WELCOME TO THE 2020 GOLD COLLECTION
A Tribute to Zora Arkus-Duntov Corvette’s First Chief Engineer GM Career: 1953-1975 Appointed Chief Engineer - Corvette: 1967 Bloomington Gold is honored to pay tribute to Zora Arkus-Duntov – often referred to as The Father of the Corvette! As Zora would have wanted, you’ll see some of the highest scoring Bloomington Gold Certified®, SURVIVOR® and Benchmark® cars, all with an emphasis on performance. Enjoy the 2020 Gold Collection at Lucas Oil Stadium! Thanks to the following people and companies who have made this year’s Gold Collection possible: • Our Program Advertisers • The Gold Collection Selection Committee members: Mark Donnally, Jimmy Gregg, Kevin Mackay, Keith Majure, Terry McManmon, Drew Papsun and Frank Stech Jr. • Virtual Program Layout & Production: Jocelyn Young • And most importantly, the car owners, for bringing their Corvettes to Bloomington Gold at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Guy Larsen, President Bloomington Gold
Bill Locke, Event Director Gold Collection
Lucas Oil Stadium September 11-12, 2020
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Pikes Peak hill climb record, 1955 Daytona flying mile record, 1956 SEMA Hall of Fame, 1973 Induction Automotive Hall of Fame, 1991 Induction International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, 1994 Induction National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame, 1998 Induction Zora Arkus-Duntov Exhibition, Alexander Solzhenitsyn Center for Russian Émigrés, Moscow, May–June 2012 • Great Hall, 2013 Induction
Inducted into The Automotive Hall of Fame in 1991.
Zora Arkus-Duntov The Legend Behind Corvette By Jerry Burton
Arkus-Duntov joined General Motors in 1953 after seeing the Motora-
ma Corvette on display in New York City. He found the car visually superb, but was disappointed with what was underneath. He wrote Chevrolet chief engineer Ed Cole that it would be a pleasure to work on such a beautiful car; he also included a technical paper which proposed an analytical method of determining a car’s top speed. Chevrolet was so impressed, engineer Maurice Olley invited him to come to Detroit. On May 1, 1953, Arkus-Duntov started at Chevrolet as an assistant staff engineer.
In 1957 Arkus-Duntov became Director of High Performance Vehi-
cles at Chevrolet. After helping to introduce the small-block V8 engine to the Corvette in 1955, providing the car with much-needed power, he set about showcasing the engine by ascending Pike’s Peak in 1956 in a pre-production car (a 1956 Bel Aire 4-door hardtop), setting a stock car record. He took a Corvette to Daytona Beach the same year and hit a record-setting 150 mph (240 km/h) over the flying mile. He also developed the famous Duntov high-lift camshaft and helped bring fuel injection to the Corvette in 1957. He is credited with introducing the first mass-produced American car with four-wheel disc brakes.
Arkus-Duntov
remained active in the Corvette community after his retirement in 1975. A member of the Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the Chevrolet Legends of Performance, and the Automotive Hall of Fame, he took part in the rollout of the one millionth Corvette at Bowling Green in 1992. He drove the bulldozer at the ground breaking ceremonies for the National Corvette Museum in 1994.
Despite Duntov’s
work on the CERV I and CERV II and many mid-engine design studies, the idea of a mid-engine Corvette was not approved by GM management until 2019 with the announcement of the release of the eighth generation C8 Corvette. Rumors circulated that a high-performance version of the C8 could be named the “Zora”. On a pre-production camouflaged version, observers noted small stickers that resembled the profile of Zora Arkus-Duntov. (Source: Wikipedia)
Zora Arkus-Duntov Zora Arkus-Duntov was born Zachary Arkus in Brussels, Belgium on December 25, 1909. His parents were both Russian-born Jews; his father Yakov “Jacques” Arkus was a mining engineer and his mother Rachel Kogan was a medical student. After the family returned to their hometown of Leningrad, Duntov’s parents divorced and his mother’s new partner, Josef Duntov, an electrical engineer, moved into the household. Even after the divorce, Jacques continued to live with the family, and out of respect for both men, Zora and younger brother Yura took on the hyphenated last name of Arkus-Duntov. In 1927, the family moved to Berlin. While Duntov’s early boyhood ambition was to become a streetcar driver, streetcars later gave way to motorcycles and automobiles. His first motorized vehicle was a 350 cc motorcycle, which he rode at nearby racetracks as well as through the streets of Berlin. When his parents, fearing for his safety, insisted he trade the cycle in for an automobile, Duntov bought a cycle-fendered model from a short-lived German manufacturer called Bob. The Bob was set up for oval track racing. It had no front brakes and weak rear brakes. In 1934, Duntov graduated from the Charlottenburg Technological University (known today as the Technical University of Berlin). He also began writing engineering papers in the German motor publication Auto Motor und Sport. While in Berlin Duntov met Corvette SR2 “Elfi” Wolff, who was in the city to study ballet and acrobatic the1956 fourteen year old Elfriede dance. The two in touch overAmbler several years Owned by:kept Irwin Kroiz, PAwhile Elfi toured with dance troupes. She eventually settled in Paris as a dancer with the Folies Bergere. The two married in February 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II.
Harley Earl was the head of styling for General Motors Corp. He envisioned and championed its creation in 1953. Harley’s son, Jerome, was Following the outbreak of the war first Yura, then racing a Ferrari in 1956. His father was told by theAir topForce. When brass of General Zora, joined the French France Duntov obtained exit and visas that from he the Motors it didn’t look right thatsurrendered, Jerome was racing a Ferrari Spanish consulate in Marseilles, not only for Elfi should be racing a Corvette. Harley toldbut Jerome had to the Ferand himself, for hishe brother andsell parents as well. rari and he would build him a Elfi, special raceincar. the made back a who Corvette was still living ParisThis at theistime, dramatic dash to Bordeaux in her MG just ahead of drop for the first General Motors purpose-built and sponsored Corvette the advancing Nazi troops. In the meantime, Duntov racer, the SR-2. and Yura hid in a bordello. Five days later, Elfi met up
with Duntov and his family and later they boarded a shiphistory. in Portugal New Jerome York. Earl, The SR-2 had a successful racing Its bound driversforwere Settling in Manhattan, in 1942 the two brothers Dr. Dick Thompson, “The Flying Dentist”, John Mechanical Fitch, BudCorporation, Gates andthe established the Ardun namethe a portmanteau of Arkus and Duntov.BaArdun Jim Jeffords. In November 1957, SR-2 was entered at Nassau initially produced dies and punches for ammunition hamas race by Jerome Earl andand Billlater France and driven by Curtis Turner. produced parts for aircraft. In 1947 the The SR-2 won the Memorial GT race. company introduced their own aluminum, overhead valve, hemispherical combustion chamber cylinder heads for the flathead Ford V8 engine. Conceived by Duntov, the heads were designed by George Kudasch. The purpose of 1958,valve the SR-2 sold Jeffords. The carofraced at Sebring flathead theIn overhead design was was to curetotheJim persistent overheating the valve-in-block V8. driven The flathead two Augie center exhaust ports a singledriver. tube, creating by Jim‘siamesed’ Jeffordsthe with Pabst as theinto back-up At thea large heatend transfer from the hot gases to the coolant that was eliminated in the overhead valve of 1959, the SR-2 was sold to Bud Gates who owned a Chevrolet design. The Ardun heads allowed significant increases in power output from the Ford V8. dealership Indianapolis, Indiana. company Bud had success theascar in Ardun grew intoina 300 employee engineering with a nameracing as revered Offenhauser, but the company later went outthe of business some questionable financial decisions SCCA events. Gates sold SR-2 toafter Vernon Kispert from his dealerby a partner the Arkus-Duntov brothers had taken on. Arkus-Duntov attempted to qualify ship’s used car lot on July 5, 1962. Vernon did a lot of drag racing for a Talbot-Lago for the Indianapolis 500 in 1946 and 1947, but failed to make the race both four HeZora wasArkus-Duntov from Terra got Haute, Indianafrom andBritish the car was named years. Atyears. this time an invitation company, while his brother decided to go to into finances. “The Terror of Terre Haute”.
Soon he left America for England to do development work on the Allard sports car, co-driving it at the 24 hours of LeMans in 1952 and in 1953. His goal was to improve and prepare the company’s cars for the race “24 hours of Le Mans.” It is noteworthy that some of them were Ford V8, on which Duntov applied, among other things, his old achievements. The owners and at the same time Allard racers Sydney Allard and his wife Eleanor noticed the achievements of the engineer. In 1952-53, Duntov acted as a Le Mans racer on the Allard J2X Le Mans and Allard JR models. In the same years, Carroll Shelby raced in Allard machines. Soon, Duntov was invited to join the Porsche team. He drove an 1100 cc Porsche 550 RS Spyder at LeMans in 1954 and 1955, taking a class win in 1954. Arkus-Duntov joined General Motors in 1953 after seeing the Motorama Corvette on display in New York City. He found the car visually superb, but was disappointed with what was underneath. He wrote Chevrolet chief engineer Ed Cole that it would be a pleasure to work on such a beautiful car; he also included a technical paper which proposed an analytical method of determining a car’s top speed. Chevrolet was so impressed, engineer Maurice Olley invited him to come to Detroit. On May 1, 1953, Arkus-Duntov started at Chevrolet as an assistant staff engineer. Shortly after going to work for Chevrolet, 1961 Corvette RPO 353 283/270 Arkus-Duntov set the tone for what he Owned by: John Keane, Gwynedd Valley was PA about to accomplish in a memo to
his bosses. The document, “Thoughts to Youth, Hot (who Rodders Passing of Time - Born: November 1960:Pertaining My present owner is and Chevrolet”, laid out Duntov’s views on my second owner) and I teamed up in August of 1961. We in spent many overcoming Ford’s lead use by customizersinand and how toOne increase happy times at the beach, at the tracks and theracers, mountains. coldboth acceptance and the likelihood wintry Christmas Eve, even though I wasthe dressed with studded snowof success of the Chevrolet V8 in this tires, we had to be rescued by a local firemarket. In department. 1957 Arkus-Duntov became Director of High Performance Vehicles at Chevrolet. After helping to introduce the After 44 years of quiet time in my owner’s garage, we decided it was small-block V8 engine to the Corvette in time for a wake-up call. I still maintain over of allthemy 1955,98% providing caroriginal with much-needed power, about me showcasing parts! However, it took some dedicated prep workhetosetbring back tothe engine by ascending Pike’s Peak in 1956 in a pre-production car (a 1956 Bel Aire 4-door my present Once again meshing gearstoand spinning wheels! hardtop), setting status. a stock car record. He took a Corvette Daytona Beachmy the same year and hit Ia am record-setting 150 mph (240 km/h) over the flying mile. He also developed the famous excited to be part of the 2020 Gold Collection, honoring Zora Duntov high-lift camshaft bring fuel injection the Corvette in 1957. He is Arkus-Duntov, and and veryhelped proud to display and to share my highlights, aging credited with introducing the first mass-produced American car with four-whee disc brakes. scars and times! Whatand a ride it haschief been! A conflict arosefun between Duntov Chevrolet designer Bill Mitchell over the design of the new C2 Corvette “Sting Ray” model. Mitchell designed the car with a long hood and a raised wind-split that ran the length of the roof and continued down the back on a pillar honors include: Gold SURVIVOR, Gold BenchthatMy bisected the rear windowBloomington into right and left halves. Duntov felt that theand elongated hood mark. with NCRS Duntov Mark Excellence 5-Star Bowtie (One of interfered the driver’s view of theofroad ahead, andand the rear pillar obscured the driver’s view rearwards. split rear window was widely criticized, and a one-piece backlite was put four C1’s toThe receive both awards.) MCACN (Muscle Car & Corvette in its place the next year.
Nationals) Vintage Certified to the level of “Legend”.
1956 was the year of birth of the first sports Corvette. Designed and constructed by Duntov in the amount of about 3 copies, the SR1 and SR2 projects pleasantly surprised Harley Earl, which is why the next 1957, Duntov’s proposal to establish the Corvette racing team was accepted with his promotion to the post of director of the high-performance car department. Duntov’s new project was the Corvette SS with a magnesium body for the 24-hour Le Mans race. For preliminary testing of the car, the American counterpart, “12 hours of Sebring” was chosen. The difficulty was in the timing, since before the annual Sebring there were only 6
1961 Corvette RPO 354 Sebring Racer Owned by: Marty & Marsha Fowler, Kennett MO This 1961 Corvette was ordered by Bud Gates Chevytown in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 1961 SCCA racing season and raced by Bud Gates. The car was produced on November 2, 1960 and came equipped with a 315 HP fuel injected engine, 4 speed manual transmission, posi-traction differential, heavy duty brakes, fast steering adapter, wide base wheels, radio delete and a convertible top. When Bud decided to enter the car in the FIA 1961 Sebring 12 hour endurance, Chevrolet provided the “Sebring Package” which included a quick-fill 37 gallon fuel tank, revised fuel delivery lines, rear window tunnel for the hardtop, an additional front suspension stabilizer bar and a special side exit exhaust system. The car and parts were sent to Ron Kaplan in Chicago to be prepared for the race. Since the car was not ordered with a hardtop and one was required for Sebring, Gates told his mechanic to “borrow” a hardtop from one of the new Corvettes on the lot. The one he borrowed was red. When the day came to leave for the race the car hauler had mechanical problems, so the car was driven from Indianapolis to Sebring. On March 25th 1961 Bud Gates and Harry Heuer piloted the Corvette to second place in GT and 23rd overall against some of the world’s best purpose built race cars with professional drivers. Then Bud drove the car back to Indianapolis! After the 1962 racing season Bud left production-based cars behind for race-constructed cars, so the Corvette was sold on September 21st 1962 through the Gates high performance used car lot “Corvette Motors” on Washington Street in Indianapolis. The car was sold complete minus only the racing exhaust system. The car passed through four owners over the next sixteen years and its racing history faded. In 1978, Larry Thomas, an astute Corvette hobbyist from Clinton Indiana, ran across the car and noticed some of its unusual features. He remembered the Gates Corvette from its racing days. Larry bought the car and traced its history through the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles. Every title back to the Bud Gates MSO was on file. The car had never left Indiana. It was the car! Larry kept the Corvette until 1981 when other interests caused him to take the car the NCRS meet in St. Louis to sell in the swap meet. That’s where I noticed it because of the large sign on the windshield which said “Sebring Racer”. I asked…. “What‘s a Sebring Racer?” Now I know.
1963 Corvette Stingray RPO L76 327/340 Owned by: Howard Key, Dallas TX This silver/dark blue 1963 Corvette was rescued by Keith Majure from an apartment complex parking lot in Louisiana from a very willing, motivated owner (ex-spouse wanted money ASAP). After collecting NOS parts and an extremely hard to find original, complete mint 1963 interior, Majure delivers the car to Marty Fowler, a world renowned 1963 Corvette expert and one of the best 1963 restorers in the country. Majure soon discovers that Marty never does anything half way, but only restores a car exactly as GM built it, no expense sparred. Marty completed the restoration of the car as “the best, most thorough state of the art restoration of a 1963 Corvette�, as professed by David Burroughs. This Corvette was delivered from the factory with a 327/340hp engine, 4 speed, 2 top convertible, 4.11 differential, tinted windshield, and white wall tires. Awards include Bloomington Gold Certification and NCRS Top Flight.
1965 Corvette Stingray RPO L84 327/375 Owned by: Dana & Patti Mecum, Geneva Lake WI $40,000.00 was an astronomical price for a used Corvette in 1975— five times the price of a new one! However, Richard Buxbaum had the audacity to ask it and Jim Krughoff had the bank account to answer. Both made Corvette history that day and the Corvette world changed forever. This is the car that jump started the realization that certain Corvettes were more than just used cars. From then on, the demand for pristine original unrestored high performance Corvettes exploded and the prices soared from their typical $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 range. And they are still climbing. What was so special about this car? It was a legendary 1965 Fuel Injected convertible in perfect unrestored original condition with only 1,652 miles on the odometer. Only 200 miles and one owner have been added since. History may repeat itself this summer if a new owner has the same insight that Mr. Krughoff had 40 years ago.
1965 Corvette Stingray RPO L78 396/425 Owned by: Rick Barrack, Short Hills NJ You’ve heard the Rumors…The legend began on the high banks of Daytona in February 1963. A handful of Chevrolets arrive for the “500” with something mysterious under the hood. The mystery motors internally known as the Mark II, would be secret 427 cubic inch V-8’s, quietly developed by Chief Corvette Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov to tear up the Daytona banks. These “mystery motors”, built in ’63, would ultimately set the stage for the factory production “Big Block” Corvette, first offered to the public in 1965. Complying with a manufacturer’s agreement of banning engines producing over 400 cubic inches, Chevrolet introduced the Mark IV 396 CID 425 HP in the middle of 1965. One year only, with limited production, the 396 is the rarest of the 65-67 production big blocks with only 2,157 built of a total 23,564 corvettes in 1965. A descendant of the 427 Daytona “mystery motor”, the 396 was the first, setting the foundation for the 1966 and 1967 Corvette big blocks as well as the framework for the development of the legendary L-88, developed in 1966 and offered in 1967, 1968 and 1969. This unrestored, well preserved, 396 coupe with its original motor, transmission and 4:11 posi-traction axle is on display for public view for the first time in its documented history. This 396 has had single longtime ownership, just shy of 50 years before being acquired by its current owner 7 years ago to the day, on Sept 12, 2013. Stored and preserved since purchasing with 51,398 original documented miles, it features factory original paint, an unrestored interior, an unrestored chassis and a host of unrestored original details with preserved factory finishes. Well optioned, 194375S116705 was initially delivered on May 4, 1965 to Burt Chevrolet in Englewood CO, when the then 24 year old 50 year long owner purchased the car at a police impound in Arizona. The Big Block Corvettes Started Here!
1965 Corvette Stingray RPO L78 396/425 Owned by: Paul & Carla Sedacca, Cherry Hill NJ Our 1965 Corvette 396/425 was purchased from Corvette Mike at his Bloomington Gold sales display in June 1992, where he advertised it as the “RAREST 396 KNOWN TO MAN!” due to the many options, the low miles and its celebrity ownership status – Peter Fonda. The restoration began in October, 1992, with Paul and Sue Molava at The Restoration Shop, with great assist from Ron Goduti and was completed in May, 1993. The car was campaigned at various events with awards including: Bloomington Gold Certification, multiple NCRS Top Flight awards, Chevy Vettefest Gold Spinner & Triple Crown, a 1995 Special Collection invitation, the NCRS Gallery Display - Corvettes at Carlisle in August 2015, and the Concours d’ Elegance Best Muscle Car Award at the Simeone Museum in June of 2019. Thanks to a telephone conversation with Corvette Mike, Peter Weller [Robo Cop] and the talent agent for Mr. Weller and Peter Fonda in the spring of 1993, complete photo documentation of the restoration was sent to Mr. Fonda. This led to three hour telephone conversation with Mr. Fonda in July of 1993, where he revealed the previously unknown race history, the 2.08 rear axle ratio, as well as how he got the idea for “EASY RIDER”. In the fall of 1995, I received call from Al Grenning informing me of the previously unknown M22 transmission in the car, and the fact he had been “following” the car at events, especially at the Bloomington Gold Special Collection display in June, 1995.
1966 Corvette Stingray Development L88 427/425 Owned by: Scott Freese, Omaha NE In 2010 at the Bloomington Gold Show I uncovered the story of the “Four Kings” Corvettes, in a conversation with Dick Guldstrand. This car is one of the Four Kings, specially built for Pedro Rodriguez in collaboration with Zora Arkus-Duntov and the North American Race Team (NART) principal, Luigi Chinetti. Mr. Guldstrand indicated the “Four Kings’” were “purpose built to do one thing…TO WIN RACES”! Zora and Luigi had been friends for many years and, with uncertainty surrounding Ferrari after the 1966 Daytona race, Zora saw his opportunity for “Field Test” work to be done on the PPN 3904392 Aluminum Cylinder Heads for the upcoming RPO L-88/L-89 packages. In addition to that and other special “Pilot Line” equipment, production included many heavy-duty race features. Numerous structural changes, for weight savings and strengthening, were performed at the Chevrolet Engineering Center. The car was then shipped to New York to “hitch a ride” on the NART Ferrari transport headed for Sebring. Unknown behind the scenes activity surrounding Ferrari and NART resulted in Pedro Rodriguez and Mario Andretti racing the same Ferrari 365 P2 they raced at Daytona. After Sebring, and with no ability to buy the car back, Zora Duntov reached out to Don Yenko to place the car with a deserving racer … enter Harold Whims. Harold, Don Yenko and Dave Morgan raced a different 1966 Corvette Coupe Harold owned in the 1966 Sebring race, which had been destroyed shortly after during tire testing at VIR. With complete sponsorship from Union 76, Harold raced this car extensively until 1970, mainly at tracks in the East and Southeast. Original photos from Harold assisted in the restoration. A race car its entire existence, it has numerous victories and has been a multi-year record holder at the Chimney Rock Hillclimb, while piloted by John “Sam” Henderson. Thousands of hours of research are invested in this car and I have the complete set of original Race Log Books. Tracks raced include SCCA/FIA qualified races at Virginia International Raceway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Super Speedway, Road Atlanta, Marlboro, Cumberland and Summit Point. Additional information can be found at my website; Fourkingscorvette.com. I have displayed the car at the 2014 Carlisle Corvette Race Car Reunion, 2014 MCACN Show in the Corvette Race Car Display, 2016 Bloomington Gold Show Gold Collection display, 2016 Bloomington Gold Show (Charlotte) Gold Collection display, 2016 MCACN Show in the Corvette Legends display and the 2020 25th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, winning The Grand Sport Trophy.
1966 Corvette Stingray Development L88 - Roger Penske Racer Owned by: Kevin Mackay, Valley Stream NY Zora Arkus-Duntov phoned Roger Penske in October 1965 to offer a secret new racing version of the newly introduced HD 427 L88 engine and the competition race package which included J-56 brakes, 36 gallon fuel tank, F-41 suspension, prototype 2:73 posi-traction rear axle, transistor ignition, M-22 transmission, off road exhaust, radio and heater delete, teakwood steering wheel, telescopic steering column and a special prototype cowl induction hood. Penske wanted the racer prepared for the 24 hour Endurance Race at Daytona and based on Duntov’s recommendation, he hired Dick Guldstrand to assemble a team for the Daytona race. Guldstrand picked up the car at the St. Louis assembly plant. Penske’s Newtown Square Garage then prepared the car for the Daytona Race. In practice with its original engine it was one of the quickest ever recorded at Daytona. Chevrolet sent a second engine to Traco to be prepared, and just before the race, the fresh 540 hp motor was installed in the car. Penske assembled the experienced team of Dick Guldstrand, Ben Moore and George Wintersteen for the race. The L88 finished 1st. in the GT Class and placed 11th overall in the race. The car was raced at Daytona in its original factory red paint, after which, at the request of its sponsor it was painted Sunoco blue for the next race at Sebring. With its fresh blue paint job, the car was raced at the 12 Hours of Sebring where it finished 1st in class, and 9th overall, tying the record as the highest finish ever for a Corvette. The Penske Racer is nationally recognized as one of the most important Corvettes ever manufactured. This car represents one of the first L88 Corvettes and the only “mid-year” to win first in class consecutively at Daytona and Sebring. Corvette Repair, Inc. Valley Stream, NY, completed the restoration.
1966 Corvette Stingray RPO L72 427/425 Owned by: Roger Judski, Maitland FL Roger Judski has owned this very special Corvette since 1984. Roger sent it to Houston, Texas where it received a full body off restoration to NCRS Standards by his long time friends, Ken & Gary Naber - the Naber Brothers. Finished in Nassau Blue by Burke Corvettes, it’s extremely rare as it’s one of only 66 Corvette Sport Coupes Produced in 1966 with the N03 option, a 36 gallon fuel tank. The 427/425 horsepower engine combined with the 36 gallon fuel tank took full advantage of all the performance options offered in 1966. The additional convenience option of power windows and the appearance option of factory cast aluminum knock-off wheels make this car a very special Corvette. The 1966 427/425 is the final piece to Roger’s Collection of Big Blocks, what he refers to as “The Dream Team”, on display year ‘round at Roger’s Corvette Center in Orlando, Florida, for everyone to see and enjoy.
1967 Corvette Stingray L88 Daytona Racer Owned by: Dana & Patti Mecum, Lake Geneva WI Against All Odds is the book documenting the unbelievable stories behind the rock chips and duct tape on this combat veteran. Oil drips. Stickers and numbers plastered here and there. Not cosmetically restored, it portrays the way Cliff Gottlob and Jack Blatchford finished the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1970. Gottlob and Dave Dooley co-drove. Blatchford, John Wanko, and the twin Gottlob sisters crewed. Luck shifted from miracles to disasters and back again. Highlights included no time to practice due to transmission trouble. Driving 186 mph and being passed by Pedro Rodriguez’s Porsche 917. Spinning out once. Passing Mario Andretti’s red 512 Ferrari #28 and watching him fade away in the mirror (probably due to tire wear slowing the big Ferrari.) Breaking an oil line in the 23rd hour and showing no oil on the dipstick. Due to track rules unable to add more. Gottlob gambled the L-88 would hold together for another hour. It did. The farm kid with five engineering degrees ended this adventure with a miracle – finishing second behind winner, Jerry Thompson but ahead of third place, Tony DeLorenzo. The next day, the L-88 racer roared back to Kansas still wearing its race stickers and door numbers.
1967 Corvette Stingray L88 Tony Delorenzo Racer Owned by: Dana & Patti Mecum, Lake Geneva WI This car is one of only twenty 1967 Corvettes equipped with the rare L88 option package, featuring the Heavy Duty 427 CID V8, rated at 430 HP, however, dyno tests showed nearly 600 HP. This particular car is the first production RPO L88 built and the only black convertible. This is the car that Tony DeLorenzo made famous, and the car that made Tony DeLorenzo famous. Tony obtained sponsorship for the 1967 season from Hanley Dawson Chevrolet, Detroit, MI. He raced a 1967 A Production (AP) L88 Corvette convertible in the Central Division SCCA National races. He won the car’s first race at Wilmot Hills, WI, and qualified for the SCCA runoffs at Daytona that year. Tony finished second in AP at the Daytona ARRC to Dick Smith’s 427 Cobra. As the first 1967 RPO L88 built and the first L88 to win a race, this is certainly a special L88. There can only be one first! Awards include: 1984 Bloomington Gold Certification; 1985 & 1992 Bloomington Gold Special Collection invitations; 1984 & 1985 NCRS Top Flight, and 1985 NCRS Performance Verification; 2011 Induction into The Great Hall; The American Heritage Award earned at the 2013 NCRS National Convention, Hampton VA.
1967 Corvette Stingray RPO L71 427/435 Owned by: Keith & Lindsey Burmeister, Maumee OH This is an unrestored Bloomington Gold Benchmark 1967, 427/435 HP 4-speed, triple black, no-hit convertible with factory options including: auxiliary hard top, telescopic steering, tinted windshield and windows, 4:11 posi-traction rear axle, front and rear heavy-duty suspension, off-road exhaust, transistor ignition, and AM/FM radio. This is one of two black 435 HP convertibles that have achieved the Benchmark award. The car was last publicly displayed at the Bloomington Gold 2009 Special Collection Grand Finale. On November 4, 1966, Bob Olderog arrived at Eriksen Chevrolet in Milan, Illinois and ordered this incredible car. He requested that the stripe be omitted at production; however, the factory refused the omission. Olderog held the car until 1969, when he sold it to his good friend, Dan Hummel. Hummel kept the car until 1973, and two other owners subsequently owned the car. Next, David Kolovat purchased the car in 1974 with only 15,600 miles. Kolovat sold the car to his younger brother, Tom, in 1987. Tom pampered the car until Chris Piscitello purchased the car in 2002 and owned it for over 15 years. Keith and Lindsey Burmeister of Maumee, Ohio, own this special car, which has 23,850 miles and is driven on special occasions.
1968 Corvette L88 Sunray DX Racer Owned by: Irwin Kroiz, Ambler PA The owner of this Corvette was Sunray DX a Southwest regional oil company. This Corvette was car #3 and was a factory L88 that was ordered thru Yenko Chevrolet. Don Yenko worked with Sunray DX and prepared the Corvette for racing. The car was produced in February 1968 just a few weeks before the Sebring Grand Prix of Endurance. After preparation at Yenko’s dealership, the #3 Corvette was headed for the race in Florida. The first time out, the #3 Sunray DX Corvette driven by Dave Morgan and Hap Sharp won the Grand Touring class and placed sixth overall at the historic Sebring International Race. The Corvette traveled 1,081.6 miles and finished higher overall than any Corvette that raced at Sebring at that time. After Sebring, the #3 Corvette was one of a two car team scheduled to race for Sunray DX at the famous course at LeMans France. Due to unrest and rioting in France the event, which was to take place in June of 1968, was canceled. After the 1968 Sebring race, the #3 went on to become the leading “A” production car in the Sports Car Club of America’s Midwest Division. The car is documented with complete owner history.
1969 Corvette Stingray L88 427/430 Owned by: Frank Stech Jr., Pitman NJ This documented L88 is entirely original and has only 13,700 miles. In addition to the required L88 options, the car has a 4:11 posi-traction rear axle, M22 4-speed transmission, tinted glass, side exhaust and tilt/ telescopic steering column. The car was originally purchased for its 16 year old owner as a birthday present by his father. He kept the car for 18 months accumulating 10,000 miles and was then traded back to the dealer. It was quickly purchased by an accountant, for his wife to fulfill her dream of owning a red Corvette. They had no idea what they had bought! It really couldn’t be used for the street and overheated all the time. They kept it for 8 years and put on only 3,200 miles. Since 1978 the car has only been owned by Corvette collectors and has virtually no miles added. I am the car’s 6th owner and it has been a pleasure to own this L88 over the past 24 years! Because of its low mileage the car drives and handles like a virtually “new” car. This red/red L88 has been featured in the Bloomington Gold Special Collection in 1989, 1998 and 2008. The car was also featured in the L88 EXPLOSION Gold Collection in 2018 and was inducted into the Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame in 2001.
1971 Corvette Stingray RPO LS5 454/365 Owned by: Kevin & Shari Goodman, New Hope PA This Corvette is a five owner car. Its first owner was forced to sell it in less than one year, due to a new baby. At which time the second owner began its show circuit when it was only two years old. They trailered to and from shows and keep every original piece of paper, including a copy of the check they used to paid for it! Changing hands two more times, again being used mainly taking to shows with the occasional drive. During its forth owner, the car began its judging history through both Bloomington Gold, the National Corvette Restorers Society and other venues. To date, this vehicle has earned the highest and most prestigious awards in the country, and can claim to be one of the top ten most original 1971 Big Block Corvettes on the planet!
1972 Corvette Stingray RPO LT1 350/350 Owned by: Dana & Patti Mecum, Geneva Lake WI This highly awarded 1972 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 Convertible is one of fewer than 200 Corvettes of any vintage to receive Bloomington Gold Benchmark Certification, America’s most prestigious Corvette award. It is also one of the most thoroughly documented LT1 Corvettes, its factory documentation including the original window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, new vehicle inspection sheet, Corvette order, car shipper, dealer invoice, original temp tag and an original copy of the GMAC floor plan promissory note issued to the original selling dealer. The first owner, Donald Hill of El Paso, Texas, worked for the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. After several issues with the carburetor, Mr. Hill eventually wrote a letter addressed to GM President Ed Cole and chief GM executives about his displeasure with Chevrolet’s customer service and owners’-relations branch. Chevrolet’s lax customer service eventually “made a Ford man out of him,” and Mr. Hill went out and purchased a 1973 Mustang. In the meantime, he parked the LT1 Corvette and it had only accumulated 17,000 miles when he sold it in 1989. Through the subsequent ownership of Dennis McCormick, Richard Colton and Scott Zerka, the car earned multiple awards and Bloomington Gold certifications in the 1990s. It has been owned by the Mecum family since 2007, when it was awarded Gold, Survivor and Benchmark certification. A true driver’s Corvette delivered from the factory without power assists for steering or brakes, the car retains its original and rare Sunflower Yellow paint, matching yellow hardtop and black interior. The high-winding 350 CI LT1 engine and Muncie 4-speed at the core of this car’s tremendous collector value are reference-grade, matching-numbers and date-code correct. This amazing, well-documented Survivor LT1 convertible with 21,858 original miles is a cornerstone even for the most critical collector.
Meet Special Guest Jerry Burton at the Gold Collection Jerry Burton is an automotive historian who has authored Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Legend Behind Corvette, Corvette: America’s Sports Car and 100 Years of Chevrolet (co-authored with Ralph Kramer). Burton is also known in the Corvette world for his 20-year history as editor and publisher of Corvette Quarterly magazine and is the former editor of Hagerty Magazine. He has also written many performance-oriented ads for Corvette and Chevrolet. It was in this capacity that he authored the Heartbeat of America theme line for Chevrolet in the mid 1980s. He was inducted into the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame in 2014.