Mecum Offers the First Corvette Sting Ray at No Reserve During Kissimmee 2023

In recent years, Corvette dealer/enthusiast Rick Hendrick has made a habit of buying the first Corvettes of a generation.

But here’s one that Hendrick has not been able to acquire – at least so far.

At the upcoming Mecum Auction next week, they’ll be offering the earliest known second-generation Corvette in existence and the first Corvette Sting Ray offered for sale to the general public back in 1962, according to legendary Corvette author and historian Noland Adams.

There’s a reason why Hendrick – or anyone else for that matter – hasn’t been able to grab this historically significant Sting Ray. It’s been in the hands of the same owner for the past 47 years.


A little explanation: In 1975, Brian Richardson and his twin brother, Bruce, bought and sold Corvettes to finance their college educations. Since their mom worked at the California DMV, they were able to do a search for the first 20 1963 Corvette VINs and unearthed VIN 30867S100003.

Brian was able to buy the car that year and wound up keeping it until his death in 2022.


By the way, that college education paid for through selling Corvettes apparently paid off as in his lifetime, Brian went on to hold several patents and was even a bobsledder for the U.S. Olympic Team and a participant in the 1992 Albertville, France Olympiad.

His Sting Ray, which has undergone a complete restoration, includes the most powerful engine available at the time – the L84 327/360 horsepower fuel-injected V8 hooked to a four-speed manual transmission.


The Riverside Red paint is topped with a white ragtop and the original and unrestored body-color hardtop and has a red interior with new custom-fabricated upholstery to match the original early-production pieces.

Changes were made all during the 1963 run, so this early production model includes several unusual items, including one-off sand-cast and manually machined headlight mechanisms, unique outer door panels with top rear cut-outs, a shortened stainless-steel trim bead running along the tops of the door trim panels in contrast to later models, handmade windshield reveal moldings, holes in the body to accommodate power windows and a passenger-side rearview mirror but filled with a factory bonding adhesive, carpeting similar to the 1962 models, and uniquely designed inner front fenders.


The First Corvette Sting Ray also includes an AM radio, heater/defroster and tachometer, and aluminum alloy knock-off wheels with 1960s-style whitewall tires. Desirable original items include seat covers, seat foam, door panels, and carpets.

The car was featured in the book “Corvette: 1963-1967” by Larry Galloway and the new owner will receive an extensive collection of historical photographs.


Lot S136 is being sold with No Reserve , but this historically significant Sting Ray is expected to fetch between a minimum of $600,000 to $800,000 and could go much higher.

After all, owning the first available Sting Ray would be quite the Holy Grail for any enthusiast.

Source:
Mecum Auctions