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September 12, 2013

[PIC] Throwback Thursday: Beauties Parade at the Dragstrip

It’s time for Throwback Thursday where we feature vintage photos of Corvettes. Here we have two beautiful icons from the 1960s. The first is obviously a 1969 Corvette Stingray with a wild custom paint job that makes us wish it was in color. And secondly, the mainstay of automotive events is Miss whatever-the-name-of-the-dragstrip.

We love a good parade like anyone else and there is nothing wrong with taking a break from horsepower, exhaust fumes and quarter-mile times than a slow drive-by of a bikini-wearing bombshell waving to her adoring fans in a custom painted 1969 Corvette.

Click here to see a larger version of these two beauties parading at the dragstrip.

Do you have any vintage Corvette pictures to share? Let us know!

Source:
CorvetteBlogger @ Pinterest.com

September 12, 2013

Apollo XII Astronautâ€™s 1969 Corvette to be Displayed at the Corvette Chevy Expo

Apollo XII Astronaut's 1969 Corvette to be Displayed at the Corvette Chevy Expo

Weâ€™ve all heard of the AstroVentilation that was used to keep passengers cool in the 1960s and 1970s, sort of a poor manâ€™s air conditioner.
But Austin Reed of Texas has an â€œAstroVette.â€

His unusual 1969 Corvette originally belonged to astronaut Alan Bean â€“ the fourth man to walk on the moon nearly 44 years ago â€“ and will be on display Sept. 28-29 at the Corvette Chevy Expo at the Dallas Market Hall.

In those days, Chevy would lease a Corvette to an astronaut for just a buck a year to try and stir interest in the car. The cheap lease was a way around a ban on product endorsements by astronauts; how could it be illegal for an astronaut to just drive a Corvette, wink, wink? Chevy hoped for guilt by association in a good way.

The Apollo XII crew â€“ the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon – received three such Corvettes, which each carried a big block 390hp V8 and had a special paint job design in Riverside Gold and Black.

Sadly, Reedâ€™s car is believed to be the only one that has survived.

Each triplet had a different emblem – featuring either red, white, or blue – to denote each astronaut. For example, Beanâ€™s car had an emblem that contains the initials â€œLMPâ€ (Lunar Module Pilot) inside the blue part of the logo. Commander Pete Conradâ€™s car had a red emblem with CDR, and Richard Gordon Jr., had CMP (Command Module Pilot) inside the white part of the logo.

Also being featured at the Dallas show later this month will be the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray, along with a fine collection of classic Chevrolets, including matching-numbers Chevys, Tri-Fives, Resto-Mods, Pro-Classics, Vette-Rods, G-Machines, and Custom Trucks.

The show is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 and cranks up again on Sunday at 9 a.m. The Miss Corvette Chevy Expo bikini contest begins at 3 p.m.

Source:
Corvette Chevy Expo

September 9, 2013

Mecumâ€™s Dallas Auction â€“ Corvette Buyers and Sellers Nirvana

Mecum's Dallas Event â€“ Corvette Buyers and Sellers Nirvana

Dana Mecumâ€™s favorite car has to be the Chevrolet Corvette, especially if solely based on the number of outstanding high dollar cars that were hammered down during the last four days of his third Dallas auction.

It was clearly evident that Corvettes carried the four-day auction and were the car of choice for collectors where a new record price was paid for a Corvette ($3.2M, a 1967 L88, fully documented former NHRA record holder and the only â€™67 L88 to retain its original body panels).

Of the 172 Corvettes that crossed the block 106 were sold, a 61% sell through rate, for a combined hammer price of $9.106M. Though some buyers were able to grab some excellent bargains during the first two days of the sale, the last two days saw spirited bidding and prices well above average. Almost twenty Corvettes were hammered down above $100K. It seemed as though most restored second generation cars were selling between $100K to $150K and if the car had any rare options it was selling close to or above $200K.

It should be noted however that there were some outstanding and historically significant Corvettes being offered many of which, like the record setting â€™67 L88, were from the Buddy Herin collection. We recapped some of the important Corvettes being offered last week.

The rare 1957 “Airbox” (Lot S121), one of only 43 produced, sold for $290K while the 1961 “Big Brake” fuelie (Lot S126) brought $150K. The award winning red 1963 Z06, (Lot 125) one of 199 Z06â€™s produced for the entire C2 production run, sold for $250K. A 1967 Bloomington Gold Benchmark Rally Red 427/435 convertible (Lot 204.1) was also among the top ten cars sold in Dallas bringing $205K which tied another 1967 Red 427/435convertible (Lot S141). Almost every big block C2 brought $100K or more.

Most of the Corvettes that crossed the block on Friday and Saturday were of exceptional quality and subsequently carried high reserves. Though the majority of sellersâ€™ expectations were exceeded, over sixty cars were not hammered and went to “the bid goes on” area where buyers and sellers often can come to a compromised agreement on price.

One of the premier cars of the auction, the last documented L88 produced (lot S130.1), a 1969 Fathom Green C3, failed to meet reserve even though the car had been bid to $430K and had been purchased earlier in the year at another auction for $280.5K, not a bad return for eight months but apparently not good enough. But that was not a unique occurrence, Lot 167, a 1967 black, 427/435 convertible, fully documented and restored was bid to $275K; Lot F235, a 1967 427/435, Marina blue convertible was bid to $200K, and Lot S188, a 1966 “big tank” coupe was bid to $170K and all failed to meet the sellersâ€™ reserves.

Based on the results of Mecumâ€™s Dallas auction, owners of first and second generation Corvettes should be ecstatic based on the continued upward spiral in prices on those cars.

High quality, original, numbers matching, restored first and second generation Corvettes are bringing well above $100K and several with rare options are getting $200K or more in todayâ€™s market with no evidence of those prices falling in the near future. Of the Dallas auctionâ€™s top ten sellers four were Corvettes, all bringing in excess of $200K.

Dana Mecum said in an interview the Dallas results were great and that he actually needs a larger facility, with more space to park consigned cars, to help him meet the demand for an expanded auction in the future. Iâ€™m sure based on the results of this yearâ€™s event he will be looking for ways to make that a reality and I am also sure that based on the quality level of the cars at this yearâ€™s event, auto enthusiasts and especially Corvette enthusiasts, would welcome that expansion.

Rick Tavel writes about automobiles with an emphasis on Corvettes and the hobby in general. You can see his website at revenantrt.blogspot.com

Source:
Mecum Auctions

September 4, 2013

Corvette Auction Preview: Mecum Offers Museum Quality Corvettes in Dallas

Right on the heels of his successful Monterey event which generated over $31M in sales, Dana Mecum is headed to the Lone Star state to host another auction extravaganza, September 4th through the 7th. This will be Mecumâ€™s third year for his annual Dallas event held at the convention center and will be loaded with over 1400 collector cars featuring over a hundred Corvettes including several examples of the six generations.

Mecum is known world-wide for the vast quantity and high quality Corvettes he miraculously uncovers for each auction and the Dallas auction is no exception. This year Mecum will be selling Buddy Herin’s outstanding collection of extraordinary Corvettes. If you appreciate rare and historically important Corvettes then it would be worth the trip to get to inspect some of finest Corvettes being offered at auction this year. Six of those Corvettes could be “headliners” in any auction event but all six will cross the block Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

It would be easy to overlook some of the other significant Corvettes being offered in Mecumâ€™s Texas round-up due to the heavily promoted feature star of the auction, a Chevrolet Corvette convertible, Lot 123, one of twenty L88 Corvettes produced in 1967. Steve Burns gave you the details on this C2 L88 last month here on CorvetteBlogger, but to keep things in context hereâ€™s a refresh before looking at some of the other exceptional Corvettes which may have been overshadowed by this outstanding Corvette.

1967 L88 Convertible Headed to Mecum Dallas

A part of Buddy Herinâ€™s Collection, the Marlboro Maroon Corvette is equipped with the L88 427/430 HP engine, M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed manual transmission, 4.11 rear end, heavy duty power brakes, factory side exhaust and F41 special suspension. It is the only 1967 L88 believed to retain its original body panels and has been restored by Nabers Brothers in Houston, Texas. Mecum estimates the award winning Corvette will sell for prices approaching $3M. Yeah thatâ€™s a 3 with six zeros following it. Corvettes of this rarity and quality cast a long shadow so it is easy to see how one might overlook some of the other cars being auctioned.

1967 L88 Corvette Convertible Headed to Mecum Dallas

But in typical Mecum style that is only one of several important Corvettes that will find new homes during the Dallas auction. If you love C2â€™s and high horsepower then youâ€™ll want to check out Lot S188, a 1966 Corvette coupe, one of only 66 “big tank” Corvettes produced that year. Along with most high value cars, it will also cross the block Saturday afternoon. The 427 cubic inch, 450 HP L72 car has only 7200 miles and has also undergone a Nabers Brothers restoration. The Nassau Blue exterior with black interior car has received the NCRS Top flight award.

Second generation Z06â€™s are highly prized, and Lot S125 is a beautiful Riverside Red/red interior example and one of the 199 Z06â€™s produced before General Motors officially withdrew from racing. The Z06 option was only offered on the 1963 model and was a chance to package several competition options and components together. The only choice of engine in the Z06 was 327/360 HP small block with Rochester fuel injection, the famous Duntov-spec solid lifter cam and forged rotating assembly, backed by a Muncie M20 4-speed and posi-traction. In addition the Z06 came with stiffer front and rear springs, heavy duty stabilizer bar and shock absorbers; special large drum brakes with vented backing plates, finned brake drums, internal cooling fans, a dual-circuit master cylinder and finned aluminum knock-off wheels. In addition to the Z06 options this exceptional example is also optioned with power windows, power brakes, and radio delete. Like many other Corvettes from the Herin collection, Naber Brothers restored the car in 1996 and it went on to capture Bloomington Gold Certification that same year with a score of 98.6, and then in 1999 it earned NCRS Regional Top Flight status.

1963 Corvette Z06 Headed to Mecum's 2013 Dallas Auction

Or if your taste runs to first generation cars, 17 are on the docket for Dallas. If historically important first gens are important then how about a 1957 “airbox” Corvette with a race history, originally owned and raced by Sports Car Graphicâ€™s Kenneth Edwards. Mecumâ€™s is offering Lot 121, one of only 43 “airbox” Corvettes produced in 1957 which offered a new fuel injection system helping the 283 Cubic inch engine attain the mythical “one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch” threshold for the first time.

1957 Rare Airbox Corvette Headed to Mecum Dallas

This option, RPO 579E, included the 283 CI V-8 with Rochester “Ram Jet” fuel injection, cold air induction, Borg Warner 4-speed manual transmission and a column-mounted 8,000 RPM tachometer. Only 17 or 18 of the original 43 cars ordered with that option exist today. This historically significant Corvette was ordered in Onyx Black with red interior and in addition to RPO 579E, included a heavy duty racing suspension, posi-traction, Wonderbar radio, power top, and painted steel wheels with “dog dish” hubcaps. About the only option excluded was power windows. Edwards raced the car at both the drag strip and road courses until selling it in 1962. Typical of many of the Buddy Herin Corvettes being auctioned, Nabers Brothers did a complete restoration on this award winning car and it has collected several prestigious awards.

1957 Airbox Corvette with Racing History

Another first generation car, Lot 126, and another part of the Buddy Herin collection, is a 1962 Tuxedo Black/black interior “big brake” C1 that has only 4,901 miles since it rolled off the assembly line. It is one of only 246 Corvettes produced in 1962 with RPO 687, which encompassed special front and rear shocks, front brake deflector/air scoops, rear brake air scoops, finned drums with internal cooling fans and quick steering adapter, all developed and proven on the track. It has the most powerful engine available in 1962, the 327/360 HP small block V-8 with Rochester fuel injection and 4â€“speed manual transmission, which was required with the “big brake” option.

1962 Tuxedo Black Corvette Headed to Mecum Dallas

In addition the “fuelie” has a Tuxedo Black auxiliary hard top, Wonderbar radio and painted steel wheels with dog dish hub caps. It was restored to its original triple Black color combination by Naber Brothers, who preserved the original interior with the exception of new carpet and dash pad. It was subsequently awarded Bloomington Gold Certification in 1994, and in 1996 it was awarded NCRS National Top Flight honors and the highly coveted NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Award, a highly coveted honor that requires that the car pass a demanding judging regime and rigorous performance testing without a single failure. This exceptional collector Corvette is well documented with the dealer invoice, owner protection plan and a file of supporting paperwork

Letâ€™s not forget the third generation Corvettes. There are over thirty C3â€™s being offered with the superstar of the group being the “last documented L88″ ever produced. This Fathom Green/Saddle interior car was built the final day of L88 production, Thursday, December 4, 1969, and is the last of the 116 L88â€™s produced. It was the beneficiary of a body-off restoration by Thorpe’s Corvettes, Thorpe is a past Bloomington L-88 judge.

This important C3 is equipped with the L-88 special purpose 427/430hp engine, leather interior, stainless steel brakes, stainless exhaust, transistor ignition system, F41 special purpose suspension, posi-traction, power brakes, J50/J56 special brake system and M22 Rock Crusher 4-speed transmission. It is documented with build sheet, tank sticker, owner history, NCRS certificate, judging sheets, and title search back to the original owner. Another Saturday car it is lot number S130. The car was sold earlier this year for over $275K.

For Corvette lovers this may very well turn out to be one of, if not, the best auction of significant Corvettes in the country this year, not only in the quality level but the historical significance of many of the cars, especially those from Herinâ€™s collection. Just make sure that if youâ€™re planning on taking one of them home you might want to check with your banker and broker because they say everything in Texas is bigger and I am sure that will apply to the prices of these special cars.

Rick Tavel writes about automobiles with an emphasis on Corvettes and the hobby in general. You can see his website at revenantrt.blogspot.com

Source:
Mecum Auctions

September 3, 2013

Michigan Small Business Owner Uses a C3 Corvette for â€œEmployee of the Weekâ€ Award

Michigan Small Business Owner Uses a C3 Corvette for Employee of the Week Award

The award for EMPLOYER of the Week goes to Doctor Flue, Inc.

We think the Michigan chimney sweep company deserves kudos after its recent purchase of a 1975 Corvette Stingray that each Employee of the Week will get to drive around for the week theyâ€™re being honored.

Itâ€™s no surprise that Kevon “Doc” Binder, owner of the company, would pick a classic Corvette to honor his leading employees.

After all, he owned a 1972 Stingray when he was younger and admits if he had bought another â€™72 now, he wouldnâ€™t be sharing it!

Doc decided to share the â€™75 because he wants “to cultivate a positive atmosphere” at his company “so my sweeps and workers are happy.”

He believes “happy and satisfied workers give better customer service.”

The winner will be chosen weekly by his sweeps and office staff.

The Stingray has an L-48 engine, a Turbo 400 transmission, and T-tops â€“ complete with a license tag that reads “My Week.”
The company will get some free publicity going down the road since the car is wrapped to match Doctor Flueâ€™s distinctive Sprinter vans, including the company logo on the hood.

“Sheâ€™s a head turner. Itâ€™s fantastic!” says Doc.

Besides the publicity, though, Doc says when people see the unique Corvette, he wants them to also see an employee-based company that they can trust and be loyal to. He wants Doctor Flue to be known as a place that has “extraordinary employees that meet our customersâ€™ needs.”

The company seems to be generous to the community and its customers, too.

Its “Warm Homes â€“ Warm Hearts” program provides a wood stove and chimney installation to a family or individual in need, and each year, Doctor Flue gives a lucky customer a free trip to Aruba.

Doctor Flue, Inc.Â® has offered fireplace installations and chimney services to Michigan and Ohio residents since 1986.

Wonder if they have any job openings?

Source:
PRweb.com
Photos via Dr. Flue on Facebook

August 21, 2013

[UPDATE] The Electric C3 Corvette Hits the Road

We first told you about Keith Stegathâ€™s electric C3 Corvette back in December of 2011. Now, nearly 2 years later, the battery powered 1976 Corvette continues to take shape. In fact, Stegath told us in a recent email that the carâ€™s first test drive was a 10 mile jaunt to a nearby car show. He also reports that he made it home that day without the need for a tow truck.

When we last saw the electric C3 the project was still in its relatively early stages. The body was off the frame and a lot of the early design and fabrication was underway. As mentioned earlier, the car is now road worthy and Keith has since added a 300 volt battery pack, a 2000 amp controller and what he describes as a â€œhighly integrated touchscreen computer interfaceâ€. In case youâ€™re wondering, 300 volts worth of batteries weighs about 1,200lbs. As of today, heâ€™s got roughly 100 miles on his creation.

Currently Keith continues to work on the leather interior, the air conditioning, and that touchscreen computer interface. The body still wears a coat of primer, but heâ€™s added a set of 1969 style side-pipes in addition to a front spoiler.

Upcoming tasks include modifying the front grills as well as adding front & rear bumperettes. He continues to tweak the graphical user interface which is now in its 3rd revision. The computer system now controls virtually everything on the car including the windows, HVAC, the intermittent windshield wipers, the headlights, interior lighting, and the stereo among others. It will also monitor the batteryâ€™s status, including current draw of the drive motor and 12 volt system as well as the inside and outside air temps.

When it comes to modifying Corvettes, thereâ€™s no limit to ownersâ€™ creativity and Keith Stegathâ€™s battery powered 1976 coupe is a perfect example of that. Thanks, Keith for keeping up in the loop on your unique project!

Here are a few recent pix of Keithâ€™s electric C3 conversion.

August 12, 2013

[PICS] Monaco Orange 1969 ZL1 Corvette Convertible at Bloomington Gold

When it comes to rare Corvettes, the conversation naturally bends towards L88â€™s, big brake fuelieâ€™s, C3 ZR1â€™s, and C2 Z06â€™s. Even rarer than those are a pair of Corvettes sold in 1969 sporting all aluminum ZL1 motors between the front fenders. RPO ZL1 cost $4,718.35 which was basically the same price as a base Corvette coupe.

GM records show that just 2 ZL1 equipped were sold to the general public. Thereâ€™s great debate over how many other were potentially, built, converted, swapped, etc. Do a quick Google search on ZL1 Corvette and youâ€™ll see what we mean.

The more widely known factory documented ZL1 is the yellow coupe owned by Roger Judski. That car has been known for several years and is seen periodically at the big shows like Bloomington Gold and Corvettes at Carlisle.

For years, though, the whereabouts of the 2nd factory documented ZL1 Corvette was only known by a few individuals. One of those lucky people was Bruce Perrone who has known the Monaco Orange on black convertible since he was young and in 2005 he was able to purchase the car from its original owner.

The story of the orange ZL1 has been told before in magazines like Corvette Fever and others, so weâ€™ll just summarize it here. The car was bought new with its automatic transmission by John Maher and raced heavily throughout its life. Competition duties included stints on hill climbs, drag strips, and auto cross courses. All that time sporting Gulf Oil livery. Today the car shows a tick over 3,000 miles on the odometer. According to the owner, the motor made 600ish horsepower well below redline during a dyno run.

We came across the car at the Bloomington Gold show last month in Illinois where it was being presented for Certification judging. At that time the car was just one week removed from a complete restoration by Kevin Mackayâ€™s team at Corvette Repair. The old Gulf Oil scheme was removed and the car was taken back to stock form. As youâ€™d expect, the car is now in factory fresh condition right down the natural colored all-aluminum ZL1 engine.

Seeing rare Corvettes is always a treat even when youâ€™re at an event like Bloomington thatâ€™s typically full of low production cars. If you missed the ZL1 last month donâ€™t worry. You can browse our gallery below.

August 12, 2013

Quaker State Offering a 1972 Corvette in the â€˜Defy My Rideâ€™ Sweepstakes

If youâ€™ve always wanted a classic Corvette, Quaker State is offering a way for you to win one.

Itâ€™s all part of the companyâ€™s â€œDefy My Rideâ€ Sweepstakes, which has a fully restored 1972 Corvette as the grand prize.

The contest is a way for the company to show that any car can defy time and survive to become a classic if itâ€™s properly taken care.

“The ‘Defy My Ride’ Sweepstakes pays tribute to well-aged vehicles and their longevity. With the proper care and under-the-hood technology, it is possible for any car to defy time and become a classic,” said Gita Gidwani, Quaker State Global Brand Manager. “This promotion echoes the message of Quaker State Defy(TM) Synthetic Blend Motor Oil, which is made for high mileage vehicles and is formulated to help you get the most life out of your car’s engine.”

The car is being restored by Hendrick Performance, with help from Dale Earnhardt Jr., and will be the recipient of an exterior detailing including wet sanding, wax, polish, and buffing, along with new BFGoodrich radial tires, Torque Thrust wheels, Wilwood brakes, a state-of-the-art stereo system, and KYB shocks.

You can enter the sweepstakes at www.quakerstate.com or by scanning the QR Code on in-store Quaker State materials with your smart phone and filling out the entry form.

Winners will be chosen through a random drawing set for Nov. 5, 2013. If youâ€™re not lucky enough to win the cool â€™72 Vette, you might still be lucky enough to win 20-plus other prizes, including racing gloves or a hat autographed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., and a $200 Shell gift card.

Source:
Quaker State

July 19, 2013

Michigan Corvette Owner Ready to Show His Custom 1981 Corvette at Saginawâ€™s Old Town Motorfest

Michigan Corvette Owner Readyto Show His Custom 1981 Corvette at Saginaw's Old Town Motorfest

Matt Rodriguez made it back more than 40 years ago from Vietnam, where he worked as a crew chief on a chopper.

After he returned to the States in 1970, he began a 30-year career with General Motors in the tool and dye department. That’s when he also started his long love affair with Corvettes, picking up a used 1968 model that he later sold to buy a new 1980.

“When you are young, everyone wants a Corvette, and I had an opportunity,” Rodriguez said.

He wishes he still had that first Corvette, but the custom 1981 model he owns now has a soft spot in his heart, too.

“It didn’t look like that when I got it,” he says. “It was kind of messed up.”

After overhauling the engine and adding a new paint job and interior, among other things, Rodriguez will be showing his pearl white creation during the eighth annual Old Town Motorfest on Sunday, July 21 from noon to 4 p.m. in Old Town Saginaw, Michigan.

Steve Snow, co-owner of Dynamic Corvettes at 308 N. Hamilton St., Saginaw has worked for more than a decade with Rodriguez on the restoration of his ’81. Snow is helping organize this year’s show and believes about 4,000 to 5,000 people will turn out to look at some 200 classic cars and motorcycles lining the way along South Hamilton and Court streets.

Registration for the event takes place from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday at The Saginaw News office, inside the Ippel Building at 100 S. Michigan Ave. Cost to enter a vehicle is $15. Admission to the show is free to the public.

Registered car owners have a chance to win cash prizes every 30 minutes with trophies for Best of Show, Best Engine, Best Interior, Best Paint and Best Motorcycle presented at the conclusion of the show. The Saginaw News also plans to present its second annual “Headliner Award” at the show for a vehicle that “really turns some heads.”

Snow and the crew at Dynamic Corvettes have helped Rodriguez restore his Corvette since he bought it in 2000 from a dealer in Holton.

For example, the pop-up headlights have been replaced with custom, sunken-in lights, and as is the case for many of us, Rodriguez’ car is always a work in progress. In fact, he’s just ordered a new custom hood that will be the next step in the restoration.

“Every year we do something new to it,” Snow said. “Some guys take a bit at a time and some do it all at once. It’s a nice car.”

Snow says the car is customized to the personal taste of Rodriguez. “Some people prefer the custom look, and others like to keep it original,” Snow says.

It’s a car that Rodriguez says he loves cruising around town and going to car shows. “It’s a car,” he says. “Put miles on it – that’s what they are designed for.”

Ironically, Rodriguez bought his first Corvette at a shop in Kalamazoo, the same place where Snow started his 40-year career working on Corvettes.

Snow said he’s expecting “perfect car show weather” on Sunday when everything from street rods and low riders to classics will be on display.

Sunday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-70s.

“I think we’ll have a great turnout,” Snow said. “It’s about enjoying Old Town. If you don’t have a chance to come here normally, it’s a reason to walk around. With the shops and restaurants it’s a great place to do a show. It’s something different to do on a Sunday.”

Old Town Motorfest is organized by the Old Town Saginaw Association with help from Dynamic Corvettes and Bay Valley Corvette Club. Proceeds from the event are donated to various charitable organizations.

Source:
mlive.com

July 15, 2013

[VIDEO] 1978 Corvette Pace Car with 4.4 Miles to be Auctioned in September

Just when you might be thinking that all the old “barn finds” have surely been discovered by now, you hear about someone like the Lambrechts.

Ray and Mildred Lambrecht have been running Lambrecht Chevrolet in Pierce, Nebraska for the past 50 years â€“ with just one other employee â€“ but since theyâ€™re getting on up in years now, theyâ€™ve made the tough decision to shut the business down.

Half a century is a long time, though, and itâ€™s no surprise that the Lambrechts have managed to amass quite a collection of classic vehicles. In fact, later this year, they will be auctioning off approximately 500 vehicles they kept over the years, including a 1978 Corvette Pace Car thatâ€™s a little dusty but still has the plastic wrap on the seats and shows just 4.4 miles on the odometer!

Amazingly, itâ€™s one of about 50 vehicles they have driven less than 10 miles.

For example, theyâ€™ve got a 1956 Chevrolet Cameo pickup with just over a mile showing, not to mention a 1965 Impala thatâ€™s virtually â€œworn outâ€ compared to that truck. The Impala has six miles – the original window sticker and plastic sheeting over the seats, still in place.

The VanDerBrink Auction company will be in charge of the sale in Pierce on Sept. 28-29, and theyâ€™re still documenting all of the vehicles. Yahoo reports today that the list will include Bel Airs, Corvairs, a couple of Vegas, dozens of pieces of memorabilia, hubcaps, and a Corvette pedal car. Weâ€™ll try to keep you posted as more details emerge. This sounds like it could be a great sale.

Naturally, the auction will be a bittersweet time for the Lambrechts. Their daughter, Jeannie Lambrecht Stillwell, says the vehicles “comprise a lifetime of hard work, tears, and joy.”

Visit The VanDerBrink Auction company for more information on the auction as well as a list of cars and parts to be auctioned September 28th-29th, 2013.

Source:
Autos.Yahoo.com