Month: August 2012

Former Corvette Racing driver Andy Pilgrim is in Bowling Green, KY this weekend for his induction into the National Corvettes Museum’s Corvette Hall of Fame. When he arrived at the Museum, he was greeted by this 427 Convertible that pays tribute to the driver’s service to Corvette.

The Hall of Fame Tribute Corvette is 2013′s VIN #003 427 Convertible. Painted in Velocity Yellow with Black headlight buckets, the Corvette is wearing a combination of the 60th Anniversary stripes and the GT2 Black stinger on the hood bulge. Although you can’t see them, we understand that a #3 is on the doors and on the rear deck lid as well.

You may also notice that on the right of the photo in the blue shirt is Kirk Bennion, Corvette’s exterior designer who probably played a large role in outfitting the 427 Convertible for the Corvette Hall of Famer.

Pilgrim joined Corvette Racing in 1999 where he was teamed with fellow Corvette Hall of Famer Ron Fellows. In 2001, he finished second in GTS at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also teamed up with Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the 24 Hours of Daytona, where they finished second in GTS behind their sister Corvette C5-R.

Andy’s induction to the Corvette Hall of Fame is this weekend at the National Corvette Museum’s annual anniversary celebration. Joining him are Gary Claudio (GM/Chevrolet), Patrick Dolan (Enthusiast) and Bob McDorman (Chevy Dealer and Collector)

Source:
National Corvette Museum
Photo Credit: Adam Boca/NCM Insurance

Related:
Chevrolet Corvette Inducted into Sebring Hall of Fame
2012 Corvette Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
SEMA 2011: Ron Fellows and his Hall of Fame Corvette Z06 Tribute

 

FunFest is just a little more than a week away and if you’re making the road trip to Effingham, here is the perfect traveling companion to take with you. The Mid America Motorworks FunFest Cooler is constructed of durable 600D Polyester for long-lasting wear and has four handy storage pockets, plus a zippered top for easy access. Added PVC liner keeps cooler from leaking. The Funfest Cooler is easy to carry with adjustable shoulder strap or twin carry handles.

Available in Red/Black or Gray/Black. Priced at $24.99 and free ground shipping through September 6th!

Check out these other great deals from Mid America Motorworks, but hurry as the prices are good for one week only!

 

A Labor Day tradition continues this weekend when Auctions America by RM hosts their annual fall auction at the Auburn Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana. The action started on Thursday when the first of roughly 1,200 collector cars are expected to cross the auction block. Included in that number are about 50 Corvettes. We take a look at some of our favorites after the break.

Fall Auburn’s Corvette docket spans all 6 generations. The offerings range from factory-correct restored cars to full on custom Corvettes. Some of the more notable lots include a 1968 L89 convertible and a rare 2002 Avelate Corvette. The latter being one of 27 ever produced.

Here is a trio of Corvettes from Auburn we’d like to park in the CorvetteBlogger garage.

Lot 4102 – 1958 Yellow Corvette Roadster:
This 1958 Corvette is one of the 190 cars produced that year in stunning Panama Yellow. It’s powered by the 245hp, 283ci engine backed by a 4 speed transmission. Inside is a complementary black interior. This C1 was fully restored in 2008 and has since received a Bloomington Gold Certificate. Auctions America estimates that this car will sell for $100,000 – $120,000. We think it will be closer to $100k than $120k.

Lot 5152 – 1956 Red Corvette Roadster:
Lot 5152 is finished in red exterior paint with white coves. Inside are a matching red interior and a 4 speed transmission. This ’56 is a Triple Crown Award winner which consists of a NCRS Top Flight award, a Bloomington Gold Certificate, and a Gold Spinner award. The pre-auction prediction is $80,000 – $100,000. With the correct 2 people in the room it’s very possible that this car could fall into that range.

Lot 5211 – 2005 Specter Werkes Coupe:
Specter Werkes of Troy, MI treated this C6 to its Sports Group 6 package featuring a 530hp LS2 hooked up to a six-speed transmission. This example has travelled less than 6,000 miles since new. Modifications include an extractor hood, wheel flares, and front and rear spoilers. Michelin Pilot PS2 tires keep the car on the track. The $35,000 – $45,000 estimate is probably a reasonable premium over a comparable stock first-year C6.

Auctions America by RM’s fall Auburn sale runs August 29th through September 2nd at the Auburn Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana. Here’s what the weekend schedule looks like:

Thursday, August 30, 2012

• 12pm-5pm Memorabilia Auction
• 5pm-9pm Car Auction

Friday, August 31, 2012

• 8am-9am Breakfast – Auction Arena
• 9am-10am Shelby Seminar – Auction Arena
• 10am-11am Memorabilia Auction
• 11am-9pm Car Auction

Saturday, September 1, 2012

• 9am-10am Memorabilia Auction
• 10am-9pm Car Auction

Sunday, September 2, 2012

• 10am-11am Memorabilia Auction
• 11am-11:30am Celebrity Auction
• 11:30am-7pm Car Auction

Day passes are available for $15 per day or you can grab an all-event pass for $45. Kids 12 and under get in free.

For more information on Fall Auburn, check out Auction America’s website.

Source:
Auctions America by RM

Related:
CorvetteBlogger’s Guide to the 2012 Monterey Corvette Auctions
1968 Owens-Corning L88 Racer Heading to RM’s Monterey Auction
Paul Newman’s Corvette Racer Brings $275,000 at RM’s Amelia Island Auction

 

Back in May, a seller on eBay was auctioning a 1967 Corvette that belonged Neil Armstrong, American astronaut and the first man to walk on the moon. With the passing of the American hero on August 25, 2012 at the age of 82, there has been renewed interest in the Sting Ray.

Armstrong took delivery of the 1967 427/390 Coupe on December 15, 1966 from Chevy dealer Jim Rathman. Rathman, a former Indy 500 winner, struck a deal with NASA to provide Corvettes to the astronauts. Armstrong kept the factory A/C big block for a year before turning it back in. That’s when another NASA employee took possession of the Corvette and owned it until it was sold to Joe Crosby of Merritt Island, Florida in February 2012.

The car has been stored since 1981 and at some point, the coupe had fender flairs, which have since been removed. It’s documented with the tank sticker and the protect-o-plate is emblazoned with “N.A. Armstrong”.

FoxNews.com spoke to the current owner of the Corvette. In the previous auction, the high bid of $251,638 was short of the reserve and the car failed to sell. But since the death of Armstrong, Crosby says he has fielded calls from three of the auction’s bidders but that the offers are still lower than he is willing to accept. Crosby said he hasn’t raised his original price since Armstrong’s passing.

Crosby he has no plans to relist the Corvette on eBay but says he is listed in the phone book and will listen to any serious offers.

Here’s the pics from the Corvette’s eBay auction

Source:
FoxNews.com

Related:
Take One Giant Leap with Neil Armstrong’s 1967 Corvette
Corvettes and Astronauts Celebrate 50 Years Together
Gus Grissom’s 1967 427 Corvette Sells at Russo & Steele

 

2013 is looking to be an eventful year for the Chevrolet Corvette.

Now we can add yet another laurel to the crown of America’s Sports Car, which is celebrating its 60th model anniversary in 2013.

Officials at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion just announced that the Corvette will be the featured marquee in 2013. Corvette held the same distinction in 2002.

The reunion is held at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca track where historic race cars come each year to relieve the sights, sounds, and smells of the past.

Held in Monterey, California, the 2013 reunion is expected to draw a large number of Corvette racers representing all of the car’s six generations of competitors.

“We look forward to working closely with the Corvette team on making next year’s celebration a monumental one for Corvette racers, owners and automobile enthusiasts,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “The Monterey Peninsula will rumble to life with Corvettes of every era.”

Chris Perry, global vice president of marketing for Chevrolet, says Corvettes and racing have been linked since the days of Zora Arkus-Duntov. “His spirit is felt in today’s winning Corvette Racing program, which continues a proud legacy and one we’re looking forward to celebrating next summer,” Perry said.

That legacy can be traced back to 1956, when three Corvettes engineered by Duntov first ran in the 12-hour Sebring endurance race. Four years later, Corvette was competing at Le Mans, where in its first year at the 24-hour race in France, John Fitch and Bob Grossman finished first in the GT class in their Briggs Cunningham-prepared car.

Corvette Racing has been the winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times, including a win over Ferrari in 2011.

Corvettes are no stranger to Laguna Seca, either, where they finished first and second in the six-hour American Le Mans Monterey race earlier this year.

Source:
Mazada Raceway

Related:
Corvette World Tribute to Celebrate 60 Years of Corvettes at Road America
Corvette FunFest: Calling All ’63 Sting Ray Corvettes!
[VIDEO] Prepping a Vintage Corvette Race Car for the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

 

We’ve closed the hood on yet another Corvettes at Carlisle show weekend. The 31st annual event was held last weekend at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Carlisle, PA. After a shortened event last year due to Hurricane Irene, we were glad to see this show back firing on all cylinders. Great weather nearly all weekend provided the perfect backdrop on one of the best Carlisle shows yet.

Our weekend got off to an unbeatable start as we were able to attend the private reveal party for the #1 Briggs Cunningham Le Mans car on Thursday night. Being able to stand between both the #3 and #1 cars at the same time is a moment we won’t soon forget. You know it’s just a matter of time (a couple years probably) before we see all of the 1960 Le Mans Corvettes together in one spot again.

Bright sunshine greeted us on Friday as we browsed the scads of Corvettes for sale, checked out seminars by Corvette America and the Corvette Product Team, scored free ice cream at the GM Ride and Drive, and watched tires get decimated in the burnout contest. Friday was also the day when the public reveal of the #1 1960 LeMans Corvette was supposed to take place, but it was canceled at the last minute for security reasons.

On Saturday we wandered the endless aisles of the swap meet and then headed over to the NCRS Gallery. After that it was time check out the displays by various Corvette clubs and registries in the Fun Field. We then dropped in on Gordon Killebrew’s troubleshooting seminar before heading out to get ready for the downtown parade. We’ll have more on said parade a little later this week.

On Sunday, light rain greeted us in the morning as we headed over to the autocross and then made one last pass through the vendor area seeking out last minute treasures. Before we knew it, the weekend had flashed before our eyes and we were back on the road for home.

It’s difficult to truly describe the immense size and scope of this show. It’s 150 acres stuffed full of all things Corvette related. So much, in fact, that it’s next to impossible to mention it all here. This was easily the best Corvettes at Carlisle we’ve been to and we can’t wait to see what’s in store next year. We’ve already got our reservations for 2013 made and we recommend you make yours soon as well.

We’ll have a plethora of Carlisle coverage coming of this week so stayed tuned for more event-related content. Meanwhile, enjoy our 2012 Corvettes at Carlisle photo gallery below.

Related:
[PICS] The #1 1960 Briggs Cunningham Le Mans Corvette Revealed at Corvettes at Carlisle
[VIDEO] The 2013 Corvette Seminar at Corvettes at Carlisle
[VIDEO] 1972 Corvette Wins the 2012 Corvettes at Carlisle Burnout Contest