Vehicle Description
To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Fort Lauderdale event, 6 -
7 April 2018.
Estimates:
$125,000 - $150,000
L71 code, 435 hp, 427 cu. in. V-8 engine with a transistorized
ignition systemM21 Muncie four-speed manual transmissionBeneficiary
of a complete frame-off restorationPresented in the original as
built color of (984) Sunfire Yellow with a black vinyl
soft-topInterior is completed in black, featuring the optional
AM/FM radioWinner of the Tom Thompson Timeless Design award at
Cobble Beach, Ontario, 2017 Concours d'EleganceAccompanied by
Owner's Protection Plan with Protect-O-Plate, Build Sheet/Tank
Sticker, copy of original MSO document and order form, photographs
of all serial numbers, casting codes, date codes, matching original
parts, and a complete decoding of all information
Chevrolet turned the Corvette into a proper American sports car
when the second generation debuted in 1963. Dubbed the "Sting Ray"
thanks to its flashy, more angular appearance, the Corvette was
available for the first time as both a convertible and as a coupe.
Only a handful of subtle changes were made during the second
generation's five-year run, most notably the big-block engine and
upsized brake options added in 1965.
Enthusiasts consider the second generation's last year, 1967, to be
especially emblematic of Detroit's performance halcyon days. Of the
22,940 1967 Corvettes built that year, over half were convertibles
but only a handful were fitted with the most powerful engine on
offer, the L71-code 427 cubic-inch V-8.
The Sunfire Yellow convertible offered here was among those. It's
one of just 3,754 built with the triple Holley carburetor-fed
L71-code Turbo-Jet V-8 rated at a hefty 435 horsepower. For mere
mortals, the Tri-Power V-8 was the top of the lineup; the L88-code
V-8 was rated at 100 horsepower more but was intended for
competition use.
This well-optioned car rolled off of General Motors' St. Louis,
Missouri, assembly line on April 4, 1967 with a four-speed Muncie
gearbox, Posi-traction rear end, AM/FM radio, redline tires, and
transistorized ignition. It was delivered new to Benson Chevrolet
in Roswell, Georgia.
Today, it retains all of those original features plus desirable
side exhaust and has been treated to an extensive, award-winning
restoration. This well-documented car will be presented to its next
owner with a binder containing its Protect-O-Plate, its original
build sheet, and a copy of the original MSO that confirm its
numbers-matching components.
That high degree of authenticity, combined with an extensive
frame-off restoration, helped this Corvette earn the Tom Thompson
Timeless Design award at the 2017 Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance
in Ontario, Canada. This spectacular, well-documented example is
ready to be both enjoyed and shown.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/FL18.
