The kick off of the National Corvette Museum’s 2006 display season will feature a special “modified Corvette” theme, recognizing Corvettes that have been externally modified. The NCM is looking for members who own modified Corvettes to contact Betty Hardison at: [email protected] or 800 538 3883 x141 for more details on submitting a Corvette for this special display. Visit the National Corvette Museum.
Corvettes on TV
Thanksgiving always brings back memories of hitting the road (over the hills and through the woods) to visit family and partake in Thanksgiving feasts and this year will be no different as my family heads out on a nearly 2,000 road trip from Florida to Kentucky. Unfortunately, no visit to the NCM will be made during this trip, but we will be attending the UK vs Tennesse football game on Saturday in Lexington. While I’m gone this week, I won’t be doing any posts to CorvetteBlogger.com, however my TiVo will be very busy.
SpeedTV is offering several shows that focus on the Corvette or muscle cars in general. Here is what is on my list:
Old School Corvette Racer
SpeedTV – Thurs, Nov. 24th
Tom, Peter and the rest of the Dream Car Garage crew build a vintage racer from the junked remains of a ’69 Corvette and go racing.
Small Block Shootout
SpeedTV – Thurs, Nov. 24th
From the producers of Dream Car Garage, Small Block Shootout features four small block pony cars, representing the street versions of the legendary Trans-Am cars that battled it out on road courses across North America during the 1969 and ’70 seasons.
American Muscle Car is running a marathon on Friday. Two of their shows include:
The Mako Shark and Beyond
SpeedTV – Fri, Nov 25th – 1pm
America’s first sports car is 47 years old and still going strong. Okay, so the program is a little dated, but that is the beauty of classic corvettes – they never change!
The Man Who Invented the Small Block
SpeedTV – Fri, Nov 25 – 10PM
Ed Cole’s quest to create Chevy’s first V8 engine transformed Chevrolet’s from low-buck transportation into the raciest cars ever made in Detrot.
What Would Jesus Drive?
Okay, I admit that Jesus probably wouldn’t be driving a Corvette. And even if he did it would probably be a Convertible, not the 505 Beast. I see him more as a sedan type fellow anyways. Maybe toolin around town in an Impala SS. Hey, gotta have some room for the flock, right?
I came across the Church Sign Generator while visiting Joe Sherlock’s The View Through The Windshield. And while the Z06 reference is the first thing that came to mind, I am sure that by tomorrow I’ll come up with half a dozen more.
I hope I don’t go to hell for this post so I’ll try to make it a little fun. Leave a comment on what year/model of Corvette you think Jesus would drive and why. The one I like the best wins a free Corvette Price Guide – A $15 Value!
Oldest Corvette to be Auctioned at Barrett-Jackson
#003, the oldest 1953 Corvette in existence, is expected to drive across the auction block at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona during their “World’s Greatest Collector Car Event” January 14-22nd.
The #003 convertible wears VIN plate number #E53F001003. As #001 and #002 were assembled and delivered to the Chevrolet Engineering Center for testing, #003 took a different path which is how it escaped the fate of the first two Corvettes. #001 and #002 served as test cars for the engineering center and were eventually destroyed. #003 also served as an engineering car for a shot time but was sold in the fall of 1953. Eventually it turned up at an auction in 1987 unpainted and not running where two collectors noticed many of the characteristics of an early production car including the hand-made ignition shielding and center grille bar.
As the oldest survivor of the early production Corvettes, #003 underwent a meticulous and well documented 2-and-a-half year restoration. Completed in 1990, Corvette #003 earned Bloomington Gold, Corvette Hall of Fame and NCRS Duntov awards. It was last displayed at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.
As part of the Barrett-Jackson auction, the #003 Corvette will be joined by approximately 100 of the rarest Corvettes in what the company calls the Most Comprehensive collection of Corvettes to be offered at a major auction at No Reserve. “It is hard to find a better selection of ‘America’s Sports Car’ than at America’s collector car auction this year,” said Craig Jackson, president of The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. “We’re proud to celebrate our 35th anniversary with an unprecedented collection of Corvettes that symbolize this country’s automotive heritage. The collection ranges from the affordable, as represented by a 1977 T-Top Coupe, to the most desirable, like the 1969 L-88 Coupe and 1963 Z06.”
Other Corvettes include:
A NCRS Top Flight, award-winning original 1969 L-88 Coupe will also be sold. One of only 116, the numbers matching Corvette is among the top 1969 L-88s in condition, restoration and provenance.
The one original owner, numbers matching, 1963 Z06 Coupe is a fuel-injected stunner that is one of only 199 Z06’s built. Restored in 1980 using original parts, it has won many awards including the NCRS Top Flight and NCRS Duntov award.
Click here for a partial listing of Corvettes to be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event.
Corvette Values: 1972 Convertible
Neal B. sent us the following email: Hi, I am in the process of restoring a 72 convert. The car came with a m21 close ratio 4sp and no other options. It is steel Cities Gray. Is the tranny rare for a 1972 and is the steel cities gray rare. The reason I ask is, I don’t particularly like the color (blue is my color). However, I may sell it when it is finished and I want to get the most out of it. Thanks Neal Our Response: There were three transmission options available in 1972: the base wide ratio 4-speed, the Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic and the M21 Close Ratio 4-Speed. The M21 was installed in just 1,638 Corvettes out of a total production of 27,004 making it an option in just 6% of the Corvettes produced in 1972. There were 10 exterior colors available in ’72 and the steel cities gray was selected in 2,346 Corvettes or just over 8% of total production. Because there so many colors offered in 1972, this doesn’t add any real value to your Corvette. If your ’72 is numbers matching but the exterior color is different than original, you may take a slight hit in the value of the Corvette. You can minimize that hit by going with a color from the same year. If you decide to repaint it blue, go with Bryar Blue, offered only in 1972 on 1,617 total Corvettes: http://www.corvetteimages.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=image&id=14946 Our current price guide shows an average 72 Convertible valued at $21,600 with a one year appreciation of 12%. The 68-72 models have been showing tremendous value over the last few years and that trend will probably continue.
Red Tagged Corvettes?
Faced with slowing sales and growing inventories, GM is launching yet another incentive plan combining the two elements car shoppers like the most – one price shopping and employee pricing. Called the Year End Red Tag sale, the incentive runs from Nov 13 through Jan 3rd.
It’s not quite employee pricing – but close. The GM Red Tag Sale is offering the “What you see is what you pay” on MOST 2005 and 2006 Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Pontiac models and the price is based on GM Supplier (GMS) discounts which are generally 2% above the GM employee price.
Once again, the offer doesn’t extend to Corvette.
Funny how the two elements that consumers love: one price shopping and employee discounts are the two elements that keep Corvettes from being including in these type of promotions. Manufacturers/dealers won’t discount the car that makes them money whatever the price and why offer flat rate pricing when you have the ability to negotiate pricing based on availability.
Power and Responsibility
Reporter Paula Simons from the Edmonton Journal details the unfortunate death of a pedestrian killed by the irresponsible actions of someone driving a Corvette. While the death is unfortunate and justice awaits for the driver, Paula takes the argument farther:
“But the crime Ricky Richardson committed didn’t begin that terrible August night when he punched the accelerator. The chain of events that led to Irene Nicholson’s death began when Richardson decided to buy a Corvette with a special super-charger that gave the already-powerful car a 500-horsepower engine.”In the reporter’s perfect world, we would all be driving small cars with the horsepower of a lawnmower. She does concede that the pedestrian could have died had the out of control driver been in a “nice little Smart Car or Prius”. However she continues with how no one “needs” a Corvette or a Hummer or Escalade (Is she anti GM?), fashion choices to parade your wealth and power…making the driver to feel more viral and fleet and powerful. Her article finally comes back to reality as she weighs in how the Corvette driver made a bad choice and must deal with the consequences. With power comes responsibility, and that should be the lesson of this story.
Auburn November Classic Auction Results
Kruse International posted the results of the November Classic auction held November 4-6 in Auburn, Indiana. The
November Classic Auction is in its third year and is one of the smaller auctions with around 300 cars expected to cross the auction block.
15 Corvettes were represented and only three sold making this auction a disappointment for buyers and sellers alike. Of the three that sold, two of those were in the $5,000’s and the high was a 72 Coupe which sold for $12,500.
Let’s be clear that while a couple of the midyears were modified racers, there was also a tri-power ’67 that hit a final bid at $90,000. While that amount is akin to a bargain, it appears that at all these auctions we are only seeing Condition 1 Corvettes with numbers-matching and Bloomington certifications.
Are we seeing a trend here? The last few Auction results from this fall have featured a significant portion of Corvettes receiving high bids but were no sales. My belief is still that the market is strong and that Corvette sellers are holding out for the top dollar pricing they can receive at either the larger, Corvette dominated auctions or through direct selling efforts.
| Year/Model | Price | Bid Type |
| 1959 Convertible | $50,000 | Final Bid |
| 1961 Convertible | $58,000 | Final Bid |
| 1964 Grand Sport Roadster | $32,000 | Final Bid |
| 1965 Race Car Roadster | $21,000 | Final Bid |
| 1967 Coupe | $80,000 | Final Bid |
| 1967 Coupe | $90,000 | Final Bid |
| 1968 Coupe | $12,000 | Final Bid |
| 1970 Coupe | $25,000 | Final Bid |
| 1971 Coupe | $5,300 | Sold |
| 1972 Coupe | $12,500 | Sold |
| 1978 Coupe | $7,500 | Final Bid |
| 1979 Coupe | $8,600 | Final Bid |
| 1979 Coupe | $5,600 | Sold |
| 1987 Callaway Convertible | $35,000 | Final Bid |
| 1989 Coupe | $7,000 | Final Bid |
American Muscle Comparison
Finally someone put the three American muscle cars together for a little compare and contrast article and perhaps bragging rights as America’s best sports car. And while I admit that I am not the most impartial observer to this contest, I got to say Automobile Magazine’s review of the Z06 in comparison to the Dodge Viper and Ford GT is about the best I’ve read to date.
“The Corvette is just awesome. It is the lightest of our three cars by more than 300 pounds, and that shows on acceleration down the short straightaways and on braking into the tightest corners. Man, this thing is fast. And it sounds fast, too. “The cruise starts in western Pennsylvania, but due to the remnants of Hurricane Katrina, the drivers are forced to head west to Michigan on the rain soaked highways of Ohio and Indiana:
“The Corvette leads the way. As if 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque in these conditions weren’t enough of a handful, we turn off all of the electronic aids. (OK, we’re a little bit crazy.) This is what we discover: The Corvette is sensational on these roads, whether we’re sliding around second-gear hairpins or blasting through fourth-gear sweepers. “All three cars performed well on their 1200 mile journey and the reviewers themselves call them the best of the American auto industry. Although none was chosen as the best sports car, the Corvette Z06 appeared to garner the most favorable reviews of the three in this outstanding review of American Muscle. Read the entire article at Automobile Magazine and make sure you check out the video of the three cars at the track!