Profiles
Search This Issue
Page -1
2
Corvette Market
Ground-Pounding L88 Makes $254k ■ 145 Corvettes Rated
Keith Martin's
The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
'57 Vintage Racer—
Bargain at $116k
Winter 2008
►ZR-1 Market, Speculators Need Not Apply
►Two Salvage-Title, Fright-Pig C5s
►Funfest—Mike Yager's All-Corvette Mega-Party
www.vettemarket.com
Page 1
JUNE 27 - 28 2008
@
1955 -
The first production V8 Corvette
1956 -
The first Corvette redesign
Serial No.1
Collection
Mr. Al Wiseman and
Mr. George Swartz
1957 -
The first high performance Corvette
815-568-8888
www.Mecum.com
Nobody Sells More Corvettes Than Mecum. Nobody.TM
The property of
Offered at Auction
Bloomington Gold
St.Charles, IL
Page 2
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 1 . Issue 2 . Winter 2008
36
36 1968 L88
Profiles
32 1957 Corvette 283/283 Race Car
“The new owner, at a most reasonable price, bought a
no-questions” Corvette racer. It's got extensive provenance,
is street legal, and with little effort, is ready for road use.”
by Carl Bomstead
34 1963 327/360 4-Speed “Fuelie” Convertible
“Everything on the car works, including the clock. That's
always a nice touch when you're spending the price of
a house for a car.”
by John Gunnell
36 1968 L88 Coupe
“Driving one is a thrilling mix of terrific acceleration and a
feeling of hanging on for dear life. And all of it happens
under the roar of that big block.”
by Thomas Glatch
40 1990 ZR-1 Coupe
“This was the most important example of the modern
Corvette until the Z06. There are enough people interested
in them to keep the market alive and well.”
by Dan Grunwald
44 Salvage-Title C5s, Coupe & Convertible
“Buyers won't pay retail for a salvage-title car. Once they
find out, the deal goes bust, or you get a counteroffer that
makes you spin.”
by B. Mitchell Carlson
46 C6 Mini Profiles
“Nobody wants a race car that might not go straight.”
by Geoff Archer
On the Cover: 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Race Car. Photo: Gooding & Company
4 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 3
Market Reports
50 Carlisle Auctions, Carlisle, PA
High winds hit Carlisle's crossed-flag event
by Mark Rudnick
62 Mecum, St. Charles, IL
A $446k L88 coupe leads a $3m Corvette total
by Dan Grunwald
74 Global Roundup
64 Corvettes total $3.9m
by CM Market Analysts
Features
24 Stingray vs. Jaguar XKE: Still neck and neck after
all these years
26 What's Next for Bloomington Gold: The L88s are coming...
27 Bloomington Gold Boot Camp: It's all in the details
28 Corvette Funfest: Mike Yager's enormous thank you
30 Top 'Vette Accessories at SEMA: Chargers, cut-outs, & a/c
42 ZR-1 History: Where are you going? Where have you been?
52
28 Corvette Funfest
Departments
6 Publisher's Note
8 Contributors: A few of the faces of CM
10 You Write: Don't confuse the '56 for some lesser car
12 Industry Roundtable: When is the time to restore?
16 Events: Things to do and places to be with your Corvette
17 Auction Calendar
20 Q&A: Winter questions for ‘Vette lovers
22 Affordable Classic: 1986–96 C4 Convertible
23 20 Year Picture
48 Market Overview
88 Vette-o-bilia: You won't find a ZL1 this cheap anywhere else
90 Trick Stuff: Z06 on water, tie-downs, belts, and tube frames
92 Book Review: Jerry Heasley's Corvette Masterpieces
94 By The Numbers: Top 20 Sales of 2007, C1–C4t
96 Resource Directory
98 In Miniature: 20-year old Fadini models outta sight
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 5
Page 4
Publisher's
Publisher's
Publisher's
Note
You Find. We Pay. You Drive
We're inviting you to be a part of the first Corvette
Market Find/Buy/Drive adventure
by Keith Martin
C
M is looking
for a C3
Corvette. And we want you
to help us find it. We'll wire
the funds to buy it, and then
we'd like CM subscribers to drive
it to Portland, Oregon.
We've maintained that the C3
Corvettes are sleepers, the last
place where prices haven't risen to
stratospheric levels.
Our first choice would be a
1968–69 small-block 4-speed
convertible with a/c. But we'll
consider any chrome-bumper, pre-1973 car, with condition and provenance being more important
than equipment. But it must have a manual gearbox.
Our preference would be that it still wears its original color and has its original engine and
Is this the next CM Corvette?
gearbox. But we'd take a nice 1970 coupe with a period-replacement engine over a ratty convertible
with accident damage—if it's a right car. You get the picture.
Just to keep things interesting, we've set our budget at a maximum of $20,000, and of course
we're willing to pay less. After all, anybody can go out and pay market and above for a car; we
believe CMsubscribers are the perfect gang to find the best car at the best price.
It's not necessary that you drive the car all the way to Portland yourself. We can set up a
tag-team of CMreaders to bring the car here, and time is really not of the essence.
When you get to CM world headquarters, we'll put you up for two nights in a nice hotel so
you can see the sights, give you the cook's tour of our facilities, and have you tell your story to
the staff at a lunch. And of course, we'll throw in the customary Corvette Market hat and bag.
How's that for a deal?
If you come across a likely suspect, or have one in your garage, andwould like to see yourself
and your car-buying cleverness enshrined in print, dropme an email at keith.martin@vettemarket
.com. At the very least, we promise you an adventure.
Free Scottsdale Corvette Seminar
Due to industry support, we are able to make our first Corvette Market Seminar free for all
CM and SCM subscribers, as well as registered bidders for the Russo and Steele collector car
auction. It will be held from 9 am to 11 am on Friday, January 18, at the Russo and Steele tent.
As an added bonus, Russo and Steele will provide a catered breakfast to all participants, which
will start at 8:30.
You'll have a chance to meet and listen to six experts on the Corvette market as they analyze
the value trends for each generation, make predictions, and answer your questions. It's the first
time anything like this has been done, and we hope you will be a part of it.
The panel members include Dave Kinney, author of the Cars that Matter price guide, Jim
Jordan, owner of County Corvette, Colin Comer, author of Million-Dollar Muscle Cars, David
Burroughs, CEO of Bloomington Gold, NCRS judge Michael Pierce, and Kevin Mackay of
Corvette Repair.
If you're a Corvette junkie, does it get any better than a similar-minded group of gearheads
and good food—for free?
Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. You'll find more details on page 67; go to
www.vettemarket.com/scottsdale to reserve your space. ■
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 1 . Issue 2 . Winter 2008
Publisher Keith Martin
V.P. Business Development/
General Counsel Rob Sass
Art Director Kirsten Onoday
Executive Editor Paul Duchene
Managing Editor Stefan Lombard
Auction Editor Jim Pickering
Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson
Linda Clark
Tom Glatch
Daniel Grunwald
John Clucas
Dave Kinney
Richard Hudson-Evans
Norm Mort
Contributors Carl Bomstead
Marshall Buck
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Peter Frye
Mike Mueller
Donald Osborne
Web Design Valarie Huston
Information Technology/
Internet Bryan Wolfe
Controller Jimmy Carter
Editorial Assistant Brendan Floyd
Administrative Assistant Emily Hill
Print Media Buyer Wendie Martin
Director CM Television Roger Williams
ADVERTISING SALES
Advertising Executives John Scharff
john.scharff@vettemarket.com
314.802.8139
KJ Glennon
kj.glennon@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 222
Cody Wilson
cody.wilson@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 213
Sales and Marketing
Coordinator Valarie Huston
valarie.huston@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 211
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions Coordinator Jennifer Davis-Shockley
To order new subscriptions 800.289.2819
Current subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 204
service@vettemarket.com
503.253.2234 fax
CORRESPONDENCE
Fax 503.253.2234
General P.O. Box 4797
Portland, Oregon 97208
FedEx/DHL/UPS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100
Portland, Oregon 97232
6 Corvette Market FALL 2007 www.vettemarket.com
Corvette Market magazine (ISSN# 1939-6481) is published quarterly
by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100,
Portland, OR 97232. Application to mail at Periodicals Postage
Rates is Pending at Portland, Oregon, and at additional mailing
offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Corvette Market,
PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in Corvette Market
magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However,
we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness,
use, interpretation, accuracy, and completeness of the information
presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in
this issue © 2007 by Keith Martin's Corvette Market, LLC, Automotive
Investor Media Group, and Automotive Investor in this format and
any other used by Corvette Market magazine. Copyright registered
with the United States copyright office.
PRINTED IN USA
Page 6
Corvette Market
Contributors
Marshall Buck
Contributor
Marshall Buck founded his model company (CMA) in 1982, out of his passion for sports cars,
sports racers, and classic cars. His fate as an enthusiast was sealed in 1967 at age 8, when a family
friend took him for a ride in a '57 Corvette “fuelie.” Living overseas, he learned to drive at age 13
in a SEAT 600. Buck has authored a number of articles on models and wrote a models column for
VintageMotorsportmagazine from1988 to 1999.He has a significant collection ofmodels himself
and always at least one “full-scale” collector car, to which he'd love to add a 1950s Corvette. His
3-year-old daughter,Victoria, recently informed himthat shewill be joining his business, building
model cars. His regular column, “InMiniature,” appears this issue on page 98.
B. Mitchell Carlson
Senior Auction Analyst
B.Mitchell Carlson grew up in ruralMinnesota, where he developed an early interest in trac-
tors, trucks, andmuscle cars.Hewrote his first auction report forOldCarsWeekly in 1990 and has
contributed to Sports CarMarket since 1998. Carlson covers two dozen auctions a year and writes
for Kelley Blue Book, as well as several marque-specific and military vehicle publications. His
knowledge of ChevroletMotor Division serial number coding, Fisher Body coding, parts numbering,
and Protect-O-Plate structure encompasses Corvettes and all GMproducts. A few Corvettes
have eluded him (most notably a '69 coupe with 390 hp and a 3-speed in North Dakota) over the
years, but he hasn't ruled out snagging a 1957–60 'Vette for his collection. He recently made a C5
his daily driver. His profile of two raggedy C5s appears on page 44, and his auction commentary
appears throughout the Global Roundup.
John Gunnell
Contributor
John Gunnell is best known for his book Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, but his first profes-
sional writing job was with the National Corvette Owners Association in the mid-1970s. He has written for
Keeping Track of Corvettes, 'Vettes Only, and 'Vette magazine, and his 80 automotive books include Standard
Catalog of Corvettes 1953–2005. He also updated 75 Years of Chevrolet for George Dammann's Crestline
Publications. Gunnellmoved to Iola,Wisconsin, in 1978 to work as editor for Old CarsWeekly. In the past year,
he co-authored Corvette Bible with Mike Yager and edited Jerry Heasley's new book, Corvette Masterpiece.
He greatly admires the '61 and '62 Corvettes, followed closely by the classic 1953–1955 roadsters, but he writes
about them all. His profile of a 1963 4-speed convertible appears on page 34.
Mark Rudnick
Auction Analyst
Mark Rudnick fell in love with Corvettes watching the early 1960s TV series “Route 66,” in
which Buzz and Todd traveled the USA in a Corvette roadster, living a life of adventure.
For the past 20 years, he has been actively involved with the Corvette hobby, owning five,
including his current treasure—a 15,000-mile, unrestored Mulsanne Blue 1970 coupe, which
has received both the NCRS Top Flight Award and a 3-Star Award for Corvette Preservation
Excellence. He also drives a Quicksilver 2003 Z06.
Rudnick is a FoundingMember of the National CorvetteMuseum, and since the early 1990s,
he has been a member of the National Corvette Restorers Society, where he holdsMaster Judge
status. His auction commentary from Corvettes at Carlisle appears on page 50.
8 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 7
1954 Maroon
1957 Red
1958 Charcoal
1958 Red
1959 Blue
1960 Turquoise
1961 Black
1966 Nassau Blue 427 Cpe
1966 White Conv.
1967 Marina Blue 427-435 Cpe. 1969 Riverside Gold 427 Conv. 1969 427 LeMans Blue Conv.
1981 Convertible Converstion
CN'V CORVETTE SALES
1000 N. McClintock Drive
Tempe, Arizona 85281
www.cnv-corvettes.com
2005 Daytona Sunset Orange
2005 Yellow Cpe
Purchase & Finance 1-800-875-8390
Phone 1-480-994-8388
Fax 1-480-423-0407
Page 8
You
Write
Please send your letters to youwrite@vettemarket.com. All submissions subject to editing.
Um, that would be 1956
I am an old subscriber to
SCMand a new subscriber to
CorvetteMarket. I might be
getting kind of picky here, but I
want to address something from
the inaugural issue of Corvette
Market, page 53. CMdiscusses
a 1956 Corvette , lot F75, with
“newer black vinyl interior,” but
fails to point out that no 1956
ever came with a black interior.
While the car's automatic and
NOMhurt the price, the big slip
up by the owner was the black
interior.With that said, a bunch
of other stuff must have been
incorrect. But still a good buy at
$40,163.
And then, on page 54, the
1957 fuelie, lot S125—whoa
baby! CMstates the 1957
“saved” the Corvette from an
early demise. So not true. Zora
Duntov saved the Corvette with
the 1956 model with its all-new
body, manual tranny option, and
V8 engine with dual fours. Sales
went from the dismal 700 in 1955
to 3,467 in 1956, a nearly 500%
increase. Plus, Duntov set speed
records at Daytona in a 1956
using his “Duntov”-designed
cam, and then others started to
race the cars seriously—and
win. True, the 1957 had a slightly
larger engine and introduced
fuel injection, but sales only
increased to 6,339. By the end
of the 1956 sales run, GMknew
the Corvette had a future. The
1957 model was simply a logical
extension to growing demand for
the car.
The 1956 Corvette is the
third lowest production run of
all Corvette models. Just like the
1954s—once overlooked and set
aside—the '56 will come to be
recognized as the first Corvette
by Zora Duntov. Its advanced
styling and engineering “officially”
put Corvette on the map
as America's sports car.
Don't ever trash the '56
again, or I swear…. Don't make
me come up there to your world
headquarters in Portland! Gee,
could it be that perhaps I own a
1956? All kidding aside, great
mag, and thanks for putting it
out.—Dale Novak, Tampa, FL
The '56 will come to be recognized as the first
Corvette by Zora Duntov
Welcome to the fold
Just a quick note to say what a
great magazine you've assembled
in CorvetteMarket. I just signed
up for a subscription.
After all, your Premier
Edition included auction results
of my 1963 Split-Window on
page 56 (Mecum St. Charles,
June 16, sold at $92,925,
Condition 2—CM). Although
I don't entirely agree with the
assessment, I'll take the buyer's
appreciation for my restoration
work. I'm looking forward to
receiving every issue.—Danny
May, Cincinnati, OH
Here's where the real
money is
In the Corvette world, paper-
work verifying the options on
the car is very important to the
value, as are original engines,
trim tags, etc. It would be good if
the existence (or non-existence)
of paperwork was listed in each
Corvette's write-up, plus whatever
is known about the originality
of the engine and trim tag.
I hope your auction reporters
have some basic training on
10 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
looking at engine pads and trim
tags, or that they at least know
the right questions to ask the
owners of the cars. These items
are more important on Corvettes
than on most other collector cars.
Incidentally, a book on trim tag
verification is available from the
NCRS.
Also, a Bloomington Gold
Certification or an NCRS Top
Flight do not mean the engine is
the one with which the car was
born. Many Corvettes pass both
Bloomington and NCRS judging
with a “restoration engine” if
the re-stamp is well done. The
criteria are “typical factory production,”
not “original from the
factory.” The judges often know
the engine is a “restoration engine,”
but judging rules of both
organizations allow “non-original”
engines to receive full credit
in the judging process. After all,
the name of the organization is
the National Corvette Restorers
Society, not National Corvette
Originality Society.
And, as mentioned above,
a car with an “original from
the factory” engine is worth
significantly more than one with
a “restoration engine.”My point
here is that a Bloomington Gold
or NCRS Top Flight award does
not indicate that everything
is original. As such, they are
only one consideration in the
value of the car.—Bob Cook,
Landenberg, PA
Bob, thank you for your
comments. Our auction analysts
will strive to capture as much
detail as they can as they evaluate
Corvettes for CM. We all
know that with Corvettes, more
is better, and the devil is in the
details. As they have such large
production numbers, in terms of
collectible cars, they are differentiated
by their originality and
correctness. The cars that bring
the most money tend to be the
best documented, and we would
like to see the trend of “complete
disclosure” on cars offered for
sale continue to grow. After all,
a car is what it is, and the sooner
all of its high and low points are
disclosed, the sooner buyers
will determine just how much
they want to pay for it.—Keith
Martin ■
Page 10
Insider's
View
The current state of the Corvette market
The Turning Point
How do you know it's time to restore a Corvette?
David Burroughs
CEO, Bloomington Gold
Normal, Illinois
If it were me, I'd never restore anything
that's still authentic, that hasn't been
wrecked, already restored, or altered. If the
finishes, configuration, and installation are
good enough to represent what it looked
like at the factory, and if it's more than half
authentic, I wouldn't touch it.
If it's less than half authentic, then there's
no right or wrong way, and my philosophy
parallels the Smithsonian. If the car needs to
be restored or repaired, I'd counsel doing it
piecemeal, as long as doesn't look silly. The
Smithsonian doesn't put new pieces on a 70year-old
artifact.
The final answer depends on your phi-
losophy. A lot of people don't have enough
experience to have a philosophy. They don't
know and blast ahead with gold-plated valve
covers, etc. Ask yourself, are you informed
enough to not irreparably alter an authentic
car?
If the car isn't significant historically or
has been restored once—or badly—have
at it. If it's more than 50% unrestored
and was a good model brand new, leave it
alone.
Craig Jackson
Chairman/CEO, Barrett-Jackson
Auction Company
Scottsdale, Arizona
The decision when and if to restore your
Corvette should be based on what you are
starting with. If it's original, remember that it
is only original once. Once you restore it, you
can keep restoring over and over again, but
it won't ever be original again. If you have a
“survivor,” my suggestion is to never restore
it. But if you do decide to restore it, you have
to ask yourself what you want to do with the
car. Keep it in your garage or drive it out on
the town?
My first “real” car—one I restored in high
school—was a '68 Corvette. By the time I got
the car and decided to restore it, the Corvette
had already endured a hard life. Back then,
it was customary to put sidepipes and wheel
flares on Corvettes. It was a great car, but I
wanted to go back to stock. I went out searching
for NOS parts to bring this Corvette back
to what it originally started out as.
Kevin Mackay
President, Corvette Repair Inc.
Valley Stream, New York
The first thing I talk to a customer about
is whether it makes economic sense to restore
his car. It all depends on the year, options,
and documentation.
With $100,000-plus restoration costs,
doing a 327/300 automatic car that may
have a value of $60,000 when it's finished
just doesn't make sense; you're immediately
upside down at least $40,000. On the other
hand, a documented 1967 big-block car will
have a finished value that will support a
comprehensive body-off restoration.
On the East Coast, we see our share of
cars with rotten frames.When you have
issues like that, it really is time to restore the
car, most importantly for safety. One of the
first things we do is take the rear wheels off
and look at the kickup area of the frame. If
the drain hole is plugged, there is likely rust
on the inside of the frame. A pinhole you can
see from the outside is probably just the tip of
the iceberg.
When you're presented with a frame that
has serious rust, you have two choices: You
can buy reproduction frame sections, or you
can find an original, rust-free California
frame and swap it out for the rusty one.
That's my preference. A frame replaced in
this manner doesn't harm the value of the
car, but the whole process should be photodocumented.
12 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 11
Mark Osborne
Director, U.S. Motoring Department,
Bonhams & Butterfields
San Francisco, California
Whether to keep a car in its current state
or restore it to its original condition is a question
every collector faces with an original
car.
A restoration can create a very usable and
visually appealing vehicle that attracts attention
from knowledgeable enthusiasts as well
as the “Average Joe.”
On the other hand, a car is only original
once and there is value—emotionally and
monetarily—in survivors.
From a market standpoint, restoration is
definitely something to consider when a vehicle
has aged past “patina.” For a Corvette, a
worn interior, wavy panels, rust on the frame,
and loose trim pieces are indicators that some
level of restoration is in order. Before starting
on such a path, remember to stay true to how
the car left the GMfactory.
In the end, the deciding question should
be what you want out of the car. If you want a
restored beauty that can be driven and might
be sold to a wide audience, restore it.
If not, keep it unrestored and impress
those who respect originality. Perhaps later
on you'll transfer the car to another motorhead
who will also appreciate its pure form.
Mike Vietro
President, Corvette Mike
Anaheim, California
Cars that retain their essential character
as delivered from the factory should be left
alone. If the paint is still smooth and continuous
and key parts are still with the car, it may
qualify for a Bloomington Survivor or even
Benchmark award.
I would leave such cars alone and get
them judged to reflect their value as original
cars. But once the paint is cracking or the
motor has been replaced, it's time to either
designate it as a driver, or restore it. If rust
is an issue with the frame, restoration is
your only choice, as safety concerns trump
everything.
In choosing a restorer, find examples of
his work, especially on midyear models. If
they square off the headlight cutouts rather
than taking the time and effort to round the
corners as per the factory, then find another
shop.Well-restored straight-axle cars will
drive with a minimum of rattling. They
should feel like they are in one piece, not
scores of parts lumped together. It takes
time and experience to gain a feel for all the
variables. Reduce the unknowns as close to
zero as you can.
Mike Yager
President, Mid America Motorworks
Effingham, Illinois
If you're wondering if it's time to restore
your Corvette, you should first determine
which category your car falls into. Inmy book,
Mike Yager's Corvette Bible, I've broken it
down into five categories.
Basket Case: Thismay be good for parts
or present an opportunity for someone handy
tomake into a driver. Itmight even pay to
restore it, if you do the work yourself. If it's
rare enough, with originalmotor and nothing
expensivemissing, itmightmake sense to
have it restored.
Average Driver: Should simply be
maintained and enjoyed. It's fun to personalize
these cars, and things should be fixed as they
break, withminor refurbishing like seat covers
and carpets done when these items wear out.
But a professional restoration for an average
driver just doesn'tmake financial sense.
Rare or Unique: If your car has desirable
options and it's past the point of preserving,
it should be restored by a competent and
experienced restorer with Bloomington Gold
and NCRS experience and credentials.
Complete Original: Something like the
low-mileage, unrestored Pennant Blue 1954
Corvette inmy GarageMuseumshould be
preserved but not restored. An opportunity to
look at an authentic half-century-old Corvette
rarely presents itself. Refinishing it or altering
it in any significant way would destroy a piece
of Corvette history.
Keeping the above inmind will help
you decide whether to restore, refurbish, or
preserve your car. It's your decision in the end,
and thinking things through at the beginning
will usually lead to better results in the end.
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 13
Page 14
Event
Guide
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@vettemarket.com.
What's Happening with America's Sports Car
Know where you need to be in the months ahead with our nationwide
calendar of Corvette events and auctions
Alabama
5.08.08
Mid Alabama Drag Racing, Birmingham
The Mid Alabama Corvette Club will
host this hot rod and Corvette car show.
Festivities will include parade laps around
the race track. Admission is $30 per car, with
cash prizes equaling $1,500. The car show
will be a people's choice judged event open
to all, and trophies will be awarded to top
five in each category. Cash prizes are for first
place. Drag racing takes place at Alabama
International Dragway, and $30 admission
per car gets you unlimited track runs.
Registration is limited to about 100 cars.
www.maccattack.net.
Arizona
1.18.08
Corvette Market Scottsdale Insider's
Seminar
CM will host its first Scottsdale Insider's
Seminar on January 18 from 9 am to 11
am in the Russo and Steele Auction tent.
Publisher Martin will moderate the event,
entitled “The Corvette Market—Yesterday,
Today, and Tomorrow,” and a panel of
leading authorities in the Corvette world
will share their thoughts on the state of the
market across the entire Corvette spectrum,
C1 to C6. Russo and Steele will provide a
catered breakfast for all participants at 8 am.
Entry for CM and SCM subscribers is free;
complimentary admission is provided for
registered bidders for the Russo and Steele
auction as well. The non-subscriber rate is
$100 for 2, $55 for 1. Visit www.vettemarket.com/scottsdale
for details and to register.
Arkansas
4.17.08–4.19.08
10th Annual CACC Weekend, Little Rock
www.centralarkcc.com.
3.26.08–3.27.08
Antelope Valley Corvette Club Rallye,
Palmdale
www.centralarkcc.com.
California
3.28.08–3.03.08
Southern Yosemite Film Festival,
Oakhurst
Don't miss this unique festival that celebrates
car movies and celebrities. There will
also be a roast of Corvette Hall of Famers
Dick Guldstrand and Doug Hooper. www
.southernyosemite.com.
Colorado
5.01.08–5.03.08
Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, Florida
16 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
NCRS Colorado Regional, Breckenridge
www.ncrsrmc.org.
Page 15
Florida
1.19.08
Reflections in Glass XXV, Boca Raton
This Corvette and GM car and truck show is
sponsored by Lou Bachrodt Chevrolet, and
it's happening rain or shine. It's one of the
largest judged Corvette shows in Florida,
with 63 judged classes and awards for 1st,
2nd, and 3rd places in each. Registration is
just $30 by January 12. There will be a live
DJ, lots of food and beverages in the adjacent
plaza, door prizes, a silent auction, and
more. www.americascorvetteclub.com.
1.09.08–1.12.08
NCRS Winter Regional Meet, Kissimmee
www.ncrsfl.org.
JANUARY
3.16.08
22nd Annual Spring Meet, Miami
Register for $25 by March 3 and get a show
T-shirt with the goody bag. More than 50
awards will be presented in 17 classes for
1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. There will be plenty
of door prizes, a 50/50 raffle, music, food
and drinks on site, and a $100 club participation
award. www.sunshinecorvetteclub.com.
1.19.08–1.27.08
Corvette Lovers Panama Canal Cruise,
Ft. Lauderdale
This event invites all Corvette enthusiasts to
a wonderful cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to
the western Caribbean aboard the Carnival
Liberty. Special guests will include Dave
Hill, retired C5–C6 Corvette Chief Engineer
andWerner Meier, owner of Masterworks
Automotive Services. www.catchawaveproductions.com.
1.12.08–1.19.08
Corvette Pirates of the Caribbean Cruise,
Miami
Join other 'Vette enthusiasts at sea on the
Freedom as she sails from Miami to San
Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten,
and other great Caribbean desinations. www.
corvetteracers.com.
3.12.08–3.15.08
Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, Sebring
One of the world's greatest motorsport
events kicks off the American Le Mans and
international racing season as cars from four
different classes race into the night. Expect
Corvette's mighty C6.R to dominate once
again as they do battle with teams from
Aston Martin, Maserati, and more. www
.americanlemans.com.
4-6—KRUSE
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
11-13—TOM MACK
Charlotte, NC
12-13—ICA
Gilbert, AZ
12-20—BARRETT-JACKSON
Scottsdale, AZ
16-20—RUSSO AND STEELE
Scottsdale, AZ
18—RM
Phoenix, AZ
18-21—SILVER
Fort McDowell, AZ
19—GOODING
Scottsdale, AZ
19-20—KRUSE
Concord, NC
24-27—KRUSE
Phoenix, AZ
24-26—MECUM
Kissimmee, FL
FEBRUARY
1-2—ICA
Tampa, FL
2—PETERSEN
Salem, OR
8-9—KRUSE
Honolulu, HI
9—ARTCURIAL
Paris, FRA
Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, Arizona
9—BONHAMS
Paris, FRA
9-10—KRUSE
Naples, FL
10—SHANNONS
Brisbane, AUS
11-12—BARONS
Surrey, UK
15-17—RM
Fort Lauderdale, FL
18—SHANNONS
Sydney, AUS
22-23—LEAKE
Oklahoma City, OK
23—SILVER
Seattle, WA
22-24—MCCORMICK
Palm Springs, CA
27—H&H
Cheltenham, UK
28-MAR 2—G. POTTER
KING
Atlantic City, NJ
MARCH
1-2—KRUSE
Stuart, FL
8—KRUSE
Del Mar, CA
8—RM
Amelia Island, FL
10—SHANNONS
Melbourne, AUS
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 17
Auction Calendar
14-15—CLASSIC
AUTOMOBILE AUCTIONS
OF AMERICA
Fredericksburg, TX
15-16—ICA
Gilbert, AZ
15—KRUSE
Huntsville, AL
17-18—BARONS
Surrey, UK
17-18—KRUSE
Ridgefield, WA
21-22—KRUSE
Las Vegas, NV
24—BONHAMS
Warwickshire, UK
26-30—BARRETT-JACKSON
Palm Beach, FL
27-29—RUSSO AND STEELE
Hollywood, FL
29—KRUSE
Murrells Inlet, SC
29—POTTS
Atlanta, GA
APRIL
4-6—RM
Ontario, CAN
5—SILVER
Spokane, WA
11-12—MIDAMERICA
St. Paul, MN
12—SILVER
Portland, OR
18-19—COX
Branson, MO
19-20—KRUSE
Tampa, FL
19-20—KRUSE
Salt Lake City, UT
25-26—CARLISLE
Carlisle, PA
25-27—RM
Novi, MI
Page 16
Event
Guide
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@vettemarket.com.
Sports, ZR-1s, Callaways, and C4s on
display. Evenings will feature a BBQ one
night, while closing night will have a benefit
auction and event banquet. www.corvettemuseum.com.
Michigan
5.15.08–5.18.08
NCRS Michigan Regional, Novi
www.michiganncrs.org.
Missouri
Spring Chevy Vettefest, Rosemont, Illinois
Georgia
5.03.08
Coastal Corvette Gathering XI, Tybee
Island
Hosted by the Coastal Corvette Association,
this event allows participants to enjoy a road
tour of scenic Tybee Island, which ends at
the historic Tybee Lighthouse. There will be
lighthouse tours, a BBQ, and plenty of time
to relax on the beach. The Low Country boil
and fried chicken dinner follows, along with
an award ceremony. www.coastalcorvettesofsavannah.com.
Illinois
4.05.08–4.06.08
Spring Chevy Vettefest, Rosemont
The show will have a swap meet, car corral,
judged classes, and several awards, including
Outstanding Vintage Chevy, Triple Crown,
and various Club awards.
www.chevyvettefest.net.
Kentucky
4.24.08–4.26.08
11th Annual C5/C6 Bash, Bowling Green
This is the first event on the calendar for
the National Corvette Museum. Be there to
witness ground-breaking for the museum's
47-sqare-foot expansion. Events include a
Z06 ride and drive, autograph sessions, road
tours, Corvette Quality Clinic, drag racing
at Beech Bend, a poker run, and an Evening
withWil and Paul, which will celebrate
the retirement of Corvette Assembly Plant
ManagerWil Cooksey and introduce new
manager, Paul Graham. www.corvettemuseum.com.
5.08.08–5.10.08
C4/ZR-1 Gathering, Bowling Green
The weekend will consist of road tours
and specialty seminars, with several Grand
18 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
2.29.08–3.02.08
NCCC National Governors Meeting, St.
Louis
www.corvettes.nccc.org.
5.02.08–5.04.08
NCCC National Governors Meeting, St.
Louis
www.corvettesnccc.org.
North Carolina
5.24.08–5.25.08
4rd Annual Vettes in the Valley, Maggie
Valley
Held at the Festival Grounds in Maggie
Valley , this annual show should have over
300 Corvettes from all over the country.
Festivities include plenty of vendors,
trophies and awards for all generations, and
more. www.smokyevents.com.
Nevada
2.09.08
Las Vegas Corvette Association Rallyes,
Las Vegas
www.vegasvettes.com.
2.15.08–2.17.08
Las Vegas Corvette Association
President's Run, Las Vegas
www.vegasvettes.com.
Pennsylvania
3.08.08
NCCC East Region Competition Meeting,
Mechanicsburg
www.ernccc.org.
South Carolina
4.18.08–4.19.08
Vettes Doin' the Charleston, N. Charleston
The Coastal Carolina Corvette Club hosts
this all-Corvette show, with proceeds benefiting
the National Corvette Museum. There
will be six judged classes plus a Pace Car
class. Pre-register online with PayPal for
$15. www.4cccc.com.
Tennessee
4.17.08–4.19.08
NCRS Southeast Regional, Chattanooga
www.ncrssoutheastchapter.com.
3.28.08–3.29.08
Corvette Expo, Sevierville
Held at the new Bridgemont Events Center,
this huge show will have a Horsepower and
Hot Rods theme, and will include an auction,
car show, swap meet, and corral. www
.corvetteexpo.com.
Texas
5.16.08–5.18.08
19th Annual Lone Star Corvette Classic,
Fort Worth
Get in on a Khana Cross, Treasure Run,
Car Show, Hot Laps, auctions both live
and silent, burnouts galore, a Wheels 'n
Pipes Challenge, the chance to win a 2008
'Vette, and more. Benefits the Texas Motor
Speedway Children's Charities and the
National Corvette Museum. Registration
ranges from $15 to $55. www.lonestarcorvette.com.
2.15.08–2.17.08
30th Annual Corvette/Chevy Expo,
Houston
The largest indoor Corvette and Chevy event
in the Lone Star State. Over 125,000 sq. ft.
of Corvette and Chevy excitement, with cars
for sale, major parts and accessories vendors,
and a Miss Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Contest.
www.corvettechevyexpo.com.
Washington
2.09.08–2.10.08
34th Annual Corvette & High
Performance Meet, Puyallup
Held at theWesternWashington Fairgrounds,
this big show will feature Corvettes and
muscle cars. Get ready for a swap meet with
over 1,000 booths, special manufacturer
exhibits of parts and cars, a special activities
area for non-automotive stuff, and plenty
more. www.corvhp.com. ■
Page 18
Questions
&Answers
Please send your questions to questions@vettemarket.com. All submissions subject to editing.
Hot Tips for Cold Storage
Don't try to heat the garage; all you will do is cause temperature variations
that will create condensation
by Colin Comer
telling me to test-fit a midyear
before I bought one. I ended
up with a great (and roomy)
1968 427/435 4-speed coupe, a
better fit for me and my wallet.
My question is about the rear
differential gears. Stamped in
the differential case is a number
with a prefix of “FA,” which
I am told is the code I need to
decipher. I haven't been able to
find this information published
anywhere. Can you tell me what
I have?—M.L.G., Barrington
Hills, IL
I'm glad you found a
Corvette that fits. The 435-
hp C3 cars offer a lot of bang for
the buck.
You are correct; FA is the dif-
Winterize your Corvette before putting it away
Resist the urge to start it
now and then
Now that winter is here, any
tips on storage for a guy
that keeps his 'Vette in a cold,
dry garage? Do I try to heat the
garage? Cover the car or leave
it uncovered? Jack it up so the
tires don't touch the ground?
Store the battery in the house? It
will be parked from November
until April, or less if the weather
cooperates. Any advice is appreciated.—B.D.,
Green Bay, WI
Good questions. I have a
lot of experience here, as a
fellow Wisconsinite with a cold
garage.
First, make sure the garage
is dry. A good dehumidifier is
a wise investment. If the car
is parked on a concrete slab, I
like laying down a thick sheet
of plastic first, and then a nice
thick carpet or piece cardboard
to block the moisture and keep
the chassis from sweating. Don't
try to heat the garage; all you
will do is cause temperature
variations that will create
condensation. Fill the gas tank
with non-reformulated fuel and
the appropriate amount of fuel
stabilizer.
Forgive me for stating
the obvious—make sure the
antifreeze is fresh and mixed at
50/50. Get the car good and hot
before you park it to burn off
moisture from the exhaust and
various lubricated components.
You can “fog” the engine with
cylinder lubricant through the
intake right before you shut it
off if so inclined. Leave the car
on the ground and air up the
tires to their maximum allowable
pressure as listed on the tire
sidewall.
You can leave the battery in,
but make sure to disconnect it
and attach a maintenance floattype
battery charger. Leave the
windows cracked slightly, and
throw a few commercial-sized
20 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
bags of desiccant in the interior.
When cool, seal the engine air
intake and shove some old socks
in the tailpipes to keep critters
out. Make sure the car is clean
and dry, with a nice coat of wax,
and put a soft indoor-type car
cover on it (not a Harbor Freight
blue RV tarp). Resist the urge to
“just warm it up a little” during
the winter; all that does is load
the engine oil with contaminants
and fill the exhaust with water,
along with washing all the oil
from the cylinder walls.
Use common sense, keep it
dry, keep the garage critter-free,
and rest easy knowing your car
will be ready to go after those
April showers clean the salt
from the frost-heaved Wisconsin
roads.
Here's a quick way to
decode differentials
I previously wrote for
advice on buying my first
collector Corvette. Thanks for
ferential code, which denotes a
3.70:1 Heavy Duty Positraction
unit. Remember, even though
your car originally came with a
3.70 rear, it is very common to
find a previous owner swapped
out the actual ring and pinion
to something more suited to his
particular use.
The easiest way to see what
is in there? Jack up the rear of
the car, place it securely on jack
stands, and using a grease pencil,
place a mark on the driveshaft
at an easily legible location, like
6:00.Place another mark on a
rear tire, either at 6:00 or 12:00,
for example. With a helper,
rotate the rear tire slowly while
your assistant counts the number
of times the driveshaft rotates by
using your grease pencil marks.
If one full rotation of the tire
equals roughly 3 and 3/4 turns
of the driveshaft, you indeed
have 3.70 gears. A little over four
turns of the driveshaft means
4.10 gears, etc. It isn't an exact
science, but it's easier than
taking apart a perfectly good
differential to count the teeth on
Page 19
the ring and pinion. Hope this
helps, and enjoy your new car.
Pan gasket is key to
leaking Powerglide
I have a 1955 V8 Corvette
with the Powerglide auto-
matic. Even though I just had the
transmission fully rebuilt, it still
is not housebroken and leaves a
puddle of transmission fluid when
it sits.What gives?—M.G., New
York, NY
The Powerglide is a great
unit, but also well-known for
leaks. However, since yours was
just rebuilt, it should be relatively
leak-free. I'd make sure all the
external hardware is snug and
dry, and that the transmission
pan was not over-torqued,
which might have warped it and
deformed the pan gasket.
Also check the seal at the base
of the dipstick tube and make
sure the side cover is snug and
the bolts are all dry. Lastly, if the
fluid is overfilled, that can cause
leaking as well. Check the level
when it is hot and make sure it is
correct. For good measure, use
a rubber pan gasket (rather than
the OE cork one) and make sure
the pan flange is absolutely straight
and flat. That usually takes care of
these types of bad behavior.
'56 'Vette is a rarer
choice than '57
Is there a reason to buy a '57
Corvette instead of a '56?
I have found a '56 that I really
like, but my car buddies are
telling me to hold out for a '57
because they are “better.” True?
—AP, Boulder, CO
Yes, a '57 has some refinements
over the '56, but none
that make a '57 materially better.
The main difference is a '56 has
the 265-ci engine (highest hp
available was 240), while '57s
1956 Corvette, rarer than a '57
have the 283 ci (highest hp being
the magical one hp per cubic
inch 283-hp “fuelie”). Late-'57
saw the introduction of a 4-speed
transmission, but in the real
world, the 3-speed available
in '56 is actually easier to lug
around town with its tall first
gear. Both years look identical,
and they made almost twice as
many '57s as they did '56s
(6,339 vs. 3,467).
Maybe it is just the magic of
the “1957” year, or the advent of
many performance options that
has your buddies urging you to
keep looking, but if you found a
car you like and it checks out, go
for it. Unless you show them the
title, nobody will know the difference,
and you'll have a car with
much lower production to boot. ■
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 21
Page 20
Affordable
Classic
1986–96 Convertible
1986–96 C4 Convertible
Drive it like you stole it. At current prices, maybe you did…
by Rob Sass
1986—Open for business after all these years
Details
Years produced 1986–96
Number produced 74,651 (convertibles only)
Original list price $32,032
CM Valuation $10,000–$25,000
Tune-up $500
Distributor cap $21.75
Chassis # Driver's side dash at windshield
Engine # Pad forward of cylinder head on
right side
Club Corvette Club of America
PO Box 9879 Bowling Green, KY
42102-9789
More www.corvetteclubofamerica.com
Alternatives 1984–89 Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet
1983–85 Ferrari 308 GTSi QV
1986–89 Mercedes 560SL
CM Investment
Grade C
22 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
N
ineteen eighty-three was the model year without a Corvette. The C4, which
debuted as a 1984 model, was the first all-new Corvette since 1963, and like the
first-year C3 in 1968, there were problems aplenty. The digital dash was failureprone,
the ride was punishing, and the carried-over-from 1982 twin throttle-
body “Cross-fire” injectionwas inferior to the bettermulti-port electronic systems that
had been around for years. Especially harsh critics opined that in hindsight, Chevy
might have done well to skip '84 too.
Things got better quickly—1985 brought recalibrated spring rates and a newtuned-
port injection 5.7-liter V8.
By 1986, a convertible was available again after an eleven-year hiatus, and all
seemed right in the world. Top up or top down, the new convertible looked good from
every angle. All 1986 convertibles were Indy Pace Car editions and were equipped for
the first time with anti-lock brakes.
About the only bad news was the choice of transmissions. The automatic really
didn't suit the performance of the 5.7 TPI engine, and the 4+3 manual had a balky
linkage that made the car less enjoyable to shift than it should have been. Plus, the
overdrive that engaged in the top three gears broke early and often. Fortunately, it was
replaced in 1990 by a sophisticated ZF 6-speed.
Almost as annoying as seatbelt interlock
Unfortunately, it was a case of what Chevy giveth, Chevy also taketh away. The
ZF had an annoying feature known as CAGS, or Computer Aided Gear Selection. A
solenoid prevented second from being selected under certain load conditions. This in
Page 21
1992, with luggage rack
theory helped the car avoid the gas-guzzler tax. In reality, it was nearly as aggravating
as the seatbelt interlock of 1974, although long-term owners claim you can get used
to it.
The 1990 model year also saw the replacement of the digital “flat dash” with a
muchmore attractive dash thatmixed digital and traditional analog readouts. The biggest
news from 1992 until the end of the C4 in 1996 was the LT1 5.7-liter engine with
multi-port fuel injection. It put out an even 300 hp and offered tons of torque down low.
The LT1 was universally praised and arguably made the peaky ZR-1 redundant.
Aside from the usual collision, excessive wear and ill-advised modifications that
are easy to spot, there are few weak points to a C4 convertible. Early ABS systems
can give trouble, as can the early digital dashboards. Strangely, the Bose stereo setups
are unique to the car and there are few alternatives if the system acts up; ditto for
electronic a/c controls.
Drive for years without losing anything
One of the biggest advantages of nearly any Corvette is the fact that they aren't fin-
icky. Unlike a Ferrari or even a Porsche, you can and should drive your Corvette every
1996 Collector Edition
day. C4s are modern enough that it isn't in the least bit
punishing to use one as a daily driver. They're near the
bottomof their appreciation curve, so you should be able
to pick one up now and drive it for several years without
losing anything.
In spite of the often-repeated myth that cars reach
some sort of milestone status as far as collectibility
when they hit 25 years old, don't look for anything unusual
to happen to '86 convertible prices in three years.
Since the jury is still out on the long-term collectibility
of the ZR-1, it will be a long time until we see C4 convertibles
trading for prices in excess of their original
list. In the meantime, an LT1 convertible has to be one
of the greatest performance car bargains on the market
today. There are plenty to choose from, so hold out for
the best example in your favorite color and drive it as
often as you can. ■
20 Year Picture
1987–90 Jaguar
XJS Convertible
$40,000
$30,000
1986–90 Corvette
Convertible
$20,000
$10,000
1987-90 Camaro
IROC Convertible
1988
1993
1998
2003
2007
Prices are for cars in excellent condition. This information is provided by Black Book and Cars of Particular Interest
Collectible Vehicle Value Guide, www.blackbookusa.com.
$60,000
$50,000
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 23
Page 22
Versus
1961–67 Jaguar XKE / 1963–67 Corvette Sting Ray
Dead Man's (Appreciation) Curve
As landmark sports cars from the ‘60s, midyear Corvettes and Series I XKEs
have both seen significant appreciation in the last ten years
by Rob Sass and Jim Jordan
American grunt vs. English sophistication
I
was cruisin' in my Sting Ray late one night when an XKE pulled up
on the right. He rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag, and
challenged me then and there to a drag…”*
These lines from the Jan and Dean song “Deadman's Curve”
immortalized the Corvette/Jaguar XKE rivalry that ran through the
1960s. Themagazines of the day echoed the same—when the newSting
Ray came out in the fall of 1962, the first thing Road & Track wanted
to know was if it was faster than the Jag, which had been introduced a
year before. The answer was “yes and no.”
The 1963 Corvette with the optional 327/300 4-speed and 3.36:1
ratio rear end was pretty evenly matched with the lighter 265-hp Jag
up to about 120 mph, when the Jag would begin to pull away and head
toward its 15 mph higher terminal velocity of 150 mph. Any of the
Corvette's higher-horse optional motors would give the XKE a view of
four round taillights in a stop light duel, but the Jag's tall gearing and
slippery shape almost always gave it a higher top speed. And as the
song said, the XKE had the edge in the curves.
With the exception of the big-block cars, the performance envelopes
were pretty close (although the XKE still had a 10-mph advantage over
even the big-block cars in the top end, according to Road & Track).
Ironically, things are pretty close from a value standpoint, too. As two
of the most coveted sports cars from the 1960s, Corvette Sting Rays
and Series I XKEs have both seen significant appreciation in the last
ten years.
According to the Sports CarMarket Platinum database, the average
sale price for a 1963–67 Corvette (all engines and coupes and convertibles)
sold at auction in 1998 was $34,867. By 2007, that figure was
$89,542. For Jags, the numbers were $38,739 and $85,748 respectively.
In total dollar sales, however, it's not even close. Americans like XKEs
well enough, but they love the homeboy. In 2006, nearly $6.8 million
in midyear Corvettes traded hands at auction. A paltry $1.5 million in
XKEs found new homes that year.
As far as future collectibility, fans of both Sting Rays and Series
I XKEs make a pretty good case that these were two of the best production
1960s sports cars and high-water marks for both Corvette and
Jaguar. They have beauty and performance going for them, and good
examples will always find ready takers at steadily increasing prices.
Rarity (or lack of it) is the only thing that keeps both out of the absolute
top tier of A-list collector cars, but here the 'Vette has an advantage the
Jag doesn't.
With the exception of a fewultra-rare lightweight specials (think the
equivalent of the Grand Sport), most XKEs were prettymuch alike. No
big-block options, no fuel injection, and certainly no L88 equivalents.
Midyear Corvettes with engine options like these will always appreciate
at the front of the market and pull more money than any ordinary
XKE.
After 40, years, the Sting Ray finally has a higher top end than the
Jag. ■
*©1964 Christian/Berry/Kornfeld/Wilson
24 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 24
Featured
Event
Bloomington Gold
“Earthquake 88s” Will Shake Up St. Charles
Bloomington Gold expects to show 50-plus L88s, and the first “All-Brand
Survivor Show” will be open to 20-year-old collector cars
by Paul Duchene
Burroughs plans to have an education tent set up with
examples of Mustangs, Corvettes, and Pontiac GTOs to
illustrate Benchmark standards and Survivor standards,
as well as cars that don't qualify, so entrants can see
where their cars fit in.
“Instructors will be on hand to discuss what we're
looking for. Nobody will win or lose or be embarrassed,”
he says.
Entrants interested in becoming judges in different
classes will be advised on how to apply and on what's
involved in judging.
“The next year,we'll do it again and audition Survivor
judges to see if they pass. Judges will be certified once
they are qualified. The third year we'll have Survivor
judging.”
He says Bloomington Gold is also expanding its Road
Tour schedule. “We've had road tours since the 1980s, but
we're announcing off-season tours to the Grand Canyon,
RockyMountains, and the Indy 500, for example.”
Burroughs is also taking the Bloomington Gold
Pheasant Run has plenty of space for Bloomington Gold
C
orvette fans heading to the 2008 Bloomington Gold show at Pheasant Run Resort
in St. Charles, Illinois, can expect an even bigger version of the “Earthquake 88”
event, which was held 20 years ago.
For the upcoming June 26–29 event,BloomingtonGoldCEODavidBurroughs
has announced the featured model will be the thundering,
high-compression, aluminum-head L88 Corvette. He
plans to assemble more than 50 of them in the building
where Gold School took place in 2007, across the highway
from Pheasant Run. There were 216 L88s built in all—20
in 1967, 80 in 1968, and 116 in 1969.
In addition, on Sunday, June 29, the event will intro-
duce the first All-Brand Survivor Show on the Pheasant
Run Golf Course.
“If you think you have a survivor of any marque, you
are invited,” says Burroughs. “The car has to be 20 years
old and be driven there. It can be a pickup truck or a car.
We're expecting everything, includingMopars, Corvettes,
Packards, and Duesenbergs.”
Burroughs stresses this will not be a Corvette-focused
show; there are plenty of Corvette events at the festival,
including an auction and Benchmark and Survivor judging.
Entrants for the All-Brand Survivor Show can register
on the Bloomington Gold web site.
“We just want people to enjoy this. There's no judging
and nobody has to worry about driving his car to the event
and having somebody say, ‘What are you doing here? This
isn't even close.' If you think it belongs and you register,
you're in,” says Burroughs.
No door goes unopened during Bloomington Gold Certification
26 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
judging school on the road in May, with three seminars
planned so far, inHartfordConnecticut,Chicago, Illinois,
and possibly Atlanta, Georgia.
“The seminars are to help people understand how we
judge and attendees can decide if they are interested in
learning how to become judges themselves.” ■
Photos: Bloomington Gold
Page 25
Bloomington Gold Boot Camp
Light up a big-block car with side pipes and drive it like a hooligan,
and I defy you to lose sleep over uneven stripes or smeared adhesive
By Rob Sass
T
here's nothing like going back to school, especially when your textbooks
are vintage Corvettes.
When we were first discussing launching Corvette Market magazine,
David Burroughs and the Bloomington Gold organization gra-
ciously stepped forward and offered to put our crew of Auction Analysts
through “Corvette Boot Camp” to sharpen their skills by crawling around
some unmolested, original cars.
CMExecutive Editor Duchene covered Bloomington Gold's philosophy
as to authenticity and preservation in “What Makes a Survivor?” (SCM,
March 2007, p. 32). Now it was time to view that in less abstract terms.
Burroughs had laid out an impressive selection of Bloomington Gold
Survivor and Benchmark cars, including a 1957 Fuelie, a 1967 big block,
a 1968 convertible, and a fabulous Nassau Blue 1965 small-block car that
everyone wanted to take home.
Our first task was to weigh in on whether we thought these amazing cars
were original or restored and to state our reasons therefore. As it turns out,
we all correctly determined these cars to be unrestored; however, few of us
looked at some of themost obvious things first.
Put your hand on my jambs
“The first thing we're going to do is feel some door jambs,” Burroughs
said. As Illinois is one of the few states where it is not illegal to do such
things, at his urging, we proceeded to rub some door jambs.
“An original door jamb should talk to you,” according to Burroughs. And the rough-
as-a-cob jambs did just that, making very audible sounds as we ran our hands across
them. The texture of the original lacquer (unbuffed in the door jambs) is nearly impossible
to duplicate.
The list goes on and includes nuances like rubberized sealant oozing out from
behind windshield trim, unevenly sprayed flat black paint under the hood (“masked,”
if you can call it that, by autoworkers with a piece of carpeting), haphazardly applied
weatherstripping adhesive, offset and uneven big-block hood stripes, andmore.Allwere
hallmarks of midyear Corvettes as they were assembled at the now-shuttered old plant
on Natural Bridge Avenue inmy hometown of St. Louis,Missouri.
Once Burroughs points them out, the gaffes and variations are easy to spot, but they
are also very difficult to duplicate by restorers. Seams and hot bonds are impossible to
fake. Once a body is worked and painted, they disappear. Original cars also have wavy
sides and a fair amount of orange peel. Again, few restorers care to attempt to duplicate
the somewhat casual original finish standards.
Corvettes from the '60s clearly weren't built to the same standard as contemporary
Porsches and Benzes. At about half the money, precision assembly and fit and finish
weren't part of the program. But light a big-block car with sidepipes and drive it like a
hooligan, and I defy you to lose sleep over some uneven stripes or smeared adhesive.
And if you're paying a premiumfor originality, these are some things you'd better find.
Playing Sherlock Holmes
There are several other key clues to midyear originality, too.
Body seams: They will almost always show in waves, as shrinking and warping
can follow a “hot” joint with too much hardener in the resin.
Door glue: Seal glue is usually sloppily applied at the leading edge of the door.
Windshield dum-dum: It's generally visible squeezing out around the trim.
Big block: The radiator core support holes are visible under the nose of the car.
Inner fender: There are differences between big- and small-block cars.
A survivor's engine compartment
Radiused wheelwells: They're often done to accommodate
larger tires.
Crooked hood stripes: Restorations are invariably
more accurate and arrow straight, and as Burroughs
likes to say “not typical” of original work.
Body bump in hood channel at cowl: It's often
smoothed out during restoration.
Rough body in channel at cowl: Again, often
smoothed over.
Thin chrome thin underneath rear bumpers at
the bend: Replacement parts are much better, but
“not typical.”
Original armrest: It can tear the door panel due to
mounting spring.
Date code seat belts: Check that they match the
year.
Cowl vents a slightly different color: These were
laid in the back and painted separately from the car,
so overspray marks should be visible in the body
behind the front seats.
At the end of the session, we had gained a new ap-
preciation for just how painstaking it is to restore a
Corvette to “original” condition, including replicating
all the imperfections the cars originally included. At
the same time, we had a greater respect for the judges at
Bloomington Gold, who live and breathe all of this stuff,
and who spend so much of their time sorting out the differences
between “original” and “restored,” to the benefit
of all of us in the hobby. ■
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 27
Page 26
Featured
Event
Corvette Funfest
Effingfun at Effingham
Kathy and Terry Smith scored trophies with their his 'n hers 1968 'Vettes,
one of which was bought new by a stripper in Las Vegas
by Paul Duchene and Rob Sass
“Yeah, mine's the yellow one over there”
C
orvette Funfest, which takes place every September
in Effingham, Illinois, is unique in the world of car
events. It's aworld-class Corvette eventwith county
fair pricing. In stark contrast to the escalating entry
fees that go along with most major car shows, pre-registration
for a Corvette is free.
Laggards who wait until past the deadline to register
still pay only $15, and those without Corvettes who wish
to view the show can park on the grounds for just $5.
Food and beverage prices are intentionally kept down so
that families can enjoy the festivities. Of course, if you're
looking to buy T-shirts, caps, jackets, shirts, and allmanner
of Corvette accessories, go right ahead. And you'll
get a special day-of-event discount, to boot.
In fairness, organizers of other events must charge
what they do because the shows are expected to either
generate a profit or to benefit a charity. In the case of
Funfest, its sole reason for existence is to enable Mike
28 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Yager, the owner ofMid AmericaMotorworks, to give something back to the loyal customer
base of his Corvette parts and accessories business.
But even as an exercise in customer relations management, the event is unusual in
its size and scope. This year, 75 Corvette clubs and more than 14,000 Corvettes were
present. Entertainment (free) was provided by Three Dog Night, who proved that just
because you're gray doesn'tmean you can't still have big hair.
Kustoms King George Barris circulated all weekend and happily signed autographs.
On Friday, David Burroughs, CEO of Bloomington Gold, joined us in a seminar on the
state of the Corvette Market. CM Publisher Keith Martin presented a similar talk on
Saturday.Many CMcontributors and subscribers served as judges for the car show.
As a nice touch, at the black-tie reception that launched Funfest, Yager and his wife
presented a custom made “Corvette Market magazine” cake, and introduced Martin to
the assembled crowd of Corvette notables.
In rows on rows of Corvettes, custom plates predominated, mostly from adjoining
states—BOBS C6, CRAZY V8, RED Z06, 1 OF ONE, 1BAD C5.... The list goes on.
Corvette owners lined up to see if their cars were eligible for Bloomington Gold
Awards, and Sharon and Terry Pearson of Forsyth, Illinois, were delighted that their
1970 350/350 orange 4-speed coupe made the cut as a Survivor. It won a trophy as well.
Page 27
“We've had it for 15 years,we've been thinkingwe should
at least repaint it.”
Kathy and Terry Smith of DeSoto,Missouri, scored a
pair of trophies with their his 'n hers 1968 'Vettes, one of
which—a 427 4-speed car—was bought new by a stripper
in Las Vegas.
Among all the stalls selling wheels and brakes
and those installing tops and interiors, vendors offering
replacement exhausts were big business, with
piles of standard pipes heading for the scrap yard.
Engineer Eric Johnson of Billy Boat Exhausts reckoned
the three installers there would fit more than 100 sets of
pipes over the weekend, with $100 of the $810 average
price going to charity.
British advertising executive Guy Hanton had just
moved to Chicago and bought himself a black 2004 C5
with only 6,000 miles on it. He was fitting a new exhaust
to fulfill a classic gearhead requirement. “I want a loud
one,” he said.
Signing autographs along with George Barris, Mike
Yager reckoned the best thing about 2007 was the new
140-acre location, to which he plans to add 200more.
“I'd like to see a road course and a drag strip,” he said.
“We're within five hours of 40% of the population of the
U.S.”
At the junction of Interstates 57 and 70, Effingham
might also be a magnet for NASCAR. As a longtime
observer noted later, “There's a road course on the West
Coast and one in the East. AllMike needs is an interstate
exit.”
In spite of ever-increasing costs of things like enter-
tainment and insurance, Yager has no plans to scale back
the event and promises that next year's show will be even
more elaborate. Funfest really is an event every Corvette
enthusiast should attend at least once. ■
Utter exhaustion
Where's Waldo's Corvette?
Effingham, at the crossroads of America
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 29
Page 28
Featured
Event
SEMA
Turbos, Cutouts, Air, and Chargers
The APS twin-turbo kit makes over 630 rear-wheel horsepower and more
than 700 at the crank
By Colin Comer
SEMA, an automotive candy store
T
he
Specialty Equipment M
Association (SEMA) Show is a tr
event that remains the place where t
rubber meets the road for new ideas i
automobile development and accessories.
The annual show draws countless hot
products and over 100,000 industry leaders
to the Las Vegas Convention Center
each November. The equipment covers
the automotive, truck and SUV, marine
and RV markets. A New Products
Showcase features more than 2,000
APS Twin-Turbo kit
30 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
introduced parts, tools, and components,
ile attendees can network at educational semiars
and product demonstrations.
I visited the November 2007 show and here
are some trick items I found.
APS Twin-Turbo kit for C5 and C6
OK, so you bought a 505-hp C6 Z06 and
you were the top dog in your neighborhood
for a nanosecond. But now the dentist down
the street has his new 600-hp Viper and
your buddy next door put a smaller super
Page 29
charger pulley on his Ford GT and it now makes 625
APS (Absolute Power Supremacy, get it?) has a cur
horsepower deficit. Their new Intercooled Twin-Turb
what you need to regain bragging rights and scare a
brave enough to take a ride. The bolt-on kit features
ball-bearing turbochargers, OE-quality cast iron exh
manifolds, dual intercoolers, an oil cooler, a full 3
stainless steel -inch exhaust, and all the necessary com
ponents for DIY installation. With an internally stoc
LS7 motor and low boost, the kit makes over 630 rea
wheel horsepower—that's over 700 hp at the crank.
The manufacturer claims factory-like drivability a
crisp performance, and if youwantmore, the same kitw
produce 1,100 rear-wheel horsepower (with recomm
internal engine modifications to support higher boost)
around $14,000 gets you the complete kit. If you hav
Corvette and want more power, APS has a kit for
as well—their Twin-Turbo C5 kit is around $6,000
promises 500 hp with stock “guts” and up to 1,000 hp w
internal mods. Details at www.corvetteTT.com.
Vintage Air Gen-IV SureFit HVAC kit for
1968–76 C3 Corvettes
Does driving your C3 get you a little hot under
Don't sweat it: Vintage Air has a new kit to make y
Their new Gen-IV kit provides integrated heating and
ity with infinite control, OEM quality, and factory “w
sole controls. Better yet, the kit utilizes existing holes and mounting
locations. Controlled by electronic servos rather than cables, vacuum
hoses, or capillary tubes, the system also uses factory dash vents and
features separate heating and cooling coils. Vintage Air supplied the
same type of hardware to Ford for its Ford GT supercar. At $1,299, it's
cheaper than a summer'sworth of ice to sit on, and a lot lessmessy. Part
Number 964173-PCU for factory-air cars, or 961174-PCU for non-air
cars. www.vintageair.com.
Race Ready Performance electric exhaust cutouts
for all Corvettes
charger p
charger p
charger p
charger p
charger p
charger p
rger pulley on his Ford GT and it now makes 625
APS (Absolute Powe
ulley on his Ford GT and it now makes 625
APS (Absolute Power Supremacy, get it?) has a cur
horsepower deficit. Their new Intercooled Twin-Turb
what you need to regain bragging rights and scare a
brave enough to take a ride. The bolt-on kit features
ball-bearing turbochargers, OE-quality cast iron exh
manifolds, dual intercoolers, an oil cooler, a full 3
stainless steel -inch exhaust, and all the necessary com
ponents for DIY installation. With an internally stoc
LS7 motor and low boost, the kit makes over 630 rea
wheel horsepower—that's over 700 hp at the crank.
The manufacturer claims factory-like drivability a
crisp performance, and if youwantmore, the same kitw
produce 1,100 rear-wheel horsepower (with recomm
internal engine modifications to support higher boost)
around $14,000 gets you the complete kit. If you hav
Corvette and want more power, APS has a kit for
as well—their Twin-Turbo C5 kit is around $6,000
promises 500 hp with stock “guts” and up to 1,000 hp w
internal mods. Details at www.corvetteTT.com.
Vintage Air Gen-IV SureFit HVAC kit for
1968–76 C3 Corvettes
Does driving your C3 get you a little hot under
Don't sweat it: Vintage Air has a new kit to make y
Their new Gen-IV kit provides integrated heating and
ity with infinite control, OEM quality, and factory “w
sole controls. Better yet, the kit utilizes existing holes and mounting
locations. Controlled by electronic servos rather than cables, vacuum
hoses, or capillary tubes, the system also uses factory dash vents and
features separate heating and cooling coils. Vintage Air supplied the
same type of hardware to Ford for its Ford GT supercar. At $1,299, it's
cheaper than a summer'sworth of ice to sit on, and a lot lessmessy. Part
Number 964173-PCU for factory-air cars, or 961174-PCU for non-air
cars. www.vintageair.com.
Race Ready Performance electric exhaust cutouts
for all Corvettes
Pulsetech
Pulsetech Xtreme Charge
With Race Ready's electric exhaust cutouts, you can switch from your
current muffled exhaust to a straight unmuffled roar. With an electrically
operated stainless steel butterfly driven by a gear-reduction 12V
motor, in mere seconds you can offend nearly anyone in earshot. It's
easily installed by any muffler shop, and once in place all it takes is a
flip of the switch to uncork your exhaust. Available in single or dual
exhaust kits and in various sizes for multiple exhaust pipe diameters.
Single kits run around $200, dual exhaust kits predictably about twice
that. Being unruly has never been so cheap. Just remember to close the
“dumps” before the cops show up. www.racereadyperformance.com.
Pulsetech Product's Xtreme Charge battery charger
ly, most of us don't drive our Corvettes as much as we'd
good for our batteries, especially on later model cars
computers that put a continuous draw on the battery, or
th less than stellar reproduction “show” batteries. I've
every battery maintenance charger on the market and
great at maintaining a charge, they don't do much to
life. This is where Pulsetech's new Xtreme Charge is
r pulley on his Ford GT and it now makes 625
APS (Absolute Power Supremacy, get it?) has a cur
horsepower deficit. Their new Intercooled Twin-Turb
what you need to regain bragging rights and scare a
brave enough to take a ride. The bolt-on kit features
ball-bearing turbochargers, OE-quality cast iron exh
manifolds, dual intercoolers, an oil cooler, a full 3
stainless steel -inch exhaust, and all the necessary com
ponents for DIY installation. With an internally stoc
LS7 motor and low boost, the kit makes over 630 rea
wheel horsepower—that's over 700 hp at the crank.
The manufacturer claims factory-like drivability a
crisp performance, and if youwantmore, the same kitw
produce 1,100 rear-wheel horsepower (with recomm
internal engine modifications to support higher boost)
around $14,000 gets you the complete kit. If you hav
Corvette and want more power, APS has a kit for
as well—their Twin-Turbo C5 kit is around $6,000
promises 500 hp with stock “guts” and up to 1,000 hp w
internal mods. Details at www.corvetteTT.com.
Vintage Air Gen-IV SureFit HVAC kit for
1968–76 C3 Corvettes
Does driving your C3 get you a little hot under
Don't sweat it: Vintage Air has a new kit to make y
Their new Gen-IV kit provides integrated heating and
ity with infinite control, OEM quality, and factory “w
sole controls. Better yet, the kit utilizes existing holes and mounting
locations. Controlled by electronic servos rather than cables, vacuum
hoses, or capillary tubes, the system also uses factory dash vents and
features separate heating and cooling coils. Vintage Air supplied the
same type of hardware to Ford for its Ford GT supercar. At $1,299, it's
cheaper than a summer'sworth of ice to sit on, and a lot lessmessy. Part
Number 964173-PCU for factory-air cars, or 961174-PCU for non-air
cars. www.vintageair.com.
Race Ready Performance electric exhaust cutouts
for all Corvettes
Pulsetech Xtreme Charge
With Race Ready's electric exhaust cutouts, you can switch from your
current muffled exhaust to a straight unmuffled roar. With an electri-
cally operated stainless steel butterfly driven by a gear-reduction 12V
motor, in mere seconds you can offend nearly anyone in earshot. It's
easily installed by any muffler shop, and once in place all it takes is a
flip of the switch to uncork your exhaust. Available in single or dual
exhaust kits and in various sizes for multiple exhaust pipe diameters.
Single kits run around $200, dual exhaust kits predictably about twice
that. Being unruly has never been so cheap. Just remember to close the
“dumps” before the cops show up. www.racereadyperformance.com.
Pulsetech Product's Xtreme Charge battery charger
ly, most of us don't drive our Corvettes as much as we'd
good for our batteries, especially on later model cars
computers that put a continuous draw on the battery, or
th less than stellar reproduction “show” batteries. I've
every battery maintenance charger on the market and
great at maintaining a charge, they don't do much to
life. This is where Pulsetech's new Xtreme Charge is
ietary
ietary testing and charging circuitry, theXtreme Charge
ests and charges your battery and adjusts itself to the
ge rate. This, combined with their patented technology
electronically scrubs battery-eating sulfation from batnot
only extends battery life up to five times but might
ing weak batteries back to health. I can vouch for this,
eproduction R59 Delco battery I thought was ready for
but after one week on the Xtreme Charge, it is again
cranking over my 427 like nobody's business.
duction batteries selling for $200, that's a good thing.
from Pulsetech is a 12-bank version for those with
The standard Xtreme Charge retails for $99.00. www
■
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 31
Page 30
C1 profile
1957 283/283 Race Car
It's often said that racing improves the breed, but in the case of the Corvette,
it's more accurate to state that racing saved the brand
by Carl Bomstead
Chassis number: E57S106241
A
lthough Chevrolet introduced the Corvette to great acclaim at the 1953
Motorama, few realized it would, in time, become America's iconic sports car.
The sporting transformation didn't come until 1956, a year after Chief
Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov inserted a 265-ci V8 into the previously sluggish
6-cylinder-powered fiberglass two-seater.
For 1956, Arkus-Duntov improved the car's handling and braking system. He and
veteran driver John Fitch took honors in the flying mile at Daytona Speedweek, and
Ray Crawford andMax Goldman finished first-in-class at Sebring.
Developmentof the racingmodelsSSandSR-2abruptlyendedwhenGeneralMotors
signed the 1957 AutomobileManufacturers Association ban on motorsports. This left
competition to privateers like Jeff Jeffords, Don Yenko and Dr. Dick Thompson, albeit
with tacit corporate support in engineering and parts supply. GM did not return to
racing until the 1980s with the Corvette GTP.
In 1965, Fred Yeakel bought this 1957 Corvette and immediately took it racing,
running in B Production at theMemorial Day races in Santa Barbara. He also raced it
atWillow Springs and Riverside that year.
In 1979, Yeakel opened a new chapter in the Corvette's life with vintage races at
Portland and Monterey. Since then, it has competed regularly at Monterey, as well as
Westport, British Columbia, Sebring, Kansas City, Riverside, Palm Springs, and the
La Carrera Classic.
This is one of the quickest Corvettes in the country. Fred Yeakel won the always-
tough Corvette class at the 1982 Monterey Historics, and Dick Guldstrand drove it to
victory in 1987—the year Corvette was the featured marque. That defined how well
the car performed, considering that all the fastest Corvettes in the world were on hand
to compete.
Although '57 'Vettes are plentiful, and many have competition history, this car is
unusual in its bulletproof pedigree and extensive documentation. It comes completely
equipped for vintage racing and road use. The newly rebuilt engine has only break-in
mileage, and the car is ready for tech inspection. This is a rare opportunity to buy
32 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
1957 C1 Details
Years produced 1957
Number produced 6,339
Original list price $3,176.32 base
CM Valuation $120,000–$150,000
Tune-up $250
Distributor cap $9.95
Chassis # Driver's side door post
Engine # Pad at rear of ignition opening
Club National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.com
Alternatives 1954–57 Jaguar XK 140
1955–57 Ford Thunderbird
1957–62 Austin-Healey 100/6, 3000
CM Investment
Grade A (for a race car)
one of the fastest Corvette race cars in the country with
a long and distinguished heritage and a race-winning
record.
CM Analysis This 1957 Chevrolet Corvette sold for
auction held at Pebble Beach on August 18–19, 2007.
$115,500 at the Gooding and Company
Photos: Gooding & Company
Page 31
It had a pre-sale estimate of $140,000–$160,000, and I agree with the CM on-site
analysis by Executive Editor Paul Duchene that it was well bought.
It is often said that racing improves the breed, but in the case of the Corvette,
it would be more appropriate to state that racing saved the brand. When a brash
Russian-born emigrant, Zora Arkus-Duntov, saw the Corvette concept at the 1952
GM Motorama exhibit in New York and outlined his criticisms in a letter to Chevrolet
Chief Engineer Ed Cole, the die was cast. He was hired by Cole shortly thereafter and
quickly realized the potential of the V8 that Cole was developing for Chevrolet.
Duntov set a flying mile record at 150 mph
The initial reaction to the 6-cylinder, 150-horsepower Corvette was mixed at best,
and the car was considered by most a sports car in name only.
With the small-block V8 under the hood, Duntov, a racer at heart, took three
Corvettes race-prepared by Smoky Yunick to NASCAR Speedweek at Daytona Beach
in 1956 to change those impressions. Duntov shared seat time with John Fitch and
Betty Skelton, and the troupe set several acceleration and speed records. Duntov
himself set a flying mile record at over 150 mph.
Sebring followed, and the team finished first in class. Dr. Dick Thompson, the “Flying
Dentist,” won the SCCA C Production National Championship, and Corvette quickly
capitalized on this success. In 1957, a wannabe racer could walk into the local Chevy
store and order an RPO (Regular Production Option) Corvette with options such as fuel
injection and head to the starting grid at the local track.
This particular car is very well known in vintage racing circles. Fred Yeakel, who
is also known for campaigning his Corvette-powered Cheetah, competed regularly at
Monterey and other venues.
Yeakel ran D Production as “Itchy Foot Moose”
Yeakel ran successfully at Santa Barbara, Willow Springs, and Riverside, then took up
drag racing at Long Beach in 1966. He ran D Production Sports Car Class as “Itchy Foot
Moose” at many Southern California tracks.
CARL BOMSTEAD is a longtime gearhead who has
judged at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for
the last 13 years. He has an extensive collection of automobilia,
and he currently owns five collector cars, all of
which he happily exercises when the weather is nice.
He parked the car for a few years, then revived it for
historic racing in 1979, competing at Monterey, Westport,
British Columbia, Portland, Seattle, Sebring, Riverside,
Palm Springs, and even in Mexico's grueling La Carrera
Panamericana Classic.
Recently, Yeakel's daughter Jeni has shared seat time
with creditable results. The car was also displayed at
Bloomington Gold for the 50th anniversary of the 1957
Corvette.
The new owner, at a most reasonable price, bought a
“no-questions” Corvette racer. It has extensive racing
provenance, is street legal and with minor effort, ready
for road use. The originally carbureted 283 engine has
been rebuilt and modified with fuel injection and 1.94
inch intake “camel hump” heads.
I can't help but think that if the car had been origi-
nally ordered with one of the 579-code FI options, the
final price might have been more in line with the estimates,
but then again, aren't race cars constantly being
modified? This Corvette will be accepted on any grid,
and if the new owner doesn't share the podium, he can't
blame it on the car. (Introductory description courtesy
of Gooding & Company.) ■
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 33
Page 32
C2 profile
1963 327/360 4-Speed “Fuelie” Convertible
The ‘63 convertible is under-appreciated, since it has always been
overshadowed by its Split-Window partner
by John Gunnell
Chassis number: 30867S105012
T
he 1963 Corvette was a dramatic, exciting breakthrough
in American automobile design, engineering
and specifications. Its four-wheel independent
suspension was as good as any European exotic,
and it should have ruled the road courses of the time—
and would have, except for Carroll Shelby's Cobra.
But the Cobra was gone in five years, while the
Corvette that GM styling chief Bill Mitchell and engineer
Zora Arkus-Duntov unleashed was still around
mechanically in 1983.
The '63 Corvette evolved froma racing car called the
Mitchell Sting Ray. Bill Mitchell had replaced Harley
Earl as head of GM styling in 1958. Like Duntov, he
thought it important to race the 'Vette, so he persuaded
Chevy's generalmanager Ed Cole to sell himthe chassis
of the '57 Corvette SS “mule” for $1. Mitchell then had
designer Larry Shinoda create a body for the Sting Ray
34 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
race car inspired by the sea-creature itself.
Mitchell loved the 1963 “Split-Window” coupe, but Duntov hated the vision-block-
ing rear and the style was offered only one year.
Somewhat overshadowed was a companion convertible, which featured a new
folding top that was so much easier to operate now that the power assist was discontinued.
Convertible buyers had several top and color combinations from which to choose.
A black fabric top was standard, and 3,448 cars were so equipped. For the same price,
a customer could select a color-matched fiberglass hard top instead, and for $237,
the buyer could add the body-colored fiberglass hard top in addition to the soft top.
Folding tops also came in beige and white at no extra charge.
In 1963, the Corvette trunk was eliminated to allow room for a repositioned gas
tank, which in turn made room for the new independent rear suspension.
All '63 'Vettes had front fenders with two long non-functional louvers—the “bar-
becue grilles.” The rear deck still had a '62-style look, but the rest of the car was new.
Hide-away headlights enhanced the car's aerodynamics. Inside were circular gauges
with black faces. There was storage space under the seats of early '63 models.
Photos: Bonhams & Butterfields
Page 33
Firsts for '63 'Vettes included optional knockoff
wheels, air-conditioning and leather seats. As in 1962,
Chevrolet offered four engines, all based on the smallblock
327. The cars came with 250-, 300-, 340-, and
360-hp ratings. The 360-hp job carried Rochester fuel
injection.
The beautiful example offered here is the best that
Corvette could offer in 1963. It is equipped with the topof-the-line
327-ci, 360-hp, fuel-injected small-block V8
engine, backed up by a close-ratio 4-speed transmission.
The power windows may surprise some collectors, but
there was dispute at the time as to whether they were
lighter than wind-up mechanisms.
This car is represented as a matching-numbers ex-
ample, evidenced by the block deck stamping and the
block date casting support. It is one of only 1,110 360-hp
fuel-injected Corvette convertibles built in 1963.
An NCRS-judged 96.4-point Top Flight score in
August 1991 supports the quality of this early 1990s
restoration by Master Works in Madison Heights,
Michigan. It has been carefully maintained since and is
still in excellent condition. The consignor reports that
everything works, even the radio and the clock.
Finished in Saddle Tan with Saddle leather interior,
this is a rare and highly collectible example ofCorvette's
graduation from the straight-axle years to the fully indpendent
Sting Ray. Any 1963 fuel-injected Corvette is
a trophy, a welcome addition to any collection, and an
exciting car to drive.
CM Analysis This 1963 fuel-injected convertible sold for
$101,790 at the Bonhams & Butterfields
Quail Lodge auction at Carmel, California, on August
17, 2007.
The car was listed as a “roadster,” though Corvette
authority Noland Adams, in his Complete Corvette
Restoration & Technical Guide—Vol. 2: 1963 through
1963 Fuelie Details
Years produced 1963
Number produced 1,110 (“fuelie” convertibles)
Original list price $4,606.60
CM Valuation $66,000–$115,000
Tune-up $180
Distributor cap $14.99
Chassis # Right hinge pillar cross brace under
glovebox
Engine # Corvette V8s have last six symbols
of VIN stamped on block next to
engine number, at right front
Club National Corvette Owners
Association
More www.ncoa-vettes.com
Alternatives 1963–64 Shelby Cobra
1963 Jaguar XKE
1963 Austin-Healey 3000
CM Investment
Grade B
1967, describes the cars as “convertibles,” which is technically correct because they
have a fixed windshield and roll-up windows. This car is one of 3,742 ordered with the
A31 power windows for 1963.
The auction catalog goes deeply into the fact that power windows were lighter than
roll-up windows, although it's hard to believe this affects value. On the other hand,
the copious details that Adams researched in his 1988 book are important in gauging
authenticity, and anyone planning to spent $90,000-plus on a C2 Corvette should get
a copy of his book.
One of 1,110 360-hp convertibles in 1963
Getting back to lot 440, the seller represented this Corvette as a “matching-num-
bers” car. Bonhams & Butterfields says this is supported by 3105012F1116RF, which
is stamped on the deck of the engine block, as well as block casting number J222,
which indicates an October 22, 1962, build date. The catalog says it is one of 1,110
fuel-injected 360-hp convertibles built in 1963.
In addition to having the top-of-the line 327-ci engine, the car is fitted with the
desirable close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission and a Saddle leather interior. The
leather trim was a first-time option in '63 and undoubtedly helped the strong price
this car achieved.
In August 1991, following its restoration, it took a National Corvette Restorers
Society (NCRS) “Top Flight” award after being judged a 96.4-point perfect restoration.
Everything works, even the clock
According to the car's owner, everything on the car, works, including the clock—
always a nice touch when you are spending the price of a house (in our neck of the
woods) for a car.
The 1963 Sting Ray convertible is very much an under-appreciated car, since it has
always been overshadowed by its “Split-Window” partner. If you study Adams's book,
you'll realize that Chevrolet put a lot of effort into giving the '63 ragtop much stronger
construction than previous open models.
We expect that well-preserved wind-in-the-face 'Vettes like this '63 will grow in
value a little faster in the future, due to their fun factor and a depletion of the supply
of comparable-condition Split-Windows. Choice options like fuel injection and cow
hide upholstery add even more to the “bottom line.” We're not saying the ragtops will
zoom past the coupes, but convertibles have a lasting appeal, which makes this car an
excellent investment. Let's call this fully priced, but at the same time well bought. ■
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 35
Page 34
C3 profile
1968 L88 Coupe
“Drive” is not the proper word for an L88. It's more like jumping on the
mechanical bull at Gilley's bar in Dallas and hanging on for dear life
by Thomas Glatch
Chassis number: 194378S422103
T
he L88 Corvette burst onto the scene with victories
at Daytona and Sebring in 1966 and continued
at the Le Mans Trials in April 1967, where, in
near-stock trim, an L88 clocked 171.5 mph on the
Mulsanne Straight. That same car led the GT class in
the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans for 11 1/2 hours before
throwing a (stock Chevy) rod. Jerry Thompson and
Tony DeLorenzo dominated SCCA A Production in
1969,with eleven victories in asmany starts, and though
production ended in 1969, L88s dominated GT and A
Production racing for the next decade.
After three years of watching the 427-ci Cobras run
away from the Corvettes, Chief Engineer Zora Duntov
designed the L88 as a Cobra killer. In 1966,Duntov took
a NASCAR-developed 427-ci big block, dropped it into
a Corvette coupe fitted with optional heavy-duty brakes
and suspension, and turned it over to Roger Penske. At
36 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
the 24 Hours of Daytona that year, Penske's drivers, Dick Guldstrand, George
Wintersteen, and Ben Moore, came home first in the GT class and 12th overall. At
Sebring, the same team earned another GT class victory, finishing 9th overall in the
12-hour enduro. All this was a tune-up for the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1967.
Based on the 1966 prototype, RPO L88 was quietly added to the 1967 Corvette
option list. The L88 was not just an engine, but a complete package for FIA GT and
SCCA A Production racing. To meet these rules, the L88 had to be factory-built and
street legal, so it came straight off the St. Louis assembly line.
Everything a racer would need
The package included all the pieces a racer would need: F41 heavy-duty suspen-
sion, J56 heavy-duty brakes, Harrison aluminum radiator, and a special forced-air
hood with raised “Power Bulge.” Deleted were all the items a racer would throw away,
including radio, heater, air conditioning, power steering and power windows. Duntov
also dispensed with the radiator fan shroud, since he found it restricted air flow above
80mph. Standard transmissionwas theM22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed, named after the
sound of its straight-cut racing-grade gears. But the real legend was under the hood.
Photos: Bonhams & Butterfields
Page 35
L88 Details
Years produced 1967–69
Number produced 216 (20 in 1967, 80 in 1968, 116 in
1969, coupes & convertibles)
Original list price $5,610.90
CM Valuation $250,000–$850,000
Tune-up $150
Distributor cap $19.99
Chassis # VIN plate on top of instrument
panel at base of windshield
Engine # Pad on front of block below right
cylinder head
Club National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives 1965–67 Shelby Cobra 427
1970–71 Hemi ‘Cuda
1969 ZL1 Camaro
CM Investment
Grade A
Built at the same Tonawanda, New York, plant that produced big-block engines
for everything from C-10 pickups to Camaros and Corvettes, the L88 was blueprinted
and assembled in a special room that Duntov called “surgically clean.” Only the best
GM components were used, like aluminum cylinder heads with 2.19-inch intake
and 1.84-inch exhaust valves, developed in the Can Am series. Forged pistons with
12.5:1 compression were fed by a massive 850-cfm Holley 4-barrel atop an aluminum
manifold. The solid-lifter cam was a wild one, with 354-degree intake/360-degree
exhaust duration and 0.540 inch lift on the intake, 0.560 inch on the exhaust. A lightweight
flywheel and 10.5-inch clutch rounded out the drivetrain. With open exhaust,
the L88 recorded 560 hp on the dyno, though the factory claimed 430 hp, five less than
the street L71.
The L88 dominated racetracks. Though the '67 Le Mans effort failed, Jerry
Thompson, a GM dyno technician, and Tony DeLorenzo, the son of a GM executive,
put their Owens-Corning L88s in the winner's circle in every A Production race in
1969. In a cover story for Car Life magazine, Thompson and DeLorenzo said they
drove stock L88s from the St. Louis plant to their Michigan shop, where they were
blueprinted and prepared. Other famous L88 racers included Don Yenko and actor
James Garner in the '60s, and Dave Heinz, John Greenwood, and comedian Dick
Smothers in the '70s.
But none of the L88's equipment is the kind a sensible personwouldwant in a street
car. In fact, in its test of every 1969Corvettemodel available, Car Lifemagazine found
the 435-hp L71 was actually faster in street trim than the L88. The stock exhaust was
the culprit, of course, rendering the L88 over-carbureted and over-cammed.Without a
fan shroud, the L88 often overheated in normal driving. It took a strong leg to operate
the racing clutch, and heat fromthemighty 427 filled the cockpit. That's what happens
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 37
Page 36
C3 profile
when you try to drive a race car on the street. Duntov
asked that somebody try to get hismessage across: “The
L88 is being bought by people who don't know or care
to use it properly,” Car Life reported. “They hear it's
the hot thing to have, and that the factory doesn't put
L88 on the order blank, so they order one.” Like some
forbidden fruit, many of the 216 L88s produced never
saw a race track.
Buyer ignored Duntov's warning
Bill Doskocz, Jr. ignored Duntov's warnings and or-
dered this 1968 L88 for street use. Doskocz, of Orlando,
Florida, recalled in a letter to the car's second owner
“The car was purchased from Harrison Chevrolet in
Marianna, Florida, in late 1967, it was new and I have
been the original and only owner... It was a very late
1968 Corvette. I ordered the L88 motor, special brakes,
M22 transmission, off-road service exhaust, telescoping
steering wheel, head rests, leather trim, special suspension….”
He also ordered Medium Blue leather interior,
transistor ignition, and 3.70:1 Positraction.
He continued, “Idrove the car approx.oneyear andhad
a very bad back end wreck. This was fixed by Paul Van
Zant in Tallahassee, FL, at a cost of approx. $2,500. At
that time the rear endwas customized and a blue Firemist
paint job done. I then brought the car to Orlando, Florida,
and drove it daily for almost 1 year before I parked it and
let it set for approx 1 year. I then drove it for 6 to 8months
and parked it in late 1974 or early 1975 and left it until
this sale today (March 22, 1980). The car is an original
factory L88 and has the original brakes, block, heads,
intake manifold, crank, rods, rear end, transmission, and
I would estimate approx 90% of the other original major
items on it… I never raced the car professionally and
never took it to a drag strip for an official time. It has
seen its share of street racing and I had much pleasure in
going extremely fast in this car.” Howfast? BillDoskocz
claimed over 140 mph, and we know other L88 owners
who canmatch that.
When Karl Hallstrom bought the car from Bill
Doskocz, he not only got a mostly original Corvette, but
also the Owners Protection Plan with Protect-o-Plate,
the carbon copy of the original order form, the actual
window sticker, a copy of the original title, the dealer's
thank-youletterandevenChevrolet's instructionsonhow
to install a choke on the race-ready Holley. Soon after
buying the L88, Hallstrom decided to return the body to
its original state. He turned it over to Country Corvettes
in Nortonville, Kansas, first for a repaint and later for a
first-class restoration.
Hallstrom showed his L88 as part of the 1988
Bloomington Gold Special Collection as a restored,
running and driving rolling chassis. After completion,
the L88 earned a Top Flight award at the 1989
NCRS National Convention. It's been invited back to
the Bloomington Gold Special Collection two more
times, and in 1999 earned the NCRS Duntov Award of
Excellence. On August 25, 2004, it was sold to its third
owner, where it remained until August 2007.
CM Analysis This 1968 L88 sold for $254,000 at the
Bonhams & Butterfields auction at Quail
Lodge, Carmel, California, on August 17, 2007.
38 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
The L88 is like love or jazz —unless you've experienced it, you can never understand
or appreciate it. I had the privilege of driving a low-mile, unrestored L88 convertible
some years back, and it's truly an epiphany. Actually “drive” is not the proper word.
It's more like jumping on the mechanical bull at Gilley's bar in Dallas—the ride is an
equally thrilling mix of terrific acceleration accented by the roar of the monster bigblock
and the feeling of hanging on for dear life. I've seen common L71 Corvettes leap
an entire lane to the left under hard acceleration. I've seen an L89 Corvette destroy a
set of NOS tires in seconds in one glorious powerstand. Tack on 150 more horsepower,
and the results are downright psychedelic. No wonder L88s have been the most highly
sought Corvettes for decades.
Today's Z06 Corvette surpasses the L88 in just about every way—acceleration,
cornering, top speed, braking, fuel economy, you name it. Driving the Z06 hard is
more Gulfstream than Gilley's, with smooth jet-like power and handling, while cradled
in leather and seven-speaker audio. And the racing versions, the C5.R and C6.R, have
been victorious at Le Mans and other venues. But it also took nearly four decades for
technology to get to this level.
If you were going to buy an L88, this one would be at the top of the list. It has the
pedigree to make it a worthy investment—three owners, complete documentation,
and mostly original condition. The restoration work was performed by one of the top
Corvette restorers in the world. And the awards this car has earned reinforce its pedigree.
Historically, the rarer 1967 models (20 in 1967, 80 in 1968, 116 in 1969) command
about double the price of the '68 and '69 cars, but that makes the “Sharks” a good value.
At $254,000, this has to be considered a steal. ■
The L88 Recipe for Success
RPO
Description
19437
L88
F41
G81
J56
M22
A82
N11
N36
976
1968 Corvette Base Coupe
427-ci, 430-hp engine
Special Front & Rear Suspension
Positraction Rear Axle
Special Heavy-Duty Brakes
4-Speed Manual Transmission Heavy-Duty, Close-Ratio
Options on Bill Doskocz, Jr's. L88
--
Off-Road Exhaust
Tilt/Tele Steering Column
Le Mans Blue Paint
Total
Genuine Leather Seats
Headrests
Cost
$4,663.00
$947.90
included
included
included
included
$79.00
$42.15
$36.90
$42.15
nc
$5,811.10
Page 38
C4 profile
1990 ZR-1 Coupe
First-year owners are the ones who will take the biggest hit when they sell,
as they paid premiums over the $59,000 MSRP
by Dan Grunwald
Chassis number: 1G1YZ23J8M580130
T
he Corvette is an American icon. It is the only
true American sports car that has lasted from the
'50s when the sports car market emigrated from
Europe to this country, and numerous manufac-
turers on this side of the pond dabbled in making fun
two-seaters. The styling of Corvettes had always been
pleasing and powerful,much like in the glory days of the
1967 L88 cars with 430 horsepower (in reality more like
500-plus) that came as convertible or coupe and were
generally considered to be one of the most beautifully
styled cars ever built. People often wax nostalgic about
them in sentences that include the Mercedes Gullwing
and the Jaguar XKE.
Then came the gas crunch and the government
involvement in building our automobiles. By 1976,
the Corvette convertible was gone, and by 1981, the
only engine available was an emissions-strangled 190
horsepower version that was pushing a bloated looking,
rubber-bumper beast. At least it was still available with
40 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
a 4-speedmanual in '81. In 1982, the automatic was the only shifter available until the
redesigned C4 appeared in 1984.
By 1985, horsepower was sneaking back to 230, and small gains followed each
year. By the late 1980s, the brains at GMwere thinking long and hard about the future
of the Corvette and they made the decision to infuse energy into the brand with a
new engine option. Enter the ZR-1. There were actually 84 ZR-1s built in 1989, but
none were sold to the public. Nineteen-ninety opened to tremendous excitement in the
Corvette world and GM had its halo car. Big premiums over sticker were the dealer
norm, and the new ZR-1 was on the fast track to being a sure-fire winner despite the
$27,000 ZR-1 premiumadded to the base $31,979 Corvette price tag. The General sold
3,049 carswith this option in 1990, and the dealerswere rumored to be getting an extra
$20,000 or so on top of that. True or not, you can bet that few if any were actually sold
at sticker. Some were driven, but many were kept in the wrapper in hopes of making a
killing in the near future. In 1991, the total build dropped to 2,044; 1992 dropped again
to 502 units, and from then until 1995, there were only 448 ZR-1s built each year.
CM Analysis This car sold for $25,998 at the Mecum Bloomington Gold Corvette aucThe
car offered was a very clean, lightly driven example with 18,424 miles on the
tion in St. Charles, Illinois, on June 16, 2007.
Page 39
odometer. Both exterior and interior were red, and the car was equipped with the more
desirable 6-speed manual transmission. The mileage looked original, and any light
wear issues showed excellent care that belied even the 18,000 miles on the odometer.
This car would be a better bet than some of the 0-mile examples available, if you were
interested in actually driving the car once in a while. Cars just don't like to sit.
The price realized seems to fall in the average price range for this car. There
are many low- or no-mileage examples to choose from in all years of ZR-1, and the
demand hasn't escalated the average prices yet. The 1990 model-year owners will take
the biggest hit when they sell, as they were the ones who shelled out premiums over the
$59,000 MSRP when they bought the car.
In 1993, the horsepower went from 375 to 405, and these cars can bring a fairly
substantial premium in some instances. There seems to be a concerted effort (especially
through the auctions) to jump-start the selling prices on these Corvettes, but
that is meeting with little success when the hard dollars drop on the table.
The big bids may be found somewhere in the auction tents to try to prove that the
market is rising, but I don't see many new owners actually buying these cars at the
inflated prices. There are just too many fine examples out there, and many are available
at the mid-$30,000-range or less.
Perhaps it is now the time to buy, as the prices seem to be holding and I really don't
see any dropping off. This was the most important example of the modern Corvette
until the Z06. It has everything Corvette collectors look for—limited production, high
horsepower, special parts and exclusive body panels, good handling, and it was only
available for six years. There are enough people interested in Corvettes to keep the
market alive and well, and the prices will undoubtedly rise in time. The question is
simply when? ■
ZR-1 Details
Years produced 1990–95
Number produced 6,939
Original list price $58,979 (though most sold for
much more)
CM Valuation $25,000–$35,000
Tune-up $500
Distributor cap $35.89
Chassis # Driver's side dash at windshield
Engine # Left/right side rear of lower crankcase
Club Corvette Club of America,
PO Box 9879, Bowling Green, KY
42102-9789
More www.corvetteclubofamerica.com
Alternatives 1988–89 Corvette Challenge racer
1991–92 Callaway Corvette
CM Investment
Grade C
How ZR-1 prices stack up
At 2007 Bloomington Gold, there was a ZR-1 set from each year, new in wrappers, as lots S9 through S14. I watched the first two lots
hammer sold at $35,000 each. But when the official auction results came out, the selling prices jumped to $60,375 each. Perhaps the
buyers decided to raise their own bids by $25,000? While interesting, these results may not be reliable for our purposes.
Let's look at some comparable cars:
1991 ZR-1, s/n
1G1YZ23J3M5800768
Condition: 3+
Sold at $24,200
RM Phoenix, AZ, 1/19/2007
Opinion: Aftermarket exhaust
and cataloged at 32,000
miles. Clean example and
a decent buy, especially in
Arizona in January.
Condition: 2
Sold at $23,100
Motley's, Richmond, VA,
3/20/2007
Opinion: 72,000 miles is enormous
on a ZR-1, but for $23,000
and with a #2 SCM grade, the
price is right.
5,200 miles and flawless in and
out. Only 448 built in 1993, as
the ZR-1 high option price was
starting to take its toll on the
buyers. The price paid is on
the high side, but the low miles
make it worth the premium.
miles showing. Fairly bought
and sold.
1991 ZR-1, s/n
1G1YZ23JXM5800170
1993 ZR-1, s/n
1G1YZ23JXP5800321
Condition: 1
Sold at $44,625
Mecum, St. Charles, IL,
6/15/2007
Opinion: First year of the
upgraded 405-hp engine.
1991 ZR-1, s/n
1G1YZ23J9M5800807
Condition: 2Sold
at $32,400
Barrett-Jackson, West Palm
Beach, FL, 3/29/2006
Opinion: New tires, two sets of
T-tops, little wear and 22,312
1995 ZR-1, s/n
1G1YZ22J6S5800052
Condition: 2
Sold at $32,550
Mecum, Belvidere, IL,
5/23/2007
Opinion: Last year of the ZR-1.
11,325 miles. Some light patina,
but it looks like an 11,000-mile
car should. I would call this
well bought at less than the
original base Corvette price
without the $31,000 ZR-1 option
when new.—DG
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 41
Page 40
ZR-1
History
Where it came from, where it's headed
Should You Own a ZR-1?
The ZR-1 injected a bit of magic across the entire Chevrolet line. It still scores
an “A” for enjoyment, but it's a “C” for investment
by Dan Grunwald
F
ew Corvettes in history were as anticipated
as theZR-1. Itwas no secret thatGMneeded
more horses for its Corvette if it was to be
competitive in an increasingly powerful
marketplace. The standard 350 engine had been
starved down to 165 hp in 1975 and had only
been improved to 240 hp by 1989. The future
of the marque was dependent upon adding performance
or it would surely die. Luckily, GM
decided to save the Corvette. It may not have
anticipated the difficulty of this task at inception,
but the finished product brought pride back
to the Corvette name.
Concept and development
The initial thoughts for the new powerplant
were to keep the internal camshaft and two
valves per cylinder and turbocharge for added
ponies. These configurations didn't work out,
and project engineers decided to use overhead camshafts and multiple valves, much
like the European competition. GM's Lotus plant in Hethel, England, had expertise in
this type of engine development, so they were tapped to develop the new “King of the
Hill” engine for the Corvette.
Designing the new overhead cam heads and intake proved to be just the beginning
of this task. The normal assembly line procedure was to place the engine into the
Corvette from the bottom. But with the stock engine block and the new dual overhead
cam heads bolted on, the engine was too wide to fit in the car from the bottom. The
possible solutions were all expensive and complicated, so GMdecided to build a completely
new engine. It needed to have the reliability of the cast iron block, but be as
light as possible. The answerwas a block castingmade of a newlightweight aluminum
alloy that was narrow enough to be inserted from the bottom between the frame rails
of the car. The newCorvette needed to have the performance and handling of an exotic
car such as the Countach, without the scoops and wings. It also needed to be more
reliable, civilized, and much less expensive.
The ZR-1's new engine was to be manufactured byMercuryMarine, at Stillwater,
Oklahoma. The production schedule called for about 18 engines per day, and the company
had good quality control history.
DOHC and four valves per cylinder
The new engine was designated the LT5 and featured four overhead camshafts and
four valves per cylinder,withmulti-port fuel injection. The compression ratiowas 11:1
with an initial 375 horsepower on tap.
The ZR-1 was available in coupe form only, and while it did not stand out from
the standard Corvette at first glance, the changes were more than skin deep. The new
Corvette had a bulging rear fascia and square taillights as opposed to the concave rear
and round lights on the stock Corvette. A small ZR-1 emblem was affixed below the
right taillight. To accommodate the new horsepower, the wheels were upgraded to
eleven inches wide with Z-rated 17-inch rubber. To fit the tires, the rear of the car was
widened by three inches. This meant special panels for the rear clip, rocker panels,
and doors.
The ZR-1 was only available with the 6-speed transmission. A unique feature was
the “Valet Key,” which enabled the driver to switch between power mode and normal
42 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
1994 ZR-1
mode.Normalmode disabled the secondary intake ports
and limited the horsepower to around 200. Each time the
ignition was switched off the “normal” mode was automatically
selected. When manually switched to power
mode, the full 375 horses were unleashed.
Double the price of a Corvette?
In 1990 the base price of a Corvette coupe was
$31,979, and the ZR1 option added $27,016 to that price.
To be fair, the ZR1 package also included power leather
seats, selective ride and handling, Bose stereo with CD
changer, and a low-tire-pressure indicator that would
have added up to $4,829 on a base model. So let's rationalize
the ZR1 option to be only an additional $22,187.
With a fewoptions, itwas easy to exceed $60,000 for
a Corvette. Despite this, there was no sticker shock dissuading
the first buyers.When the ZR-1 was introduced
in 1990, some buyers wrote checks for six figures to be
among the first to own the new ZR-1. Dealer price gouging
was the norm.
From 1991 to 1993, the ZR1 option increased to
$31,683, though in 1994–95, it dropped to $31,258. The
only change was an increase to 405 hp from 1993 to
1995, accomplished by intake and valve changes.
There were 3,049 ZR-1s built in 1990, 2,044 in 1991,
502 for 1992, and 448 in each of the remaining three
years, for a total of 6,939. The reasons for the declining
demand are numerous, but the price became a major
factor.
Coupled with that was the fact that the standard
Corvette LT1 engine offered 300 hp in 1992 and the
power gap between LT1 and ZR-1 was closing, which
made the dollars-per-horsepower curve less desirable.
Page 41
Also, the square taillights and convex rear fasciawere extended to the totalCorvette
line, which completely devalued the ZR-1's signature and left it visually different only
by its high center-mounted brake light and small emblems.
Step on the gas and wipe that tear away
There is no doubt that, when first introduced, the ZR-1 option gave this Corvette
a major performance advantage over other production cars on the road. Numerous
magazine road tests were conducted over the five-year span of production and I was
able to find a quarter-mile time in the high 12s to low 13s at speeds from 105 mph to
113 mph. Zero to 60 mph came in the 4-second range. That's significant bang for the
buck.
What's the future for the ZR-1 market?
A fair number of ZR-1s were purchased and then immediately thrashed and raced
to death by thosewho could afford themand had the need for speed.We also knowthat
quite a number of these cars were simply put away for speculation and in the hopes of
reaping a windfall profit. There are several problems with this approach.
Let's say approximately half of all ZR-1s were put away and kept in pristine, low-
mileage condition. That means there are over 3,000 cars to choose from, which means
there are just too many out there for the values to go up significantly. In short, the
long-term odds on ZR-1s being anything more than desirable used cars are very slim.
The market bears this out on a daily basis. Numerous ZR-1s with under 10,000
miles on them sell in the $30,000-range.We see a few selling for a bit more and some
for a lot less, but those are either exceptional or thrashed.
I don't see prices dropping much in the future, although anything is possible with
new Corvettes promising 600 hp and better ergonomics and technology than the ZR-1.
Interesting as it is, the ZR-1 is getting dated by today's standards and it's just not stylish
enough to compete with a '67 Sting Ray in the eye candy department.
Damn. Should I just buy one anyway?
That depends on that age-old question.Why do you want a ZR-1?What will you do
with it?What's its mission?
1. Do you want to just drive a lot and enjoy it?
If you can put up with some difficulty in the entry-exit contortions and you aren't
averse to rattles and shakes in the dashboard and other places, then this is the car for
you. It's fast, more reliable than anything else in its class and era, and the price is not
likely to drop much lower, so the cost of enjoying it should be minimal.
2. Do you want everyone to watch you drive by and say “Wow!”?
Sorry, they won't. The ZR-1 looks too much like any other used Corvette to draw
much attention. That was a big part of its problem. People who spend almost double
the price of the base model do not want it to look like the base model.
3. Do you want it to put it away without driving it, as an investment?
Forget it. You will have to keep it at least 20 years, and by then you will need that
money for the kid's college fund. The chance of bettering returns inmost other investment
areas is slim. Also, if you don't drive it, the seals and gaskets will wear out and
you will have to recondition it prior to using it anyway.
ZR-1 problems and recalls (there were some)
There were a few recalls and numerous service bulletins on the ZR-1. But there
were nomore than any other car in this category, andmost of the fixes weren't terribly
expensive. The windshields tended to show distortion and delamination. The ZR-1
windshield was special to the model and it may be difficult to find an original. There
are rumors of oil leaks and brake master cylinders going bad, but again, these generally
aren't too costly. Parts will undoubtedly become more difficult to come across as
time goes by, and I believe GMsold most after ten years.
OK, I want one, what do I watch out for?
As I said, there aren't many things specific to the ZR-1 that are unusually prob-
lematic. The usual areas of paint and prior accident damage should always be of
concern and can present some very expensive problems. Look as you would at any
other Corvette or even another used car. Most ZR-1s have been well cared-for, and
abused ones should stand out and be avoided nomatter how cheap.Make sure the VIN
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 43
shows the car to be a true ZR-1. The ZR1 option will
have a “Z” as the fifth digit where a standard model will
have a “Y”. I have seen standard Corvettes with the LS5
engines installed.
Call the ZR-1 a moral victory, at least
With the amount of research and development needed
to bring this car to market and a strict cost vs. profit
analysis, I'd say the ZR-1 project was not a rousing success.
Sales dropped significantly after the initial impact
and the option only lasted five years. Initially, the engine
recalls were shipped back to Mercury Marine, but after
that contract ran out, local dealerships must have had
nightmares dealing with this engine, which was unlike
anything else in their inventory. Body and powertrain
parts were specific to this model and stocking inventory
had to eat into any profit quickly.
Success isn't always just dollars, though. The ZR-1
gave GeneralMotors excitement, an enthusiasmthat ran
across its entire product line. It provided immeasurable
free publicity in print and video and gave them a badly
needed new halo car.
Most enthusiasts who stopped in at
their dealer
would not purchase a ZR-1, but they might buy a standard
Corvette,Malibu, or Caprice.Getting theminto the
store iswhat selling is all about, and it costsmoney to do
that. The ZR-1 offered excitement and enthusiasm when
Corvette sales were otherwise marginal, and that makes
it a success in my book, even if it might not have been a
favorite among the GMbean counters. ■
Page 42
C5 profile
When Salvaged C5s Go Slumming
It must have been quite a phone pole; the car had damage to “front, left
side, right side, rear, top, and underbody of vehicle”
by B. Mitchell Carlson
The big strike against the C5s was that both cars
were to be sold on salvage titles, with an assertion that
they had been “inspected” by some vague entity who
wasn't named.
Thanks to a wireless modem card and a laptop in the
Chassis numbers: 1G1YY32G1X5105028 (1999)
1G1YY22G415104313 (2001)
C
all me an auction junkie, but on one of the few Saturdays that I wasn't covering
a collector car sale, I went to Princeton,Minnesota, for a truck and heavy equipment
auction.
Along with trucks, tractors, front-end loaders, construction equipment, and
other hardcore guy stuff,Wayne Pike Auction Company also sells consigned cars and
light trucks. Once in awhile something more interesting than a rusty '89 Taurus with
204,000 miles turns up.
Just when it looked like a '68 Mustang fastback or a '52 Kaiser sedan were going
to take the honors, I ran across a pair of C5 Corvettes. Certainly, it wasn't the sort of
thing you expected to find between a thrashed bank repo 1998 Ford Explorer and a
formerly fleet-owned 1999 Ford Ranger. But since a C5 is onmy shortlist as a possible
“company car,” I paid closer attention.
Lot 580 was a 1999 Corvette convertible in white with an automatic, white soft
top and tan leather interior. It was declared to have 107,474 miles on the clock. Bear
in mind that this was not on a dealer warranty disclaimer form, but written on the
windshield in grease pencil.
Lot 581 looked to be a little more promising, a 2001 Corvette 6-speed coupe in
Gunmetal with tan leather interior. This one was claimed to have 46,000 original
miles, but with no exact figure scribbled on the windshield.
Both C5s were offered by the same consignor, who also happened to have done the
repair work. This same person also had at least two Chevy pickups consigned at this
sale, which were also fixed-up collision jobs.
The Corvettes would not be unlocked for inspection
The first sign that should make any serious bidder turn tail and run was that both
cars were locked—with the keys in the front office—and there was no one around to
represent them. To make matters worse, the auction company made it clear that the
Corvettes would not be unlocked to allow more careful inspection. They relayed the
consignor's claim that the interiors could be soiled and items might be pilfered. And
just what might be snatched? The steering wheel or dashboard? Seats? Yes, while the
consignor might have a somewhat valid point based upon the clientele at this event,
it's unreasonable to expect a serious bidder to bid without being able to inspect. In any
case, his pickups were wide open.
44 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
trunk of my car, I was able to run the VINs while waiting
for the C5s to cross the block. A quick visit to www
.carfax.com revealed that the convertible was involved
in an accident involving a utility pole in Vanderburgh
County, Indiana, on June 1, 2007. It must have been
quite a phone pole, as the car had damage to “front of
vehicle, left side of vehicle, right side of vehicle, rear of
vehicle, top of vehicle, underbody of vehicle...” So what
wasn't damaged?
If that report didn't deter me, a link to www
.BuyCrash.com would let me buy a copy of the official
state of Indiana crash report for $12. By the 29th
of the same month, a salvage title was issued for it in
Indianapolis.
As for the coupe, the state of Illinois wasn't as
forthright, but on May 7, it issued a salvage title to the
insurance company, and the next day a title transfer was
conducted with a lien reported against it. This was the
last track they had on the car.
Armed with this information, I headed back to the
sale. This auction is frequented by a lot of dealers, some
quite technically savvy, others Luddites, and some even
C5 Details
Years produced 1997–2004
Number produced 248,715
Original list price $37,495
CM Valuation $16,500–$48,000
Tune-up $500
Distributor cap N/A (8 coils @ $72.12 each)
Chassis # Driver's side dash at windshield
Engine # Pad forward of cylinder head on
right side
Club Corvette Club of America
PO Box 9879
Bowling Green, KY 42102-9789
More www.corvetteclubofamerica.com
Alternatives 1990–96 Corvette C4
2005–08 Corvette C6
CM Investment
Grade D
Page 43
further down than that. It was quite likely that
no one had researched the cars to the level I had,
as using the cell phone to consult their business
partners or bosses was the highest observed use
of technology outside of a ballpoint pen and the
run list.
At $10,000, the dealers were almost
all done
In each case, the bidding started quite low,
but when they crossed the $10,000 plateau, the
dealers were almost all done. The convertible
seemed like it went to a happy retail customer
at $13,000, or at least someone who would use it for a while and then sell it. The coupe
buyer seemed more to be the “I can still squeeze a couple more grand out of this sitting
on the front row of my lot” type of dealer, and it sold for $14,750. By the end of
October, neither car had recorded a title transfer since the sale.
Since the first examples left the pilot plant in Flint,Michigan, Corvettes have been
cars that almost always get rebuilt—rather than parted out or scrapped—after an accident.
This helps explain a survival rate in the area of 90%, despite a propensity to
drive them to the fullest, and beyond.
In days of yore, proper body repair of the fiberglass was more of an issue than
yanking the frame straight. Over the years, this situation has reversed itself. On
C5s and newer, it's easier to swap out modular body panels than it is to realign the
hydro-formed frame and square up the driveline and suspension. Granted, automotive
collision repair in general has become more of a science than either an art, skill, or
downright hard physical labor.
But will the same shop that can yank the frame square on a Silverado be skilled
enough to set right the more intricate C5 substructure, without C5-specific tools and
gauges? Maybe and maybe not. Finally, what isn't easily discernible at first can come
back and haunt you financially. The stresses inflicted in a collision aren't always easy
to see. Perhaps the transmission case was stressed, and will later crack? Perhaps the
steering rack mounting bolts were damaged?
Remember, you paid less for a good reason
While our 46-000-milemystery coupewill eventually start to lose partsmore from
general old age and advancing miles, the 107,000-mile convertible is even worse off.
More than twice the mileage plus the severity of its accident are a double whammy.
Will the front main seal start leaking at 110,000 miles? What if the power windows
start to bind at 115,000? How about a driveshaft that finally throws off a cracked
counterweight in 10,000 miles?
Even if your alignment shop can set up the car as well as Bowling Green did, there
is still the baggage of a salvage title. You paid less for the car for a good reason; work
may be needed to make it right, or even legal to take on a public highway.
Almost no buyers will pay retail for a salvage-title car. My experience with them
is that once a buyer finds out about it, the deal goes bust. If you're lucky, you will get
a counteroffer in a downward spiral worse than an F-4
Phantom out of fuel.
Also, forget the idea that you don't really care about
such trivialities as titles or that maybe you'll own it
forever. Even if your estate has to deal with the car, that
salvage title will come to haunt your descendents.
States that once had a reputation for “title washing”
have all tightened things up in the wake of hurricane
Katrina and its flood of water-damaged cars. Besides,
if some smart aleck can pull up CARFAX while a car is
being sold, there's nowhere to hide a post-1980, 17-digit
VIN car.
To make things worse, there are still loopholes that
do not help you, the buyer. CARFAX and the other webbased
searches are not a 100% tell-all. Any computer
application is only as good as the data it gets. Cars
can—and do—slip though.
I owned a post-1981 vehicle that had over 50%of the
value of collision work done on it by a reputable shop,
paid for by the insurance company. But since it was a
single-vehicle incident without a police report (slid off
the road during an ice storm, hitting a Jersey barrier),
it's not in a public database. The insurance company
neither asked for nor required a report to process the
claim. It was actually a collision repair car, but without
an electronic trail.When CARFAXed, it is as pure as the
wind-swept snow that claimed it.
All of this funnels into the choice of venue that sell-
ers use. There were no problems with this reputable
local auction company—they fully disclosed the salvage
titles. Yet an auction that is primarily selling construction
equipment is hardly one's first choice for a Corvette.
Itmore likely represents the seller's desire—or need—to
get rid of the cars at no reserve.
On the other hand, these C5s were two game fish
in a pond full of carp. At Mecum's Bloomington Gold
auction, they would've been a very hard sell, but surrounded
by a bevy of Bobcats, a flurry of Freightliners,
tired Toyota Tercels, and dying Dodge Dakotas, they
looked handsome. It's not a bad marketing maneuver
to suck in an unwary casual bidder, but a smart buyer
should look closer.
By all means, buy a salvage-title Corvette if you can
attest to the quality of the repair and intend to drive it
until the wheels fall off. Just don't ever expect to make
anymoney. Andmemorize your story—you'll be telling
it many times. ■
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 45
Page 44
C6
mini profiles
A Selection of C6s that sold recently on eBay
Condition inferred from eBay sellers' 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
Four Do-It-Yourself Specials
As long as you value your time at nothing, these could all be deals
by Geoff Archer
2006 Corvette
coupe—sold at
$22,800
#300160065987. S/N
1G1YY26U265127743.
Blue/tan leather. Odo:
4,363 miles. 21 Photos.
West Valley, UT. 3LT
package. “This is a great
project vehicle for any-
one. This vehicle does start.” Airbags deployed. Salvage title. 1 “Best
Offer” bid, sf 90, bf private. Cond: 4.
CM Analysis Probably one of the few DIY fixable wrecks, but with the
you're still going to be in around $30,000 with no value on your time.
Makes no fiscal sense as a branded-title, saleproof, slushbox car that
could be found perfect for around $10,000 more. Well sold.
2006 Corvette Z06 coupe—sold at$16,100
#300159380486. S/N
1G1YY26E665101901.
Yellow/black leather.
14 Photos.West Valley,
UT. “Worldwide Auto is
pleased to offer this 2006
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
that is damaged all over
as shown. This is a great
way to own a $80,000
dollar vehicle for a tenth
of the price.You can find most of the parts to this vehicle in the same
color on ebay.” The interior actually looks very nice with (surprisingly)
no airbag damage. Right door and hatch glass might be intact. Salvage
title. 12 bids, sf 90, bf private. Cond: 5.
CM Analysis This Z06 was so well munched that it could only make
sense as a driveline and bucket seat donor for a hot rod.
This price still seemed at least $5,000 strong given that both the chassis
mileage and the engine's operational status were omitted.
expense of the airbags and the hood, fascia, and bumper,
2006 Corvette convertible—sold
at
$25,000
#130157613790. S/N
1G1YY36U465105779.
Blue/tan canvas/tan
leather. Odo: 14,600
miles. 24 Photos. Houston, TX. Fitted with Z51 and 3LT options. “IT
RUNS AND LOT DRIVES. CAR NEEDS AIRBAGS AND FRONT
FENDER INERFENDERS AND FRONT COVER. ALSOWILL
NEED BOTH FRONT RIMS AN TIRES.” Presumably new headlights
and hood included. Everything aft of the missing windshield
and popped airbag looks very nice. 4 bids, sf 100, bf 89. Cond: 5.
CM Analysis People pay this much for other similarly crashed coupes
on eBay, so I guess this was a deal. Could have fooled me.
2007 Corvette coupe—sold at $24,500
#280158213685. S/N 1G1YY25U175121077. Black/black leather.
Odo: 48 miles. 22 Photos.
NewYork, NY. “THE
CARWAS DAMAGED
ON THE DEALER
LOT. THE CAR RUNS
AND DRIVES. AS
YOU CAN SEE THE
DAMAGEWAS TO
THE PASS DOORAND
FENDER. THERE IS
ACOSMETIC DENT
IN THE FRAME BYTHE DOOR MOUNTAREA. EVERYTHING
WORKS, NO DAMAGE TO ENGINE OR SUSPENSION.” Targa top
missing. Seller coyly suggests, “THIS ISAPERFECT CAR TO FIX,
RACE OR EXPORT.” Salvage title. 2 bids, af 104, bf 13. Cond: 4.
pecially a targa-body car. Fixing it would be folly, with
'05s selling in the low $30,000-range. Exporting it would be obnoxious,
but probably a technical possibility. I would rather see a speedster-windshielded
C6 Mako Shark tribute car. Well sold either way. ■
CM Analysis Nobody wants to race a car that might not go straight—es46
Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 46
Market Report
Overview
Corvette Auction Block Performance Hits $8m
L88s brought brute force to the market, selling from $100k to $400k
by Jim Pickering
F
romthe foggyU.K. to theAugust heat ofMonterey,
bidders looking for Corvettes had plenty of choices
in the late summer and early winter months.
Examples spanned the years, from C1 to nearly
new, and came in conditions ranging from magnificent
to monstrous.
The Monterey auctions in August are generally full
of rare classics and vintage exotics, and this year, 519
collector cars changed hands for a total of over $134m.
Recent trends in the Corvette world saw a large number
of Chevrolet's sports car populating the ranks of auctions
once reserved for more exclusive automobiles.
Bonhams & Butterfields offered a number of 427-powered
midyears at its Carmel event, and of the two 1968
L88s on offer, one brought a full $254,500 (C3 Profile,
p. 38). Several C1s were present at Christie's Jet Center
auction, and although most of them needed some work
after years ofmuseumservice, a fewpresented very good
deals. Russo and Steele offered several good Corvettes,
and they sold a 1964 300-hp coupe at $45,000, while
Gooding sold an excellent 1957 vintage racer at $115,500
(C1 Profile, p. 32), and RM found new ownership for a
1965 425-hp convertible at $170,500.
The first edition of Corvettes at Carlisle took place in
late August, where just 32%of the 82 Corvettes on offer
found newhomes for a final total of just over $1m.While
an event like this was no newcomer to the Carlisle area,
this was the first time Carlisle Events took the reigns as
host. First-generation cars were fairly well represented,
including a 1961 230-hp convertible that was claimed
to be one of 2,285 equipped with a hard top and no soft
top. It failed to sell at Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale
in June at a high bid of
$82,000, but it sold well
and easily in Carlisle for an
above-market $100,800.
At the same time, a
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
driver-level 1961 convertible
with a non-original
motor and automatic transmission
changed hands at
just $43,050. The high sale
of the event was a 1967
L89 convertible in Sunfire
Yellow, which brought
$147,000, while most of the
other big-block '67s present
failed tomeet their reserves.
The end of the event saw
high winds knock down
48 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Top Ten Sales This Issue
1. 1969 Corvette L88 coupe,
$446,250—Lot# S88, p. 68
2. 1953 Corvette roadster,
$440,000—Lot# 46, p. 74
3. 1967 Corvette 427/435 coupe,
$393,750—Lot# S99, p. 66
4. 1984 Lola-Chevrolet Corvette
IMSA GTP racer, $269,500—
Lot# F447, p. 84
5. 1968 Corvette L88 coupe,
$254,500—Lot# 424, p. 81
6. 1963 Corvette 327/250 Tanker
coupe, $210,000—Lot# S168, p. 64
7. 1965 Corvette 396/425 convertible, $170,500—Lot# F429, p. 79
8. 1967 Corvette 427/435 convertible, $166,500—Lot# 428, p. 80
9. 1968 Corvette L88 coupe, $155,500—Lot# 431, p. 81
10. 1957 Corvette 283/283 convertible, $115,500—Lot# 7, p. 75
Best Buys
1. 1960 Corvette 283/230 convertible,
$55,000—Lot# 43, p. 76
2. 1966 Corvette 327/350 convertible,
$50,400—Lot# F197, p. 66
3. 1968 Corvette 427/390 coupe,
$25,988—Lot# S132, p. 58
4. 1961 Corvette 283/270 convertible,
$110,000—Lot# 599, p. 78
5. 1964 Corvette 327/300 coupe,
$45,000—Lot# F472, p. 78
tents, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to cars in the show.
Mecum's Fall High Performance Auction took place in October, where 363 of the
699 cars on offer sold for a combined total of $17.5m. This salewas not limited toGM's
sports car, but 80 of the cars on offer were Corvettes, which accounted for almost
$3.1m of the final total. Only ten first generation cars were present here, but several
of them sold for strong money, including a 1958 290-hp fuel-injected convertible that
brought $103,950, as well as a 1960 270-hp convertible with a complete history that
brought $82,950. A Bloomington Gold-Certified 1967 427/435 claimed to be one of
one in black and blue brought $393,750, while a rare 1963 250-hp Tanker coupe sold
at $210,000. The high sale of the event was a 1969 L88 coupe in Monza Red with tan
leather. Having covered only 2,257 original miles since new, it found new ownership
at an impressive $446,250—or almost $200,000 more than the higher-mile blue L88
at Bonhams & Butterfields only a few months earlier.
The market is changing, and in an increasing number of cases, overly-optimistic
reserves kept cars from changing hands. While there seem to be plenty of buyers
for the absolute best-of-the-best, anything less than that is a tougher sell. It's a solid
market; it's just getting pickier by the day. ■
Page 48
Market
Report
Carlisle Auctions
Carlisle, PA
Corvettes at Carlisle
Only a few cars elicited strong battles, and the high sale was a 1967 Sunfire
Yellow L89 convertible
Company
Carlisle Auctions
Date
August 24–26, 2007
Location
Carlisle, PA
Auctioneers
Jim Landis, Jeff Knox
Corvettes sold / offered
26 / 82
Sales rate
32%
Sales total
$1,023,698
High sale
1967 Corvette L89
convertible, sold at
$147,000
Buyer's premium
5% (included in sold
prices)
Calm before the storm in Carlisle
Report and photos by Mark Rudnick
Market opinions in italics
T
he 25th Corvettes at Carlisle show held August 23–26, 2007, will go down in
memory as the “Wizard of Oz” year. The Carlisle Fairgrounds were nearly leveled
by a tornado on Saturday night that packedmore punch than any '67 427/435
big-block in the place.
What started out in 1982 as a swap meet has evolved into a major event involv-
ing everything and anything related to the Corvette hobby and lifestyle. Hundreds of
vendors and thousands of Corvette enthusiasts packed the 82-acre fairgrounds from
Thursday through Sunday. It appeared there was a shortage of motivated buyers,
which, when coupled with optimistic reserves, resulted in only a few cars eliciting
strong battles, including the $147,000 high sale, a restored 1967 Sunfire Yellow convertible
with the optional L89 427/435 engine. The highest bid went to a Silver Pearl
1966 coupe with the 427/390 engine and the distinction of being the last '66 Corvette
built, but it was a no-sale at $180,000. Midyear prices were strong, with a half dozen
cars bid over $100,000, but many sellers apparently felt they were not strong enough
and so held onto their vehicles.
A Honduras Maroon 1961 283/230 with only 109 miles since restoration drew
$108,800, and it had covered only nine miles since being a no-sale for $82,000 at
Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale in June 2007. The low sale of the weekend was a red
'79 350/195 coupe with issues that brought a paltry $8,925 and was well sold at that.
Elsewhere in Carlisle, the humid 100-degree day was occupied by a swap meet, a
Corvette tech session, an engineer's tent with GM representatives, a dyno challenge,
a burnout contest, an autocross, a parade of Corvettes through downtown Carlisle,
and a beauty contest. But at 7 pm, the sky blackened noticeably and things got scary.
The wind kicked up and torrential rain and hail pounded the site. As one observer
commented: “It was like theWizard of Oz. There were tents all over the place and you
could see stuff flying everywhere.”
50 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Inside the fairgrounds, the large yellow and white
tent that housed the “Tribute to the '57 Corvette” display
collapsed on the cars. The only indication that cars were
even there were the bumps in the canvas. All the roads
fromthe vendor area by the grandstands to the car corral
were blocked with fallen tents, awnings, poles, posts,
and assorted debris.
Cars in the Corvette car corral suffered significant
damage as dealer displays collapsed after support poles
failed and the tent fell in on vehicles and displays alike.
In one instance, a metal support pipe punched through
the glass roof of a C4 Corvette,went through the interior
and floor, and embedded itself in the ground beneath the
car. Rubberneckers were shooed away by police and
organizers and the event concluded early as clean-up
crews moved in.
Auctioneershadhopedfor160cars tobe soldFridayand
Saturday, but 82 cars turned out andwere sold on Saturday
alone. The sales rate was a disappointing 32%, down from
last year'sMecumsale,which saw150 cars cross the block
with a 53%sales rate. Still, this was the first-time Carlisle
had self-produced an auction at this event, and although
some teething issues presented themselves, the group
already has the 2008 Corvette auction on its calendar.
Hopefully that event will have a little more luck with both
theweather and the number of consignments. ■
Page 50
Market
Report
C1
#S116-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom convertible. S/N E57S103210. Red&
white/red vinyl. 5.7-liter 345-hp fuel-injected
LS1 V8, auto. Body work, paint and chrome all
excellent, as are interior and engine compartment.
Lots of detail work completed, with work
done to a better-than-factory level. Engine and
transmission sourced from an '00 model, suspension
from a late-model Ford Thunderbird.
A well-executed resto-mod 'Vette. Cond: 1.
NOT SOLD AT $71,000. Once again, updating
a solid axle Corvette with modern technology
leaves an owner with no real return on the
money spent. Finding someone willing to offer
more than this high bid will be difficult, as the
market tends to favor originals.
#S141-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S100764. Honduras
Maroon & white/black vinyl. Odo: 109 miles.
283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A freshly done
restoration, with a smoother-than-new body
under an excellent repaint. Interior and engine
compartment in mint condition. One of
2,285 equipped with hard top and no soft top.
Restored beyond original factory standards,
4-bbl, 3-sp. Mostly unrestored, but clearly
well-maintained over the years. Minor flaws
in paint and chrome not unexpected, top well
fitted and clean. Interior has received some
restoration work, including relatively new
seats, carpets, and door panels. Engine compartment
needs detailing, but is complete.
Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $53,000. Although
this Corvette had a great overall appearance,
its market value was somewhat depressed by
being fitted with the base engine and a 3-speed
rather than one of the more powerful units and
the more popular 4-speed. Perhaps the relatively
low high bid reflected a lack of solid axle
enthusiasts among the bidders at the auction,
but whatever the reason, the seller was wise to
pass up this offer.
#S150-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S102654. Roman Red
& white/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 91,241
miles. 283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, auto.
Exterior paint shows well, with several light
scratches and slight orange peel throughout.
Panel fit to original standards, chrome and
trim nice. Interior redone in original style with
Carlisle Auctions
Carlisle, PA
Originally Jewel Blue. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD
AT $34,000. Canary Yellow is not an original
Corvette color, and as such, this example had
limited appeal for those looking for genuine
cars. There was little interest here, reflecting
the market's appetite for originality versus
individuality.
#S162-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S101020. Roman Red/
black vinyl. Odo: 63,020 miles. 327-ci 250-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint generally nice, chrome
shows some pitting at front and rear bumpers.
Panel fit inconsistent in places, interior worn
but present, dashpad lifting at corners. Nonoriginal
engine fitted in undetailed engine
mileage displayed accumulated since completion.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $100,800. Last
seen at Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale in
June '07, where it didn't sell at $82,000 (CM#
45452). With only twelve miles covered since
its last appearance, this '61 managed to make
the consigner's reserve from Bloomington here
without too much trouble. This price was possibly
slightly above market for this example,
but not for long. Well bought and sold.
#S159-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S101851. Roman
Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. 283-ci 230-hp V8,
52 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
some wear to driver's seat. Engine compartment
clean and mostly original, block not
numbers-matching but period-correct. A nice
driver. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $43,050. The nonoriginal
motor and automatic transmission
worked to limit this car's appeal and market
potential, but it still had a great look and was
very usable as it was. Well bought.
#S153-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S109790. Canary
Yellow & white/black vinyl. Odo: 117,400
miles. 283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Decent
non-original yellow paint shows some orange
peel, panel fit to factory standards, chrome
and trim still nice. Interior aged, with some
visible wear to carpet and door panels. Engine
compartment unrestored but mostly complete.
compartment.Adriver with some visible needs.
Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $37,000. Restored as
a DIY Network project to a driver standard. A
relatively low-budget restoration, and as such,
the high bid offered here was in the right ball
park. With a non-original motor fitted, the
seller will be hard pressed to get much more
money for the car.
#S152-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S110320. Ermine
White/black vinyl. Odo: 135,017 miles. 327-ci
Page 52
Market
Report
Carlisle Auctions
Carlisle, PA
250-hp V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Older restoration
aging relatively well. Light polish marks to
paint, factory-typical panel fit. Chrome and
trim show some age, but no significant pitting
or waves. Seats and carpet older, dash still
cosmetically sharp. Engine rebuilt in 2004 and
in need of some detailing to be show quality.
Offered with both tops. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD
AT $44,000. If the car had been Roman Red,
Honduras Maroon, or Sateen Silver, it likely
would have generated more interest and the
bidding might have gone somewhat higher.
This bid was slightly under the money, but
not much considering this car's condition and
color combination.
#S167-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S103430. Ermine
White/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 66,906
miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Recent repaint shows slight orange peel and
buff marks in places. Panel fit decent, chrome
slightly wavy, older vinyl top. Interior and engine
area nice, original engine rebuilt by John
well fitted, paint missing on center console.
Weatherstripping aged, glass unmarked, older
top slightly wrinkled. Engine compartment
original looking and clean. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $49,350. A high-horsepower 4-speed drop
top 'Vette in appealing colors. While not in
concours condition, this was a very good buy
on an excellent driver, so the new owner should
be very happy with his purchase.
#S151-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S100472. Rally Red/black
vinyl. Odo: 3,188 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint shows well from ten feet
away, but swirls and chips are visible when
viewed up close. Panel fit better than original,
chrome appears replated or replaced. Interior
clean and well fitted, although showing some
Ligenfelter Racing with fuel injection unit
restored by John DeGregory. Cond: 2-. NOT
SOLD AT $92,000. Clearly loved, this car
received a complete restoration not that long
ago. However, its color combination left a little
to be desired, and there was still a bit of work
needed before it could be shown. This was a
market-correct bid, and the seller could have
sold without regret.
C2
#S173-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 40867S116997. Riverside
Red/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 76,000
miles. 327-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint
shows some swirl polish marks and a few
chips to nose, panel fit as good as when new,
chrome and trim decent. Original-style interior
NOT SOLD AT $105,000. A 1966 425-hp 427
Corvette in this desirable color combination
and restored to this level should have been able
to bring more money than the high bid offered
here. With the cost of restoration and the value
of cars with these options being what they are,
the seller was wise to pass up the high bid offered
here. Worth significantly more to the right
collector.
54 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
age since replacement. Engine compartment
complete and appears original. Fitted with side
pipes and teak steering wheel. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $40,950. A great car for the road or local
cruise nights, but not a show winner as presented
here. Not a lot of money for a midyear
Corvette without the immediate need of a full
body-off restoration, so this can be considered
a very good buy.
#S161-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 19467S10557. Nassau Blue/
white vinyl/blue leather. 427-ci 425-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh body-off concours-quality
restoration shows excellent paint, panel fit,
chrome, trim, interior and engine compartment.
Finished to a better-than-factory standard
inside and out, with no faults to note. Cond: 1.
clean but not detailed, engine fitted with correct
OEM-style components. Equipped with
side exhaust, knockoff wheels, Goldline tires,
factory a/c, pw, ps, pb, and headrests. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $76,125. This big-block coupe
could have been enjoyed as it was, but it will
need a full body-off restoration before it wins
any awards. Still, this car had all the right options
and would have made a great driver, and
it was a very good buy at this price.
#S117-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S117933. Nassau
Blue/white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 71,815
miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body-off
restoration. Paint shinier than stock, chrome
shows no issues whatsoever. Panel fit typically
inconsistent, especially around hood and
headlight buckets. New soft top fitted with no
wrinkles or stretch marks visible. Interior in
#S172-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S117839. Milano Maroon/
saddle vinyl. Odo: 130,000 miles. 427-ci 390hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint shows scratches and
crazing up close, but looks good from ten feet
away. Chrome and trim decent, but nowhere
near perfect, with some pits and waves in
bumper chrome. Engine compartment fairly
mint condition, with excellent seats, carpet,
and door panels. Engine area freshly restored,
with properly detailed GM components. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $95,550. A beautiful, freshly restored
mid-year big block in an excellent color
combination. While it was not likely to be a
Bloomington Gold winner, this car had lots of
eye appeal, and the 427 with side pipes certainly
did no harm to this car's value. Well bought.
#S138-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S117817. Rally Red/
red hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 34,702 miles. 327ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Smooth paint shinier
than original, but showing no issues. Panel
fit and chrome excellent, interior and engine
compartment reflect a first-class restoration.
Page 54
Market
Report
Carlisle Auctions
Carlisle, PA
a fairly recent restoration. Cond: 2. NOT
SOLD AT $53,000. A '67 small-block convertible
with a 4-speed and side exhaust should
have drawn a somewhat higher bid than was
seen here. That said, sometimes it's better to
start with a car in need of restoration rather
than one in need of re-restoration. With that in
mind, this was likely all the money.
Engine correct for the car, but block is a 1967
replacement unit. Equipped with ps, pb, factory
a/c, and knockoff wheels. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$71,400. This example had a lot going for it,
but the price paid was on the high side for an
example equipped with the base motor—and
especially so for one without its original block.
A nicely restored mid-year 'Vette, but it can be
considered well sold at this price.
#S144-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S111847. Rally
Red/white vinyl/black leather. Odo: 3,002
miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nice
repaint shows much shinier than stock, but
with no issues visible anywhere. Panel fit also
better than original, chrome either replated or
replaced. Interior well-fitted in original style,
with nice seats and an excellent dash. Engine
compartment clean and correct, with all-GM
and trim tags. While in very nice condition, it
did have some wear showing, and it would have
been fairly traded at this high bid.
#S154-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S127720. Silver Pearl/
black leather. Odo: 9. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Paint, panel fit, and chrome excellent.
Interior and engine compartment nicely restored,
optioned with factory a/c, leather seats,
teak wheel, telescopic column, side exhaust,
full tinted windows, knockoffs, Goldline tires,
ps, pw, and pb. Presented as a three-owner car
and documented with original Protect-O-Plate
#S182-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S103443. Elkhart
Blue/Teal Blue vinyl/Teal Blue leather. Odo:
44,380 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Presented as a recently restored original car
with its original engine. Paint well done, with
even application and no noticeable flaws. Panel
fit and chrome all excellent, as are interior and
engine compartment. Fitted with restoration
components used. Equipped with side pipes
and a teak steering wheel. Needs nothing to be
enjoyed. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $62,000.
Options such as side pipes, knockoffs, and a
wood wheel can add a lot to the value of midyear
convertibles, and if this car had been
equipped with a big block, we would have
likely seen more bidder interest here. This car
had a great look and was likely very usable as
equipped, so the seller was wise not to let it go
at this price.
#S149-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S108512. Tuxedo Black/
black vinyl. Odo: 56,708 miles. 427-ci 390-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Relatively recent paint shows
minor scratches and nicks, panel fit typically
inconsistent. Chrome and trim replated or new
replacement, glass unmarked, Goldlines and
knockoff wheels look correct. Stock interior and
engine compartment ingoodcondition, seats and
carpet show age-related wear as well as some
light use. Fitted with factory a/c. Cond: 2. NOT
SOLD AT $105,000. This big-block coupe appeared
to be very original, including the engine
56 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
and owner's packet. NCRS Top Flight award
in January of this year, Bloomington Gold
certification in June. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD
AT $180,000. Last seen at Mecum St. Charles
in June '07, where it didn't sell at $175,000
(CM# 45436). Campaigned by Corvette Mike
New England as the last 1966 Corvette built,
and as such, $180,000 seemed like a fair price.
However, with the $660k sale of the last '67 at
Barrett-Jackson this January (CM 44187), the
seller was likely looking for more. The market
has spoken... at least for now.
#S169-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S103470. Rally Red/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 43,594 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored, but
not to the most exacting standards. Paint much
shinier than original, body straight, panel gaps
Corvette-typical with misaligned headlight
buckets. Some pitting visible on side window
chrome trim, bumpers slightly wavy. Interior
and engine compartment look good and reflect
Chrome and glass unmarked, exterior trim
shows no issues. Stinger stripe not typical of
factory production, interior and engine compartment
restored to original condition. Fitted
with factory a/c, ps, pw, pb, and side exhaust.
Bloomington Gold certified, Chevy Vettefest
winner, equipped with its original tank sticker
as documentation. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT
$145,000. An original and documented show
trim tags, which indicate the original trim tag is
missing and the original color combination is
unknown. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $127,500.
The value on high-end midyear big blocks
is very much contingent on authenticated
originality and documentation, and this car's
reproduction trim tag limited its market and
investment potential significantly. The high bid
of $127,500 seemed fair given the authenticity
issues, and the seller would have been smart to
let the car go.
#S186-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S106613. Marina
Blue/white vinyl/bright blue leather. Odo:
67,342 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, auto.
Paint excellent over factory-standard body.
Page 55
winner with a desirable set of options and an
appealing color combination. $145,000 was a
lot of money, but this Corvette was worth more.
The seller wanted $200,000, and while that
seems a little steep, he'll likely be able to get
close to it with the right buyer.
#S111-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S115728. Marlboro
Maroon&black/black vinyl/black leather.Odo:
65,954 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Freshly
restored, with excellent detailing throughout.
Exterior, interior, and engine compartment all
in mint condition. Non-original later model engine
installed, correct style wheels and Redline
Interior and engine compartment done in original
style, less than 300 miles covered since
tires fitted. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $48,825. Even
with a non-original motor, this was a very
good buy on a convertible mid-year 'Vette with
excellent eye appeal. The new owner shouldn't
be afraid to use the car, and he or she will undoubtedly
receive lots of attention on the road
and at cruise nights. Well bought.
#S137-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S116319. Sunfire
Yellow/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 38
miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Excellent repaint shows no issues, panel fit
better than original, all chrome replated or
replaced. Interior shows excellent leather and
detailed and finished in original style. Fitted with
leather seats, transistorized ignition, 4.11:1 posi
rear differential, Redline tires, AM/FM radio,
tinted glass, shoulder harnesses, telescopic
steering wheel, and speed warning indicator.
Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $120,000. First seen
at Cole/Myers Monterey sale in August '97,
where it sold for $43,000 (CM# 11593). Later
seen at Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale in
June '07, where it didn't sell at $95,000 (CM#
45637). Documentation is very important with
mid-year big-block Corvettes, and this one had
the proof that it started life as presented here.
This bid was closer to market than the $95k at
its past appearance at Mecum, but it was still
not enough for the seller to let it go.
#S177-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S112358. Rally Red/
white vinyl&black vinyl hard top/white vinyl.
Odo: 37,368 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4sp.
Paint shows a few areas of bubbling as well
as several slight runs. Interior in very good
original condition, engine compartment clean
restoration. Recent NCRS Top Flight award.
Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $50,000. Value here
was somewhat held down by this car's automatic
transmission in lieu of a 4-speed manual.
Nevertheless, the car had been beautifully restored
and showed well. The owner wanted at
least $65,000, which while seemingly over the
top, was likely not out of the question given this
car's condition and options.
#S195-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S425425. Red/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 43,549 miles. 350-ci
350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent repaint to a
good standard, panel gaps and body typical.
Windshield shows delamination, vinyl soft top
aged, chrome bumpers pitted. Non-original big
block-style hood fitted, replacement motor,
aftermarket parts include Cragar mags and side
pipes. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $19,425. Once the
reserve was lifted at $13,000, active bidding
brought the price up to $18,500. Obviously,
there was interest in this car despite its nonoriginal
bits and exterior appearance issues.
Well sold.
a well-restored dash, engine compartment
freshly restored with originalGMcomponents.
Cond: 1. SOLD AT $147,000. The '67 435hp
big-block convertible with side pipes and
documentation is the cat's meow in the world
of Corvettes. This car was the high bid winner
in the auction, and even at this price, this was
a decent buy.
#S142-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S109065. Goodwood Green/
saddle leather. Odo: 114 miles. 427-ci 435-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Restored to NCRS standards,
with excellent paint, panel fit, and chrome.
Interior and engine compartment completely
and nicely presented. Fitted with knockoffs,
Redlines, two tops, and side exhaust. Cond:
2+. NOT SOLD AT $125,000. Finding a welldocumented,
original, low-mileage, 1967 big
block in Rally Red and white is rare, and this
one had a great look overall. Bidding was spirited
to $125,000, but nobody in the room was
willing to go higher. The seller was wise to pass
up the high bid, as he'll likely be able to find a
number closer to his reserve of $150,000.
C3
#S181-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S408721. Polar
White/black vinyl/red vinyl.Odo:57,403 miles.
427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Recent first
class body-off restoration with excellent paint,
panel fit, and chrome throughout. Nice top,
reproduction Redlines fitted on Rally wheels.
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 57
#S130-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S413320. International
Blue/white vinyl/medium blue vinyl. Odo:
58,202 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Restored in 2005. Paint, panel fit, and chrome
all excellent. Interior and engine compartment
superb, with either nice original or new reproduction
pieces used. Top well-fitted, glass and
trim nice. Equipped with ps, pb, pw, and a/c.
Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $55,000. A nicely
finished first-year C3 convertible, but not an
Page 56
Market
Report
Best Buy #S132-1968
Carlisle Auctions
Carlisle, PA
especially rare car in terms of options. While
the a/c and power windows helped, the base
engine did not. However, the cost of restoration
surely exceeded the high bid offered here, so
the seller can't be faulted for keeping it at this
price.
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE coupe. S/N 194378S420942.
Rally Red/black vinyl. 427-ci 390-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Paint shows a few minor flaws,
including some chipping and areas of orange
peel. Panel fit and chrome decent, but not perfect.
Interior shows a small tear in driver's seat.
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint to front of car
original, rear repainted and not blended well.
Interior and engine compartment unrestored
and heavily aged. Chrome and trim OK, newer
tires fitted on original-style Rally wheels.
Driver's side wheelwell shows cracks in fiberglass.
Cond: 4. NOT SOLD AT $13,500. This
one-owner Corvette had clearly not been well
maintained over the years, and as presented
here, it was in need of a complete restoration.
Still, it was a fully intact original '70 model,
of which production totaled only 17,316 units.
Although this was not especially rare, it was
desirable as a project and should have sold at
this price.
Engine compartment mostly original and very
presentable. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $25,988.
This 1968 big block 'Vette would have been a
very nice driver as it was, not to mention its
future restoration and investment potential.
Red Corvettes always turn heads, and this one
was a decent buy at under $30k.
#S113-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Custom coupe. S/N 194379S707688. Blue/
light blue vinyl. Odo: 87,370 miles. 350-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Custom hood and paint, aftermarket
side exhaust and wheels. Paint shows no noticeable
flaws, panel gaps wide around hood and
doors. Interior in nice shape, with original style
seats and console fitted. Engine compartment
shows modifications and lots of added chrome
#S115-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 19437S117109. Nevada Silver/
black vinyl. Odo: 104,578 miles. 350-ci 270-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint and chrome show numerous
scratches, panel fit factory-standard. Glass
and trim nice, Rally wheels, caps, and trim rings
unmarked. Equipped with power steering and
condition and fitted with original components,
but not detailed. Fitted with factory a/c, ps, pb,
pw, and original hubcaps. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $18,375. A very nice find with a good set
of options. Although the later big-block C3s
are not the most most desirable, they still offer
plenty of power, and this cruise-ready example
was bought well at under $19k. The new owner
should be very happy with his purchase.
#S140-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
factory a/c. Interior shows acceptable wear, engine
compartment unrestored and presentable.
Anice driver as-is, or a decent start for an easy
restoration. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $16,000.
Early chrome bumper shark cars are climbing
in value, and this one was typical of the way a
lot of buyers like to find them. This was clearly
worth more than the high bid of $16k, and it
rightly went back home with the seller.
#S129-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
parts. Engine said to have been rebuilt 3,000
miles ago. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $9,000.
Customized Corvettes are difficult to sell to the
crossed-flag faithful, and their personalization
tends to reduce their market value considerably.
The high bid here was the full market value of
this example, but the seller likely had much
more money sunk into it. He might do better at a
well-attended cruise night.
#S134-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194370S413771. Donnybrooke
Green/saddle vinyl. Odo: 52,543 miles. 350-ci
58 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
coupe. S/N 194371S110350. Bridgehampton
Blue/saddle leather. Odo: 93,909 miles. 454-ci
365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Exterior paint fairly
fresh and showing well. Bumpers and exterior
a/c and ps. One owner from new. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $12,600. 1975 was the first year
for HEI ignition in the Corvette, which ended
a tradition of points distributors used since
1953. As-delivered except for a recent respray,
this car was in excellent condition throughout.
Ready to be used and enjoyed, and bought well
at this price.
coupe. S/N 1Z37J5S430887. Silver/silver
leather. Odo: 61,547 miles. 350-ci 165-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh paint decent, panel fit
as per factory, with some wide gaps visible.
Original interior in excellent condition, engine
compartment clean and indicates a history of
consistent maintenance. Equipped with factory
chrome scratched and pitting, weatherstripping
dry and cracked. Engine compartment fitted
with many non-original parts, including aftermarket
open air cleaner. Interior is original,
unrestored, and aged. Factory a/c, driver's side
headlight stuck up.Adriver in need of restoration.
Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $16,000. An
early big-block C3 worthy of a full body-off
restoration. The factory a/c and a 4-speed made
it quite attractive, and in its current condition,
this car was worth more than was bid here.
#S174-1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37Z3S421437. Classic White/
black leather. Odo: 59,351 miles. 454-ci 275hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fresh shiny paint shows
drips and runs over factory-standard panel fit.
Rear bumper scratched, nose panel typically
wavy. Interior and engine compartment in good
Page 58
Market
Report
Carlisle Auctions
Carlisle, PA
#S109-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z87L8S417685. Corvette Light
Blue/dark blue leather. Odo: 100,089 miles.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint acceptable, nonoriginal
pinstriping added. Interior in fair condition,
with some wear visible to seats and door
panels. Engine compartment features a non-
#S103-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8783C5119183. Red/glass
panels/red leather. Odo: 57,000 miles. 350-ci
200-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Exterior paint
in good shape. Body panels factory-standard
with appropriate gaps. Wheels and roof panels
in good condition, engine unrestored and
not especially exciting, this was a a decent buy
on a very nice example.
#S194-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
original engine with aftermarket valve covers
and various chrome bits. Not much more than
a driver. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $4,000. An
altered Corvette in less-than-outstanding condition,
and as such, it was of little interest to the
Corvette enthusiasts here. This car was likely
worth more than this high bid, so the seller was
right to hang on to it at this price.
#S187-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8789S412924. Corvette Red/
smoked glass/light beige leather. Odo: 56,901
miles. 350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent
repaint shows some slight overspray and sections
of orange peel. Glass still nice, interior
shows decent seats and badly worn carpet.
Engine compartment original and in need of a
C4
parts to include valve covers, a/c pump, side
pipes, and numerous cowl-mounted gauges.
Interior shows new seats and door panels, carpet
clean. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $16,000.
Customization narrows the resale market of
a Corvette significantly, and this was just another
example of an owner getting buried in his
customized ride. Unfortunately for the seller,
this bid was likely all the money.
#S112-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
complete detailing. Presents as little more than
a driver. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $8,925. 1979 is
not regarded as a high point for Corvette in
terms of either performance or design, and
while this car had good colors, it also had issues
that needed attention. The seller received
full market value for this car in its present
condition. Well sold.
#S107-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8789S416055. Corvette Light
Beige/light beige leather. Odo: 39,109 miles.
350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Exterior finish
and body panel fit excellent. Interior in very
nice original condition, mostly stock engine
compartment age- and mileage-appropriate. In
need of very little to be excellent, a nice driver
as-is. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $13,125. A turn-key
original car that could be enjoyed as it sat.
If maintained properly, it will easily hold its
value into the future. Although the color was
60 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
unrestored and very clean. Presents as-new
nearly everywhere. Original window sticker,
build sheet, warranty book, and tires. Cond:
1. NOT SOLD AT $19,500. Cars with so few
miles and in such nice condition are hard to
come by, so the seller of this one was wise to
hold on to it rather than let it go for under
$20k.
coupe. S/N 1Z878AS413130. White/red
leather. Odo: 4,000 miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Exterior paint excellent, panel fit
typical, with inconsistencies around doors,
hood, and bumpers. Original interior in superb
overall condition. Engine compartment
#S108-1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY0789F5119337. Bright
Red/graphite leather. Odo: 67,982 miles.
350-ci 230-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Exterior
paint badly faded, especially at nose. Blackout
coupe. S/N 1Z878AS411016. Red/Doeskin
leather. Odo: 79,194 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Recent repaint excellent, with no issues
noted. Nice glass and chrome, panel fit wide
at front of doors and tight at rear. Aftermarket
Cowl Induction-style hood fitted, engine
modified with numerous aftermarket chrome
looks age- and mile-appropriate. Equipped
with power seat, power mirrors, power locks,
cruise control, andAM/FM cassette stereo. All
stock. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $14,000. A
very nice low-mileage 1982 Corvette that had
clearly been well-maintained over the years.
The owner was correct in not letting the car go
for the high bid of $14k, as it could go as much
as $4k higher to the right collector.
trim losing color in places, weatherstripping
chewed up. Interior worn, with some fading
and dryness to leather seats. Engine compartment
appears just as used, with an overall
neglected appearance. Cond: 4-. NOT SOLD
AT $6,000. In need of a total restoration, and
with the high cost involved in that endeavor,
it would hardly be worth it. This high bid was
more than fair, and the seller would have been
wise to let it go.
#S180-1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY318XK5123062.
Black/black canvas/red leather. Odo: 91,385
miles. 350-ci 245-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Paint aged, with chipsandscratches throughout.
Red leather seats somewhat worn, as are carpet
and dash. Glass nice, top slightly wrinkled and
faded. Underhood area original, unrestored,
Page 59
and still clean. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $10,448.
At under $10,500, a driveable C4 convertible
that isn't in need of immediate attention is a
good deal, as they had considerable driving
performance technology included in their development.
This buyer paid a fair price for this
entry-level example. Well bought and sold.
#S156-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1Y23J5L5800768. Dark
Red Metallic/black leather. Odo: 21,900 miles.
350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Original
paint still shows well, but not as shiny as when
new. Interior and engine compartment reflect a
relatively low-mileage car, with plenty of dust
in both places from lack of recent use. Nice
glass and trim, wheels and tires unmarked.
shows minimal wear and is very clean overall.
Underhood area stock, unrestored, and clean.
Wheels unmarked, glass and blackout trim
nice. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $13,000. 1994,
1995, and 1996 were the best years for the C4
Corvette, as the design had been developed
and refined considerably from its introduction
in 1984. This car had a popular and desirable
color combination and should have brought
more than this $13,000 bid while on the block.
The owner was wise in not letting it go, as a
little advertising to the general public will
likely bring more money.
C5
#S155-1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Mallett 435 coupe. S/N 1G1YY22G7X5113337.
Black/black leather. Odo: 16,960 miles. 435-ci
500-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Exterior paint
and panel fit very good, aftermarket rims and
tires unmarked. Engine compartment very
clean, interior shows no wear whatsoever. Asnew
inside and out. Owned by Chip Miller of
condition here reflected its use, and although
it did have a top that went down, it was fitted
with the less desirable automatic transmission.
A fair deal at a market price.
C6
#S183-2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY34U555133284.
Victory Red/black canvas/black leather. Odo:
3,450 miles. 6.0-liter 400-hp fuel-injected V8,
auto. As-new inside and out. Paint, interior,
and engine compartment in showroom condition.
Cond: 1. SOLD AT $44,100. This almostnew
Corvette still has plenty of GM factory
warranty left, and with no issues to note, it was
purchased well at $44k.
Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $26,000. Originally
owned by the late co-owner of Carlisle Events,
Chip Miller. While in nice shape overall, the
seller made little attempt to maximize the
car's appearance for the auction. The high
bid of $26,000 was appropriate for a first-year
ZR-1 with this kind of mileage, and the seller
could have let it go and considered it a fair
deal at that.
#S105-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32P85103571.
Polo Green Metallic/beige canvas/light beige
leather. Odo: 44,766 miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuelinjected
V8, 6-sp. Exterior paint shows well,
with only minor signs of use evident. Interior
Carlisle Events. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $37,800.
The Mallett Corvettes offered lots of bang for
the buck, and while this one had some miles on
the clock, it was in good shape overall. Offered
at no reserve, and correctly valued for its condition
and performance.
#S163-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G7Y5130209.
Light Pewter Metallic/tan canvas/tan leather.
Odo: 41,193 miles. 5.7-liter 345-hp fuel-injected
LS1 V8, auto. Paint looks nice at 20
feet, but is stone-peppered up close. Interior
and engine compartment relatively clean, but
still just in used-car condition. A decent driver
C5 convertible. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $22,050.
Not a garage queen or strict sunny Sunday
driver, but a daily-used commuter Corvette. Its
#S229-2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY36U575102570.
Machine Silver/black canvas/black & red
leather. Odo: 183 miles. 6.0-liter supercharged
LS2 V8, auto. Equipped with the 3LT preferred
equipment group, including CD stereo with
MP3 and 6-disc changer, Head-Up display,
telescoping wheel, heated seats, steering wheel
radio controls, and power convertible top.
Fitted with aftermarket Callaway supercharger.
Offered directly by its original dealer with delivery
miles only.As-new in all respects. Cond:
1. NOT SOLD AT $45,000. Fitted with plenty
of creature comforts, as well as more than
enough power, this new Corvette should have
brought a higher figure than this undermarket
bid. MSRP on these is above $60k when well
optioned, so it's clear nobody in the room was
really all that interested. ■
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 61
Page 60
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
Mecum Fall High Performance Auction
Buyers with under $50,000 in hand had few choices if they were in the
market for a C2
Company
Mecum Collector
Car Auctioneers
Date
October 5–7, 2007
Location
St. Charles, IL
Auctioneers
Mark Delzell, Mike
Hagerman, Jim Landis,
and Bobby McGlothlen
Corvettes sold / offered
48 / 80
Corvette sales rate
60%
Corvette sales total
$3,073,952
Corvette high sale
1969 Corvette L88 coupe,
sold at $446,250
Buyer's premium
1969 L88 brought 446,250 cubic dollars in St. Charles
Report and photos by Daniel Grunwald
Market opinions in italics
M
ecum's second annual St. Charles High Performance Auction in October saw
nearly 700 cars cross the auction block, with 52% of the cars on offer selling
for a combined total of just over $17.5m. Corvette buyers had plenty of
choices from among that group, with 80 examples representing everything
from solid-axle early cars to a new low-miles Z06 coupe.
Solid-axle cars were the minority here, with only ten on offer. Among them was
a 1957 270-hp convertible in black and silver that wore an older restoration and still
had a good look inside and out. It was a decent buy at $107,625. A fair $59,063 was
forthcoming for a 1959 245-hp convertible, considering some slight issues with its
paint and chrome, while an NCRS Top Flight-winning 1961 270-hp convertible with a
complete history brought a strong $82,950.
Second-generation cars were present in
force, and the 435-hp steamroller seen elsewhere
in the market didn't lose any momentum
here. The second-highest Corvette sale of
the weekend was a 1967 427/435 coupe that
was presented as the only “black and blue”
L71 example to leave the factory. It had been
restored to original specifications and was
Bloomington Gold-Certified, and along with
its rarity, that made the $393,750 it brought
a decent deal for both buyer and seller. A
rare 1963 327/250 Tanker coupe fitted with a
Powerglide transmission and factory a/c was
also notable at $210,000, as it was claimed
to be one of only two N03 big tank cars so
equipped.
62 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Mecum Fall High
Peformance Sales Totals
$3.5m
$2.5m
$3m
$1.5m
$2m
$500k
$1m
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
This summer sawmany buyers turning to small-block
midyears with the rising prices of big-block cars, but
buyers with under $50,000 in hand had few choices here
if they were in the market for a C2. High reserves have
in the past been an issue within the muscle car market
as a whole, and the same problem appeared here, with a
number of driver-grade cars staying with their sellers at
less-than-show-quality bids.
This year's Corvette high sale was a 1969 L88 coupe
with only 2,257 miles on the clock. With Bloomington
Gold Certification as well as NCRS Top Flight status
and a condition best described as new in all respects, it
brought $446,250. While that price might seem expensive,
it was likely worth it for a collector looking for the
absolute best.
Twoyellow1986convertibleswereavailable,andwhile
they looked identical from a distance, one of them was
fitted with the more desirable manual transmission. That
said, the automatic car was in much better overall shape,
leading to a $16,575 payoff for the seller versus $11,550
for themanual-equipped, driver-quality example.
With 60% of the Corvettes on offer finding new
homes, it's safe to say the market is still doing well.
However, while many cars did change hands and a lot of
them brought decent prices, more could have been sold
had sellers adjusted their expectations to meet some of
the strong bids offered. ■
$300 on the first $5,499,
$500 from $5,500 to
$9,999, 5% thereafter
(included in sold prices)
Page 61
Why Not
Buy Smart?
In the past few
years, Corvettes have
gone from being
everyday drivers to
highly collectible
American classics. But
with the huge number
built, and the variety
of options with which
they were available,
knowing what to buy
and how much to pay
is critically important.
Keith Martin has
augmented his topflight
SCM staff with
a well-known group
of Corvette experts
to bring you over 100
information-packed
pages in every issue of
Corvette Market.
The incisive, take-
no-prisoners approach
to auction reports
you expect from SCM
continues in Corvette
Market, with more
than 100 Corvettes
examined first-hand in
each issue.
Exclusive to Corvette
Market is an industry
roundtable, where top
dealers, collectors,
and auction company
principals give their
opinions and advice
on what is really going
on in the market.
You'll find out if C1s
have finished their
run, or if they are still
gathering strength.
What is the real price
differential for factory
fuelies? How much
more should you
pay for a car with
documentation, and
more...
Subscribe Today!
One Year Corvette Market (4 issues), plus monthly
Corvette Insider's email newsletter, $29.95.
Subscribe online at www.vettemarket.com
or call 1.800.810.7457
Page 62
Market
Report
C1
#U80-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001112. Polo White/tan
canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 62,752 miles. 235-ci
155-hp straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Decent paint
over correct, original rough body, panel gaps
typically inconsistent. Chrome and trim nice,
with some wear on chrome side spears. Interior
chrome trunk spears. This one was in very nice
shape overall, and it was well sold at almost
$104k.
still fine, with original-style vinyl and good
carpet. Well detailed undercarriage. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $225,000. A nice first-year
Corvette in decent overall shape. The market
seems to have a renewed interest in these cars,
with collectors not afraid to bid large dollar
amounts to own good examples. However, at
$225,000, this car should have found a new
home.
#U78-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S104693. Onyx Black &
silver/red vinyl. Odo: 536 miles. 283-ci 270hp
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. New paint, chrome, and
interior. Some chrome pitted at taillights, other
exterior brightwork serviceable. Wonderbar
#S242-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S100776. Red & white/
red hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 2,569 miles. 283ci
245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint on hard top
rough at drip rails, plastic windows typically
scratched in both hard and soft tops. Panel fit
typically inconsistent, some pitting on chrome
door handles, light aging on windshield surround.
All other chrome new. Engine claimed
to be original and generally clean. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $59,063. Two dual-carb engines
were offered in 1959—245 hp and 270 hp—and
this car was equipped with the lesser of the
two. Fairly priced at the hammer, as it did have
some light issues for the new owner to fix.
radio, T-10 4-speed, off-road exhaust. NCRS
Top Flight in 2001. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$107,625. A nice car inside and out, and although
the restoration was an older one, it was
still holding up well. Well bought.
#S159-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J58S103940.
Regal
Turquoise/black vinyl. Odo: 1,104 miles. 283ci
290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Few paint
prep flaws to front fenders, several visible
hubcap dents, good chrome throughout. New
seats and carpet, gauges still sharp. Some delamination
starting on windshield, One of 1,007
290-hp fuelies built in '58; engine detailed as
new. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $103,950. The 1958
Corvette is a favorite among C1 enthusiasts, as
it was the first 'Vette to use four headlights and
features both an excess of chrome as well as
the one-year-only hood louvers and twin rear
64 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
#S163-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 67S104311. White/red vinyl.
Odo: 84,769 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl,
4-sp. Driver door fits slightly wide, door jamb
touch-up paint apparent in spots. Chrome and
trim nice, windshield header chrome unmarked
at top fit. Some dirt and wear on original driver's
seat, paint on odometer numbers chipped,
power brakes, tank fast-fill on B-pillar, side
pipes and sport mirror fitted. Full rear window
with no center post. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT
$155,000. Driven by Ed Lowther and Dick
Thompson, and equipped with Gulf Research
and Yenko equipment. Race-only cars have a
real following, especially those with verifiable
history, but the market is thin and it takes the
right customer at the right time to make the
sale. This apparently wasn't either.
TOP 10
#6
#S168-1963
CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Tanker coupe. S/N
30837S120537. Red/red vinyl. Odo:
93,780 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Non-Z06 big tank, fitted with a/c, pw, and
knockoffs. NCRS Top Flight award. Newer
paint shows several touched-up chips, original
chrome has some visible wear, bright trim
still nice. Redone dash a bit brighter than
rest of interior. Some original wear visible in
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
C2
#S85-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 racer. S/N 30837S114703. Maroon &
white/black, silver, & maroon vinyl. Odo:
81,874 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8,
4-sp. Z06 tanker race car in unrestored condition.
Paint crazing on Grand Sport-style vented
hood, wheel flares and rear brake cooling ducts
glassed into body, Torq-Thrust wheels and vintage
racing tires fitted. Single master cylinder
fitted with Wonderbar radio. Engine shows
light use. Offered with original bill of sale;
complete ownership history known from new.
AACA Junior and Senior awards, NCRS Top
Flight. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $82,950. A complete
history as well as the right awards paid
off in a strong price here, so the seller should
be pleased.
detailed underhood area. Claimed to be one of
two N03 big tank coupes constructed with a/c
in 1963. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $210,000. Last
seen at Mecum's St. Charles sale in October
'05, where it sold at $210,000 (CM# 39574).
Oddly optioned, this car was special-ordered
by its first owner as a long-distance driver
between his South Texas ranch and Houston.
This was about as rare as '63s get, so the price
paid was on the money.
#F13-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194675S102235. Red/black vinyl.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Non-factory metal
Page 63
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88
This is a real and documented numbers
match Corvette L88 427/430hp car. 1 of
only 116 produced and grossly underrated
for insurance purposes these cars
put out well over 500 horsepower. This
is a concours quality totally restored
car in absolute show condition. Price
on request.
1967 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/425hp coupe
Only three owners from new, original
miles fully documented with original
window sticker and owner history.
Full numbers match throughout well
equipped with power steering,
power disc brakes, knock off's, side
exit exhaust, leather bucket seats and
more. Faster through the 1/4 mile than
the 435hp cars of ‘67 and easier to
maintain. $125,000
Very well equipped with leather bucket
seats, power disc brakes, 427/435hp
VIN stamped engine, 4 speed M21 VIN
stamped transmission, both hard and
soft tops, original miles, side pipes and
more. A very fast and fast appreciating
Corvette. $135,000
1966 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
A real and rare code correct triple black
car well equipped with 327/350hp
numbers matching engine and M21
4 speed manual transmission. Mirror
finish black paint and a very nice
restoration. $75,000
Virtual showroom: www.familyclassiccars.com
Page 64
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
edges of hard top, rear window still clear, side
glass scratched. Engine compartment appears
factory. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $94,500. A very
nice restoration with no real issues and deserving
of the big green. A decent buy considering
the quality of the work completed as well as the
options included.
lic paint shows some chips and rough edges.
Chrome wiper grilles, NOM 350 engine, wide
gaps on headlights. Armrest console shows
wear, seats and dash still nice. Aluminum
knockoff wheels installed. Cond: 3. NOT
SOLD AT $29,000. Mild custom touches on a
driver-level car. The bid may have been a bit
low, but non-original Corvettes can be a tough
sell unless they are very special—and this car
was just a driver.
#S157-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S112576. Black/
black hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 93,664 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Lots of paint
chips, cracks, and wear visible. Goldlines with
original knockoff wheels, new seats, wood rim
wheel, two tops. Documentation present from
new. Bloomington Gold Survivor, NCRS Top
Best Buy #F197-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S103678. Yellow/black
vinyl. Odo: 69,777 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Cracks, chips and age checking in
older paint, large cracks on nose. Glass, trim, and
chrome still show well. Driver's armrest issues
visible in older interior, dash and instrumentation
vinyl. Odo: 42,831 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. New repaint includes door jambs,
panel fit better than stock. Interior paint and
chrome like new. Stated to be one family owned
with original mileage. Original Protect-O-Plate,
telescopic wheel, 1967 big-block hood, factory
hubcaps. Engine clean but not detailed. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $51,725. A strong price reflecting
originality and ownership documentation as
well as condition. Well sold.
TOP 10
#3
still crisp. Side pipes, two tops. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $50,400. Said to have never been restored,
but that must not have been counting the obvious
older repaint. This car had lots to like and would
have made an excellent driver. It could have some
bargain potential—but a very close inspection
would have been needed to assess the amount of
originality still present.
#S23-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Flight. Cond: 4. NOT SOLD AT $65,000.
Survivors can be tricky
to
price, as most
American buyers seem to favor a factory-new
restoration when voting with their wallets. With
cars like this, it's all about the options, and had
this been a big-block car, it would have likely
brought a lot more here. This bid was below
market considering this car's originality.
#F177-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S119604. White/
white hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 27,802 miles.
427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Fitted with side
exhaust, Goldline tires on knockoff alloys, two
tops, tilt/telescopic column, and teak steering
wheel. Nice paint to body, with nicer fit and finish
than when original. Paint chipped on bottom
coupe. S/N 194376S121619. Maroon/black
vinyl. Odo: 36,846 miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. New paint includes door jambs
with marginal masking. Original chrome bumpers
showing age, other trim shows fit issues
throughout. All new underhood and done in
#S99-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S117646. Black/blue
leather. Odo: 48,045 miles. 427-ci 435-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Shiny paint shows no issues,
panel fit typical of midyear Corvette production.
Factory-correct restoration includes original
alloy knockoff wheels, non-original-style Blue
Streak tires, and correct side pipes. Chrome and
trim nice, slight misfit at right front bumper.
Spotless interior. Bloomington Gold certified.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $393,750. A rare color
combination, and marketed here as the only
“Black-N-Blue” 435 coupe built. Although this
was a lot of money for an L71 coupe, it was
not over the top considering this car's condition
and rarity, and it was still cheaper than
the Roby Price black and red L71 that sold at
Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale in June '07 at
$467,250 (CM# 45566). Well bought and sold.
an original style, new interior either NOS or
reproduction. Worn window fuzzies, glass
still clear. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $50,000.
The high bid was light, but there were lots of
Corvettes here to choose from, and it's the little
details that help to make the big prices. This
car just had too many shortcomings, and some
attention to fixing them up should bring the
price up a bit the next time around.
#S273-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S124443. Laguna Blue/blue
66 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
#S158-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S116355. Silver Pearl
&black/black vinyl. Odo: 48,614 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed matching
numbers. Globby windshield sealant showing,
Page 66
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
chrome and trim show no issues. Original
tank sticker, interior and top as-new. Two
Regional NCRS Top Flight Awards, NCRS
Performance Verification award, Bloomington
Gold certified in 1989. Restoration supervised
by David Burroughs. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD
AT $170,000. Last seen at Mecum's St.
Charles sale in June '07, where it didn't sell at
$180,000 (CM# 45595). Well restored and in
good colors, this Corvette had plenty of wins
under its belt. However, the market seems to
have spoken on this particular example, and
the seller could have sold here without regret.
#S200-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S111876. Blue/black
vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 52,667 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory a/c, headrests,
telescopic wheel, ps, pb, pw. Body-off restoration
in 2004, side glass scratched. Newer paint
shows issues at front vent trim, areas of light
Cross Ram intake and single carb fitted. Used
in SCCAB/Production racing in period. Cond:
3-. SOLD AT $17,000. Offered at no reserve,
and sold on Bill of Sale only. A nice entry point
for a vintage SCCA racer, and a lot of bang for
the buck. Well bought.
orange peel elsewhere. Redline radials fitted to
original-style Rally wheels. Nice chrome and
top. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $70,875. A nice convertible
wearing a relatively fresh restoration
with a decent set of options, but no show-stopper.
This price was all the money despite the
coveted a/c.
C3
#F27-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S410507. Bronze & black/
black vinyl. Odo: 72,244 miles. 427-ci 435hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Decent paint blistered
on T-tops, surface rough on big-block hood.
Windshield corner trim missing, new bumpers,
other chrome in driver condition. Non-original
motor fitted with aftermarket chrome parts.
L89s built in 1968. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD
AT $90,000. Putting new springs in the door
handles should not have been a big deal for
the seller here, and little details like that were
likely the difference between this bid and what
might have been a sale price. This was a decent
bid considering some of this car's slight needs,
but the seller was still looking for more.
Passenger door handle droops, interior shows
some slight wear to dash and console. Cond:
3+. NOT SOLD AT $28,000. Not an original
car, but it could have made a nice driver for
someone in the market for a big-block hot rod
68 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
TOP 10
#1
#S88-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
L88 coupe.S/N194379S736298.Monza
Red/tan leather. Odo: 2,257 miles. 427-
ci 430-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Fully documented
original-miles L88 car with Bloomington Gold,
#S171-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S408790. Maroon/
maroon hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 86,756
miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Stated
to be numbers-matching with Protect-O-Plate
and complete owner history. Thick paint
shows no chips or scratches, panel fit typically
inconsistent. L89 aluminum head engine spotless,
including smog equipment. Side glass
scratched, both door handle tops sag. Clean
original interior shows light wear. One of 624
'Vette. We've seen original cars sell for more,
but an example with these needs should have
changed hands at this price.
#S86-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
racer. S/N N/A. Blue & white/black vinyl.
350-ci 400-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Usual race
car wear-and-tear throughout, with tape repair
to driver seat and no windshield. Roll
cage, side pipes, no headlights, hood scoop,
Torq-Thrust mags, no top. Smokey Yunick
NCRS Top Flight, Gold Spinner Triple Crown
awards, never scoring below 97. As-new
everywhere and superb throughout. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $446,250. This could be the ultimate
showroom-sold collector Corvette. Put it on a
pedestal. At this price, this car will never again
be driven the way it was originally intended. A
decent buy for the Corvette collector looking
for the best.
#S143-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S706204. Red/white
vinyl/red leather. Odo: 408 miles. 427-ci 390hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Equipped with pw, ps, pb,
speed warning, luggage rack, and leather. Right
side of windshield starting to delaminate, new
paint shows well over better-than-stock panel
fit.Newchrome, top windshield trim shows lots
of dum-dum from installation. Reproduction
interior fitted, including door panels. Detail-
ed engine compartment looks correct. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $37,500. Lots of new parts were
used in this restoration, right down to the nuts
and bolts. The L36 was the most popular engine
configuration in 1969, and with 10,531
built, finding one is not hard to do. This car
just happened to be well optioned and well
restored, and it was bought and sold fairly with
that in mind.
#U84-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194671S115378. Blue/blue
vinyl. Odo: 74,011 miles. 350-ci 330-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint shows numerous prep flaws,
panel fit shows issues, front bumper slightly
Page 68
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
wide from body.Wiper cowl stuck open, glass
and chrome still nice. New interior parts include
non-color-matching door panel pieces.
LT1 warranty replacement engine dirty, with
greasy fingerprints on air cleaner, cowl, and
fenders. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $21,000.
A total of 1,949 LT1 Corvettes were built in
1971. This one had some easy-to-fix issues, but
this bid was near the top of the market for an
example with these needs.
#S68-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37K2S513294. Red/red vinyl.
Odo: 51,844 miles. 350-ci 200-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Mostly original paint has visible age
flaws, including chips and scratches throughout.
Protect-O-Plate, original bill of sale,
tank sticker. Driver's side seat piping worn
through, armrest cracked. Mileage claimed
#S67-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J5S420208. Yellow/
black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 3,934 miles.
383-ci 486-hp V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. New yellow
paint has no apparent issues aside from a star
crack in hood from air cleaner post. Panel gaps
as good as when built, interior features fresh
leather seats. Non-original stroked engine with
Doug Nash 5-speed and a/c fitted. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $20,475. A very clean '75, with the
$7,400. Although it had a decent overall look
to it, this was just a driver, and the price paid
was right in line with the market for later C3s
in bland colors.
#F81-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z87L8S416403. Silver & gray/
oyster vinyl. Odo: 80,712 miles. 350-ci 185hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Silver Anniversary Edition
with decent original two-tone paint and sport
mirrors. Exterior finish looks good at ten feet,
kind of driveline GM couldn't build in '75. It
looked good and sounded very healthy, and
although this was strong money for a modified
plastic-bumper C3, this one appeared to have
been done with performance driving in mind.
Fairly bought and sold.
#F65-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
original. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $29,000. It
can be difficult to see paint in the inconsistent
tent lighting, but based on how it looked, this
car might be considered a good Bloomington
Gold Survivor candidate. Having said that, it
was still a small-block 200-hp coupe with an
automatic, and the high bid should have moved
it to a new home.
#F86-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67JS422032. Red/red
hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 1,232 miles. 350-ci
165-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nice new paint shows
some slight orange peel in places. Panel fit
wide where doors meet front fenders, glass
and trim nice. Interior shows light wear to
seats and dash. Radio inoperative, side glass
interior clean and original. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $25,463. With just 185 horsepower and
automatic
transmissions, these
Corvettes
could barely get out of their own way. This car
deserved a premium because of its mileage, but
this was a bit more bonus than I would have
anticipated. Well sold.
#S260-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
scratched. Tilt/telescopic column, aftermarket
alloy wheels, BF Goodrich radial tires. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $16,800. A nice plastic-bumper
car from the last year of C3 Corvette convertible
production. This car looked nice inside
and out, and its new paint helped considerably
with its curb appeal. Bought and sold fairly at
this price.
70 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
coupe. S/N 1Z87L8SA22577.White/blue cloth
& vinyl. Odo: 60,381 miles. 350-ci 185-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older average repaint shows
chips on driver headlight door and hood edge.
Interior cloth starting to sag, driver's door
hinge pin coming out. Dirty windows. Engine
compartment correct and showing wear commensurate
with mileage. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
carpets. Engine compartment has surface rust
visible in places. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $9,000.
It looked like every auto-trans Corvette in the
Chicagoland market found its way to this sale,
so those in the market for a plastic-nosed C3
coupe. S/N 1Z87L8S439966. Red/red vinyl.
Odo: 609 miles. 350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Mileage claimed to be original from
new. Panel fit Corvette-typical, with inconsistencies
throughout. Numerous paint flaws,
including painted-over chips and preparation
issues. Windshield starting to delaminate,
panel fit decent, nose slightly discolored and
wavy. No interior tears, but wear and dirt showing.
Engine compartment in need of a cleaning.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $7,900. The Silver
Anniversary Corvette was built in unlimited
numbers, and this one did not have a whole lot
going for it. Average condition, market price.
#F7-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8781C5120882. White/red
vinyl. Odo: 25,116 miles. 350-ci 200-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Paint chips on nose and door
edges, front bumper typically mismatched to
body paint. Panel gaps decent but typically
off, edge wear visible on mirrors. Equipped
with factory a/c. Interior shows scratches to
console, worn chrome trim, and nice seats and
Page 70
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
St. Charles, IL
that would shift itself had plenty to choose
from. This one had believably low mileage,
and in this condition, this was a decent deal
for the buyer.
#F10-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8781C5117707. Red/red
vinyl. Odo: 57,818 miles. 350-ci 200-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto.Windshield chipped, smooth
paint looks recent. Nice panel fit, equipped
with factory a/c and smoked glass T-tops.
Clean original interior shows seat wear commensurate
with mileage, alloy wheels polished
and unmarked. Copies of original paperwork
included. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $14,700. This
was a well cared for Corvette with original
miles. Although its automatic transmission let
it down, its a/c and excellent overall condition
more than made up for it. A fairly bought driver
at this price.
C4
#F11-1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY6783G5902979.
Yellow/black canvas/gray leather. Odo: 27,535
miles. 350-ci 235-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Good original paint shows several chips to
nose and door edges, panel fit decent throughout.
Driver's side headlight sits low when
closed, passenger side flush to hood. Glass and
top nice, original interior has chips on plastic
32,105 miles. 350-ci 235-hp fuel-injected V8,
4-sp. Decent paint shows some light chipping,
nose panel warped and slightly discolored,
rash showing on original alloys. Interior original,
with tear in driver seat bolster and screws
missing from cracked plastic driver's side door
panel. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $11,550. This car
had more needs than lot F11, another yellow
'86 convertible, but it was fitted with the more
desirable manual transmission. As presented
here, it still showed recent road grime on the
body and chassis, but it was fairly bought and
sold considering its options.
#F266-1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G11YY2187J5115817. Bronze/
gray leather. Odo: 39,507 miles. 350-ci 245-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Paint mismatched on
passenger side headlight door, splotchy to nose
panel, shiny elsewhere. Blackout trim aged
throughout, weatherstripping cracked and old.
panel fit slightly wide at driver's side hood to
bumper gap. Interior has driver's seat bolster
wear. Polished wheels fitted, engine compartment
very clean. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$15,000. This drop-top 'Vette looked like it had
been well cared for, and it was likely a great
driver. Bidders weren't all that interested here,
but they might have been had it been equipped
with a 6-speed.
C5
#S266-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G615120731.
Millennium Yellow/black
leather. Odo: 17,135 miles. 5.7-liter 350-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Well-done flames on
original paint. Lowered suspension, with many
aftermarket trim parts fitted, including 20-inch
canvas/black
wheels and low-profile tires. Some light dirt
and wear on yellow interior parts. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $32,000. This is a car everyone
will notice, including the guys with radar
guns. This price was above where many stock
examples trade in this market, and although
there was likely quite a bit spent on modifications
and paint, this bid was all the money.
C6
Inside window trim loose, driver's seat shows
holes and wear. Engine recently washed, latermodel
chrome ZR-1-style wheels fitted. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $9,450. Just another used car
with some needs. A fair price for condition,
mileage, and options, and a decent driver for
the end user.
edge of dash face on the driver's side. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $16,275. Another nice low-mileage
example, and this one had good colors as well.
Again, the automatic transmission was no help
here, but you can still look good driving something
like this despite its lack of performance
compared to newer models. At the top end of
the market, but still a decent deal considering
its condition.
#F313-1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY6788G5903268.
Yellow/black canvas/black leather. Odo:
72 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
#F93-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY33P3P5114442.
Torch Red/black canvas/black leather. Odo:
49,321 miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Good paint and top show no issues,
#S254-2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1G1YY26E875104705.
Black/red & black leather. Odo: 3,249 miles.
7.0-Liter fuel-injected LS7 V8, 6-sp. A very
clean used Z06 Corvette with low original
miles. Several very light paint chips to nose,
clean engine compartment and interior. Almost
completely as-new. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$65,000. New Z06 sticker is $66,465, so even
with its low mileage, this wasn't a bargain unless
you just can't find one with a deal attached
to it. Well sold. ■
Page 71
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
FOR CORVETTE MARKET AND SCM SUBSCRIBERS AND REGISTERED BIDDERS
FOR RUSSO AND STEELE. INCLUDES CATERED BREAKFAST.
FREE SEMINAR
“The Corvette Market—Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
An analysis of the current and future C1–C6 market by industry specialists.
Panel includes David Burroughs, David Kinney, Jim Jordan, Colin Comer, Kevin Mackay, and Michael Pierce.
Moderated by CM Publisher Keith Martin.
Friday, January 18, 2008 • Russo and Steele Auction, Scottsdale, AZ • 9 to 11 am
General admission (non-subscribers and non-registered bidders): $100 for 2, $55 for 1
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTRATION DEADLINE JANUARY 10, 2008.
(Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Don't be left out!)
Name (1)
Name (2)
Address
City
Best Phone
Email
Fax
Signature
Payment in Full Required
Register online: www.vettemarket.com/scottsdale
Register by phone: 503.261.0555 x204
Send this form to CM Scottsdale 2008, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208; Fax 503.253.2234; Questions? Email jennifer.davis@vettemarket.com
I am a subscriber to CM / SCM and/or a registered
bidder at Russo and Steele
I am not a subscriber or registered bidder. Enclosed
is my check made out to Corvette Market.
Charge my VISA/MC/AmEx
State
Zip
Card #
Expiration
Total Amount $
Page 72
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
64 Corvettes, $3.9m in Sales
Solid-axle cars continued with the upward trend
seen throughout the summer
Reports and photos by Carl Bomstead, B. Mitchell Carlson, Paul Duchene,
Paul Hardiman, Chip Lamb, Norm Mort, Donald Osborne, and Dave Kinney
Market opinions in italics
R
ecent months saw Corvette Market's Auction Analysts hard at work examining and
rating Corvettes as they appeared.
Solid-axle cars again showed themselves to be strong, with the earliest examples
continuing the upward trend seen throughout the summer. Chief among them was a
well-restored 1953 roadster that appeared at the Worldwide Group's Hilton Head auction
in November. Completely restored to a very high standard, it sold at $440,000. At the same
time, if you were willing to buy a second-year example with some needs, several were
available at under $100,000. A number of slightly later cove cars were on the menu during
the Monterey auctions in August, including several museum-displayed older restorations
with only slight use, which sold at attractive prices for the do-it-yourselfer.
C2s again showed growth in the market, with most small-block cars selling between
$50k and $100k, depending on options. It was no surprise that big-block cars topped the
market, but few over-the-top prices were realized, and high reserves were an issue in many
cases regardless of the engines or options fitted.
Early Shark cars continued to be popular, although the battle with high reserves seemed
to be just as much an issue here as it has been with big-block C2s. Still, in the cases where
deals were made, chrome-bumper cars continued to offer a lot of bang for the buck. A nice
1969 427/390 coupe sold at Kruse Hershey for $42,120, while on the other end of the scale,
a very original L88 in Le Mans Blue found new ownership at a full $254,500 (C3 Profile,
p. 36).
C4s and C5s still struggled as used cars, but they continued to provide a starting point
for the first-time collector or as drivers for those looking for performance at a very reasonable
price. Low-mileage cars with rare options again faired the best, while cars with stories
to tell rounded out the bottom end of the market.
Despite reserve issues, many buyers are still willing to pay for the right cars in the right
condition, and 64 cars bringing a combined total of $3.9m is proof that Corvettes are still
causing buyers to raise their paddles and open their wallets.
applied in 1962. Both tops. Full books and records.
Door fit typically off a bit, steering wheel
worn. Paint and brightwork decent. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $74,250. Last seen at Mecum's
Bloomington Gold sale in June '07, where it
didn't sell at $52,500 (SCM# 45503). The plus
here was the one owner, but the minus was the
aged silver paint. These have been appreciating
dramatically of late, so the price paid was
about right considering this car's condition.
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#47-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S003004. Sportsman Red/
beige vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 19,537 miles. 235ci
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Sloppy repaint full
of chips and large peels. Creative reconstruction
or original mold marks showing over front
wheelwells. Chrome and brightwork pitted,
rusted, or just completely peeled off in places.
Door vinyl separating, carpet faded. Seats still
intact if faded, and perhaps the most attractive
cosmetic aspect of the car. Hastily detailed
engine bay to driver quality or slightly better.
C1
TOP 10
#2
#46-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001103. Polo
White/black cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 8
miles. 235-ci straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Faultless
paint and body to exceptional better-than-new
quality throughout. Chrome and brightwork
flawless. Top and interior not only well-
executed but correct to NCRS standards.
Engine bay likewise does not disappoint.
An example comparable to or better than the
2007 restoration of a slightly later '53 by GM
Heritage. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $440,000. The
car lost a few points with the NCRS due to
overdoing some things... not missing details.
Only three bids were cast in $100,000 increments,
and the bidding closed with a sale at the
low estimate. Maybe just under market today,
but a few more years should see examples such
as this appreciating at Gullwing speed. Well
bought. Worldwide Group, Hilton Head, SC,
11/07.
#225-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S003775. Silver/red vinyl.
Odo: 25,426 miles. 235-ci 155-hp straight 6,
3x1-bbl, auto. Original owner from new, miles
stated to be accurate. Incorrect silver paint
74 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $77,000. The preview
drew a lot of lookers, many of whom commented
on the sorry state of this worn but
complete example. The opening bid of $50,000
seemed silly at first, but sensibility took over,
and few of the underbidders wanted to challenge
anything over the high $60s. Only one
bidder dared go to $70,000, and his reward
was the reserve being pulled and a sale. If the
pundits are right, this should be a good restoration
candidate down the road. Well bought
and in line with the current market. Worldwide
Group, Hilton Head, SC, 11/07.
#250-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E56S002548. Eng. #
04355082DF56GR. Robin's Egg Blue &
white/cream vinyl. Odo: 5,293 miles. 265-ci
225-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Older paint shows a
few touched-up areas, including a visible spot
Page 73
3. SOLD AT $68,750. A nice original car that
should not be restored but most likely will be.
Either way, it was well bought. RM Auctions,
Monterey, CA, 8/07.
TOP 10
#10
next to hood. Brightwork excellent. Included
hard top shows some paint damage. Clean and
correct style interior in good condition. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $68,750. One of 3,467 Corvettes
produced in 1956. No surprises here; even
though this car sold for less than its pre-sale
low estimate of $70,000, it came close and
was within the range expected. RM Auctions,
Rochester, MI, 8/07.
#34-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S105626. Eng. #
F424EGVC. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 9,332 miles.
283-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.Ahigh quality restoration
now in need of some recommissioning.
Excellent paint, chrome has only light surface
pitting. Good exterior details down to originalstyle
T-3 headlights. Nice carpets, well-fitted
seats could stand some cleaning. Listed as
a 265-ci V8 in the catalog, but the numbers
#7-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S106241. Silver/
red vinyl. Odo: 29,440 miles. 283-ci
feel. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $86,900. Last seen at
RM's Phoenix sale in January '05, where it sold
at $94,600 (SCM# 37372). Two fuelie '57 Vettes
were at this auction, and neither was numbersmatching,
but both claimed to be correct FI
blocks. This one was nice, but the Venetian Red
vinyl and carpet stood in overly stark contrast
to the subtle elegance of the black and silver
exterior. Well-bought despite the non-original
motor. Russo and Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#524-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S101475. Venetian Red/
white canvas/red vinyl.Odo: 62,711miles. 283ci
220-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Fitted with dual 4bbl
carbs, but claimed to be a 220-hp example.
Restored a year ago to a high standard, but
trim is pitted. Nice paint shows no real issues
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Extremely clean racer.
Good chrome, some cracking in body. Miles
stated original, “many at redline”. Hoosier
tires, Torq-Thrust American Racing wheels,
racing seat matches original pattern. Typical
Corvette panel fit. Originally a carbureted car,
now fuel injected. Fresh motor, numerous racing
upgrades. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $115,500.
Possibly the fastest competition '57 Corvette,
with complete provenance. Ready to race and
also street legal. Fred Yeakel road- and dragraced
it successfully in the 1960s and returned to
historic competition in 1979. Dick Guldstrand
won at Monterey in '87 when Corvette was the
featured marque. Part of the Bloomington
Gold Special Collection display in May in
honor of the 50th anniversary of the '57 'Vette.
If you can't win in this car, it's your fault. Well
bought. (See Profile, p. 32.) Gooding, Pebble
Beach, CA, 8/07
decode to a 283-ci V8, which is correct for
the year. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $60,500. A museum-stored
car with some questions as to its
running condition. Not a bad opportunity if the
mechanicals don't pose a problem, but really
not much of a gamble. Recommissioning a fully
restored Corvette after a period of sitting might
prove expensive, but it's not impossible. The
lucky new owner might change fluids and have
a running example, the unlucky one might be
facing a full engine rebuild on top of replacing
a number of parts. Either way, this was not a
bad buy. Christie's, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#S637-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S103350. Black & silver/
black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 114 miles. 283-ci
283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Paint and body
subject to a recent frame-off restoration. Very
exacting body, correct paint, slight trunk gap
issue. Chrome and exterior brightwork without
fault. Embossed vinyl seat material correct, fit
flawless. Carpet and dash restored to a high
standard. Soft top even and fits well, with a new
aside from some slight polish scratching. No
radio fitted, hard top included. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $66,000. Based on the price paid, I would
think this C1 Corvette started life with only one
carburetor. A strong #2 car for the appropriate
money, but I doubt if the seller is happy with
this result. RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#601-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S1008254. Venetian
Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 93,164 miles.
283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Stated to
have been a Bloomington Gold award winner.
Showing some wear and tear to paint and
chrome, but nothing too serious. Factory radio,
weird aerial in back.Adecent ten-footer. Cond:
#S667-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57A101041. Eng. #
F1004EL.VenetianRed&white/white vinyl/red
vinyl. Odo: 1 miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected
V8, 4-sp. Paint lacks a little bit of lustre, chrome
and brightwork shine evenly. Interior correct
and fits well, carpet and dash tidy without flaws.
Engine bay properly detailed but inner fenders
on the dull side even from factory stock. Fuel-injection
block not original to car. Cond: 2+. NOT
SOLD AT $85,000. The Venetian Red interior in
this car complemented the red exterior far more
than the all-too-common black. This example
was a very presentable car for the local show
circuit, but not a top-tier or particularly unique
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 75
Page 74
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
representation of an early V8 Corvette. Without
matching numbers and more background information
than the generic “frame-off restoration”
claim, the high bid was in the right ballpark.
Russo and Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#37-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S103671. Eng. #
F0524EB. Light metallic blue/blue/blue vinyl.
Odo: 2 miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.
Very good paint shows only one dimple in rear
quarter. Door fit inconsistent, hood gaps tight
in places. Excellent brightwork, good glass,
nice window rubber. Tail turn signal and trim
other $25k could have done the deal. Bonhams
& Butterfields, Carmel Valley, CA, 8/07.
#40-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S107050. Eng. #
H0413DG. Silver/black/red vinyl. Odo: 5
miles. 283-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Very good to
excellent quality restoration, unused since. One
two-inch long scrape visible to driver's fender
top, bodywork lumpy on lower rear passenger
fender. Very good brightwork, Coker Classic
tires have yellowed whitewalls. Inside is tidy
but not fresh, with no real issues. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $60,500. I'm assuming that your
#275-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S105766. Eng. # F313CU.
Crown Sapphire/white/turquoise vinyl. Odo:
39,861 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.
Well-restored, and a trophy winner all 13 times
shown. Western Regional Corvette Champion
in 1996. Wonderbar radio, off-road exhaust.
Finished much nicer than factory, with arrow-
bits all still clear, with no fogging or pitting.
Older carpets and weathered older vinyl need
addressing: they are still good, but could easily
be better. Engine compartment spotless and unused.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $66,000. Museum
stored. Again, whether this car will run and
stop remains a question, as it was fully restored
and then put in storage. In #3+ condition, this
Corvette brought right about what it should
have had it been a proven runner. Christie's,
Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#453-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Competition convertible. S/N J59S104283.
Eng. # F1215CS. Black/red leather. Odo:
90,363 miles. 283-ci fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Very good panel fit. Excellent paint, chrome,
and interior. Goodyear racing tires, chrome
roll bar. Restoration finished in 2007. Fitted
with a fuelie engine from new, proper period
engine replacement installed in 1988. Cond: 1.
NOT SOLD AT $310,000. A racer from new,
local airbrush Michelangelo can take care of
that scrape, but that leaves the bodywork issue
unresolved. At this price, driving and enjoying
would be a good bet. If all the fuel and brake
lines are still good, someone got a bargain.
Christie's, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#S611-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 8675109832. Roman Red/
white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 60,386 miles. 283ci
270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed 2-time
NCRS Top Flight recipient. Paint has uniform
orange peel throughout, slight hood and trunk
gap issues. Brightwork and chrome very nice
overall. Interior excellent, with fresh soft top
and hard top present. Engine bay well-detailed,
engine and transmission not original to car, but
straight seams and a smooth body. Chrome and
interior spotless. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $88,000.
Over-restoration normally is not a plus with
Corvettes, but this one sold for more than was
expected. What do you do with it? It was too
nice to drive very far, and it wouldn't score
highly at most major 'Vette venues that prize
originality. Well sold. RM Auctions, Monterey,
CA, 8/07.
Best Buy #43-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S103675. Eng. #
T0919D. Red/black/red vinyl. Odo: 2 miles.
283-ci 230-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Top quality
restoration is still nice despite some age-related
wear. Excellent paint and brightwork, good
glass and gaskets. Very good vinyl seats, nice
tuxedo carpets. Dash shows well, with great
gauge faces. Underhood is detailed, now needs
some light touch-up work. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$55,000. If you restored a car and then didn't
credited with a dozen top finishes in 1959 and
1960. Stunningly presented. '50s Corvettes
have trouble selling at the estimate price at
auction. This one might have made it there, but
the crowd didn't want it enough. Perhaps an-
76 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
claimed date-coded to original month and year
of production. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $69,300.
This car was used by one of the wax companies
sponsoring the preview as their prime demonstration
object—not a bad way to score some
exceptional detailing inside and out. Bidding
was slow around $55,000, at which point the
reserve was pulled and the car soldiered on to
this final selling price. Well bought, even considering
its needs. Russo and Steele, Monterey,
CA, 8/07.
drive or start it for five, ten, or fifteen years, all
parts of the car that came in contact with fluids
would be suspect. That was the issue here, as
this museum-stored piece could need from a
few hundred to a few too many thousands of
dollars of recommissioning. For the handy
enthusiast, this could have been a jackpot. Two
or three weeks of working underneath might
earn him $20,000 or more on the sale side.
Christie's, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#48-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S100662. Eng. #
Page 76
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
F0802CU. White/white/red vinyl. 283-ci
270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Excellent paint is
only marred by two small divots on the door
and trunk. Excellent brightwork, interior and
underhood are tidy. Not perfect, but nice overall.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $66,000. A museum
car, again one that hasn't run in many years. A
bit of a roll of the dice here, but for those adept
at bringing restored cars that have been sitting
back to life, a potential $20,000-$30,000
payday might just await. Christie's, Monterey,
CA, 8/07.
Best Buy #599-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible.S/N 10867S105784. Beige&white/
white/fawn vinyl. Odo: 49,796 miles. 283-ci
270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Very recent restoration
with only 50 miles covered since completion.
Bare-body repaint, all new brightwork,
engine completely rebuilt. Little to fault here,
old driver Corvette to impress your friends or
empty your wallet while attempting to restore...
which would be pointless unless you found the
original powertrain under a rock in your backyard.
Fully priced for condition alone, and a
premium considering the incorrect engine fitted.
Carlisle Auctions, Carlisle, PA, 10/07.
#S615-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S108760. Eng. #
S108760. Roman Red/black vinyl/black vinyl.
Odo: 932 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected
V8, 4-sp. Claimed “no stories” matchingnumbers
frame-off restoration, and it shows.
Beautiful paint and body with excellent gaps,
aside from common top stowage gap issues.
Painted headlight trim done well, brightwork
nd a nice interior. This was well bought, assuming
the mechanical details had all been
attended to and the transmission was correct.
Silver Auctions, Reno, NV, 8/07.
#440-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S105012. Eng. #
3105012F1116RF. Saddle Tan/black canvas/
saddle leather. Odo: 1,581 miles. Good panel
fit, except for top lid, which is raised at rear
edge, and hood, raised at rear edges.Very good
paint, except for a crack forming over right
front wheelarch. Small chips on rear deck.
Very good chrome and interior. Cond: 2-.
aside from over-restoration in places. Offered
without reserve. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $110,000.
A nearly flawless car for less than the cost of
restoration. Add in the cost of the car, and the
buyer was well ahead of the game. The seller
is likely not a happy man, but such is the risk
of offering a car at no reserve. RM Auctions,
Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#S154-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S103121. Roman Red
& white/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 19,324
miles. 350-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Sloppy
pop-riveted patch in front valance panel, stress
cracks in coves and under last E in Corvette
along nose. Very old repaint coming apart
and about to peel in large sheets, with chips
and scratches throughout. Older chrome bumpers
dinged and misaligned. Pitted potmetal
brightwork, stainless dull. Older interior redo
shows redye to dash and door panels. Engine
bay messy and missing most original detail
parts. Engine stated as coming from a 1971
Corvette. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $38,063. Just an
78 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
and chrome without fault. Top and interior
look fresh, with correct materials. Engine bay
and fuel injection unit appear correct. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $77,000. Another car which would
have benefited from a reserve price somewhere
north of the final bid. The car appeared to be as
the seller claimed, and unless my predilection
for '62 Corvettes is unusual or someone else
crawled underneath to find something unpleasant,
I'd call this well-bought. Russo and Steele,
Monterey, CA, 8/07.
C2
#317-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S107109. Red/tan vinyl.
Odo: 50,567 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. In storage for 20 years, claimed groundup
restoration since with new paint, replacement
motor, rebuilt T-10 transmission, power
steering, and Wonderbar radio. No a/c, power
windows, or power brakes. Hood badge fits
poorly, nice paint and panel gaps. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $51,840. Very pretty, with overdone
paint too nice to be correct, excellent chrome, a
SOLD AT $101,790. Scored 96.4 with the
NCRS in August '91. Now going off, it still
looks lovely. Last seen at McCormick Palm
Springs in February '07, where it was a no
sale at $80,000 (SCM# 44543). Unless my
eyes deceived me, it also had less mileage on
the clock here than the 1,654 reported then.
Its condition seems to have deteriorated a bit,
no doubt due to transportation. The seller was
wise to let it go. (See Profile, p. 34.) Bonhams
& Butterfields, Carmel Valley, CA, 8/07.
Best Buy #F472-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 40837S107167. Saddle Tan/tan vinyl.
Odo: 68,751 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp.Very nice never-completely-apart Corvette
coupe. Body-on restored during the mid 1990s.
Page 77
Paint has not lost much of its initial lustre,
body gaps excellent. Interior shows minor use
throughout. Engine bay well detailed ostensibly
for the auction preview and looks like the most
recently done part of the car. Optioned with ps,
pb, a/c, and period aftermarket Hays ignition box
under the hood. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $45,000.
I love well-kept, mostly-original refreshed cars
like this, as they represent the best compromise
between show and driver quality. A body-shop
owner in Las Vegas owned the car and brought
it here with a $70,000 reserve, but he pulled
that reserve at $45k, selling the car to a happy
new owner. Very well bought. Russo and Steele,
Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#22-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 40867SIL8053. Red/white
canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 69,366 miles. 327-ci
250-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Imported to the U.K.
about 20 years ago, and subject to a body-off
restoration. No fiberglass damage or missing
trim, 1967 big-block-style hood fitted. Paint
hows a few dust marks, interior reupholstered
in a garish and glossy button pattern
tidy. Spinner caps surrounded by modern radials,
which is the only real detractor on the car.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $55,000. This restoration
by a Bloomington Gold judge attracted a fair
amount of attention, and despite the narrow
whitewall tires, there was not much to complain
about. Bidding was fierce through $40,000 and
tapered off at $50,000. Despite being a base
327, I'll call this well-bought if only for the attractiveness
and show-quality condition of the
work performed. Russo and Steele, Monterey,
CA, 8/07.
#585-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 19467S118965. Ermine
White/black vinyl. Odo: 41,351 miles. 396-ci
425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Bloomington Gold
winner some years back. Stored in mid-'70s
for 20 years due to a slipping clutch. Restored
in '90s with attention paid to preservation and
this Corvette on the upper level of the parking
deck during the preview, answering questions
and enjoying the party atmosphere that
prevailed. However, by the time it crossed the
block, bidders' interests were with the big-block
'Vettes coming up in the run list, and this one
received only slightly more than half the interest
it needed to find a new home. Russo and Steele,
Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#36-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S107933. Blue/black
leather. Odo: 86,370 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Slight panel fit issues between front
clip to door on both sides. Older refinishing
shows light orange peel throughout. Chrome
slightly wavy, brightwork around windshield
bent, seal replaced with silicone applied to stop
a leak. Knockoffs and Goldline tires correct,
leather interior appears original and shows
nice patina. Driver-quality engine bay clean,
but with use visible. Factory a/c. Cond: 2.
vinyl. Possibly later motor dressed up with
Edelbrock intake manifold and chrome valve
covers. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $44,880. This was
a relative bargain for a tidy 4-speed midyear
sin the U.K., even with the slight reservations
expressed above. Well bought, and with some
room left over for the new owner to recover the
seats as well. H&H Auctions, Duxford, U.K.,
10/07.
#F415-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S122978. Eng. #
S122978. Nassau Blue/white vinyl/white
vinyl. Odo: 56,568 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. One of the nicest restorations at
this auction, with correct finish quality in paint
and brightwork. Top and interior well-restored.
Sidepipes seem inappropriate, but they are on
the factory build-sheet. Engine compartment
originality. Interior and most of paint original,
but aging. Papers and Protect-O-Plate included.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $170,500. A desirable
big-block Corvette that was maintained and
preserved over the years. Sold right in the
middle of its estimate range, this car was both
well bought and sold. RM Auctions, Monterey,
CA, 8/07.
TOP 10
#7
#F429-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S103054. Eng.
# S103054. White/white vinyl/red vinyl.
Odo: 66,658 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Older repaint in original white with period interior
kit, hard and soft tops present, very decent chrome
and brightwork. Knockoff alloys wearing modern
Michelin radials. Very original and lightly detailed
engine compartment with complete and functioning
factory a/c. Optioned heavily with side
pipes, power windows, antenna, AM/FM, and
wood steering wheel. A nice driver-quality car.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $58,300. The owner and
two attentive friends had a good time detailing
SOLD AT $55,500. Last seen at Kruse's
Detroit sale in April '93, where it didn't sell
at $24,750 (CM# 1532). Bidding was strong
through $45,000 before falling off. I really liked
the color combination with leather buckets, but
I'm no fan of a Powerglide-equipped Corvette.
I imagine many folks at the sale felt the same
way, but it only took one interested party to
make an offer immediately post-block, which
was accepted by the consignor. Well bought
and sold. Worldwide Group, Hilton Head, SC,
11/07.
#S101-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S110288. Marina
Blue/white vinyl w/ blue hard top/blue vinyl.
Odo: 30,758 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Tinted glass, AM/FM radio, both tops.
Body bonding strips filled in, most body character
lines slightly muted. Older repaint holds
a decent shine. Door gaps typically uneven,
but doors function well and close solidly. Good
original trim, older replacement bumpers. Soft
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 79
Page 78
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
top serviceable, engine compartment generally
clean. Heavily faded carpet, replacement seats,
and door panels have virtually no wear. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $64,050. The consignor's statement
of having “only two private owners” seemed
more than a bit odd. The car was hammered
at this bid to a no-sale on the block, despite a
lot of work by the auction staff as well as Dana
Mecum. Within five minutes off the block, the
consignor (the second private owner, we are to
assume) wisely took the final bid for a publicly
declared post-block sale. Mecum Auctions,
Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#425-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S112386. Eng. #
T1216JG7112386. Sunfire Yellow & black/
white vinyl. Odo: 54,210 miles. 427-ci 400-hp
V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Very good panel fit, excellent
paint and chrome. Very nice interior has
slightly soiled seats. Fitted with a/c,pw, and pb.
windshield surround.Verygoodinterior has lightly
soiledseats. Sold with hard top. From the no-reserve
Oregon muscle car collection. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $166,500. NCRS Top Flight Award
winner, scoring 97.4 points in 2002. A topspec
'67 convertible, in dramatic and blinding
triple white with blue. Well sold. Bonhams &
Butterfields, Carmel Valley, CA, 8/07.
#F440-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
From the no-reserve Oregon muscle car collection.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $105,300. Winner of
the Duntov Mark of Excellence and NCRS Top
Flight awards at the National Convention and
Southern Regional in 1999. Still holding up
very well, and at $20k below the low estimate,
it sold at the correct current market price.
Bonhams & Butterfields, Carmel Valley, CA,
8/07.
#426-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S108069. Eng. #
T1228JF108869. Marlboro Maroon/black
leather. Odo: 40,073 miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8,
3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Excellent panel fit, chrome, and
interior. Very good paint has some light polish
swirl marks. Canadian delivery car, Redline
tires and sidepipes fitted. From the no-reserve
Oregon muscle car collection. Cond: 1. SOLD
AT $144,500. Bloomington Gold winner in
1989. GM Canada keeps documentation on all
cars sold, making authentication easy for cars
coupe. S/N 194377S104651. Eng. # S104651.
Marlboro Maroon/black leather. Odo: 1,061
miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Beautiful paint and detailing, good panel gaps,
very small edge issues mostly in the front clip.
Brightwork mostly excellent with a few small
exceptions. Black leather has light patina to
driver's seat. Dashboard and carpets pristine,
sold north of the border. Still just about perfect,
and this was a market-correct price. Bonhams
& Butterfields, Carmel Valley, CA, 8/07.
TOP 10
#8
#428-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S103944. Eng.
# T0928JE7103944. Ermine White &
blue/white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 71,869 miles.
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.Very good panel
fit. Excellent paint, decent chrome shows some
waviness under plating on front bumpers and
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. All original
low-miles car with interesting early SCCA
competition history. Restored in late 1980s to a
high standard. Paint, detailing, and brightwork
are excellent throughout, unusual green vinyl
interior and carpet shows very little wear or
fading. Engine bay likewise detailed to as-new,
not modern-day as-restored condition. A likeable
car with an interesting history. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $135,000. Known in Corvette
circles as “The Desert Rat”, this coupe was
discovered in the desert near Yuma, AZ, after
being stolen with its enclosed trailer following a
regional Corvette show more than a year prior.
The car was unscathed in this adventure, leading
many to concoct their own theories about
what happened. Sadly, the fun factor in this
car's provenance did not aid its value, and it
didn't sell at market-correct money. Russo and
Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#F457-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S101837. Eng. #
S101837. White & red/black vinyl/red vinyl.
Odo: 62,846 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. Very well presented paint and detailing,
nice chrome shows slight left front bumper
alignment issues. Black top and red vinyl interior
thoroughly restored and still fresh. Engine
bay showed well without too much shine, although
with an apparant coolant leak. Claimed
recent restoration to NCRS award-winning
knockoff mags and Redline radials show well.
Engine bay as nice as the exterior. Incorrect
modern AC Delco battery. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $70,400. This was claimed to be one of 199
1967 427-ci 400-hp cars with factory a/c, and
it became considerably rarer as one went down
the option list, with items like leather and the
M21 close-ratio transmission. A little better detailing
might have helped this car sell for more
at no reserve, but I call this well bought. Russo
and Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#F451-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194677S107371. Eng. # S107371.
Green & white/green vinyl. Odo: 33,002 miles.
80 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
specifications. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT
$145,000. When the car entered the Marriott, it
was streaming coolant and steaming as it drove
into the banquet hall. Noticeably, the crowd
was not terribly responsive when it came to topping
the $150,000 mark, and bidding petered
out with $145,000 bouncing around the room.
The car was still sitting in the preview garage
Page 79
Saturday afternoon with a $230,000 price tag in
the window. One wonders if anything else was
overlooked in the restoration if a calamity such
as that couldn't be avoided. Russo and Steele,
Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#748-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. Ermine White/red vinyl. Odo: 85,719
miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Recent
high-quality respray, red insert application
inconsistent with typical factory production.
Equipped with side exhaust, AM/FM
radio, and Positraction rear axle. Right door
fit off a bit, headlight buckets fit decently.
TOP 10
#9
#431-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
L88 coupe. S/N 194378S419533. Eng.
# T0229IT18S419533. Silver/black
leather. Odo: 33,646 miles. 427-ci 430-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Good panel fit, except for uneven
gap around left door. Very good paint and
interior. M22 Rock Crusher 4-speed gearbox,
F41 suspension, J56 power brakes. Radio and
Engine bay clean, nice stock interior with no
issues noted. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $74,520. The
seller worked this car and answered a number
of bidders' questions before it crossed the
block. It should have brought a bit more money
in this condition, but the seller was happy with
this number, and that's enough to make this a
good deal for both parties. Kruse, Hershey,
PA, 10/07.
C3
TOP 10
#5
#424-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
L88 coupe. S/N 194378S422103. Eng. #
T0229IT18S422103. Le Mans Blue/blue
leather. Odo: 29,694 miles. 427-ci 430-hp V8, 4bbl,
4-sp. Very good panel fit typical of Corvettes
of the era. Well-applied paint shows light polish
swirl marks and a few light chips. Chrome excellent,
interior has some minor chipping on console
heater delete. From the no-reserve Oregon
muscle car collection. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$155,500. The Hanky Panky Special, one of 80
1968 L88s built. A successful racer when new,
restored in 1989. Here it still presented very
well, and it was a decent deal for all involved.
Bonhams & Butterfields, Carmel Valley, CA,
8/07.
#S69-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S709071. Red/tan
vinyl/tan vinyl. Odo: 46,239 miles. 350-ci
350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional power brakes,
power windows, and trunk rack. Aftermarket
side pipes. Highly sanded-out body, repaint
shows numerous fisheyes in fender peaks and
overspray in window channels. Heavily pitted
top mounting fixtures and door handles. Dull
stainless steel trim, scuffed-up original bumpers.
Engine fitted with lots of aftermarket speed parts.
Well-preserved original interior with lightly
soiled seating surfaces. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$18,638. The work done here was nowhere near
show quality, let alone concours-correct. Little
was original, so it had no value as a preserved
car. Added-on engine bits may or may not be all
that reliable or temperamental, so drivability
was not a solid lock. Aside from the fact it was
a pretty red convertible at 20 feet, I really don't
know why someone paid a premium for this. The
seller should be very pleased. Mecum Auctions,
Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#S129-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S733574. Marina Blue/black
vinyl. Odo: 66,477 miles. 468-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4sp.
Two-year-old repaint shows visible orange
peel on door tops and upper fenders. Bumper
chrome wavy, tinted windshield delaminating
along lower right edge. Engine bay corroded
and grubby. Radio missing, older replacement
seat upholstery OK, remaining interior components
original and with moderate wear. Cond: 3.
bright trim. From the Oregon no-reserve collection.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $254,500. One of 80
1968 L88 Corvettes built. Very well presented,
it was the only car in the group that exceeded
its pre-sale estimate, and deservedly so. A big
price, but appropriate for the car. (See Profile,
p. 36.) Bonhams & Butterfields, Carmel
Valley, CA, 8/07.
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 81
Page 80
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
quite dusty from storage. Mostly stock interior
also quite dusty, carpet on driver's side very
heavily worn. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $13,125.
Sort of like lamb chop sideburns, disco, and
bell-bottom polyester leisure suits, these mods
definitely give a '70s character to a car most
would rather forget. Someone paid a premium
for a languishing hack job. Mecum Auctions,
Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
SOLD AT $21,788. While it was originally a
big-block car, the combination of piece parts,
a modified big block, and tell-tale signs of past
neglect showed that this was not a prime investment.
Even with chrome bumper C3s still on the
upswing, one would still get upside down on this
one pretty quickly if it were bought to do anything
more than just run it. Mecum Auctions,
Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#426-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S733348. Riverside Gold/
black vinyl. Odo: 74,820 miles. 427-ci 390-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Presentable paint shows a few
scratches and swirls, panel fit consistent with
original build quality. Glass shows no issues,
trim slightly worn throughout. Chrome plating
appears recently redone, interior has minor
#S119-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
high bid fell short of the mark, but it was not
too far from market considering the condition
and options here. Kruse, Auburn, IN, 8/07.
#NR14-1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1Z67J4S424116. Maroon/
white vinyl/red vinyl. Resprayed maroon
with dirt, imperfections. Original worn but
acceptable chrome. Carpet and console showing
minor wear. Seats okay, but door panels
needed replacement. Clean under hood, but
lots of detailing required. Driver quality with
room to improve. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $16,130.
coupe. S/N 1Z37L6S437474. Red/black vinyl.
Odo: 43,969 miles. 350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Optioned with pb, pw, a/c, tilt/telescopic
column, and rear window defroster. Average
quality repaint makes lousy body prep, pits, and
fisheyes shine. Motor features a spray-can restoration,
engine bay relatively clean. Random
signs of wear to seats and carpets. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $42,120. Not the most popular body
style, but this car had an appealing color combination,
as well as a lot of performance for the
money... not the car for your teenage kid. This
price was a bit below market, so this can be
considered well bought. Kruse, Hershey, PA,
10/07.
#3787-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S717436. Burgundy/black
vinyl. Odo: 13,295 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Owner states numbers matching.
Equipped with pw and tilt-telescopic column.
Paint shows some issues around edges, but
overall it's quite nice. Some pitting to a few
bits of brightwork, but most is still OK. Clean
stock interior shows some slight wear to
driver's seat. Big motor a help, no a/c hurts.
Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $20,000. Even if it
wasn't true in the late '60s, in the last twenty
years, buyers have been expecting a/c when it
was an option. This doesn't hold true for all
cars, and big-block Corvettes can be an exception,
but Corvette coupes without a/c can be an
interesting ride in the hot days of summer. This
82 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
The market value of this generation of 'Vette is
on the rise. Its shape is unmistakable. An icon
of the late 1960s and '70s, it's the Corvette
most of us with a little spare cash can remember
zooming by, our girlfriends staring, while
we tinkered with our MG to get it going. A
good buy for a convertible despite its flaws.
RM Auctions, Tornonto, CAN, 10/07.
#S51.1-1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37J5S437404. Orange Flame/tan
vinyl. Odo: 52,462 miles. 350-ci supercharged
V8, 4-sp. Body wavy, original paint generally
acceptable. Hood cut for clearance for Weber
side draft carbs and supercharger. Base motor
with L82 valve covers pretty much untouched
and rather dirty. Grubby undercarriage also
undercoating hit most of clamped exhaust and
missed half of the frame. New replacement interior
vinyl and carpet hoseddownwithArmorAll.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $9,750. 1976 through 1986
can best be described as the decade that most
Corvette enthusiasts wish wouldn't have existed.
Not only were there no ragtops available, but
build quality ranged from mediocre to abysmal,
and performance was emaciated. Along those
lines, this seemed to be an excellent example.
Thus, this was all the money in the world.
Mecum Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#36-1977 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N N/A. Red metallic/red leather &
vinyl. Odo: 60,257 miles. 350-ci 210-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Former concours winner with
three owners and the L82 motor. Several paint
chips at door edges, but not falling apart like
many U.K. 'Vettes of this period. Doors fit
well, some chrome dress-up items in engine
bay include Edelbrock Performer manifold
and carburetor. Fitted with pw, a/c, and aftermarket
exhaust. No obvious worries. Cond: 1-.
Page 81
SOLD AT $24,684. This very sharp 'Vette may
not be the most desirable year, but later C3s
all look the same to a lot of U.K. buyers. More
important, it cost the same as an SI E-type
coupe at this same sale, which is a comparison
many classic car magazines often like to make.
The U.K. market is a fickle thing, but this time
there was no doubt this was the better car that
would most likely be easier to live with. H&H
Auctions, Duxford, UK, 10/07.
#S1-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car
1G1AY0788C5116667. Dark silver & charcoal/smoked
glass/sliver & charcoal leather.
Odo: 90,674 miles. 350-ci 220-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Optioned with a/c, ps, pb, pw, and tilt
column. Generally good original paint shows a
few chips, nicks, and peeling on rear bumper.
Factory-typical panel fit all around, unrestored
Edition coupe. S/N
45797). As of late, it seems like you can't swing
a dead cat at a collector car auction and not hit
at least one '78 IPC 'Vette. A fair-to-middling
price for a fair-to-middling example, although
far better examples can be found for not much
more money. Mecum Auctions, Des Moines,
IA, 7/07.
Silver
#7-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Anniversary convertible. S/N
1Z87L83433552. Silver & gray/black canvas/
black leather. Odo: 57,079 miles. 350-ci 185-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Claimed to be one of twelve
Silver Anniversary models converted from
coupe to convertible, and also the only open one
snake pit of wires and hoses under the hood.
Silver dye worn heavily on steering wheel and
seats, door panels held on with strategically
located Phillips-head screws. Cond: 3-. SOLD
AT $9,600. While the Collector's Edition was
supposed to usher out the C3 era with a bang, it
ended more as a splat. You could buy a one-ton
big-block stick-shift Chevy pickup in '82 with
more power than the small-block automaticonly
'Vette. The reserve was surpassed at $9k,
so the seller must be one happy camper. Mecum
Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#S85-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car
Edition coupe. S/N
1Z87L8S903582. Black & silver/smoked
glass/silver leather. Odo: 44,221 miles. 350-ci
185-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Options include pw,
pl, tilt/telescopic steering column, AM/FM/cassette
stereo, and a/c. Typical lousy factory paint
heavily buffed, with orange peeled black and
currently in U.K. residence. Clearly repainted at
some time, possibly when converted. Paintwork
clean with only minor marks, interior serviceable,
engine bay unexceptional, wheels only fair.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $14,961. Although slightly
more had been forecast, the amount paid was
enough for a former coupe that allegedly had
been beheaded in period—even though it did
look the business and will turn younger heads.
H&H Auctions, Kempton, U.K., 7/07.
#627-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
T-top.S/NIZ67L8S402343.Eng.#CLM40234J.
Red/maroon vinyl. Pretty depressing to look
at, as many U.K. 'Vettes are. Fiberglass damage
(nose, right-hand door, and fairly horrible
around badly fitting headlight flaps) did at
least distract from the not-very-nice paint
a few nicks and scratches in headlight doors
and bumper, mild stress cracking around front
license plate opening. All original throughout,
aside from battery and maybe tires. Engine bay
reflects mileage with excellent preservation for
age. Interior immaculate with no wear noted.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $23,888. One of many put
away, and cosmetically on par with the 2,000mile
2008 Saab media car I drove to the event.
Seemed to run fine as it drove across the block,
selling at the reserve price despite its relatively
undesirable automatic transmission. Carlisle
Auctions, Carlisle, PA, 10/07.
#103-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY878XC5120010. Silver
Metallic/blue velour. Odo: 1,272 miles. 350ci
200-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Older silver
repaint to average used-car condition. Flaws to
painted urethane front bumper, waviness down
both sides. Petrified weatherstripping, abysmal
seat reupholstery in incorrect coarse-weave
#F87-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Collector Edition coupe.S/N1G1AY0785C5110728.
Silver Beige Metallic/smoked glass/gold, tan,
& gray leather. Odo: 7,218 miles. 350-ci 200hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Better than most
museum-stored low-mileage classics. Only
blotchy silver. Blackout trim worn, especially at
windshield frame. Silver leather seat dye holding
up well for its age, steering wheel rim and
door panel piping rather lumpy. Heavily shampooed
carpeting. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $19,425.
Last seen at Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale
in June '07, where it sold at $18,900 (SCM#
job. Interior as tatty as the outside. Claimed
good mechanically but locked so we couldn't
examine the engine. Hey, it's a small block, so
few worries there. L82 badges but VIN says it
started life with an L48. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$7,107. Somebody wanted it, and it took 30
seconds to sell from the start point of $4,000 to
hammer fall. For someone willing to put in the
elbow-grease, this could end up as a reasonably
priced, fair enough Corvette. Bonhams,
Harrogate, U.K., 11/07.
velour. Steering wheel wrapped in parts-storegrade
leather cover. Add-on accessory cruise
control mounted on turn signal stalk. Engine
bay surprisingly complete and shows recent
service. A 20-footer that might be a decent
driver. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $12,650. Out of all
the 1982 Corvettes I've come across at a car
corral or auction, this had to have been one
of the most depressing. I guess someone still
had five figures in his or her pocket that needed
spending. Well sold. Worldwide Group, Hilton
Head, SC, 11/07.
#S199-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Collector Edition coupe. S/N1G1AY0788C5110738.
Silver Beige Metallic/smoked glass/gold, tan,
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 83
Page 82
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
& gray leather. Odo: 85,674 miles. 350-ci 200hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. The same car as lot
F87, but without pinstripes and with almost
80,000 more miles. Signs of light accidentdamage
and outside storage evident. Right side rear
of front clip sagging at door gap, very wide at
top. Left rear front clip cracked lightly at door
opening. Repainted body does not extend into
jambs, doors do not shut well. Missing factory
antenna. Sloppy tilt and telescoping column
the worst part of the interior, seats and carpets
nicer than expected. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$12,000. A toss-up at the top bid. There was no
interest at all over $12,000, and the car finally
left the block. The one buyer for a last-year
automatic transmission C3 bought the perfect
one the day before, so there were no more butts
left in the Expo Center for these plush seats.
Carlisle Auctions, Carlisle, PA, 10/07.
C4
#S23-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AYY0786E5129646. Black
w/flames/red vinyl. Odo: 164,006 miles. 350-ci
205-hp fuel-injectedV8, auto. Older repaint with
airbrushed flames. Paint cracked below hatch
corners, passenger side mirror face held into
the housing with black electrical tape. Replaced
dashboard, mileage incorrect and very difficult
to read. Racing seats and 4-point harnesses installed.
Smokes upon startup. Cond: 4. SOLD
AT $7,400. Last seen at Mecum's St. Paul sale
as-expected for a big-bore IMSA GTP car.
Engine freshly overhauled with forged pistons,
rods and crank, having been run only 5.5 hours;
work performed by TedWentz of Marcovicci&
Wentz. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $269,500. A good
sale all around; the recent engine build by Wentz
added some value, as did the recent documented
tech and use. Drew Alcazar and his helpers
pushed the car into a row of chairs as they got
it headed towards the block, but no damage was
done. When the bidding reached $245,000 and it
seemed like it would come to a stop, the reserve
was pulled. A fair deal for both parties. Russo
and Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/07.
#F100-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AYO780E5125544. Bronze
Metallic/tan leather. Odo: 85,981 miles. 350ci
205-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Evidence of
front bumper and clip respray aside from onetime
full body repaint. Orange peel and some
fisheye throughout, right rear bumper finish
spidering.Weatherstripping dry, leather cracking
on driver's seat, carpet and console faded.
Cutoff switch on battery hints at electrical issues.
Heavy Armor-All underhood over black
Odo: 139,886 miles. 350-ci 400-hp turbocharged
V8, 6-sp. Fully loaded. Mostly original
paint showing its age. Door seals crumbling
and torn on both sides, door fit quite good.
Removable top panel cracked on passenger's
side. Engine and chassis dirty, exhaust muted.
Well cared for original interior has lots of
regular wear and tear visible. Cond: 3-. SOLD
AT $13,650. One of 498 Chevy-authorized
Callaways sold through the dealer network, 58
of which were built in 1990. Having cost more
than a ZR-1 on the front end and worth far
less now, this was hardly a good investment.
In fact, with this many miles on a highly-modified
engine, this likely wasn't even a good daily
driver... It's more like waiting for the reverse
Powerball to pay out the wrong way. Mecum
Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
Greenwood
#S47.1-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible.
S/N
1G1YY3388M5117552. Black/black cloth/red
leather. Odo: 55,525 miles. 350-ci 250-hp fuelinjected
V8, auto. Greenwood body effects fitted.
Consignor claims original mileage. Mostly
original paint shows some older touch-up and
heavy buffing marks. Engine and undercarriage
appear to be regularly maintained. Minimal
in June '07, where it didn't sell at $7,400 (SCM#
45779). This cobbled-up collection of parts
may not have sold up in St. Paul, but it sucked
someone in down here at almost the same price.
Mecum Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
TOP 10
#4
#F447-1984 LOLA CORVETTE
IMSA GTP racer. S/N HU2. White &
black/black fiberglass. RHD. Far better
condition than most period race cars. #2 of 7
produced and still race-ready. Ran at Daytona
1985 for the 24-Hour. Recent tech stickers, wellused
slicks mounted on car for auction. Interior
84 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
spray-can touch ups. Steering rack boot torn
and soaked with power steering fluid. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $5,355. A rather tarted-up first-year
C4 Corvette. Just an old used car with slightly
under average mileage for a pleasure vehicle.
Sounded and looked good enough across the
block to meet its $5,000 reserve, and it picked
up one more bidder beyond that. With any luck,
the car will not continue its downward slide
towards the salvage yard and provide someone
with a few years' worth of enjoyment. Carlisle
Auctions, Carlisle, PA, 10/07.
#S131-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Callaway Twin-Turbo coupe.
S/N
1G1YY2384L5105620. Black/black leather.
driver's seat wear, virtually none to carpets.
Lightly worn cloth top commensurate with both
age and mileage. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $13,913.
Once the bidding ground to a halt, this car's
reserve was successfully coaxed off, thus moving
the car down the road with a new owner.
Bought and sold well, so there should have
been no complaints from anyone here. Mecum
Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#S120.1-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY338XM5108979.
Black/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 69,573
miles. 350-ci 250-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Mediocre masking of decent newer repaint.
Chalky blackout trim includes door handles.
Page 83
ORDER YOURS TODAY! Just $17.95, plus shipping.
Keith Martin's Guide to Car Collecting is an almanac worth its weight in vintage Weber carburetors.
Created especially for fans of collectible cars and Sports Car Market. Filled with over 300 pages of
incisive articles, hard data, market analysis, and the world's largest resource directory for collectors.
Also Available
$19.95 each plus shipping.
To Order: Phone 800.289.2819; Fax 503.253.2234; Online at
www.sportscarmarket.com
www.sportscarmarket.com
Page 84
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes at other auctions
Typical grubby used car undercarriage, factory
alloys show no curb damage. Heavier wear
to floor mats, leather steering wheel rim, and
driver's seat bottom. Remainder of interior generally
in far better condition than a 16-year-old
car should have, but not minty fresh. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $13,125. In a textbook example of
lousy marketing, the final part of the seller's
four-line information about the car was “Get it
sold.” Needless to say, the other three lines were
just about as insightful and verbose—“Good
solid car. Tires are new. Everything works.” A
mediocre effort for a mediocre used car that
sold for mediocre money. Mecum Auctions, Des
Moines, IA, 7/07.
ZR-1
#S126-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY23J7M5801342.
Black & gray/black leather. Odo: 62,390 miles.
350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Sold new
by the Corvette Center of Honolulu, Hawaii,
registered on the islands until 2004, now wears
current Minnesota plates. Fresh repaint done
to a good standard, but not the “flawless” job
seat bottoms, remaining interior components
in good condition. Some leather dye rubbed
off of seats. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $14,175.
Mechanically
and feature-wise, this was
basically a '95 Buick Roadmaster with two
doors that's a bitch to get in and out of. If you
want a late-model C4 investment, look for a
lower-mile '96 Grand Sport. If you want a
late-model driver, get a C5. Lower-mile used
car money for a lower-mile used car, plain
and simple. Mecum Auctions, Des Moines, IA,
7/07.
C5
#580-1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G1X5105028.
White/white vinyl/tan leather. Odo: 107,474
miles. 5.7-liter 345-hp fuel-injected LS1 V8,
auto. Sold on a salvage title due to collision
repair. Good repaint finished commensurate
to new build quality. Door, hood, and panel fit
decent, rear fascia stretched. Power antenna
won't fully retract, newer tires fitted. Heavy
wear to convertible top, with some bow bite on
passenger side and fraying at corners. Steering
wheel rim glossy from wear, spokes dirty.
miles. 5.7-liter fuel-injected LS1 V8, 6-sp.
Excellent original paint with only a couple of
light gravel nicks to the nose. Well-maintained
and regularly cleaned engine bay, chassis and
suspension show light use. Like-new interior
shows slight wrinkling of driver's side seat bottom.
Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $22,000. This
was from the early years of the hard top coupe,
but there's not much call for one of these without
the high-powered Z06 package. The final
bid was up against a $25k reserve, based more
upon the lower miles and better care than any
potential collectible interest. A nice used car for
someone who travels solo and wants a trunk—a
modern day Business Coupe—and that's about
it. High bid was market for condition. Mecum
Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#581-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22G415104313. Light
Pewter/tan leather. Odo: 46,000 miles. 5.7liter
350-hp fuel-injected LS1, 6-sp. Mileage
claimed original from new, sold on a salvage
title due to collision repair. Decent repaint,
fenders misaligned, hood gaps inconsistent,
driver's door gap razor thin at front. Heavy
coating of brake dust on factory-issue alloys,
average used car undercarriage shows generally
equal wear and no indications of damage,
described by seller. Expertly detailed under the
hood, interior wear congruent for a 62,390-mile
daily driver. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $23,363. What
a double whammy... sold new in Hawaii and
now in Minnesota. What the salt spray from the
ocean didn't get, the salt spray from the road
will. Wonder why it was repainted? A nice 20footer
and cheap for a ZR-1, but still well sold.
Mecum Auctions, Des Moines, IA, 7/07.
#S112-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P6S5112088. Red/black
leather. Odo: 56,352 miles. 350-ci 300-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Equipped with Bose
AM/FM/cassette stereo, electronic climate
control, and power driver's seat. Good original
paint shows several touched-up chips. Heavier
than expected wear on steering wheel and
Average used car undercarriage with equal wear
and no indications of damage, overspray, or
recent suspension alignment. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $13,000. Sold between Kelley Blue Book's
trade-in and private party values, but either of
those numbers is too much for a Corvette with
over 100k miles, collision repair work, and a
salvage title. Most of the dealers had bailed out
before it hit ten grand, so the buyer probably
thinks he got a good deal. Unless you get it at
a discount below dealer wholesale, a car like
this will never be a good deal, as it will always
tell a story no buyer wants to hear. (See Profile,
p. 44.) Wayne Pike Auctions, Princeton, MN,
9/07.
#S59-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY12G9Y5106644. Light
Pewter Metallic/black leather. Odo: 33,419
overspray, or recent use of suspension alignment
hardware. Newer center exhaust section,
original resonators and outlets reused. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $14,750. All the previous comments
about lot 580 apply here, and having fewer
miles didn't help much. At least it sold for quite
a bit below Kelley Blue Book for all values, including
dealer wholesale. The good thing here
is that when an end user finally acquires this, it
should last that person quite a while before the
wheels fall off and it's virtually unsaleable except
as a parts car. (See Profile, p. 44.) Wayne
Pike Auctions, Princeton, MN, 9/07. ■
86 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 85
Sports Car Market
Keith Martin's
The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
“Sports Car Market magazine is the
Cigar Aficionado for collectible cars.”
— Robert Lutz, President of GM North America, SCM subscriber since 1995
Special Introductory Offer
One year of Sports Car Market plus
our 130-page Collector Car Price Guide, just $58.
www.sportscarmarket.com
Page 86
Vette-o-bilia
Online trash and trinkets—some valuable, some not. By Carl Bomstead
Amusing, Amazing, and Expensive
Bargain toys, serious promos, and a killer Indy 500 jacket for that special
someone with a '98 Vette in the garage
by Carl Bomstead
L
ooking for an inexpensive or even downright cheap Corvette trinket for your buddy? Just search eBay and
select the area that will list the least expensive stuff first. You'll be amazed at the hundreds of items that
are listed for under a buck. That's toomuch?Well there are pages with really cheap stuff for only a penny
or two. Of course, the shippingmightmake it a bitmore but even so, that should be cheap enough.
Finding the more expensive items can be a real chore, as there are hundreds of listings for wheels, tires,
and rims you have to plow through. So just go to advanced search and exclude those items from your quest.
Here are a few items I found amusing, and a couple that were amazing.
EBAY #260182803150—
EBAY #260184591558—
HOT WHEELS 1969
CORVETTE ZL1. Number of
Bids: 1. SOLD AT: $.01. Date
Sold: 11/24/2007. Yep, someone
bought this First-Edition 1969
ZL1 Hot wheels Corvette for
only a penny. Of course, the
shipping added a couple bucks,
but still. There was no packaging,
but I guess at the price paid,
the buyer can't be too picky.
SHOWROOM ALBUM.
Number of Bids: 18. SOLD AT:
$685. Date Sold: 11/28/2007.
This album included all the
Chevrolet offerings for 1957,
including the Corvette. It did not
include color chips or upholstery
samples. Stated to be in excellent
condition, it sold for a bit more
than the recently sold '58 album
that did include color and upholstery
samples. The value of the
paper reflects the interest in the
cars and '57s continue to bring
more money than '58s, so price
paid here was about right.
EBAY #260185119792—1:18
EBAY #270189164691—
AMERICAN FLYER
GILBERT CORVETTE RACE
CAR SET. Number of Bids:
18. SOLD AT: $212.50. Date
Sold: 11/26/2007. Figure-eight
race car set with two Corvettes.
Complete with track, accessories,
decals, and instructions
book. Original packaging in
very good condition. I'd think
it dates to the early '60s. A fun
piece to add to your collection of
Corvette race stuff.
HOT WHEELS 1969
CORVETTE 427 STINGRAY.
Number of Bids: 12. SOLD AT:
$35. Date Sold: 11/28/2007.
This was issued in 2004 and the
original packaging is still intact.
Doors opened and the diecast
model was well detailed. Price
seemed more than fair for a quality
model that had never been
messed with.
1962 CORVETTE
PROMOTIONAL MODEL.
Number of Bids: 22. SOLD AT:
$690. Date Sold: 11/25/2007.
This promo has friction drive
and is an unusual light blue
color, which was not offered on
the actual Corvettes for 1962.
Stated to be in excellent condition
and never played with by
some kid hell-bent on crashing it
into the nearest wall. A seldomoffered
promo, it sold for serious
money due to the rarity and
condition.
EBAY #300174445363—
EBAY #200179105934—
EBAY #120186933676—
1957 CHEVROLET DEALER
88 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
AMT ERTL 1957 CORVETTE
GASSER MODEL. Number of
Bids: 1. SOLD AT: $5.99. Date
Sold: 12/05/2007. This model
kit #6355 has a copyright date of
1990 and was suitable for kids
aged eight and up, so the buyer
should be able to put it together
with his son's help. It has over
100 parts and requires painting.
Box was dented. Good father-son
Corvette project for no money.
1998 INDY 500 CORVETTE
PACE CAR JACKET. Number
of Bids: 10. SOLD AT: $685.
Date Sold: 11/26/2007. 1998 was
fourth time Corvette was the
pace car at the 500. This leather
and blue twill jacket was number
75 of only 150 manufactured.
The emblems were all embroidered
and the jacket still had the
original tags. A must-have item,
if a '98 'Vette resides in your
garage. ■
Page 87
ORDER YOURS TODAY!
Just $17.95, plus shipping.
Keith Martin's Guide to Car Collecting is an almanac worth its
weight in vintage Weber carburetors. Created especially for fans
of collectible cars and Sports Car Market. Filled with over 300
pages of incisive articles, hard data, market analysis, and the
world's largest resource directory for collectors.
To Order: Phone 800.289.2819; Fax 503.253.2234; Online at
www.sportscarmarket.com
Page 88
Trick
Stuff
What you need for your Corvette and where to get it. By Paul Duchene
▲
If you'd like to take Corvette style someplace new, how about into
the lake?Malibu Boats ofMerced, California, has introduced the
Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V, packed with Corvette design cues
you'll appreciate.
The Corvette C6 “cove” is designed into the hull, power wing win-
dows roll down into the windshield, and open the hood and the enclosed
bow reveals LED lighting, a dual sub-woofer, and an eight-speaker
Malibu Rockford Fosgate stereo system.
You'll be sitting in an authentic Corvette driver's seat, passenger
seat, or console-split rear lounge. The driver faces keyless start with
security code activation, in-dash LCD, and two banks ofmultiplexed
switches with servo-drivenMedallion gauges.
TheMalibu Limited Edition Sport-V is available in both Z06 and
Coupe packages. The Z06 delivers 505 hp fromits LS7 V8, just like its
four-wheeled counterpart. The 400-hp Hammerhead 383-ci V8makes
its home in the Coupe.
Either engine lurks beneath a C6-inspired rear deck with signature
taillight-look vents. And that's the viewmost people will get of your toy.
And of course, there's a customtrailer with Corvette or Z06 wheels.
The Sport-V is reckoned to be the fastest inboard power boatmade
in the U.S. Brad Howlett of Bridge CityWater Sports, inWilsonville,
Oregon, a top-fiveMalibu dealer, says the Z06 has been tested at 63.5
mph, “but they're going to getmore out of it.”
It's also going to be a favorite for water skiers, as it will do a “hole-
shot” 0–36mph in 5.8 seconds.
The Hammerhead Coupe starts at about $100,000 and the Z06 at
$130,000, but there's an upside, says Howlett. Unlikemost power boats,
(andmost Corvettes), these are limited production—only 75 will be
made. That's down fromthe 1997 C5model, of which there were 125
made at $45,000 each.
Howlett adds that the earlier C4 Corvette Sport-Vs now sell formore
than their price new. “I remember the first ones were $26,000 back in
about 1993. Now people are getting $30,000 or better,” he said. Check
out the newest Sport-V at www.malibuboats.com.
90 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 89
►
I've watched some extrem
dodgy tie-down jobs on ca
being shipped recently, so here's
some encouraging news.Mac's
Custom Tie-Downs of Sagle, Ida
has a new ProPack Tie-Down kit
comes with four ratchet straps, fo
axle straps with sleeve protectors
and four fleece sleeve protectors,
four strap wraps to secure the tie
downs when you're not using the
All strap assemblies are tested to
10,000 pounds. The kit comes w
durable pack that's compartment
and padded. Use these on show c
rods, vintage race cars, and any performance vehicle that needs to be tied down securely.
$149.95 For more information, visit www.macscustomtiedowns.com.
◄
Any NASCAR fan knows that trick chassis
are the key to a precise 180-mph stock car, but
what if you could put a tube frame under your old
C3 Corvette? And what if it could be a C5-style tube
frame? You'd wind up with something that looked and
ran like a 1969 Sebring racer. PhildelphiaMotorsports
builds such frames, and the result is the Darth Vader of
C3s. TIG-welded tube frames are available for C1–C6
Corvettes for under $11,000 for a bare chassis.With a
good donor, complete cars can be built for $75,000–
$150,000, if you get carried away. You KNOWspeed
costs money, or you wouldn't be reading this, so check
them out—complete with photos and a story about they
do it—at www.phillymotorsports.com.
►
The finishing touch to a nice restoration—and a good safety update,
too—is to replace your old seatbelts. Seatbelt Solutions
offers lap belt reproductions for Corvettes from 1956 to 1982, as
well as retractor belts for C3s. Even better, the company
now makes dual-retractor seatbelts for 1974–77 coupes
and 1975–76 convertibles. These are complete sets
and include GM-style buckles. The belts bolt right
in with OEMhardware (not included) and are
available in the six colors Chevrolet originally
offered—black, silver, maroon, red, saddle, and
dark blue. All belts are tagged and meet federal
requirements. Suggested retail is $499, and
you'll find them at www.ecklers.com, www
.corvetteamerica.com, www.corvettecentral
.com, and www.corvetteparts.com.
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 91
Page 90
Mixed
Media Trick
Book
Review
Stuff What you need for your Corvette and where to get it
Corvette Masterpieces
Jerry Heasley's Field of Dreams
The most unusual, highest performance, limited production, highest horsepower,
fastest stock and custom Corvettes on the planet
by Michael Pierce
J
erry Heasley has written over 5,000 magazine articles and books
and supplied thousands of photographs for various publications,
so his Corvette Masterpieces is not just another coffee table
book stuffed with stock Corvette pictures.
Heasley took all these high-resolution photos, but most impor-
tantly, he chose to write about Corvettes with interesting stories.
Perhaps the title could have been Dream Cars You'd Love To Own, a
phrase that appears on the back cover.
I have a hundred Corvette books, but most seem very similar.
In his 352 large-format pages, Heasley has tapped into the Corvette
hobbyist, restorer, resto-modifier, collector, tuner, and enthusiast. He
seems to have found the most unusual, highest performance, limited
production, highest horsepower, fastest stock, modified, and custom
Corvettes on the planet. And he put them all into this book.
Not only are the photos and design excellent, but the individual
stories are fascinating. If you have traveled to National Corvette
Restorer Society judging events, Bloomington Gold, Super Chevy
events, and other large car shows, you may have seen some of these
unusual examples. If not, let this book be your introduction to them.
In 30 years of Corvette judging, I have personally seen and
judged many of the Corvettes in this book. Here are some of my
favorites:
1954, NCRS Duntov Award recipient, owned by Jerry Palmer,
Lemoore, CA
Palmer completed a body-on restoration of this '54 and earned the
prestigious award at the NCRS Nationals in Oklahoma. They say we all
learn fromour experience; Palmer learned never to give or throw away
a part you take off your car. In this case, it was the original fuel pump
because it “leaked.” This is one of themost outstanding examples of the
'54 Corvette in existence. Noland Adams's research indicates it is the
earliest known example of the 150–155-hp changeover.
1959 Purple People Eater, 1960 Briggs Cunningham Le Mans
Racer, 1966 L88 Penske Racer, 1966 425 8-Ball, 1969 L88 See-
Through, 1968 Yenko Sunray DX L88, and 1969 L88 Rebel
This outstanding group of cars has something in common other
than their huge horsepower and race histories. They were all restored
by KevinMackay in Valley Stream, New York. He is probably the
greatest Corvette restorer on the planet. The invoice may bring tears
to your eyes, but you will not be disappointed with the quality; they'll
look perfect and work as designed.
1963 Z06
Nineteen sixty-three marked the beginning of the “midyear”
Corvettes. The design was a complete body styling change, including
rotating headlight buckets, and it produced Corvette's first independent
suspension. This '63 has three of the rarest options Corvette has
ever produced: RPO Z06 (360-hp 327 V8, dual-circuit vacuum power
brakes, heavy-duty suspension), RPO N03 (36-gallon fuel tank), and
P48 (aluminum knockoff wheels). Perfectly restored, this example
represents less than one half of 1% of the year's total production.
92 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Lingenfelter, Callaway, Skunk Werks, Kaizen, Mallett, Doug Rippie,
Hennessey, MTI, and Specter Werkes.
These names are synonymous with aftermarket tuning and perfor-
mance, and the book features Corvette examples from each of them.
Callaway, of course, holds the unusual distinction of having been an
RPO supplier of 500 “B2K”-optioned twin-turbo/intercooled factory
Corvettes in the late 1980s and early '90s.
Florence Knudson's Pearlescent Pink 1964 327/300 Powerglide
coupe
This is probably the most unusual Corvette in the book. Florence's
husband, Bunkie, was the GeneralManager of Chevrolet. His passion
for styling and performance led him to retro-fit this Corvette as the
first (and only) 396-ci Corvette with air conditioning. The 396/425
was a one-year only option due out in 1965. Air conditioning would
not be available in Corvettes until the '66 427/390 was in production.
The door panels, seats, instrument panel, and glovebox were pink as
well. The rugs, dash, and seatbelts were red. Don't forget the six taillights.
The pictures in the book do this car justice.
There are literally a hundred more rare and unusual Corvettes in
Heasley's excellent book. Buy several copies and give them away to
your Corvette friends for birthday or holiday gifts. No one will be
disappointed. ■
Corvette Masterpieces, by Jerry Heasley. 352 pages, 400 photgraphs,
$40. ISBN: 0-89689-544-8. www.krausebooks.com
Page 91
THOMAS C. SUNDAY, Inc
AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTATION
• Weekly coast-to-coast service,
including the Pacific Northwest
• Competitive rates
• Fully enclosed trailers
• Liftgate loading
• Door-t0-door service
• Courteous, personalized service
• Fully insured & bonded
(ICCMC 184043)
• Special needs welcomed
800-541-6601
www.thomascsundayinc.com
P.O. Box 217, New Kingstown, PA 17072
(717) 697-0939
Fax: (717) 697-0727
Advertise in the CM Resource Directory
Includes Web Listing!
FOR INFORMATION:
Call 877.219.2605 x 211
www.vettemarket.com
Page 92
By the
Numbers
Top 20 Sales of 2007 by Generation, C1–C4
The CM/SCM Platinum database has over 60,000 auction results. Here are
the key sales from 2007 that have directed the Corvette market
Rank
Sold Price Year Model
C1 Top 20 Sales
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
$440,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
$440,000 1953 98145.451
$396,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
$390,500 1953 Corvette Roadster
$353,700 1954 Corvette Roadsters (Lot of 3)
$300,000 1953 Corvette Roadster
$296,625 1953 Corvette Roadster
$285,600 1953 Corvette Roadster
$283,500 1953 Corvette Roadster
$258,500 1957 Corvette 283/283 FI Convertible
$231,000 1959 Corvette LS7 Custom Convertible
$198,000 1959 Corvette 427 Custom Convertible
$192,500 1959 Corvette Convertible
$181,500 1958 Corvette Convertible
$178,500 1955 Corvette Roadster
$178,200 1958 Corvette Custom Convertible
$165,000 1958 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
$165,000 1958 Corvette 283/270 Convertible
$165,000 1962 Corvette Custom Convertible
$159,500 1958 Corvette Custom Convertible
C2 Top 20 Sales
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
$704,000 1965 Corvette Cut-Away Autorama Display
Location
RM—Lapeer, MI
Worldwide—Hilton Head, SC
Worldwide—Houston, TX
RM—Tarpon Springs, FL
Kruse—Auburn, IN
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
RM—Tarpon Springs, FL
$660,000 1967 Corvette 427/390 Coupe “The Last Sting Ray” Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
$467,250 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$393,750 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
$367,500 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
$362,250 1966 Corvette 427/425 Coupe
$280,800 1963 Corvette Z06 Big Tank Coupe
$280,500 1963 Corvette 327/250 Coupe
$280,500 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—Kissimmee, FL
RM—Ft. Lauderdale, FL
$275,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 “Gus Grissom” Convertible
$264,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$231,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Yenko Convertible
$220,000 1967 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
$220,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$216,000 1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 Coupe
$214,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Russo and Steele—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
RM—Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Date
6/9/07
11/3/07
5/5/07
12/1/07
9/2/07
10/6/07
6/17/07
1/21/07
6/17/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
4/1/07
4/1/07
6/17/07
4/1/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
4/1/07
4/1/07
12/1/07
1/21/07
6/17/07
10/6/07
6/17/07
1/27/07
2/11/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
2/11/07
1/21/07
Lot #
229
46
55
856
2789.1
S281
S91
1294
S53
1242
1261
1354
708
674
S55
691
1298.1
438
704.1
711
859
1285
S67
S99
S63
S83
SP30
1280
1280.1
S719
1334
1326
1267.1
1308
NR46
1334.1
94 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 93
Rank
17
18
19
20
Sold Price Year Model
$210,000 1963 Corvette 327/250 Tanker Coupe
$204,750 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$203,500 1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$187,000 1967 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
C3 Top 20 Sales
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
$446,250 1969 Corvette L88 Coupe
$254,500 1968 Corvette L88 Coupe
$240,000 1969 Corvette L88 Coupe
$155,500 1968 Corvette L88 Coupe
$141,900 1969 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$126,500 1969 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
$120,750 1971 Corvette 454/425
$110,000 1972 Corvette LT1 Convertible
$106,050 1969 Corvette 427/435
$104,500 1969 Corvette 427/400 Coupe
$99,000 1969 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
$97,125 1969 Corvette 427/400 Convertible
$95,700 1969 Corvette Convertible
$93,500 1969 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
$90,200 1969 Corvette ZL1 Replica Coupe
$89,250 1968 Corvette L89 Convertible
$85,800 1969 Corvette L88 Replica Convertible
$85,050 1969 Corvette L89 Convertible
$79,200 1969 Corvette 427/435 Coupe
$78,100 1968 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
C4 Top 20 Sales
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
$80,850 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible
$68,775 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe
$60,375 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$60,375 1991 98145.451
$60,375 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$60,375 1993 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$60,375 1994 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$60,375 1995 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$57,200 1995 Corvette Guldstrand Nassau Roadster
$52,250 1990 Corvette Coupe
$49,140 1995 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$47,520 1995 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$44,625 1993 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$44,000 1995 Corvette Custom Coupe
$43,200 1993 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$42,120 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$42,120 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$42,120 1994 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
$41,040 1989 Corvette Callaway Convertible
$40,950 1994 Corvette Stretch Limousine
Location
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—Kissimmee, FL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Bonhams & Butterfields—Carmel, CA
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Bonhams & Butterfields—Carmel, CA
Russo and Steele—Scottsdale, AZ
RM—Monterey, CA
Mecum—Belvidere, IL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum—Kissimmee, FL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
Russo and Steele—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Barrett-Jackson—Scottsdale, AZ
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
RM—Tarpon Springs, FL
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
Kruse—Mt. Airy, NC
Kruse—Mt. Airy, NC
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Barrett-Jackson—West Palm Beach, FL
Kruse—Mt. Airy, NC
Kruse—Mt. Airy, NC
Kruse—Auburn, IN
Kruse—Mt. Airy, NC
Kruse—Auburn, IN
Mecum—St. Charles, IL
Date
10/6/07
1/27/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
10/6/07
8/17/07
1/21/07
8/17/07
1/21/07
8/18/07
5/28/07
1/21/07
1/27/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
6/17/07
4/1/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
6/17/07
1/21/07
6/17/07
1/21/07
1/21/07
6/17/07
6/17/07
6/17/07
6/17/07
6/17/07
6/17/07
6/17/07
6/17/07
12/1/07
4/1/07
5/5/07
5/5/07
6/17/07
4/1/07
5/5/07
5/5/07
6/3/07
5/5/07
6/3/07
6/17/07
Lot #
S168
S149
1321
1021
S88
424
1327
431
F550
278
S209
1548
S128
1540
1054
S73
660.1
S748
695
S60
693
S69
983.1
443
S93
S100
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
870
45.2
226
229
F36
346
234
227
2844
230
2850
F25
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 95
Page 94
Resource
Directory
Auction Companies
GoFastAuction.com Go-
FastAuction is an Internet oasis
for classic, vintage and antique car
aficionados from around the world.
Our auto auction and classified
listings are the definitive source
for locating classic cars and
related parts or accessories.
www.gofastauction.com
Kruse International.
800.968.4444, 5540 CR llA Auburn,
IN 46706. Largest Collector
Car Auction Company, holding
over 35 auctions per year. Home of
the 480-acre Auction Park in Auburn,
IN, where the 37th Annual
Labor Day Auction will be held
with over 5,000 cars and 150,000
people. www.kruse.com. (IN)
Mecum Collector Car
Auctioneers. 815.568.8888,
815.568.6615. 950 Greenlee St.,
Marengo, IL 60015. Auctions:
Orlando, Kansas City, Rockford,
Bloomington Gold, St. Paul, Des
Moines, Carlisle, and Chicago.
Nobody SellsMoreMuscle
ThanMecum. Nobody. www
.mecumauction.com. (IL)
Palm Springs Auctions Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290,
760.323.7031. 244 N. Indian Canyon
Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
www.classic-carauction.com. (CA)
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th
Street, Phoenix AZ 85040.
info@russoandsteele.com; www
.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N.Monroe, Spokane,WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
The Worldwide Group.
866.273.6394, Established by
Put your company in the CM R
M Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 x211, or email advert@vettemarket.com
John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The
Worldwide Group—Auctioneers,
Appraisers and Brokers—is one of
the world's premier auction houses,
specializing in the procurement
and sale of the world's finest automobiles
and vintage watercraft.
www.wwgauctions.com. (TX)
Automobilia
Custom Diecast Inc Ever
thought about having your car in
diecast ? Have you tried to find
a diecast version of your car at
shows and hobby shops ? The #1
home for custom diecast replicas.
www.customdiecastreplicas.com
Vette Collectibles Licensed
Corvette diecast, apparel and novelties.We
are a one-stop shop for
collectors and Corvette enthusiasts
alike. www.vettecollectibles.com
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
Corvette Repair, Inc.
516.568.1959, The most recognized
Corvette restoration shop
in America. The leader in NCRS,
Triple Crown and Bloomington
Gold Achievements. www
.corvetterepair.com
Corvette Central
800.345.4122, Parts and accessories
for everything from the
Blue Flame Six to the new C6.
www.corvettecentral.com
County Corvette 610.696.7888,
Sales, service, parts and restoration.When
it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com
Mid America Motorworks
800.500.1500, America's leader in
1953-2008 Corvette parts and accessories.
Request a free catalog at
www.mamotorworks.com
Classic Car Transport
Intercity Lines, Inc..
800.221.3936, 413.436.9422.
Rapid, hassle-free, coast-to-coast
service. Insured enclosed transport
for your valuable car at affordable
prices. State-of-the-art satellite
transport tracking. Complete
service for vintage races, auctions,
relocations. www.intercitylines
.com. (MA)
Motor Auto Express, Inc..
360.661.1734, Enclosed Transport.
MAX cares for what you care
for.We offer Personal, Private,
Professional services with liftgate
loading for your vehicles. Please
contact RandyMcKinley, Owner.
maxiet@gmail.com. (WA)
Exotic Car Transport.
800.766.8797. 20 years serving
manufacturers, dealers, collectors,
and owners of fine automobiles.
www.exoticcartransport.com. (FL)
FedEx Custom Critical
Passport Auto Transport.
800.325.4267, fax 314.878.7295.
Fully enclosed transport from the
industry originator. Specializing
in events, including Pebble Beach,
the Colorado Grand, and BarrettJackson.
Liftgates for safe loading
and winches for inoperable vehicles.
Inquire about ultra-expedited,
three-day, coast-to-coast service.
www.passporttransport.com. (MO)
Insurance
Hagerty Collector Car Insur-
ance. 800.922.4050. Collector
cars aren't like their late-model
counterparts. These classics actually
appreciate in value so standard
market policies that cost significantly
more won't do the job.We'll
agree on a fair value and cover you
for the full amount. No prorated
claims, no hassles, no games.
www.hagerty.com. (MI)
Motor Sport Personal Acci-
dent Coverage. 441.297.9439.
Email,mcooke@evolution.bm.
Limits up to $1,000,000 including
accident medicaland helicopter
evacuation. Comp Capital Ltd. can
obtain coverage atcompetive rates
including drivers over the age of
65. Either 12 monthpolicy covering
a whole season and or for specific
events. PleasecontactMark Cooke
and or KevinWay.
Corvettes for Sale
Cardiff Classics 760.632.5555,
Located on Pacific Coast Highway
101 in beautiful Encinitas. www
.cardiff-classics.com
Cn' V Corvettes 1-800-875-
8390,We mechanically service and
recondition our Corvettes like no
other Corvette dealer does. From
underside to the top we go to extremes
to make you proud of the
Corvette you purchase from Cn'V.
www.cnv-corvettes.com
Corvette Central Parts and
Accessories for all corvettes.
Corvette Central has been a leading
manufacturer and distributor
of Corvette parts and accessories
since 1975.We offer the most
comprehensive and detailed parts
catalogs on the market today and
produce a different catalog for
each Corvette generation. All
catalogs are also online with full
search and order features. From
Blue Flame 6 to the new C6, only
Corvette Central has it all.
www.corvettecentral.com
Corvette Mike. 800.327.VETT,
Whether you are looking for a vintage
1953 Corvette—or the latest
96 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Page 95
Corvette model—CorvetteMike
is your one-stop shop for anything
Corvette.West Coast and New
England showrooms. Leader of the
Pack since 1982. www
.corvettemike.com
County Corvette.
610.696.7888, The most modern
and best equipped Corvette-only
facility in the nation. www.countycorvette.com
Family Classics 949.496.3000,
Our showroom houses some of the
world's most prized classic cars,
hot rods, muscle cars and modern
exotics. If we don't have what you
want, check back - or tell us what
you want.We're equipped to find
numbers matching 100-point restorations,
low-mileage survivors
or just beautiful, reliable drivers.
www.familyclassiccars.com
Park Place 425.562.1000, The
West Coast's largest luxury, sports
and special interest automobile
dealership. “No one has what we
have. Period.” www.parkplaceltd
.com (WA)
eBay MotorsWhatever it
is…you can get it on eBay.
www.motors.ebay.com
ProTeam Classic Cor-
vette Collection and Sales.
419.592.5086; fax 419.592.4242.
The world's largest classic Corvette
collection. 1410 N. Scott
Street, Napoleon, Ohio, 43545.
Toll Free 1-888-592-5086. Email:
proteam@proteamcorvette.com.
www.proteam-corvette.com
Motororcar Porfolio located
in the Marriott Hotel in downtown
Canton Ohio, we offer you unique
classic automobiles at excellent
prices. All of our vehicles have
been evaluated by master mechanics
specializing in the field. Over
fifty years of combined experience
allows us to select only the finest
vehicles. This assures appreciation
in value, and protects your investment.
www.motorcarportfolio.com
The Chevy Store At The
Chevy Store, you will find only the
highest grade, investment quality
Corvette and specialty Che
automobiles.We take pride
providing our clients with t
finest selection anywhere. O
ing investment quality corv
and Chevrolets for over 30
503-256-5384 (p) 503-256-4
www.thechevystore.com
Garage & Tools
Baldhead Cabinet Compa
877.966.2253,Offering a fin
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 97
tion of qualitymetal garage cabinets
suitable for shop and residential
garage applications. SS and custom
colors available.Manymodules to
choose from. Call for a customquote
and drawing. See ad in this issue.
www.baldheadcabinets.com. (CA)
Griot's Garage. 800.345.5789,
The ultimate online store for automotive
accessories and car care products.www.griotsgarage.com.
(WA)
Metal Line Cabinets Your va-
cation photos get put in an album.
Your china has its own closet. Seriously,
even your toothpaste gets
stored inside of a fine hardwood
ormetal and glass cabinet. So why
does the really important stuff (like
your tools, toys, etc.) have to reside
on an open shelf or inside a homecenter
white particle board box? It's
time to show your stuff itmatters.
It's time forMetal Line Cabinets.
www.metallinecabinets.com.
Investment / Real Estate
Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate
Every Sonoran home is a unique
blend of architecture, location and
individual passions. Let us help
you –Market it. Find it. Build it.
www.sonoranlifestyle.com
Parts & Accessories
Royal Purple. Royal Purple®
manufactures a wide range of
high performance, synthetic lubricants
for every use from top
fuel dragsters to the family car,
Museums
MY Garage Museum
800.500.1500, Housed on the campus
ofMid AmericaMotorworks,
in Effingham, IL theMY Garage
Museumcontains numerous oneof-
a kind Corvettes such as the
CERV 1 research vehicle and the
1964 BillMitchellWorld's Fair
styling study car. www
.mamotorworks.com/mygarage
National Corvette Museum
800-53-VETTE, The National
CorvetteMuseum in Bowling
Green, KY was established as a
501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation
with a mission of celebrating the
invention of the Corvette and preserving
its past, present and future.
www.corvettemuseum.com
St. Louis Car Museum.
800.957.5707; 314.993.7104. Providing
the most discerning enthusiasts
with the world's finest automobiles
for nearly a generation.
We buy cars and offer competitive
consignment services, as well as
climate controlled storage. Call for
details. www.stlouiscarmuseum
.com. (MO). ■
motorcycles, trucks, RVs and
boats. Its industry experts are consistently
developing products that
outperform leading mineral- and
synthetic-based lubricants
in performance and protection.
www.royalpurple.com
Ad Index
American Collectors Insurance 25
AnB Classic Cars
Bald Head Garage
Bondurant Enterprises
Bud's Chevrolet
Cn'V Corvettes
Corvette America
Corvette Correction
Corvette Repair Inc.
Corvette Specialties
Corvettes & Classics
County Corvette
89
65
55
89
9
67
93
39
81
71
2
D&M Corvette Specialists LTD 51
Family Classic Cars
65
Fast Vette Accessories &Apparel 96
Flag Caddie
GoFastAuction.com
Gooding & Company
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc.
96
71
49
11
Long Island Corvette Supply Inc. 93
Mac's Custom Tie-Downs
Mecum Auction
69
3
MetalLine Cabinets
Mid America Motorworks
Mid America Motorworks
Midwest Corvettes & Classics
Mr. Car Art
Advertise in Corvette Market
Contact
John Scharff
john.scharff@vettemarket.com
314.802.8139
KJ Glennon
kj.glennon@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 222
Cody Wilson
cody.wilson@vettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 213
National Corvette Museum
Park Place LTD
Philadelphia Motorsports
Russo And Steele
Seatbelt Solutions
Seminar
Showcase Garage
Silver Auctions
Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate
South Georgia Corvette
Sports Car Market magazine
St. Louis Car Museum
The Chevy Store
Thomas C Sunday Inc
Vette Collectibles
Worldwide Group
99
19
100
93
77
77
14
69
21
89
73
77
53
59
67
87
7
59
93
7
47
Page 96
In
Miniature
How details make models into masterpieces. By Marshall Buck
Fadini, DM Classics Shut 'em Down
This 20-year-old 1:43 model outshines most hand-built or mass-produced
models in that era, and also most produced today
1966–67 Corvette L88
I love the paint schemes of these two 1:18-
scale versions of the first L88 Corvette Sting
Ray,whichwas campaigned by Roger Penske
in 1966 atDaytona (red) and Sebring 1967
(blue). Both aremass-produced by Exoto under
theirMotorbox label.As opposed tomany of
their othermodels produced in China, these
Corvettes aremade at their newfactory in the
U.A.E.,which shows real signs of “teething problems.”
Though bothmodels are striking at first glance, they are
1967 Corvette Sting Ray 427/435
The last year of the
original Sting Ray body
style certainly went out
with a bang when equipped
like this convertible with
the big-block 427/435-hp
V8, 4-speedmanual transmission, side pipes, rally
wheels, and redline tires, all packaged in perfectly
applied and polished Rally Red with a white Stinger
stripe. They are eye-catching, to say the least. Correct
emblems, labels andmore are perfectly replicated everywhere
you look.
This '67 is a new 1:24-scale edition fromthe
Ratings (
Quality:
Authenticity:
Overall Value:
is best)
DanburyMint. Unlikemany other largemodelmanufacturers,
they constantly seemto strive to improve the
quality and detail of eachmodel they produce and have
made great strides over the years.
The only gripe I have is with the use of the old-style
dogleg door hinges. DMhasmade a good attempt to
make these less glaring by painting themflat black,
which does help a bit. This Sting Ray ismade from
older tooling, though all of theirmodelsmade from
new tooling do featuremuch improved and accurate
hinges. Chassis detail is all there, along with excellent
engine detailing down to the correct printing on the
radiator hose.
Now onto the working features, which are plenti-
ful—opening hood with telescoping prop rod, tonneau
cover that reveals a folded convertible top, doors, sun visors,
hinged seat backs, suspension, steering, headlights,
gas cap, and spare tire compartment with a spare.
Also included is a snug-fitting white convertible
top in the up position, which even has framework and
a correct outside label on the lower left. Somebody did
his homework. Simply put, this is how amass-produced
diecastmodel should be done. At $120, you will get
more than yourmoney's worth.
Available from the Danbury Mint, 47 Richards
Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06857; 800.243.4664; www
.danburymint.com.
98 Corvette Market WINTER 2008 www.vettemarket.com
Ratings (
Quality:
a big letdown on twomajor counts. First—rather shoddy
quality on practically every one of these I've seen. Second,
rarely have I seen somany glaring historical inaccuracies
on amodel. There are numerous additions and omissions of parts.
The 1966 car never raced in this imaginary form. Exoto used a 1967 body, which
Authenticity:
Overall Value: ½
has five side slit vents instead of three. It also has a wrong hood, wrong headers,
multiplemistakes on the front, both seats should be race seats (not just the driver),
interior color on both cars should be all black, both have wrong tires, as the raised-letter
Goodyear Eagle STs they wear did not exist until about ten or so years ago, and the
list goes on.
Overall detail is onlymoderate. Yes, there are a few noteworthy good points, such
as great body shape, well-done wheels with brake detailing, and some nice chrome
detail parts. Keep inmind, Exoto is the same company that producesmuchmore refined,more
detailed, and higher quality Grand Sports for the same price as these, $190,
under their Racing Legends label. Those are amuch better buy.
Available from Motorsports Miniatures, PO Box 4, East Meadow, NY 11554;
516.794.2831; www.motorsportsminiatures.com.
1978 Indy Pace Car
The real 1978 Indy Pace Car replicas
may not be coveted or havemuch value,
but just the opposite holds true for this
little 1:43-scale gemby Ugo Fadini of
Italy. Approximately 250 of these were
made;most were built in 1987, and each
is signed and dated. This is and always
has been a highly sought-after piece by
Ratings (
Quality:
Authenticity:
Overall Value:
½
is best)
knowledgeable collectors. As a 20-year-oldmodel, it not
only outshinesmost any 1:43 hand-built ormass-produced
model fromthat era, but alsomost produced today.
Like all Fadinimodels, the fit and finish are top-notch.
There is a great amount of delicate detail down to things
like the door panels, dash, and switches. Thismodel even has amirror on the passenger
side sun visor. The decals are of such high quality and applied so well that you can
barely tell they aren't painted on.Wheels are beautifully replicated, as is the chassis.
Shown lying next to themodel is its tinted see-through removable roof panel, which fits
in place perfectly. There is not a negative to utter, except perhaps what youmay have to
pay if and when you find one; the price ranges froma low of $500 to a high of $800.
This model was generously loaned from a private collection through Motorsports
Miniatures, PO Box 4, East Meadow, NY 11554; 516.794.2831; www.motorsportsminiatures.com.
■
is best)
Page 97
Metaline
www.vettemarket.com WINTER 2008 Corvette Market 99