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Author
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Topic: [Mecum] Gus Grissom's 1967 Corvette (Jan. 2014)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-20-2014 12:16 PM
   
Over the past few years, a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible originally owned by Gus Grissom has bounced between auction houses and owners and has now landed for sale again at Mecum Auctions on Saturday (Jan. 25). It has participated in several parades at Cape Kennedy where it hosted former Astronauts along with the President of the United States and, not surprisingly, has received wide magazine coverage and won more than 25 trophies, ribbons and awards, including NCRS Top Flight honors. Extensively documented, the Gus Grissom Corvette is more than a highly desirable example of the class of the midyear field; it is a precious artifact from an historic era in 20th century American history. When Grissom accepted delivery of the Corvette from Jim Rathmann Chevrolet, it was Lynndale blue; the Rally Red paint scheme was applied 25 years ago.Mecum's auction estimate is $150,000 to $175,000. In 2007, the the Corvette sold for $232,500. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-20-2014 02:33 PM
Looking at the info online for this car it states it came off the production line June 1967. Did Gus order and never see this car? |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 01-20-2014 03:52 PM
That '67 Vette was likely produced and delivered sometime in 1966. |
Steve Zarelli
Member Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-20-2014 03:53 PM
From the auction website: While no longer in its original color scheme, the Grissom Corvette has received a frame-off restoration and retains its original mechanical configuration that includes... So, it's entirely possible any component or material that Grissom actually touched is gone or has been painted over.How far does one have to go before it turns into a "reproduction" that happens to have some original parts? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-20-2014 04:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Cozmosis22:
...delivered sometime in 1966.
According to the lot description: Like his fellow astronauts Grissom was also adventurous on Terra Firma, and in 1967 he took delivery of this L71 427/435 HP Tri-Power convertible from Jim Rathmann Chevrolet in Melbourne, Florida. I've e-mailed Mecum to inquire if a specific date of delivery is known/documented. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 01-20-2014 04:17 PM
According to someone who worked at the Cape back then, his little blue Vette was towed away from his personal parking space at the O&C building not long after the pad fire. He was seen driving it in the fall of 1966. Will await verification. Am sure that Corvette purists don't like the fact that the car was "restored" but painted a different color. Still a great little vehicle with a rather well-documented history. |
FullThrottle
Member Posts: 93
From: Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 01-20-2014 08:52 PM
Any vehicle made on/after July 1st is the next year model. A 1967 car would have to be built between July 1966-June 1967.
The '67 models would have been almost 7 months old at the time of the Apollo 1 fire.Remember Armstrong's Corvette recently? It was destroyed, fender flares added, nothing original about it and if I recall correctly it brought six figures where the exact same car in the real world with no history would be lucky to get 10% of that. It's all about "numbers matching vin/engine" and provenance of who owned it. I'm shocked that whoever restored this car would have painted it anything but its original color! It seems anything reproduction parts is accepted, even if not one original bolt actually exists. The difference is people who purchase these collectables want to drive them, fast, and life and death is on the line once that car turns onto the highway. It weighs over 2 tons and is travelling over 100ft. per second. Once you start replacing old rusty parts where does it end? I personally prefer a rough "survivor" with all of its original parts over a shiny new paint job and all new repros, without any originality left. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-20-2014 09:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FullThrottle:
Remember Armstrong's Corvette recently? It was destroyed, fender flares added, nothing original about it and if I recall correctly it brought six figures...
In 2012, it attracted $251,638 at auction — but failed to meet its reserve. Instead, it was reported to be heading into a preservation (over restoration) effort. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 02-01-2014 01:23 PM
Apparently Gus' nice little convertible sold for a mere $160K this time around. Here's hoping the new owner will cherish it and have it repainted back to it's original color. |
drlparkway
New Member Posts: 2
From: Wilmington, NC
Registered: Mar 2015
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posted 03-16-2015 09:48 AM
I bought the Grissom '67 in January. It has set up so much almost all the seals and gaskets have to be replaced. The car is solid and I look forward to driving it soon. This fall/winter I will repaint it Lyndale Blue with Teal interior. Wish it had not been redone but will get it back as close to original as possible. Had to go with the '67 knock offs but have the original rally wheels and original spare. I am originally from Huntsville, AL and these guys were my heroes. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 03-16-2015 11:05 AM
I think many here would love to follow the progress and outcome on the restoration via an occasional picture and narrative. Congratulations on acquiring the car and good luck with the project. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-16-2015 01:35 PM
I'll add my congratulations on getting the car and thanks for posting here! It sounds like Gus's machine is in good hands. We would love to see the finished product. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 03-18-2015 09:05 AM
Great that a piece of space history is being preserved. Huntsville? Looks like a trip to the US Space & Rocket Center is in order as soon as you finish sprucing it up! |
drlparkway
New Member Posts: 2
From: Wilmington, NC
Registered: Mar 2015
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posted 04-12-2015 06:34 PM
2016 is my 50 year high school reunion. Huntsville High School. Hope to drive my Lynndale Blue Vette to the reunion and space center (originally Space Orientation Center at Redstone. Thanks to all for the encouragement and feedback. Still looking for the stinger and top colors. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 04-23-2015 01:12 AM
Please post a picture of it when you're done. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 04-23-2015 08:08 AM
The Wilmington NC community of Landfall is having a SpringFest and Car Show on April 25. From the event newsletter (via a friend who lives in that area): Gus Grissom’s 1967 Corvette will be featured at this year's SpringFest Car Show. Come out and see a piece of history that later influenced the filming of The Right Stuff movie. However, the promo shows a white Corvette with a black "stinger" decal or paint on the hood. I'm not sure this is Gus' actual car. |
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