Profiles
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14 $21m for Corvettes in Arizona & Florida | 126 Car Auction Report
$21m for Corvettes in Arizona & Florida | 126 Car Auction Report
Corvette Market
KnockoutAirbox
Keith Martin's
The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
$374k Rare ‘57 Fuelie
►Spectacular to Silly: Five Corvettes from Arizona
►2003 One-of-None Indy Pace Car Brings $39,750
►Fantasy Surf ‘N Turf: Z06 + 44' Catamaran = $742k
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE! FEATURING VIDEOS OF SELECT VEHICLES
Page 2
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 4 . Issue 14 . Winter 2011
26 1957 Airbox
30 1982 Collector Edition
36 2,400-hp Z06 Tribute
Profiles
C1 1957 Corvette 283/283 Airbox convertible
26 by Thomas Glatch
C2 1967 Corvette 427/435 convertible
28 by Dale Novak
C3 1982 Corvette Collector Edition
30 by Mark Rudnick
4 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
—$21,450 at Russo and Steele (VIDEO)
The market value of these cars over a standard 1982
Corvette varies from $5k to $8k—depending on condition
—$165,000 at RM (VIDEO)
It doesn't get much better than a Triple Black C2 big-block
Corvette with a red stinger hood. Add some wickedsounding
sidepipes and you're off to the races—literally
—$374,000 at RM (VIDEO)
Robson's collection was filled with cars of outstanding
quality and pedigree. And each was typically the rarest,
highest performance version of a given marque
or model—which is the case with this car
C4 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe
32 by John L. Stein
C5 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition Coupe with
34 by B. Mitchell Carlson
C6 2008 Corvette 427 Limited Edition Z06 coupe and
44-foot Catamaran—$742,500 at Barrett-Jackson
(VIDEO)
Sanity says that nothing can top this high-horsepower
fantasy package of Corvette, boat and trailer.
36 by Geoff Archer
On the Cover: 1957 283/283 convertible
Photo by Darin Schnabel ©2010 Courtesy of RM Auctions
2002 Indy Pace Car graphics—$39,750 at Mecum
(VIDEO)
A one of none 2003 Indy Pace car—Corvettes actually didn't
pace the 2003 race—that brought all the money
—$25,440 at Mecum (VIDEO)
This particular Grand Sport is downright affordable—in line
with a 3-year-old Chevy pickup—while remaining usable as a
daily driver
Page 3
Market Reports
40 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
140 Corvettes cross the block in WestWorld, bringing for $10.9m
by Carl Bomstead
46 Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, FL
Mecum returns to Kissimmee with a bang, selling 166 Corvettes
for $7.3m
by Dale Novak
54 Global Roundup
80 Corvettes from 13 auctions total $5.2m
by CM Market Analysts
Feature
22 Five From the Desert
An NCRS judges top Corvettes from Arizona—with a walk on
the wild side
by Michael Pierce
Departments
8 Publisher's Note
10 Insider's View: Should I pull the valuable parts out of a 1963
327/360 Z06 Tanker replica or just drive it?
12 Q&A: Weeping Holley carbs and Hologramming hokum
14 Courtroom Corvettes: Courtroom Corvettes: The love/hate
relationship between restoration shops and customers
16 Events: Things to do and places to be with your Corvette
18 Auction Calendar
20 4th Annual Corvette Market Scottsdale Insider's Seminar: A
Lovefest for the 1967 L88 convertible and best buys on
Corvettes for $25k, $50k and $100k
38 Market Overview
74 By The Numbers: Top Corvettes sold since September 2010
80 Price Guide: Current Corvette pricing
84 Trick Stuff: Right-angle impact driver, engine stand, LoJack
theft recovery for classics
86 In Miniature: Danbury Mint's 1961 Corvette in 1:24 scale
86 Speaking Volumes: Mike Yager's Corvette Bible
88 Resource Directory: Meet your Corvette's needs
90 Vette-o-bilia: 1959 Showroom album, Corvette neon sign
Digital Bonus
CM
10 Insider's View—Would you part out this replica Fuelie Tanker?
Additional Seat Time contributions, videos and images are available on this issue's Digital Edition, included with every print
subscription. To sign up for your Digital Issue, go to www.corvettemarket.com/digital or call 503.261.2555 ext. 1
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 5
Page 6
Publisher's
Note
By Keith Martin
The Experts Reveal Their
Secrets in Scottsdale
Corvette Market
Keith Martin's
Volume 4 . Issue 14 . Winter 2011
Publisher Keith Martin
Operations Manager Ryan Brinkley
Executive Editor Chester Allen
Art Director Jeff Stites
Managing Editor Jim Pickering
Auction Editor Tony Piff
Data Analyst Chad Tyson
Copy Editors Yael Abel
Bill Neill
Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson
Linda Clark
Tom Glatch
Daniel Grunwald
John Clucas
Chip Lamb
Norm Mort
Dale Novak
Contributors Carl Bomstead
Marshall Buck
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Michael Pierce
John L. Stein
Seven wise men and one publisher
P
ut seven of the top Corvette experts in the world onto a panel, pack the room with
300 Corvette enthusiasts, and add the electric atmosphere of the 40th Annual BarrettJackson
Scottsdale Auction.
The result is a supercharged two-hour blast of insider information, with questions, an-
swers and controversial opinions flying around the room like sand in a desert storm (story on
p. 20).
This was Corvette Market's 4th Annual Insider's Seminar, and it was by far the best at-
tended and the most informative.
As the moderator, I was in the fortunate position of directing questions to each of the pan-
elists: David Burroughs (Bloomington Gold, Normal, IL), Jim Jordan (County Corvette, West
Chester, PA), Kevin Mackay (Corvette Repair, Inc., Valley Stream, NY), Terry Michaelis
(ProTeam Corvette Sales, Napoleon, OH), Michael Pierce (NCRS Senior Judge, Portland,
OR), Roy Sinor (NCRS National Judging Chairman, Tulsa, OK) and Mike Yager (Mid
America Motorworks, Effingham, IL).
I am always impressed with each expert's knowledge, candor and willingness to share
information with each other and the Corvette fanatics in attendance. Jordan is a dealer, and
he explained exactly what he would pay for a car, and why there are some models he would
simply walk away from.
Mackay shared stories about restorations that had gone very well—and some that had gone
badly. And he gave tips that the audience could use to get the best possible outcome from a
restoration.
And Michaelis, who may have bought and sold more top-of-the-line Corvettes than anyone,
told the crowd about a couple of cars that Corvette Market reporters had described as being
“not very nice,” and why he bought them anyway—and was sure there was money to be made.
Concorso and FunFest
It's not too early to think about coming to Monterey, CA, this August with your Corvette
and joining our 3rd Annual Corvettes at Concorso at Concorso Italiano; show those guys with
their puny little 4-cylinder engines what real horsepower is about! Go to www.corvettesatconcorso.com
for registration information.
Mike Yager has graciously asked me to be the emcee for his 18th Annual Corvette FunFest
in Effingham, IL, on September 16-18 of this year. I've been to FunFest before, and in addition
to marveling at the more than 15,000 Corvettes being displayed, I especially enjoyed meeting
so many Corvette Market subscribers and friends. We'll have a CM Insider's Seminar there as
well, so watch these pages for advance notice and a chance to sign up.
You'll find a tremendous amount of information in this issue, with the sales from Scottsdale
and Mecum Kissimmee highlighted. Hundreds of Corvettes crossed the block, and the prices
they made sent the message that the market is coming back.
Spring continues to be the absolute best time to buy a Corvette, modern or classic. You are
still avoiding the high prices of the summer season, and there are enough good driving days
coming up so you can get immediate gratification from your new acquisition.
Thanks again for your subscriptions and renewals, and all of us here look forward to seeing
you at upcoming shows and auctions. ■
8 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Information Technology/
Internet Bryan Wolfe
Financial Manager Nikki Nalum
Print Media Buyer Wendie Martin
Director CM Television Roger Williams
ADVERTISING SALES
Advertising Executives Tom Mann
tom.mann@corvettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 211
Cody Wilson
cody.wilson@corvettemarket.com
877.219.2605 x 213
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions Manager Kyle McBride
Subscriptions Coordinator Rich Coparanis
Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1
9 am to 5 pm, M–F
service@corvettemarket.com
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CORRESPONDENCE
Phone 503.261.0555
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General P.O. Box 4797
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Web www.corvettemarket.com
Corvette Market magazine (ISSN# 1939-6481) is published
quarterly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th
Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Corvette Market, PO Box 4797, Portland,
OR 97208. The information in Corvette Market magazine is
compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we
disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness,
use, interpretation, accuracy, and completeness of
the information presented. All material, data, formats, and
intellectual concepts in this issue © 2011 by Keith Martin's
Corvette Market, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group,
and Automotive Investor in this format and any other used
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PRINTED IN USA
Page 8
Insider's
View
The current state of the Corvette Market
Z06 Tanker Replica: Part Out or Leave Alone?
A vintage Corvette drives like a vintage Corvette. Parts like the large fuel
tank don't make the car drive any better
T
he CM question: “A 1963 327/360 Z06 Tanker Replica, which is believed to be a factory Fuelie with
many authentic Z06 parts, sold for $110,000 at RM Phoenix. What do you do with it now? Leave it as
is? Or sell the rare Z06 bits and restore it to stock?” CM readers say...
Chris Hewitt, Haverhill,
MA: Different owners would
do different things. Pragmatic
owners who are looking to enjoy
it for a few years and then sell
would leave it as is, feeling
comfortable they could at least
recoup their purchase price.
Hardcore purists, with money
to burn and too much time on
their hands, would return it
to stock, especially if there is
factory paper work with the car
that states it wasn't originally a
Tanker. I'd say a real Fuelie with
paperwork is a $150k proposition
in this market. So to me, the paperwork,
or lack thereof, would
determine what I would do with
this car.
If it is done like the factory
Rick Boyd, via email: I vote
to leave this 1963 Z06 replica
as is! I think it is credible that
the owner represents this car for
what it is, a “tribute” ‘63 Z06
coupe. If the unique Z06 parts
are removed/sold they potentially
could go to another, less-honest
restorer who will build another
replica Z06 purely for the
purpose of passing it off as a
real car. Trying to remove the
big tank and undo the oversized
rear inner fender wells would be
a monumental job. Why spend
more to make the car worth less?
It doesn't make sense.
Frank Keel, via email: Drive
the phony. I would not buy it. He
would have had more bang for
his buck in a new ZR1. Thanks
for listening!
Jim Rosenthal, via email:
This is idiotic, frankly. A vintage
Corvette drives like a vintage
Corvette. Parts like the large fuel
tank don't make the car drive any
better, and they don't add value
to a fakey-doo car, to use Keith's
phrase. They DO add value to
a genuine big-tank car, because
they are supposed to be on it. So
they ought to be put back on the
real car—or used to restore one
which is known to be a genuine,
big-tank Fuelie car—and not
used to build a car which someone
may someday unknowingly
purchase not realizing it's a fake.
Neil Thomas, Beverly Hills,
CA: Sell off the expensive bits
and return it to stock—at least
when it is stock it will be a
no-stories car. But as it stands,
10 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
it's going to upset someone for
being a fake, but as a stock car
everyone will give it kudos
for being the real thing. As a
car appraiser by trade, that is
how I would advise my client
if he were looking to this car
as an investment. After all, it's
priced as investment money. If
investment is no issue, get in
it, drive the hell out of it across
country—and you won't have to
stop for gas as often! Option 2
sounds like more fun!
Dwayne Bublitz, Flagstaff,
AZ: I would return the car to
original as a Fuelie and forget
about having a clone. We have
real 1963 Z06 Corvettes to
drool over, so why bother with a
warmed-over carbon copy?
would do it, then it would most
likely be able to achieve an
NCRS Top Flight. I'd tend to
leave it as is. Obviously, disclosing
the fact that it's a fake Tanker
didn't hurt its value, as $110k for
a fake Tanker—but real Fuelie—
is pretty good.
Bob Beck, via email: My
reaction is twofold:
If the buyer just wants to
have a zippy Corvette that can go
anywhere in the United States,
then it probably is fine the way it
is. Leave it and enjoy it.
If the buyer wants to be more
of a purist/collector, then restoring
it to near-original condition
would be the thing to do. But
before I would invest more in
that, I would look around as to
what might be available in a
cherry stock restoration in the
same class. Then work a trade
deal or sell the subject Corvette
and apply it to the replacement.
A reliable estimate of what it
will take to return it to “stock”
should be obtained. Then weigh
Photo: Courtesy of RM Auctions
Page 9
that to current price plus restoration—Price
A versus market
price of a similar, available
Corvette (Price B). If the Price
A car is significantly above the
Price B car, then you can buy
what you want without the headaches.
Naturally, if the owner's
heart is in the current machine,
then it all doesn't matter. Do
whatever you can afford and
enjoy it!
Lee Leach, Portland, OR:
If you had all the original parts
to put it back to a Fuelie, I would
say do that. I doubt that is the
situation, so I would leave it as is
because it got a pretty good value
at auction. Sometimes imitation
can be worth a lot. Big blocks
will always have their draw to
the sport.
Bill Pankiw, via email:
Leave it the way it is—and drive
the snot out of it!!!
John Pinero, Waipahu, HI:
Leave it as is. Replica may not be
the real thing, but if it was done
right it's a really cool car and
not something too many other
people have.Dave Lennartz, via
email: Do the same thing that
should be done with any replica
that has rare, original parts on
it—remove those parts and make
them available for restoring or
maintaining an appropriate,
original vehicle. Replicate with
replica parts rather than using
up—or hoarding—rare, original
parts.
In the specific example CM
has offered, it's the owner's
choice to restore or modify his
Corvette as he wishes. If it's a
Fuelie, restoring it with original
Fuelie parts is appropriate. If the
car's history verifies being modified
and operated with Z06 parts,
it's the owner's option to restore
it to that usage. It's the owner's
responsibility—and opportunity
as an enthusiast—to further the
hobby by using parts and materials
that are appropriate to the
ownership goals.
Bob Brugnoli, via email:
Leave it alone. It seems to be
a faithful representation of an
original. As long as it's identified
as a replica, what's the harm?
Michael Pierce, Portland,
OR: For most people, the greatest
value in this car—besides a
non-NCRS or Bloomington judging
event—might be various car
shows and concours. I believe
it would show very well. The
judges may not have sufficient
knowledge to recognize the car's
“re-creation” status.
The car was absolutely
beautiful and appeared correct,
as built. However, if you are
a certain world-recognized
Corvette seller from Napoleon,
OH, you might consider buying
this car for its extremely rare
and valuable parts (36-gallon
tank, 1963-64 only dual master
cylinder, finned brake drums,
HD suspension and the rest
of the RPO Z06 associated
hardware). That way, if you were
to ever find a “real” Z06 that
had provenance but needed all
the bits you removed from the
Tribute car, you would have two
excellent, fuel-injected ‘63 SplitWindow
coupes to sell!
CM learned out that ProTeam
Corvette owner Terry Michaelis
was the buyer of the Z06 Replica.
Here's what he had to say:
So far, we can tell for sure
that this car has had the 36-gallon
tank added. We have an
expert coming in to check Z06
stuff and fuel-injection-related
items. So far, we believe it
is a real fuel car. We ordered
the NCRS/GM Shipping Data
Report.
I have a Silver/Red Fuelie
RPO Z06 big tank race car that
needs the tank and cover and
some of the special Z06 parts. I
bought this RM Replica Tanker
for the very rare parts that I am
missing, as only 199 1963s came
with the Z06 option and only
63 came with the 36-gallon gas
tank.
At the end of the day, we
hope to end up with the parts we
need—and still have a multiple
NCRS Top Flight Fuelie.
All it takes is balls, and that I
have... big balls! ■
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 11
Page 10
Questions
&Answers
Why are my Holley carbs
crying?
I have several Tri-Power
427 Corvettes from 1967-
1969, and when they sit for any
amount of time, the carbs seem
to leak from every possible
place. Most of the float bowl
screws are impossible to get at. I
also have a heck of a time snugging
up the base plate screws and
hard fuel lines that always seem
to loosen up. Are there any specialized
tools available to help
with any of this?—T.G.,
Davenport, IA
Ah yes, the joys of Holley
carb fuel leaks complicated
by the “town house” installation
arrangement of Chevrolet's 3x2
induction system. Unfortunately,
there are no special tools to help
with this. That's the bad news.
The good news is that if
properly sorted, you shouldn't
need to touch the carbs for a
long time. Holleys are precision
devices, but decades of hamfisted
mechanics messing with
them are usually the root of most
issues. Over-tightening base
plates, fuel lines, float bowls, and
metering blocks will warp parts
and strip threads to where they
will either leak like a sieve or not
work properly—and sometimes
both. Many Holley specialists
can properly restore your carbs
(note I did not say “rebuild”)
by milling surfaces flat and true
once again, replacing damaged
parts and fixing fuel inlets and
the like. This, combined with
better gasket technology available
today and proper assembly
torques, will have your Holleys
fuel-tight and metering right.
When installing them, make
sure to follow factory specs for
tightening them onto the intake
and the fuel inlet fittings and
lines. Then adjust the linkage
correctly using the service
manual, and verify proper float
levels, idle mixture trim, and
both cold and hot idle speed
settings. Float levels that are too
high will cause leaks, flooding
when stopping or turning, and a
whole host of issues. It is also a
good idea to make sure your fuel
pump is delivering the proper
pressure, as too little can make
the car run lean and too much
can overpower the needle assemblies
and cause flooding, rich
running—and a fire hazard. I
think you'll find once you get all
your “trips” dialed in you can
keep the tool box shut for quite
some time.
Hologramming Hokum
I have a black 1954
Corvette that is my pride
and joy. A reputable shop restored
it about five years ago.
The paint has always been stunning,
but a few months ago I decided
to treat the car to a
professional detailing—including
a good buff and wax. When I
picked the car up it looked great
in the shade, but once in natural
light my stomach dropped. It
looked like the car had millions
of fine spider webs all over it,
and if you moved your eyes
across the paint it would almost
change colors.
As you can imagine, I im-
mediately asked the detailer
about this. The detail shop owner
called it “hologramming” and
said it was a result of the painter
using clear over a base cost that
wasn't compatible. He said the
clear coat was so perfect I could
see the flaws in the underlying
base coat.
I called my car buddies that
know about paint and they all
said that is BS. The detail shop
showed me some fancy polisher
with a foam pad and explained
12 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Please send your questions to questions@corvettemarket.com. By Colin Comer
Leaky Carbs and Hologramming Hokum
Softer clear-coats can easily be scratched or made hazy by the wrong types
of polishes, towels or buffing pads
Tri-Power
that there was no way this
special pad could ruin paint. All
I know is it didn't look like this
before. What can I do?—C.L.,
San Diego, CA
Hologramming? I've been
painting cars for 25 years,
and I have never heard that one.
Your car was restored recently,
which means the clear coat used
is one of the newer “soft” ones,
especially if it was not cured in a
baking booth.
This isn't a bad thing, it is
just the simple fact that modern
paints are very forgiving—but
also have certain qualities
that require special care. On a
perfectly wet-sanded and buffed
finish, these softer clears can
easily be scratched or made hazy
by the wrong polishes, towels,
or buffing pads. And black paint
will show any defect much better
than a lighter color—as you
know.
My guess is that your detailer
used one of those random orbital
polishers with a foam pad that
was either too aggressive or with
the wrong polish. The jitterbug
action of these polishers can
quickly turn a great finish into a
disaster in the wrong hands.
Detailers aren't painters, and
most avoid using an old-fashioned,
high-speed rotary buffer
for fear of burning through or
damaging paint. In their defense,
some paint jobs are very thin
and easy to damage, but a skilled
polisher will not have a problem.
I'd bet anything that a good
paint shop could return your
Corvette to its former glory. If
the scratches are deep, a light
wet sanding with 2000 grit paper
might help, followed by a rotary
buffing with a multi-step process
that starts with a wool pad and
works up through a succession of
various foam pads and polishes
from aggressive to very mild.
If the scratches are more
superficial, a high-speed
compounding with something
like 3M's Perfect-It compound
and a white foam pad, followed
by 3M Perfect-It polish for dark
cars with a black foam polishing
pad—and then finished off with
a good hand wax should do the
trick. Hope this helps!
Page 11
Bias ply pull and shimmy
I just replaced the old mag
wheels and radial tires on
my '70 LT1 with OE wheels and
a set of reproduction bias ply
tires. I knew it wouldn't drive as
well as it did on the radials, but
this thing is nuts. I can hardly
keep it out of the grooves on the
road, it has a horrible shimmy
above 50 mph, and when I accelerate,
it feels like I broke an
axle in the back, as it pulls so
hard to the left. Is this how it
should be?—T.K., Billings, MT
It is true that bias ply tires
won't drive as well as radi-
als, but it sounds like something
is up with your car.
You don't say what type of
reproduction tires you have
bought, but in our shop we
had a similar situation on a
'65 Corvette on reproduction
Firestones. It had a strong pull
under acceleration, as well as
lifting out of the throttle, which
we traced to a defective sidewall
in one of the brand-new bias ply
tires.
We've also seen others fail
with tread separation, sidewall
bulging, and chunks of tread flying
out. It seems as though they
are made to look correct but they
lack in modern techniques in the
actual carcass and construction.
Don't get me wrong—many
people have no issues at all, but
we have seen enough bad ones
to suggest to you that you should
have a knowledgeable tire specialist
carefully inspect all four
tires for you. Have them change
their position on the car and see
if that eliminates the pull—or
moves it.
If the tires check out, a good
tire shop with a Hunter Road
Force balancer can measure
the runout and road force of
the tires, and use the machine
to index the high spot of the tire
to the low spot of the wheel to
minimize total runout, which is
the major cause of shimmies and
shakes.
Carefully buffed—no hokum
After all of that is done, have
the car aligned by somebody
fluent in Corvette four-wheel
alignments to factory specs for
your exact car. And make sure
the tire pressures are set to the
original specs for the OE bias
ply tires. Your C3 will never
drive as well on bias ply tires as
it did on radials, but if properly
set up with known good tires,
it should be quite enjoyable
nonetheless. Let me know how it
turns out! ■
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 13
Page 12
Courtroom
Corvettes
The legal side of the hobby. By Bruce Shaw, Esq.
Keeping Lawyers Out of Your Car Restoration
Customers often claim that restorers take too long, do a poor job, pad
hours, lose parts and don't stick to cost estimates or time frames
What we all wish for—a happy ending
advantage of the other. The restorer will do a professional job on the Corvette, and the
customer will promptly pay for services rendered without nitpicking at the restorer's
bill. All parties will work together for a positive end result.
In the beginning of the relationship, it generally appears that everyone is on the
T
same page regarding the project—both customer and restorer have a clear idea as
to what is expected. Often, this same-page status teeters into a serious dispute over
various aspects of the repairs, and both parties feel that they are not even in the same
stratosphere. That is when litigation commences.
One significant recurring problem is the cost factor. It is almost impossible to es-
timate the cost of restoring a Corvette, as each project takes on a life of its own. In
the initial phase of the contract—prior to the actual restoration work starting—most
restorers quote a time and material cost. Unfortunately, as the work proceeds, the
customer and the restorer often develop different ideas of the project's costs.
These disputes often surface after a customer receives his monthly bill for services
rendered. The common complaint is that the restorer has taken advantage of the time
and material estimate and is padding the bill.
The customer feels cheated. The customer then consults with at least three of his
closest Corvette buddies over the bill—and then plans an attack against the restoration
shop, saying that his friends paid less for their Corvette restorations.
Already this year, I have rejected potential cases from of three complainants—one
in New York, one in Texas, and one in Pennsylvania—who all claim to be victims of
restoration shops.
14 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
here is nothing in the world that ruins the pleasure of owning a Corvette like a
dispute between you and your restoration shop.
In all business dealings there is the Standard of Good Faith and Fair Dealing—
which means that the restorer and customer are not intentionally going to take
The pattern for future trouble
I have known all three of the shops for years, and
they turn out consistent, quality work. I also know that
good shops charge a premium for their services. After
reviewing the facts with the customers, I discovered a
pattern of problems that often appear commonly in car
restoration cases across the U.S.:
• The Corvette was left at the shop for a significant
amount of time without customer inspection.
• The estimate for repairs was higher than the original
quote.
• Parts were missing or lost.
• Repairs appeared to be unfinished or unsatisfactory.
• The Corvette fell in value because the market
changed and the project took much longer to accomplish
than planned.
In a nutshell, both restoration shops and customers
must take equal blame for:
• Misunderstanding the work to be performed.
• Misunderstanding the time needed to complete
the work.
• Misunderstanding the cost of services relative to
the quality of workmanship.
Page 13
Common complaints
Customers often claim that restorers take too long,
do a poor job, pad hours, lose parts and just don't stick
to cost estimates or time frames.
Restorers often claim that customers don't under-
stand time frames, make changes, don't inspect the car
during the project, don't pay bills and just underestimate
the value of time and labor.
When these cases wind up in court, only the lawyers
are going to come out ahead.
The perfect plan
So, you've done your homework and gotten good
reports on the shop. Here's what to do next:
• The client—and the shop—should obtain as clear
an understanding as possible—in writing—of the
services to be performed, the estimated costs of
the services and the timeframe to complete them
• Both parties should inspect and list any loose or
uninstalled parts that are left with the Corvette.
• The restoration shop should send a monthly statement
at the same date each month.
• Both parties should set up dates for monthly progress
inspections, with both parties present about a
week or so after the statement is received.
• At each inspection, the restorer should have progress
photos of the work for which he has billed.
• At each inspection, the customer should take photos of the completed work.
• At each inspection, both parties should review the progress repairs and the
statement—and immediately discuss any discrepancies.
Now, in the real world…
In reality, especially in long-distance restorations, it is not feasible to take every
precaution—but “best practices” should be followed when possible.
From the outset of the relationship, the perception of the customer and the percep-
tion of the restorer should always be in harmony. Both parties need to be on the same
page for a successful relationship. To be on the same page, both parties need to take
important initial steps as they enter into contract with each other and then practice
follow up steps—so they both can expect the same outcome.
Think of it this way: If you were having your vacation home restored, chances are
that you would go over the bills regularly and make planned trips to see how the work
was going. You would also expect the contractor to let you know when unexpected or
unusual problems cropped up. Why wouldn't you follow the same process with your
Corvette?
Chances are you started out this process having positive feelings about your resto-
ration shop (if you hated them from the start, you have a different problem). You can't
control how the restoration shop treats you. But you can manage your relationship
with them in a professional manner, spot little problems before they become big ones,
and mutually move together towards a satisfactory end. You get a restored car to the
standard you expected, and they get paid an amount that they believe is fair.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of litigation.... ■
BRUCE SHAW, ESQ. is an attorney specializing in collector car fraud. He is a former
Bloomington Gold instructor, and an NCRS national judge. His comments are general
in nature and are not intended to substitute for consultation with an attorney.
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 15
Page 14
Insider's
View
Event
Guide
Alabama
May 19-21, 2011
31st Corvette Beach Caravan and Car
Show, Dothan
This annual Circle City Corvettes event
features more than 150 Corvettes driving
in procession from Dothan to Panama City
Beach, FL. This eye—and ear—candy
has become quite an event, with seminars,
cruises, an auction to benefit the National
Corvette Museum and a car show. $130.
www.circlecitycorvettes.com
Arizona
March 12, 2011
NCRS Arizona Chapter Spring Flight
Judging, Surprise
NCRS members can enter their Corvettes for
Flight Judging—or just show up to kick tires,
eat lunch and talk cars with friends. $25 to
register; $50 fee for Flight Judging. www.
arizonancrs.com
Arkansas
April 14-16, 2011
13th Annual Hot Springs Corvette
Weekend, Hot Springs
More than 300 Corvettes—and a bunch of
Corvette fans—will travel to Hot Springs
National Park for a party, car show, guided
tours, Cannonball Run, poker runs and
Wheels, Pipes and Smoke contest. The
Central Arkansas Corvette Club puts on this
fun event every year, and all the proceeds go
to Arkansas charities. Hotel rooms are $99
a night, and event registration is $75. www.
centralarkcc.com
California
March 25-27, 2011
Legends of Riverside Racing Film Festival
and Legends Gala, Riverside
Parnelli Jones is the honoree of the 3rd
Annual festival, which will also highlight
gearhead-happy films, such as “Legendary
Jim Clark,” “ 1987 IMSA Race at RIR,” and
“Haybales and Asphalt.” The festival also
plans to mark 100 years of the Indy 500 with
films and panel discussions. Films about racing
Corvettes and a forum are also planned,
along with lunches and dinners. There are
only 150 tickets available, and each one
costs $199. www.legendsofriverside.com
Florida
March 13, 2011
Silver Anniversary Annual Spring Meet
Corvette Show, Miami
16 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Waiting to be judged at Bloomington Gold
The Sunshine Corvette Club celebrates its
25th Annual Spring Meet with a judged
show for 16 classes of original and modified
Corvettes. Each class is judged for 1st,
2nd and 3rd place awards. Raffles, door
prizes and live music are always a part of
this popular event. $35 at the door. www.
sunshinecorvetteclub.com
March 13-19, 2011
59th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring,
Sebring
The American Le Mans Series makes its
12th visit to one of America's most famous
endurance races. Watch Corvette race cars
duel into the night against Porsche, Jaguar,
Ferrari, Aston Martin and more. Tickets state
at $70. www.americanlemans.com
April 22-23, 2011
Corvette Beach Odyssey, Panama City
Beach
This all-Corvette car show benefits the
Taunton Children's Home. The Emerald
Coast Corvette Club hosts the event, which
includes a barbecue banquet, music, a silent
auction and plaques to all registrants. $40
before April 9; $45 afterwards. www.emeraldcoastcorvetteclub.com
Georgia
May 7, 2011
Corvettes in the Mall, Houston County
Galleria Mall, Centerville
Corvettes Limited of Central Georgia hosts
this annual indoor all-Corvette show. Awards
The current state of the Corvette market
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@corvettemarket.com.
Page 16
Insider's
View
Event
Guide
Illinois
June 23-26, 2011
Bloomington Gold, St. Charles
Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA is the
longest-running national Corvette show and
it set the standards for all Corvette shows.
The 2011 event marks the 39th anniversary,
and the highlight is always the judging for
Gold, Survivor and Benchmark cars. Gold
is awarded to cars that are found to be 95%
of factory original condition, Survivor
is awarded to original Corvettes, and
Benchmark is awarded to cars that have won
Gold and Survivor status. Other attractions
of this massive Corvette Fest include a
swapmeet, hundreds of Corvettes on display
and Corvettes for sale. CM Publisher Keith
Martin will emcee the Bloomington Gold
award ceremony and the Great Hall induction
ceremony. Registration fees vary by
event. www.bloomingtongold.com
June 18-24, 2011
NCCC National Convention, Tinley Park
This huge event takes a full week to move
through a schedule crammed with parties,
drag racing, autocross, driving tours, car
shows, a concours, rallies and on and on
and on. This event is within easy driving
distance of Bloomington Gold, so it will be
a Corvette-happy nine days in Chicagoland.
Registration fees vary. www.corvettesnccc.
org
North Carolina
May 28-29, 2011
7th Annual ‘Vettes in the Valley, Maggie
Valley
This show now brings more than 300
Corvettes to the Smoky Mountains, and the
all-Corvette venue includes judged, people's
choice and participants' choice trophies
and awards. Plenty of vendors set up shop,
and a road rally, live entertainment, silent
auctions and fun with great people and
great cars make for a great time. $45. www.
smokyevents.com
South Carolina
April 16, 2011
‘Vettes Doin' Charleston, North
Charleston
The Coastal Carolina Corvette Club's 4th
Annual Show at Tanger Outlet Center will
feature nine classes of peoples' choice judging
and six classes of scored judging. $25.
www.4cccc.org
18 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
26—SPECIALTY AUTO
AUCTIONS
Loveland, CO
26—SILVER
Portland, OR
26—CLASSIC MOTORCAR
AUCTIONS
Akron, OH
The current state of the Corvette market
include best of show and other trophies for
stock and modified Corvettes. $25. www.
corvetteclubcentralga.org
Tennessee
March 25-26, 2011
34th Annual Corvette Expo, Sevierville
This very popular event features a swapmeet,
a judged competition and a Thompson Carr
Collector Car Auction. A Corvette cruise,
sales corral and horsepower events are also
planned. Registration fees vary, but general
admission is $10. www.corvetteexpo.com
Texas
May 20-22, 2011
22nd Annual Lone Star Corvette Classic,
Fort Worth
This three-day event at the Texas Motor
Speedway offers a chance to run your
Corvette against the clock in the Autocross—
and a shot at a few laps on the NASCAR
track and the infield road course. If that isn't
enough to rev you up, there will be car sale
corrals, a show and shine, judged car shows,
sponsor and vendor displays, a treasure run,
food galore—and more than 600 Corvettes
on hand. Proceeds benefit the Speedway
Children's Charities and the National
Corvette Museum. Registration varies by
event. www.lonestarcorvetteclub.com
Send your Corvette event listing to cmcalendar@corvettemarket.com.
Virginia
April 30, 2011
‘Vettes at the Track, Virginia Beach
The Beachcombers Corvette Club and the
‘Vette Barn are masterminding a day on
the karts at American Indoor Karting. The
American Cancer Society's Relay for Life
will get all of the proceeds, but the drivers
get all the fun. This is a great event for
Corvette owners to gather, swap tales and
drive tiny cars indoors. $25. A cook-out is
planned for the following day, May 1, 2011.
www.beachcomberscorvetteclub.com
May 7, 2011
2011 Matt Miller Memorial Corvette Car
Show, Winchester
The Shenandoah Valley Corvette Club's
annual show brings hundreds of Corvettes
to a show that benefits the Blue Ridge
Hospice. The first 60 Corvettes checked in
will be displayed on the walking mall. Preregistration
is $15; $20 at the door. www.
svcorvetteclub.org ■
MARCH
Auction Calendar
APRIL
4-6—RM
Fort Lauderdale, FL
5—SPECIALTY AUTO
AUCTIONS
Loveland, CO
11—GOODING & CO
Amelia Island, FL
11-12—MECUM
Kansas City, MO
12—RM
Amelia Island, FL
18-20—HOLLYWOOD
WHEELS
West Palm Beach, FL
19-20—D. E. FOELLER
Palmetto, FL
7-8—TOM MACK
Charlotte, NC
7-9—BARRETT-JACKSON
West Palm Beach, FL
8-9—BRANSON
Branson, MO
8-9—LEAKE/DAN KRUSE
CLASSICS
San Antonio, TX
8-10—COLLECTOR CAR
PRODUCTIONS
Ontario, CAN
23—SPECIALTY AUTO
AUCTIONS
Brighton, CO
28-29—CARLISLE
Carlisle, PA
30—WORLDWIDE
AUCTIONEERS
Seabrook, TX
MAY
11—SILVER
Spokane, WA
JUNE
5—BONHAMS &
BUTTERFIELDS
Greenwich, CT
10-12—LEAKE
Tulsa, OK
17-18—MECUM
St. Paul, MN
18—SILVER
Coeur d'Alene, ID
24-25—MECUM
St. Charles, IN
24-25—RALEIGH CLASSIC
Raleigh, NC
24-26—BARRETT-JACKSON
Orange County, CA
25—SPECIALTY AUTO
AUCTION
Sioux Falls, SD
14—MIDAMERICA
St Paul, MN
17-22—MECUM
Indianapolis, IN
Page 18
Corvette Market
Insider's Seminar
Scottsdale, AZ
4th Annual CM Scottsdale Insider's Seminar
Smart buyers find Corvettes they love—and buy the best car that they can afford
by Chester Allen
“The sale created shock waves, and
some thought it was crazy money,”
Michaelis told the standing-room-only
crowd of more than 300 Corvette collectors.
“But the next 5, 7, 10 years will
prove that it is one of the best Corvette
buys of the last decade—and I was willing
to pay more.”
Bloomington Gold CEO David
Burroughs, County Corvette owner Jim
Jordan, Corvette Repair owner Kevin
Mackay and NCRS National Judging
Chairman Roy Sinor also said the L88
was the most significant sale of 2010.
Mike Yager, CEO of Mid America
Motorworks, was the only panelist to
choose a different car. Yager picked the
1964 “Bill Mitchell” Styling coupe that
sold for $176,000 at Mecum's McDorman
Collection sale.
Why?
“In today's economy, there are a
A packed house at this year's CM Seminar
for $1.3m at Mecum's Monterey auction was the most significant Corvette sale of 2010.
“Even if you have the money to get one, it's very difficult to find one,” said pan-
T
elist Michael Pierce, an NCRS judge and CM writer from Portland, OR. “The real
statement was that it was bought by someone in the Corvette business—and the sale
showed real confidence in the market.”
Another panelist, Terry Michaelis, owner of ProTeam Corvette, soon confessed
that he had bought the car.
Expert Picks
$25k
David Burroughs
Kevin Mackay
Roy Sinor
Jim Jordan
Terry Michaelis
Michael Pierce
Mike Yager
Any 75% unrestored, road-tested,
and in good condition
1968-69 350-horsepower clean
driver
2004 Corvette Z06
$50k
1978 Indy Pace Car L82, 4-speed
in 95% original condition
1968-69 435-horsepower clean
driver
1969 Corvette 350
1968-72 small-block convertible 1965-66 327 convertible
2001-03 Z06 with less than 40k
miles
1995 Corvette ZR-1
C4 ZR-1
20 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
1958-62 Corvettes in good driver
condition
A 1967 Corvette 435 that needs
work
1988-89 Corvette Challenge
Race Car
$100k
1970 LT-1 convertible in distinctive
colors and 75% unrestored
1965-67 425-horsepower or 435horsepower
1965 Corvette Fuelie
1967 427/390 convertible
The Sky's the Limit
1967 Corvette 350 coupe
1963 Mystery Motor Corvette
2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon
Edition
1962 Corvette owned by Barry
Goldwater
1963 Fuelie Split-Window coupe 1967 L88 convertible
2009 Corvette ZR1
Current model ZR1
1963 Corvette Grand Sport
1958 Corvette
his year's Corvette Market's Scottsdale Insider's Seminar could have been called
“Lovefest for the L88.”
Six of the seven expert panelists who gathered at the enormous Barrett-Jackson
auction complex on January 20 said the 1967 L88 convertible that rumbled away
lot of bargains at auction—if you are
prepared,” Yager said. “A lot of key
Corvettes out there can be bought at very,
very reasonable prices.”
Best Corvette buys
CM Publisher Keith Martin, who moderated the
panel, soon steered the conversation toward the best
Corvette buys for $25k, $50k and $100k.
Jordan said his favorite $25k Corvettes are 1968-72
small-block convertibles.
“They are cars that you can buy right now and do
very well with in five years,” Jordan said.
Mackay chose clean, driver-quality 1968-69 cars
with 350 horsepower engines.
Photos: Tony Piff
Page 19
In the world of $50k Corvettes, Burroughs picked a 1978 Pace Car
L82, with 4-speed transmission and in nearly new cosmetic condition.
Jordan said 1965-66 327 convertibles are the best buy in the $50k
range, while Mackay said 1968-69 435-horsepower cars are his pick.
“This is a great car that I know I can't lose on,” Mackay said.
Sinor picked a 1969 Corvette with a 350-horsepower engine.
$100k Corvettes
Plan Ahead: January 22, 2012
Where: Barrett-Jackson auction, Scottsdale,
AZ
Michaelis' $100k ride is a 1963 Split-Window coupe in good colors
and in good condition—or
a 1965-67 big-block car in
#2 condition.
Pierce said he would
Details
Cost: Admission is free for CM and
SCM subscribers, registered
Barrett-Jackson bidders and consignors,
owners of Bloomington
Gold-certified Corvettes and NCRS
members. $10 for all others
2011 Sponsors: Barrett-Jackson Endorsed
Collector Car Insurance,
Reliable Carriers, Meguiar's,
County Corvette, Bloomington
Gold, NCRS
More: www.corvettemarket.com
pay $100k for the right
2009 ZR1.
Words of wisdom
This year's CM pan-
elists live and breathe
Corvettes, and they have invested decades
in the hobby. So, it wasn't surprising to see
audience members taking notes when the
seminar concluded with some final thoughts
from each expert.
Most of the experts said to find expert
help before plunging into buying classic
Corvettes.
CM's Tom Mann and Wendie Martin welcome participants
“Pay for information,” Burroughs said. “We think
nothing of paying $5 for a hamburger, so spend some
money and get someone who can help you.”
Pierce said to steer away from project cars and long
restorations.
“Buy something that is ready to drive,” Pierce said.
And, from the man who walks his talk:
“Buy the best car you can afford,” Michaelis said. ■
Page 20
2011 Arizona Auctions
Five Corvettes from the Desert
From a sublime 427/400 to a ridiculous, blown-out hot rod, these cars hooked
one set of experienced eyes
by Michael Pierce
W
e asked CM contributing writer Michael Pierce to jet down to Arizona with us this January and pick five hot Corvettes. It took Pierce about
two seconds to agree to the challenge, and here's what caught his eye:
1967 Corvette 427/435 convertible
VIN: 194677S118154
Born on: May 10, 1967
Lot 46, Gooding & Company's Scottsdale auction and sold for
$83,600.
David Gooding generally has only a few Corvettes at each of his
auctions. This one caught my eye for several reasons: the combination
of the Nassau Blue exterior/white interior, original sidepipes, 4-speed,
shoulder harnesses, and legitimate, period-replacement CE block 435
horsepower motor. Add in the seemingly original VIN and trim tags,
plus the tank sheet and POP. Besides that, it somehow felt like an honest
car.
It appears that the original 4-bolt main 3904351 block was replaced
1967 Corvette 427/400 convertible
VIN: 194677S103489
Born on: November 10, 1966
Lot 1267.1 at Barrett Jackson's Scottsdale auction and sold for
$79,200.
For me, this was the Corvette deal of the week; I should have bought
it. This silver/black, no-tunes, two-top, 400 Tri-Power, smog-equipped
roadster is all original (yes, truly original), un-restored and has
earned the NCRS Duntov Award, along with multiple NCRS Chapter,
Regional and National Top Flight and PV certificates. In fact, it has
less than 49,000 original miles and is in excellent condition throughout.
The original tank sticker, POP, warranty book and Bill of Sale from
Gateway Chevrolet are the documents of provenance.
I have known about, judged and driven this '67 over
the past 25 years and helped sell it to a prior owner from
Arizona—for $40,000. It drives very strong, does not overheat
and has worked as intended for almost 45 years. The
original smog pump, diverter valves, mixture control valve,
valve covers, air cleaner base, bracket, dated/part-numbered
hoses/clamps and forks are worth $7.5k to $10k alone. The
hydraulic lifter, Tri-Power 427 runs quietly and efficiently,
does not overheat and provides both economy and performance
with the 3:36 gears.
1967 Big Block, Tri-Power, original, unrestored, two
tops, NCRS Duntov, excellent interior, exterior, silverblack,
4-speed…what more can you expect for under $80k?
under warranty from GM in July 1968 with a CE block. The block now
in the car, with the casting number of 3916321, was used sparingly
during the last few months of production in 1967 and through 1968.
The CE refers to “counter exchange” and a stamped sequential number
was pounded into the pad surface to keep track of its exchange [and
subsequent warranty issues]. The VIN number of the car was not added
to the engine pad.
The interior has been replaced with new rugs, seat covers and door
panels. The car had repaired front end damage; the body work is OK—
except for where the grille attaches to the lower valance. The paint
blending is good but noticeable.
I understand the former owner put somewhere close to $150,000
in this car since purchasing it two years ago. Looks like a bad case of
musical chairs. Even with the non-DOT spare, original jack/wrench,
and documents, the Gooding auction price paid this time was also generous,
but I like the car. The net amount to the seller is probably more
indicative of its current value.
22 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Page 21
1965 Corvette 327/365 convertible
VIN: 194675S111520
Born on: March 5, 1965
This car crossed the block at Russo and Steele's Scottsdale auction
and was bid to mid-$50k range, but it did not sell.
I used to own this car. I bought it in Portland about eight years ago
from the brother of a deceased university professor. It had less than
50,000 miles, excellent yellow paint, two tops, teak wheel and the original
black leather interior. I sold it to a neighbor, who was mostly a Ford
Guy, and this car converted him into a mid-years guy.
Extensive mechanical and interior restoration work was completed
with over $22,000 in receipts. The car runs strong, is very straight and
is well-optioned. Perhaps the most interesting part of this car is the engine
pad surface and what you will not find. Commendably, the owner
chose not to stamp the VIN number and engine assembly code after
rebuilding the block, even though the car originally came with a 365.
This sets a standard of ethics to potential buyers that we rarely see in
the marketplace. I know that the casting number and date of the block
are correct, as are the other components under the hood. The difference is that once
blocks are decked and re-machined, it is virtually impossible to prove their “originality.”
This is a great example of a “matching numbers” car that does not pretend or hint
that the block is original to the car. Having judged Corvettes for 30 years for NCRS, I
can readily say that a significant percentage of them do
not have their original blocks, but every one that I have
seen has had numbers pounded into the block. Right or
wrong, sold or not sold, here's an honest example of a
great, high-performance restored driver.
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—Terry Michaelis, President, Pro Team Corvette
Subscribe online at www.corvettemarket.com/special
Call 877.219.2605 ext. 1
Page 22
1968 427/435 convertible [no longer]
VIN: 194678S404302
Born on: November 11, 1968
Reborn: 1970/71
Lot TH355, Russo and Steele's
Scottsdale auction, sold for $17,050.
Where do I begin? This one
stopped me in my tracks. It is the exact
antithesis of what I look for in older
Corvettes: No original paint, interior,
motor or even chassis. Instead, it presents
as a 1971 International Show Car
Association participant in all its former
glory.
This Corvette may have started life
as a 1968 435 roadster; maybe not. The
car was locked so I could not check the
trim tag to determine its original color and interior fabric or what options may or may not have
come on the car. More important is what is NOW on the car: One-piece, tilt-up hood, tilt-up top,
multi-colored, striped metal-flake paint, red-and-black diamond tuck and roll upholstery, Cragar
supercharged, ZL-1 cammed, Chevrolet 427 with 3:36 posi, M20 wide-ratio transmission and
original 1969 chrome valve covers. Oh, yes, the original Hilborn Fuel injection comes with the
car, too—it is now set up for street use with a Holley 850 double pumper.
This Corvette would make a startling addition to any car collection.
1962 Corvette 327/360
VIN: 20867S110884
Born on: May 8, 1962
Lot 1276, Barrett Jackson's
Scottsdale auction, sold for
$176,000.
I would like to hear from
anyone who owns a better 1962
Fuelie. One could readily argue
that with a big tank (65 made) or
Heavy Duty brakes and steering
(233 made) this car would
have been more valuable. But
number 884 was not born with
those options, and where have
you seen a better example of a
like-equipped '62?
This black exterior, fawn
beige interior, Rochester fuel-injected car has been judged many times by NCRS, and it was
ultimately awarded Chapter/Regional and National Top Flight Awards. The car also won the
difficult-to-obtain NCRS Performance Verification Award, and has been Bloomington Gold
certified. The car never scored less than 97.8 points out of 100—and been as high as 98.3. The
deductions were mostly for “over-restoration,” not because there was anything untypical of factory
production or simply incorrect.
The paint is extraordinary on a no-hit body, and the margins on the doors, hood and truck are
all sized with a micrometer to match each other. The seller had owned this car for 35 years after
purchasing it at Gateway Chevrolet in Lake Oswego, OR.
Almost as amazing as the high price paid for this '62 is the fact that the two bidders at the
end were both dealers. They would have had to pay transportation—and possibly sales tax—on
top of the hammer price and commission (the price stated above). Their job is to buy and sell
driver- and investment-quality cars, so even at this price they both thought there was money left
on the table. ■
www.corvettemarket.com
Page 24
C1 profile
1957 Corvette 283/283 Airbox Convertible
The importance of the Airbox cars can't be overstated. Remember, at this time
the Corvette was very close to becoming Chevy's two-seat Edsel
by Thomas Glatch
Chassis number: E57S104957
up the Corvette on the racetrack. Milton Robson's '57 convertible is one of a mere 43
Airbox Corvettes built in 1957.
Specifically, engine option code 579E was the very pricey $726.30 racers had to
I
spend if they wanted to compete on the track. Just 43 buyers anted up the big bucks to
turn their 1957 Corvettes into potential world-beaters.
Corvette's 1957 engine lineup provides the necessary perspective to appreciate the
storied Airbox. The base, no-extra-cost 283 was the 220-horsepower, 4-barrel engine.
Chevrolet offered a pair of very hot—but traditional—dual 4-barrel 283s with 245 and
270 horsepower, respectively. The really big deal for 1957 was the arrival of Ram Jet
fuel injection. Chevrolet offered four choices. Both option codes 579A and 579C rated
250 horsepower. Both 579B and 579E rated 283 horsepower. The 283-horsepower 283
is the fabled one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch V8, a milestone in a passenger car engine
that Chevrolet highly publicized.
Of the two option codes with 283 horsepower, 579E has tremendous bragging rights
over 579B. With 579E, Chevrolet mounted an 8,000-rpm tachometer on the steering
column. This tachometer looks very much like a hot rodder's mount. However, the
white gauge is 100% factory original and so rare that only the privileged have seen
one. Its location was more driver-friendly than the factory pod in the center of the
dash. With 579E, Chevrolet pulled the factory tachometer and placed a Corvette medallion,
as seen on the rear deck lid, in the vacated opening.
There's considerably more to Robson's Airbox Fuelie than the specially tuned Ram
Air 283. Option code 684, called the “Heavy Duty Racing Suspension,” was a necessity
for track action. Milton's fully restored, Venetian Red convertible is one of 51
Corvettes so equipped in 1957. Chevrolet engineers, including Zora Arkus-Duntov,
26 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
n the world of 1957 Corvettes, there are Fuelies and then there are Airboxes. Fuelie,
of course, is collector-speak for fuel injection, which was a brand-new and milestone
status for 1957 Corvettes. The collector's term “Airbox” refers to fuel injection
plus factory Ram Air, which was a brand-new feature that was meant to pump
tuned the Corvette for the track with heavier-duty
springs and shocks, front and rear. They upped the size
of the front stabilizer bar. Nothing less than Positraction
Details
Years Produced 1957
Number Produced 43 RPO 579E (6,339 1957 Corvettes
total)
Original List Price $4,919.47
CM Valuation $70,000-$126,000 (Fuel-injected)
Tune-up $150
Distributor Cap $19.99
Chassis # VIN plate on the steering column
Engine # Pad on front of block below right
cylinder head
Club National Corvette Restorers Society
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1959-61 Jaguar XK 150 3.4
Roadster, 1954-57 Mercedes-Benz
300SL
CM Investment
Grade A
Photos: Aaron Summerfield ©2010 Courtesy of RM Auctions
Page 25
Digital Bonus
CM
would do for the rear differential. A quick-steering adapter reduced
turns lock-to-lock from 3.5 to 2.9. And last but not least, Chevrolet
fitted each wheel with ceramic metallic brake linings with ventilated
finned drums. Extra stopping power is extremely important
on the track, even if racers did have to heat up the brakes for them
to work best.
The Airbox Fuelie was capable of 0-60 mph times in the “fives.”
Quarter-mile speeds eclipsed the magic 100 mph mark with elapsed
times in the low 14-second range. These figures are stunning considering
the bias ply tires of the 1950s—and the fact that Chevrolet
wasn't building a muscle car for the dragstrip.
To date, Corvette authorities have located 29 Airbox Corvettes,
making this particular example very rare indeed.
CM Analysis This car, Lot 213, sold for $374,000, including buyer's
premium, at the RM Auction at The Milton Robson
Estate in Gainesville, GA on Saturday, November 13, 2010.
News that Milt Robson was auctioning most of his collection
sent shock waves through the automotive community. Housed in a
26,000-square-foot former horse barn equipped with a working saloon,
a vintage barbershop, a diner, and a reproduction Mobil Gas
station, Robson's collection was filled with a variety of cars that were of outstanding
quality and pedigree. And each was typically the rarest, highest performance version of
a given marque or model.
This 1957 Airbox Corvette is exactly that.
The importance of the Airbox cars can't be overstated. Remember, the Corvette was
very close to being Chevy's two-seat Edsel. Sales were dismal until the revamped 1956
model, and even then, the Corvette was still on the corporate bubble. The ‘57 Corvette
added stunning performance and the mystique of one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch, but it
wasn't until March 1957 that the tide truly turned.
A pair of Airbox cars were entered in the 12 Hours of Sebring, ostensibly by Dick
Doane Enterprises of Dundee, IL. But, make no mistake, this was a truly a factory
Chevrolet effort. After two years of development by Zora Arkus-Duntov's engineers,
the Corvette finally arrived. One of the team drivers, Swiss émigré Gaston Andrey, told
me in a 1990 interview, “It was handling as well as a Ferrari and a Maserati at that
time. Perfect balance, and they set it up perfectly. We had excellent competition in the
Mercedes 300SL, and we surprised them and we surprised ourselves.”
Winning on battered brakes
Sebring is brutal on brakes, and since they were en-
tered in the GT class, the Corvettes had to use factory
components. Even with the optional Cerametallic heavyduty
brake option, the cars had trouble. Andrey's teammate,
Dr. Dick Thompson, told me, “We had our usual
brake problems. The only thing that would have solved
the problem would have been disc brakes. The brakes
would only last about a half hour.”
GM even tried equipping the cars with a crude form
of anti-lock braking to improve their performance. Still,
both cars performed beautifully despite this issue, and
finished 1st and 2nd in class, 22 laps in front of their nearest
competitor, a Mercedes 190SL.
Other Airbox Corvettes dominated SCCA
B-Production racing that year, with Dr. Dick Thompson
earning the National Champion title in that class.
Competition proved the ‘57 Corvette, and sales were
almost double the 1956 model.
GM enforced a corporate ban on auto racing in 1957.
Perhaps that is why Chevrolet did not offer a competition
model again until the 1963 Z06, making the Airbox
cars unique in C1 lore. But the fuel-injected engines and
competition brake and suspension options continued to
be offered, and Corvettes dominated racing through the
rest of the C1 era. It's no coincidence that Corvette sales
increased for years to come.
Highest auction Airbox price
Milt Robson's reputation might have been enough to
drive the bidding to the estimated $250k-$350k. An array
of Bloomington Gold and Top Flight awards, extensive
documentation, features in enthusiast magazines, and
even 1950s-era photographs of a former owner only reinforced
the buzz on this car.
The result? The car sold for $374,000—the highest
Airbox auction sale ever (the next highest Airbox was
sold in 2006 for $237,600). Considering the rarity of an
Airbox auction—and the potential appreciation of these
special Corvettes—I'd say both seller and buyer made an
outstanding deal. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 27
Page 26
C2 profile
1967 Corvette 427/435 Convertible
This car has the original drivetrain, which is rare, as many big blocks lost their
internal organs between two green lights
by Dale Novak
Chassis number: 194677S105851
there was the thundering 427-ci V8 in several levels of tune.
In his book Corvettes, 1953 to 1988, Richard Langworth wrote, “The 1967 Stingray
I
is arguably one of the best Corvettes ever built. All the styling clichés had been eliminated…four-wheel
disc brakes allowed it to stop as well as go.” Randy Leffingwell
also wrote in his book, Corvette: America's Sports Car, that in 1967, the Corvette “was
the best Stingray yet…and all the appearance bells and whistles, trim and shimmer
was removed from the car, making it the purest form that the Stingray body ever
achieved. Coupled with the possibility of astounding performance from a $437.10
optional 435-horsepower engine, with standard four-wheel disc brakes and new, wider
six-inch wheels, it was the best of the best.”
A total of 22,940 Corvettes were produced in 1967, of which 14,436 were convert-
ibles. Of those, 3,754 were equipped with the top RPO L71 Tri-Power V8 engine with
three Holley two-barrel carburetors.
In 1967, Hot Rod magazine's Eric Dahlquist put an L71-powered Corvette through
its paces for his in-depth road test, entitled “Hottest 'Vette Yet.” At the dragstrip,
Dahlquist managed a 13.80-second quarter-mile times, with a 108-mph trap speed.
This blistering straight-line performance was achieved with a set of narrow 7.75-inch
bias-ply tires, which erupted into clouds of billowing smoke whenever the clutch was
dropped with anything but a closed throttle. Dahlquist also found that the Corvette
handled very well, particularly at sustained high speeds, with the considerable mass
of the iron block-and-head 427 V8 offset by a set of carefully tuned, higher-rate front
springs. In addition, weight distribution was surprisingly balanced, thanks to the setback
engine placement within the Corvette's relatively short 98-inch wheelbase.
One of only 815 Tuxedo Black 1967 Corvettes built, this matching-numbers, fully
28 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
n 1967, the big-block Corvette was king of the road. Brutally fast, with nimble
handling and stopping power to match with four-wheel disc brakes, Corvette truly
earned the title “America's Sports Car.” Yes, it was expensive, but the Corvette
was the car for buyers who wanted speed, and for the all-out performance addict,
documented L71 427/435 Corvette is equipped with a
matching black interior and a Muncie 4-speed manual
transmission. A former NCRS Top Flight Award winner,
the Corvette is offered from the noted private automobile
collection of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer
Details
Years Produced 1967
Number Produced 3,754 with L71
Original List Price $4,809.50 (as equipped)
CM Valuation $97,000–$189,400 (as equipped)
Tune-up $400-$500 (3x2 induction tuning)
Distributor Cap $25
Chassis # Passenger side dash under glove
box on structural support
Engine # Pad on passenger side of engine
forward of cylinder head
Club National Corvette Restorers
Society
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1965-67 Shelby Cobra 427,
1967-69 Chevrolet Camaro,
1964-67 Jaguar XKE 4.2
CM Investment Grade A
Photos: Darin Schnabel ©2010 Courtesy of RM Auctions
Page 27
Digital Bonus
CM
Reggie Jackson. Terry Michaelis and Jim Mangione of Pro Team Corvettes
previously owned it, and noted Corvette experts have recently confirmed this
Corvette's authenticity and correctness. Offered complete with its Protect-OPlate
and ownership history, this highly documented, award-winning Corvette
is a superb example offered from a highly respected collection.
CM Analysis This car, Lot 267, sold for $165,000, including buyer's premium,
The Big Kahuna of the Corvette world is widely known, so there is surely
at the RM auction in Phoenix, AZ on Friday, January 21, 2011.
no need to go into a detailed history of the model and engine selection. The
427/435 was the most potent production engine offered in the 1967 Corvette—
other than the underrated 430-horsepower L88, which found its way into only
20 Corvettes that year.
That said, let's shift right into 4th gear.
On a desirability scale, it doesn't get much better than a Triple Black C2
big-block Corvette with a red stinger hood. Add some wicked-sounding sidepipes
and you're off to the races—literally. As one of only 815 dressed out in
Tuxedo Black, we can whittle the total number of 427/435 builds in this color
to just under 22% of the total production of 3,754 cars—not a bad number to begin
with. Further, our subject car still retains the original, numbers-matching drivetrain,
which is a rarity, as many big-block Corvettes have long since parted ways with their
internal organs between two green lights.
Don't get stung
Chassis number 105851 is also reported to be a highly documented example. This
becomes especially important in the universe of high-dollar, big-block Corvettes.
Why? The reality is that there are now more big-block Corvettes out in the world
than were originally built. These cars are widely faked, restamped, repurposed and
creatively rebuilt.
As soon as big-block Corvettes started pulling big money on cable television, un-
scrupulous shops and backyard garages all over the country started building them
from heaps and piles—and turning out, on occasion, some fairly impressive stuff.
It has been reported that some of the fakes are so well done, they've deceived some
of the best guys in the hobby. There's a lot of money involved, so, as you can imagine,
some guys get really good at it. That's where bulletproof documentation comes in. For
investment-grade Corvettes, especially Fuelies and big blocks, history and documentation
become overwhelmingly important.
Finding a potent, 427-equipped 1967 Corvette is really quite easy; I did a quick
search and located 138 for sale without too much effort. If we analyze the results and
demand airtight, rock-solid papers on the car, including judging sheets and awards,
the field of available cars drops dramatically. Be aware, fake documentation floats
around out there too, but that's another story for another day.
Great history, great documentation
Based on the catalog description from RM Auctions, we see very good records,
such as the Protect-O-Plate and ownership history. More than a few Corvette gurus
have left their DNA on this chassis—and have confirmed that our black big-block
roadster is, indeed, as it was built when it rolled off the assembly line.
Add to this that 105851 has some nice hardware in the form of an NCRS Top Flight
Award and was offered out of the private collection of Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie
Jackson—a well
respected
col-
lector—and the
new owner can be
assured that his
cash has been put
to good use. Other
notable owners
included Terry
Michaelis and Jim
Mangione of Pro
Team Corvettes,
which also adds to
the provenance of
the machine.
Time for a shameless plug. This kind of informa-
tion is why it becomes so valuable to subscribe to the
Corvette Market Database (Platinum Subscriber). As
auction reporters, such as myself, scour over auction
offerings, our findings end up in the Sports Car Market
and Corvette Market databases. This data can come in
handy when you're investigating a car you purchased—
or one you plan to purchase. It's well worth the price of
admission.
Last sold in 2005
Our subject car was last recorded sold for
$145,200, including the buyer's premium, at Gooding
& Company's Pebble Beach, CA, sale on August 21,
2005 (SCM #38927). At the time, the car was reported
to be in #2 condition. Upon examination of the database
record, all appears to be well—we see a car with the
same equipment, color and details. That's good news (it
doesn't always work out that way).
In 2011, our sales figure has grown to $165,000, in-
cluding the buyer's premium. While a near 14% increase
in value over a span of six years may not sound all that
stellar, it's not bad given the high-flying economic times
during which this car was last reported sold versus
today. It still serves the market well to see a solid result
and offers more evidence of why quality is paramount.
Final thoughts
The car appears to be holding up very well. I am sure
the restoration is tiring a bit, but that is to be expected
as a car naturally ages. It's dressed in a very desirable
color combination, and it is well-equipped, given that
the car was originally built for high-performance street
fighting.
The history is well known, there's very good docu-
mentation and the certainty that the car is the real deal.
No nips and tucks. No back-room blowtorches. No
restamps. The new owner can be assured that he's
acquired a fine, well-respected, correct, numbersmatching
'67. The black color will, generally speaking,
command a 10% to 20% premium over other colors.
Looking at other comparables, the documentation,
history, awards, color and the generally improving
market conditions, I'd call this Triple-Black, Tri-Power
Corvette well bought. ■
(Introductory copy courtesy of RM Auctions.)
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 29
Page 28
C3 profile
1982 Corvette Collector Edition
This car offered no performance enhancements over the standard model,
but it carried hints for the future
by Mark Rudnick
Chassis number: 1G1AY0788C5115230
tion that gave them a boost for the first time in many years. The twin throttle body
injectors looked somewhat like carburetors and were mounted diagonally on each
side of a broad intake manifold. Cross-Fire's higher level of sophistication added 10
horsepower, now to an even 200.
As this was also the body style's last hurrah, a series of Commemorative Collector's
P
Edition Corvettes were released to mark the transition. These 6,759 cars differed from
base models in several ways, including a higher level of standard features that were
otherwise optional on base models. Special features on this rare car included a lifting
rear hatchback glass window, special wheels, a unique silver/beige paint color combination
against a contrasting silver/beige leather interior as well as special cloisonné
emblems.
The interior is original and in excellent condition. The car retains almost all its
original parts. The original wheels and tires were removed and stored long ago, so the
original tires are in almost-mint condition.
CM Analysis This car, Lot S626, sold for $21,450, including buyer's commission, at
1982 marked the end of the run for the “Sharks,” as the third-generation Corvette
Russo and Steele's Scottsdale, AZ, auction on January 20, 2011.
is affectionately known. With a lifespan of 15 years, this was Corvette's longest- lived,
most-successful generation—from the perspective of sales.
The Sharks started out in 1968, with a production of 28,566 units, jumping to
30 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Alternatives
atterned after Larry Shinoda's “Shark II” prototype, the third-generation
Chevrolet Corvette production run started in 1968 and continued with few aesthetic
modifications through the 1982 model year.
The final year of the C3 car offered factory “Cross-Fire” electronic fuel injec-
Details
Years Produced 1982
Number Produced 6,759
Original List Price $22,537.59
CM Valuation $16,800-$29,500
Tune-up $400
Distributor Cap $ 29.95
Chassis #
Stamped on the inner vertical surface
of the left windshield pillar, and
it is visible through the windshield
Engine # Located on a boss on right front of
engine block
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society,
National Council of Corvette Clubs,
Corvette Collector Edition Registry
More www.ncrs.org, www.corvettesnccc.
org, www.82registry.com
1978 Corvette Indy Pace Car, 1978
Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe,
1988 Corvette 35th Anniversary
Limited Edition Coupe
CM Investment
Grade C
Photos: Russo and Steele
Page 29
Digital Bonus
CM
38,762 units in 1969 and reaching a peak of 53,807 units
in 1979. More than 40,000 units were produced in 1976,
1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981. These Corvette production
numbers have not been seen since the C3 Corvette
was laid to rest in 1982. No question about it, the C3
Corvette was an unbridled sales success and testament
to America's love affair with the Corvette.
Farewell and hello
The 1982 model year might very well be considered
a pivotal moment in Corvette history, as it not only
marked the end of a significant chapter in the Corvette
story, but, perhaps more importantly, it was a harbinger
to where Corvette was headed.
The initial clues came in the form of the innovative
drive train offered in the 1982 Corvette. For the first
time since 1965, Corvette would install fuel injection in
factory cars. Cross-Fire Injection—unlike the original
fuel-injection systems used on Corvettes from 1957 to
1965—used twin throttle-body injectors with computerized
metering and an electric fuel pump in the gas tank.
The electronic control module that operated the system
was capable of handling up to 80 adjustments per
second in ignition timing, idle speed, air-fuel mixture,
and so on to maximize performance and fuel efficiency,
reduce emissions and provide the driver with instant
throttle response.
Mated to the Cross-Fire system was the new 4-speed
automatic transmission, which was electronically linked
to the ECM and offered lockup function in every gear
except first. This combination represented the pinnacle
of technological innovation to be found under the hood
of the Corvette up to that time. It clearly indicated the
direction Corvette was taking to meet the challenges of
the day.
A special look
To recognize the closing of the Shark era and the
unveiling of the new technology being developed for the
Corvette, Chevrolet decided to offer the 1982 Collector
Edition model, of which 6,759 were produced, which
was about 26% of the 1982 production.
While it offered no performance enhancements over
the standard model, the Collector Edition was all about
refinement and detail. The exterior was distinguished by
its unique silver-beige finish, accented with graduated
gray decals and accent striping applied to the hood and
sides. The Corvette also had bronze-tinted glass roof
panels, cloisonné emblems, and finned, cast-aluminum
wheels, with white-lettered P255/60R15 Goodyear Eagle GT tires.
The interior sported silver-beige leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering
wheel, leather-trimmed door panels, extra-plush carpeting, and a cloisonné emblem
in the horn.
For the first time since 1962, the 1982 Collector Edition Corvette offered exterior
access to the interior storage area by transforming the fastback rear window into a
hatchback. At a cost of $22,538.00 ($4,248.00 above the base model), the Collector
Edition had the distinction of being the first Corvette priced over $20k.
Condition and value
The market value of 1982 Collector Edition Corvettes over a standard 1982
Corvette varies from $5k to $8k—based on the car's condition. This car was an excellent
example of a 1982 Collector Edition Corvette.
This car was fully optioned, with the exception of CB radio and Gymkhana suspen-
sion, had 19,500 miles on the odometer, recently received a first-class repaint, offered
good documentation (an original window sticker and original manuals)—and a 1991
Bloomington Gold Certificate.
This is pretty much as good as it gets for a 29-year-old Corvette that has seen
limited road time. I believe the car was sold at fair market value. With continued
moderate usage and proper care, this Corvette should see market appreciation in its
future. ■
(Introductory copy courtesy of Russo and Steele.)
Seat Time
James Holloway,
Monroe, LA: I purchased
a 1982 Collector Edition in
September 2006 from American
Sportscar Center in Atlanta, GA.
The car is in very nice
condition, with only 15,540
documented miles. I don't believe
this would be considered a
concours car, but rather a very
high-end, low-mileage driver. It is very original with a very few minor flaws.
My CE is mechanically sound and is a great driving car. Of course, it has Cross-Fire
injection, which does not have the greatest reputation. However, I have never had any
problems with Cross-Fire. Another negative is the absence of manual transmissions in all
1982s, as I would much rather have a manual, than automatic. The 700 R4 automatic is
a good transmission and continues to shift very nicely.
Overall, the car is heavy on looks and styling and not so much so on performance,
although the 200-horsepower engine does have plenty of pep. It will never have anywhere
near the market value of the 1960s muscle cars. Although it is an early 1980s car,
it has a look similar to late 1960s Corvettes, and this is a positive in my opinion. It's a fun
car to drive and gets a lot of attention at gas stations and local Corvette shows. I would
recommend the CE to anyone who does not need heavy muscle car performance—
but prefers an attention-getting, fun-driving cruiser.
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 31
Page 30
C4 profile
1996 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe
This car is part fish and part fowl in the menagerie. But it's all Corvette—and
a rather good one at that
by John L. Stein
is all original and unmolested, except for replacement mufflers, and presents in like-new
condition inside and out. The vehicle has a clean CARFAX history, and the 24,000 miles
showing on the odometer are believed to be actual.
T
CM Analysis This car, Lot F150, sold for $25,440, including buyer's premium, at
Mecum's Kissimmee Auction at the Osceola Heritage Park Arena in
Kissimmee, FL, on January 28, 2011.
Sometimes events combine to create a high-tide moment that quickly peaks like a
storm surge—and then recedes. In Corvette's legacy, there have been a number of these
one-year-only events, such as the 1963 Split-Window coupe, the 1967 L71 Tri-Power and
L88 big-blocks, the aluminum-block 1969 ZL1, and a few others.
Unfortunately for ordinary mortals, most of these vehicles are priced in the strato-
sphere today. But for the rest of us, there's a sensible alternative—the one-year-only,
LT4-powered 1996 Grand Sport. While it doesn't command history like its earlier brethren,
it's still plenty collectible—and a vastly better daily driver.
Last in the 13-year-long production cycle of C4 Corvettes, the Grand Sport and its
330-horsepower LT4 V8 brought the best small-block pushrod performance since the ‘71
LT1. Of course, its name was derived from Zora Arkus-Duntov's beloved 1963 Grand
Sport skunk-works racers. The car's only real weak points are that it is a C4—hardly the
most desirable of Corvette platforms—and that it was a stopgap offering between the
end of ZR-1 production and the beginning of C5 production.
32 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
This 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is number 127 of 1,000 1996 Grand
Sports produced. In addition to the 350-ci, 330-horsepower LT4 engine and 6-speed
manual transmission, this particular vehicle is equipped with the F45 Selective
Real Time Damping suspension system—and power driver and passenger seats. It
But what a nice stopgap it was.
The Grand Sport was principally defined by its lusty
LT4 engine, the best small-block Chevy to get dropped
into the engine compartment of a production Corvette in
Details
Years Produced 1996
Number Produced 1,000
Original List Price $40,475
CM Valuation $24,000-$39,000
Tune-up $500
Distributor Cap N/A (distributorless ignition)
Chassis # Lower left windshield corner
Engine # Right front cylinder head deck
Club
National Corvette Restorers Society
6291 Day Road
Cincinnati, OH 45252
More www.ncrs.org
Alternatives
1990-93 Corvette ZR-1,
2001-02 Corvette Z06,
2005 Corvette coupe
CM Investment
Grade C
Photos: Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
Page 31
Digital Bonus
CM
26 years, and it was also recognizable by the scarlet hash marks on the
left-front fender, a nod to the time of the original Grand Sports. But
there was more to the latter-day Grand Sport than that.
When you selected the RPO Z16 Grand Sport package, you also
got eye-popping Admiral Blue paint with a white center stripe, rear
fender flares, blackout five-spoke 17-inch wheels and fat front and rear
ZR-1 rubber. You could get the Grand Sport RPO on either the coupe
or convertible, but the convertible had smaller tires and no rear fender
flares, so the coupe was closer to a race car in specifications. There
were 810 Grand Sport coupes and 190 Grand Sport convertibles built,
and all had 6-speed manual transmissions. Thankfully, the cars were
all specially numbered, making it virtually impossible to create and
sell a fake.
Quite a deal in hindsight
Specifying the Grand Sport's RPO Z16 on the order form cost
$3,250 above the 1996 Corvette coupe's $37,225 retail price, which was
a premium of 8.7%. The convertible edition was a bit less at $2,880,
a premium of 6.4% over the base car's $45,060 MSRP. It's interesting to compare this
to the '57 Fuelie's 15.2% premium over that year's base price, or the sizzling 84.5%
premium that the ZR-1 package added to the base coupe price in 1990. That makes the
Grand Sport option look like a pretty good deal.
Lacking the exotic 32-valve engine of the departed ZR-1 (which not many people
truly missed, as the LT4 still offered very good performance while costing some $29,808
less than the ZR-1 package) didn't hurt the Grand Sport or the LT4 option at the dealership.
The proof is that the Grand Sport and LT4-engined cars accounted for 7,359 units
in 1996, compared to just 448 ZR-1s for each of the three prior years.
It's essential to recognize that the central attraction of the Grand Sport was the LT4
engine; however the motor was not exclusive to RPO Z16. Instead, the LT4 was also
available as an option on any '96 Corvette for $1,450. The engine included a higher
compression ratio of 10.8:1, revised big-port aluminum heads, special camshaft, Crane
roller rockers and high-output fuel injectors.
A slightly jaundiced eye would note that unlike other one-year-only Corvettes—such
as the '63 Split-Window—the Grand Sport, except for its nicely tweaked LT4 engine,
essentially played up Corvette's past, rather than the serving as the tip of the evolutionary
spear.
Put another way, the Grand Sport option was mostly a
marketing program to build some energy during the awkward
lull in between the ZR-1's somewhat unceremonious
departure and the arrival of the long-awaited C5 cars for
1997. In this way, today the Grand Sport remains part fish
and part fowl in the Corvette menagerie. But thankfully,
it's still all Corvette, and a rather good one at that.
A great starter Corvette
What I like about this particular Grand Sport is that
it's downright affordable—in line with a 3-year-old
Chevy 2500 pickup—while remaining totally usable as a
daily driver.
Its friendly street value also invites the acquisition of
other Corvettes, even for Regular Joes. For instance, if
you wanted to bookend any generation of Corvette, at
the price this Grand Sport traded for, it would be pretty
easy to add a cherry $10,000 1984 Z51 for a total of about
$34,000 for the pair.
That's not bad, considering that bookending the C1
Corvette would cost you over $230,000 ($150,000 or
so for a '53 and $80,000-plus for a '62). It would also
take over $150,000 to bookend the midyear Corvette
generation ($70,000-plus for a '63 and $80,000 or more
for a good '67), $60,000 for a pair of C3 sharks ($30,000
apiece for a solid '68 and a solid '82), and $55,000 for the
C5 generation ($20,000 for a '97 and $35,000 for a 2004).
Any way you look at it, C4s are still the most afford-
able Corvettes.
Not much information was provided about options
on our subject car, but the mentioned addition of F45
Selective Real Time Damping is an attractive one. This
ingenious system, which uses special damping fluid that
almost instantly changes viscosity when energized by
electric field coils, provides a previously unattainable
bandwidth for ride and handling. This technology was
a breakthrough for Corvette in 1996—and it remains
largely invisible in the automotive sphere today.
Let's hope that after 15 years the computer-controlled
system on this car still works fine. If so, I'd call it exceptionally
well bought. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 33
Page 32
C5 profile
2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition Coupe
This car carries 2003 Indy 500 pace car decals, but Corvettes didn't pace the
race in 2003
by B. Mitchell Carlson
Chassis Number: 1G1YY22G835127080
used on the official pace car. This 4-speed automatic-equipped coupe has been driven
just 725 miles and comes with dual-zone air conditioning, Delco Bose CD stereo,
heads-up display, tilt-telescopic steering wheel, dual removable roof panels (both
painted and tinted glass) and Magnetic Selective Ride Control.
T
CM Analysis This car sold for $39,750, including buyer's premium, at Mecum's
The 50th anniversary of the Corvette was shaping up to be a biggie for Chevrolet.
Kissimmee, FL auction on January 26-30, 2011
No other American car nameplate had been in continuous production for 50 years. A
special Anniversary edition package was to be the centerpiece of the year. This special
edition was beyond all Corvettes built in the 2003 model year, all of which came with
50th anniversary badging on their front and rear valances. Non-Z06 cars also had the
logo on the owner's manual cover and main gauges.
This was just like 1978, when all Corvettes wore 25th Anniversary badges, but
there was also the Special Edition package for that anniversary.
However, the 2003 50th Anniversary Edition was a unique package available on
coupes and convertibles—but not Z06s. The paint on the 50th Anniversary package
was a unique “Xirallic” Anniversary Red—which was slightly darker, yet more brilliant
than the 1993 40th Anniversary Ruby Red.
The interiors featured Sports seats and were fully trimmed in Shale leather with the
34 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
he all-original 50th Anniversary Corvette coupe offered here incorporates
the 1SC Equipment group, combining the Anniversary package with special
Indianapolis 500 Pace Car graphics over Xirallic Crystal Red paint, special
fender emblems and Champagne-colored aluminum wheels—identical to that
Details
Years Produced 2003
Number Produced 11,632 (4,065 coupes and 7,547
convertibles)
Original List Price $48,895 ($55,370 for convertibles)
CM Valuation $28,700-$36,000
Tune-up $150
Distributor Cap N/A (coil-pack ignition)
Chassis # Left side of the dashboard and right
frame rail near the radiator
Engine # Pad forward of cylinder head on right
side
Club
More
Alternatives
50th Anniversary Corvette Registry
212 Greenleaf Circle
Myrtle Beach, SC, 29579
www.50thregistry.com/
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5corvettes-1997-2004-2/
www.pacecarregistry.com/
1993 40th Anniversary coupe,
2004 Le Mans Commemorative coupe,
2008 Indy Pace Car edition
CM Investment
Grade D
Photos: Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
Page 33
Digital Bonus
CM
50th Anniversary logo embroidered on the seat headrests. Shale was fully used on the
interior, including components that usually were always black, such as the steering
wheel and dashboard to the center console facing. Convertibles had a Shale cloth top.
While Shale was exclusive to this package, it was carried over into 2004 for that
year's Le Mans Commemorative Edition, with the exception of a change in the headrest
embroidery to the regular C5 logo.
All 50th Anniversary packages also had unique alloy wheels, along with front-
fender badging, 1SC equipment package, and Magnetic Selective Ride control. Other
upgrade options—such as the CD changer and multiple roof panels—were available
if they didn't conflict with the package equipment.
Anniversary Edition déjà vu—not!
Unlike the 1978 25th Anniversary car, there was not an Indy Pace Car edition.
Why? Well, the 50th Anniversary Edition premiered before the 2003 model year—at
the 86th running of the Indy 500 on May 26, 2002.
GM wanted to get a marketing jump on marketing 50 years of America's Only True
Sports Car, so when the Corvette was once again selected to pace the race in 2002,
it was as an early opportunity to plug the 50th Anniversary. Bowling Green actually
built the first three 2003 50th Anniversary editions in February 2002—with a slew of
2002s built after them through the end of July.
These three cars were not dolled-up 2002s or prototypes. They were the first three
Model Year 2003 units, with 2003 federal certifications and VINs 1G1YY22G535100001,
100002, and 100003.
Instead of the usual convertibles, these pace cars were mildly tweaked coupes—
reportedly with aftermarket exhaust, different ECU programming, suspension stiffening,
transmission upgrades, and mandatory safety equipment—but otherwise stock
for primary and backup pace car duty. None of the three were festival or parade cars.
Chevrolet did provide three 2002 Speedway White Corvette convertibles as well
as 62 2002 silver Camaro Z/28 convertibles for dignitary /VIP use for the race week
festivities—all with only the race logo for 2002. In addition, 33 Quicksilver and 33
Millennium Yellow 2002 convertibles also participated in the 500 Festival parade. All
of these vehicles were standard production—albeit with Indy 500 race door graphics—and
were sold though usual sales channels throughout the Midwest.
One of the three pace cars was given to driver Helio Castroneves and Penske
Racing for winning the race, which followed Indy 500 tradition. GM kept VIN 001,
which paced the start of the race with actor Jim Caviezel behind the wheel.
But I wanna buy a pace car!
When the 50th Anniversary package started hitting the showroom floors in the fall
of 2002, there wasn't an RPO for a replica pace car. To meet the limited demand for
a lookalike car, customers could special order a non-GM aftermarket decal kit from
the dealer's parts counter to install on a 50th Anniversary Edition—or on any C5 for
that matter. These kits are still available from aftermarket parts suppliers, and they
generally cost about $500.
During the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2003, Corvette fans
were a bit disappointed. The pace car was indeed a Chevrolet, but it was a SSR convertible
car/truck/thingy. It was the new kid on the block, and it was officially called
the “Official Pace Vehicle.” A Corvette convertible was
back to lead the Indy 500 field a year later in 2004, but
it was a totally unique graphics package that had nothing
at all akin to the Le Mans Commemorative, nor was
it available even as an accessory graphics kit. As far
as Chevy dealers were concerned, a Dodge Ram could
have just as well been the pace car…ahem…vehicle.
So what happened here?
With plummeting resale values on C5s, what exactly
happened here with our feature car?
As it has a standard-issue 2003 VIN, it is definitely a
regular-issue 50th Anniversary package, with the 2003
Indy Pace Car graphics added on sometime after it left
the assembly line. In fact, the unit sequence number is
fairly late in the model year—number 27,080 of 35,469
total Corvettes for 2003.
It's not realistic that the original buyer was willing
to pay a $10k premium to have a set of decals put on
an otherwise stock 50th Anniversary Edition. Indeed,
the general trend on limited-edition Corvettes is that
most owners will not mount decals or graphics that are
packed loose in the trunk when new, as they believe that
the unmounted decals will be worth more in the future.
Our results show following that strategy sometimes
works and sometimes doesn't.
So, it seems likely that the aftermarket Indy 500
decals were applied sometime after this car left the assembly
line.
The only logical equation for the price paid for this
car is the very low mileage—just 725 miles on this car.
Even so, 50th Anniversary Editions can still be found
with less miles—and untitled on the original MSO—for
no more that what was paid here. Mecum certainly
didn't pump it up as something it wasn't. In fact, their
staff Corvette consignment specialist told me in preparation
for this profile that he thought that this car was
pretty unremarkable, and he wondered why we picked it
to write about in the first place.
Hopefully, the final bidder was willing to pay a pre-
mium for exactly what it was, a “still-in-the-wrapper”
example rather than getting blinded by the Xirallic
Crystal Red mist of the auction and thinking it was the
pace car that it never was. Nonetheless, I would have to
call this Corvette very well sold indeed. ■
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
Seat Time
Sam Green, via email: I own a 2003 50th
Anniversary coupe. I got the car for my 50th birthday
on Oct. 12, 2002. It now has 13,500 miles on it, and
the car is still in my garage. This was my first Corvette,
and I wanted one all my life. Now, I own three—a
1978 Pace Car, a 2000 convertible and the 2003 50th
Anniversary coupe.
I love the coupe, but I try to not to drive it as
much, now that I have the convertible. The convertible
really belongs to my wife because I bought it for
her because she had endured nine months of chemotherapy
and two months of radiation treatment
and is now cancer-free, so I felt like she deserved
something special.
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 35
Page 34
C6 profile
by Geoff Archer
A Selection of C6s that sold recently on eBay
2008 Z06 Coupe and 44-foot Marine
Technology Catamaran
This may be the ultimate concoction of boyhood fantasy and grown-up
horsepower
chrome Z06 wheels, Z06 sill plates, a stinger-style stripe on the front hood and fascia,
chrome exterior badges and a painted Z06 spoiler and body-color door handles. Inside,
the Corvette contains a Dark Titanium leather-wrapped interior and special Crystal
Red center trim plate. All 505 of the limited-edition Corvettes were signed and numbered
in the center console area by Wil Cooksey, who retired in 2006 after 15 years as
the Corvette plant manager.
This vehicle also features 427 hood badges and engine cover emblems and 427 seat
T
and floor mat embroidery. There are 799 miles on the clock.
This Marine Technology catamaran was themed after a 2008 Special Edition
Corvette Z06—with all the original GM parts used in the build, such as original headlights,
taillights, gauges, door panels, steering wheel, gear shift, engine cowlings, door
seals and so on. Also included are two large 12-inch Garman GPS navigation monitors,
rear entertainment, front and rear camera system, and LED neon cockpit lighting.
A true state-of-the-art sound system was installed which includes a customized
speaker pod which comes out of the front deck and rear speakers off the swim platform.
This boat is also equipped with a custom interior to match the Z06 Corvette,
which includes air conditioning out of the factory vents and AC seats.
In the uniquely designed engine room, you will find a red carbon fiber trim pack-
age, polished stainless fittings and bolt heads, an LED neon lighting package and a pair
of fresh Mercury 1,075/1,200-horsepower dual fuel engines.
This boat is fully functional and ready to perform or be displayed in a museum. The
“Z044” has a long pedigree of awards, which includes the Florida Powerboat Club's
2009 Miami Boat Show President Award. Due to the performance aspect of this boat,
36 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
This limited-edition Corvette was one of 505 cars built specifically for North
America, and they are the only 2008 Z06s available in Crystal Red Metallic tint
coat.
Sporting a 7.0L 427-ci LS7 V8 engine with 505 horsepower, the vehicle has
included with the purchase is a pre-paid training course
at a performance boat school.
Details
Years Produced 2008
Number Produced 7,731 (505 of this special edition)
Original List Price $84,200 (for the Corvette)
CM Valuation $57,000-$62,500
Tune-up $ 275
Distributor Cap N/A (Eight ignition coils at $120 each)
Chassis # Driver's side dash top at windshield
base
Engine # Pad forward of the cylinder head on
right side
Club
Corvette Club of America
P.O. Box 9879
Bowling Green, KY 42102
More www.corvetteclubofamerica.com
Alternatives
2008 Ford Mustang GT500 KR,
2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10,
2008 Corvette Z06
CM Investment
Grade C
Photos: Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
Page 35
Digital Bonus
CM
CM Analysis Lot 1303, which includes a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 coupe, a 2010
MTI Custom 44' Catamaran, and 2006 America Tilt Display Trailer, sold
for $742,500, including buyer's commission, at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction in
Scottsdale, AZ. This was the high sale of the auction.
Several years ago I employed an exotic car salesman who referred to his instant-
gratification, hard- partying lifestyle as “high school with cash.”
Of course, this metaphor, which describes what happens when a childish penchant
for frivolous playthings meets the power of a big paycheck, is not new to our industry.
Many high-end car showroom and car club names play with the theme of big boy toys or
automobile-related candy stores. Come to think of it, several small-scale performance
car manufacturers likely operate—or operated—on this same principle.
What we have here is such an extreme display of this meme that it is hard to imagine
life will ever be the same. Perhaps someone else will now be inspired to one-up the
Z044 with a helicopter that is also a Harley-Davidson (oh wait, that's been done), a
Lamborghini SUV (remember the LM-002?), a Sherman-tank-engined car (thank you
Jay Leno) or an amphibious Ford F-150 (also done) or some other preposterous concoc-
tion of boyhood fantasy and grown-up horsepower.
More than likely, however, given this astound-
ing transaction price, I would think we're looking at a
WaterChev' moment. No automobile deri-vette-ive will
top this over-the-top moment. But hey, if you are going to
try, you should probably leave enough ground clearance
to hang some trailer-hitch testicles made of gold-plated
bowling balls.
Well sold or bought? Neither—or both. The guy who
bought it could afford it, and presumably the exchange
of cash for Crystal Red Metallic product worked for him.
Who knows how much the seller had “invested,” but now
he's got a sizeable wad of dough with which to pursue his
next fantasy. Let's just call this deal well done for all. ■
(Introductory
description
Jackson.)
courtesy
of
BarrettHarley
Copter
LM-002
Leno's tank-engined special
Amphibious F-150
Seat Time
Sam Green, via email: There's a book called 1000 Places to See Before You Die (by Patricia Schultz, Workman Publishing). Well, while owning several sports and
GT cars, such as a Lamborghini Islero, Lotus Esprit Turbo and Porsche 928S4, I decided there was “One Thing a Car Guy Needs to Do Before He Dies.”
This would be to have a sports car that is capable of 0-60 mph times of under 4 seconds—and have a chassis and brakes to match the performance. So, I
acquired a 2008 Corvette Z06. It fulfilled the dream, and without a doubt, provided the best bang for the buck of any car in this
league. I drove it for over 32,000 miles throughout the Southwestern U.S.—in day-to-day commuting and on long trips and vacations.
I would have loved to have had some track time, but alas, it was a leased car, so that was not to be.
I truly enjoyed the blistering acceleration and confident handling in cornering. At any speed, I felt secure with the massive
brakes. There was never a service problem in three years, but tires only lasted between 10,000 and 20,000 miles (I went through
three sets). The suspension was definitely bumpy over uneven pavement, but that was expected with this car, and it was never a
problem for me.
The fit and finish were very good, and there were never any shakes or rattles. Luggage space was plentiful for a two-week trip, and in long-distance interstate
driving, the very tall 6th gear was capable of 90 mph at barely 2,000 rpm, while fuel economy was well above 26 mpg on such drives. Have your cake, and eat it
too!
It was truly a great experience for three years, and I was very hesitant to return the Z06 to the lease company. If you can acquire one, I highly recommend it!
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 37
Page 36
Market Report
Overview
Winter Corvette Auctions See Strong Results
Consumer confidence was up across the U.S., bringing many rare and
high-quality Corvettes to market
by Jim Pickering
2011 followed a general trend of upward movement on
nearly all generations, from highly-restored C1s through
late-model special edition C6s. The best cars again
brought the best money, while driver-quality cars were
tougher to sell.
However, as we saw in the summer of 2010, good
T
condition Corvettes priced at $100k and under also saw
a notable boost in sales, which was indicative of the return
of middle-market buyers looking to turn cash into
cars. And improving market conditions from September
through January drew even more high-quality Corvettes
to auction than we saw this summer, both in collections
and individually, which helped a number of auction
events increase their bottom lines over the marks set this
time last year.
The annual Scottsdale and Phoenix auctions in
January saw a hefty increase in overall final totals,
from $126m in 2010 to nearly $160m this year, showing
the market to still be on the move, and not far from the
all-time high of $167m achieved in the pre-crash days
of 2007. In total, 222 Corvettes were offered at BarrettJackson,
Russo and Steele, RM Auctions, Gooding
and Company, Silver Auctions, and MotoeXotica in
Arizona this January, with 192 selling for a final total
of $13.8m—a comfortable increase from the $10.8m
achieved for 152 cars in 2010.
Barrett-Jackson was again the volume leader of the
entire Arizona auction week, with a gross total of 1,245
cars crossing the auction block. As an all-no-reserve
event, everything sold, totaling a combined $68.5m in
sales. Corvettes were out in
force under the WestWorld
tents, with 140 available
accounting for nearly $11m
of the overall total.
Senior Auction Analyst
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
Carl Bomstead noted custom
cars to be the biggest
surprise this year, with several
six-digit sale results,
which suggest the market
has warmed to high-end
modifications.
Russo and Steele's
Scottsdale event was the
biggest news of 2010, with
high winds leveling tents
38 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
he American car market has seen remarkable
growth during the past year, and Corvettes were
a large part of that success. Sales held during the
closing months of 2010 and the opening months of
Top Ten Sales This Issue
1. 1963 Corvette 327/210 convertible,
$440,000—Lot S70, p. 60
2. 1957 Corvette 283/283 Fuelie roadster,
$374,000—Lot 213, p. 58
3. 1964 Corvette 396/375 coupe,
$308,000—Lot S73, p. 62
4. 1959 Corvette custom
convertible, $253,000—Lot 1279, p. 42
5. 1967 Corvette 427 convertible,
$209,000—Lot 1289, p. 45
6. 1953 Corvette 235/150 roadster, $198,000—Lot S705, p. 54
7. 1964 Chevrolet Corvette 327/210 Bill Mitchell XX styling coupe, $176,000—Lot S72, p. 62
8. 1967 Corvette 427/435 convertible, $176,000—Lot 214, p. 64
9. 1962 Corvette 327/360 Fuelie convertible, $176,000—Lot 1276, p. 44
10. 1953 Corvette 235/150 raodster, $170,500—Lot 1293, p. 42
Best Buys
1. 1964 Chevrolet Corvette 327/210
Bill Mitchell XX styling coupe,
$176,000—Lot S72, p. 62
2. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/210
convertible, $440,000—Lot S70, p. 60
3. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/390
coupe, $84,700—Lot 1339, p. 45
4. 1984 Chevrolet Corvette 350/205
coupe, $4,100—Lot 19, p. 72
5. 1961 Chevrolet Corvette 283/245
convertible, $60,950—Lot S261, p. 48
and smashing scores of cars, including a handful of original and restored Corvettes.
This year's event went off without a hitch, with overall sales of $20m again second only
to a $20.1m total achieved in 2007. When all was said and done, 26 of 39 Corvettes
sold for $1.3m.
Across the U.S., Mecum returned to Kissimmee, FL, in late January for its annual
“Muscle Cars and More” event, where overall final totals chimed in north of $41m. In
total, 166 of 229 Corvettes sold here for $7.3m, which compared well to the 119 of 147
sold here for $5.7m last year. And although Barrett-Jackson was still the largest overall
event in terms of attendance, Mecum had more cars, both overall and in terms of
Corvettes. Auction Analyst Dale Novak noted quite a bit of bidder interest throughout
all five days of the sale, with literally something for everyone in the market for a
Corvette.
The best and brightest cars continue to be the Corvettes of choice among buyers
at auction, and while bidders continue to be careful with their money, it's clear that
market conditions continue to improve, and buyers are not afraid to spend to get the
Corvette they've always wanted.
Page 38
Market
Report
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
40th Annual Scottsdale Collector Car Auction
Strong Corvettes brought exceptional money under the big tent in
Scottsdale, with 140 no-reserve cars making almost $11m
Company
Barrett-Jackson
Date
January 18-23, 2011
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Auctioneers
Assiter & Associates. Tom
“Spanky” Assiter, lead
auctioneer
Corvettes sold/offered
140/140 (100%)
Corvette sales total
$10,993,000
Corvette high sale
2010 Marine Technology
Custom Corvette 44-foot
catamaran, custom
trailer, and 2008 Corvette
Z06 coupe, sold at a
combined $742,500
Buyer's premium
1954 Corvette roadster, sold for $88,000
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
W
ant to find out what a Corvette is worth in today's ever changing market?
Well, just offer 140 finely-turned-out examples at the world's largest all-noreserve
auction and let the fur fly. That's exactly what Barrett-Jackson did at
their 40th anniversary auction in Scottsdale, Arizona this January.
The offerings were for the most part exceptional, especially those featured in the
main tent adjoining the auction area. There were six ‘54s offered, and they sold between
$62,700 and $104,500, with the more expensive price going to a recently restored
example that was finished in Pennant Blue. Strong number two examples were in the
high $70s to low $80s, which follow recent market trends for these second-year cars.
Thirteen '67s crossed the stage, and as expected, the well-optioned big-blocks
again brought serious money. An unrestored
100% original 427/435 with only 17,800 original
miles quickly blew past the $200k mark
and sold for $242,000. An exceptional 427/435
with a long list of NCRS awards and the original
tank sticker brought $209,000 and four of
the other 427 cars sold for six figures each.
A 2011 Corvette LeMans Racing Z06
coupe created by Chevrolet with VIN 001
to celebrate Corvette's 50 years of LeMans
racing heritage sold for $231,000, with all
proceeds to benefit the National Corvette
Museum. Additionally, a 2008 Z06 sold here,
paired with a 44-foot custom Corvette catamaran
boat and trailer (see profile pg. 36). The
combination made $742,500, topping BarrettJackson's
list of sales for the week.
One of this year's biggest surprises was the
40 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Barrett-Jackson Sales Total
$12m
$10m
$8m
$6m
$4m
$2m
0
strength of the custom Corvette market. Eighteen examples
crossed the block, and for the most part, they did
exceptionally well. A ‘59 with an LS7 505-horsepower
V8 engine under the hood realized $253,000, and a ‘57
with an LS3, custom air, C4 rear brakes, and polished
suspension along with a bunch of other goodies brought
$187,000. Seven of the others sold in excess of $100,000,
which shows the current market, at least at B-J, is very
receptive to individual creations.
As with most auctions, all was not thumbs-up and
smiles. A ‘53 Corvette with VIN 243 was offered
along with a 50th Anniversary Corvette with the same
VIN and color combination. The ‘53 had a long list of
Bloomington and NCRS awards, and the 2003 had only
21 miles on the clock. It was an impressive pair that sold
for $170,500. The problem was that the seller had purchased
the cars at the Barrett-Jackson auction in January
'05 for $297,000, and he was overheard stating the he
was expecting a sizable profit. The market spoke when
the hammer fell, and he's licking a $127,000 hurt.
In general, the Corvette market has been a bit soft
of late, but the results of Barrett-Jackson's January
event proved that strong cars will still bring exceptional
money, and very good Corvettes are on their way back.
And although each of this year's Arizona auctions saw
increases this year, Barrett-Jackson was again the volume
leader in every category—a fitting tribute for the
company's 40th anniversary. ■
10%, included in sold
prices
2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2006
2005
2004
2003
Page 40
Market
Report
C1
TOP 10
No. 10
#1293-1953 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE roadster. S/N
E53F001243. Polo White/beige can-
vas/red vinyl. Odo: 22,529 miles. 235-ci 150hp
I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Numerous awards,
including Triple Crown, Bloomington Gold,
and Gold Spinner. Was once in Corvette
Classic Museum. Minor issues with paint.
Offered as a combo with 2003 50th Anniversary
Corvette with VIN and colors that match the
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
correct for car but not documented. Original
3-speed converted to T-10 4-speed. Optional
Wonderbar radio and deluxe heater. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $77,000. If all were in order, we
would be looking at a sale well into six figures.
Lack of documentation on 283/283 Fuelie an
issue, and transmission change makes it even
more questionable. As such, drive and enjoy,
but don't let any NCRS judges get too close.
#1248.1-1957 CHEVROLET
'53. Only showing 23 miles on the clock. A
unique combination. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$170,500. This pair of matching Corvettes was
purchased at the 2005 Scottsdale auction for
$297,000 (CM #37010), so the seller came out
upside-down by $127,000 or so. In today's
world, the '53 is worth about what was paid
here, making the as-new 2003 thrown in for
free. Seller is licking his wounds, and buyer is
smiling.
#1332.2-1954 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE roadster. S/N E54S001340.
Polo White/beige canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 341
miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto.
Complete restoration completed in 2004. Well
maintained since, with less than 400 miles
added. One row of stitching missing on driver's
seat. Seven-year-old paint very presentable.
Very nice brightwork. Slightly over-restored.
Black paint with silver coves. Well fited interior.
Second Flight NCRS with 93.6 points. A
striking '57. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $93,500. The
radio was only a $200 option in '57 but now
adds over a grand to the package. Price paid
was about right right for a 1957 283 car with
dual fours. Expensive but a quality car. You
would be hard pressed to find one and do it to
this standard for price paid. Fair all around.
#1264.2-1958 CHEVROLET
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $71,500. 1954 Corvettes
have been off their high of a few years back
and need to be of exceptional quality to bring
the money. There was little to fault here, and I
would not have been surprised to see another
$10k or so. As such, well bought.
#1253.2-1957 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N E57S100288.
Venetian Red & white/white vinyl/red vinyl.
Odo: 96,422 miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected
V8, 4-sp. If anything, over-restored. Paint very
acceptable, good brightwork, trunk sitting a bit
high. New interior properly installed. Engine
42 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
CORVETTE convertible. S/N J58S101747.
Snowcrest White & Inca Silver/white hard top/
red vinyl. Odo: 50,846 miles. 283-ci 250-hp
Gold and Gold Spinner. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$154,000. This car had a long list of awards
and deserved them all. Price paid was well
beyond the levels mentioned in CM's price
guide, but this was about as good as it gets.
Well sold, but new owner has the bragging
rights.
TOP 10
No. 4
#1279-1959 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE custom convertible.
S/N J59S101185. Yellow & white/tan
vinyl/buckskin leather. Odo: 273 miles. 7.0-L
505-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. An over-the-top
custom presentation of a '59 Corvette with
LS7 engine that powered the 2006 Z06. 4L65E
transmission with C4 suspension. Custom
frame with EVON wheels. Power disc brakes
and steering, pneumatic hood and trunk.
Everything polished and highly detailed.
Limited use since completion. The ultimate
CORVETTE convertible. S/N E57S103252.
Onyx Black/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 230
miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Bodyoff
restoration completed last year. Stated to be
numbers-matching with correct date codes.
Radio delete, which was the case with about
half the '57s. Positraction rear end. Rich Onyx
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Attractive paint color
combo, new interior properly installed, engine
well detailed. Numbers-matching and date
code-correct, with breakdown of casting and
date code numbers provided by seller. Fitted
with correct Borg Warner T-10 transmission
dated 11-1-57. Original tag still on fuel injection.
Fully documented. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$121,000. A no-questions '58 Fuelie that was
assembled December of 1957. Block was cast
November 15, 1957. Sold for strong-but-notunreasonable
money, considering the condition
and full documentation. Fair all around.
#1259.1-1959 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N J59S107093.
Inca Silver/silver vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 2,536
miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Less
than 1,000 '59s painted in Inca Silver. Well
maintained with no swirls or surface scratches.
Excellent trim fit. Interior properly fitted.
NCRS Duntov Award in 2001, numerous chapter
and regional awards, plus Bloomington
Page 41
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Page 42
Market
Report
Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
Corvette custom. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$253,000. This was offered at prime time
Saturday night for maximum exposure. Every
performance mod conceivable had been integrated
into the well-planned custom design,
but at a steep price. Two bidders had to have it,
so the final price came as a surprise to everyone.
With limited prior exposure, the car is
now ready for the show circuit.
#1321.1-1959 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE custom convertible. S/N
J59S107590. Black/red leather. 5.7-L 350-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Original '59 body
mounted on custom chassis with C4 suspension.
Fitted with LS1 engine first used in the
'97 Corvette. 4-speed automatic 4L60E transmission.
Power windows and steering, a/c,
the package here. The knockoffs are valued at
$10k and the teak wheel at $2k. The price paid
was up there, so apparently the restamped
block did not scare anyone away. Well sold.
#1277.1-1967 CHEVROLET
leather interior, four-wheel power disc brakes,
Cottington wheels, and custom stereo. Little to
fault on striking presentation. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $132,000. Custom Corvettes were well received
in Arizona this year and sold for stronger-than-expected
money. This was just one of
several that were flawless and very well presented.
TOP 10
No. 9
#1276-1962 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
20867S110884. Tuxedo Black/black
vinyl/fawn vinyl. Odo: 761 miles. 327-ci 360hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Owned by the same
family for 35 years. Restored to perfection by
an NCRS judge who knew how far he could go
and still win Top Flight and Duntov Mark of
Excellence awards. Points lost were for over-
LS1 engine, C4 Newman Car Creations frame
and suspension. Vintage Air. All polished suspension
parts, 2002 Corvette 17-inch wheels.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $132,000. A well-designed
custom with exceptional paint that must have
cost a small fortune, it was overall more subtle
than several of the other customs offered. Price
paid seemed reasonable enough, considering
the quality of the workmanship.
C2
#1237.2-1965 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194675S103981. Milano Maroon/black vinyl/
black vinyl. Odo: 76,425 miles. 327-ci 375-hp
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Stated to be a frame-off
restoration with matching numbers, but no
documentation that the engine was born with
the car. Gaps and panels are excellent and exceed
anything that ever came out of
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194677S104345. Sunfire Yellow/black vinyl/
black vinyl. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl 4-sp. An
older restoration that was freshened up in
2007. Documented with tank sticker, original
order and photos of restoration. Side exhaust
added from another Corvette.
20867S104548. Candy Apple Red/black fabric/black
leather. Odo: 70 miles. 5.7-L 350-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. A five-year project that
was recently completed. Limited test miles
since. Paint by House of Kolor, late-model
Power steering and disc brakes. 3:31 Posi rear
end, a/c added. Attractive color combination
on well maintained 427 that shows a bit of age.
A strong driver. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $84,700.
This was a middle-of-the-road price for a car
that was a bit better than that. The documentation
helped but the added stuff did not. A well
bought car if you wanted a good driver, and
there's no problem with that.
#1267.1-1967 CHEVROLET
St. Louis. Engine rebuilt. New exhaust, carpet,
and top. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $60,500. For an
L84 Fuelie restored to this level, the price was
well under the money. Six figures would not
have been unreasonable, but “matching numbers”
is meaningless without documentation.
restoration. Multiple NCRS awards.
Bloomington Gold-certified. Both tops. List of
other awards as long as your arm. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $176,000. The best of the best
comes with a steep price tag. The new owner
paid a premium of about $40k for the privilege.
That, however, will be quickly forgotten when
he receives his first of many best-in-class
awards. Well bought and sold.
#1260.2-1962 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE custom convertible. S/N
44 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
#1289.1-1966 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194676S101055. Nassau Blue/dark blue vinyl/
dark blue vinyl. Odo: 67 miles. 427-ci 450-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Three Top Flight Awards in
2000. Complete restoration with restampled
but period-correct block. Only 67 miles since
restoration. Original knockoffs, sidepipes, and
teak steering wheel. M21 4-speed manual and
original radio. L72 big-block a $300 option. A
most desirable '66 Corvette. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $143,000. The original options completed
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194677S103489. Silver Pearl/silver leather.
Odo: 48,355 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. An original unrestored Corvette with full
documentation, including Bill of Sale and
Protect-O-Plate. Low miles also documented.
Has both tops. Radio delete an unusual option,
seen on only about 700 '67s. Earned an NCRS
Duntov award in 1998 and has been well main
Page 43
tained since, but showing signs of age. A most
unusual time capsule. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$79,200. This was middle-of-the-road money
for an unmolested, fully documented L68 with
Tri-Power. The car could have easily been bid
into the low six-figures without much question.
As such, well bought, and I just hope the new
owner continues to maintain it in its present
condition.
#1320-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S103753. Marlboro
Maroon/black vinyl. Odo: 60,244 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Zero miles on a recent
extensive restoration. Four NCRS Top
Flight Awards prior to restoration. Quality
respray with black stinger. Matching numbers
documented with build sheet and window
rang the bell. The L88s and L89s tend to bring
serious money, but this was up there as well,
considering the restamped block and age of
restoration.
Best Buy #1339-1967 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE coupe. S/N 194377S115675.
Eng. # 3904351. Rally Red/black leather. Odo:
7,012 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Recent restoration of a numbers-matching 427
Corvette. Paint to high standard, trim not
scratched or damaged. New leather interior.
Rare factory a/c was on fewer than 4,000 cars
and cost over $400. Rally wheels and side
C6
#1565-2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY26UX75139723. Red/
white/blue/black leather. Odo: 41,775 miles.
6.0-L 400-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. The official
Basketball Hall of Fame Corvette. Signed
by members of the 1982 and 1960 Olympic
Basketball Team. Porceeds to benefit the
Child's Safety Network. Package included
photographs of all the players and a VIP pack-
sticker. Stunning restoration. About as good as
it gets. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $154,000. It's difficult
to say a Corvette was well bought at this
price, but this one was. A desirable big-block
with Tri-Power that had been restored to perfection.
If you want the best, you have to dig
deep.
TOP 10
No. 5
#1289-1967 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194677S114980. Rally Red/white
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 46,118 miles. 427-ci 435hp
V8, 3 x 2-bbl, 4-sp. Numerous awards in
mid-'90s including Duntov in 1998.
Bloomington Gold certified. Power brakes,
windows, and top. Sidepipes. Period-correct
427 restampted block. Documented with tank
sticker and original invoice. Exceptional Rally
pipes. AM/FM radio. Engine well detailed. A
quality restoration. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$84,700. This was last seen at B-J's 2006
Scottsdale sale, where it sold for $92,800 (CM
#40577). It was stated then that the Corvette
was in need of serious attention and that the
price paid was difficult to understand. Well, the
car got a quality restoration, and today it
found a new owner, with the seller left deep
underwater. Well bought.
#1327-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
custom convertible. S/N 1947677S112606.
Black/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 292
miles. 7.0-L 638-hp fuel-injected V8, 5-sp.
Triple-black with 427 red stinger hood and
flared rear fenders for wider tires. Exceptional
paint. LS7 engine with Tremec 5-speed manual
transmission. Upgraded C4 suspension. Lots
age at the 2011 Hall of Fame cermonies that
was valued at $4,000. Just the ticket if you are
a fan of the early NBA years. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $27,000. This 2007 Corvette sold for about
what a plain old version would go for, so the
NBA stuff was all for naught. If you have a use
for it, it was well bought considering all other
the goodies offered.
#1246.1-2009 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE custom coupe. S/N
1G1YY26WX95114907. Silver/red leather.
Odo: 13 miles. 6.2-L 430-hp fuel-injected V8,
6-sp. Brand new 2009 Corvette coupe with
custom '63 Split-Window body. Equipped with
LS3 engine and 6-speed transmission. Miles
on the odo from just a couple times
Red paint with black stinger. A stunning example,
but showing signs of age. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $209,000. An exceptional fullydocumented
L71 big-block convertible that
of brightwork under the hood, billet serpentine
belts, custom headers. With power windows,
brakes, and steering, plus a/c. Looks wicked
quick. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $93,500. Custom
Corvettes were out in force, and for the most
part, they sold well. This one was no exception.
Except for the wheels, it looked pretty much
factory until you opened the hood. I doubt you
could build it for the price paid.
around the block and still under GM warranty.
The refined engineering of the C6 with a period
look. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $148,500. A unique
and well-engineered custom 2009 Corvette.
Price paid was up there for a novelty, but I'm
willing to bet the seller did not make any money
on the deal. A striking car if custom Corvettes
were your thing. ■
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 45
Page 44
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Kissimmee, FL
Kissimmee High Performance Auction
This east coast alternative has rapidly become the largest single-site
offering, in terms of numbers of cars offered, in January displacing even
Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale
Company
Mecum Auctions
Date
January 26-30, 2011
Location
Kissimmee, Florida
Auctioneers
Mark Delzell, Jimmy
Landis, Bobby
McGlothlen, Mike
Hagerman, Matt
Moravec, and Jeff Knosp
Corvettes sold/offered
166/229 (73%)
Corvette sales total
$7,371,040
Corvette high sale
1955 roadster, S/N 002,
sold at $180,200
1968 L88 convertible, sold for $174,900
Report and photos by Dale Novak
Market opinions in italics
made the tactical decision to expand this year's auction from four to five days of “car
guy” fun in the sun. Once again, Mother Nature cooperated and provided excellent
weather—the kind that brings snowbirds down in flocks from all points north. The
sales rate wasn't too shabby either, with 68% of the overall lots sold. From Wednesday
through Friday, the sales rate was tracking a notch above a jaw-dropping 77%. With
final totals up to $41m over last year's $26.5m, it's no wonder Mr. Mecum was smiling
so much.
Perhaps with the exception of Mecum's Bloomington Gold sale held each June
E
in St. Charles, IL, Mecum's Kissimmee sale
has more Corvettes on offer than most any
other venue. In fact, this year's sale put 229
up for grabs, with 166 finding new homes. If
you came looking for a Corvette, there was
something for just about every buyer, regardless
of whether they were looking for a C1 or
C6. Cars on offer here ranged from a wellpresented
first-year 1953, lot S114, which was
a no sale at $170,000, to a driver-level 1989
Corvette finding a new home for $6,500.
The highest-selling Corvette was lot U170,
a 1955 roadster from the Bob McDorman
Collection, which brought a very high
$180,200. This was noted as serial number
two and was finished in Polo White over a red
interior. At the McDorman sale, held only a
46 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Mecum Sales Total
$12m
$10m
$8m
$6m
$4m
$2m
0
Every January, I make my way to Kissimmee, Florida for Mecum's winter sale.
This year's event, entitled “Muscle Cars & More,” was held from January 26-30,
2011 at the same location as in previous years—the Osceola Heritage Park.
Coming off a 71% sell-through rate in 2010, Dana Mecum and company
Buyer's premium
$300 up to $5,499; $500
from $5,500 to $9,999; 6%
thereafter, included in
sold prices. Phone and
internet bids add 2% (not
included here).
few months prior in November of 2010, the same car
was sold for $143,000. You simply can't complain about
a tidy $40,000 gross profit—commissions, fees and
transporting costs notwithstanding. Well played for the
short-term owner.
Other notables included lot S106, a 1968 L88
Corvette convertible, which changed hands at $174,900,
lot S149, a 1967 427/400 three-time NCRS Top Flight
winner, which made $153,700, and lot S130, a 1967
427/435 coupe which sold at $143,100.
Even the often overlooked C4s and C5s saw solid
results here, with a Lingenfelter-tuned 650-hp 40th
Anniversary edition ZR-1, lot W269, finding a new
owner for $37,100. For a more pedestrian example, if
you can call any C4 ZR-1 coupe that, a 1990 offered
as lot W266 sold at $21,200. A 2003 50th Anniversary
coupe with Indy 500 Pace Car graphics brought a very
stout $39,750 (see profile on p. 34,) while another 50th
Anniversary convertible without the Pace car package
made $24,910.
Mecum's Kissimmee sale continues to grow and gain
enthusiastic interest. It's a great east coast alternative to
the annual Arizona auctions, and has rapidly become
the largest single-venue offering in January, in terms of
numbers of cars offered, outdoing even Barrett-Jackson
in Scottsdale. And with excellent weather, a wide array
of well-organized consignments, and a variety of price
points available, it's the perfect place to find that next
Corvette for your garage. ■
2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2006
2005
2004
2003
Page 46
Market
Report
C1
#S114-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001127. White/red vinyl/
red vinyl. Odo: 162 miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6,
3x1-bbl, auto. Bloomington Gold certification,
matching numbers, stated to have been a
frame-off restoration. Wide gap on driver's
door, passenger's door not much
better.
Fiberglass body in poor condition, which corresponds
to build quality in 1953. Seats and
carpets appear newer, but balance of
Mecum Auctions
Kissimmee, FL
NCRS meet. I don't dish out #1 ratings casually,
so you can be assured this was a beautiful
example. Given the overall presentation, I'd
say the owner was wise to hold out for more.
Get it judged nationally with a good result and
see the value rise accordingly.
#S131-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S101137. Black/black
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 26,619 miles. 283-ci
270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent body-off
restoration. Numbers-matching engine, upgraded
4-speed transmission. Passenger's door
out, some sanding marks noted in paintwork,
as well as some fisheyes and some flat areas
under headlamps. Body shows some stress
cracking. Clean engine bay not in full show
condition but very close. Period battery
show use based on miles noted. Nothing major
or egregious, but does show some modest
wear. Pristine engine bay with virtually no
faults noted. Unique side exhaust system built
into body. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $124,550.
Resto-mods are usually good sellers at most
venues, since a guy gets all the looks of a pure
classic coupled with the energized thrills of a
late-model performance car—great handling,
brakes, and an air-conditioned cabin that is
usually fairly quiet as well. This was a fresh
build with less than 10,000 miles, and it looked
the part. These are market-based cars that usually
sell for well north of $100k when built
properly, and given this one's quality, I think
the buyer did well here.
Best Buy #S261-1961 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
interior looks older. Gauges lightly pitted.
Engine bay starting to show age and use. Cond:
3+. NOT SOLD AT $170,000. Last seen at
Mecum Auctions in Monterey, CA on August
15, 2009, where it was a no-sale at $170k
(CM# 141256). Lightning struck a second time
today, with the exact same high bid. '53s can
be hard to live with, due to the poor build quality
of the original bodies. That said, this was a
nice example with little to fault. One of only
300 built, so should always be a valuable car,
even if prices are down from the highs of a few
years ago. Apparently, it's going to take more
to buy the car.
#S247-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S002622. Red/tan cloth/red
vinyl. Odo: 8 miles. 250-ci 150-hp V6, 3x1bbl,
manual. Small dimple in bumper, chrome
light rings slightly pitting. Passenger door out.
Interior very tight and shows well. Very nice
engine bay presents as just about perfect in
most regards. Well done in just about every
area with the only faults being very nitpicky.
10867S109073. Black/white vinyl/red vinyl.
Odo: 58,490 miles. 283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl,
manual. Numbers-matching with desirable
2x4-bbl carb setup. Very straight body. Driver's
door wide at fender, trunk tight on passenger's
side. Seams showing in some areas of body,
crack across driver's fender has been repaired
but still shows under the black paint. Top a bit
faded and soiled in areas. Interior nice, but
installed. Carpet lightly faded. Appears to be
an older restoration. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$76,320. Overall, this was a very nice, drivable,
early-edition Corvette. The striking black
over red presentation looked good, but black
hides nothing, so it was easy to spot some of
the flaws in the paint and body. It was noted to
have been upgraded to a 4-speed, so we can
conclude it was originally born with a 3-speed.
1957s are sought-after Corvettes, and as this
one seemed to be correct in most regards, it
achieved a spot-on, market-correct price.
#S211-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
custom convertible. S/N J59S102546. Silver/
black cloth/red leather. Odo: 9,567 miles. 6.2-L
545-hp fuel-injected V8, 5-sp. LS3 Resto-mod.
Doors both out, other panel gaps
shows use. Engine bay presents well, but the
intake manifold is fuel-stained. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $60,950. This was reported to be a
frame-off restoration, but the car has started
aging since then. The matching-numbers engine
was a nice plus for the new owner, and it's
hard not to like a C1 in black-over-red. Given
the overall condition, popular color combo,
and original engine, I'd call this well bought.
Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $90,000. This was
reportedly an NCRS Florida Chapter Top
Flight recipient in January 2011, just prior to
the sale. It had also won Best of Show at the
48 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
look factory. Some sanding marks noted in
paintwork, one long subtle streak in hood paint
also noted. Interior looks almost new but does
#S109-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S107377. White/white
hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 16,958 miles. 283ci
315-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Competitionspec
Corvette. Driver's door sits wide, trunk
high at rear. Splits and tears in interior from the
driver being thrashed about. Includes SVRA
and HSR log books. A fully prepped race car,
and well used, judging by overall weathering.
Well worn, but every authentic. Cond: 4+.
SOLD AT $58,300. This was stated to be an
original Fuelie converted for racing right off
the showroom floor, as was often done. It was
fitted with the hard top only and dressed out in
the classic competition white-with-blue
Page 47
30837S108522. White/blue vinyl. Odo: 2,337
miles. 377-ci 591-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint in
driver condition but over a relatively nice
body. Glass scratched, black trim rough. Latermodel
Corvette seats. Driver-level engine bay
looks well used. Fuel cell fashioned into a
custom-built trunk area. Looks to be raceready
for a vintage venue. Fitted with 377/591
engine.
Autometer
gauges. Cond: 3-.
stripes. The car was ready for pretty much any
vintage racing venue and just seemed right to
me. Used, worn, weathered, and cool. The
buyer and seller agreed, and the car found a
new home.
#S239-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
custom convertible. S/N 10867S107934.
Black/black leather/black & silver leather.
Odo: 548 miles. 5.7-L 480-hp fuel-injected V8,
manual. Resto-modded with fuel-injected LS3
engine. Very nice paint, though some debris in
places. Interior presents as brand new, smells
like freshly upholstered leather. Chromed-out
under the hood and very clean. Replated
chrome done to high standards. Aftermarket
“Gasser,” at least loosely defined, refers to
drag cars which have been stripped of extraneous
weight and jacked up using a straight axle
up front to provide better weight distribution
on acceleration. A raised stock front suspension
is common as well, which is why they look
like they are under full “hole shot” acceleration
standing still. This simply oozed cool—it
literally shook the podium. With a few more
tweaks, it could go to a #1- in my book. High
bid seemed like enough to get the deal done,
given its limited usability.
#S280-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S101981. Silver/black. Odo:
18,654 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4x1-bbl,
manual. Paint shows blemishes, such as some
dry spray. Sanding marks and some areas of
heavy paint noted. Driver door out.
Weatherstripping a bit dry and cracked. Inner
fenders have been spray painted with no prep.
Previous possible repair noted. Interior in good
shape overall, no major flaws, just somewhat
weathered and tired. Undercarriage excellent.
SOLD AT $53,000. This was a cross between
a vintage racer and a modified race-ready road
car. It had all sorts of performance and safety
goodies installed and reportedly had been vintage
raced in the 1990s at Road America, Road
Atlanta, and Sebring, to name a few. It made
for a nice presentation and had all the looks of
an early 1960s road racer. I liked it. A fair deal
for both buyer and seller.
#S196-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
chrome Torq-Thrust-style wheels. C4 suspension
and brakes. Not much to fault in most regards.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $137,800. This
heavily resto-modded C1 looked to be very
well done. The tires and wheels were too small
and proportionately made the car look rather
odd, at least to me. Other than that and the
less-than-perfect paint, there was not much to
pick on. At this money, perhaps I'll trick out my
'59. Well sold.
Gasser
#S178-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S101454.
Maroon/black vinyl. Odo: 25,492 miles. 455-ci
850-hp supercharged V8, 4-sp. Blown gasser
Corvette. Less than ten miles since completion.
Lots of polished bits and pieces with an old
school “Super Chevy” presentation.
Undercarriage and paintwork extremely clean
and well done. Driver's door out, other panels
show a factory fit. Interior looks very nice, but
more as a weekend show car. Huge tires protrude
out of trimmed rear wheel wells. Cond:
2+. NOT SOLD AT $90,000. The term
coupe. S/N 30837S113585. Blue/black vinyl.
Odo: 28,712 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Period-correct 4-speed, incorrect shifter.
Interior nice but graded as a weekend driver.
Non-original engine. Glass scratched in areas,
small blister noted on roof, rocker panels in
poor condition. Paint and body present very
well, engine bay looks weathered and used but
not overly so. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $65,720.
Aftermarket a/c added. Power windows. Cond:
3+. NOT SOLD AT $66,000. Should be a nice,
usable split-window, thanks to the a/c and
power windows. The car card noted a recent
repaint, but it appeared to have been done in a
hurry, based on the finished presentation. But
the silver-over-black color combo looked fantastic
under the bright lights, and the car was
bid to a very respectable number. This was all
the money and then some, given the condition.
C2
#S174-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Grand Sport replica
coupe. S/N
The car card stated that the non-original engine
was mated to a “period-correct” 4-speed
transmission. That statement didn't instill
much confidence—was the car originally fitted
with an automatic? There was no documentation
offered, so most buyers simply walked
away puzzled. Still, this was a Split-Window a
guy could buy and easily improve, as all the
heavy lifting was done. But when you added it
all up, this was well sold.
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 49
Page 48
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Kissimmee, FL
#W248-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 40867S108506. Blue/white
vinyl/. Odo: 44,227 miles. 350-ci 300-hp V8,
4-sp. Street-style Corvette with period-style
and performance bits added. Paint poorly applied
but probably looked good on the block.
Chrome pitted. Cut wheelwells, patched
fender, odd bulge on driver's door, soiled top.
Big-block hood fitted. MSD ignition and vintage
a/c added. Hurst shifter. Odd felt seat inserts
and newer late-model seatbelts. Cond: 4+.
SOLD AT $36,040. This Corvette had all
stated to be original. The car looked the part,
so there was no reason to believe otherwise.
Included were the maintenance records and
original sales receipt, brochure, and factory
inspection sheet. If you were seeking an unmolested
and very original L79, this was the car
for you. Seller wanted $100k, but $77k was a
very fair offer, considering it can't be driven
without hurting the value.
#S138-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S104850. Blue/blue
vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 54,816 miles. 427-ci
400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Matching-numbers,
Tri-Power, Powerglide automatic, factory a/c,
power steering, and power brakes. Factory side
exhaust, Redline tires. Excellent paint with
very few flaws noted. Engine bay showing
some age but nevertheless very nice. Driver's
door in, other panels show factory fit. Hard top
$86,100 at Mecum's St. Charles, IL, sale in
2003 (CM# 31539), more recently a $200k nosale
at Mecum's Monterey, CA sale in August
2009 (CM# 141270). It was then rated a 3+, so
the car has seen some fluffing since. Past CM
records stated that the car was born wearing a
different color. Most of these in the CM database
brought something north of $300k, so either
something was amiss, or this was very
well bought. Seller was probably just tired of
trailering the car from auction to auction and
had to let it go.
sorts of “pay as you go” street modifications. It
was fitted with a rack-and-pinion steering system,
among other street performance add-ons.
Interior was stated to be less than two years
old, but the felt inserts detracted from the presentation.
Not sure what to do with this, other
than drive it into the ground. Might have
seemed cheap up on the block, and the new
owner exited the auction grounds like a bat out
of hell. Well sold.
#S277-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S116917. White/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 17,559 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Numbersmatching
with original miles. Windshieldsurround
a bit marred. Teak wheel, telescopic.
Was possibly hit, showing light damage to
front end with some small cracks noted in the
fender. Great patina to original, untouched interior.
Super engine bay, inspection marks and
stickers still present and look authentic.
#W249-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
included with car. Interior tight and showready.
A perpetual crowd pleaser. Documented
with tank sticker. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$129,850. Fresh restoration of a very desirable
mid-year Corvette. '67s are top of the heap for
mid-year valuations (along with '63 SplitWindows),
so the money paid here was expected
for the quality presented. This was a
great example of a 427/400 with nice options
that included the very desirable factory-installed
a/c. If it had a 4-speed, I think we could
have seen another $25k or more. That said, a
market-correct result.
C3
Undercarriage is very nice, as you expect it
would be, for a 1966 with under 18,000 miles.
Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $77,000. This
Corvette was reported to have had only two
owners from new, and the miles noted were
50 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
#S106-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S411010. Blue/black
vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 6,200 miles. 427-ci 430hp,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Nicely restored L88. No mention
of matching numbers, so assume not.
Some bubbling paint, heat damage on hood.
Driver's door out, other gaps very nice. Front
fender cracked and repaired. Clean engine bay
looks authentic, intake manifold lightly fuelstained.
Fitted with air pump for a very correct
presentation. Fireball at startup, which might
explain the bubbled paint on the hood. Stated
to be one of only 80 L88s built for the 1968
model year and very nicely presented. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $174,900. Last sold for
coupe. S/N 194378S418881. Silver/black
vinyl. Odo: 33,583 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8,
4-sp. Numbers-matching. Stated to have been
in storage for last 29 years, miles believed actual.
Dull paint lacking much luster. Rear end
hit and repaired, but poorly executed. Driver
door out. Splits on driver seat with seams
showing. Optional 4-speed, power windows,
and a/c. Factory work order included. Cond: 4.
NOT SOLD AT $27,000. I just bet this 1968
coupe looked really nice under the stage lights,
which were bright enough to illumine the dead
silver paint. Off the block, it was somewhat of
Corvette that needed everything. Although the
claims of it being stored are likely true, it was
obviously unloved and poorly cared for. Shame,
as it looked very nice walking up to it. I'm
shocked the owner didn't cut it loose.
#S272-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S732078. Gold/white
vinyl/. Odo: 54,541 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8,
3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Matching numbers, miles stated
to be original. Headlamp door cracked, top
showing some wrinkles and less-than-perfect
Page 49
fit. Interior is nice but no longer super tight.
Steering wheel column paint color is mismatched
and looks sloppy. Tired and weak
back in St. Charles. For a high-horse L89 with
needs, the market has spoken with remarkable
clarity and accuracy—three times in a row.
#S121-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S733696. Red/tan vinyl.
Odo: 86,355 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Numbers-matching 427. Fitted with a/c,
power steering, power brakes, and power windows.
Tilt wheel. Positraction and tinted glass.
Some light scratches, sanding marks, blemishes,
and overbuffed areas in paint.
Passenger's door out a small amount, other
gaps look good. Trim scratched. Clean and tidy
Original tires. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $25,970.
By the car card, and not looking closely at the
car in person, this would seem like a terrific
opportunity to acquire an Anniversary Edition
Corvette with under 100 original miles on it.
That said, given the miles, this made for a very
poor presentation. Obviously the car was not
properly stored, as it was no longer as crisp
and tight as you would expect, and the fact that
it had been painted raised more than a few
questions. Hopefully the new owner looked at
the car up close and in person and not from the
bidders seats. Well sold.
#W171-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
under the hood, showing use and age. L71 engine.
A decent driver. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$48,760. Last seen at Mecum's St. Charles, IL,
sale in June 2009, where it was a no-sale at
$36k (CM #120936). Pity, the car was a nice
driver and it had only seen 208 miles since
then. The 435-horse, triple-deuce engine can
bring money when planted in a mid-year ‘Vette,
which presumably will pull up the C3s in time.
That's always been the assumption anyway, but
it hasn't happened yet. The C2s seem to be
climbing back up in value, so watch for their
younger brothers to get better with age. A
market-correct result.
#S110-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194379S727012. Gold/black
leather. Odo: 45,309 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8,
3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Miles stated to be original.
Bubbles and blisters showing in the paint,
some dirt noted as well. Wrinkled paint noted
on rear deck area. Passenger's door out,
headlamp bucket a bit wide. Driver-grade interior,
with the driver's seat showing much use.
Clean under the hood, but shows plenty of use.
Optional 427/435 L89, side exhaust, and
coupe. S/N 1AY876XBS427563. Maroon.
Odo: 101,182 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Shabby paint cracked, fiberglass showing underlying
spider cracks as well. Fairly large
blister on driver's-side rear quarter panel.
Weatherstripping all poor and needs to be replaced.
Rear window tint film looks like it was
done with a spatula. Fright pig? Close
interior, weatherstrip is dry in areas and cracking.
Chassis in driver condition. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $55,120. This was reported to be a
frame-up restoration, and it looked the part. I
would suggest the car was decent to begin with
before it underwent a primarily cosmetic fluffing.
It showed very well at ten feet, but began
to unwind under closer inspection. It was
loaded with some nice options, and that presumably
helped the final bid here. A nice
Corvette, but the price paid was expensive for
a 390-horse coupe. Well sold.
Silver
#F245-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Anniversary coupe. S/N
1Z87L8S438302. Silver & gray/black vinyl &
cloth. Odo: 90 miles. 350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Actual miles stated at less than 100. Seats
with cloth inserts look reasonably good, but
with more wear than expected on a 90-mile car.
Both doors out, car was repainted at some
point and now looks cloudy and mottled.
Engine bay looks good and very original but
shows plenty of age, surface rust, and peeling
paint. Trim shows pitting and markings.
to it. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $10,500. This was
described as a one-owner example with all
paperwork and documents to prove the claim,
but who cares when the car is this rough?
Corvette owners have an old saying: There's
no such thing as an average Corvette; they're
either beat-to-death or pristine. This one was
just needed everything. Well sold, snorkel and
mask not included.
#W257-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY878XC5110254. Gold/tan
vinyl. Odo: 36,077 miles. 350-ci 200-hp V8,
auto. Same owner last 25 years. Rare code 56
Gold paint showing fisheyes and poor prep.
Small crack on taillight, soft nose gap buckled.
Door jambs well worn. Black trim freshly
tilt/telescopic steering column. Tank sticker
and other documentation included. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $65,720. A $67,000 no-sale at
Mecum's St. Charles, IL sale in June 2009 (CM
#120916), a $62,500 no-sale at Mecum's
Monterey, CA sale in August 2009 (CM
#141273), and finally sold today for about the
same money. Too bad the seller didn't let it go
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 51
Page 50
Market
Report
Mecum Auctions
Kissimmee, FL
painted. Interior has been touched up with dye
and paint. Factory a/c. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$17,490. Only 648 code 56 Gold coupes were
assembled in 1982. All 1982s were automatics,
so it's a level playing field in that regard. This
was the last year of the C3 body and arguably
the nicest looking of the post-steel-bumper
Corvettes. They seem to be gaining steam
quickly, so grab one if you can. Price was
about market-correct for one in this condition.
C4
#W273-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J6L5800973. Red/
tan leather. Odo: 11,761 miles. 350-ci 375-hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. LT5 4-cam 32-valve
engine. Displayed at the Bowling Green
Corvette Museum. All-original with all available
options in 1990. Driver's seat bolster
lightly worn, tires dry-rotted and need to be
replaced. Miles stated to be original. Paint
shows some light scratches, factory orange
peel and swirl marks. Close to show-
but other sources show 71 built (a minor disacrepancy).
This was a nice enough Callaway
and most likely a blast to pilot, though the
color was a shade of love-it-or-hate-it. The
upgraded Speedster engine produced 475
horses and 634 foot-pounds of torque, and this
may be the only Callaway so equipped. With
regards to bang for the buck, I'd call this well
bought.
#W269-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J0P5800103. Red/
black leather. Odo: 12,700 miles. 454-ci 650hp
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. 12,700 miles from
new. 40th Anniversary edition with parts and
performance added by Lingenfelter. Custom
racing-style seats and four-point safety belts.
Small defect noticed on front nose. Driver's
side headlamp may have been painted, as
NOT SOLD AT $34,000. Very well kept and in
great shape overall with reported low miles. As
a future collectible, I'd have to say this one
could do very well over the long term, provided
the owner keeps the car in stellar condition.
The bid was a tad light today but very close for
a Grand Sport convertible in this condition,
and it might do better at a Corvette-only venue.
C6
#W175-2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY26U675125110. Black/
black leather. Odo: 8,100 miles. 6.0-L 400-hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Miles stated to be actual,
one owner, condition confirms. Factory
orange peel noted, but acceptable as the factory
finish quality. Nearly as new. Custom pinstripes
added. Transparent roof panel. Z51
room condition. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$29,000. For a well-presented, low-mileage
ZR-1, this was the one to own. It was very well
kept and obviously babied. It came with some
nice
provenance, being on display at the
Corvette Museum, which might explain the
dry-rotted tires. New shoes are going to set a
new owner back about $300 per tire, so that
may have kept a few bidders at bay. That said,
the offer was fair, but the owner was looking
for more.
#W261-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Callaway convertible.
S/N
1G1YY338OM5106108. Turquoise/turquoise
hard top/black leather. Odo: 29,286 miles. 350ci
475-hp turbocharged V8, 6-sp. Only 3,000
miles since restoration. Small rub marks noted
on rear bumper, dimple in driver's door.
Clearcoat worn off in ring pattern on driver's
side headlamp bucket. Fitted with a body-colored
hard top. Lightly soiled and weathered
inside. Driver's seat shows wear and use. Last
year of the Chevrolet Callaway twin-turbo
Corvette, one of 62 produced, fully documented.
Stated to be autographed by Reeves
Callaway. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $34,980. The
car card said this was one of only 62 produced,
52 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
color is slightly off. 454 reported to produce
650 horsepower. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $37,100.
This car was featured in Corvette Fever in
1993 and reportedly would get over 25 miles
per gallon at highway cruising speeds. The
full-throttle testosterone look was over-the-top
for me, but some power-loving drivers loved it.
Red, flashy, bulgy, powerful, and extremely
fast. A lot of Corvette for the money.
#W228.1-1996 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
1G1YY3253T5600405. Blue & white/white
vinyl/black leather. Odo: 22,727 miles. 350-ci
330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Miles believed
actual, two owners from new. Paint presents
well with few flaws. Tidy interior shows only
moderate wear. Clean engine bay is dressed out
nicely. Powder-coated wheels. One of 1,000
Grand Sports produced in the final year of the
C4, and one of 190 convertibles. Cond: 2+.
package with Z06 wheels. Paddle-shift automatic.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $30,740. This was
simply a used Corvette, but an extremely well
kept example. The original owner was obviously
fastidious and fussy, as the car presented
as new, showing nearly no wear in any regard.
It had 8,100 miles on the odo and looked as if
it had 810. This was just a tick over #3 money,
so I'd call it well bought.■
Page 52
Market
Report
featured in the following pages make up the bulk of this issue of Corvette Market, covering
everything from the rare cars of the Bob McDorman Collection through the Scottsdale
auctions in January. It's up-to-date information you simply can't find anywhere else.
B
C1
#S57-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001118. Polo White/white
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 506 miles. 235-ci 150-hp
I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Cracked paint throughout
body. Scratches in fiberglass in front left
fender, some fiberglass chipped on left rear
corner and lower right corner of hood. Illfitting
gas cap door does not close completely.
Rust on rear bumper. Chipped and cracked
TOP 10
No. 6
#S705-1953 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE roadster. S/N
E53F001145. White/red vinyl. Odo:
1,143 miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto.
Panel fit pretty good with only the top boot as
the slight exception. Paint shows well, with
some orange peel over wavy fiberglass consistent
with the original build. Engine bay presents
well, with only minor detail work needed.
Scored 99.6 at an NCRS event. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $198,000. These cars, equipped with the
Auctions Covered This Issue:
Classic Motorcar Auctions, Canton, OH, 9/18/10—Kevin Coakley
RM Auctions, London, U.K., 10/27/10—Paul Hardiman
Silver Auctions, Puyallup, WA, 10/30/10—Jack Tockson
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH, 11/5/10—Megan Boyd
RM Auctions, Gainesville, GA, 11/13/10—Megan Boyd
McCormick, Palm Springs, CA, 11/19/10—Carl Bomstead
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/2/10—B. Mitchell Carlson
The Raleigh Classic, Raleigh, NC, 12/3/10—Chip Lamb
MotoeXotica, Tolleson, AZ, 1/14/11—B. Mitchell Carlson
RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/20/11—Carl Bomstead
Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/20/11—Sam Stockham
Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/21/11—B. Mitchell Carlson
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/21/11—CM Staff
Market opinions in italics
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
80 Corvettes, $5.2m in sales
uyers and sellers of classic and collectible Corvettes enjoyed a stable market throughout
the closing months of 2010 and the beginning of 2011. Although driver-quality
cars saw soft bids in some locations, for the most part, great cars again brought great
prices, with rare and well-restored examples seeing some very high totals. The reports
#301-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
“bubble top” roadster. S/N E54S002425.
Sportsman Red/clear plastic/red vinyl. Odo:
30,176 miles. 235-ci 155-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto.
Only 100 Sportsman Red Corvettes in 1954
but no way to document if born that color.
Gaps uneven, but that's the way they left the
factory. Paint cracking and checking on hood.
Fitted with rare “bubble top,” now cracking. 25
clear and 25 tinted tops believed to have been
produced by Model Builder of Chicago. On a
hot day, a sauna on wheels. Priced somewhere
between $350 and $500 depending on source.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $52,250. According to the
auction catalog, only two bubble tops remain.
They must move around a lot, as I have seen at
least four the past year. This Corvette was sold
by RM in 2002 to benefit the Scripps
Foundation for $39,600 (SCM# 27010). Not a
lot of movement since. RM Auctions, Phoenix,
AZ, 1/20.
#273-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S003851. Pennant Blue/tan
vinyl/tan vinyl. Odo: 21,581. 235-ci 155-hp I6,
3x1-bbl, auto. An older restoration that is holding
up well. Thought to have been used in a
Coca-Cola commercial with Rita Hayworth
and given to her as part of payment. Good
story, but no documentation. One of 3,640
produced for 1954 and one of 300 in Pennant
paint on dash, foggy gauge lenses, pitted
chrome trim rings on gauges, dash padding
wrinkled. Engine compartment appears to be
an older amateur restoration with a pitted master
cylinder lid and some seepage from underneath
valve cover. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$144,100. The first of Bob McDorman's many
Corvettes in his collection, this was the 118th
of 300 built in 1953. It claimed the fourth highest
sale overall. Significant money for the quality
of the car. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
54 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
“Blue Flame” stovebolt six, paled in comparison
with the later V8-powered Corvettes. With
only 300 made the first year, these were more of
a project for Chevrolet to see if they could create
an American version of the British cars of
the day. Sales lagged in 1954, the V8 came in
1955, and the rest is history. While this was not
the finest example out there, sales figures usually
break the $200k mark. Even with some
slight flaws, this was well bought. Russo and
Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
Blue, but again, no documentation. An attractive
Corvette from the Jerry Petersen
Collection. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $63,250.
Prices on 1954 ‘Vettes spiked a couple years
back, but have settled down of late. Price paid
here was on the low end of the $60k–$80k catalog
estimate, but in line with other recent sales.
RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/20.
Page 54
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
#370-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S002301. Pennant Blue/
beige cloth/beige vinyl. Odo: 7,991 miles. 235ci
150-hp I5, 3x1-bbl, auto. Body-off restoration
twelve years ago, owned by seller for past
30. Early style features include triple “bullet
style” air cleaners and short exhaust outlets.
Electrical system converted to 12 volts, car
otherwise stock, including wavy rechromed
trim and panels plus less-than-perfect paint.
Wiper arms not mounted. Clean
engine
engine swaps and unflattering modifications
over the decades. This was actually a pretty
good build, but still—once you venture past
stock, you are on your own. Since ‘54s have not
been going up in value as of late in stock flavors,
I wouldn't have expected much more for
this custom. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City,
MO, 12/10.
#S58-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S004483. Pennant Blue/tan
vinyl/tan vinyl. 235-ci 115-hp I6, 3x1-bbl,
auto. Paint in fair condition overall, some
cracks in paint on passenger's door and rear
left fin. Scratches in clearcoat on the left rear
quarter. Gas cap door paint faded. Much of the
chrome on bumpers and emblems bubbling,
nearly
peeling in many places. Steering
so no way to document. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$107,250. Barrett-Jackson sold a 1955
Corvette—also in Harvest Gold—for $125,400.
That one had earned NCRS Top Flight, so according
to the judges, it was some measurable
amount better. Based on that, I have to say this
example sold for market-correct money, even
though the seller was looking for more. RM
Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/20.
#S59-1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N VE55S001002. Polo White/
white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 53 miles. 265-ci
195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Body and paint in nice
overall condition. Some pitting on trim rings of
gauges, a few stains on the carpet. Engine compartment
in need of restoration—components
rusty with peeling or missing paint. Equipped
with optional V8, Wonderbar radio,
bay with modern clamps, hoses, battery, etc.
Expertly
restored interior, but aftermarket
modern toggle switch for lights and button
under dash for horn. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$59,890. It seemed like almost every auction
company in Arizona had a Pennant Blue '54 up
for grabs (and it wasn't this car at multiple
venues, either). They all fell into generally the
same price range, as of the 300 Pennant blue
'54s, there are likely 400 left today—as there's
no way to prove original build color without
the sales invoice. Sold for the current market
price to a dealer on site. MotoeXotica,
Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#F257-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S001039. Fly Yellow/tan
cloth/parchment vinyl. Odo: 5,949 miles. 400ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Built approximately six
years ago. Better-than-stock body smoothness,
panel fit, and paint. All chrome either reproduction
or replated original. No windshield
wiper arms, per street rod fashion. Claimed to
have $20k into a heavily modified 400-ci small
block. Repro seat upholstery, carpet, and dashpad.
Smaller
diameter
stock-style
steering
wheel chipped, cracked, and missing center
piece. Lens on speedometer splintered. Stains
on carpet. Overall a solid car in need of some
TLC. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $55,000. One of my
favorite colors of Corvette, this Pennant Blue
second-year Corvette was bought fairly, considering
the rare plastic bubble top (commissioned
by Harley Earl) and the overall quality.
A great start for a high-quality restoration, or
drive and enjoy as-is. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#274-1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N VE55S001500. Harvest Gold/
dark green/yellow vinyl. Odo: 7,048 miles.
265-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Recent Second
Flight NCRS award. Acceptable panel fit and
correct
body-colored
wheels. Yellow
seats
windshield wipers. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$143,000. Last sold for $129,600 at BarrettJackson's
Scottsdale sale in January 2002
(SCM# 26892). The second car built in 1955
and equipped with a 265-ci V8, it was believed
to possibly be the first V8 Corvette ever built.
That claim, coupled with the quality of the car,
helped make it the 5th-highest sale of the day
overall. It was bought fairly considering how
nice it was and how well it was equipped.
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH,
11/10.
#275-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E56S001483. Arctic Blue/white
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 4,582 miles. 265-ci 225hp
V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Normal fit and finish issues,
with some swirls in paint. Almost 90% of
all 1956 Corvettes were equipped with the
wheel. Aftermarket gauges, billet aluminum
ratcheting type shifter for the automatic transmission.
DIN-mount stereo with
speakers
mounted in the kick panels. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $32,450. 1954s have built a long history of
56 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
with green dash. Optional heater/defroster and
three-speed manual. 1954 a milestone for the
Corvette as the inaugural year of the V8. One
of 120 in Harvest Gold, but no factory records
optional dual-quad motor, which was a $172
add-on and was identified by a nine-fin alloy
Page 56
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TOP 10
No. 2
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
valve cover. Four-speed manual was yet to be
offered. Beige interior unusual, as only 887
were so equipped. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $71,500.
Price paid should buy a middle-of-the-road
1956 Corvette, but this was a touch nicer than
that. If only it had power windows or a power
top. Even so, I'll call this one well bought. RM
Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/20.
#213-1957 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
E57S104957. Venetian Red/Venetian
Red hard top / white vinyl soft top/red. Odo: 87
miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. A
somewhat older restoration, according to magazine
features displayed with car. Some chips
in driver's door and gas door, some orange peel
in front right fender. Nice stock interior with
rub marks and scratches in door jambs. Slight
pitting on steering wheel center. Nicely re-
and optional windshield washers. One of only
557 finished in Cascade Green in 1957. First
year for fuel injection on the Corvette. Cond:
1-. SOLD AT $115,500. Early fuel-injected
Corvettes were not known for their reliability
and often ended up carbureted, which adds to
this one's rarity; Wonderbar radio adds about
a grand to the package. Price paid was a bit
light for a Corvette restored to this level with
such nice options. (If only they had ordered the
four-speed...) In this market, all should be
pleased. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/20.
#S670-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N J59S106363. Red/red vinyl.
Odo: 6,207 miles. 350-ci fuel-injected V8,
4-sp. Lots of paint flaws and touch-ups. Panel
fit OK, but trunk fit too high. Stainless trim
around headlights fits poorly, trim around door
glass worn and dull. Nice Coker radials.
Interior nothing special, but not shabby. Engine
bay clean but has aftermarket fuel injection,
HEI, and cheap chrome valve covers and
with steel wheels and poverty caps. Grungy
engine compartment looks all there. One of
119 produced. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $100,440.
This car was said to have been a Bloomington
Gold recipient in 2010, featured a great equipment
combination, and had a nice desirable
color. At the price paid, I'd rate this as a fair
deal for both buyer and seller. Classic
Motorcar Auctions, Canton, OH, 9/10.
#F578-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S105857. Tuxedo
Black & silver/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo:
83,909 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.
Decent panel fit per factory, with only problems
to paint being some bubbling around both
door lock cylinders. Light scratching on
chrome. Stainless trim in good shape. Interior
as you would expect, nicely redone but not
stored engine compartment. Certified
Bloomington Gold and Top Flight award winner,
with extensive documentation, photographs,
and magazine coverage. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $374,000. Not only was this car fuel
injected, it was also equipped with the code
579E airbox. If that weren't enough, it also has
code 684—heavy duty suspension and brakes
make it the only one of 43 to be built with both
(and less than half of which exist today). That
said, it was bought slightly high today, above
catalog estimate. See the C1 profile p. 26. RM
Auctions, Gainesville, GA, 11/10.
#276-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S102327. Cascade Green
& beige/beige vinyl. Odo: 107 miles. 283-ci
283-hp fuel-injected V8, 3-sp. Well maintained
since restoration two years ago, judged an
NCRS Top Flight car in October 2010.
Equipped with fuel injection, three-speed man-
air cleaner from Manny, Moe, and Jack. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $55,500. Lots of cheap off-theshelf
parts here were a bit of a turn-off, but
they all can be corrected with some money and
diligence. This was a car you just drive on
Saturday nights. The only trophies it will ever
win will be for just showing up, so enjoy it on
that level. This would require some real money
to make it fetch a respectable price. You can
find better, more original cars for the money,
but if you liked the add-ons, this was a fair
deal. Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#547A-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 003679103339. Tuxedo
Black/black canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 500
miles. 283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
over the top. Clean engine bay just a bit dusty.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $55,000. This was a nice,
driver-quality, solid-axle Corvette. It looked to
have been well kept, and mileage was most
likely original. The car wouldn't wow at the
big-boy Corvette meets, but would certainly
stand out at the local show-and-shine. Price in
today's C1 market looks dead-on with the 270hp
dual-quad carb set-up. Russo and Steele,
Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#S695-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20876S106811. Tuxedo
Black/tan vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 52 miles.
327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very nice panel
fit and paint. Only driver's door slightly out at
bottom. Cove trim shows some pitting, other
brightwork nice. Correct T-3 headlights.
ual transmission, and Positraction differential.
Also with heater/defroster, Wonderbar radio,
58 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Nice black paint, good straight brightwork,
clean interior. Radio delete, big-brake package
Silicone visible around windshield. Underhood
tidy. Stated to be numbers-matching. Mileage
since restoration. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$66,000. Pretty good restoration with no huge
flaws that need correcting. This was good
Page 58
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C2
#144-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S115164. Riverside
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 40,993 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Attractive Riverside
Red convertible with popular 327/300 engine
and M20 Muncie 4-speed. Gaps a bit uneven,
but that's factory spec. Center console
scratched. Lacking drain holes in hood.
Goldline tires were not a factory option in
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
money for a nice car. Sale price was getting
near to cheap Fuelie prices, but it may cost
near that to replicate this elsewhere. A fair
deal. Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
ture position, and generally excellent quality.
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH,
11/10.
#S68-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 308675120198. Riverside
Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 40,344 miles.
327-ci 375-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Repaint in
slightly different shade from original Riverside
Red. Chips around headlights, dimple in body
above left headlight. Deep scratching in right
rear bumper, vent window chrome pitted.
was a no-sale here. Since 2007 it had covered
a mere 71 miles. Judging by the condition as
described when sold in 2007, not much effort
was made to improve the car. Price paid in
2007 would still be high for this car, and with
no improvements, I don't foresee the owner
getting his money back out for some time.
Final bid was in line with the market considering
the car's flaws. Russo and Steele,
Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#S71-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 308375101386. Riverside Red/red
vinyl. Odo: 68,250 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuelinjected
V8, 4-sp. Ill-fitting passenger's side
door, chipped paint, chip in paint behind
1963. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $65,000.
Going backwards here, as it was offered at the
February McCormick sale and bid to $71k
(CM #159224), and the seller also passed. Car
should bring a number in the mid-80s but the
Corvette market is a bit unstable right now.
McCormick, Palm Springs, CA, 11/10.
TOP 10
No. 1
Best Buy #S70-1963 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
30867S100148. Rose Pearl & white/
white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 36 miles. 327ci
210-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Very well
preserved and overall in excellent condition.
Only slight pitting on chrome sidepipes and
some marks from where the hard top rests on
deck. Originally presented to the once-President
of Chevrolet, Semon “Bunkie” Knudson.
Unique leather upholstery, grated foot-well
Gauges slightly foggy, material saggy on seats.
Messy wiring under the hood with rusty manifolds,
as well as cracked and peeling paint on
other components. Nice overall. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $89,100. The second of Bob
McDorman's “four-of-a-kind” Sting Ray
Corvettes, this car was one of less than 50
convertibles built with a/c. The car also
sported rare two-bar spinners on the original
Kelsey-Hayes wheels. Bought at a fair price,
taking into account the rare equipment and
overall satisfactory condition. Mecum
Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#S618-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S119736. Black/black vinyl.
Odo: 15,856 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Older repaint done with all trim in place,
so it's rough around the edges, but other paint
flaws could be cleaned up. Headlight fit marginal,
windshield delaminating. Interior holding
up OK, with some wear since redo.
Wonderbar radio. Underhood underwhelming.
intake painted to look aluminum and overall
driver's door, and signs of shrinkage across tail
section in a straight line. Overall nice interior,
some scratches on center console. Missing
wiper knob, crisp gauges and chrome. Rusty
mainfolds; appears to have been been restored,
then driven. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $71,500. The
fourth of Bob McDorman's “four-of-a-kind”
Sting Ray Split-Window Corvettes left more
questions than answers. An odd line of shrinkage
across the back suggested the possibility of
previous repaired damage. It was bright and
shiny red, but the buyers saw through the
gleam and bid correctly. Mecum Auctions,
Canal Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#283-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 Replica coupe. S/N 30837S112830.
Daytona Blue/black vinyl. 327-ci 360-hp fuelinjected
V8, 4-sp. Z06 replica built on what is
believed to be an original Fuelie. Excellent
Daytona Blue paint over solid body, stated
5-year no-expense-spared restoration still
looks excellent. Fitted with special Z06 options,
including 360-hp Fuelie motor, stiffer
springs, beefier sway bars, special dual master
plates, custom color scheme. Largely styled
after the car given to retired styling chief
Harley Earl, but chrome header-style sidepipes
set it apart. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $440,000. Last
sold for $252,000 at Mecum's St Charles,
Illinois, auction in June, 2003 (SCM# 31537).
The star car of the show, and the top sale.
Bought well considering its provenance, fea-
60 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
just unappealing. Stated to be numbers-matching.
Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $50,500. This
car sold at Silver's Ft. McDowell Auction in
January '07 for $64,800 (SCM# 44149) and
cylinder, finned drum brakes with special highperformance
shoes, etc. Radio delete, 36-gal
Page 60
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Corvettes across the block
lon tank fitted. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $110,000.
This car had a great look overall, and the Z06
bits were all correct for a factory-original car.
But it wasn't a factory-original car, which begs
the question of what the new owner will be
doing with it. Either way, at the price paid, this
was a great deal, especially if he or she knows
of an original Z06 somewhere that might be
lacking a few rare (and very expensive) original
parts. See the Insider's View on p,10. RM
Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/11.
TOP 10
No. 7
Best Buy #S72-1964 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Bill Mitchell XX
Styling coupe. S/N 40837S106614.
Blue metallic/blue leather. Odo: 31,518 miles.
327-ci 210-hp V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Appears to have
original paint. Chips around air scoops on the
right side, right door, and left rear quarter, bubbling
in some areas, namely around the headlights.
Left rear quarter also appears to have
had some paint work. Inside appears to be in
original condition as well, with some discoloring
on console leather, wear on driver's seat,
possibly the first big-block Corvette. Florence's
Corvette was the second highest sale of the
auction and was bought fairly considering current
market conditions. Mecum Auctions,
Canal Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#352-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194675S118610. Ermine
White/white soft top/blue vinyl. Odo: 51,200
miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent
newer repaint. Iffy headlight bucket fit, pitting
on vent window frames, average-quality bumper
replate. Well fitted reproduction interior
upholstery, faded older carpeting. Stated to
produced in 1965 showed at driver quality—
the paint wasn't perfect, and neither was the
body or the interior. Bought somewhat high
undoubtedly for its historical significance.
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH,
11/10.
#631-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S102812. Tuxedo
Black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 2,972
miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older
high-quality restoration exhibits light swirls
and buffed edges. Gaps about as-built, apart
from left rear quarter out farther than door and
and small rips in door padding. Tidy engine
compartment. Fully loaded, with factory a/c,
power steering, brakes, and windows. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $176,000. One of the stars of the
show, Bill Mitchell's XX Styling
Corvette
claimed third-highest sale. Special factory details
include ventless door glass, custom diecast
front grill, dual fender vents, padded dash
and console, SS floor mats, and triple taillights
(think Impala). Considering the quality and
uniqueness of the car, and its history, this was
well bought. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
TOP 10
No. 3
#S73-1964 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE coupe. S/N
40837S102860. Pink Pearl/pink
leather. Odo: 18,280 miles. 396-ci 375-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. The Florence Knudsen Corvette, in
original condition with cracked pink pearl
paint, similar to what a cracked eggshell would
look like. Nice chrome overall, only small pitting
in rear bumper. Excellent interior with
nicely detailed engine compartment. Presented
to Bunkie's wife Florence, finished with luxurious
pink leather and custom pink-wall tires.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $308,000. The car was
nicely equipped with many 1965 features, including
a '65-styled hood and, more importantly,
a 396-ci big-block V8, making it quite
62 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
have 350-hp motor—but the block codes to a
300-hp—and factory a/c—now with R124atype
fittings and belt detached from compressor.
Indicated miles said to be actual, but odo
not fitted squarely. Stock power brake booster
converted to dual master cylinder. Repop
knockoffs shod with radials. Bank-owned consignment.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $40,280. One
wonders what the bank was originally told that
their collateral was worth. Most likely it was at
least double the $36,000 reserve. Like a lot of
things since the whole financial meltdown of
the last few years, they took what they could
get and likely wrote it off. Cheap for several
reasons, none of which constitutes a bargain.
MotoeXotica, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#S74-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 19437S5100001. Silver Pearl/silver
vinyl. Odo: 28,500 miles. 327-ci 365-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Shrinkage in rear fenders indicates
possible replacement. Circular repairs
surrounding gas cap area, chips in paint on
trunk, blemishes in clearcoat on roof, cracking
Bondo and paint on top of driver's side front
fender. Interior in fair condition; cracks in
wood steering wheel, stains on carpet, soggy
center console. Driver-quality engine compartment,
rusty manifolds. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$82,500. One of Bob McDorman's many special
serial number cars, this #1 Corvette
poor headlight fit. Chrome and brightwork correct
and uniform with only minor wear indicated.
Older convertible top and black vinyl
interior well preserved. Engine compartment
detailing reflects comprehensive driveline
overhaul stated as having been done fewer than
500 miles ago. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $42,660. If
the numbers matched as the consignor claimed,
this L79 ragtop with an M20 4-speed and sidepipes
was a very good buy, especially in tripleblack.
I like these high-compression,
high-output 327 C2s more than the big-block
cars for a host of reasons, weight distribution
being perhaps the foremost of these. The
Raleigh Classic is not a traditionally strong
Corvette sale, so whether this was an indicator
of the marketplace or a lucky break for the
buyer remains to be seen. Raleigh Classic,
Raleigh, NC, 12/10.
#F450-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S119983. Silver
Pearl/black leather. Odo: 62,461 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint looks good but
rough in some of the cracks and jambs. All
panels fit well. Stainless trim appears original
and in good shape. Fitted with sidepipes.
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Corvettes across the block
rear end, power steering, brakes, and windows,
a/c, AM/FM, headrests, tilt/tele column, wood
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Older NCRS Top
Flight award and still stunning in “right” colors.
A couple minor touch-ups in paint but
Interior in good shape, with slight wear to
driver's seat being the only sign of use. Welloptioned
with power steering, brakes, and
windows. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $48,950.
Another nice looking cruise-in car. It won't win
any top awards but will provide great usability,
assuming it has no big mechanical needs or
poorly fixed crash damage. Sold here slightly
below market, so no big surprises. If the new
owner doesn't have to put any money in, I
would call it well bought. Russo and Steele,
Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#S75-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194676S100006. Ermine
White/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 180 miles.
327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Cracks in paint,
marks on doors from hard top. Chrome edgy—
checks in rear bumper, pitting on vent windows,
rust on front right bumper. Interior in
fair condition, with saggy center console,
rim wheel, knockoff alloys, side exhaust, and
N03 big tank. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $155,100.
The original owner optioned this as a true
road-trip car: a/c, the highest ratio rear end
available, big block, and a 36-gallon tank to
feed it a long way. Said to be one of only four
'66s equipped with both a/c and the big tank,
and combine that with a boatload of options—
this was a very desirable coupe. Hard to say
that it was bought well, but hardly throwing
money away. The third highest sale at this
venue. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO,
12/10.
TOP 10
No. 8
#214-1967 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194677S120538. Rally Red/Rally Red
hard top / white vinyl soft top/red. Odo: 47,399
miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Older
thorough restoration shows signs of age.
Shrinkage spots in nose area, tight gap around
left headlight, cracked paint around hood, paint
wearing off front right fender top, nice chrome
and stainless overall. Clean, recent-looking in-
otherwise most striking. Very desirable L71
427/435 with Muncie 4-speed, power disc
brakes, sidepipes and red line tires. Complete
with Protect-O-Plate and other documentation.
Also from the Reggie Jackson Collection.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $165,000. Last seen at
Gooding's Pebble Beach 2005 sale, where it
sold for $145,200 (CM #38927). While the
Corvette market has been fluctuating a bit of
late, '67 big-blocks have held their own. You
could make the case that the money was a bit
light here, even without factoring in Reggie's
ownership. Well bought and sold. See C2 profile
on p. 30. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ,
1/20.
#298-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S104033. Marlboro
Maroon/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 5,112
miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, auto.
Comprehensive restoration to high standard,
earning Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top
Flight awards. One-year-only 427 hood with
“not typical” painted stinger. New carpet, seat
pitting on gauge rings and radio. Driver'sgrade
engine bay, with rusty manifolds. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $55,000. Number 6 built in 1966,
this Ermine White Corvette was the textbook
example of fun in the sun. Small block 327-ci
V8 with 4-speed and knockoff wheels can't be
beat. A fun car at a fair price. Mecum
Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#F221-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194376S107461. Nassau Blue/
dark blue vinyl. Odo: 17 miles. 427-ci 390-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Protect-O-Plate. Full frameoff
restoration, including resetting odo to zero
from claimed 43,509 miles. Good prep and fit,
better-than-original paint application, betterthan-original
bumper replating. Now has some
paint chipping on door edges. Restored interior,
lightly dulling seats, lightly soiled carpets.
Optional M21 close-ratio 4-speed, 3.08 Posi
64 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
terior with foggy rear window. Engine restored
with factory overspray on valve covers and intake,
some paint beginning to peel. A
Bloomington Gold and Top Flight award winner.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $176,000. A well-optioned
Corvette ordered just that way back in
1967. Finished in eye-catching red, this car
was no slouch at the dragstrip with its mighty
427-ci V8 and manual transmission. Purchased
fair considering the current market and excellent
options. RM Auctions, Gainesville, GA,
11/10.
#267-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S105851. Tuxedo
Black/black vinyl. Odo: 74,621 miles. 427-ci
covers and dashpad. Loaded with goodies including
factory a/c, power brakes/steering and
Rally wheels. Complete with window sticker,
tank sticker, and Protect-O-Plate. Equipped
with L68 Tri-Power and 2-speed automatic
transmission. From Reggie Jackson's collection.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $126,500. Last seen
at Russo and Steele's January 2008 Scottsdale
sale, where it was a no-sale at $120,000 (CM
#51967). Three years later, that offer looks
rather inviting but doubt if “Mr. October” is
overly concerned. Considering the 2-speed,
this was well sold indeed. RM Auctions,
Phoenix, AZ, 1/20.
TOP 10
No. 9
#46-1967 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE convertible. S/N
194677S118154. Nassau Blue &
white/white vinyl. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl,
Page 64
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Corvettes across the block
4-sp. CE original replacement engine fitted.
Stated to be authentic throughout, with mostly
original paint. Previous front end damage repaired
relatively well, with blending barely
visible around nose. New carpet, seat covers,
and door panels in clean stock-style interior,
engine compartment appears spotless. Fitted
with sidepipes and shoulder harness seatbelts.
Cond: 2+ SOLD AT $83,600. This car had
great options and a good look, with a nice
color combination you don't see often on
427/435s. And although the original engine
was long gone, the replacement “CE” engine
was period correct for the car, and while it may
#F179-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S425060. Black/painted
panels/black vinyl. Odo: 60,859 miles. 427-ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Original big block,
4-speed, power steering and wood rimmed
steering wheel. Newer body-off restoration.
Better-than-original door fit and panel gaps,
replated bumpers with good original trim. All
reproduction interior soft trim, expertly fitted
and showing no wear. Aftermarket AM/FM/
cassette deck. Generally well detailed engine
bay, although modern belts, hoses, and
hurt the car's overall value, it won't change the
driving experience. Overall, this price was a
bit strong, but not by much. Gooding &
Company, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#S76-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S100007. Rally Red/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 52,612 miles.
327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed to be a
surviving original, with normal wear as would
be expected. Cracked paint, some wear and
tear on the interior. Engine compartment also
in factory condition, having never been
car, especially on passenger's door. Chrome
and brightwork nice overall. Interior is a
mess—headliner falling down, worn out seats,
chrome on console rusted, stained seat belts
and carpet. Engine compartment in original,
rusty, grimy, unrestored condition. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $66,000. Despite the desirable
color combination, this left a lot to be desired.
A little pre-auction work would have gone a
long way. Despite its cosmetic faults, a collector
saw through all of that to its heart of gold:
a rare 400-hp Tri-Power V8, believed to be one
of only 16 built. Bought fairly considering its
poor cosmetic quality and high-performance
drivetrain. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
C3
#S79-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S400002. Corvette
Bronze/black cloth & black hard top/tobacco
brown vinyl. Odo: 39,963 miles. 327-ci 350-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Car appears to have been repainted
at one time. Chips in paint, most notably
on tail and right door. Crack in body near
front left of hood opening. Roof shows chips
and orange peel. Bumpers starting to pit.
Threshold moldings obviously left on during
the repaint, as evidenced by overspray. Wheel
heater hose clamps utilized. Authentically restored
undercarriage, with virtually no dust
since. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $31,350. While an
all-black Corvette is desirable, the original big
block—and the entry-level one at that—was all
that kept this one from being a stripper special.
Sold for market price. Mecum Auctions,
Kansas City, MO, 12/10.
#TH355-1968 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE coupe. S/N 194678S404302.
Silver flake/marbled leather. Odo: 22,199
miles. 427-ci 750-hp supercharged V8, 4-sp.
Appeared in Hot Rod magazine, July 1973.
Crazy one-of-a-kind paint job with heavy metallic
flake and air-brushed ribbons in various
loud colors. Custom fender flares, removable
top with big plexi sunroof, and one-piece tiltforward
front clip. Paint chipping extensively
on rear wing. Custom interior covered in colorful
marbled leather with brass buttons and fake
restored. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $64,900. One of
Bob McDorman's 007 Corvettes, this was the
7th Corvette made in 1967. This car also
served as a “pilot car” for testing the line
prior to production. Bought at a fair price
considering the nice overall quality and neat
extras, including bolt-on aluminum wheels.
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH,
11/10.
#S78-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S103103. Marlboro
Maroon/saddle tan vinyl. Odo: 42,133 miles.
427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Scratches on
right front fender. Cracked paint throughout
66 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
and console grungy, with lots of messy wiring
under the dash. Engine may have been restored
at one time. Optional L79 V8. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $33,000. The second Corvette built
for 1968, first year for the new “Coke-bottle”
styling by legendary designer Larry Shinoda.
This well equipped model was somewhat of a
bargain for the day at just above $30k. Mecum
Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH, 11/10.
bearskin carpet. Engine built by Doug Cook
and showing its age, with paint on blower chipping
away and all aluminum oxidizing. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $17,050. This monstrosity was
done in bad taste, but at least it was authentic,
old school bad taste and had a small story to
tell. The good news was that the dated engine/
blower combo alone would be worth nearly the
money paid here. For the price, what better
way to scare old ladies and small children in
Page 66
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your neighborhood than with this beast? I hear
bearskin is coming back, too. Russo and
Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#152-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
L89 race
convertible. S/N
194678S404229. Red/red fiberglass/velour.
Odo: 4,541 miles. 427-ci 543-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Full-spec race car with L71 429 and L89
aluminium heads, Muncie M21, hard top.
Refreshed in the U.S. in 2004, very good red
paint, good chrome. Velour wearing through
Goes to show that if you have money on the
first go-around, cut it loose. Silver Auctions,
Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/11.
#328-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
custom coupe. S/N 194370S410155. Cortez
Silver & black/black leather. Odo: 74,946
miles. 454-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed
to have been built circa 1971 with parts ordered
directly from Motion Performance. Restored
recently, now on modern Torq-Thrust D wheels
shod with radials. Authentic replacement inte
paid was right on the money, and the new
driver should enjoy driving it. Russo and
Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#S84-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37V2S500001. War Bonnet
Yellow/black leather. Odo: 83,525 miles. 454ci
270-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Evidence of being
painted red at one time. Chip in rear decklid on
passenger's side. Lots of orange peel overall,
paint thick in door jambs. Windshield molding
on bottom left coming off of the car. Black
on driver's seat. On silver Minilites. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $79,763. Raced by Rhoddy HarveyBailey
in the U.K. the in early '70s, where it
shone briefly thanks to sheer grunt. Offered
here at no reserve, and sold well under bottom
estimate, but about on the mark for race
Corvettes in Europe (the last one offered didn't
sell, at around this money). RM Auctions,
London, U.K., 10/10.
#502-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194679S733323. Red/black
vinyl hard and soft tops/black vinyl. Odo:
16,799 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Originally Fathom Green with standard black
vinyl interior. Equipped with both tops and
AM/FM radio, stated to be inoperative. Stated
by the consignor to be a big-block car with a
date-code-correct 435-hp motor. Presentable
older repaint over better body prep, betterthan-original
door gaps, better-than-average
bumper replating. Newer soft top, likely origi-
rior shows minimal wear. Hood release cable
broken off and sitting in passenger's footwell,
so no motor inspection possible. Undercoated,
with new brake and suspension hardware plus
shock absorbers. Factory-optional a/c, interior
décor group, power windows, AM/FM radio
and tilt/telescopic steering column. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $23,850. The consignor somewhat
carefully avoided calling this a real Motion, so
without documentation (none was exhibited),
I'll just say that the aftermarket mods were
period correct and leave it at that. (A “Day
Two car,” as my colleague Colin Comer likes
to call them.) MotoeXotica, Scottsdale, AZ,
1/11.
#TH351-1971 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE coupe. S/N 194371S100821.
Brands Hatch Green/saddle vinyl. Odo: 35,302
miles. 454-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nice repaint
with only minor blemishes, including
slight cracking around headlight doors.
seats faded, dry, and beginning to crack. All
black plastic on the car is dry. Engine compartment
dirty and dusty, with messy wiring. Cond:
3-. SOLD AT $50,600. The first Corvette off
the assembly line in 1972 and highly optioned,
but left a lot to be restored. Despite its likable
drivetrain, an LS5 with auto transmission, and
factory a/c, the next owner has his work cut out
for him. Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester,
OH, 11/10.
#F134-1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37J4S419166. Bright yellow/
painted panels/black leather. Odo: 24,172
miles. 350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good
prep and application on older repaint, but they
also sprayed the door seals. Hood binds against
the body on the driver's side if you don't lift
nal vinyl on hard top. Glossy black rattle-can
repaint on undercarriage. Heavier seat vinyl
wrinkling, light wear on carpeting. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $27,216. Relatively inexpensive for
a “435 horse” drop top, but not a smoking hot
deal, as the provenance was all but non-existent.
Was a no-sale at $28,500 when it ran
across the block on Saturday afternoon, but
sold when re-ran early on Sunday for less than
Saturday even factoring the 8% buyer's fee.
68 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Masking evident around locks and doors handles.
Decent chrome. Interior clean -and shows
no wear. Engine bay generally clean, only detraction
is corrugated wire looming on some
harnesses. LS5, matching numbers, original
window sticker. Sidepipes fitted. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $33,000. This was a good car with
what were most likely original miles, and the
fresh repaint was done to satisfactory standards.
It showed well and should be a lot of fun
for cruise-ins, though the color combo would
seem better suited to something British. Price
very carefully from the center. Heavily weathered
Road America and Can-Am Challenge
decals on the backlight. Good, mostly original
interior, aside from an older T-pad on the center
console. Rattle-can repaint of the motor.
Optional Interior Décor group, a/c, power
brakes, tilt/tele column, and AM/FM radio.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $12,100. Nothing much
special here except maybe the a/c and stiryour-own-gears
tranny. Sold fairly well for the
consignor, as it met the $10,500 reserve and
passed it with an extra bid to boot. Mecum
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erage with no major defects. Engine bay clean
but not overly detailed. Cond:
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erage
erage with no major defects. Engine bay clean
but not overly detailed. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$15,120. Last seen at the Worldwide Hilton
Head auction in November of 2006, where it
sold for $17,900. It should be noted that the
car had, at that time, just 70 fewer miles than
when it crossed the block here, more than four
years later. This L82 4-speed ‘Vette ought to
have been an enjoyable driver, but that's apparently
not what the vendor had in mind when
he bought it well above guidebook price even
then. Fairly sold for condition today, or perhaps
even slightly well sold. Raleigh Classic,
Raleigh, NC, 12/10.
#TH364-1978 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE Indy Pace Car coupe. S/N
1Z8748S903015. Black & silver/silver leather.
Odo: 24,247 miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. One repaint in good condition except for
few large cracks in nose. Headlight doors and
passenger's fender have been filled in with
touch-up paint. Original factory pace car door
stickers in trunk, repros on car. Glass tops.
Tires don't match front-to-back. Door gaps
common on these. Multitude of small marks
and water spots might come out a little better
with a careful detailing. Period accessory
ducktail spoiler looks OK. Badges buffed
miles. 350-ci 225-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Miles
claimed actual since new. Wears an OK older
repaint with decent masking. Window tint film
on all glass except windshield. Light soiling
and wear on carpeting, seats, and steering
wheel rim leather. Topically cleaned up engine
bay, flash rust on most bare metal, economy
hard and require restoration, glass and T-tops
clean. Silver leather and carpets redone, dash
carefully restored or well-preserved. Engine
repainted with light detailing, new a/c compressor
might mean a good system. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $13,230. With the documented
miles, the condition was not surprising, especially
since this was merely an L48 automatic
example. A nice driver, but making many improvements
above and beyond that might be
painful to the wallet. Fairly traded for both
buyer and seller. Raleigh Classic, Raleigh,
NC, 12/10.
#F78-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car coupe. S/N 1Z8748S903040.
Silver & black/tinted panels/silver leather.
Odo: 63,478 miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Better quality masking, repaint, and decal
placement. Displays last year's New Brunswick
registration inspection sticker in the windshield
next to the VIN tag. Alarm system decals on
passenger's door window and rear window by
driver's door. Front suspension sits rather high.
New repro seat upholstery, rest of interior
replacement service items. With optional front
and rear spoilers, L82 engine, TH350 automatic,
AM/FM/cassette, power windows and
locks, cruise control, tilt/tele column, rear defrost,
and a/c. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $12,650.
One can make the argument that the pace car
alloy wheels were parts bin clean-out, although
GM knew exactly how many pace cars they
would eventually build, and this car was also
built fairly late in the model year, so they likely
were using up remaining stock. The reserve
was cleared at $10k, so we'll say that it was
sold well. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO,
12/10.
#S162-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Allen Pursuit Edition coupe. S/N
1Z878AS416997. White & silver/white panels/red
leather. Odo: 24,804 miles. 350-ci 190hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Resculpted bodywork when
new, customized heavily—in both style and
weight. Hood at least twice as heavy as stock,
so the thicker T-top panels and doors must be
even worse. Panel fit and paint quality quite
good. Bone-stock interior, with light wear for
the indicated miles. Chrome plating on the
decent. Interior shows no significant wear beyond
what mileage might indicate. Recent engine
bay cleaning is a bit too “dealer” shiny.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $18,700. Recently these
have taken a slight hit in price, and some pace
car sales earlier this year went for significantly
less. This example was far from perfect but had
good miles. Is there a rebound in price on the
way? One might think so by the price paid
here. Well sold. Russo and Steele, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/11.
#563-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car coupe. S/N 1Z87L8S903942.
Tuxedo Black & silver/silver leather. Odo:
42,059 miles. 350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Older repaint to an average standard not un-
70 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
original and in good shape. Replacement distributor
cap, belts, hoses, and clamps. Offered
at no reserve. Includes two of the few options
available: the L82 motor and AM/FM radio.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,950. While this
wasn't in prime condition, it was a good driver
and reasonably well represents '78 pace
cars—and their recent dipping in value. A year
ago, this would've been a couple of grand
more, but it's not like the market is tanking on
them. Yet. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO,
12/10.
#F74-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z8749S435793. Classic White/
painted panels/dark blue leather. Odo: 34,612
stock valve covers and air cleaner—in addition
to pretty much every stamped steel surface on
and under the hood. All-season radials on
Cragar wire wheels with three-prong spinners.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $31,900. Cars that really
should not be turned into Neo-Classics, part II.
Before the Fiero-based Zimmer, there was the
Allen Pursuit. Thankfully, only six were built
for Florida Excalibur dealer Jerry Allen from
1978 to 1980. The reserve was lifted at the end
of bidding, proving once again that money has
Page 70
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nothing to do with taste. Mecum Auctions,
Kansas City, MO, 12/10.
#662-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z87AS438776. White/bronze
glass/maroon leather. Odo: 47,309 miles. 350ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A refurbished driver resprayed
in white to above-average standard.
Good glass throughout. Trim and badges
lightly scratched and heavily buffed. Interior
worn, with dry leather, tear in the driver's seat
bolster, and normal console wear with unusual
C4
Best Buy #19-1984 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE
coupe.
S/N
1G1AY0787E5116744. White/graphite leather.
Odo: 71,956 miles. 350-ci 205-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Excellent original paint and bodywork
save hood resprayed over stone chips,
and small protruding “bump” low in left rear
valance. Tinted acrylic top (only) with corner
broken off at right rear and glued back. Clean
and excellent original graphite leather interior,
carpet, and fully working digital dash. Good
glass, though driver-side windshield has slight
wiper rash easily removed. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
file on p. 30. Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ,
1/11.
bay cleanup. Equipped with leather sport seats,
tinted roof panel, cassette stereo, rear window
shade, and dealer-installed
mudguards.
Aftermarket exhaust system, rear deck spoiler,
and window tint film. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD
AT $5,618. This car ran again on Saturday to
a $3,500 no-sale bid, then reappeared at the
Silver auction a week later, and was a no-reserve
sale at $5,300. I've seen worse '84s, but
I've also seen better, so this was a spot-on bid.
MotoeXotica, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#23-1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY078XG5100507. Red/red
leather. Odo: 72,717 miles. 350-ci 230-hp fuelinjected
V8, 4+3 manual. Expensive restoration
needs include worn-out leather seating,
ugly cracked and flaking steering wheel,
scuffed door panels, worn carpeting, and
stone-chipped windshield. Older total repaint
over stone chips, dirt, and sloppy masking.
Engine presents daily-driver ambiance with
Ram Air intake and Optima “Yellow Top” battery
as only deviations from stock. Wheels and
tires claimed new in last 1,000 miles. Mufflers
add-on wood trim. Fitted with the typical aftermarket
Mallory distributor, chrome valve covers,
and Edelbrock carburetor and manifold.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $9,936. This was no more
than a scruffy driver, though the dealer who
bought it obviously thinks he can get five figures
for it. Slightly well sold for a late C3 in
such condition. Raleigh Classic, Raleigh, NC,
12/10.
#S626-1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Collector
Edition coupe. S/N
1G1AY0788C5115230. Silver/silver leather.
Odo: 19,623 miles. 350-ci 200-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Recent repaint to good standard and
holding up well. All panels fit well and undercarriage
very clean. Interior very nice, with
only light cracking to leather. Driver's seat
looks better than passenger's, indicating
$4,428. Best condition of three C4s present,
but sold for the least. Currently, this series is
the entry-level Corvette and true bargain for
enthusiasts seeking reasonable performance
with minimal investment. Parts are readily
available from aftermarket sources (save the
Opti-Spark ignition and “space age” digital
dash, which can be a challenge). The consignor
dropped his $6k reserve and let it go for
$4,100, which I think was a deal, as it was a
good car all around. Silver Auctions,
Puyallup, WA, 10/10.
#133-1984 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY0781E5141963. Red/tinted
panel/red leather. Odo: 94,271 miles. 350-ci
205-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Newer repaint
quite presentable on top, some sloppy masking
and heavier overspray underneath. Lackluster
door fit. Chipping on door glass, wiper seals,
and weatherstripping. Noticeable emblem fading.
Moderate interior wear and fading, console
cover lightly warped. Minimal engine
possible recent re-dye. Fully loaded Collector
Edition. Stated Bloomington Gold in 1991.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $21,450. This Corvette
sold at this auction back in 2008 for $26,400
(SCM# 51825) and has covered only 101 miles
since. It was a nice car, but that was big money
even back then. The $21,450 that it brought
this time was more in line with the market,
considering its nice condition. See the C3 pro-
72 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
removed, catalytic converters remain. Recently
passed Washington emissions test. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $4,968. For 1986, Corvette was
given drivetrain improvements for enhanced
reliability, the “gimmicky” digital instrument
cluster was updated for increased readability
in daylight, and overall build quality improved.
The consignor said, “I bought this car for my
wife six years ago at this auction, but forgot
she doesn't drive stick. It's just been sitting.”
Considering its condition, it sold for a marketcorrect
price. Silver Auctions, Puyallup, WA,
10/10.
#309-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J8L5803020. Polo
Green/black leather. Odo: 66,605 miles. 350-ci
375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Scuffed and
polish-swirled original paint, some light stone
chips on front fascia and behind wheels. Light
Page 71
interior wear, heavier wear on steering wheel
rim. Light road dust on undercarriage and engine
bay. Equipped with dual power sport seats
and ride control. Aftermarket stereo system
and black plastic door sill guards. Shod with
newer performance tires. No mention of documentation.
Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $11,000.
No one was going to steal a deal on a ZR-1 out
here. Sure, it wasn't a minty low-miler like I
generally see at auction, but it wasn't better
than an $11k car, either. Seller wanted $15k.
MotoeXotica, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#726-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ23J3M5800401.
Arctic White/glass/red leather. Odo: 25,567
miles. 350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
All-original finish throughout, with only a few
minor chips to doors and mirrors. Good trim
and emblems have not suffered from a buffer,
windshield sports usual edge delamination.
Leather a little dry, seam pulling lightly on
driver's seat, some light dye separation on
car. Bought fairly considering its conditions,
options, and somewhat historical significance.
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH,
11/10.
#279-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY23PXP5107997. Dark Red
Metallic/tinted panel/light beige leather. Odo:
73,946 miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8,
6-sp. Optional dual leather power seats, electronic
climate control, and mud guards. Fitted
with aftermarket wheels shod with Michelins.
Original paint has dull areas on hood despite
repeated buffing. Well-kept original leather,
with only some glossiness for wear. The
valance, which is in better condition. Newer
Kumhos on like-new stock alloys. Lighter
wear than expected on seats and carpeting for
the miles indicated. Door panels starting to feel
a bit loose. Redyed or replacement steering
wheel. Better-quality dealer-grade engine
clean-up, replacement ECU. Flat gray rattlecan
touch-up of the exhaust. Offered at no reserve.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $8,640. One of two
claimed 40th Anniversary Editions out here
(the other one really wasn't one), and this was
the weaker of the two. Rightfully put on no reserve,
and it brought a market-correct price.
Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/11.
#F574-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
side bolster. Engine compartment tidy but not
detailed, some pitting beneath coating to cam
covers and plenum. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$21,000. Having owned an identical car with a
lot of the same production defects, I could find
little not to like about this ZR-1. Unfortunately,
this was not a strong sports car sale, and
Corvettes, particularly later-model examples,
rarely find new homes here. The release of the
new ZR-1 has not brought values of the prior
generation upward to speak of, so the bid realized
here was light, and the seller was wise to
hold out for more. Raleigh Classic, Raleigh,
NC, 12/10.
#S106-1992 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY33P8N5119133.
White/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 2,368
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Low mileage, but still a few marks and
scratches on both front and rear bumpers of
otherwise nearly mint 'Vette. Interior and engine
compartment in excellent condition, with
only minor wear on the driver's seat. The
999,999th Corvette ever. Modeled after the
first Corvette roadster in Polo White over red.
Cond: 1. SOLD AT $24,200. It only took GM
another eight years to reach the 999,999th
Corvette after celebrating the anniversary of
the 750,000th in 1984. While it wasn't anything
special in the drivetrain department, still significant
for its proximity to the millionth
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22P6S5113600. Polo
Green/tan leather. Odo: 29,000 miles. 350-ci
300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Exterior appears
factory original, with only slight wear from
mileage. Light scratching on nose. All panels
fit well. Interior shows only use consistent with
mileage. Slight wear to driver's seat bolster. A
good, driver-quality used car. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT
$14,300. The C4 was long in
heaviest interior wear is on the center console
armrest and the steering wheel. Tidy and topically
cleaned engine bay. Dusty undercarriage,
with a black-painted aftermarket exhaust system.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $8,208. Despite the
consignor's claims, this was not a 40th
Anniversary Edition, as they were painted the
darker Ruby Red and every single one had a
Ruby Red interior. All 1993 Corvettes with
leather seats—that would be all but 426 1993
Corvettes—had the 40th Anniversary logo embroidered
on the headrests.
Actually, this
slightly lighter Dark Red Metallic was the rarest
color for '93 at 325 units—if you wanted
red, you usually bought a 40th Anniversary. Of
the C4s that sold, this was one of the better
ones for the money. Silver Auctions, Fort
McDowell, AZ, 1/11.
#235-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
40th
Anniversary Edition coupe. S/N
1G1YY23P9P5107781. Ruby Red Metallic/
painted panel/Ruby Red leather. Odo: 104,313
miles. 5.7-L 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Plenty of light scratches and chipping on original
paint. Buffing burn-through on left rear
quarter panel. Slightly darker hue on front
the tooth by 1995, but they were nonetheless
getting to be pretty good cars, with many of the
emissions bugaboos that plagued them in the
1980s finally sorted out through advancements
in fuel-injection metering and efficiency. This
looked to be an honest car with no real stories
behind it. Assuming everything checked out, I
would say this was fairly well bought, as they
should fetch something above $15k in this
shape. Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/11.
#F36-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Collector
Edition convertible. S/N
1G1YY32PXT5100002. Sebring Silver/black
cloth/gray leather. Odo: 16,369 miles. 350-ci
300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. The second
Corvette made in 1996, and the pilot car for the
Collector's Edition package. Originally a dis-
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 73
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paint.
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play and press car before ending up in the collection
of Bob McDorman. Miles actual since
new, and 100% original with minimal wear and
soiling.
No perceivable
another bid. It did, and was hammered sold.
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/10.
coupe.
#S115-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
S/N 1G1YY2257TS100001.
Competition Yellow/black leather. Odo: 38,349
miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Overall in nice condition, despite somewhat
high mileage for a collector Corvette. Some
damage possibly once occurred on front right
side, evidenced by scratches in fender and
hood and odd primer spot on right rear bumper.
Driver's door seal cracked, slight wear on
carpet wear. Driver's seat has light wrinkling,
and that's it for wear. Equipped with dual sixway
power seats, electronic climate control,
FE1 suspension, and Delco/Bose cassette/CD
stereo. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $25,025. Another
recent buy from Mecum's Bob McDorman collection
auction. It isn't very often that we get
sequential VINs at an auction, but then again,
both cars came out of a collection that specialized
in that sort of thing. The romantic in me
wants to hope that the same collector bought
both to keep them together. But if the '96
Collector Edition really spins your wrench,
this was the car to get. Otherwise, pretty much
sold for what one would expect. Mecum
Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/10.
#F96-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32P9T5120418.
White/black cloth/red
leather. Odo: 55,568
miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
Generally well cared for. Excellent original
paint; possibly a respray on the nose, but more
likely a slight color shift due to the different
polymer beneath the paint. Light UV burn on
door glass seals. More noticeable fading and
wear on seating surfaces. Dusty engine bay
with a replacement battery but generally original
otherwise. Dusty undercarriage
Equipped with dual six-way power seats,
also.
and Delco/Bose CD stereo system. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $24,750. About the only way you
could one-up this car would be to either have
the first Grand Sport or the last C4. Some may
argue this, but I say well bought, as this was
one of the only truly collectible C4s in circulation.
Even if school-bus colors don't work for
you, it's hard to beat the first car with the biggest
engine from the final year of production.
Purchased less than a month ago from the Bob
McDorman collection auction for $24,200.
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/10.
#F103-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Grand Sport coupe.
S/N
1G1YY2253T5600818. Admiral Blue &
white/painted panel/black leather. Odo: 19,503
miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Slightly modified with polished Flowmaster
dual exhaust, chrome door sill protectors, and
ID plate on dashboard. Non-OEM replacement
battery. Otherwise a very well-cared-for original
example. Paint well buffed, polished, almost
better than new. Squeaky clean engine
bay and undercarriage. Heavier than expected
wear on original tires as well as on steering
both seats—driver's seat especially. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $24,200. Another of Bob
McDorman's number one cars, this was the
first Corvette to roll off the assembly line in
1996, Corvette's last year for C4 production.
In eye-catching Competition Yellow, it was
hard to miss. Optioned with an LT4 and
6-speed, it had the get-up-and-go, and someone
has enjoyed it for nearly 40,000 miles already.
Sold at a fair price considering the
quality of the car and mileage already on the
clock. Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester,
OH, 11/10.
coupe.
Competition
#F37-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
S/N 1G1YY2257T5100001.
Yellow/painted panel/black
leather. Odo: 38,350 miles. 350-ci 330-hp fuelinjected
V8, 6-sp. The first 1996 Corvette built.
As such, also the first Corvette ever equipped
with an LT4. 38,350 rather pampered miles accrued
since leaving Bowling Green, but does
show some light wear. Theft recovery number
etched into windshield near the VIN tag. Paint
like new, with only a couple of light stone
chips on the nose. Moderate wear on the driver's
side seat and carpeting. Optional dual
power Sports seats, electronic climate control,
electronic climate control, plus Delco-Bose
cassette/CD sound system. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $15,125. Personally, I'm not sure 55k miles
qualifies as “low miles.” Certainly it's far less
than the average ten-plus-year-old used car—
and there are some C4s with over 300k on the
clock—but for a “sunny day” convertible, this
was about par for the course. It had just about
died on the block at $13,500 when the seller
indicated that he'd drop the reserve if it got
74 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
wheel. Seating surfaces notably wrinkled and
worn. Dual six-way power sport seats and low
tire pressure indicator. NCM reissued built
sheet. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $25,300. I would
guess that this Grand Sport spent most of its
miles on a track or road course. Not that that's
a bad thing, as that's where GSs play well—as
long as they keep tires on the tarmac and air
between you, the other drivers, and the barriers.
GSs are still the place you put your money
in a C4; the reserve was off at $22k, and the
bidding just kept going, so I'm not the only
ones who knew this. See C4 profile p. 32.
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/10.
C5
#S121-1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G5W5110991.
Aztec Gold/black cloth/tan leather. Odo: 5,781
miles. 5.7-L 350-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. In
excellent condition overall, beautiful color,
shows little to no wear despite having over
5,000 miles. Minor stone chips on front bumper.
Interior nice, showing just slight evidence
of wear in driver's entry area and on driver's
Page 73
Nearly new, the rare Bowling Green metallic
paint presents as flawless, same for the black
interior and engine compartment. The first
seat. Engine compartment clean, some corrosion
on alternator. Light oak leather interior
with the optional sport seats and Bose stereo.
All aluminum LS1 and 4-speed automatic.
Cond: 1. SOLD AT $31,900. Bob McDorman
collected this car for the rarity of the color, as
only three were built Aztec Gold. Bought at a
fair price considering the rare, unique desirable
color combination, plus the exceptional
overall quality. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#S124-1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G6W510003.
Sebring Silver Metallic/black cloth/gray
Top option package for 1999. The last Corvette
of the millennium. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$26,400. Serial #33283 marked the last
Corvette built before we entered the new millennium,
a must for Bob McDorman's thorough
collection. Basically a brand new Corvette and
therefore a bargain. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#S106-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
AAT 1953 Commemorative Conversion
convertible. S/N 1G1YY32G7Y5116939.
Tan/black cloth/tan & black leather. Odo:
31,858 miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected V8,
auto. Converted in '06 by Advanced
Automotive Technologies, at a reported cost of
$55k. Originally black, no paint flaws detectable,
excellent panel fit, brightwork like new.
Custom interior done in stock fashion, just
light wear on seat bottoms and custom floor
mats. Decal from original selling dealer underhood.
Tidy under the hood. Optional Memory
Package, dual-power sport seats, body side
moldings, performance
leather. Odo: 323 miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Showroom quality with hardly
any miles. Minor chips on passenger's side
door. Unusual stain on driver's side door
speaker. Odd wrinkles and wear on driver's
seat for such a low-mileage vehicle, nice interior
otherwise. Clean engine compartment with
some corrosion on alternator and water pump.
Optional Bose stereo, sport seats, dual zone
a/c, Active Handling, and selective ride control.
Rare magnesium wheels shod with
Goodyear F1 rubber. The first C5 built. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $31,900. This was very nicely
finished in the popular Sebring Silver and with
a good options list. Bought fairly considering
the mileage and historical significance.
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH,
11/10.
#S125-1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22G0X5133283. Sebring
Silver Metallic/black leather. Odo: 47 miles.
5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Never titled,
in excellent condition overall, with no
visible marks inside or out, interior still in factory
plastic. Engine compartment shows no
signs of the 47 miles the car has been driven.
Active Handling, polished alloys, Twilight
Sentinel,
and CD changer. Cond: 2-.
built. Good options and powered by an LS6
385-hp V8. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $53,900.
Continuing with his collection of serial number
ones, Bob McDorman added the very first Z06
to roll off the line, this Torch Red 2001 model.
Bought at a reasonable price, considering it
was a Z06 and a significant one at that. Mecum
Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#S136-2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
SOLD AT $55,000. Let's do the math: $55k
conversion in 2006, sold in late 2010 when the
reserve was lifted at the end of bidding for
$50k hammer price, and subtract the sell fee.
Basically, it cost $1k per year to have the car
converted with zero return. Oh yeah, there was
the cost of the car also. Sort of makes buying
any Dodge Stratus look like a good investment.
But at least this one-of-one color combination
looks better in person than one would expect.
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/10.
#S128-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY2266Y510001. Bowling
Green Metallic/black leather. Odo: 3,496
miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected V8, auto.
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 75
coupe. S/N 1G1YY22GX45134064. LeMans
Blue/Shale leather. Odo: 10 miles. 5.7-L 350hp
fuel-injected V8, auto. Presents as truly
Corvette of the new millennium. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $26,400. If you have the last of the
20th century you gotta have the first of the 21st,
right? Practically new with not quite 3,500
miles, this was another bargain at less than
half the original sticker. Mecum Auctions,
Canal Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#S129-2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1G1YY12S015100001. Torch
Red/black & red leather. Odo: 291 miles. 5.7-L
385-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Presents as mint
inside, out, and under the hood. The first Z06
ratio differential,
Page 74
Market
Report
Global Roundup
Corvettes across the block
perfect in stunning LeMans Blue. No sign of
wear inside or out—appropriate, with only ten
miles ever driven. Interior still protected by
delivery plastic. Engine compartment flawless.
Specially equipped with crossed-flag embroidered
head rests, unique wheel center caps,
plus silver front and rear emblems celebrating
Corvette's two GTS class wins at Le Mans.
The last C5 produced. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$45,100. Not only was this the last C5, but also
a special Le Mans edition, and effectively
never used. Therefore purchased at a fair
price. Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester,
OH, 11/10.
C6
#464-2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1G1YY36U565112952.
Arctic White/black cloth/gray leather. Odo:
61,909 miles. Good original paint, with no obvious
blemishes. Scuffing on both front and
rear lower valance rub strips. Squeaky clean,
ing options, immaculate condition, very low
miles, and historic significance, have to call
this fairly bought. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#S141-2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Z06 coupe. S/N 1G1YY25E5751000001.
Velocity Yellow/black leather. Odo: 3,967
miles. 7.0-L 505-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp.
Appealing Velocity Yellow paint shows every
little mark, but car still presents as nearly flawless.
Has a small paint chip in passenger's side
mirror and an odd rub mark on the passenger
new 430-hp LS3 V8 and equipped with the allegedly
faster shifting auto 6-speed, this serial
number one car remained virtually flawless.
Bought at market value for slightly less than its
Velocity Yellow twin, considering it was not a
Z06. Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester,
OH, 11/10.
#S145-2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY26W295100001. Blade
Silver/Ebony Leather. Odo: 3,784 miles. 6.2-L
430-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Barely a year
old, and remains virtually brand new outside
and inside. Despite some highway miles, the
car shows no signs of wear on exterior, interior,
or engine compartment. Z51 package,
which includes larger cross-drilled brakes,
stiffer springs and damping, Goodyear Eagle
F1 tires, and lower gear ratios. The first
Corvette built in 2009. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
bone stock engine bay with an OEM replacement
battery. Minimal interior wear. Heavily
worn replacement tires. Basically equipped,
with paddle shift automatic, 3LT Preferred
Equipment Group package, and OnStar. No
mention made if it is currently subscribed.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $30,240. 2006 was the
first year for the paddle-shift six-speed automatic.
Fancy that, a late-model used C6 in a
tent full of licensed dealers sells for a bid north
of wholesale. We keep saying it: The best price
you'll get on a C6 is to trade it in on something
else. Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell, AZ,
1/11.
#S140-2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY26UX6510001. Monterey
Red/black leather. 6.0-L 400-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Less than 140 miles, and appropriately
unmarked. Exterior and interior are flawless.
Only odd marks found are the scratches
on the cover of the fuse box under the hood.
The first car built with the all-new paddleshifted
6-speed automatic transmission.
Equipped with Z51 Performance Package plus
3LT Preferred Equipment Group, including
Bose sound system. Monterey Red metallic
tintcoat finish was a special order option.
Cond: 1. SOLD AT $44,000. For its special,
very appealing paint, super performance driv-
76 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
door. Interior and engine compartment both
factory fresh. Claimed top speed of 198 mph.
The first Corvette built in 2007. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $59,400. Z06s have come a long
way, as seen in this car's hydro-formed aluminum
frame, magnesium roof support and engine
cradle, hand-assembled 427-ci engine,
and carbon fiber hood. All things considered, a
market price. Mecum Auctions, Canal
Winchester, OH, 11/10.
#S144-2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1YY26W485100001. Velocity
Yellow/Ebony & linen leather. Odo: 979 miles.
6.2-L 430-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Another
Velocity Yellow Corvette in absolutely mint
condition in and out, as expected from a vehicle
with only 979 miles. (They must have taken
their shoes off to drive it.) Engine compartment
appears new from factory as well. The
first Corvette of 2008. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$47,300. In 2008, much like 2007, Corvette
kicked off their production with another
Velocity Yellow Corvette, this time NOT a Z06
like the previous year. Powered by the
$52,800. The newest and last of Bob
Mcdorman's serial number one collection.
Bought at market value for a baseline Corvette.
Mecum Auctions, Canal Winchester, OH,
11/10. ■
Page 75
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call 877.219.2605 ext. 1
Page 76
By the
Numbers
Top 85 Corvette Sales at Auction
November 2010 through January 2011*
2008 Corvette Limited Edition Z06 coupe with 44' catamaran, sold for $742,500 at Barrett-Jackson
Rank
Model
1 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Limited Edition Z06 coupe
2 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327-ci convertible
3 1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
4 1964 Chevrolet Corvette 396-ci coupe
5 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
6 1953 Chevrolet Corvette roadster
7 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 convertible
8 2011 Chevrolet Corvette LeMans Racing Z06 coupe
9 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 convertible
10 1953 Chevrolet Corvette
11 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
12 1955 Chevrolet Corvette roadster
13 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 convertible
14 1962 Chevrolet Corvette 327/360 convertible
15 1971 Chevrolet Corvette 454/425 coupe
16 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Bill Mitchell Sting Ray XX coupe
17 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 427/430 convertible
18 1953 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
19 2003 Chevrolet Corvette convertible *Sold as with lot 1293
20 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Custom coupe
21 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 convertible
22 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
23 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Big Tank 427/390 coupe
24 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
25 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
26 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 convertible
27 1981 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
28 1981 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
78 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Sold Price
Location
$742,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$440,000 Mecum, Canal Winchester, OH
$374,000 RM, Gainesville, GA
$308,000 Mecum, Canal Winchester, OH
$253,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$247,500 WWG, Auburn, IN
$242,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$231,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$209,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$198,000 Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ
$187,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$180,200 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$176,000 RM, Gainesville, GA
$176,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$176,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$176,000 Mecum, Canal Winchester, OH
$174,900 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$170,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$170,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$170,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$165,000 RM, Phoenix, AZ
$164,594 Bonhams, Paris, FRA
$155,100 Mecum, Kansas City, MO
$154,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$154,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$153,700 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$150,000 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$150,000 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
Lot #
Date
1303.2 1/18/2011
S70 11/5/2010
213 11/13/2010
S73 11/5/2010
1279 1/18/2011
46
9/2/2010
1010.2 1/18/2011
1032 1/18/2011
1289 1/18/2011
S705 1/19/2011
1273.1 1/18/2011
U170 1/26/2011
214 11/13/2010
1276 1/18/2011
1256 1/18/2011
S72 11/5/2010
S106 1/26/2011
1293 1/18/2011
1293.1 1/18/2011
1306 1/18/2011
267 1/20/2011
359 2/5/2011
F221 12/2/2010
1259.1 1/18/2011
1320 1/18/2011
S149 1/26/2011
373 9/25/2010
373.1 9/25/2010
*Auction sales as recorded from November 25 through January 25 in the Corvette Market Digital Plus database (www.corvettemarket.com).
Page 77
Rank Model
29 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Custom coupe
30 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 coupe
31 1953 Chevrolet Corvette 235/150 roadster
32 1953 Chevrolet Corvette 235/150 roadster
33 1966 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
34 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Serial #2 roadster
35 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Custom 480
36 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
37 1966 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
38 1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
39 2001 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary convertible
40 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
41 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
42 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 convertible
43 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 convertible
44 1955 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
45 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
46 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car 346/350
47 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
48 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
49 1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
50 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
51 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
52 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
53 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
54 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie convertible
55 1956 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
56 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
57 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
58 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Split-Window coupe Replica
59 1960 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
60 1958 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270
61 1955 Chevrolet Corvette roadster
62 1960 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
63 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 coupe
64 1954 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
65 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
66 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
67 1961 Chevrolet Corvette convertible 350-ci
68 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 coupe
69 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
70 1960 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
71 1967 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
72 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/390 convertible
73 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/425 coupe
74 1965 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
75 1966 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
76 1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
77 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
78 1961 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
79 1967 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
80 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom convertible
81 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Lingenfelter convertible
82 1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
83 2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 605
84 1965 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
85 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
Sold Price Location
$148,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$148,400 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$144,100 Mecum, Canal Winchester, OH
$143,100 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$143,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$143,000 Mecum, Canal Winchester, OH
$137,800 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$137,500 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$137,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$134,200 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$132,000 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$132,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$132,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$129,850 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$126,500 RM, Phoenix, AZ
$125,400 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$124,550 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$123,200 Mecum, Canal Winchester, OH
$121,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$121,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$118,250 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$117,700 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$115,500 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$115,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$115,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$115,500 RM, Phoenix, AZ
$115,500 RM, Phoenix, AZ
$110,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$110,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$110,000 RM, Phoenix, AZ
$107,800 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$107,250 Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ
$107,250 RM, Phoenix, AZ
$106,700 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$106,000 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$104,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$104,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$104,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$101,760 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$101,760 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$101,200 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$100,440
Classic Motorcar Auctions,
Canton, OH
$99,000 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
$97,520 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$96,460 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$95,700 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$95,700 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$93,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$93,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$93,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$93,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$93,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$93,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
$91,300 Mecum, Canal Winchester, OH
$91,160 Mecum, Kissimmee, FL
$90,300 Carlisle, Carlisle, PA
$90,200 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
Lot #
Date
1246.1 1/18/2011
S202 1/26/2011
S57 11/5/2010
S130 1/26/2011
1289.1 1/18/2011
S59 11/5/2010
S239 1/26/2011
353.1 9/25/2010
1011.1 1/18/2011
651.1 9/25/2010
371 9/25/2010
1321.1 1/18/2011
1260.2 1/18/2011
S138 1/26/2011
298 1/20/2011
1275.2 1/18/2011
S211 1/26/2011
S138 11/5/2010
1264.2 1/18/2011
1254.2 1/18/2011
643.2 9/25/2010
385 9/25/2010
362.2 9/25/2010
975.3 1/18/2011
1266 1/18/2011
276 1/20/2011
269 1/20/2011
989 1/18/2011
1000 1/18/2011
283 1/20/2011
983 1/18/2011
S658 1/19/2011
274 1/20/2011
660 9/25/2010
T256 1/26/2011
980 1/18/2011
980.1 1/18/2011
1234 1/18/2011
S24 1/26/2011
T230 1/26/2011
1260.1 1/18/2011
547A 9/18/2010
644.3 9/25/2010
F230 1/26/2011
S6
1/26/2011
1005 1/18/2011
1261.2 1/18/2011
1248.1 1/18/2011
1329 1/18/2011
1267 1/18/2011
1247.2 1/18/2011
1327 1/18/2011
1285 1/18/2011
S61 11/5/2010
T64 1/26/2011
F186 9/30/2010
1242.1 1/18/2011
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 79
Page 78
Price
Guide
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
C1 (1953–62)
235/150 Roadster
235/150 Roadster
235/155 Roadster
265/195
265/210 Convertible
265/225
283/220 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/283 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/290 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/290 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/250 FI
283/270
283/290 FI
283/230 Convertible
283/245
283/270
283/275 FI
283/315 FI
327/250 Convertible
327/300
327/340
327/360 FI
327/250 Split-Window Coupe
327/300 L75
327/340 L76
327/360 FI L84
327/360 Z06
327/250 Convertible
327/300 L75
327/340 L76
327/360 FI L84
Grand Sport
327/250 Coupe
327/300 L75
327/365 L76
53
54
55
55
56
56
57
57
57
57
57
58
58
58
58
58
59
59
59
59
59
60
60
60
60
60
61
61
61
61
61
62
62
62
62
(1956–62, add $2k–$4k for auxiliary hard top.)
C2 (1963–67)
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
64
64
10,594
10,919
$40,000
$43,000
$50,400
$73,400
$127,000
$35,000
$36,000
$39,000
$65,000
5
8,304
$71,200 A
$82,000 A
$83,000 A
$136,400 A
$191,000 A
$63,000 B
$66,000 B
$72,000 B
$135,400 A
$6,000,000 $10,000,000 A
$32,700
$33,400
$52,400 B
$57,700 B
80 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
300
3,640
7
693
387
3,080
1,633
2,045
284
1,621
756
4,243
2,436
504
978
1,007
5,487
1,417
175
1,846
745
5,827
1,211
100
2,364
759
5,357
1,175
2,827
118
1,462
4,907
3,294
4,412
1,918
$125,000
$65,000
$62,000
$65,000
$45,000
$50,000
$44,300
$49,200
$59,000
$49,200
$70,200
$39,400
$44,300
$52,800
$48,100
$68,200
$38,400
$43,300
$53,500
$47,200
$66,900
$39,400
$47,600
$52,800
$48,200
$67,900
$40,400
$45,300
$49,200
$55,800
$66,900
$44,300
$48,600
$51,200
$75,100
$225,000 A
$108,000 B
$125,000 B
$122,000 A
$85,000 B
$86,700 B
$88,500 B
$93,500 B
$113,100 A
$92,800 B
$119,900 A
$76,700 B
$99,900 B
$105,300 B
$85,600 B
$125,000 B
$70,800 B
$81,700 B
$100,400 B
$95,600 B
$124,000 B
$82,700 B
$84,600 B
$100,000 B
$91,900 B
$125,000 B
$66,800 B
$85,300 B
$86,600 B
$100,400 B
$131,300 B
$78,700 B
$86,600 B
$91,500 B
$141,700 B
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
327/375 FI L84
327/250 Convertible
327/300 L75
327/365 L76
327/375 FI L84
327/250 Coupe
327/300 L75
327/350 L79
327/365 L76
327/375 FI L84
396/425 L78
327/250 Convertible
327/300 L75
327/350 L79
327/365 L76
327/375 FI L84
396/425 L78
327/300 Coupe
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/425 L72
327/300 Convertible
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/425 L72
327/300 Coupe
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
327/300 Convertible
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
C3 (1968–82)
327/300 Coupe
327/350 L79
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
327/300 Convertible
327/350 L79
64
64
64
64
64
64
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
13,925
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
8,186
15,378
9,958
17,762
8,504
$36,900
$55,700
$35,000
$37,000
$39,000
$56,700
$38,400
$38,400
$41,000
$43,000
$63,700
$65,700
$39,000
$39,000
$42,000
$43,000
$64,700
$71,400
$38,000
$43,000
$56,000
$68,700
$40,000
$45,000
$58,000
$70,000
$45,000
$48,000
$62,000
$72,000
14,436
$61,000 B
$96,400 A
$58,000 B
$62,700 B
$62,700 B
$98,400 A
$69,700 B
$63,400 B
$75,000 B
$78,000 B
$115,400 A
$127,000 A
$70,400 A
$75,000 B
$80,000 B
$85,000 B
$123,000 A
$127,000 B
$72,400 B
$76,400 B
$94,700 B
$127,000 B
$80,000 A
$83,000 B
$115,000 B
$127,000 A
$79,400 B
$85,000 B
$109,000 B
$130,000 B
$1,200,000 $2,000,000 A
$96,400
$46,700
$50,000
$65,000
$75,000
$177,700 A
$92,700 B
$100,000 B
$131,000 B
$143,700 A
$1,216,700 $2,033,400 A
$95,000
$187,400 A
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
(For 1963–67, add $2k–$3k for side exhaust; $2k–$4k for auxiliary hard top; $4k–$6k for a/c; $5k–$8k for
knockoff wheels; $6k–$10k for aluminum wheels.)
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
9,936
18,630
$18,000
$20,000
$25,000
$28,000
$275,000
$40,000
$54,000
$24,000
$26,000
$35,400
$41,000
$50,000
$58,000
C
C
C
C
$371,700 A
$72,000 B
$95,000 B
$46,400
$52,000
C
C
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
*Predicted appreciation over twelve months, where five-star cars will out-perform market at large, three-star cars are fully priced, and one-star cars are still depreciating
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Page 79
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
350/300 Coupe
350/350 L46
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
427/430 ZL1
350/300 Convertible
350/350 L46
427/390 L36
427/400 L68
427/430 L88
427/435 L71
427/435 L89
350/300 Coupe
68
68
68
68
68
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
70
22,129
$36,000
$35,000
$325,000
$46,800
$59,700
$18,000
$21,000
$25,000
$29,000
$283,400
$40,400
$50,000
16,633
$61,000
$69,000
C
C
$450,000 A
$84,400 B
$110,700 B
$38,400
$43,000
$52,000
$64,700
C
C
C
C
$416,700 A
$79,400 B
$93,000 B
10,668
$2,000,000 $3,000,000 A
$22,700
$24,000
$30,000
$34,000
$291,700
$51,700
$69,000
$18,500
$48,000
$55,000
$63,000
$70,000
C
C
C
C
$375,000 A
$110,000 B
$118,400 B
$39,000
C
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
350/350 L46
350/370 LT1
454/390 LS5
350/300 Convertible
350/350 L46
350/370 LT1
454/390 LS5
350/270 Coupe
350/330 LT1
454/365 LS5
454/425 LS6
350/270 Convertible
350/330 LT1
454/365 LS5
454/425 LS6
350/200 Coupe
350/255 LT1
454/270 LS5
300/250 Convertible
350/255 LT1
454/270 LS5
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
71
71
71
71
71
71
71
71
72
72
72
72
72
72
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
6,648
14,680
7,121
20,496
6,508
$22,000
$28,000
$27,000
$24,000
$25,000
$33,000
$33,000
$18,000
$25,000
$25,000
$71,000
$25,000
$31,000
$33,000
$90,000
$18,500
$26,500
$27,500
$25,000
$35,000
$33,000
$40,000
$56,000
C
C
$58,000 B
$50,000
$55,000
$68,000
C
C
C
$70,000 B
$36,900
$53,000
C
C
$55,000 B
$160,000 A
$48,000
$65,000
C
C
$67,000 B
$191,700 A
$40,000
$55,000
$56,000
$51,000
$66,000
$67,000
C
C
C
C
C
C
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
*Predicted appreciation over twelve months, where five-star cars will out-perform market at large, three-star cars are fully priced, and one-star cars are still depreciating
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 81
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Page 80
Price
Guide
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
(1968–72, add $1k–$2k for auxiliary hard top; $2k–$3k for a/c.)
350/190 Coupe
350/250 L82
454/275 LS4
350/190 Convertible
350/250 L82
454/275 LS4
350/195 Coupe
350/250 L82
454/270 LS4
350/195 Convertible
350/250 L82
454/270 LS4
350/165 Coupe
350/205 L82
350/165 Convertible
350/205 L82
350/180 Coupe
350/210 L82
350/180 Coupe
350/210 L82
350/185 Coupe
350/220 L82
350/185 Silver Anniversary
350 /220 L82
350/185 Pace Car
350/220 L82
350/195 Coupe
350/225 L82
350/190 Coupe
350/230 L82
305/180 (California only)
350/190 Coupe
350/200 Coupe
350/200 Collector Edition
73
73
73
73
73
73
74
74
74
74
74
74
75
75
75
75
76
76
77
77
78
78
78
78
78
78
79
79
80
80
80
81
82
82
Convertible
Malcolm Konner Comm. Coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
Convertible
35th Anniversary coupe
Challenge Racer
84
85
86
86
86
87
87
25,521
4,943
32,028
5,474
33,836
4,629
46,558
49,213
24,991
15,283
6,502
53,807
40,614
40,606
18,648
6,759
51,547
39,729
27,794
7,315
50
87
88
88
88
88
188
inc.
15,382
7,407
2,050
inc.
56 inc.
$13,000
$15,000
$17,000
$20,000
$22,000
$24,000
$11,000
$14,000
$15,000
$19,000
$21,000
$22,000
$10,000
$12,500
$18,000
$20,000
$9,000
$11,000
$9,500
$12,000
$9,900
$12,800
$12,800
$15,800
$19,700
$19,700
$10,400
$13,300
$11,800
$13,800
$9,900
$11,800
$11,800
$16,800
$5,500
$6,000
$6,500
$9,500
$24,000
$28,000
$33,000
$33,000
$40,000
$42,000
$23,000
$28,000
$30,000
$32,000
$36,000
$40,000
$19,000
$23,000
$33,000
$37,000
$16,000
$20,000
$18,000
$22,000
$17,700
$22,700
$24,600
$29,500
$34,500
$39,400
$18,700
$23,600
$19,700
$23,600
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
$17,700 D
$20,700
$21,700
$29,500
C
C
C
20,007
10,625
$10,000
$7,500
$10,000
$20,000
$7,500
$10,000
$12,500
$25,900
82 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
$8,500 D
$9,000 D
$10,500 D
$16,000 D
$20,000 D
$11,500 D
$16,000 D
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHH
(1973–82, add $750 for aluminum wheels, $1,250 for auiliary hard top. 1978–82, add $650 for glass top.)
C4 (1984–96)
Coupe
Coupe
Coupe
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
$32,000 D
$11,000 D
$16,000 D
$21,400 D
$39,200 D
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
Convertible
Challenge Racer
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
World Challenge Racer
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Callaway Cpe/Cvt
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
40th Anniversary coupe
40th Anniversary convertible
40th Anniversary ZR-1 coupe
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Coupe
ZR-1 coupe
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Collector Edition coupe
Collector Edition convertible
Grand Sport coupe
Grand Sport convertible
88
89
89
89
89
90
90
90
90
90
91
91
91
91
92
92
92
93
93
93
93
93
93
94
94
94
95
95
95
95
96
96
96
96
96
96
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Hard top
Coupe
97
98
98
98
99
99
99
00
00
00
01
125
inc.
16,663
9,749
60 inc.
67 inc.
12,967
3,049
7,630
58 inc.
23 inc.
12,923
2,044
5,672
71 inc.
14,102
502
5,875
15,396
448
5,692
6,749
inc.
inc.
inc.
17,536
448
5,346
15,323
448
4,444
527
12,326
2,798
4,031
1,381
810
190
9,752
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
$20,000
$7,500
$10,900
$25,500
$21,000
$8,000
$21,500
$9,700
$21,000
$24,000
$9,500
$19,900
$11,900
$21,500
$10,000
$20,700
$11,900
$10,000
$21,500
$12,900
$13,900
$18,200
$32,900
$11,000
$30,900
$14,900
$12,000
$31,100
$14,900
$24,700
$13,400
$15,900
$16,200
$18,000
$24,000
$28,900
19,235
10,686
1,163
18,078
11,161
4,031
18,113
13,479
2,090
15,681
$15,500
$16,200
$20,000
$26,700
$17,700
$21,400
$17,000
$19,000
$22,500
$18,000
$21,900
$31,000 D
$12,000 D
$16,700 D
$39,200 D
$32,000 D
$13,000 D
$30,000
C
$17,400 D
$32,000 D
$35,700 D
$13,000 D
$30,400
C
$18,200 D
$32,000 D
$14,000 D
$32,500
C
$18,400 D
$14,000 D
$34,700
C
$18,700 D
$21,700 D
$26,400
$42,300
C
C
$16,000 D
$42,400
C
$19,700 D
$16,500 D
$43,700
C
$19,000 D
$32,500 D
$17,700 D
$21,200 D
$24,500 D
$28,400 D
$39,000
$53,000
C
C
(1984–96, add $1,300 for auxiliary hard top, $600 for 6-sp, $3,000 for LT4 in 1996.)
C5 (1997–2004)
Coupe
Coupe
$20,200 D
$20,900 D
$26,700 D
$34,900 D
$22,400 D
$27,000 D
$21,500 D
$24,200 D
$27,000 D
$22,700 D
$25,900 D
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HHH
HHH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Page 81
Buy-Sell Price Range
Low
High
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
50th Anniversary coupe
50th Anniversary convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Commemorative coupe
Commemorative convertible
Z06 Commemorative hard top
C6 (2005–present)
Coupe
Convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Z06 coupe
Ron Fellows Z06 coupe
Coupe
Pace Car coupe
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Z06 coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 coupe
ZR1 coupe
Coupe
Grand Sport coupe
Convertible
Grand Sport convertible
Z06 coupe
ZR1 coupe
01
01
02
02
02
03
03
03
03
03
04
04
04
04
04
04
05
05
06
06
06
07
07
07
07
07
08
08
08
08
08
09
09
09
09
10
10
10
10
10
10
14,173
5,773
14,760
12,710
8,297
8,727
6,475
8,635
4,085
7,547
13,950
9,557
3,658
2,215
2,659
2,025
26,278
10,644
16,598
11,151
6,272
21,484
10,918
500
8,159
399
19,796
234
7,283
266
7,731
8,737
3,343
3,461
1,415
3,054
3,707
1,003
2,335
518
1,577
$24,000
$24,000
$22,900
$26,500
$24,900
$24,500
$29,400
$26,500
$28,700
$31,000
$25,900
$30,700
$30,700
$26,700
$32,200
$30,000
$29,400
$35,900
$33,200
$38,700
$48,700
$34,400
$40,500
$41,000
$52,900
$61,200
$34,200
$36,200
$41,500
$42,500
$57,000
$41,000
$45,000
$55,000
$95,100
$44,500
$49,800
$48,800
$53,300
$67,600
$99,900
$30,000 D
$30,500
C
$28,900 D
$33,000 D
$33,500
C
$30,000 D
$34,700 D
$33,700
C
$36,000 D
$40,200 D
$31,700 D
$37,000 D
$35,200
C
$33,500 D
$36,700 D
$37,400
C
$37,200 D
$40,900 D
$38,500 D
$44,200 D
$54,200
C
$39,900 D
$47,500 D
$47,500 D
$56,700
$65,000
C
C
$41,400 D
$43,000 D
$48,400 D
$49,500 D
$62,500
C
$45,000 D
$49,000 D
$66,500
$105,000
C
C
$56,600
(MSRP)
$62,500
(MSRP)
$63,300
(MSRP)
$68,300
(MSRP)
$81,450
(MSRP)
$116,880
(MSRP)
D
C
D
C
C
C
HH
HH
HH
HH
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
(Note: Bloomington Gold, NCRS certification, or racing history can add significantly to the value of a Corvette.)
*Predicted appreciation over twelve months, where five-star cars will out-perform market at large, three-star cars are fully
priced, and one-star cars are still depreciating
Buy-Sell
ll Price Range
Low
High
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
50th Anniversary coupe
5
ow
High
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
50th Anniversary coupe
50th Anniversary convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 hard top
Commemorative coupe
Commemorative convertible
Z06 Commemorative hard top
C6 (2005–present)
Coupe
Convertible
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Z06 coupe
Ron Fellows Z06 coupe
Coupe
Pace Car coupe
Convertible
Pace Car convertible
Z06 coupe
Coupe
Convertible
Z06 coupe
ZR1 coupe
Coupe
Grand Sport coupe
Convertible
Grand Sport convertible
Z06 coupe
ZR1 coupe
01
01
02
02
02
03
03
03
03
03
04
04
04
04
04
04
05
05
06
06
06
07
07
07
07
07
08
08
08
08
08
09
09
09
09
10
10
10
10
10
10
14,173
5,773
14,760
12,710
8,297
8,727
6,475
8,635
4,085
7,547
13,950
9,557
3,658
2,215
2,659
2,025
26,278
10,644
16,598
11,151
6,272
21,484
10,918
500
8,159
399
19,796
234
7,283
266
7,731
8,737
3,343
3,461
1,415
3,054
3,707
1,003
2,335
518
1,577
$24,000
$24,000
$22,900
$26,500
$24,900
$24,500
$29,400
$26,500
$28,700
$31,000
$25,900
$30,700
$30,700
$26,700
$32,200
$30,000
$29,400
$35,900
$33,200
$38,700
$48,700
$34,400
$40,500
$41,000
$52,900
$61,200
$34,200
$36,200
$41,500
$42,500
$57,000
$41,000
$45,000
$55,000
$95,100
$44,500
$49,800
$48,800
$53,300
$67,600
$99,900
$30,000 D
$30,500
C
$28,900 D
$33,000 D
$33,500
C
$30,000 D
$34,700 D
$33,700
C
$36,000 D
$40,200 D
$31,700 D
$37,000 D
$35,200
C
$33,500 D
$36,700 D
$37,400
C
$37,200 D
$40,900 D
$38,500 D
$44,200 D
$54,200
C
$39,900 D
$47,500 D
$47,500 D
$56,700
$65,000
C
C
$41,400 D
$43,000 D
$48,400 D
$49,500 D
$62,500
C
$45,000 D
$49,000 D
$66,500
$105,000
C
C
$56,600
(MSRP)
$62,500
(MSRP)
$63,300
(MSRP)
$68,300
(MSRP)
$81,450
(MSRP)
$116,880
(MSRP)
D
C
D
C
C
C
HH
HH
HH
HH
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
(Note: Bloomington Gold, NCRS certification, or racing history can add significantly to the value of a Corvette.)
*Predicted appreciation over twelve months, where five-star cars will out-perform market at large, three-star cars are fully
priced, and one-star cars are still depreciating
www.corvettemarket.com
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 83
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Yrs. Built
No. Made
Investment
Grade
Appreciation
Rating*
Page 82
Trick
Stuff
What you need for your Corvette and where to get it. By John Gunnell
Bring Your Stolen Corvette Back Home
LoJack for classic cars, engaging speakers and a tool bag that fits
RAID in tight spaces
Craftsman's new Right Angle Impact Driver—or RAID—is a compact
power tool that you can use like a big drill, and it is faster and more powerful.
It produces 700 inch-pounds of torque—which is 58.3 foot-pounds—and spins
at 2,100 rpm. This allows you to drive fasteners in while working in tight
spaces where other tools won't fit. It is perfect for Corvette repairs, such as the
installation of brake calipers and master cylinders, headlights, audio speakers,
head bolts, timing belt covers, alternators, water pumps, radiators, intakes,
valve covers, shock absorbers and struts. The RAID is priced at $100. Call
1-800-349-4358 or visit www.sears.com.
Speaker engagements
Alpine's top-of-the-line Alpine
Type-X series provides a dynamic,
precise sound experience in the car
for true audiophiles—and they can
be easily installed in Corvettes.
Their advanced crossover network
allows users to customize the
listening experience. The 12-inch
Alpine Type X speakers list for
$244 to $300. Visit www.alpineusa.com
to locate a retailer.
Corvette-sized tool bag
This tool bag is just the right
size for storage in Corvettes. It
is a modular, zippered bag with
a removable shoulder strap. The
compact, but roomy, lightweight
nylon pouch provides three
removable, modular Velcro®
tool panel pockets for small
tools. The front panel has four
rows of MOLLE system loops so
you can attach smaller pouches
and accessories. The bag sells for
$49.95, and distributor Pro-Fit
says it's the easiest way to carry
your tools. Call 1.253.310.6308 or
visit www.pro-fitcarrysystems.
com.
Corvette engine stands
If you have a lot of Corvette projects going at once, chances are you're tripping over a half dozen
or more engines that you rebuilt or are rebuilding. Engine stands help, but they can be so bulky that
you wind up with more obstacles in the shop. Phoenix Machine's tubular Heavy Duty Chevrolet
engine transport stand can help. It takes up very little space. Different models are available for
small- and big-blocks. The stands are made from laser-cut flanges and heavy wall tubing, and hold
the complete engine—even if it has a racing-style oil pan. The stands are powder-coated and priced
at $54. Options include four heavy-duty casters and two brakes for an additional $32. Call Phoenix
Machine at 920.841.0500 or email mark@phoenixmachinellc.com. ■
LoJack your car back
One 2001 Corvette was stolen nine times—and recovered each time—because
it had a LoJack in-vehicle tracking system installed in 2007. LoJack's newest stolen
vehicle recovery system—LoJack for Classics—is designed for older cars, including
Corvettes. It is self-powered, which allows it to be more easily hidden and eliminates
6-volt issues for early Corvette owners. The system uses Radio Frequency Technology,
which means that stolen cars hidden in trailers, parking garages or cargo containers
can be tracked and found. LoJack for Classics is available immediately through https://
store.lojack.com. The price is a one-time cost of $695, which is peanuts for the owner
of a convertible L88. For more information, visit www.lojack.com, www.facebook.
com/LoJackCorp or http://twitter.com/LoJackCorp.
84 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
Page 83
WHAT'S YOUR
CAR WORTH?
FIND OUT AT
NOW ONLINE! The world's largest
collector car price guide based on
over 500,000 sold transactions
from
.
Updated weekly.
www.collectorcarpricetracker.com
For the collector who needs to
know what things are selling
for, right now.
100% Free. Visit today.
www.corvettemarket.com WINTER 2011 Corvette Market 85
Page 84
In
Miniature
By Marshall Buck
1961 Corvette Convertible
I think that almost everyone agrees that being
toothless is not good, but, in this instance, there may
be some who think differently.
Allow me to explain. When looking at the revised
front grille treatment of the 1961 Corvette, there are
many who view the toned-down “toothless” look as
an improvement, although I don't feel the same way. I
prefer all the teeth on the 1953-60 cars. The headlight
surrounds, which were painted the body color, were
also part of the toning-down trend in 1961. A restyled
rear, which added a little more storage space in the
trunk, also was new in 1961.
This 1961 Jewel Blue with Cream coves 1:24
Speaking
Volumes
1961 Corvette Details
Production Dates:
2011 only
Quantity: Limited edition
of 5,000
CM Five-Star Rating:
Overall Quality:
Authenticity:
Overall Value:
Web: www.danburymint.com
scale model is a brand-new 50th Anniversary limited edition release from The
Danbury Mint. Remember, every year can be a 50th Anniversary of sorts.
These models will be available in March, and the edition is limited to 5,000
serial-numbered pieces.
This is not the first '61 from Danbury Mint. The other one they've made to
date was an Ermine White convertible with red interior, removable hard top,
and a naturally aspirated engine. Those models, produced in 2009 as an unlimited
regular edition are all gone now—as in sold out.
Just like the styling changes made the real Corvette a little more subdued,
so does this authentic and attractive color combination. This is good, especially
for those who collect all variations, as each model can maintain its individuality
rather than being another red model in the Sea of Resale Red. The hand-polished
paint finish is excellent.
There's a great amount of detail all around. Although a few working features
are absent on this model, there are still plenty of moving parts, such as functional
steering and suspension,
opening doors,
hood and trunk
and adjustable sun
visors. The rubber
floor mat in trunk
can be removed,
along with the rear
panel and spare
tire. A removable
convertible top with
detailed framework
is also included.
In a break from Danbury Mint's usual well-detailed molded plastic top,
this one is also covered in white fabric, which has a very tight weave that gives
a good “in-scale” look. That said, there is something that doesn't seem quite
right; it could be that the fabric gets in the way of a really good fit when the top
is in place.
Pop the hood and you'll find the heart: a well-detailed, fuel-injected V8. The
interior is comprehensive with all the bits in place. The oh-so-delicate chrome
emblems and scripts on the body are a joy to see. Even the wheel spinners have
emblems in place! Danbury Mint models are known for their great chassis detail,
and this one is no exception.
As with all of Danbury Mint's Corvette models, they have spent a good deal
of time and effort to produce a very fine-looking model, although it is not one
of their best efforts.
Given the overall detail and quality we've come to expect from Danbury
Mint, I hate to say it, but this one is a little bit of a letdown.
Here are my gripes:
Surprisingly, this model has no prop rod for the hood, the fit of the protruding
body panels aft of the front wheels is poor, the taillights and their chrome bezels
should be recessed into the body, but they are not. In addition, the steering
wheel sits far too low, the seats are pushed too far back into the body, and the fit
of the driver door on my sample was bad, which hindered opening and closing.
The final verdict? Despite the flaws, this is a very good model, and it's certainly
worth grabbing while you can. Priced at $158.
86 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
By Mark Wigginton
Mike Yager's Corvette Bible
By Mike Yager, Krause Publications, 304 pages, $97,
Amazon.com
I was a car-crazy 15-year-
old when my father, who
worked on the docks in Los
Angeles, came to my bedroom
and announced that a
brand-new 1968 Triumph
GT6 had been damaged
during unloading, and he
was doing a deal with the
insurance company to make
it mine. After I gave him a
noncommittal teen grunt in
response, he left.
I didn't show it, but the
news was like an electric shock, and his words started a frenzied
quest for information to feed my fevered imagination.
Over the next few weeks, I read everything I could find on
the car, which wasn't an easy task in those pre-Internet days.
I was pretty much stuck with poring over reviews from Road
& Track and/or Car and Driver, again and again. Alas the
Triumph never materialized, and instead I wound up spending
$500 on a clapped-out 1960 Bugeye Sprite, even though I
knew almost nothing about Sprites.
But you don't have to be as ignorant and clueless as I was
when it comes to Corvettes. Mike Yager has solved that problem
for you with his “Corvette Bible” model guide.
It isn't new, but it is an essential part of your library if
you are interested in driving, buying or fixing-up a Corvette.
Published in 2007, the book takes a look at the entire
range of Corvettes, from 1953 through publication, with
chapters covering each year, and the many models.
But it isn't the breadth that makes this an important book
for the new Corvette enthusiast, it's the basic structure.
Each year gets a nicely written overview, plus a detailed
chart that decodes the VIN and production numbers, engine
options and a “cool stuff” box that highlights options or the
kind of obscure facts that will amaze or annoy your friends.
Yager also offers a chart for each year that, at a glance,
can tell you the relative merits of a particular car—and
whether it should be a collectible, a driver, racer or restoration
candidate.
Provenance:
Yager, owner of Mid America Motorworks and longtime
Corvette expert, is no stranger to these pages, and his knowledge
of all things Corvette is beyond reproach.
Fit and Finish:
The printing and photo reproduction are of good quality,
but what sets this book apart is the design concept: Yager
uses charts where possible and keeps it tight. It works well,
with lots of data packed into a small area for each model year.
Drivability:
This is like having a really well informed collector come
along with you to look at a car. You learn what to look for—
and what to expect—model by model, on a macro level. It
might keep you from falling in love when you shouldn't, or
help you understand what is correct or what just pretends
to be correct. Pair it with the Corvette Black Book and you
are well down the road to starting out right. It isn't the end
of your Corvette journey, but the beginning—and you start
with a good map. ■
Page 86
Resource
Directory
Auction Companies
Auctions America by RM.
877.906.2437, 5540 CR llA Auburn,
IN 46706. Home of the
480-acre Auction Park in Auburn,
IN, where the annual Labor Day
Auction is held in conjunction with
the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg
Festival. www.auctionsamerica.
com. (IN)
Mecum Collector Car
Auctioneers. 815.568.8888,
815.568.6615. 950 Greenlee St.,
Marengo, IL 60015. Auctions:
Orlando, Kansas City, Rockford,
Bloomington Gold, St. Paul, Des
Moines, Carlisle, and Chicago.
Nobody Sells More Muscle
Than Mecum. Nobody.
www.mecumauction.com. (IL)
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th
Street, Phoenix AZ 85040. info@
russoandsteele.com;
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
The Worldwide Group.
866.273.6394, Established by
Put your company in the CM Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 x211,
or email advert@corvettemarket.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. (IN)
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
County Corvette 610.696.7888,
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
Mid America Motorworks
800.500.1500, America's leader in
1953-2008 Corvette parts and accessories.
Request a free catalog at
www.mamotorworks.com. (IL)
AutoBahn Power. Performance
+ Looks + Durability + Comfort
= Autobahn Power! Autobahn
Power is a veteran of vehicle modifications,
parts and accessories.
Our specialty has been to carry
products that are better than original
equipment in performance,
safety and quality. Our warehouse,
service shop and retail store are
located in the Midwest for good
access to all parts of the USA. We
have completed literally hundreds
of project cars. These performance
vehicles are in enthusiast's hands
across the USA. Many of the cars
are in daily use proving the durability
of our workmanship and
products. Check us out at
www.autobahnpower.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)
Insurance
Hagerty Collector Car Insur-
ance. 800.922.4050. Collector
cars aren't like their late-model
counterparts. These classics actually
appreciate in value so standard
market policies that cost significantly
more won't do the job. We'll
agree on a fair value and cover you
for the full amount. No prorated
claims, no hassles, no games.
www.hagerty.com. (MI)
Corvettes for Sale
Corvette Central Parts and
accessories for all corvettes. Corvette
Central has been a leading
Ad Index
Al Knoch Interiors ............................59
Auto Etc Neon ..................................89
Barrett-Jackson ...................................7
Baymont Inn & Suites.......................87
Bloomington Gold ......................17, 19
Bowling Green Convention & Visitors
Bur.....................................................92
Branson Collector Car Auction.........69
Bruce Shaw.......................................88
Chubb Personal Insurance...................9
Classic Restoration............................91
Collector Car Price Tracker ..............85
Corvette America ..............................13
Corvette Correction...........................89
Corvette Market ..........................23, 77
Corvette Repair Inc...........................57
Corvette Specialties ..........................89
County Corvette..................................2
Cousin Joe's ......................................61
Dave Gill Chevrolet..........................53
Grundy Worldwide............................47
Harchelroad Motors Inc....................53
Heacock Classic ...............................41
88 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
JC Taylor...........................................63
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc........89
Lee Murphy Chevrolet......................53
Long Island Corvette Supply Inc......89
Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd..85
Mecum Auction...................................3
Meguiar's ....................................24, 25
Michael Somers ................................83
Mid America Motorworks.................65
Midwest Corvettes & Classics, LLC 81
National Corvette Museum...............83
National Corvette Restorers Society.11
Pro-Team Corvette Sales, Inc............71
Reliable Carriers ...............................39
Silver Collector Car Auctions ...........55
Sports Car Market.............................43
St Bernard Church.............................85
Superior Chevrolet......................53, 67
SWISSVAX USA, LLC......................6
The Chevy Store Inc .........................21
Thomas C Sunday Inc.......................81
Zip Products......................................15
manufacturer and distributor of
Corvette parts and accessories
since 1975. We offer the most
comprehensive and detailed parts
catalogs on the market today and
produce a different catalog for
each Corvette generation. All
catalogs are also online with full
search and order features. From
Blue Flame 6 to the new C6, only
Corvette Central has it all.
www.corvettecentral.com. (MI)
County Corvette.
610.696.7888, The most modern
and best equipped Corvette-only
facility in the nation.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
The Chevy Store At The
Chevy Store, you will find only the
highest grade, investment quality
Corvette and specialty Chevrolet
automobiles. We take pride in
providing our clients with the
finest selection anywhere. Offering
investment quality corvettes
and Chevrolets for over 30 years!
503.256.5384 (p) 503.256.4767 (f)
www.thechevystore.com. (OR)
Museums
National Corvette Museum
800-53-VETTE, The National
Corvette Museum in Bowling
Green, KY was established as a
501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation
with a mission of celebrating the
invention of the Corvette and
preserving its past, present and
future. www.corvettemuseum.com.
(KY) ■
Page 88
Vette-o-bilia
Online trash and trinkets—some valuable, some not. By Carl Bomstead
Pedal Cars, Pin-up Girls and Useless Trophies
The photo wasn't racy by today's standards but it attracted a great deal of
attention and sold for aggressive money
A
s we wiled away the hours finding cool Corvette stuff in a spot where people spend silly money adding
to their collection of treasures, we found a couple of very cool pieces that did not receive any interest
at all.
A 1963 Jim Beam Corvette decanter—still full of the original product—failed to receive any at-
tention when offered at $1,500. No wonder you say, but it was signed by Dave McLellan, a former Corvette
chief engineer, and Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Father of the Corvette. It was offered with photographs of them
signing the decanter at a Corvette show in 1994. Both were known for signing anything and everything, so
the signatures are not particularly rare. I'm not surprised that no one stepped up at this price.
A 1986 Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car pedal car that was entered in some sort of dealer contest and was
presented with a big honking trophy was offered at $1,500. It also received no interest. This offer was a bit
pricey, considering that the pedal car is worth about $700—and who cares about the trophy? So, there is little
wonder why this offering failed to sell. But here are some that did receive interest, even if for less than a buck.
EBAY #330526849601—
EIGHT ISSUES OF VETTE
AND CORVETTE FEVER
FROM 1994. Number of Bids: 1.
SOLD AT: 99 cents. Date Sold:
2/10/2011. These magazines were
in good condition and covered
a lot of subjects, including
the Lister Corvette, Corvette
Challenge Cup race cars and
a Corvette Limo that someone
with way too much time on
their hands created. A lot of
information for less than a buck.
Of course they made up for it
by charging $5 for shipping and
handling. Still, this is a tough
way to get rich.
3. SOLD AT: $12.50. Date Sold:
2/10/2011. This 7-inch by 8-inch
fold-out brochure included a cutaway
of the chassis and all sorts
of useful technical information.
A must-have for the owner of a
1958 Corvette. Sold for a song,
as these usually go for $60 or so.
1/31/2011. This 76-page album
had a tabbed section for the
Corvette and included technical
information, available options,
paint chips and upholstery
samples. A wealth of information—and
acquired for a favorable
price, as we have seen these
sell for around $600.
EBAY #320645575161—
EBAY #160540804966—
EBAY #220734219216—
1958 CORVETTE SALES
BROCHURE. Number of Bids:
FRANKLIN MINT 1:6
SCALE 283 CORVETTE
ENGINE. Number of Bids: 13.
SOLD AT: $335.55. Date Sold:
2/9/2011. This was a model of
the Corvette 283-ci fuel-injected
engine that was offered as an
option from 1957 through 1961.
It was introduced by the Franklin
Mint in 1991 and survived for 20
years in decent condition. It was
complete with all the paperwork
and original packaging. Most of
the Franklin Mint and Danbury
models sell for a fraction of the
issue price, but that was not the
case here. This is a very cool
display piece if the actual engine
is under the hood of the C1 resting
in your garage.
90 Corvette Market WINTER 2011 www.corvettemarket.com
EBAY # 140503056361—
ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH
OF PIN-UP GIRL WITH
CORVETE PEDAL CAR.
Number of Bids: 14. SOLD AT:
$91. Date Sold: 1/27/2011. This
was a period press photo of an
attractive swimsuit girl with a
1957 Corvette pedal car. It was
not particularly racy by today's
standards but it attracted a great
deal of attention, and for some
reason, sold for a rather aggressive
price.
CORVETTE NEON SIGN.
Number of Bids: 13. SOLD AT:
$304. Date Sold: 1/29/2011.
This attractive sign measured
30 inches by 15 inches and was
recently made. The seller stated
he bought it about five years ago
for $400. A decent buy, assuming
nothing gets broken when the
sign is shipped. A simple break
costs about $60 to repair, so neon
signs need to be handled with
care.
EBAY #30052255192—
EBAY #380.08904276—
1959 CHEVROLET DEALER
SHOWROOM ALBUM.
Number of Bids: Buy-It-Now.
SOLD AT: $389. Date Sold:
UGO FENDINI MODEL OF
1976-77 CORVETTE. Number
of Bids: 14. SOLD AT: $212.50.
Date Sold: 2/2/2011. This 1:43
scale resin model was in good
condition and was complete
with packaging. Fendini started
making polyurethane resign
models in 1974—and is still
going strong. He specializes in
land speed record cars, and his
website does not list the Corvette
sold here. His models are not
cheap, and as such, this one was
well bought. ■