my favorite color
back in 1966, and it still gets me today. Valued
correctly for its condition and the combination
of an auto with a/c, so both parties should be
pleased.
washers, misfit windshield trim. Fitted with
side exhaust. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $39,220. The
owner of this car found a title and a shell and
built the car as he liked it. Not bad looking and
probably a good, quick driver, but it'll always
have a story to tell. The new owner didn't have
to pay any premium for the mods, but in terms
of an investment, this won't beat an all-original
small-block '64.
#S93-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S116796. Glen Green/
saddle vinyl. Odo: 15,263 miles. 396-ci 425hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Said to be all original and
unrestored. Microcracking and panel bonding
lines visible in original paint. Excellent
original chrome and trim, fitted with original
44 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Best Buy #F72-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S116900. Blue/white
canvas/blue vinyl. Odo: 1,780 miles. 427-ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Numerous chips and
nicks in front, paint touch-ups behind right door.
Left vent pane chrome shows pitting, both rear
bumpers have weak plating. Wiper scratches on
windshield. New top and interior with telescopic
wheel. Detailed engine. Original Protect-O-Plate.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $66,250. This one had nice
carburetor, and alternator. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$40,280. I had this car marked as unsold, but
the deal must have been made after it left the
block at the same money that was offered. A
good buy at the price paid, and a good job from
Mecum in making the deal work for everyone
involved.
#S74-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S126578. Black/red vinyl.
Odo: 46,719 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Original paint shows usual age cracking
Page 44
Market
Report Mecum
St. Charles, IL
in most places. Said to be original interior
shows quite well with no cracking or fading.
Engine cleaned, painted, and detailed. Cond:
3+. NOT SOLD AT $47,000. NCRS Top
Flight Regional in 2010. A very original car
in most areas and very well preserved throughout.
Another original that just didn't bring the
expected dollars today.
#S108-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S111501. Mossport Green/
green vinyl. Odo: 67,438 miles. 427-ci 390hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. New paint looks a bit too
metallic. Teak wheel and power windows in
restored interior. Also fitted with knockoff
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $63,600. Newly restored
with many new parts, but with the needs noted,
it was pretty clear it had been built to be sold
rather than held. Sold at a fair price to both
parties.
#S81-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S121526. Goodwood
Green & white/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
19,074 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Said to be all original, including the mileage.
Overall minimal checking and cracking to original
paint, good chrome and trim. Fitted with
visible on left fender. Scratches on driver's vent
pane glass. Driver's door panel shows armrest
repair. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $125,000.
NCRS Regional Top Flight 2010. The owner
still likes this car a lot, and although this bid
was reasonable based on the car's condition,
he was looking for more.
wheels, factory a/c, and tinted glass. Wiper
arms not typical, with no screw adjustment.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $77,910. Last seen at
RM's Novi sale in April '10, where it failed to
sell at $75,000 (CM# 162163). Fresh frame-off
restoration to a high standard, with photos to
document the process. Fairly bought and sold.
#S138.1-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S124819. Red/black
vinyl/black leather. Odo: 39,396 miles. 327-ci
side exhaust and vinyl-covered hard top. Some
wear, age, and surface rust on original engine
finishes. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $210,000.
Top Flight, Performance Verification, Duntov,
4-star Bowtie, Gold Spinner, and Triple Crown
Awards. Bloomington Gold, Benchmark, and
Survivor. It's hard to put a value on a car like
this, but the seller didn't think $210,000 was
enough.
#F63-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. New bright red paint
and bumper chrome. Windshield surround trim
looks a bit dull and scratched, with overspray
on left side. Wiper scratches on windshield,
pitting to both vent trims. Nice interior. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $45,580. Last seen at Mecum's
Indianapolis sale in May '10, where it was
listed as sold at $43,460 (CM# 163346). New
leather seats and side pipes were a nice touch
to this very red Corvette. Fairly bought and
sold.
#S72-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S106260. Yellow & black/
black vinyl. Odo: 46,748 miles. 427-ci 390-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh restoration with new interior
and detailed engine. Variable door gaps.
Slightly thick paint with visible body work on
driver's side A-pillar and masked off windshield
trim. Pop riveted right side vent window
hinge. New interior with misfit door panels.
46 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
misfit in both front and back. Modern a/c compressor
fitted. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $53,530.
This car had been treated to a body-off restoration
in 2006, and it had aged pretty gracefully
since that time. Considering the needs noted,
this price was a bit on the high side, but not
by much.
coupe. S/N 194377S106335. Silver/black
vinyl. Odo: 27,418 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent silver paint cracked at hood
corner and at headlight corner, right headlight
bucket needs adjustment. Some window trim
#S117-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S109554. Black
& red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 146
miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
New paint, interior, and top. Factory-typical
details done to engine. Non-DOT black
walls on factory bolt-on alloys. Original
#S116-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S119103. Goodwood
Green & white/white vinyl/tan vinyl. Odo:
64,472 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Small paint chips on front of hood stinger and
at headlight door edge, some prep scratches
interior, engine compartment, and drivetrain.
Claimed to be one of less than 20 built with
this engine in this color combination. ProtectO-Plate
and owner's history. Cond: 1. NOT
SOLD AT $205,000. NCRS National Top
Flight 2008, scoring 99%. Correct finishes
and details everywhere. Only 815 of the almost
123,000 Corvettes built in 1967 were Tuxedo
Black, and while that does make this relatively
more rare, I don't see where this car will bring
more money in the near future.
#S38-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S109198. Elkhart Blue &
blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 52,722 miles. 427-ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint chips and color
mismatch in many places, one long crack on
right front fender at wheel well. Cracks at top
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of left A-pillar, some dents in windshield trim.
Rust on intake manifold, super thick and shiny
paint on valve covers, pitting on chrome air
cleaner. Hurst shifter installed. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $45,580. The 390-hp 4-bbl hydraulic-lifter
427 was the most trouble-free big-block of its
era, and it still makes a great driver today.
Triple carbs as found on the 400-hp and 435hp
cars look impressive, but it does take more
maintenance to keep them running right. Sure,
there were some needs here, but its hard to call
this anything other than well bought at the
price paid.
C3
#S141-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S411049. Rally Red/
Tobacco vinyl. Odo: 27,117 miles. 427-ci 435hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Aluminum head L89
motor, M21 4-speed, 4.11 Posi, F41 suspension,
power windows, and AM/FM radio. Used
sparingly since frame-off restoration a few
years ago. Better than stock body prep and repaint,
light turn-to-turn clearance cuts in front
wheel well lips, some light body cracking at
OK at first glance, but needs to be detailed.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $14,310. Consigned by the
same person who had lot F123, which leads
me to think this was the put together with the
leftover parts. Those fakey-doo side pipes are
not fooling anyone, and almost come off as a
spoof. Sold well.
#S131-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194371S103703. Mille Miglia Red/
black vinyl. Odo: 60,324 miles. 454-ci 365-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Original window sticker and
Protect-O-Plate confirm LS5 big block, TH400
transmission, power brakes, power steering,
tilt/telescopic column, and wheel covers. All
four tires are NOS—not repop—and the spare
is the original. Mileage claimed correct. Most
paint is circa 1971, but with some touch-ups
and thin areas. Light paint cracking around
shows minimal wear and soiling. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $24,910. Bryar Blue was only offered
in 1972, and 1,617 cars left the factory
finished in it. Interestingly, black was the only
suggested interior color in factory literature.
No sale bid to $23,500 on Friday as lot F99,
yet on Saturday it was reran at no reserve, getting
hammered sold for the exact same bid.
#F78-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194671S112783. Steel Cities
Gray/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 81,997
miles. 350-ci 330-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Options
include LT1 motor, power steering, power
brakes, deluxe interior, and AM/FM radio.
Good older repaint over decent body with
some visible waviness. Header strip from older
replacement top coming apart at ends. Better
left forward hood corner. Nearly all brightwork
reproduction or replated. Expertly assembled
motor is completely stock and includes all
smog equipment. Fully restored interior with
repop soft trim. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $75,260.
This car's 15-minutes of fame were used up
with it appearing in Car & Driver last year as
part of a modern versus vintage comparison of
Corvette versus Shelby. I doubt that affected
the value, nor even the love-it or leave-it
Tobacco brown interior (another case of rarely
installed when new for a reason?). Nope, it
was all about the aluminum heads, and with
that in mind, it was bought well.
#F127-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S715735. Red/black vinyl.
Odo: 20,425 miles. 350-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Body tag missing. Optional tilt/telescopic
column, power steering, full tinted glass, and
headrests. Fiberglass copies of 1969-style side
pipe exhaust, repop AM/FM radio. Average
quality repaint, hood rubs against body at
driver's side pivot point and has worn paint
down to primer. Mix of original and repop
brightwork. New seats, older repop door panels
and carpeting, original dash. Aftermarket
steering wheel and console T-pad. Motor looks
48 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
headlight doors. Mostly original interior, with
heaviest wear being on edges of center console.
Basically original engine compartment.
Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $30,000. Claimed by
the owner to have attained NCRS Top Flight
and 4-Star Bowtie awards, but he didn't mention
when or where. A big-block, good colors,
originality, and modest miles mean that the
seller can't be blamed for holding out for a bit
more across the block.
#S112-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37K2S508744. Bryar Blue &
white/saddle leather. Odo: 17,891 miles. 350ci
200-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory options include
power brakes, power steering, a/c, power
windows, deluxe interior, and AM/FM radio.
Comes with window sticker and Protect-OPlate.
Recently purchased from original owner.
Claimed to be original paint—at least the
blue parts—although there's light overspray
on spare tire cover. Excellent door and panel
fit, good original chrome with front bumper
mounted slightly off center. Original interior
than stock door fit, but windshield wiper “flipper”
and front bumper fit off. Mostly correct
motor with a few replacement parts. Newer reproduction
seats with minimal wear, door panels
original and show cracks on armrests and
on edges. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $40,000.
Steel Cities Gray is basically a gunmetal gray
rather than silver, and was only used in 1971
and '72. This bid was well over the top for this
car, and I doubt the seller will see anything
close to it again anytime soon.
#S94-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J5S435199. Polo
White/white vinyl/Dark Red leather. Odo:
2,694 miles. 350-ci 165-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Extensively documented as the last 1975
Corvette convertible built. Ordered new with
all options, and displayed at the original selling
dealership for years afterwards. Retains all
documentation including a copy of the MSO,
as it was titled for the first time ever this year.
Preserved as original as possible, with good
damage-free paint. Door handle flappers staring
to show some light pitting. Recent engine
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cosmetics, light wrinkling on seat bottom
leather. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $85,000.
Displayed at the National Corvette Museum
and here in the Special Collection in 2003. It
was also named in a lawsuit against GM in
1987, after the C4 convertible went into production
in 1986, as they had declared this car
in 1975 as being the last Corvette convertible
to ever be built. As a singular piece of Corvette
history, the value will always be based on what
someone is willing to pay for it. Today, the
perceived value is somewhere between this bid
and the $115k reserve.
#F150-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car Edition coupe. S/N
1Z8748S901579. Black & silver/tinted panels/silver
leather. Odo: 35,151 miles. 350-ci
220-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Has most paperwork
since new. Ordered new with L82 motor and
cruise control. First sold to a retail customer in
Mesa, AZ in November 1980 with 812 miles
on the clock. Looks to have been rarely parked
inside, with heavy fading on nose and fender
components, including spare tire and oil filter
(yikes!). Original spark plugs recently changed
with modern AC Delcos, but originals are
included with the car. Interior still has a hint
of new car smell. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$25,000. Might even still have the original
oil in the crankcase. The repaint was actually
authentic for the period, as it either had paint
damage in transport to the dealer or it just
plain had crappy paint when it rolled off the
truck and the dealer had it reshot—this happened
a more frequently than most enthusiasts
care to admit. Rolled off the block with the
declaration that it was going to take more than
$30k to buy this Wayback Machine.
#F31-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8789S443472. Corvette Light
Blue/dark blue cloth. Odo: 41,899 miles. 350ci
195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Illinois Assigned
VIN tag riveted to driver's door pillar matches
original GM VIN. Power windows, a/c, and
rear window defroster. Mostly original paint
with some panel respray. Body seams staring
to separate, general blistering and chipping on
most panels. Someone stared to media blast
Mileage claimed actual. Last year it was
certified at Bloomington Gold, Survivor, and
Benchmark levels. In addition, it was awarded
a regional NCRS Top Flight. Well preserved in
like-new condition. Light seat wrinkling, light
plastic bumper wrinkling. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$40,280. A former owner, dating to when it was
sold here in 2007 for $26,500 (CM# 117061),
wanted this car back and did whatever she
could to get the upper hand in bidding. When it
got past $30k, it was down to her and a dealer
in the front row, and she went up and sat on
the auction podium directly in front of him and
bid against him eye to eye. When the smoke
cleared, she got her car back. The selling price
here is meaningless, so don't think ugly brown
two-tone '81s are spiking in value—and never
argue with a determined woman.
C4
#S174-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
peaks and flaking hood stripes. Claimed to
have all-original interior, although seats are in
better condition than moderately faded carpet.
Original AM/FM/8-track radio sitting loose
on passenger's floorboard, modern unit fitted.
Cond: 4. NOT SOLD AT $10,500. The evil
opposite of lot S60. Yes, some people bought
these “instant collectibles” and actually used
them daily. It'll likely take more than paint to
fix this one's nasty sunburn, and whoever ends
up with it shouldn't feel bad about desecrating
an original, as it was flat out worn and damaged.
All the money considering the work still
needed.
#S60-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Silver Anniversary Edition coupe. S/N
1Z87L8S438302. Silver & charcoal/black
cloth. Odo: 77 miles. 350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Optional a/c, tilt/telescopic column,
power windows, cruise control, and AM/FM/
cassette stereo. Most paint resprayed, including
hood, with heavy masking lines around accent
stripes. Light paint cracking on plastic nose
due to light impact. Otherwise has all original
50 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
coupe. S/N 1G1AY0786E5123202. Gold
metallic/saddle leather. Odo: 104,168 miles.
350-ci 205-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Original
window sticker documents optional leather
power driver's seat, power door locks, cruise
control, rear defroster, and Delco/Bose cassette
stereo. Claimed to have been garaged most its
life, but top surfaces show baked off paint and
window seals are dry-rotted. Tires need replacement.
Rear compartment carpeting faded,
nose and front clip, which may be why the
headlights won't retract. Rear emblems missing.
Seats heavily torn, radio missing, dashboard
hardware rusty, console loose. Cond:
4-. NOT SOLD AT $3,750. While not the
scariest show at the auction, this was certainly
R-rated—if not NC-17. This is where cheap
does not equate a good value. In fact, the closest
someone will get to getting ahead on this
one will be to do all of the work himself. The
consignor will likely regret not cutting it loose
when he had the chance.
#S146-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8762B5100072. Beige &
Dark Bronze/Camel leather. Odo: 3,022 miles.
350-ci 190-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. The 72nd car
built at Bowling Green, per the VIN. Optional
cruise control, power windows, power driver's
seat, twin sport mirrors, rear window defroster,
aluminum wheels, and AM/FM/cassette.
driver's seat stiff and tearing. Dashboard and
steering wheel better than one would expect.
Runs out well. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $2,900.
This was the lowest selling car of the auction,
and one can almost make an argument that it
was one of the better buys—but not the best
buy. However, that's only if you wanted a driver
and had your own HVLP paint gun. While it
sold near the end of the auction, there were
still dealers in the tent. The buyer was actually
one of the drivers for the auction, after having
started the bidding at a grand.
#F121 -1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car convertible.
S/N
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1G1YY6780G5901434. White/white vinyl/red
leather. Odo: 68,174 miles. 350-ci 230-hp fuelinjected
V8, 4+3 manual. Optional non-power
sport seats, cruise control, and Delco/Bose
AM/FM/CD sound system. Recently repainted
to an average standard, with IPC graphics
added. Good original top, but showing some
heavier soiling and piecemeal weatherseal
replacement. Well kept interior with light
general wear, although driver's side exterior
seat bolsters are wrinkled from use. Topical
engine compartment clean-up, with typical
valve cover discoloration. Newer non-stock
exhaust system. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $8,500.
Not a bad car overall as a driver, and once the
owner got religion on early C4 values, he cut it
loose at this final bid to get it sold to an eager
buyer. Lesson: generally stock cars sell easily
at market price.
#F118-1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom racer. S/N 1G1YY0783G5118248.
Torch Red/blue cloth. Odo: 44,781 miles. 383ci
fuel-injected V8, 4+3 manual. Set up as a
track rat, with Sparco racing seat, 6-point harness,
Autopower roll bar with AFSB support
bar where the roof panel used to be, C5 Z06
brakes, and 1996 Grand Sport wheels shod
with track tires. Repowered by a built-up 383
small-block, bolted to the stock 4+3 manual
transmission. Inspected and certified for SCCA
hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Equipped with dual
power leather sport seats, electronic climate
control, power door locks, tinted roof panel, and
Delco/Bose AM/FM/cassette stereo. Buffed
out original paint. Tires most likely original
and are near the end of their tread life. All
original interior with minimal seat wear, light
fading starting on rear compartment carpeting,
and heavier than expected steering wheel rim
wear. Topical clean up of engine compartment.
Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $21,000. The 171st
of 184 units made in this first year of the B2K
package. While it was the big dog in 1987, it
certainly didn't fare well on the block here, as
from the time they shut the motor off to when
they fired it back up, I doubt the turbos quit
spinning. Bid was close to the current market
based on condition, but the seller may be able
to find a bit more money.
Best Buy #F80-1990
CORVETTE ZR-1 coupe.
CHEVROLET
S/N
1G1YZ23J4L5801586. Dark Red Metallic/
tinted panel/black leather. Odo: 35,504 miles.
350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Original
window sticker shows only options are blue
tinted roof panel and electronic climate
control. Aftermarket tinted hatch glass and
replacement tires. Heavily buffed out original
paint with nary a nick or scratch. Cleanly
Equipped with optional removable hard top,
preferred equipment group, selective ride control,
and luggage rack. Has only accrued 156
miles since new. As such, the paint has been
well maintained and shows no wear or nicks.
Tires still show inspection stamps. Cleanly
detailed engine bay, although seals between
the wheel wells and hood still have mold release
on them. Carpeting on door sills shows
some age, rest of upholstery like new. Cond:
2+. NOT SOLD AT $30,000. I overhead a few
regular bidders talk about this car having been
offered here before. With an undisclosed but
vaguely high reserve, I have a feeling that we
will be here again—with 157 miles on it.
#S163-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 40th Anniversary coupe. S/N
1G1YZ23J9P5800097. Ruby Red/Ruby Red
leather. Odo: 409 miles. 350-ci 375-hp fuelinjected
V8, 6-sp. Equipped with both painted
and tinted roof panels. Mileage claimed actual
since new, and is in new condition overall.
Only perceivable wear is on door sill and driver's
footwell carpeting. Even undercarriage is
clean and like new. Only non-original components
are oil filter and battery, both of which
Solo 2, NASA HPDE class, and NCCC high
and low speed autocross. Minimal sponsor decals,
headlights removed and the flip-up panels
bolted shut. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $10,000. In
theory, one could put this back on the street,
but it's certified in three major amateur racing
bodies, so why bother? At this price, you
couldn't build it, let along get it sorted out.
Then again, dedicated track cars are generally
the best and cheapest way to go, in lieu of trying
to teeter on the street vs. track balance. The
reserve was lifted at $9k, so maybe the sorting
out phase isn't quite over yet. Still, bought well
for use as a specialty tool.
#S142-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Callaway Twin Turbo coupe. S/N
1G1YY218XH5126045. Red/tinted panel/
black leather. Odo: 23,045 miles. 350-ci 345-
52 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
detailed engine bay has been maintained with
economy-grade service parts. Seats, carpeted
floor mats, and steering wheel show expected
wear. Includes custom car show display and
several local trophies. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$18,550. For me at least, a 1990 seems a bit
new to be a show car, but if that's how you get
your kicks, whatever. Still, if you are going to
do the show car thing on a lower-mile original,
then it seems odd to be to go cheap on replacement
parts. Regardless of the show thing, as a
35k-mile babied C4 ZR-1, this was well bought.
#F88-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
40th Anniversary convertible.
S/N
1G1YY33P9P5108533. Ruby Red/Ruby Red
cloth & hard top/Ruby Red leather. Odo: 156
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
are AC Delco OEM replacements. Awarded
Bloomington Gold certification in 2008, per
the consignor. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $55,120.
One of 245 ZR-1s with the 40th anniversary
package, which was the only limited-edition
package that was ever available on the C4
ZR-1s. Combined with the minimal miles, one
can argue that this was the ultimate ZR-1. On
the block, the bidding ended at $51k, but there
were four bidders chasing it to the end, so I
assume one of them got the deal put together
post sale. Pretty steep for a ZR-1 in 2010, but
within ten grand of its original MSRP—and the
new owner can rightfully sing “she's real fine
my 409” (miles, that is).
#S14-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Brickyard 400
convertible. S/N
1G1YY32P0R5121448. Torch Red & white/
black cloth/red leather. Odo: 299 miles. 350
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C6
#F58-2008
CHEVROLET
ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. One of 25 C4
convertibles used for the festival at the inaugural
Brickyard 400 NASCAR race at Indy, assigned
for use by Danny Sullivan and Todd Bodine.
Like-new overall, with no discernible wear or
use. Optional selective handling, TPS, dual
power seats, Delco/Bose cassette and CD sound
system, and Preferred Equipment Package #1.
Has all documentation since new, to include a
copy of the Indianapolis Star with coverage of
the race in it. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $34,450.
Just when you thought you've seen every flavor
of pace car, commemorative, edition, or special
edition, one more pops up. While the actual
pace car for the race (and prerequisite copies)
were Camaros, 12 black & 13 Torch Red
Corvette convertibles were used in the pre-race
festivities. This saw significant bidder interest,
easily surpassing the $30k reserve.
C5
#F92-1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car convertible.
S/N
1G1YY32G9W5118737. Purple Pearl Metallic
& yellow/black cloth/yellow & black leather.
Odo: 21,171 miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Mileage claimed actual from new.
Well kept original paint, with heavier wax residue
on edges of graphics. No curb rash on alloy
wheel rim edges, newer Nitto tires. Minimal
1953 Commemorative Edition and adding a
wagon-style hatch and modified rear fascia to
resemble the 1954 Nomad Motorama show car.
Utilizes all stock hatch and rear compartment
mountings, seals, and interior fittings. Repaint
with no chipping or cracking. Aftermarket fuel
rail covers that simulate C1/C2 era cast aluminum
valve covers. Reupholstered and redyed
interior in all red. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $54,950.
Although I'm both a station wagon fan and an
advocate of C5 coupes for their functionality,
this variation didn't do much for me. It looked
like someone put a pickup topper on a C5,
since the rest of the stock curvature of the roof
and B-pillar were retained. When the bidding
ended, the consignor, who used the car occasionally
for road trips, dropped the reserve.
Pricing wise, this seems to line up with similar
1953 style conversions, so not a bad buy.
#S120.1-2003
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE 50th Anniversary convertible.
S/N 1G1YY32G235127517. Anniversary Red/
Shale cloth/Shale leather. Odo: 4,605 miles.
5.7-L 350-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Equipped
with 3.15 performance rear axle and body
side moldings, in addition to the 1SC 50th
Anniversary package. For all intents and purposes
a seven-year-old new car. The only discernible
signs of wear are on the driver's side
floor mat, the start of wrinkling on driver's seat
CORVETTE ZHZ Hertz coupe. S/N
1G1YY26W385135080. Yellow/black leather.
Odo: 31,281 miles. 6.2-L 436-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. ZHZ package. Also equipped with
dual mode exhaust and magnetic selective
ride control. Repainted hood, several paint
chips over front wheel wells and rear valance.
Original Goodyear F1 tires are a brisk country
drive away from being down to the wear bars,
and cross-drilled brake rotors show significant
wear. Heavier driver's seat and steering wheel
rim wear. The floor mats are missing, so the
carpet looks pretty good. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$31,800. Last seen at Mecum's Indianapolis
sale in May '10, where it failed to sell at
$31,500 (CM# 163454). This was one of the
500 Hertz Fun Club premium rental cars—so
that explains the tires, paint chips, and overall
heavier wear. It also had the black hood stripe
removed to make it less obvious that it was a
ZHZ. If this was a regular issue '08 C6, this
would've been bought well. But as a rental
return, enough was paid.
#S17 -2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1G1YY26E585111922.
Jetstream Blue/black leather. Odo: 18,740
miles. 7.0-L 505-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Factory options include 2LZ equipment package,
navigation, mud guards, and polished
alloy wheels shod with replacement tires.
Aftermarket Corsa cat-back exhaust system.
weathering on original top. Cleanly detailed
underhood, with economy replacement battery.
Light soiling on seat bottoms and light wear
on steering wheel rim and floor mats. Trophies
from local shows piled up behind the car.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $23,850. Here we go with
showing a late-model used car again—and
from the same consignor as lot F80. At least he
wasn't that emotionally attached to this car, as
he cut it loose for market pricing.
#S50-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
1954 Nomad Custom coupe. S/N
1G1YY22G515133013. White/red leather.
Odo: 22,818 miles. 5.7-L 350-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Modified by Advanced
Automotive Technologies, doing both the
54 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
bottom and bolster, the upper console surround
starting to come loose, and light soiling of the
undercarriage. Also has a replacement battery.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $31,270. Like most of the
special edition packages offered on C3s on
through today, there were actually very few
options that weren't already part of the package.
The two that were on this car were pretty
much about half of the available options for the
convertible flavor of a 50th Anniversary. As
it's not the hardest thing to find a mega-lowmile
one of these, as there were 7,545 of the
convertibles alone. This brought very strong
money considering the rather depressed C5
market as a whole.
Like new paint, but front spoiler leading edge
has a fair amount of curb rash. Minimal dust
in engine bay, light interior wear commensurate
to indicated miles. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$50,880. Last seen a month ago at Indy, then
a no-sale at $49k, and nothing was different,
apart from it now having 45 more miles on it
(CM# 162636). It was also flogged on Friday
as lot F68, then a no-go at $47k. The market
was pretty clear on this one. A decent deal for
both parties. ■
Page 54
Market
Report RM Auctions
San Diego, CA
Classic Muscle & Modern Performance
An outstanding array of rare and well-restored Corvettes were available at
no reserve, with many bringing very high prices
Company
RM Auctions
Date
June 19, 2010
Location
San Diego, CA
Auctioneer
Brent Earlywine
Overall cars sold/offered
102/102 (100%)
Sales total
$6,980,400
Corvettes sold/offered
28/28
Corvette sales total
$2,510,750
Corvette high sale
1969 Corvette L88 coupe,
sold at $401,500
The only ‘68 Monza Red/Saddle L88 brought $401k
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
10,000 of those horses were under the hoods of the 28
Corvettes that crossed the block. A large percentage of
the cars were from the collection of Glen Konkle, who
over the past 25 years had assembled the “best of the
best” of American muscle with a strong preference to
the GM label. Corvette Mike, a well-known dealer in
Corvette circles, offered about a dozen of the cars sold,
with a very original '60 283/290 fuelie garnering a great
deal of attention and selling for $89,100.
Among the headliners here was “Automatically
R
Yours,” a 1969 L88 ex-drag car which was one of 18
produced with an automatic transmission. Eleven
years ago, at Mecum's Elkhart Lake auction, it sold
for $60,375. This time around, it sold for a respectable
$211,750—more than tripling in value. Another '69, this
M promoted its Classic Muscle and Performance
Auction, held in the Town and Country Convention
Center in San Diego, CA on June 19, as an offering
of 35,000 horsepower at no reserve. Well, close to
one a 427/435 with 6,200 documented miles, blew past the high estimate and realized
$231,000. This is not what we think of when discussing a soft market.
On the other hand, a couple of '65s featuring older restorations failed to bring
prices close to their pre-sale estimates. One, a 327/365 with a limited list of options,
sold at $44,000—well below the high estimate of $80,000. The other, a 327/375 fuelie,
realized $58,300 against a high estimate of $90,000. Both were just further evidence
that in this market the car needs to be standing tall to create the right amount of buying
interest.
The star of the entire auction was a 1969 L88 coupe that rang the bell at $401,500.
It featured documented low miles, the ground-pounding L88 engine, and was the only
Monza Red/Saddle leather example built. It had previously sold at Mecum's 2007 St.
Charles sale for $466,000, and a good case can be made that at that price it was a bit
aggressive. But regardless, it was well bought both times, as it'll be hard to find a
better example.
There has been a general sentiment that the Corvette market has been a bit soft of
late and off its high of a few years back. If you wish to test that premise, just offer a
couple dozen quality examples in the open market and let the fur fly. RM did just that
in San Diego, and from the results achieved, it's obvious that strong well-presented
Corvettes are continuing to bring strong money. ■
Buyer's premium
10%, included in sold
prices
56 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Page 56
Market
Report RM Auctions
San Diego, CA
C1
#179-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S002738. Sportsman Red/
beige canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 884 miles. 235ci
155-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. One of about 100
Sportsman Red examples produced, but there's
no way of documenting the factory color.
Complete restoration in 1990s and still very
presentable, NCRS Top Flight award in 2003.
Engine clean, trim fit to factory specs—which
means off a bit. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $77,000.
Prices for most all 'Vettes are off a bit from
their high of a few years back. These '54s were
pushing six figures before the financial crisis,
but in the new readjusted order of things, the
price paid here was spot on.
#190-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S104180. Roman
Red/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 87,758 miles.
283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. A very
original matching-numbers '60 fuelie—one
of 759 290-hp examples produced. Paint
mostly original and cracking in several areas,
dash badly damaged by sun. Unique RPO 276
wide wheels, which included small hubcaps,
vinyl interior upgraded to leather. Minor blemish
on driver's seat. Attractive paint with no real
issues, engine bay not detailed. Teak steering
wheel, AM/FM radio, original hard top. A very
presentable driver that will be well received at
the local cruise-in. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $55,000.
1964s are thought of as the least collectible of
the mid-year Corvettes, as they have no split
window and still feature drum brakes. But so
what? The price paid was about right, and I'm
willing to bet the new owner will be able to use
this for several years while still being ahead
of the game when it's time to move on. A solid
transaction.
#120-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S101910. Milano Maroon/
white leather. Odo: 50 miles. 327-ci 375-hp
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Quality restoration by
Scott Tiemann. New leather interior upgraded
from vinyl. Fitted with teak steering wheel,
AM/FM radio, Goldline tires, power windows,
and side exhaust. L84 fuel-injection was
a $538 option, and 1965 was the last year it
was offered. Excellent paint and panel fit,
even in the current softer Corvette market. This
example was a little light on options, which
most likely accounted for a price well below
the $60k low estimate. Well bought.
TOP 10
#8
#174-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S119169.
Rally Red/white vinyl/white vinyl.
Odo: 11,756 miles. 396-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. A Bloomington Gold certified big-block.
Older restoration with confirmed numbersmatching
engine. Side pipes and power brakes
documented, factory tag on seat belts. Engine
clean but decals peeling. One of 2,157 L78s produced.
A strong presentation. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $129,250. Add the value of the goodies into
this, and while expensive, it was well worth the
price paid. The original knockoffs alone can be
worth $10k. This car had been documented by
an expert prior to sale, and the Bloomington
Gold certification made it a bullet-proof investment.
As with any big-block Corvette, it'll be
hard to resist the urge to jump on it at least once.
ordered on only 246 '60 Corvettes. Holes for
wind wings. Documented in a Noland Adams
book. Top Flight awards in 1979, unmolested
since. A rare no-questions Corvette. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $89,100. The new black vinyl top
looked a bit out of place on this Corvette, but
otherwise, I'd say it would be a good candidate
for a Bloomington Survivor award. I thought
this would sell in the low six figures, so on that
basis, I'll call it well bought. I just hope the
new owner leaves it as is.
C2
#136-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 40867S110414. Silver Blue/
blue leather. Odo: 3,369 miles. 327-ci 365-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older restoration with original
58 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
engine spotless. Little to fault, and impressive
throughout. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $82,500.
Sold under the $90k low estimate, and based
on the exceptional quality of the restoration,
another $10k would not have been out of
line. Originality is still king when it comes
to Corvettes, and although this one's interior
upgrade likely didn't help its value, it was still
a wise purchase at the price paid.
#112-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S104311. Rally Red/black
leather. Odo: 10,327 miles. 327-ci 365-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. A numbers-matching 365-hp car
restored some years back. Respray with a few
polishing swirls, panel fit to factory spec. Rear
bumper scratched, lower right trim dented,
new leather seats fitted. Aftermarket knockoffs
with blackwall tires. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$44,000. This was #3 money for a #2 Corvette.
Another $10k would not have been a problem
#108-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S116529. Rally Red/white
leather. Odo: 37,899 miles. 327-ci 375-hp fuelinjected
V8, 4-sp. One of 771 examples fitted
with L84 fuel injection in 1965. White leather
interior stated to be brand new but showing
signs of use. Fitted with teak wheel, 4:11 Posi,
F40 suspension, knockoffs, and side exhaust.
Older restoration is still very presentable.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $58,300. These can easily
Page 58
Market
Report RM Auctions
San Diego, CA
push six figures, so finding one in this condition
with these options for the price paid is unusual.
Very well bought indeed.
#128-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S120149. Rally Red/white
vinyl. Odo: 36,638 miles. 396-ci 425-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Older restoration has been well
maintained. Engine bay highly detailed with
all the proper markings. NCRS Performance
Verification Award in 1993. Cast aluminum
knockoffs. Paint very presentable with far-
from-perfect factory-spec body fit. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $82,500. About 10% of '65 'Vettes
were equipped with the 396-ci big-block, which
was a new addition that year. This was an attractive
coupe presented with the right Rally
Red livery, and all things considered, the price
paid was about right for today's market. A few
years back this could have realized another
$20k, but that was then, this is now. A fair deal
for both parties.
#110-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S101736. Glen
Green/white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 96,911
miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older
restoration now showing signs of age and use.
Paint spidering on cowl and shows a few other
minor blemishes. Comes complete with both
tops, and shows marks on rear deck lid from
hard top. Teak steering wheel and full wheel
covers fitted. Engine clean with no leaks or
streaks to cause concern. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $48,400. Price paid was about right for a
rather basic 327/300 convertible that's past its
prime. A fair deal all around for a good driver
that should be enjoyed without concern for
financial loss in the coming years.
#113-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S111881. Nassau Blue/
white vinyl. Odo: 1,693 miles. 427-cc 425-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally bought as a spoiled
kid's 16th birthday present. Drag raced for a
few years, so low miles were added a quarter
60 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
panel fit with uniform gaps, factory-typical
overspray on engine. Noted expert verified
numbers and that it was ordered with side
pipes. A stunning example. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $96,250. No longer a big league show car,
but that shouldn't be that big of a deal, as it has
been to all the dances and won all the hardware.
Will still turn heads at any local event.
This was the right Corvette at a favorable
price, and the new owner should be all grins.
#122-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S101079. Rally Red/
white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 64,395 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older restoration
shows use, but not abuse. Paint presentable
but with a few touch-ups and swirls noted.
New vinyl seats properly installed, driver's
kick panel loose. Aside from teak wheel and
AM/FM radio, it's a little light in the options
department. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $57,200. An
attractive Corvette at an attractive price. Even
in today's market, this could have sold for another
$5k-$10k without much concern. It won't
mile at a time. All the goodies include 3.55:1
Posi, AM/FM radio, power windows, and
power brakes. Restoration completed some
years back. Carpets worn, driver's door fit a bit
high, paint shows a few minor imperfections.
Original invoice and window sticker. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $79,750. This sold a bit on the low
side, but then again, what you do with it? The
uniqueness is in the original and documented
1,693 miles, so driving it does not really make
financial sense. I'd have a hard time resisting
at least a couple trips around the block to see
what it can do.
#171-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S18195. Nassau
Blue/white vinyl/navy blue vinyl. Odo: 43,691
miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older
restoration done to award-winning standard.
NCRS Top Flight, Bloomington Gold, Gold
Spinner, and Triple Crown in 1995 and 1996.
Maintained to a high standard since. Good
win any major awards, but it'll make a great
usable driver for the new owner.
#157-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S110264. Rally Red/black
vinyl. Odo: 64,437 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Complete with Protect-O-Plate,
window sticker, and factory sales order. Loaded
with options including a/c and power brakes.
Rash on nose, touch-up on roof, thin chrome to
rear bumpers. Jambs not done during respray,
old window rubbers with sealer added. Engine
clean but lacks factory-style overspray. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $74,800. Original documentation
and a/c was a big plus here, but this was a #3
Corvette that sold for close to #1 money—and
it cost $17k more than lot 122, a '67 327/350
convertible that was in better overall condition.
This was a mid-estimate price, but I'd still
call it well sold.
TOP 10
#4
#126-1967
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194677S106632. Marina Blue &
white/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 38,511
miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Won its class at Meadow Brook in 2003.
Earlier Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top
Flight. Maintained in show-ready condition,
although white vinyl seats are a bit dingy.
Original knockoffs a big plus. Reproduction
interior properly installed. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $214,500. Expensive, yes, but worth every
penny, as this was the right color, had the right
documentation, and was fitted with the right
engine. A superb example, and a rock solid
Corvette investment.
Page 60
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Report RM Auctions
San Diego, CA
TOP 10
#10
Best Buy #169-1967 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194679S708449. Elkhart Blue &
blue/black vinyl/teal blue. Odo: 23,510 miles.
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Restored to
high standard with numbers-matching L71
engine. Documented low miles. Excellent
panel fit with uniform seams, engine spotless,
tank sticker. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $26,400.
A most reasonable price for an attractive, noquestions
L79 Corvette. It could have gone for
another $7,500 without raising a question, so
the new owner should be pleased.
TOP 10
#2
minor issues with rear bumper fit. Interior as
new. Striking presentation in appealing livery.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $123,750. This was a
well-documented, numbers-matching 435-hp
big-block Corvette with its original trim tag.
Add to that the fact that it had less than 25,000
miles, and it becomes really hard to call this
anything but well bought. The new owner
should be standing tall.
#181-1967 CHEVRROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S106573. Ermine White/
white vinyl. Odo: 15,041 miles. 327-ci 350-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A very original example with a
respray and new vinyl seats. Paint acceptable,
panel gaps varied as expected. Original side
panels and seats a bit grubby, rear glass and
#151-1969
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE L88 coupe. S/N
194379S736298. Monza Red/tan
leather. Odo: 2,252 miles. 427-ci 430-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. One of 116 produced, and the only
one in Monza Red with tan leather interior.
Compete with documentation and Protect-OPlate.
Bloomington Gold, NCRS Top Flight
acceptable condition, with paint showing a few
typical minor issues. An attractive Tri-Power
car with tank sticker. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$49,500. This car featured none of the desirable
options such as a/c, power windows, or
power steering, but even so, the price paid was
most reasonable for a period-correct example.
Well bought.
and Gold Spinner Triple Crown. Restored to
perfection after a drag race career. The ultimate
showroom-sold performance Corvette. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $401,500. Last seen at Mecum's
St Charles sale in October '07, where it realized
$466,250 (CM# 47020) Three years and
5 miles later, there's a loss of $65k, which is
a reflection of the state of the current market.
Well bought both then and now if you want the
ultimate in your collection.
TOP 10
#3
lower stainless trim scratched. Engine clean
with nothing amiss. Nothing special, but a very
nice example. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $50,600. A
fair price for a fairly average L79 coupe with
no special options. The seats needed some
attention, and that should be the first order of
business. A great driver and a good deal for
both parties.
C3
#194-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible.
S/N
194678S405508.
International Blue/black vinyl/blue vinyl.
Odo: 4,829 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Documented numbers-matching car with
power brakes, power steering, and vinyl-covered
hard top. New side panels and seat covers.
Engine clean. Unusual and attractive paint
with a few minor blemishes. Complete with
62 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
miles documented from new. Slight blemish
on rear bumper, door handle slightly pitted.
An amazing original example in exceptional
condition. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $231,000. This
was easily one of the best untouched, low-mileage
big-block '69 Corvettes out there, so how
much is too much to have it in your garage?
#119-1969
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194679S708449. Cortez Silver/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 6,163 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Complete documentation
includes shipping and sales invoices and
Protect-O-Plate. Bloomington Gold Survivor,
Respray looks OK, interior and engine compartment
both factory fresh. Driver's bolster
worn. Lots of goodies, including removable
hard top and power windows. Side pipes added.
Documented low miles. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$64,900. A striking well-documented example
that sold for a fair price considering its low
miles. Just too bad it did not have a/c and a
4-speed manual.
#164-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S728385. LeMans Blue/
blue leather. Odo: 20,897 miles. 427-ci 390-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Attractive LeMans Blue with
bright blue leather interior. The smallest of the
four 427s offered in 1969. Fitted with power
steering and brakes, lacking a/c and power
windows. Minor paint nicks and swirls, excellent
panel fit. Stated to be numbers matching.
#166-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S721573. Monza
Red/saddle leather. Odo: 23,059 miles. 427ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Thought to have
been ordered by GM executive who changed
his mind regarding color when the car was
in production. Yenko badge and tank sticker.
Expensive, yes, but as CM reporters are prone
to say, go find another just like it for less. Well
bought at a fair price.
#193-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S706482. Cortez
Silver/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 47,003
miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. An
original L68 Corvette with a factory replacement
block. Paint and interior original and in
Page 62
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Report RM Auctions
San Diego, CA
A striking presentation. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$34,100. A strong driver-quality big-block
coupe that will turn heads due to its unusual
livery and interior. Price paid was spot-on, so
the new owner should have no worries.
TOP 10
#5
#163-1969
CORVETTE “Automatically
Yours” L88 coupe.
194379S710256. Riverside Gold/black vinyl.
Odo: 21,127 miles. 427-ci 430-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. One of only 116 L88s produced for 1969,
and of those, one of 17 with the M40 TH400
automatic transmission. Drag raced when new.
CHEVROLET
S/N
Quality restoration with excellent paint but
uneven door fit. Bloomington Gold certified.
Interior shows little wear, engine bay spotless.
A unique and striking L88 with known history
from new. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $211,750. Last
seen at Mecum's Elkhart Lake auction in June
1999, where it realized $60,375 (CM# 20987).
Driven 106 miles since. (See C3 Profile on p.
28)It was stated to have been well bought at
that time, and boy was that right. In today's
market, it was again well bought, as another
$50k would not have been a problem.
Best Buy #192-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194670S401889. Marlboro
Maroon/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 26,030
miles. 350-ci 370-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A mostly
original LT1 convertible with matching numbers.
Bits of resprayed paint not done to the highest
standard. Black vinyl hard top and optional PO2
the money by almost ten grand. This is money
in the bank, as these are becoming more collectible.
Well bought at well under the $60k-$80k
estimate range.
#165-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J5S414656. Mille
Miglia Red/white vinyl/dark red vinyl. Odo:
75,600 miles. 350-ci 165-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Final year for the convertible until it was reintroduced
in 1986. Base level offering with
standard L48 engine. Power windows, steering,
and brakes. Fitted with trunk rack, AM/
wheel covers, engine dingy. Documentation
includes tank sticker and Protect-O-Plate. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $39,050. Price paid for this welldocumented,
low-mileage example was under
FM radio, and a/c. Attractive respray to a decent
standard. Replacement carpets, side panels,
and passenger bucket seat. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $23,100. An attractive C3 convertible that
sold for a song. Yeah, it had the smallest engine
offered and an automatic transmission, but it
was still a top-down Corvette in decent condition
for under $25k. The new owner should still
be grinning.
C4
#182-1989
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Callaway convertible. S/N
1G1YY3188K5123674. Bright Red/red leather.
Odo: 1,058 miles. 350-ci 382-hp turbocharged
V8, auto. One of just 69 examples produced
with B2K twin turbochargers installed by
Callaway and covered by GM warranty. Option
cost $25,695 when new. One of only ten with the
TH400 automatic. Matching hard top. A documented,
low-mileage example that has been
well maintained. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $33,000.
This was a $60k plus Corvette when it left the
dealer's showroom. Half price today and in asnew
condition. (See C4 Profile on p.30)The presale
estimates of $50k-$70k were a bit strong,
but this could have sold for another $10k and
been in the ballpark. It's still just a used performance
car, but I think there's some appreciation
in its future—especially if the mileage is kept
low. ■
64 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
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N
C1
#114-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001062. Polo White/black
fabric/red vinyl. Odo: 56,645 miles. 235-ci
150-hp straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. One of 300
first-year Corvettes. 1,000 miles since refurbishment.
NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence
Award, Top Flight and Bloomington Gold
certified. Paint cracking, 1953 Pennsylvania
registration sticker on window. Cond: 3.
chrome with tarnished and scratched rear bumper,
glass scratched. New interior is well fitted,
removable hard top a plus. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$77,000. A period aftermarket hard top can
add about $4,000 to the bottom line, depending
on condition. These are off their high of a
few years back, so all things considered, this
was about the right money for a '54 in this
condition. Worldwide Auctioneers, Seabrook,
TX, 5/10.
NOT SOLD AT $230,000. Worldwide sold
a '53 for $440,000 at their Hilton Head sale
in November '07 (SCM# 47636), but values
have been heading down ever since. The most
recent public sale was for $198,000 at RM's
Amelia event in March '09 (SCM# 119920).
Price bid here should have bought the car, as
I doubt early Corvettes will ever see the heady
days of 2007 again. Worldwide Auctioneers,
Seabrook, TX, 5/10.
#201-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S003639. Polo White/red
vinyl. Odo: 642 miles. 235-ci 155-hp straight
6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Older cosmetic restoration
shows signs of age. Hood fit off a bit, original
66 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
#33-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S105735. Eng. #
F702EM. Venetian Red & beige/red hard top/
red vinyl. Odo: 9 miles. 283-ci 270-hp fuel-
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
55 Corvettes Total $2.8m
o other Corvette magazine sends its auction reporters around the world like CM
does – all to keep you informed about what is really going on in the market. Early
summer auctions again reflected a relatively stable market for Corvettes at auction,
with decent prices achieved at a number of locations throughout the U.S. and abroad.
CM's Auction Analysts were on site in locations spanning from Texas to Monte Carlo as
Corvettes crossed the block, and their in-depth condition reports on the cars, which make
up the bulk of the following pages, should help give you a good understanding of the current
market.
Auctions Covered This Issue:
Leake, San Antonio, TX, 4/9/2010—Phil Skinner
Carlisle Auctions, Carlisle, PA, 4/22/2010—Chip Lamb
Bonhams, Monte Carlo, MCO, 4/30/2010—Jérôme Hardy
Worldwide Auctioneers, Seabrook, TX, 5/1/2010—Carl Bomstead
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/19/2010—B. Mitchell Carlson
RM Auctions, Cresson, TX, 6/5/2010—B. Mitchell Carlson
Specialty Auto Auctions, Sioux Falls, SD, 6/12/2010—B. Mitchell Carlson
Mecum Auctions, St. Paul, MN, 6/18/2010—B. Mitchell Carlson
Barrett-Jackson, Costa Mesa, CA, 6/26/2010—Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
injected V8, 4-sp. Engine stamping confirms
correct 250-hp fuelie engine with manual
transmission. Correct FI part number thought
to be original to car. Ordered with RPO 491
hard top. Older restoration with paint now a
bit edgy. Normal Corvette gap and alignment
issues. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $68,200. Middle
of the road price for a middle of the road '57
fuelie that was restored a couple of decades
back. The FI unit was claimed to be recently
rebuilt, which was a plus. A little fit and finish
work will go a long way here, and there's
plenty of upside in doing the work. Worldwide
Auctioneers, Seabrook, TX, 5/10.
#S109-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J58S106456. Silver Blue
& white/blue canvas/blue vinyl. Odo: 45,104
miles. 283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Factory optional power windows and power
top. Retrofitted with modern front disc brakes
and a/c. Consignor claims car has about 90%
of its original paint. Show quality chrome and
trim, soft top lightly wrinkled and soiled, engine
bay and chassis clean. Expertly installed
reproduction interior soft trim. Door pulls starting
to yellow slightly, gauge faces scratched.
Offered at no reserve. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$95,400. Last seen at the first Worldwide auction
in Auburn in August '08, then selling for
$121,000 (CM# 117652). Before that, seen at
the Spring Branson auction in April '07, where
it made $102,502 (CM# 44984). At Auburn,
it was listed as a fresh restoration, but here it
was called a well-preserved original. Being a
no-reserve car, the market bit down on it hard
at about 20% in two years, and that pretty
much sums up 1958 to 1960 pricing in this
time frame. Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/10.
#40-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S106645. Eng. # F518CQ.
Roman Red & Snowcrest White /red vinyl.
Odo: 26,259 miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. A base model with optional 4-speed manual
transmission and optional hard top. Top
bows present but no fabric. Miles thought to be
original. Uneven door gaps, headlight trim fit
uneven, carpets faded. Attractive Roman Red
with Snowcrest White coves. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $53,900. Mid-level money for a mid-level
Corvette. I doubt if there is much upside here,
but this was an attractive ride that will bring
lots of smiles for both the new owner and
Page 66
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
Corvette that was a touch better than that. A
strong presentation of a sought-after fuelie that
was bought for a under the money. Well done.
Barrett-Jackson, Costa Mesa, CA, 6/10.
his guest. A fair deal all around. Worldwide
Auctioneers, Seabrook, TX, 5/10.
Best Buy #374-1961
CORVETTE
convertible.
CHEVROLET
S/N
10867S105290. Ermine White & silver/white
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 4,526 miles. 283-ci 270hp
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent restoration to
high standard, with less than 5,000 miles since
completed. Optional Posi rear end. Attractive
radio. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $49,500. Straightaxle
models are still popular, and when a
simple upgrade in the engine bay is done, they
become so much more drivable. This one's
price fell right in the market range for an example
in good condition, so it wasn't a bad buy
at the price paid. Kruse/Leake, San Antonio,
TX, 4/10.
respray with panel fit that exceeds factory
specs. Interior well fitted, minor issues with
brightwork. A striking Corvette with desirable
running gear. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $72,600.
Two years ago this would have been a screaming
deal, but today it was just well bought. With
the sun and stars in alignment, six figures are
possible for a “perfect” example, but this was
#2 money for a Corvette that was in close to
#1 condition. Barrett-Jackson, Costa Mesa,
CA, 6/10.
#361-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S104907. Roman
Red/white canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 10 miles.
283-ci 315-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Recent
restoration to a high standard with limited
use since. Matching numbers, one of 1,462
#F193-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S107960. Saddle Tan/tan
leather. Odo: 37,611 miles. 327-ci 340-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. High quality restoration in
modern paint without visible defects. Chrome
and brightwork overdone and showing minor
surface imperfections. Interior similar to
exterior finish with virtually flawless leather,
carpet, dash, and instruments. Early knockoff
alloy wheels with bias-ply whitewall tires have
power windows. Presentable paintwork and
chrome to include recently serviced custom
side pipe exhaust system. Custom instrumentation
includes altimeter, relocated clock, and accelerometer.
Older engine bay detailing. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $980,500. Last seen at auction
at Barrett-Jackson in Arizona in January
'99, then selling for $152,250 (CM# 12779).
Looking at the near barren landscape of modern
automotive design today (yes, that includes
all the lack-of-a-better-idea Retromobiles), we
can even deeper appreciate the indelible mark
that Harley Earl left on the world of global automotive
design. The top sale here, and justifiably
sold at a heartbeat shy of a million bucks.
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#136-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S101354. Silver/black
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 45,180 miles. 327-ci
340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Equipped with two
tops and AM/FM radio. NCOA sticker on the
driver's vent window, 1995 Texas registration
sticker in windshield. Older repaint pretty good
for a driver. Rear wheel wells shaved about a
quarter of an inch, fronts heavily reinforced
at top of arch. Older repop interior soft trim
#449-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S111769. Ermine
White/white canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 868 miles.
350-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Later model
engine fitted. Restored cosmetically but not
to perfection, with fresh seats looking slightly
baggy and engine compartment spray-painted
black. Manual brakes and steering, factory
TOP 10
#1
#S116-1963
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Harley J Earl Custom
convertible. S/N 30867S114012.
Medium blue metallic & white/blue & white
leather. Odo: 16,000 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally Riverside Red with
red vinyl interior. Shipped to GM Styling and
modified for the personal use of Harley Earl.
Pre-production 1964 and later components
include 4-wheel disc brakes with dual master
cylinder and wood rimmed steering wheel.
Regular production options include a/c and
produced. Optioned with 4:11 rear end and
power windows. Headlight trim fit off a bit,
minor buffer swirls in paint, engine clean with
correct hoses. An attractive and desirable car in
the right color combination. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $83,600. Again, this was #2 money for a
68 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
the right stance. Engine compartment restored
with very nice presentation aside from a modern
battery. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $75,260.
Seen here twice before: Once in October '07,
where it was bid to $87,500 (SCM# 47130)
and again at Corvettes at Carlisle in August
'08, where it failed to find a home at $75,000
(SCM# 117998). This car was memorable for
its quality, and I was really rather surprised
to see it find a new home at a price the seller
could have easily embraced before. In today's
world however, it's just well bought and sold
alike. Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
slightly baggy in seat bottoms. Aftermarket induction,
no remaining ignition shielding under
the hood. Aluminum parts heavily corroded,
bare steel rusty. No mechanical status report
given. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $35,750. A driver
Page 67
grade car when added to the Pate Collection
approximately 15 years ago, this is most likely
going to need more than a fluff and buff to get
back on the road. At this price, that had best
be the goal, as a restoration would be upside
down the minute it gets loaded on the transport
truck. This was all the money in the world. RM
Auctions, Cresson, TX, 6/10.
#T89-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 40837S109171. Ermine White/
black vinyl. Odo: 55,505 miles. 327-ci 365-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older driver-quality renovation
exhibits many older touch-ups since the
respray was applied. Bumpers show light rust
and are polished through in spots—could be
original chrome. Interior similarly original and
collector Corvettes. This wasn't a stellar price,
but there were obvious changes from stock,
and one can only imagine what was under the
fresh white paint—those cracks may have been
around before the latest application. But, for
the money spent, a few dollars could be invested
into bringing it up a level. A decent deal
for both parties. Kruse/Leake, San Antonio,
TX, 4/10.
#T126-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S104490. Silver Pearl/
silver vinyl. Odo: 34,918 miles. 327-ci 350hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional a/c, telescopic
column, and knockoffs. Originally owned
by Horace A. Hayes, Major General, U.S.
Air Force; who was vice commander of Air
Defense Command at Ent AFB, Colorado.
COPO number 379, due to delivery at St.
Louis Assembly by a VIP. High quality restoration
dates to the 1980s and still presents
SOLD AT $47,300. Last seen at Worldwide's
Hilton Head sale in November '07, where it
sold for $55,500 (SCM# 47629). Driven only
2 miles since. Seen before at Kruse's Detroit
sale in April '93, where it didn't sell at $24,750
(SCM# 1532). The Powerglide is a turn-off
for most and typically has an adverse effect
on value. As such, the price paid was marketcorrect
for a nice weekend driver. Worldwide
Auctioneers, Seabrook, TX, 5/10.
#366-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom coupe. S/N 194976S123528. Black
& charcoal/gray leather. 7.0-L 505-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Equipped with 2006 LS7
engine and 4L65E automatic transmission.
Custom interior with huge sound system.
Subtle graphics in charcoal on black body.
1967 Corvette stinger hood, Automation
gauges, Vintage Air, Budnik steering wheel
nicely worn. Add-on Vintage Air a/c helpful but
not period-correct. Engine bay barely to driver
quality. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $36,570. Last
seen at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale sale in
January '98, where it failed to sell for $18,000
(SCM# 17315). Reported at that time to have
a replacement block and a mileage reading of
55k. At this price, I'd consider it well sold for
a non-numbers matching, least-desirable-year
coupe in strictly driver condition. Carlisle
Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#2484-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 40867S100468. Ermine
White & black/white vinyl/black leather. Odo:
36,897 miles. 327-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Seller claims new top, carpet, mats, pipes,
tires, and wheels. Original radiator, water
reservoir, and alternator. Some cracks in recent
repaint. Numbers not claimed to match, engine
claimed to be fitted with a Duntov 30-30 cam.
well. Slightly muted body contours, but has
no appreciable waviness. Light aging of older
reproduction interior, with heavy yellowing of
floor mats. Recent engine bay fluff-up. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $81,620. After General Hayes
bought the car, he was reassigned to SHAPE
(then in Paris), and shipped the car to Europe
as his POV. He owned the car until the 1980s,
after which it was restored. It exceeded the
$67k reserve in very robust bidding. A somewhat
surprising result for an old restoration of
a small-block coupe, but it's a bit hard to argue
with the provenance from day one. Mecum
Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
coupe. S/N 194376S107933. Eng. #
F1123HD6107933.
#48-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Nassau
Blue/black
leather. Odo: 86,372 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Base-level engine with optional
Powerglide 2-speed automatic. Equipped with
factory a/c and leather seats. Window seal
filled with silicone, trim around window bent
and scratched, leather interior appears to be
original with a nice patina. Paint acceptable
with minor issues. A good driver. Cond: 2-.
Workmanship throughout decent, interior lacking
in high detail but does have factory AM/
FM radio and gauges. Interior done in leather
rather than factory vinyl. Stinger-style hood
also an obvious addition. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$41,800. At nearly every auction I attend, midyears
are still some of the most sought-after
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 69
and wheels, power steering, power windows,
and power brakes. Numerous Super Chevy,
Goodguys and Grand National awards. Titled
the “Coupester”. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $94,600.
This car's modifications were done to a high
standard and most likely exceeded the price
realized here. A very subtle resto-mod that will
blow the doors off most everything else on the
line. Well bought if this is your thing. BarrettJackson,
Costa Mesa, CA, 6/10.
#S104-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
COPO convertible. S/N 194677S108744.
Sunfire Yellow & black/white vinyl/tan
leather. Odo: 31,206 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8,
3x2-bbl, auto. COPO order number FS2738,
due to non-stock color versus trim. Options
include Transistorized ignition, Powerglide,
3.36 Posi, side pipes, headrests, two tops,
telescopic column, AM/FM radio, and alloy
wheels. Freshly restored with good quality
repaint, most brightwork redone but still has
mildly pitted vent window frames. Nice door
fit and panel gaps. Original gas tank removed
and sitting inside car, with original tank sticker
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Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
covered in plastic. Expertly redone interior,
with all newer soft trim. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$137,800. Last seen at Bloomington Gold in
2007, then a no-sale at $140k (CM# 45465).
The market is a little different nearly three
years later, although the car hasn't changed an
iota. As this was a no-reserve car, I have to call
the price market-correct. Mecum Auctions,
Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#367-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S113836. Goodwood Green
& white/green vinyl. Odo: 35,696 miles. 427-ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored in 1987 and
in storage since 1990. Paint showing signs of
age with lack of luster and some visible cracks.
Stinger paint application not typical of factory
production, brightwork just OK. No glaring issues
with interior. A quality respray would do
wonders here. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $68,200.
Average money for an average big block '67
Corvette coupe. Lots of upside here, as the
aging paint is an issue that can be easily corrected.
Barrett-Jackson, Costa Mesa, CA, 6/10.
#369-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S122738. Marina
Blue & black/black vinyl. Odo: 37,562 miles.
427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Original paint
showing signs of age and use. Black stinger
continues over hard top and down rear, and it
appears to be the same age as the car, so was
47,463 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Amazingly well preserved, completely original
specimen, with many small and understandable
flaws to lacquer finish. Original chrome
and stainless very presentable. Only light wear
to original interior that sports its factory-fitted
walnut steering wheel. Very original engine
compartment down to hose clamps, smog
equipment, and other small details. Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $47,500. A Bloomington Gold
certified, Benchmark certified, and Duntov
Award winner, this very serious contender
was tatty in a lovely way and just begging to
be used (if carefully), but the consignor wasn't
going to take the high bid despite it being a
near record amount for any 1968 427/390 car.
Close, but no cigar. Carlisle Events, Carlisle,
PA, 4/10.
#T118-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S415078. Sunrise Yellow/
black vinyl. Odo: 43,572 miles. 427-ci 390-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older light restoration to a
driver level, with light overspray on some trim.
Chrome and brightwork a mix of replacement
and restored original parts, some showing
top and interior. Correct stamped wheels and
engine block, numbers claimed to be matching.
Presented with original invoice. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $70,400. Not that long ago, a L89 in this
condition would bring six figures. The market
has changed, but this was still well bought considering
its documentation. The color change
might be a problem in some circles, I'd still
call it a good deal for the new owner. BarrettJackson,
Costa Mesa, CA, 6/10.
#T60-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S721844. LeMans Blue
Metallic/tan vinyl. Odo: 26,223 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older comprehensive
restoration, resprayed later with visible door
jamb tape marks. Heavier paint in jambs not well
prepared or finished. Chrome and brightwork restored,
but overbuffed in places and exhibits light
pitting to rear bumper. Older interior renovation
perhaps dealer applied. Stated to be numbers
matching. Engine balanced and blueprinted,
glass shows minor chips. Documented with
tank sticker. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $67,100.
Price paid was a bit light considering the no
questions documentation. The older paint and
odd black stripe may have been the problem,
but that's easily corrected. A quality respray
will be a wise investment here. BarrettJackson,
Costa Mesa, CA, 6/10.
C3
#F235-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S408134. Corvette
Bronze/black
vinyl/brown
vinyl. Odo:
70 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
heavy buffing marks. Interior tidy with nonheadrest
buckets. Engine bay considerably
unwound, and absence of power brakes and
power steering is surprising. Cond: 3. NOT
SOLD AT $27,250. Considering the needs
here, I would have thought the seller would
have been happy at this number, but he was
still looking for more. A fair bid. Carlisle
Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#368.1-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S404548. Eng. #
3916321. Rally Red/black vinyl/black vinyl.
Odo: 91,641 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. Recent quality respray to Rally Red from
original British Green. Rare L89 aluminum
heads—only ordered on 624 '68 Corvettes.
Brightwork with noticeable scratches. New
leaves much to be desired as well, with wear to
driver's door panel and steering wheel. Engine
bay driver quality but missing the proper triplecarb
induction. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $30,210.
Described as being a numbers-matching 435-hp
car wearing an incorrect 4-bbl manifold and
carburetor. These cars just aren't as coveted as
their C2 siblings, and with the needs noted, I'd
say this one was very well sold. Carlisle Events,
Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#2474-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194671S107588. Black & red/
red vinyl. Odo: 78,343 miles. 454-ci 500-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Started life in War Bonnet
Yellow, restored to replicate a Baldwin Motion
car. Fresh paint, body shows no major issues
aside from '73 side vents and large wheel
flares. Hooker headers and sidepipes, Demon
carb, Edelbrock heads, and MSD ignition top
the list of mechanical upgrades. Retains factory
a/c, radio, and gauges. New interior and
weatherstripping, plastic over new carpet,
gauge faces and a/c vents clean and fresh.
Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $26,000. The bid
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Corvettes across the block
big-block convertible with hard top, tinted
glass, power windows and a/c. Restored in
the U.K. some time ago, and still showing
very well inside and out. Engine bay detailed.
The cruiser to have for the Cannes Festival.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $59,561. Expensive for a
similar car in the U.S, but it'll cost more to find
another example in this condition and ship it to
Europe. A fair deal. Bonhams, Monte Carlo,
MCO, 4/10.
probably didn't cover the restoration work.
While the car card said it was fresh, the car
did look to have a patina, so that freshness was
questionable—and that may have kept a few
bidders from stepping up to the plate. Clean
for a driver but far from a show car, it did roar
to life on the block, and it probably could have
gone to new home for another $4k-$5k. Kruse/
Leake, San Antonio, TX, 4/10.
#451-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194371S107376. Mulsanne Blue/
black vinyl. Odo: 37,257 miles. 350-ci 270-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent cosmetic redo with
dimples on front fascia and bubbles in several
areas. Original a/c, AM/FM, and gauges.
Factory Rally wheels, BF Goodrich Radial T/
As. Under hood looks bone-stock, but needs
#63-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37W2S516450. Mille Miglia
Red/black leather. Odo: 43,302 miles. 454-ci
270-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional tilt/telescopic
steering column and a/c—although compressor
pulley is rusted solid. Engine bay is
crude, lewd, and generally disgusting. Barely
sputtered across the block. Older repaint
with little regard to masking, light pitting on
most brightwork. Heavier wrinkling and wear
to seats, but not worn through yet. Newer
aftermarket rubber floor mats keep carpet
looking presentable. Modern AM/FM/cassette
“Corvette” stereo added into dash. Cond:
4. NOT SOLD AT $19,000. This one was a
was bid here. It probably seemed like a good
idea at the time, but you rarely get your money
back on customs like this when it's time to
move down the line. On the other hand, this
is the way to buy a modified Corvette. BarrettJackson,
Costa Mesa, CA, 6/10.
#F207-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom coupe. S/N 1Z37J3S405347. Silver
& gray/black leather. Odo: 192 miles. 5.7-L
485-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Very high
quality resto-mod exhibits near flawless paint
and much custom bodywork that incorporates
ZL1 flares and other details. Custom interior,
dashboard and console reworked by hand.
Immaculate chrome and trim inside and out.
LS1 lightly detailed under hood and accented
some detailing. Clean all around with proper
patina and pedal wear to go with age and miles.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $29,150. The consignor
took a chance in offering this car at no reserve,
but it paid off, as he was more than pleased with
the top-market outcome. Solid, real-deal early
chrome-bumper C3s are still quite affordable,
and while this wasn't a big-block car, it showed
that interest in this era is gaining momentum.
Kruse/Leake, San Antonio, TX, 4/10.
#123-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194671S101411. Blue/
white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 28,116 km. 454ci
365-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Matching numbers
late arrival, as it was cataloged online before
the auction, yet showed up roughly halfway
through the event. Considering how it ran, I'm
surprised it made it at all. The final bid was
nearly double what it's worth—even parted
out. Specialty Auto Auctions, Sioux Falls, SD,
6/10.
#395-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom convertible. S/N 1Z67K2S517035.
Steel Cities Gray/black vinyl/black leather.
5.7-L 340-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Upgraded
with aluminum LS1 engine and T56 6-speed
transmission. C5 cold air induction with dual
K&N filters. C5 steering wheel and seats.
Modern gauges and Boyd Coddington wheels.
Attractive paint has a number of issues, trim
shows minor scratches. Must be a hoot to
drive. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $27,500. I'm willing
to bet the receipts on this “upgraded” '72
Corvette added up to a whole lot more than
with chrome a/c pump, power brake booster,
and master cylinder. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$64,660. I originally thought this was merely
one man's dream, but while I was doing a careful
inspection, people came up to me and really
had more than just a passing fancy for it. So
there was more than one other fellow apart
from the seller who just had to have this. A nice
result that can't possibly recoup the original
investment, but it cost considerably more than
I would have predicted. Well bought and sold.
Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#T91-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37J3S431197. Yellow/black
vinyl. Odo: 65,822 miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Factory optional a/c and AM/FM
radio. Heavily prepped bodywork is smoother
than original and has no waviness. Good door
fit and panel gaps, although door to body contours
are slightly uneven in places. Excellent
trim-off repaint, buffed out trim. Most of the
edges of the windshield show heavier delamination.
Good fit of the replacement driver's
seat vinyl, original passenger's seat noticeably
baggy. Light to moderate wear on the older
replacement carpeting. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$23,850. This looked pretty, even from the VIP
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seats, but it takes more than good prep and
pretty paint to make a good C3—especially
a rubber nose '73 with a small-block and
an automatic. Sold well. Mecum Auctions,
Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#18-1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J4S424063. White/
white vinyl/saddle vinyl. Odo: 82,625 miles.
350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Equipped with
power steering, power brakes, tilt/telescopic
steering column, a/c, AM/FM stereo, luggage
rack, and both tops. Includes most paperwork
since new. Good body prep and repaint, stock
door and panel gaps. Slightly but noticeably
soiled original top, reproduction seats and door
panels don't match rest of interior. Cleanly
detailed engine bay, but not quite to show
standards. R134a-charged a/c with appropriate
fittings. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $21,000.
The reserve was an unrealistic $25k. This was
the first year of plastic bumpers on both ends,
so there was no reason to bid it to chrome bumper
pricing. Should have sold. Specialty Auto
Auctions, Sioux Falls, SD, 6/10.
#82-1977 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37L7S400267. Light blue
metallic/white leather. Odo: 73,718 miles.
350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optioned with
a/c, power brakes, and tilt/telescopic wheel.
Good older repaint with lesser quality masking
on seals and door jambs. New nose has a
good sized chunk of paint chipped off directly
above license plate recess, with lesser chipping
on the rest of the beak. Said to have had the
motor rebuilt approximately 5k miles ago, but
not much of the original mill is left. Seats and
door panels original but worn. Leather steering
wheel rim and dash redyed bright electric
blue. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $8,295. This interior
alone could be a good deterrent against drunk
driving. With all those globs of glowing blue,
you'd be puking before you even had a chance
to put the key in the ignition—and that's stone
cold sober. A Joe Six-Pack car at a microbrew
price, this was just plain skunky, so the seller
should be utterly pleased. Specialty Auto
Auctions, Sioux Falls, SD, 6/10.
#T100-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car Edition coupe. S/N
1Z8748S905644. Black & silver/tinted panels/
silver leather. Odo: 86,051 miles. 350-ci 220-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. L82 with optional rear window
defroster and tinted roof panels. Aftermarket
window tint film and dual exhaust tips. Decent
older repaint and graphics installation. Older
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Market
Report
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Corvettes across the block
redye job on seats and some interior components,
loose fitting seat backs. Topically clean
and generally stock engine compartment at
first glance, apart from red rubber heater hoses.
Rusty undercarriage consistent with all-season
usage. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $15,370. Tags on
the windshield indicate that it last crossed the
auction block at RM's Novi auction in 2003.
Great—a Rust Belt C3. The big warning: the
windshield description card said nothing,
aside from year/make/model/lot number/VIN.
Is that a variation on “if you can't say anything
nice, don't write anything at all?” The better
bet would have been to pay a couple of grand
more for one of the dozens of well-kept lowmile
examples on the market. Very well sold.
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#T121-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car Edition coupe. S/N
1Z87L8S905206. Black & silver/tinted panels/
silver leather. Odo: 16,660 miles. 350-ci 185hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Seller claims mileage correct.
Excellent quality older repaint and decal
installation, minimal body wave. Topical engine
bay cleanup of stock motor. Aftermarket
center console T-pad. Good original seat
the package, this is the first that I'd seen in a
while. However, the big draw here (one could
argue the only draw) was the L82/4-speed
combo. Market priced for its condition, if not a
touch cheap. Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/10.
#T244-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z876AS433166. Red/tinted panels/red
leather. Odo: 4 miles. 350-ci 230-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Full boat of factory options includes
outside T-top carrier. The consignor speciallyordered
the car new, and attests that the four
miles on the odometer are actual. The only
things changed since 1980 are fluids. Otherwise
maintained as delivered to the dealer, to include
window sticker and EPA labels still attached to
passenger's door glass. Light surface rust on
changing. While '81 was the last year for a
carburetor on a Corvette, they have generally
been stable in price, but this car, even factoring
the low miles, did skew that idea. We'll have
to see if this was just a blip on the radar or a
harbinger of things to come. Mecum Auctions,
St. Paul, MN, 6/10.
#T77-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY872C5100043. Silver &
burgundy metallic/glass T-tops/red vinyl &
leather. Odo: 35,322 miles. 350-ci 200-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Unusual and rare
original color scheme shows well. Good trim,
unmarked alloy rims and all details more or
less intact. Interior tidy but with slightly dry
leather throughout. Cold a/c, everything seems
to work. Very tidy engine bay with signs of
recent and regular maintenance. Cond: 2. NOT
leather and door panels, with typical yellowing
from age on center console and seat back plastic.
Light wear on carpet and steering wheel
rim commensurate to indicated miles. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $18,550. The guy who bought
lot T100 must have been head-butting himself
after seeing this one sell twenty-one cars later.
If not, he should have been. Granted, this was
not a minty virgin, but at least it hadn't been
messed with and wasn't self-disassembling. A
fair deal for both parties. Mecum Auctions,
Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#T178-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Silver Anniversary Edition coupe. S/N
1Z8748S413312. Charcoal & silver/black
cloth. Odo: 11,769 miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Options include L82 motor with
4-speed & a/c. Generally decent repaint is
not as great in door jambs. Acceptable door
gaps and panel fit, lousy fit of L82 emblems
on hood. Good original interior, with light to
moderate wear. Heavy wear on driver's door
panel. Underhood shows some deviations from
stock. Original-style exhaust, with heavier
surface rust—like most of the undercarriage.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $10,250. Most of the 25th
anniversary cars I run into have a lighter color
interior, with most turning up in Oyster leather.
While black cloth was an acceptable option for
74 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
exhaust pipes. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $44,520. It
seems odd, but 1980 was the lightest Corvette
of the C3 era, making an L82 in this year rather
sprightly. Look it up and do the math. I figured
through the usual axiom of factoring that a car
with almost no miles on it should bring the same
as a new 2010 equivalent. Along those lines, I
was expecting $48k, but you got fewer perks in
1980 than now, so we'll call this lower market
pricing. Especially since it was purchased by
a high-profile dealer—he knows an instant
Bloomington Gold Benchmark car when he sees
one. Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#F68-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8764B5100901. Autumn
Red & Dark Claret/tinted panels/dark red
cloth. Odo: 20,730 miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Factory options include tinted roof
panels, rear window defroster, a/c, and AM/
FM/8-track stereo. Seller claims actual miles.
Well cared for original paint, several polishing
scratches in clear coat. Recently cleaned-up
under the hood, making it look like the day
it was delivered new. Minimal interior wear,
mostly light seat bottom and floor mat wear
and soiling. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $20,140.
While we haven't seen that much of an uptick
on 1981s lately—unlike 1982s—that may be
SOLD AT $12,500. I ran into the seller of this
car, who explained that he previously sold it
less than a decade ago—when it had just over
2,000 miles on it—to someone who just wanted
to drive and enjoy the car. All records from
new and the last decade were present, and the
car, unlike many late C3s, was actually a jump
in and drive proposition. Unfortunately, the
mileage may have held it back some, and the
high bid ought to have been reasonably close
to getting it done. Carlisle Events, Carlisle,
PA, 4/10.
C4
#16-1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY0784G5106478. Red/
tinted panel/Charcoal leather. Odo: 63,170
miles. 350-ci 230-hp fuel-injected V8, 4+3
manual. On an SD damage disclosure title, due
only to replacing the rear hatch glass in 1994
from a shattering baseball. Dual power leather
sport seats. Mostly original paint has been
well cared for, although there is some panel
Page 73
swirl marks and light scratches throughout.
Ducktail style rear spoiler quite ugly. Decent
replacement black top, interior severely sunburned—driver's
seat looks like it caught on
fire. Undetailed engine bay quite grimy. Cond:
4+. SOLD AT $5,300. There was little value
in this as a whole car unless you had all the
bits that it needed, particularly inside. Fairly
priced for what is was, I suppose. Carlisle
Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
touch-up. Older replacement tires are at the
end of their life for tread wear and age. Used
car engine bay topically cleaned off recently.
Heavier wrinkling on the driver's seat bottom.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $8,100. Not quite investor
grade, but still better than what you would
give your son as a graduation present. Unless
he was on the national honor roll that earned
him a scholarship. But then you could actually
afford to buy him a late-model car. Not a bargain
and not a steal on a C4 that is generally
good to slide into—provided you don't balk at
the gearbox. Specialty Auto Auctions, Sioux
Falls, SD, 6/10.
#S153-1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY078XF5127852. Red/
tinted panel/saddle leather. Odo: 51,741 miles.
350-ci 230-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Factory
optional tinted roof panel and electronic AM/
FM/cassette Delco/Bose stereo. Aftermarket
wheel center 3-bar spinners, mud guards,
smoked plastic door sill protectors, and goldtone
“Built Especially For” plaque on passenger's
side dash. Original paint looks good
bay tidy, not detailed, and very honest. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $16,430. Last seen here in the
fall of 2008, where it failed to sell at $15,000
(SCM# 118077), this Pace Car did find a new
home this time around. The mileage hadn't
gone up appreciably, but I'm still not sure what
one does with this (or any fully-marked Pace
Car) unless you have an Indianapolis business
or concession such marketing helps you with.
Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#T3-1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3180J5104972.
Red/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 101,550
miles. 350-ci 240-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Red respray over an original red car exhibits
Minimal top weathering, generally tidy engine
compartment. Light but congruent seat, carpeting,
and steering wheel rim wear for a car of
this mileage. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $10,000.
The consignor was very proud of this, but
although it was not a bad C4 and probably a
nice driver, it was hardly the C4 to end all C4s.
#S147-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY3389L5116344. Polo
White/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 66,226
miles. 350-ci 245-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Factory optional dual power leather sport seats,
electronic climate control, and Delco/Bose
CD and cassette stereo. Tuneable mufflers,
HyperTech ECM tuner, clean plastic door sill
guards, and mud flaps fitted. Excellent original
paint has been well cared for on a regular basis.
but is slightly faded and dull. Well cared for
original interior, although seats seem to be a
shade darker than rest of upholstery. Good
engine bay clean up, but hardly show ready.
Recently replaced Interstate battery. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $7,500. Some of the tacked-on parts
were, ahem, tacky, but there was nothing that
couldn't be immediately popped off and tossed
out. Not a bargain and not a steal on a C4
that's a safe bet to buy as a driver. Mecum
Auctions, St. Paul, MN, 6/10.
#F155-1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car convertible.
S/N
1G1YY6780G5904382. Yellow/black cloth/
black leather. Odo: 26,078 miles. 350-ci 220hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Original car with
plenty of indications of use throughout. Yellow
paint exhibits numerous touched-up chips,
weatherstripping more than a bit ratty. Black
cloth top likely original, matching black leather
seat lightly marked on driver's seat. Engine
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Market
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It took awhile to get the car cut loose at this
final bid, but I'd call the price market correct.
Mecum Auctions, St. Paul, MN, 6/10.
#T107-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J3M5801743.
Torch Red/red leather. Odo: 14,198 miles. 350ci
375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Original paint
still glossy throughout, although minor defects
exist. Window tint and garish BBS-style mag
wheels fitted. Interior still crisp with only
very minor driver's seat entry wear evident.
Both solid and blue plexi top present. Engine
bay tidy, but plenum and cam covers are no
longer glossy. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $24,380.
All the money and more, despite the low mileage.
Some damage had been done under the
hood that would be very expensive to correct
properly. Price was on the money for the
earlier, higher-production 375-hp LT5 in the
most common red-on-red color combination.
Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#120-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P1R5105369. Torch
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 135,240 miles. 5.7-L
245-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Clean title,
original five-spoke factory wheels and AM/
FM radio. High quality respray in the original
color, quickie detailing to engine compartment
and exposed suspension parts. Interior fresh
Fitted with standard but dual power leather
seats, electronic climate control, cargo compartment
shade, and Delco/Bose cassette
stereo. Excellent original paint without usual
light orange peel. Well-detailed engine compartment—cleaned
up and not clear coated.
Seats show heavier wear than expected, as
even the carpet has only minimal wear. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $10,800. This was listed by
the local Subaru dealer on their website at
$13,988, but since they dropped their reserve
at the last bid, they had to have done alright on
it at this price. The buyer did OK on it also, but
only if it's intended as a nice driver rather than
an investment. Specialty Auto Auctions, Sioux
Falls, SD, 6/10.
C5
#T209-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom 1953 Replica coupe. S/N
1G1YY12S815113353. Red/black leather.
Odo: 5,653 miles. 5.7-L 405-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. Dual-zone climate control. Excellent
build quality, with no structural deviations
from the basic C5 superstructure. Backup
lights inside replica exhaust outlets, while
aftermarket cat-back system is in the usual
place for a C5. Apart from aftermarket induction,
generally stock and clean under the hood.
Millennium Yellow/tinted panel/black leather.
Odo: 104,811 miles. 5.7-L 350-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Factory options include tinted top,
polished alloys, Preferred Equipment Group
1, and Memory Package. Aftermarket window
tint and rear valance chrome lettering. Freshly
installed Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires on
all four corners. Good original paint, apart
from nose respray. Recently cleaned engine
compartment looking better than 104k miles
would lead one to believe. Seats show some
moderate wear and wrinkling, but are still
quite serviceable. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $14,840.
While starting to get up there a bit in miles,
this C5 still offered a lot for what it brought
across the block. Further proof that they are
still used cars and that the market is still rather
saturated at this point. Still, if I had to choose
between this car and another C5 offered as lot
S11.1 to use as a daily driver, I'd pick this one.
Mecum Auctions, St. Paul, MN, 6/10.
#S11.1
-2002 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Custom convertible. S/N
1G1YY32G225119562. Millennium Yellow/
black cloth/black leather. Odo: 28,779 miles.
5.7-L 600-hp supercharged V8, 6-sp. Stock
options include Memory Package, Millennium
Yellow paint, and 1SC Preferred Equipment
Group. Modified with aftermarket high-rise
hood, Z06 mesh grilles, Z06-style wheels,
cross-drilled brake rotors with Z06-style calipers,
and Magna supercharger. Non-OEM rear
but shows signs of use, with seats displaying
wear commensurate with mileage. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $7,700. For a good driver, this was
a safe bet, but it was a 16-year-old car, and this
about the time that nickel-and-dime repairs
start to pop up. So while the price paid may
have seemed like a bargain, there may be more
spending in store for the new owner. As long
as that was understood, this was a good buy.
Kruse/Leake, San Antonio, TX, 4/10.
#2-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P2R5111868. Red metallic/tinted
panel/black leather. Odo: 65,664
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
76 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Also generally stock interior, although driver's
seat shows more wear and wrinkling than one
would expect. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $53,000.
One of seven C5 Z06s modified by Advanced
Automotive Technologies, with styling cues
from the original 1953 Corvette. Like everything,
the effect is based on one's point of view,
and because of that, I'd class it more as a styling
exercise than a modern replica. Semantics
aside, it's only worth what someone is willing
to pay, so it was market priced here. Mecum
Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
coupe.
#F57-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
S/N
1G1YY22G615124773.
tires well past the wear bars. Good original
paint, light overall interior wear, moderate
wrinkling of driver's seat bottom. Minimal
weathering of original cloth top and weatherseals.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $28,090. You
can't expect to throw $20k worth of mods into
a C5 and expect to get that back when you sell.
Actually, this one did pretty well, considering
that mods occasionally make an otherwise
stock car bring less money. The consignor
hemmed and hawed on cutting it loose, but I
Page 75
think this was good money. Sold well, but not
a bad buy either. Mecum Auctions, St. Paul,
MN, 6/10.
#F231-2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22G635113209. Yellow/
black cloth & tan leather seats. Odo: 40,557
miles. 5.7-ci 350-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Ex-Bondurant race car more recently used
for Carlisle's racing events and promotions.
let alone the two most successful Corvettes to
date in the global racing community. Mecum
Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#F227-2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
C5-R coupe. S/N C5R009. LeMans Blue,
white, & red/black vinyl. 427-ci 600-hp fuelinjected
V8, 6-sp. Campaigned as the #53 car
(signifying 1953 – the first year for Corvette) at
Le Mans in 2003, achieving third place overall.
Retired by GM after it burned in an accident
when driven by Dale Earnhart Jr. at Infineon
Raceway in 2004. Repaired and restored to the
exact livery and configuration of when it ran
of Fellows' ALMS/Rolex 24 hour wins, but it's
really just a specially-badged three-year-old
Z06. High bid was a bit light, so the seller
was right in waiting for another day. Carlisle
Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#T61-2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car Special Edition convertible.
S/N 1G1YY36U375140492. Atomic Orange/
black cloth/black leather. Odo: 1,610 miles.
6.0-L 400-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Factory
optional equipment is part of the Indy Pace Car
package, so there are no extra cost options. No
perceivable wear or soiling on paint, wheels,
Bondurant outlines still slightly visible beneath
current Carlisle decal package. Heavy use evident.
Wheels dirty and marked, Eagle F1 rubber
on A-mold style wheels still have plenty of
tread but rims are on the rougher side. Black
cloth driver's seat, tan leather unit remains on
passenger's side. Engine bay evidences recent
maintenance. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $16,430.
A standard 2003 LS1-powered Corvette with
40,000 very hard miles in school bus yellow.
Well sold. Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA, 4/10.
#F226-2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
C5-R coupe. S/N C5R008. LeMans Blue,
white, & red/black vinyl. 427-ci 600-hp fuelinjected
V8, 6-sp. Campaigned as the #50
car (for the 50th anniversary of Corvette) at
Le Mans in 2003, achieving second place
overall. Fully restored by Pratt & Miller after
it was retired, and purchased from GM by the
consignor. Returned to the exact livery and
configuration of when it ran Le Mans. Turnkey
ready for racing, with no restrictions by GM to
do so. Displays no discernible wear, soiling, or
use. Initially offered as a matching pair with
Le Mans by Pratt & Miller. Turnkey ready for
racing, with no restrictions by GM to do so.
No discernible wear, soiling, or use. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $375,000. Offering these individually
seemed to me like a trip to nowhere, as
the pair really belong together (unless there's a
very rich #8 fan out there, but this car had the
wrong number on the door). Most folks here in
Indy 500 land—even Corvette owners—really
didn't grasp how significant of an impact this
pair of cars had in the international racing
community. As such, these will likely remain
in this collection for a while longer. Mecum
Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
C6
#F171-2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 Ron Fellows Edition coupe. S/N
1G1YY26E675124287. Arctic White/black &
maroon leather. Odo: 122 miles. 7.0-L 505hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. As new throughout
with the addition of special ‘Ron Fellows'
Grand Sport slashes above front wheel arches.
Attractive red and black leather, along with
glass, engine compartment, or interior. Original
tires still have inspection stamps on sidewalls.
Only the undercarriage shows any appreciable
dusting from limited use. Displayed with laminated
window sticker and build sheet from the
National Corvette Museum. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $44,520. A good buy, as this was retail
pricing for a car with average miles. Sure, this
was an easy $20k hit on the original MSRP, but
unfortunately, that sort of thing happens all
the time with “instant collectibles.” Mecum
Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/10.
#T62-2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1G1YY26E585111922.
Jetstream Blue/Ebony vinyl. Odo: 18,650
miles. 7.0-L 505-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Factory options include 2LZ equipment package,
navigation, mud guards, and polished
alloy wheels. Aftermarket Corsa cat-back exhaust
system. Like-new paint, but front spoiler
lot F227. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $375,000.
As a pair, they were bid to $775k, but did not
meet the reserve. Then they were offered individually,
this one being bid to $375k. To give
an idea of how successful and competitive the
C5-R is, about half of the eleven that were built
are still competing in Europe in the Prototype/
Le Mans series, even six years after the last car
was built. Not a cheap endeavor, but try to get
a pair or world-class Le Mans cars cheaper—
carbon fiber dash and console, make up the
LT4 option package. Engine bay and undercarriage
absolutely as-new. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD
AT $61,500. This was the first of the 399
Ron Fellows Z06s to be delivered to a public
buyer at Bowling Green in commemoration
leading edge shows a fair amount of curb
rash. Minimal dust in engine bay. Light interior
wear is commensurate to indicated miles.
Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $49,000. Basically
a fresh used car with no mention of warranty
anywhere. Bid to wholesale pricing, and one
can't expect a whole lot more in a room full of
car dealers. Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/10. ■
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 77
Page 76
By the
Numbers
Top 85 Corvette Sales at Auction
April 2010 through June 2010*
1963 Corvette 327/300 Convertible Harley J Earl car—$980,500 at Mecum Indianapolis
Rank Model
1 1963 Corvette 327/300 Convertible Harley J Earl car
2 1969 Corvette L88 Coupe
3 1966 Corvette 427/425 Coupe Bergen & Johnson A/P race car
4 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
5 1969 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
6 1967 Corvette 427/435 Roadster
7 1969 Corvette L88 Coupe “Automatically Yours”
8 1967 Corvette Convertible
9 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
10 1968 Corvette L88 427/430 Coupe
11 1956 Corvette 265/240 Convertible
12 1967 Corvette 427/400 COPO Convertible
13 1965 Corvette 396/425 Roadster
14 1960 Corvette 283/290 Convertible
15 1967 Corvette L71 427/435 Roadster
16 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
17 2004 Corvette 346/350 CRC Conversion
18 1959 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
19 1963 Corvette 327/360 Coupe
20 1972 Corvette LT1 350/255 Convertible, A/C
21 1958 Corvette 283/250 Convertible
22 1967 Corvette Coupe
23 2001 Corvette Commemorative Edition
24 1958 Corvette 350/400 Convertible Resto Mod
25 1966 Corvette 427/425 Convertible
78 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Sold Price Location
$980,500 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$401,500 RM, San Diego, CA
$323,300 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$238,500 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$231,000 RM, San Diego, CA
$214,500 RM, San Diego, CA
$211,750 RM, San Diego, CA
Lot #
S116
151
S140
F214
119
126
163
$181,500 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA 375.1
$164,300 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$159,000 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$159,000 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$137,800 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$129,250 RM, San Diego, CA
$124,020 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$123,750 RM, San Diego, CA
$116,600 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$116,600 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$116,600 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$112,360 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$112,360 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$112,360 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
S135
S174
S80
S104
174
S128
169
U104
S94.1
S83
S66
$110,000 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA
$110,000 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA
$106,000 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$103,880 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
S163
S91
357
373
S70
S66
Date
5/19/2010
6/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/19/2010
6/19/2010
6/19/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
6/19/2010
6/25/2010
6/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
*Auction sales as recorded from April 25 through June 27 in the Corvette Market Digital Plus database (www.corvettemarket.com).
Page 77
Rank Model
26 1956 Corvette 283
27 1962 Corvette Convertible Resto-Mod
28 1957 Corvette 270
29 1967 Corvette 427/400 Coupe
30 1964 Corvette LS2 405 Resto Mod
31 1966 Corvette L72 427/425 Roadster
32 1958 Corvette 283/290 Convertible
33 1958 Corvette 283/290 Convertible “Fuelie”
34 1963 Corvette 327/340 Coupe
35 1958 Corvette 283 Convertible “Fuelie”
36 1966 Corvette Custom Coupe
37 1966 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
38 1967 Corvette 427/500 Roadster
39 1959 Corvette 283/290 Convertible
40 1960 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
41 1966 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
42 1969 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
43 1960 Corvette 283/290 Roadster “Fuelie”
44 1959 Corvette 415 Resto Mod
45 1961 Corvette 283/270
46 1958 Corvette 283 Convertible
47 1967 Corvette Convertible
48 1957 Corvette 283/245
49 1961 Corvette Convertible
50 1965 Corvette 327/375 “Fuelie” Coupe
51 1965 Corvette 396/425 Coupe
52 1966 Corvette Convertible
53 1965 Corvette 327/350 Coupe
54 1958 Corvette 283/290 Convertible
55 1958 Corvette 283 Convertible
56 1967 Corvette Convertible, Factory Air, Bloomington Gold
57 1966 Corvette 427/425 Coupe
58 1966 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
59 1965 Corvette 327/375 Coupe
60 1966 Corvette 427/390 Coupe
61 1969 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
62 1954 Corvette Roadster
63 1954 Corvette Roadster
64 1972 Corvette LT1 Convertible, Rare Factory A/C
65 1967 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
66 1968 Corvette L89 427/435 Coupe
67 1967 Corvette 327/350 Coupe
68 1966 Corvette 350 Convertible
69 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
70 1966 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
71 1961 Corvette Convertible
72 1966 Corvette Custom Coupe
73 1954 Corvette 235/150 Roadster
74 1957 Corvette 283/270 FI Convertible
75 1967 Corvette 427/390 Coupe
76 1966 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
77 1954 Corvette 235/150 Roadster
78 1969 Corvette 427/390 Convertible
79 1963 Corvette 327/360 Coupe “Fuelie”
80 1959 Corvette 283/230 Convertible
81 1967 Corvette 327/350 Convertible
82 1967 Corvette 427/390 Coupe
83 1960 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
84 1965 Corvette 327/375 Convertible
85 1963 Corvette 327/340 Coupe
Sold Price Location
$100,700 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
Lot #
S149
$99,000 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA 367.2
$98,050 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$98,050 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$96,460 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$96,250 RM, San Diego, CA
S57
S100
S73
171
$95,400 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$95,400 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$95,400 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$94,870 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$94,600 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA
$93,280 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$92,750 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$91,690 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$91,190 RM, Monte Carlo, MCO
$90,100 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$90,100 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$89,100 RM, San Diego, CA
$89,040 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$87,450 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$85,860 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$83,600 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA
$82,500 RM, San Diego, CA
$82,500 RM, San Diego, CA
S288
S109
F280
S181
366
S46
W300
S159
287
S190
F209
190
F253
S53
$85,800 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA 358.1
$85,330 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
F101
361
120
128
Date
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/1/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
$82,500 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA 389.1
$81,620 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$81,090 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$80,560 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$80,030 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$79,750 RM, San Diego, CA
T126
S205
$78,440 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$77,910 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$77,910 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$77,380 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$77,000 Worldwide, Seabrook, TX
$77,000 RM, San Diego, CA
$76,850 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$76,320 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$75,260 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$74,800 RM, San Diego, CA
$74,200 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$74,200 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$73,700 Worldwide, Seabrook, TX
$72,600 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA
$71,500 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA
$68,900 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$68,200 Worldwide, Seabrook, TX
$66,780 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$66,250 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$65,720 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$64,900 RM, San Diego, CA
$64,660 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$63,600 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$63,600 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
$63,600 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$62,540 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$62,540 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
$62,010 Mecum, Indianapolis, IN
F179
S108
S42
201
179
S88
U69
W298.1 5/19/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/19/2010
6/19/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
6/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
5/1/2010
6/19/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
6/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/1/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
5/1/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
6/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
5/19/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
6/25/2010
5/19/2010
S170.1
S102
113
S50
S141
157
T78
S157
183
374
385
S119
33
S13
F72
S44.1
166
T27
W173
T181
S72
S175
S31
T185
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 79
Page 78
Price
Guide
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
C1 (1953–62)
235/150 Roadster
235/150 Roadster
235/155 Roadster
265/195
265/210 Convertible
265/225
283/220 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/283 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/290 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/290 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/290 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/270
283/275 FI
283/315 FI
327/250 Convertible
327/300
327/340
327/360 FI
327/250 Split-Window Coupe
327/300 L75
327/340 L76
327/360 FI L84
327/360 Z06
327/250 Convertible
327/300 L75
327/340 L76
327/360 FI L84
Grand Sport
327/250 Coupe
327/300 L75
327/365 L76
327/375 FI L84
327/250 Convertible
327/300 L75
327/365 L76
327/375 FI L84
327/250 Coupe
327/300 L75
327/350 L79
327/365 L76
53
54
55
55
56
56
57
57
57
57
57
58
58
58
58
58
59
59
59
59
59
60
60
60
60
60
61
61
61
61
61
62
62
62
62
(1956–62, add $2k–$4k for auxiliary hard top.)
C2 (1963–67)
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
64
64
64
64
64
64
64
64
65
65
65
10,594
10,919
$40,000
$43,000
$52,000
$74,000
$128,000
$35,000
$36,000
$39,000
$65,500
5
8,304
13,925
8,186
$6,000,000
$33,000
$33,000
$37,000
$56,000
$35,000
$37,000
$39,000
$57,000
$38,000
$38,000
$41,000
80 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
$69,300
$84,000
$83,000
$142,000
$194,000
$63,000
$66,000
$72,000
$144,000
$10,000,000
$52,000
$57,000
$59,000
$97,000
$57,000
$62,000
$60,000
$99,000
$69,000
$60,000
$75,000
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
A
A
B
B
B
A
B
B
B
A
B
B
B
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
300
3,640
7
693
387
3,080
1,633
2,045
284
1,621
756
4,243
2,436
504
978
1,007
5,487
1,417
175
1,846
745
5,827
1,211
100
2,364
759
5,357
1,175
2,827
118
1,462
4,907
3,294
4,412
1,918
$150,000
$60,000
$75,000
$65,000
$45,000
$50,000
$45,000
$50,000
$60,000
$50,000
$72,000
$40,000
$45,000
$54,000
$49,000
$70,000
$40,000
$44,000
$55,000
$48,000
$68,500
$40,000
$50,000
$54,000
$49,000
$69,500
$41,000
$46,000
$50,000
$57,000
$68,500
$45,000
$50,000
$52,000
$77,000
$250,000
$108,000
$15,000
$122,000
$85,000
$85,000
$90,000
$95,000
$115,000
$93,000
$120,000
$78,000
$108,000
$108,000
$87,000
$128,000
$75,000
$83,000
$103,000
$102,000
$127,000
$87,000
$86,000
$102,500
$95,000
$128,000
$65,000
$88,000
$88,000
$103,000
$139,000
$80,000
$88,000
$93,000
$147,000
A
B
B
A
B
B
B
B
A
B
A
B
B
A
B
A
B
B
A
B
A
B
B
A
B
A
B
B
B
A
A
B
B
B
A
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
327/375 FI L84
396/425 L78
327/250 Convertible
327/300 L75
327/350 L79
327/365 L76
327/375 FI L84
396/425 L78
327/300 Coupe
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/425 L72
327/300 Convertible
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/425 L72
327/300 Coupe
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
327/300 Convertible
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
C3 (1968–82)
327/300 Coupe
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
327/300 Convertible
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
350/300 Coupe
350/350 L46
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
427/430 ZL1
350/300 Convertible
350/350 L46
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
15,378
9,958
17,762
8,504
$43,000
$64,000
$66,000
$39,000
$39,000
$42,000
$43,000
$65,000
$72,000
$38,000
$43,000
$56,000
$69,000
$40,000
$45,000
$58,000
$70,000
$45,000
$48,000
$62,000
$72,000
14,436
$1,200,000
$97,000
$46,000
$50,000
$65,000
$75,000
$1,225,000
$93,000
$78,000
$116,000
$128,000
$68,000
$75,000
$80,000
$85,000
$124,000
$128,000
$71,000
$76,000
$91,000
$128,000
$80,000
$83,000
$119,000
$127,000
$79,000
$85,000
$109,000
$130,000
$2,000,000
$179,000
$92,000
$100,000
$136,000
$144,000
$2,050,000
$186,000
B
A
A
A
B
B
B
A
B
B
B
B
B
A
B
B
A
B
B
B
B
A
A
B
B
B
A
A
A
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
(For 1963–67, add $2k–$3k for side exhaust; $2k–$4k for auxiliary hard top; $4k–$6k for a/c; $5k–$8k for
knockoff wheels; $6k–$10k for aluminum wheels.)
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
9,936
18,630
22,129
$17,000
$20,000
$25,000
$28,000
$300,000
$40,000
$54,000
$24,000
$26,000
$36,000
$35,000
$350,000
$47,150
$60,000
$18,000
$21,000
$25,000
$29,000
$350,000
$45,000
$50,000
16,633
$2,000,000
$22,000
$24,000
$30,000
$34,000
$300,000
$35,000
$41,000
$50,000
$58,000
$400,000
$72,000
$95,000
$46,000
$52,000
$61,000
$69,000
$500,000
$85,000
$113,000
$38,000
$43,000
$52,000
$67,000
$500,000
$100,000
$93,000
$3,000,000
$47,000
$55,000
$63,000
$70,000
$400,000
C
C
C
C
A
B
B
C
C
C
C
A
B
B
C
C
C
C
A
B
B
A
C
C
C
C
A
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
*Predicted appreciation over twelve months, where five-star cars will out-perform market at large, three-star cars are fully priced, and one-star cars are still depreciating
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Page 79
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
350/300 Coupe
350/350 L46
350/370 LT1
454/390 LS5
350/300 Convertible
350/350 L46
350/370 LT1
454/390 LS5
350/270 Coupe
350/330 LT1
454/365 LS5
454/425 LS6
350/270 Convertible
350/330 LT1
454/365 LS5
454/425 LS6
350/200 Coupe
350/255 LT1
454/270 LS5
300/250 Convertible
350/255 LT1
454/270 LS5
69
69
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
71
71
71
71
71
71
71
71
72
72
72
72
72
72
10,668
6,648
14,680
7,121
20,496
6,508
$55,000
$75,000
$18,500
$22,000
$28,000
$27,000
$24,000
$25,000
$33,000
$33,000
$18,000
$25,000
$25,000
$85,000
$25,000
$31,000
$33,000
$100,000
$18,500
$26,500
$27,500
$25,000
$35,000
$33,000
(1968–72, add $1k–$2k for auxiliary hard top; $2k–$3k for a/c.)
$125,000
$125,000
$39,000
$40,000
$56,000
$58,000
$50,000
$55,000
$68,000
$70,000
$37,000
$53,000
$55,000
$175,000
$48,000
$65,000
$67,000
$225,000
$40,000
$55,000
$56,000
$51,000
$66,000
$67,000
B
B
C
C
C
B
C
C
C
B
C
C
B
A
C
C
B
A
C
C
C
C
C
C
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
350/190 Coupe
350/250 L82
454/275 LS4
350/190 Convertible
350/250 L82
454/275 LS4
350/195 Coupe
350/250 L82
454/270 LS4
350/195 Convertible
350/250 L82
454/270 LS4
350/165 Coupe
350/205 L82
350/165 Convertible
350/205 L82
350/180 Coupe
350/210 L82
350/180 Coupe
350/210 L82
350/185 Coupe
350/220 L82
350/185 Silver Anniversary
350 /220 L82
350/185 Pace Car
73
73
73
73
73
73
74
74
74
74
74
74
75
75
75
75
76
76
77
77
78
78
78
78
78
25,521
4,943
32,028
5,474
33,836
4,629
46,558
49,213
24,991
15,283
6,502
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
$13,000
$15,000
$17,000
$20,000
$22,000
$24,000
$11,000
$14,000
$15,000
$19,000
$21,000
$22,000
$10,000
$12,500
$18,000
$20,000
$9,000
$11,000
$9,500
$12,000
$10,000
$13,000
$13,000
$16,000
$18,000
$24,000
$28,000
$33,000
$33,000
$40,000
$42,000
$23,000
$28,000
$30,000
$32,000
$36,000
$40,000
$19,000
$23,000
$33,000
$37,000
$16,000
$20,000
$18,000
$22,000
$18,000
$23,000
$25,000
$30,000
$32,500
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
*Predicted appreciation over twelve months, where five-star cars will out-perform market at large, three-star cars are fully priced, and one-star cars are still depreciating
www.corvettemarket.com SUMMER 2010 Corvette Market 81
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Page 80
Price
Guide
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
350/220 L82
350/195 Coupe
350/225 L82
350/190 Coupe
350/230 L82
305/180 (California only)
350/190 Coupe
350/200 Coupe
350/200 Collector Edition
78
79
79
80
80
80
81
82
82
Convertible
Malcolm Konner Comm. Coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
Convertible
35th Anniversary coupe
Challenge Racer
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
Convertible
Challenge Racer
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
World Challenge Racer
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
40th Anniversary coupe
40th Anniversary convertible
40th Anniversary ZR-1 coupe
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
84
85
86
86
86
87
87
53,807
40,614
40,606
18,648
6,759
51,547
39,729
27,794
7,315
50
87
88
88
88
88
88
89
89
89
89
90
90
90
90
90
91
91
91
91
92
92
92
93
93
93
93
93
93
94
94
94
95
95
188
inc.
15,382
7,407
2,050
inc.
56 inc.
125
inc.
16,663
9,749
60 inc.
67 inc.
12,967
3,049
7,630
58 inc.
23 inc.
12,923
2,044
5,672
71 inc.
14,102
502
5,875
15,396
448
5,692
6,749
inc.
inc.
17,536
448
5,346
15,323
448
$20,000
$10,500
$13,500
$12,000
$14,000
$9,000
$12,000
$12,000
$17,000
$5,500
$6,000
$6,500
$9,500
$40,000
$19,000
$24,000
$20,000
$24,000
$16,000
$21,000
$22,000
$30,000
$8,500
$9,000
C
C
C
C
C
D
C
C
C
20,007
10,625
$10,000
$7,500
$10,000
$20,000
$7,500
$10,000
$13,000
$26,500
$20,000
$7,500
$11,000
$26,000
$21,000
$8,000
$22,000
$10,000
$21,000
$24,000
$9,500
$20,000
$12,000
$21,500
$10,000
$21,000
$12,000
$10,000
$22,000
$13,000
$13,500
$18,500
$34,000
$11,000
$32,000
$15,000
$12,000
$32,375
$10,500
$16,000
$20,000
$11,500
$16,000
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
(1973–82, add $750 for aluminum wheels, $1,250 for auiliary hard top. 1978–82, add $650 for glass top.)
C4 (1984–96)
Coupe
Coupe
Coupe
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
$32,000
$11,000
$16,000
$22,000
$40,000
$31,000
$12,000
$17,000
$40,000
$32,000
$13,000
$30,000
$18,000
$32,000
$36,000
$13,000
$30,000
$18,500
$32,000
$14,000
$33,000
$18,500
$14,000
$35,000
$19,000
$22,000
$27,000
$42,000
$16,000
$44,000
$20,000
$16,250
$45,500
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
C
D
D
C
D
D
C
C
D
C
D
D
C
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Collector Edition coupe
Collector Edition convertible
Grand Sport coupe
Grand Sport convertible
95
95
96
96
96
96
96
96
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
50th Anniversary coupe
50th Anniversary convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Commemorative coupe
Commemorative convertible
Z06 Commemorative hard top
C6 (2005–present)
Coupe
Convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Z06 coupe
Ron Fellows Z06 coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 coupe
ZR1 coupe
97
98
98
98
99
99
99
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
4,444
527
12,326
2,798
4,031
1,381
810
190
9,752
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
$15,000
$20,000
$13,500
$16,000
$17,000
$19,000
$26,000
$30,500
19,235
10,686
1,163
18,078
11,161
4,031
18,113
13,479
2,090
15,681
14,173
5,773
14,760
12,710
8,297
8,727
6,475
8,635
4,085
7,547
13,950
9,557
3,658
2,215
2,659
2,025
26,278
10,644
16,598
11,151
6,272
21,484
10,918
500
8,159
399
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
$13,000
$14,000
$18,000
$24,000
$16,000
$19,000
$16,250
$18,500
$22,000
$17,000
$21,500
$23,750
$23,750
$22,750
$26,250
$25,000
$24,500
$29,500
$26,500
$26,500
$29,000
$25,500
$30,500
$30,500
$26,500
$29,000
$29,500
$19,000
$32,000
$18,000
$21,500
$26,250
$30,000
$41,000
$56,000
(1984–96, add $1,300 for auxiliary hard top, $600 for 6-sp, $3,000 for LT4 in 1996.)
C5 (1997–2004)
Coupe
Coupe
$20,000
$21,000
$25,000
$31,000
$22,750
$25,000
$20,750
$23,750
$26,500
$22,000
$25,500
$29,750
$30,000
$29,000
$33,250
$34,000
$30,250
$35,000
$34,000
$34,000
$36,000
$32,000
$37,000
$35,500
$34,000
$36,000
$36,500
$29,750
$36,000
$33,500
$38,750
$48,500
$34,000
$52,000
$52,000
$52,000
$61,000
$35,000
$42,500
$58,500
est. MSRP
$37,750
$41,000
$38,750
$44,000
$54,000
$40,000
$58,000
$58,000
$56,000
$65,000
$40,500
$47,500
$61,000
$120,000
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
C
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
C
C
D
D
C
B
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HHH
HHH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
(Note: Bloomington Gold, NCRS certification, or racing history can add significantly to the value of a Corvette.)
*Predicted appreciation over twelve months, where five-star cars will out-perform market at large, three-star cars are fully priced, and one-star cars are still depreciating
82 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Page 82
Trick
Stuff
What you need for your Corvette and where to get it. By John Gunnell
Cool Stuff For Hot Weather
Keeping your coolant cool, charging up, and finding Fuelie pistons
Low-cost charger with high-cost features
Stanley Tool's 6-8 AMP automatic battery charger features a quick start timer and
3-stage charging. This affordable charger automatically switches from fast charge to
top-off to maintenance charge. It has an easy-to-read LCD screen to indicate: 1) normal
charge rate; 2) maintenance charge or 3) Quick Start Timer engine start countdown. It
provides two simple, easy ways to charge — by connecting to a DC outlet or directly to a
vehicle's battery. The BC6809 can give a 15-minute quick charge or a full charge in five
hours. Battery clips and a DC plug are included. Spark- resistant reverse hook-up protection
and a reverse polarity indicator are provided. This $31 tool has generated some great
feedback on the Web. Check www.stanleytools.com or call 800.262.2161.
“Fuelie” pistons From Egge
ed pistons, you need pistons. When you need pistons for a vintage ‘Vette
fuel-injected high-performance V-8, you need Egge Machine Company.
a-based parts supplier offers Part No. CV283M57FIHP for the 1957 fuele
and Part No. CV283M58-66FIHP for 1956-1966 fuel-injected models.
iced at $297.50 each. Contact Egge Machine Company at 800.866.3443 or
w.egge.com.
Have a cool summer
Corvettes are the ultimate summer cars, but
Waterless wash saves time, money and… water
While at Bloomington Gold this year, we watched a
demonstration of Cousin Joe's Ultra Speedwash on a black
2006 Corvette that had been sitting in the sun all afternoon.
The solution was misted onto the hot, dusty car,
and then wiped off. We were impressed with how clean
the car looked—without any water use. “You only need
2 to 3 ounces of this solution to clean a mid-size car”,
said Joe Martorelli, co-owner of Cousin Joe's. A 32 oz
bottle is $25. For more information visit
www.cousinjoeswash.com
hot weather takes its toll. Maintaining your cooling
system will keep your car cool and protect
it. Justice Brothers markets cooling additives
through professional car care centers. Cooling
System Protector™ & Water Pump Lubricant
helps prevent electrolysis and overheating.
AC-CLEAN™ removes foul odors from winter
storage. It kills bacteria, mold or fungus in the
system. Super Radiator Cooler™ raises the
boiling point of the coolant, even on the hottest
days. FRIDG-e LUBE™ lubricates your air
conditioning compressor. For Justice Brothers
car care products info call 626.359.9174 or visit
www.justicebrothers.com.
84 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Page 84
In
Miniature
car enthusiast which
Corvettes are on
their short list of
“Got to have one
day,” and inevitably,
a 1963 Sting Ray
Split-Window coupe
will be there. There's
one on my personal
list as well. Sales
figures
for 1963
showed that the Split
Window was on a lot of got-to-have lists that year. This Corvette was an iconic
design mated with enough performance and technology to back up striking
looks.
Not new to 1:18 scale, but brand-spanking new from AutoArt, is their long
awaited, die cast model of the Split-Window coupe as a stablemate to their previous
'63 convertible, which I reviewed in CM #11. (p. 86).
Your only other choice in this scale would be one of Ertl's out-of-production
pieces. These models were produced in numerous colors, but they were closer to
toys than to good models. So, if you want a decent 1:18 scale model of the 1963
Corvette coupe, buy the AutoArt piece.
The model is stunning in Daytona Blue with red interior combination. The
metallic element in the paint is very fine, so it looks correct to scale, regardless
of whether or not it truly is. She rides on the same whitewall tires and plated
wheels as does the convertible, which certainly won't be to everyone's liking,
but it does make for an attractive display piece.
This coupe is produced as a “limited edition” of, gee whiz, only 6,000 num-
bered pieces. Good grief! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Anything
over 500 is really not a limited edition. You can also count on another color
variant released after the Daytona Blue cars are completed. That said, don't
let the volume of production detour you from owning one of these. It's one
very fine-looking model. Is it perfect? No, definitely not, but it's still a worthy
addition to most collections.
Each “limited” piece is supplied with an individually stamped and numbered
certificate that matches a small plaque bearing the same, handwritten serial
number. The plaque is attached to the underside of the model.
Please do note that all of my previous remarks and criticisms in my CM 11
review of Auto Art's convertible also apply here to the coupe. The model is
very good, but like Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront,” it could've been a
contender with a little more attention to detail and accuracy.
The overall look pulls together very well, but once Corvette aficionados get
past that, the mistakes show themselves. This model does have AutoArt's usual
high level of fit and finish, along with some delicate detail features.
Among the nicer details are the beautifully made emblems adorning the
front, rear and sides of the car. Unfortunately, the placement of only one out
of four is correct. The good one is on the front. The side-mounted emblems are
too far forward, and the rear emblem is too far to the
right—and applied at a careless angle. The high-gloss
paint finish has a surprising amount of orange peel in
it, more so than I would have expected. The paint also
had film and fingerprints that required a good deal of
cleaning and polishing. No extra charge for that!
The list of working features is good. The model
'63 Coupe Details
Production Dates:
2010 -
Quantity: Numbered, limited
edition of 6,000
CM Five-Star Rating:
Overall Quality:
Authenticity:
Overall Value:
Web: www.autoartmodels.com
has opening doors and hood, which also has a folding
hinged support rod. Hideaway headlights pivot,
and the front wheels turn. It is a good model that, just
like its sibling, looks best when displayed with all
the panels closed. Priced at $114.95. Available from
AutoArt, Gateway Global, Inc., 562.623.0210.
86 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
By Marshall Buck
1963 Sting Ray Split-Window coupe
Ask any devout
Speaking
Volumes
By Mark Wigginton
The Corvette Factories
By Mike Mueller, Motorbooks, 192 pages, $26.40, Amazon.com
From the first cars
coming off a makeshift
production line at the
rate of one—and then
three—cars
a day,
the Corvette was an
American legend in the
making.
And from the early,
crude experiments with
new materials, to the
world-class sports cars
designed and built with state-of-the-art production processes
today, fans of the Corvette have been as fascinated with the
building process as with the driving experience.
Veteran auto writer Mike Mueller gives readers a guided
tour of that process: from the earliest, simple box frame—
from the pen of R&D chief Maurice Olley—to a step-by-step
explanation of how one of today's C6 cars comes together in
the Bowling Green, KY, factory.
The early production details and photos are fascinating.
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic was just coming into regular
use when the 1953 Corvette came into being. Solving the
production issues led to unanticipated delays in getting the
first cars to market. Developing new processes and skills
also took time. But the challenges were finally solved in an
unused part of the Chevrolet plant in Flint, MI. The single
assembly line started with three cars a day, but the executive
suites had contingency plans for a steel-bodied car.
But the fiberglass body was, finally, a success.
Success led to success, and, starting with the 1954 model,
Corvette production moved to a purpose-built factory in St.
Louis, MO. Production stayed in St. Louis, through booms
and busts for the Corvette line, until 1981.
Starting in 1981, Bowling Green became the new birth-
place of the Corvette, with a focus from Chevrolet on replacing
St. Louis quantity with more owner-pleasing Bowling
Green quality.
Mueller ties together the factory stories with a detailed
history of the many aspects of Corvette history in “The
Corvette Factories.” The result is a good how-to book
that takes an unusual look back at more than 50 years of
“America's Sports Car.”
Provenance:
Mueller has written a deep catalog of automotive books,
with detailed looks at much of America's favorite iron, from
the Corvette to the Mustang and from hot rods to trucks.
Mueller brings the dedication of a researcher and the straightforward
tone of a journalist to each book.
Fit and Finish:
This is a nicely done book. It starts with a bold black cover
that highlights a simple black-and-white photo and accents it
with a touch of red. The rest of the book follows with lovely,
rich photo and illustration reproduction, a pleasing design
and smart photo cutlines. Well done throughout.
Drivability:
Mueller is a well-traveled journeyman, and while the
topic of Corvette factories seems narrow, the book itself is
much broader. It's a smart read that will delight new fans
with the sweep of Corvette history, while more knowledgeable
readers will find undiscovered bits of lore.
Page 86
Resource
Directory
Auction Companies
Auctions America by RM.
877.906.2437, 5540 CR llA Auburn,
IN 46706. Home of the
480-acre Auction Park in Auburn,
IN, where the annual Labor Day
Auction is held in conjunction with
the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg
Festival. www.auctionsamerica.
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
transport tracking. Complete
Put your company in the CM Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 x211,
or email advert@corvettemarket.com
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
Al Knoch Interiors ............................59
Baymont Inn & Suites .......................87
Bowling Green Convention &
Visitors Bur. ......................................92
Bradford Exchange, Ltd. ...................11
Branson Collector Car Auction .........55
Bruce Shaw .......................................81
Chubb ..................................................7
Classic Restoration ............................91
Continental Western Group ...............57
Corvette America ..............................71
Corvette Correction ...........................83
Corvette Expo Inc .............................53
Corvette Mike ...................................47
Corvette Repair Inc. ..........................51
Corvette Specialties ..........................83
County Corvette ..................................2
Equipe Watches .................................45
Grundy Worldwide ............................49
Heacock Classic ...............................39
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. .......83
Long Island Corvette Supply Inc ......83
Mecum Auction ...................................3
Mickey's Car Barn ............................71
Mid America Motorworks ...........15, 35
Midwest Corvettes &
Classics, LLC ...................................75
National Corvette Museum ...............81
National Corvette Restorers
Society ...............................................23
Nickey Chicago ...........................17, 67
Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions ....61
Pro-Team Corvette Sales, Inc............41
Reliable Carriers ...............................37
Route 427 ..........................................63
Silver Collector Car Auctions ...........43
Speed Lingerie ..................................88
Superior Chevrolet ............................65
The Chev Connection .......................85
The Chevy Store ...............................73
Thomas C Sunday Inc .......................83
Van Steel ...........................................64
Zip Products ......................................13
88 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
Page 87
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Present the
Celebrate America's sports car as a part of
Concorso Italiano during the Monterey Historic Weekend.
One day only, Friday, August 13, 2010, Laguna Seca Golf Ranch, Monterey, CA
The only Corvette-only corral of the entire weekend. Fantastic setting. Great people. Amazing cars.
Enter your car into the Corvette-only corral, with a Corvette-only hospitality tent.
Space available for local and national clubs to display their materials.
“People's Choice,” “Farthest Driven,” and “Most Original” Awards.
Special commemorative t-shirt to all entrants.
Enjoy all the activities at Concorso Italiano, including an F40 reunion, vendor booths, great food, and more.
Regularly $125, save $25 when you register though Corvette Market.
Go to www.corvettesatconcorso.com, click on “Register Here,” and enter promo code: corvette2010.
For more information about Concorso Italiano, go to www.concorso.com.
Page 88
Vette-o-bilia
Online trash and trinkets—some valuable, some not. By Carl Bomstead
Trains, Cars and Giant Billboards
A Lionel “American Legend” Corvette train set rolls up eBay bids, but what
can you do with an unrolled 19-foot-wide billboard? Buy it, of course
success. Well, it was a mixed bag. Of the 100 most expensive cars offered last month, a grand total of two
changed hands. They were both almost-new 2009 ZR1s and each realized $105,000. The others ranged from
a 1969 with a 565 twin turbo for a Buy-It-Now price of $295,000, to a 1953 at $250,000, and finally, a 1967
L79 with a recent Bloomington Gold at $95,000. We think we'll stick with our pocket-change trinkets and
trash, so here are a few items that have caught our eyes during the past few months:
E
EBAY #180514798115—
LIONEL “AMERICAN
LEGEND” CORVETTE
TRAIN SET. Number of Bids:
23. SOLD AT: $375. Date Sold:
6/10/2010. This Lionel train set
was complete with the original
packaging, which had fabulous
graphics. The set was 33 inches
in length and included the train
engine with the Corvette logo,
two flatbeds and the caboose.
The four die-cast Corvettes were
from 1953, 1955, 1997 and 1999.
A wonderful display piece that
will be perfect on the shelf with
all your other Corvette stuff.
POSTER. Number of Bids:
8. SOLD AT: $153.50. Date
Sold: 6/15/2010. This poster was
signed by Arkus-Duntov and artist
Ferreyra-Basso. It measured
24 x 36 and was number 88 of
250. This rare poster with ArkusDuntov's
image also depicted a
1977 Corvette and a mid-engine
concept. An excellent buy that
was cheap at twice the price.
BILLBOARD. Number of Bids:
Buy-It-Now. SOLD AT: $249.99.
Date Sold: 5/26/2010. This huge
19 x 9 foot billboard was unused
and in nine sheets. It featured a
1979 Corvette with the slogan:
“See What's New Today in a
Chevrolet.” You would need a
big building to display it, but
Barrett-Jackson's automobilia
auctions manage to sell
automotive-related billboards
for several thousands of dollars,
so this seemed like a relative
bargain. If this was a bit much, a
Corvette magazine ad featuring
the billboard was offered for
only $9.99 but it didn't attract
any takers.
EBAY #300433506805—
1957-1958 CORVETTE NEWS
OWNERS MAGAZINES
VOL-1, NUMBERS 1-4.
Number of Bids: 18. SOLD AT:
$517. Date Sold: 6/8/2010. These
were the first four Corvette News
Owners magazines published,
and they were in decent condition.
They were full of all sorts
of good Corvette information
and generated all kinds of interest
prior to selling for over $100
apiece. Perhaps a bit pricey, but
they were the first…
EBAY #230485454869—
ZORA ARKUS-DUNTOV
SIGNED AND NUMBERED
EBAY #370147900391—
1978 CORVETTE OUTDOOR
90 Corvette Market SUMMER 2010 www.corvettemarket.com
ach issue, we feature trinkets and trash relating to Corvettes that sell for a few dollars, or serious
adult money—and almost everywhere in between. With that in mind, eBay is an amazing and unique
marketplace—especially if you covet anything with the Corvette logo.
Just for kicks, we thought we would check and see whether the actual Corvettes have the same
condition, was a decent buy. Any
imperfection, such as a minor
chip, will reduce the value by at
least half, so be careful when you
are buying.
EBAY #300427084282—
1973 CORVETTE YELLOW
DEALER PROMO. Number of
Bids: 10. SOLD AT: $125.50.
Date Sold: 5/19/2010. This yellow
plastic dealer promo did not
have the packaging, but it was in
unused condition. Collectors go
nuts acquiring these little cars,
and the rare and unusual will
often go for silly money. Yellow
is a fairly common color. Odd
shades will often raise the ante
considerably.
EBAY #220607991948—
APPLEMAN BLACK 1959
CORVETTE COOKIE JAR.
Number of Bids: 7. SOLD AT:
$1,750. Date Sold: 5/25/2010.
Glen Appleman first started
making his large and unique
cookie jars in 1970, and his
company closed in 1987. In 1983
the cookie jar cars cost all of
$75, but times change. A white
Corvette with red buckets sold
on eBay for $2,225 a few years
ago. Based on that, this one,
which was stated to be in perfect
EBAY # 200472287039—
1989 ZR-1 CORVETTE
BOXED PRESS KIT. Number
of Bids: 12. SOLD AT: $159.05.
Date Sold: 5/20/2010. This
boxed press kit was bound with
a red ribbon with a Corvette
medallion. It included an 8 x 10
hardbound book with 50 pages
of information and facts on the
ZR-1, along with eight black-andwhite
photographs. If you had
an 89 ZR-1 in your garage, how
much is too much to own this?
Seems like a bargain. ■