1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray GPV-57 custom executive car
- Engine
- 5.4L (327 cu. in.) OHV V8, four-barrel carburetor, 365 bhp
- Colour
- Du Pont FireFrost Blue (a vivid medium blue)
A one-off 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray built by GM Styling for Chevrolet general manager Semon 'Bunkie' Knudsen, registered internally as GPV-57, this car features a bespoke front end previewing the 1965 production hood and 1967 grille, Du Pont FireFrost Blue coachwork over specially prepared bodywork, and a hand-crafted interior with teak-trimmed steering wheel and white leather seats. Knudsen drove the car daily before passing it on; it was later rescued and restored by a Tennessee collector, and has since been documented in numerous publications.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$700,000 – US$1,000,000
- 1964 → 1964Factory deliverySemon 'Bunkie' Knudsenpartial documentation
Knudsen used the car as daily transportation between his suburban home and Chevrolet offices for several months before moving on to another vehicle.
- 1964 → 1965Private saleGM Engineering Department employee (Mr. Gailey)partial documentation
Vehicle was sold by the Engineering Department to this employee, who subsequently sold it on in 1965.
- 1965 →Private saleFirst anonymous post-Gailey ownernone documentation
One of two successive owners who used the car as ordinary daily transport over a roughly 22-year span following the Gailey sale.
- → 1988Private saleSecond anonymous post-Gailey ownernone documentation
Second of two back-to-back unidentified owners during the roughly 22-year period of routine use after Gailey.
- 1988 → 2006Private saleDr. W. Vance Shappleyfull documentation
Tennessee-based Corvette collector who restored the car to its original specification, including recreating the heavily damaged grille and side exhausts; retained it in his personal collection until the 2006 sale.
Competition
- 19931993 Bloomington Gold Motorama Gold Collectionincluded in special Motorama Gold Collection display
Car was selected for a dedicated Motorama Gold Collection feature at the Bloomington Gold event while in Dr. Shappley's ownership.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1988Restoration
Full restoration to original specification undertaken after the car was acquired by Dr. Shappley; this included fabrication of replacement cast grille and side exhaust components that had been severely damaged during prior ownership.
Restoration commissioned by Dr. W. Vance Shappley following acquisition of the car in 1988.
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