C1 Corvette – ATWMotorFreight.com – Car Care and News in the Auto Industry

Tag Archives C1 Corvette
Corvette Auction Preview: Four More Corvettes to Make You Drool at Mecum Kissimmee 2022

Posted on December 23, 2021 1:00 pm by admin

Photo Credit: Mecum Auctions

Welcome back to our look at Mecum’s upcoming 2022 Kissimmee auction. The countdown to opening day is just about 14 days now. Perusing the Corvette docket, we currently see 360 Corvettes listed which is more than double the number of consignments from 2 weeks ago. Expect a few more to be added as the date draws nearer.

Past previews focused on the Corvette Super Sport, Gulf One, and the C2 Z06 equipped Corvettes from Mecum’s Once in a Lifetime Corvette Offering. This time we’re going to focus on a diverse quartet of first and second generation cars ranging from a pilot line 1966 L88 to an ultra-rare 1957 airbox fuelie.

Lot F158: 1960 Race Rat Tanker – When we think of big tank or “tanker” Corvettes, we generally think of C2’s. However, tankers were available to savvy buyers and racers on C1 Corvettes as well. In 1960, 10 big tank Corvettes were built. This 1960 fuelie was ordered through Nickey Chevrolet by George Reed to complete in the 1960 Sebring 12 hour race. In addition to the 315hp engine, Reed selected heavy duty suspension, heavy duty brakes, and a 4-speed transmission. Upon delivery to Sebring, Zora Arkus Duntov himself assisted with the final race prep. The car went on to win its class and finish 16th overall. Today the car is in excellent restored condition and has been displayed at top events such as the 2004 and 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the 2009 Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance, the 2010 NCRS 50th Anniversary display, and the 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. It’s also an NCRS American Heritage Award recipient.

Lot F164: 1957 Big Brake Airbox Fuelie – This well-known straight axle is one of 44 produced with RPO 579E, the fresh airbox intake. It’s also 1 of 54 with heavy duty brakes and suspension. Other options include a fuel injected engine, 4-speed transmission, and wider 5.5″ wheels. The car was raced in SCCA events across the country throughout its early life. Since that time, it’s been restored back to stock form and lays claimed to our hobby’s top awards including multiple NCRS Top Flights, Bloomington Gold, and 2 Bloomington Special Collections. It’s been featured in Vette Vues magazine and participated in the 75th anniversary Monterrey historics. It’s being offered from the John Justo collection with copious documentation, awards, and restoration photos.

Lot S113: 8,500-mile unrestored 1967 427/435 Coupe – We first saw the “Vault Find” 1967 Corvette at the 2017 Mecum Indy auction where it sold for $675,000 from the original owner’s family. The Marina Blue on blue 435hp coupe remains in unrestored, original condition with just 8,533 miles on the odometer. The option list includes the 435hp engine, M21 4-speed, F41 suspension, and 4.11 rear end. It’s never been shown or judged and comes documented with the window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and car shipper.

Lot S237: 1966 Pilot Line L88 Coupe – This Sting Ray is one of the “Four Kings,” 1966 Corvette factory racers. It’s the first known Corvette factory-prepared for Luigi Chinetti’s NART team, the first built with shoulder harnesses, and the second to be fitted with the cowl-induction fresh air hood. The intent was to test aluminum cylinder heads and other racing bits in the 1966 Sebring 12 hours. Pedro Rodriguez and Mario Andretti were to be the drivers, but they ended up in one of Chinetti’s Ferrari’s instead. Future pilots included Harold Whims, Don Yenko, John Finger, and John “Sam” Henderson. They completed at many notable tracks such as Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte Motor Raceway, Virginia International Raceway, Marlboro Motor Raceway, and Road Atlanta among others. The L88 engine sports a 1965-dated intake manifold and January 1966 dated aluminum cylinder heads. Other track-spec options include heater and defroster delete, radio delete, F41 suspension, Positraction rear axle, heavy-duty brakes, transistor ignition, M22 4-speed, and a 36 gallon gas tank. It’s extensively documented and has been shown at numerous national events over the last decade including 2014 and 2020 Bloomington Gold Collections, 2016 MCACN Corvette Legends Invitational, and the 2014 Corvettes at Carlisle Race Car Reunion.

Mecum’s monster 2022 Kissimmee auction will take place January 6th-16th at the Osceola Heritage Park. MotorTrend TV, MotorTrend+, and Discovery will have live coverage Wednesday, January 12th – Saturday, January 15th. Approximately 3,500 cars are expected. Keep an eye here and on the Mecum website as new additions are being added daily.

Source:
Mecum Auctions

📂This entry was posted in Uncategorized 📎and tagged Auctions&Results C1 C1 Corvette C2 C2 Corvette Corvettes For Sale Event Coverage featured Kissimmee Mecum sponsored message
Kansas Highway Patrol Seizes 1959 Corvette from ‘Innocent Owner’ and Now Wants to Destroy It

Posted on August 29, 2021 6:28 pm by admin

When Richard Martinez bought a 1959 Corvette for $50,000 from an Indiana dealer in 2016, the Kansas man didn’t realize he still wouldn’t have possession of the vehicle five years later.

After buying the car, Martinez took it to a Kansas Highway Patrol station for a mandated inspection, but the KHP seized his classic Corvette because of vehicle identification number issues, including an issue with a VIN plate located in a non-public, “secret” location visible to the KHP only by looking under the car with a mirror.

The government concedes Martinez did nothing wrong, that he “was not aware of the [VIN] issues and defects,” and that there is “no question” he is “an innocent owner.” Instead of returning the car, though, the government has spent years trying to destroy it.

That’s where the Kansas Justice Institute, a non-profit, public-interest litigation firm committed to defending against government overreach and abuse, stepped in.

A trial in the case Kansas Highway Patrol v. 1959 Chevrolet Corvette started before a court instead of a jury on July 21, and KHI subsequently filed an amicus brief on Aug. 18 in the District Court of Johnson County, urging the court to protect the private property rights of a vehicle owner, someone recognized by the KHP as innocent.

“Asset forfeiture is when the government takes a person’s property without a criminal conviction. In some cases, the person is never even charged with a crime, as was the case with Mr. Martinez,” KJI Litigation Director Sam MacRoberts said.

MacRoberts says asset forfeiture is bad enough, “but it’s especially bad in this case because the government admits Mr. Martinez did nothing wrong.”

Even though the KHP acknowledges Martinez’s innocence, they still argue that the Corvette must be taken from him as “contraband,” based on Kansas laws.

“When the government knows someone is innocent, they shouldn’t use their power and resources to take their property. Kansas’ forfeiture laws are to blame. The United States and Kansas Constitutions do not permit the government to acknowledge a person’s innocence, on the one hand, and then with the other, declare the innocent person’s property ‘contraband’ and take it,” MacRoberts said.

The Kansas laws to which he refers say that every motor vehicle with a VIN that has been destroyed, removed, abused, or defaced is automatically deemed contraband and subject to forfeiture.

“The government should not get to destroy an innocent person’s car,” MacRoberts said.

In the brief, the KJI pointed out a warning to Congress from former U.S. Representative Henry Hyde that “our civil asset-forfeiture laws are being used in terribly unjust ways,” that Representative Deborah Pryce of Ohio “recognized that civil asset forfeiture laws, at their core, deny basic due process, and the American people have reason to be offended and concerned by the abuse,” and that in recent decades civil forfeiture has “become widespread and highly profitable,” with the practice becoming “a veritable addiction for federal, state, and local officials across the country.”

Source:
Kansas Justice Institute via WIBW.com

Related:
[VIDEO] Lawyer Weighs In On Chevy Technician Who Joyrided a Customer’s C8 Corvette
General Motors Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Destination Charges
Federal Judge Rules the Cracked Wheels Lawsuit Against General Motors Can Proceed

📂This entry was posted in Uncategorized 📎and tagged 1959 Buying&Selling C1 C1 Corvette featured Kansas law laws lawsuit
Our Three Favorite Corvettes for Sale by Corvette Mike in July

Posted on July 21, 2021 12:00 pm by admin

If there’s one thing this pandemic has taught us, it’s an appreciation for what we have and for living life to the fullest! That’s one of the reasons why people enjoy their Corvettes so much. It’s that somewhat indescribable feeling you get when sitting behind the wheel of America’s Favorite Sports Car!

Today, we are going to take that philosophy to heart as we take a deep dive into the Corvette inventory of one of the premier Corvette dealers in the country, Corvette Mike of Anaheim, California. There we found three collector-grade Corvettes that we think enthusiasts such as yourselves would enjoy to the max!

2010 Corvette ZR1 in Velocity Yellow with 16 Original Miles

We’ll never forget the hype that surrounded the return of the ZR1 in 2009 as Chevrolet offered its first factory-supercharged Corvette. The ZR1 was nicknamed the “Blue Devil” by the Corvette Team to curry favor with then-GM CEO Rick Wagoner who was a Duke alumnus, and the original premise for its creation came in the form of a question: How much performance could the Corvette team offer in a $100,000 car? That answer was the 6.2L LS9 that produced a whopping 638 horsepower, 604 lb-ft of torque, and it could propel the Corvette ZR1 to a top speed of 205 MPH.

Corvette Mike has this Velocity Yellow 2010 Corvette ZR1 for sale and it’s waiting for a new caretaker who will appreciate the opportunity to buy what is essentially a brand new car as it comes with the original Monroney sticker still affixed to the windshield, plastic still, and an odometer showing just 16 original miles. If that’s not enough creds for this collector car, it’s offered in Velocity Yellow which was the rarest color in 2010 as only 89 ZR1s were offered with it.

[embedded content]

The ZR1 options were limited as essentially everything you could want was included in the 3ZR Premium Equipment Group which this car has. It includes the custom leather-wrapped interior, a Bose premium 7-speaker sound system, and a number of passenger comforts like heated adjustable sport bucket seats, Bluetooth, and a NAV system. This 2010 ZR1 also comes with the chrome ZR1 aluminum wheels, an indoor car cover, and performance pedals.

Just 1,577 Corvette ZR1s were produced in 2010 with this brand new Corvette coming off the line as number 217. Corvette Mike is offering it for $139,900 so if want to find out more about this highly collectible “Blue Devil” in Velocity Yellow, visit Corvette Mike.

1967 Corvette 427/400 with Factory A.C.

Collectors know all about the 1967 model year Corvettes which are considered to be one of the best Corvettes ever made. Chevrolet cleaned up the mid-year body with most of the badges removed and a new design for the front quarter panels with five vents instead of the three as are found on the 1965-66s. And then there are the engine options which were plentiful with two 327s and four 427s offered. If you want to step up into rarified air, this 1967 Corvette Convertible could just be the ticket.

The 1967 Corvette Convertible is an original west coast car that was originally sold by Madison’s Chevrolet in Scottsdale, AZ. The specs of the car have us thinking the owner wanted that top-down driving experience that the mid-year Corvettes are famous for, yet living in the southwest where triple-digit temps are common is most likely the reason why the original owner selected the factory air conditioning which Corvette Mike tells us still blows cold today.

[embedded content]

The Sting Ray comes in Sunfire Yellow with a Black Hood Stinger, a white leather interior, and a white soft convertible top. It’s powered by a matching-numbers L68 427/400-hp big block which is marked by the triangular air cleaner that sits atop three two-barrel carburetors. You pop the hood on this car at any show and that tri-power V8 engine will surely reel in the spectators. As the selection of the factory air shows, the original owner wanted a refined sports car so this one also comes with power steering, power brakes, power windows, telescopic steering column, and the AM/FM radio.

This 1967 Corvette has been completely frame-off restored and comes with a huge binder full of information including the owner history, photos, restoration details, and more. It’s already been judged NCRS Top Flight and is ready for your enjoyment. Offered for $164,900.

1956 Arctic Blue Corvette Convertible

The 1956 Corvette featured the first redesign for the model which both improved upon the original design while also making it more driver-friendly. It was the first model to receive the distinctive coves on each side of the car and it was also the first model to introduce roll-up windows. Chevy officially retired the Blue Flame straight-6 for the V8 engine the previous year and now two different V8s were offered in a 210-hp and 225-hp configuration, while a third option added a special high-lift camshaft that boosted the 225-hp engine’s output to 240 hp. Buyers also had two transmission choices that included the two-speed auto or the three-speed manual.

The owner history is well-known for this car as it was owned by a longtime NCRS member and Foundation Chair who purchased the 1956 Corvette disassembled from the previous owner, but he wasn’t able to complete it and it ended up being sold. The new husband and wife owners enthusiastically began their quest to restore the Corvette but unfortunately, he passed away suddenly before it be could be finished. The car would sit from 2008 until 2013, and then it was purchased once again with the latest owner starting over with a full body-off restoration that was finally completed in 2017.

[embedded content]

This 1956 Arctic Blue Corvette Convertible offers a beautiful beige interior and white canvas top. It’s powered by the aforementioned 265/225-hp V8 small block that’s coupled to the three-speed manual transmission.

At its first showing with 94 other Corvettes, it was awarded both the Best in Class and Best in Show trophies. From there, it was entered in the NCRS Rocky Mountain Chapter where it was awarded Top Flight, and it earned another Top Flight award at the Scottsdale, Arizona Regional Show in May 2018. Corvette Mike is offering the 1956 Corvette/ for $114,900.

To learn more about these three highly collectible Corvettes for sale or to view the other collector Corvettes offered by Corvette Mike, visit them online at CorvetteMike.com or give Troy Worrell a call at 714-712-0060 and let them know you found them here on CorvetteBlogger.com!

Source:
CorvetteMike.com

📂This entry was posted in Uncategorized 📎and tagged 1956 1967 2010 C1 C1 Corvette C2 C2 Corvette C6 C6 Corvette Corvette Mike Corvettes For Sale Dealer dealership featured investment ZR1
[VIDEO] Here are the Cars that Rick Treworgy of Muscle Car City Museum Decided to Keep

Posted on March 3, 2021 2:37 am by admin

Ever since Rick Treworgy closed his Muscle Car City Museum in Florida and sold some 200 of the vehicles at a special Mecum Auction in January for a whopping $18 million, we’ve wondered which cars he just couldn’t bear to part with.

Thanks to Wade Kawasaki’s Car Guy Adventures on YouTube, we don’t have to wonder anymore.

If you’re an enthusiast, definitely set aside 22 minutes and watch this video that shows Rick’s remaining collection that still includes more than 20 big block C2 Corvettes, a 1970 Chevelle SS with an LS6 engine, a 1969 Camaro Z/28 with a cross ram DZ302, and many more interesting vehicles!

“This is a driver’s garage,” Wade explains. “No trailer queens. He’s gonna have a mechanic and detail guy to keep them running so he can drive and enjoy these cars the way they’re meant to be.”

Kawasaki, in case you’re not aware, is president and chief executive officer of Legendary Companies, formerly Coker Group. He oversees Legendary’s 14 brands and six operating companies, including Coker Tire, Universal Vintage Tire Co., Phoenix Race Tires, Wheel Vintiques, Roadster Wire Wheels, MOR – Münchner Oldtimer Reifen and The Great Race.

You know you’re in for a treat when the very first vehicle discussed in the video is a 2019 Arctic White Corvette ZR1. Rick explains that he gave up a 2020 Stingray because he believes in the long run, the ZR1 will be the best investment. He’s only driven the ZR1 some 300 miles because he’s been busy building a new house for the past year but says that odometer should be changing in the coming months.

That’s just the first of so many nice Corvettes he kept, including row after row of 1967 427s “stacked up like cordwood,” as Wade put it.

Rick says he’s trying to collect a big block in every color, and while he hasn’t achieved that goal yet, he doesn’t intend to quit trying.

He points out a blue ’67 with white stinger hood as one of his favorites. “Some cars, they’re just right,” he says. “They feel like they did back in the day after they’re restored. That’s one of ‘em. I can’t make myself part with it.”

He also couldn’t part with a black ’66 Corvette, the first car he ever restored and then showed all over the Southeast for 10 years before driving it for another decade. “It still looks about as good as the day we did it.”

Another sentimental favorite is the only ’55 Chevy coupe remaining in his collection, as he points out a ‘55 was his first car and “whenever I go back to a hot rod, it’s always a ’55 Chevy.”

Other interesting vehicles include a purple Blazer turned into a short pickup, a 1912 Durand (a predecessor to Chevrolet), a ’61 Pontiac Ventura, a ’39 Chevy hot rod, a first-year 1935 Suburban, the last L88 Corvette made (a ’69), and a 1935 Cadillac restomod.

“I have a toy or two,” Rick jokes.

Those toys also include vintage ZR1 motors from the C4 era, and he believes they’ll be worth some money in the future when restoration of the 1990-95 ZR1s begins in earnest someday.

While the museum became a victim of COVID, Rick’s love of collector cars isn’t going anywhere. In fact, while he says there “probably” won’t ever be a museum again, he is planning to build two or three hot rods a year for sale at auction.

[embedded content]

Source:
Wade Kawasaki’s Car Guy Adventures / YouTube

Related:
Muscle Car City Museum To Close After 14 Year Run
National Corvette Museum Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For New Collections Building
How Many Corvettes in this Garage Mahal Can You Name?

📂This entry was posted in Uncategorized 📎and tagged C1 Corvette C2 Corvette C3 Corvette C7 Corvette Collection Rick Treworgy video
[PICS] The Mid-Engine C8 Corvette is Given a C1 Makeover Complete with Chrome and Coves

Posted on May 28, 2020 2:47 am by admin

With the longevity of the Corvette model spanning nearly 70 years, there will always be those who love to project the classic design queues of the first Corvettes onto the latest model. But things are a bit different this time around as for the first time, the Corvette has gone mid-engine. Will a 1958 makeover on a C8 Corvette work? We check out this rendering from digital artist wb.artist20 to see what such a mash-up might look like.

The 1958 Corvette featured several changes from the 1957 model which includes the first use of the dual headlights, a non-functional louvered hood, and copious amounts of chrome including the one-year-only twin chrome trunk spears. The ’58 also retains the trademark chrome grill with teeth and the two-tone side coves.

For this retro design to work, the chrome grill and the side coves got to fit in their respective places and for the most part designer Oscar V. does a pretty good job of working those historic elements onto the C8. Even the whitewall tires seem to be at home with the makeover, but where I think it falls apart is trying to wrap the mid-engine with the 1958’s trademark chrome bumpers as well as the trim around the windows and headlights. I like how the rear bumpers wrap around the corners, but the front is just overkill…which is one of the original criticisms of the ’58 when it first appeared.

But the best thing about the project is that the more you look, the more there is to see. The side mirrors are a throwback to the side-mounted versions on the C1s. The wheels feature the same platter-design hubcaps and even chrome door handles were carried over to the mid-engine.

From wb.artist20 via Instagram:

wb.artist20 ? By popular requests, here’s my attempt at “retrofitting” a C8 Corvette with 1958 C1 elements. I debated on what year model to use and @_frankieklassen01 suggested white walls so it intrigued me not to mention the white cove is definitely super identifiable. Let me know what you think. Btw I don’t care about what the chrome does to weight and aerodynamics! It looks awesome to me! ?

Overall I think this was a fun project and we are looking forward to seeing what the reaction will be from the Corvette purists among us.

Source:
wb.artist20 / Instagram

Related:
[PICS] C8 Corvette Is Gifted with a Nose Swap From a Chevy Blazer
[PIC] A Retro Corvette Stingray Rendered with a Touch of Camaro
Retired GM Designer Creates Future Concepts Based on Retro Classics

📂This entry was posted in Uncategorized 📎and tagged 1958 2020 C1 C1 Corvette C8 C8 Corvette featured instagram mashup retro Videos&Pictures