Criswell Chevrolet’s Mike Furman delivers new Corvettes to his customers who come from all across the country to work with the nation’s top individual Corvette seller.
In this week’s dispatch, we are treated to this fantastic delivery of a Torch Red Corvette to friends of Mike, and make sure you take a look at the new Corvette Racing center hood graphic! Mike shares Zora’s famous “Thoughts Pertaining To…” memo and a couple of throwback delivery stories. Check out the collection of vintage and throwback Corvette photos, and then hit the comments to let him know your favorites!
Visit Mike’s facebook page for even more photos and videos of his new Corvette deliveries: CorvetteFurman.
~Anyone attending the C8 Corvette owners school in the March 31st/April 1st timeframe at Spring Mountain Racetrack in Pahrump, Nevada?? Please join me the night before, March 30th at 6pm in The Clubhouse restaurant on site for my Pizza Dinner that I throw every time I host my customers. Always fun and the dinner is on me. After dinner, we hang out at the Fire pit out back and you never know what special guests will join us! My next trip to Pahrump with clients is scheduled for October 4th/5th. I may have 2-3 classes filled with my C8 customers so stay tuned. Call Donna Hammontree at Spring Mtn for all details 1 800 391-6891 x232 (Call after March 14th as she is on vacation)
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~Zora Arkus Duntov writes a very well thought out letter on December 16th 1953!
TO: Mr Maurice Olly, ADDRESS: Research & Development Section
FROM: Mr Z Arkus-Duntov, ADDRESS: Research & Development Section
DATE: December 16, 1953
SUBJECT: Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders, and Chevrolet
The Hot Rod movement and interest in things connected with hop-up and speed is still growing. As an indication: the publications devoted to hot rodding and hop-upping, of which some half-dozen have a very large circulation and are distributed nationally, did not exist some six years ago.
From cover to cover, they are full of Fords. This is not surprising that the majority of hot rodders are eating, sleeping, and dreaming modified Fords. They know Ford parts from stern to stern better than Ford people themselves.
A young man buying a magazine for the first time immediately becomes introduced to Ford. It is reasonable to assume that when hot rodders or hot rod-influenced persons buy transportation, they buy Fords. As they progress in age and income, they graduate from jalopies to second-hand Fords, then to new Fords.
Should we consider that it would be desirable to make these youths Chevrolet-minded? I think that we are in a position to carry out a successful attempt. However, there are many factors against us:
1. Loyalty and experience with Ford.
2. Hop-up industry is geared with Ford.
3. Law of numbers: thousands are and will be working on Fords for active competition.
4. Appearance of Ford’s overhead V-8, now one year ahead of us.
When a superior line of GM V-8s appeared, there where remarkably few attempts to develop these, and none too successful. Also, the appearance of the V-8 Chrysler was met with reluctance even though the success of Ardun-Fords conditioned them to the acceptance of Firepower.
This year is the first one in which isolated Chrysler development met with successes. The Bonneville records are divided between Ardun-Fords and Chryslers.
Like all people, hot rodders are attracted by novelty. However, bitter experience has taught them that new development is costly and long, and therefore they are extremely conservative. From my observation, it takes an advanced hot rodder some three years to stumble toward the successful development of a new design. Overhead Fords will be in this stable between 1956 and 1957.
The slide rule potential of our RPO V-8 engine is extremely high, but to let things run their natural course will put us one year behind – and then not too many hot rodders will pick Chevrolet for development. One factor which can largely overcome this handicap would be the availability of ready-engineered parts for higher output.
If the use of the Chevrolet engine would be made easy and the very first attempts would be crowned with success, the appeal of the new RPO V-8 engine will take hold and not have the stigma of expensiveness like the Cadillac or Chrysler, and a swing to Chevrolet may be anticipated. This means the development of a range of special parts – camshafts, valves, springs, manifolds, pistons, and such – should be made available to the public.
To make good in this field, the RPO parts must pertain not only to the engine but to the chassis components as well. In fact, the use of light alloys and brake development, such as composite drums and discs, are already on the agenda of the Research and Development group.
These thoughts are offered for what they are worth: one man’s thinking aloud on the subject.
Signed,
Zora Arkus-Duntov
December 16, 1953
~Kirby and Marcie M. Of Manakin Sabot, Virginia have bought Corvettes from me before and we even attended the C8 reveal in Tustin, California. Check out the last picture as it was taken on the balcony of my Tustin, CA hotel and in it are all my C8 customers! Left to right is Jeremy Welborn of OK myself, Kenny Berg of TX, Marcie and Kirby Montgomery of VA. We had a great time on that trip!! This past week was C8 delivery day and Marcie drove Kirby up in the 2014 Convt that she had bought from me. The new 2021 Corvette Z51 coupe is Kirby’s favorite color, Torch red! Equipment list: 3LT pkg, Adrenaline red interior, CF instrument trim, magnetic ride, bright red calipers, engine appearance pkg, red seat belts and much much more. Kirby has big plans for Black chrome wheels etc!!
~In Marcie and Kirby’s own words…”Well Mike, this day is going to be hard to beat! And after a rainy gloomy Monday we had a glorious sunny Tuesday to drive to Gaithersburg, hang out with you and your NUMERO UNO TEAM at Criswell, and take delivery of our 2021 Corvette Coupe equipped exactly like we wanted it! Thanks for being so kind and patient with our choices! We will get to drive the car more after it gets PPF, but the short drive we had revealed just an amazing feel to this car. Of course Kirby had it on sport mode! I will never forget how Kirby laughed when he started it for the first time and heard that 495 horsepower 6.2 L V8 roar to life though its Performance Exhaust! He is looking forward to track time in his C8, plus we both will attend Spring Mountain Corvette School with you and other Mike Furman customers in OCTOBER! Thanks for everything Mike! There is a reason you are the largest selling Corvette representative in the world! We are proud to have acquired your 4,926th Corvette sold! Quite an accomplishment! Number 5,000 likely coming in April/May! Best wishes! 
”
~Here’s a look back in time when I bought my Laguna Blue 2014 Corvette Z51 June 2014. This was my 14th Corvette purchase and I am now at 22 Corvettes owned! The following words were written by the current General Sales Manager Jason Witte who I had hired as a 20 year older 14 years prior when I was the General Mgr of a small Country Chevrolet store.
“On the last week of December 2002 I met Mike Furman for the first time at Damascus Chevrolet in Damascus, MD. After a nerve racking interview, my new GM Mike Furman offered me a Sales Position. I was about to begin my career in the Automotive Business at the age of 20 and couldn’t be more excited. Damascus Chevrolet was a very small family owned 3rd Generation dealership in a country town. I remember the first words that came to my mind regarding Mike Furman were “organized, athletic, professional, and a little intimidating”. I was a Chevy fan all my life and all the new vehicles surrounding me gave me goose bumps. However nothing got me as excited as the Corvettes.
One Corvette in our dealership inventory was a 2003 Anniversary Edition Convertible. It was sitting in our Service Department covered in plastic. Mike hustling by as I was admiring the car stated that he dealer exchanged the car was from a South Dakota Chevrolet dealer for a Customer of Mike’s. This was one of many Corvettes we sold that year (2003). Mike grew the Corvette sales at Damascus many times over in a very short time. No small feat in a small Country town. I look back and am grateful that I was with Chevrolet during the introduction of the 2005 C6. I remember sitting in Mike’s office when the first truckload of C6’s arrived Sept 2004. It was a quiet evening and Mike ran out to the truck to inspect the new cars. The first C6 was a Precision Red coupe. The new C6 coupe was a sold order that the buyer had backed out of just days before. Mike stepped in and bought the very first C6 ever from Damascus Chevrolet. It was a very fun time during the introduction of the C6 and eventually the C6 Z06.
After six years in the car business I stepped away but still stayed in contact with Mike. Now years later, we once again are part of the same team at Criswell Chevrolet. Words can’t express how excited I am to experience the C7 introduction with Mike Furman. Mike is a true professional and does everything the right way. His work ethic is second to none and he gives everything he has to Clients. Mike has been a positive part of my life through many different stages. Today his new Laguna Blue Z51 Coupe arrived at Criswell and I am very excited to be a part of Mike’s new Stingray delivery. Mike without question has worked very hard and certainly earned it. Congrats!" Jason Witte GSM Criswell Chevrolet~ June 2014
~Jason, Me, Harry Criswell and Kevin Szot GM
Here is a great Corvette story from my good friend Jim B. of PA on his very first Corvette experience growing up in a small rural West Virginia town.
“Another one of my Corvette stories…..this one is somewhat bittersweet as it’s the story of the very first Corvette I ever drove. Without all the little details that makes this a special memory for me…..one of the owners of M&H Chevrolet in Union, WV where I grew up had a black on black 1963 Split-Window Corvette. Many times he allowed me to drive it…..most notably the morning it arrived at the dealership. What an incredible thrill for an absolutely Corvette junkie like me. This Corvette was passed on to the dealer’s son who eventually traded it for another vehicle. I lost track of the car as time passed. After I retired from John Deere one of my missions was to find this Corvette and try and buy it…..for sentimental reasons. I tracked down the dealer’s son but he had no paper work that might have provided a clue. Being a member of the National Corvette Restorers Society I used their magazine to try and find this car. All I had to go on was a ’63 Corvette Split-Window Coupe, 340 HP/4-Speed Manual Transmission with a last known whereabouts was Wisconsin. Four years passed and nothing…..then one evening I got a very short email …. all it said was "I think I might have the Corvette that you are looking for"! Wow….a lead…..so without all the details involved here the owner sent me a photo of the VIN which I ran through the archives of the NCRS to see if this was the Corvette I was searching. BINGO….it was the car and its now owned by a practicing dentist in Yuma, AZ. My first question was is the car for sale….answer was no!!! He was kind enough to send me photos of the first Corvette I ever drove. I just about died when the photos hit my email…..I couldn’t believe my eyes. So very sad. But the good news he is restoring the Corvette to its original condition. He told me he’ll let me know when its finished and I could come to Yuma and drive it again….I think I just might do that to complete the circle.” Jim B. of PA.
Please comment your favorite picture(s).
*Malcolm Konner Chevrolet in Paramus, NJ before the 2nd floor Corvette showroom was added on. Which was done in 1976.
Mike Furman
Criswell Chevrolet
Gaithersburg, MD
301-212-4420 desk direct
Off Fridays and Sundays
"I sell and ship Nationwide and have done so for 43+ years!
[email protected]
CorvetteFurman.com
Click on the link below for Cigar Aficionado magazine article that just came out:
Cigar Aficionado: The Legend of Mr. Corvette
Each day I post up Corvettes stories and delivery videos…follow on Instagram: corvette.furman and Facebook: CorvetteFurman
Mike can deliver new Corvettes at Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg, MD or through the National Corvette Museum’s R8C delivery program. He can also deliver new Corvettes via covered transport direct to your door or a courtesy delivery to the Chevrolet dealer near you.
Related:
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Feb 28th
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Feb 21st
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Feb 7th
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love the Torch Red w/red interior!
Great day Friday 3/5/21 we took delivery of our 2021 Corvette it was a long wait but worth it.
@Mike DiPastena – Outstanding.
Great pics and stories, as usual. Thanks.
Mike keep up the good work Lived up you way thru th e 80s and 90s won many trophy’s
With my White Split window corvette Had that one for 19 years ,Then got the silver 63 power guild Just got the 2019 M7 Stingray .
I went from old to to new .Live in Delaware now and will look ou up on the next Corvette ,
I am a purest and love the Stingray Base .Check my web page that my son made for me
rtruman.com Email 6split3@gmail,com Take care Richard Truman
I always like the pictures of the 66 and 67 vettes with the 427 engine and the side pipes. One of those was my dream car growing up. I love my 18 Grand Sport; great car. Looking forward to getting an E-Ray. I will send you some pictures of my GS later this spring, and you can use them as you desire. Hope to see you later in the year.
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