Mark your calendar for Monday, Feb. 12 if you want to see the unveiling of the sinkhole-damaged 1962 Corvette, now restored as good as new by National Corvette Museum crews.
The Tuxedo Black roadster, of course, was one of the eight classic Corvettes that plunged into the sinkhole that suddenly opened up underneath the NCM on Feb. 12, 2014.
Four years later, the fully restored ’62 will be revealed to the public live on the NCM Facebook page at 9 a.m. CT.
During the past year, Vehicle Maintenance and Preservation Coordinator Daniel Decker – helped by Curator Derek Moore and other members of the NCM team – has been busy repairing the damage done by the fall into the sinkhole.
The car will be put back into its original pre-sinkhole display space in the Skydome.
The 2009 Blue Devil ZR1 and the 1992 1 Millionth Corvette damaged by the sinkhole have previously been restored. The other five ‘Vettes that plunged into the hole will continue to be displayed in their as-found condition and will not be restored.
The 1962 Corvette had been donated to the Museum in 2011 by David Donoho, who owned the car for more than 50 years after purchasing it in high school.
On Feb. 9, 2017, the car was removed from its display in the Skydome still wearing all of the dirt and dust from its subterranean adventure. It was transferred to an NCM garage bay for repairs. Given that the work was performed in the Museum, visitors have been able to watch the car’s progress as it was actually happening.
“The car has been on display ‘as-is’ for nearly three years, so we thought to commemorate the third anniversary of the sinkhole, we would start the restoration work on the last Corvette to be repaired,” Katie Frassinelli, Marketing and Communications Manager, said as work began last February. “Almost all the work will be performed in-house by Daniel Decker, our Vehicle Maintenance and Preservation Coordinator. It’s exciting that guests will be able to see the car come back to life.”
GM donated $25,000 to cover the restoration. Preliminary estimates were that $15,000 in parts alone would be needed. Big ticket items that had to be replaced included a complete front end assembly, hood, and windshield.
Before starting work last February, Decker estimated it would take about a year for the repairs. “We want to do it right,” he said at that time. “The fiberglass will need to set and cure so it doesn’t shrink later. We want the car to look immaculate.”
Interested enthusiasts have been able to follow the restoration progress on Facebook and YouTube.
Source:
National Corvette Museum
Related:
[VIDEO] National Corvette Museum Begins Restoration of the 1962 Sinkhole Corvette
[VIDEO] Time Lapse Restoration of the 1 Millionth Corvette
[PICS] GM Reveals Restored 2009 Corvette ZR1 Blue Devil from NCM Sinkhole at SEMA
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