2013 of course marks the 60th anniversary of America’s sports car and the fiftieth anniversary of the first production Sting Rays. Later in the year, Corvette will be the featured marque at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, but Mecum Auctions is helping to kick off this important anniversary straight away with a throng of desirable Corvettes that are all up for grabs at their Kissimmee auction, scheduled for January 18-27.
Just like last year, Mecum will have over 300 Corvettes crossing the block throughout the ten day Kissimmee sale. Among them is a wide range of years and prices, so there really will be something for everybone. More than a few are exceptional cars, and even narrowing the lot down to just Corvettes is still a bit overwhelming. Nevertheless, there are a handful of standouts that could stand to be highlighted, including a 1957 car fitted with fuel-injection and the RPO 579D/E “racer” option, two “Big Brake Tankers”, several Split Window Coupes, and a very rare 1971 ZR2 convertible. These cars will join a group of over 3,000 vehicles that caters to a wide variety of tastes and price brackets.
1961 and 1962 “Big Brake Fuelie Tankers”
Fans of pre-1963 Corvettes will not be disappointed at this year’s line up, as there are several impressive and original fuel-injected C1s on the lot. Of particular interest are two beautiful and equally desirable “Big Brake Tankers”.
Lot S122, wearing heavenly Ermine White paint with a red interior, is a 1961 model that started life in the Midwest and was immediately prepared for SCCA competition. It was rediscovered in the late 1980s, recognized as a rare big brake, big tank fuelie and treated as such with a comprehensive and photo-documented four year restoration. It retains all the right original pieces, and even includes the “elephant ear” brake cooling scoops in their original burlap bag. Powered by the desirable Rochester-injected RPO 354 283/315 HP V-8, the car has been turning heads non-stop since its restoration, winning multiple NCRS Top Flight and Duntov Awards and making multiple publication appearances.
Lot S122 1961 Chevrolet Corvette “Big Brake Fuelie Tanker” – Estimate: $275,000-$325,000
Lot S120, a 1962 car finished in a glorious combination of Roman Red with black interior and scallops, is one of less than 2,000 cars with the RPO 582 327/360 HP engine (new for 1962) and features even rarer options like 15.5 x 5 inch wheels, heavy duty brakes, and a 24-gallon fuel tank. What’s more, it has a documented Southern California racing history with owner Tom Mazzola driving, and has been featured on the cover of Vette Magazine. With a mass-produced car like the Corvette, it’s the combination of optional equipment that makes the difference, and that’s why these two cars have such staggering estimates. They really do tick the right boxes for C1 Vettes, so they are definitely cars to watch.
Lot S120 1962 Corvette “Big Brake Fuelie Tanker” - Estimate: $250,000-$300,000
1957 RPO 579E Race Car
The Corvette had somewhat humble beginnings as a sports car in 1953, being more of an underpowered fashion accessory, but 1957 marks one of the many points when the Corvette demanded the world’s attention as a serious performance car. This was the first year that the Corvette would be offered with fuel injection, an important and relatively advanced option that would distinguish GM’s premier sports car from so many others on the market. Immediately, the Rochester fuel-injection system’s added performance grabbed the attention of aspiring racers, and Chevrolet’s options list catered to the needs of these potential customers. Of the over 6,000 Corvettes built in 1957, only 43 were “Airbox” fuelies equipped with the RPO 579D/E option. Lot F246, finished in Arctic Blue with a red interior, is a beautifully presented racing car from that year. The “Airbox” name that is applied to that handful of cars refers to the fiberglass duct work laid onto the inside of the left fender for improved airflow. These cars were also fitted with heavy duty suspension, front stabilizer bars and finned brake drums. That potent combination and the obvious rarity makes the “Airbox” Corvettes highly prized machines in the world of pre-Sting Ray cars.
Lot F246 1957 Corvette Race Car – Estimate: $150,000-$200,000
This particular car, serial #5938, was raced throughout the western United States during the 1960s and underwent a restoration in 2004. Its documented race history includes period photographs. It should be noted that the “Airbox” was added to this individual car, meaning that it is not one of the original batch of 43 cars. Still, it came originally with the special braking and suspension packages, which makes it one of only 51 cars so equipped. That it is not an original “Airbox” car and its stated two restorations are realities that are likely keeping the estimates down, but it is nevertheless a stunning car and will no doubt be a highlight at any Corvette reunion.
1971 ZR2 Convertible
By the dawn of the 1970s, federal emissions regulations were starting to make their long assault on performance cars, and by the end of the decade the Corvette was a pretty gutless performer. Even as early as 1971, the LT1 package had sadly shed 40 horsepower. That same year, however, Chevrolet had a bit of a last hurrah with the ZR1 and ZR2 packages. The potent ZR1 option was only available on the small-block LT1 platform, and included a solid-lifter motor, aluminum radiator, and upgraded suspension. With these additions, the owner had to do without a radio, rear defogger, or power anything.
Lot S164 1971 Corvette ZR2 Convertible – Estimate: $525,000-$625,000
For those who wanted bigger numbers there was the ZR2 package, essentially a ZR1 with the 454 LS6 motor that pumped out 425 horsepower. These options were expensive, though, and since it was apparent that the writing was on the wall for the wildly high-output cars of the previous decade, few ZR1s or ZR2s were sold. This car in fact, Lot S164, is one of just 12 ZR2s and only 2 known convertibles. Finished in very 1970s Ontario Orange, the car was bought new by an American living in Germany, but returned to the United States in the early 1980s, where it has since undergone a body-off restoration. It is also advertised as the last known ZR2. Inducted into the Bloomington Gold Corvette Hall of Fame in 2003 and featured in the National Corvette Museum’s Concours d’Performance exhibit, it is a car with plenty of accolades, but if this car looks familiar, it may be because it has crossed the auction block more than once in recent years. The last time it changed hands was in 2011 atMecum’s Bloomington Gold Corvette auction in St. Charles, Illinois for $410,000. Estimates are higher this time around, partly due to Corvette’s 60th birthday and the related Corvette fever, so it will be interesting to see how high this ZR2 can go. The last of the original “Z” cars, an elite group of Corvettes that includes the 1963 Z06, this car is an interesting slice of Corvette history, but it will clearly come at a price.
1963 Split Window Coupe
There are no less than thirteen Split Window Coupes available at Kissimmee this year, but this one is arguably the nicest. 1963 was not only the first year for the legendary C2, but was also the only year for that unforgettable rear window. The Split Window feature on the 1963 coupes was really more of a styling feature than anything else and got a fairly bum rap from journalists and owners alike because of its ridiculous rear visibility. Legend has it that some owners even had the two-piece window removed and replaced with the one-piece unit from subsequent Sting Rays. Times have changed, and tastes with them, so the more distinctive Split Window Coupes are now a hot commodity.
Lot S97 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe
This car, Lot S97, features an original 327/360 HP motor with Rochester fuel-injection, and was the recipient of a full restoration by Corvette specialist Bill Braun, who apparently reports it to be one of the nicest 1963 Corvettes he has restored. It has since won multiple NCRS Top Flight Awards and been issued a Gold Spinner Concours Certificate, making it one of the best Split Window Coupes out there.
Mecum Kissimmee Auction 2013 – Information
Date: January 18-27, 2013
Location: Osceola Heritage Park, 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, Florida 34744
Preview: Gates open at 8:00 a.m. daily.
Auction: “Road Art” begins thirty minutes prior to vehicles daily and vehicles begin at 10:00 a.m. daily.
[Source: Mecum Auctions]
