Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Jan 11

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.

Thanks for joining us this Sunday. Mike does a couple posts featuring Zora from back in the day, and then he turns the delivery spotlight on a new 2026 Corvette Z06. The collected vintage and throwback photos once again shows Corvette enthusiasts and their favorite America Sports car doing the things that people did back in the day. My favorite is the Midyear and Palm Trees at night, which is a view I have seen previously from the driver’s seat. Let us know your favorites in the comments below!

You can see all of Mike’s posts and pictures through the week on his CorvetteFurman Facebook Page.

In 1953, Zora Arkus-Duntov wrote directly to General Motors after the Corvette’s debut at Motorama. At the time, the car was internally viewed as an experiment, not a guaranteed production model. In this letter, Duntov argues that performance, engineering development, and racing credibility were essential if Chevrolet wanted the Corvette to survive. Below is the letter in full — a document that helped steer the Corvette toward the legacy it would eventually earn:

To: Mr. Maurice Olley
From: Mr. Z. Arkus-Duntov
Subject: Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders, and Chevrolet
Date: December 16, 1953

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 6 years ago. From cover to cover, they are full of Fords. This is not surprising then that the majority of hot-rodders are eating, sleeping, and dreaming modified Fords. They know Ford parts from stem to stern better than the 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 to 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 G.M. 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 developments met with success. The Bonneville records are divided between Ardun-Fords and Chryslers.

In the non acceptance of G.M. V-8’s and very slow beginning of Chrysler, cost must have played a part.

Like all people, hot-rodders are attracted by novelty. However, bitter experience taught them that new development is costly and long and therefore 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 state in 1956-1957.

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 will pick Chevrolet for development.

It seems that unless by some action the odds and the time factor are not overcome, Ford will continue to dominate the thinking of this group. 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 will take hold and not have the stigma of expensiveness like the Cadillac or Chrysler, a swing to Chevrolet may be anticipated. This means the development of a range of special parts camshafts, valves, springs, manifolds, pistons and such which will be made available to the public.

The association of Chevrolet with hot rods, speeds and such is probably inadmissible. But possibly the existence of the Corvette provides the loop hole. If the special parts are carried as RPO items for the Corvette, they undoubtedly will be recognized by the hot rodders as the very parts they were looking for to hop up the Chevy.

If it is desirable or not to associate the Corvette with the speed, I am not qualified to say, but I do know that the in 1954, sports car enthusiasts will get hold of Corvettes and whether we like it or not, will race it. Most frequent statement from this group is “we will put a Cadillac in it”. They are going to, and I think this is not good! Most likely they will meet with Allard trouble that is breaking sooner or later, mostly sooner, everything between the flywheel and road wheels.

In 1955, with V-8 engine, if I needed to they will be still outclassed. The market-wise negligible number of cars purchased for competition attracts public attention and publicity out of proportion to their number. Since we cannot prevent the people from racing Corvettes maybe it is better to help them to do a good job at it.

To make good in this field, the RPO parts must pertain not only to the engine but to the chassis components as well. Engineering-wise, Development of these RPO items, as far as the chassis concerned, does not fall out of line with some of the planned activity of our group. Use of light alloys, and brake development composite drums, disc and such are already on the agenda of the Research and Development group already.

As I stated above, V-8 RPO engine has a high power potential it is hard to beat inches, but having only 80% of cubic inches it has 96% of square inches of Pittston area of the Cadillac. In my estimation, the power output comparable to the Cadillac can be obtained not exceeding 270 ft.lb. of torque at any point. (323 ft.lb. of Cadillac)*. The task of making powertrain reliable is therefore easier.

These thoughts are offered for what they are worth: one man’s thinking aloud on the subject.

Z. Arkus-Duntov December 16, 1953

“Just the facts ma’am”

~Jack Webb played Detective Joe Friday on the TV show “Dragnet” in the late 60’s and his one constant line each show was “Just the facts ma’am”. Invariably when Detective Friday was interviewing witnesses, they would go off track with superfluous info. He just wanted the facts! My point to all this? The rampant Corvette rumors spread on the internet has reached an all-time new level if that’s even possible. Today I had two customers hold off on their 2026 Corvette orders for 2027 Corvettes because of what they read on the internet. I just shake my head, and do as they ask but it always conjures up my memory of my Malcolm Konner Auto days when I would get to quiz Zora Duntov about future product. Read the passage below for my feelings on the subject as told to me by Zora himself.

~I spent 12 Summers (1978-1990) with Zora Duntov and his quote in his heavy accent when someone (me) asked about future product was “Michael, Rumors sell magazines, not cars!”
Zora Arkus-Duntov

-Moral of the story is don’t believe everything you read especially if GM has not released said info. Consider the source!

Joe Friday is a fictional character created and portrayed by Jack Webb as the lead for his series Dragnet. Friday is a detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. The character first appeared on June 3, 1949, in the premiere of the NBC radio drama that launched the series. Webb played the character on radio and later television from 1949 to 1959 and again from 1967 to 1970, also appearing as Friday in a 1954 theatrical release and a 1966 made-for-TV film.

~Zora Arkus Duntov Grand Marshal 1968 Daytona Firecracker 400 July 4, 1968. Zora is driving a 1968 L-88 Corvette Chevy engineering test car. The pace car is a 1968 SS RS 396 Camaro convertible. “Charging” Charlie Glotzbach on the pole in a 1968 Dodge Charger. “King” Richard Petty qualified 2nd in his 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner.

“To establish the sports car, you have to race it.”
~ Zora Arkus-Duntov.

~Nawraz A. of Silver Spring, Maryland bought his 2022 Corvette from me and last week he stepped into a new Arctic White 2025 Z06 Coupe with two tone Adrenaline Red/Black interior. Nawraz was thrilled to find the perfect specs on a stock vehicle that he could take advantage of the owner loyalty rebate. He has track plans so he can’t wait for warmer weather.

Here’s a short email after his drive home…”Thank you, Mike. Drive home I was speechless. I can’t imagine what 8,600 rpm feels like. I’m planning to put together a Z06 vs PORSCHE (my own 991.2, docs I work with have 991 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, 991.2 GT3, 991 GT3, Cayman GT4RS). Once we figure out logistics, I’ll shoot you an email. Happy New Year!”
Nawraz A. of Silver Spring, MD

Equipment: 2LZ, GT2 buckets, red engine intake, front lift, bright red calipers, black exhaust tips, 10 spoke black forged aluminum wheels, CF painted mirrors, torch red seat belts and more.

~ This week’s Top Corvette Barn finds and throwback pictures from around the globe!

Drive safely and enjoy the week.

Mike Furman
Criswell Chevrolet
Gaithersburg, MD
301-212-4420 desk direct (not a text line)
Off Fridays and Sundays
"I sell and ship Nationwide and have done so for 47+ 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 Jan 4
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Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Dec 21

 

The nation’s top Corvette seller Mike Furman delivers the new mid-engine 2026 Corvette Stingrays, Z06s, E-Rays, and ZR1s to customers from all parts of the USA.