Beschreibung:

One of the delightful aspects of buying American during the Sixties and Seventies was the simply amazing choice of options that were available. Some of them, like the engine choices, were sublime. Others were somewhat more obscure, but the overall effect was that just about any buyer could configure just about any American car with a nearly completely unique set of specifications and equipment. It must be said in retrospect that negotiating the relationships among various options was like walking through a minefield. You could have this with that, but not the other and something else was required. It was a time when computers still inhaled stacks of punchcards. Coordinating the complex options list with the exigencies of running the assembly line was far more difficult than it is today. The freedom to choose from vast options lists has resulted in some very unusual, and sometimes unique, combinations, especially among relatively low production models like Corvette. The 1967 Corvette offered here is a shining example. It was ordered by Washburn Chevrolet in Santa Barbara, California with the combination of the 427/400hp L68 engine and Powerglide automatic transmission, an unusual combination to say the least. Big Block Corvettes in 1967 are almost never seen with Powerglide. Chevrolet built only 2,324 Corvettes with Powerglide in the whole 1967 model run of 22,940 cars. No one knows how many Big Block Powerglide Corvettes were built, much less with the high performance 400hp L68, but it has to be a number that is almost infinitesimally small. The reason behind this Corvette’s configuration becomes clear from the dealership’s copy of the Car Shipper and on the New Vehicle Inspection and Adjustment Schedule. Both documents have handwritten notes saying “Mrs. Washburn Demo”. The car’s very comprehensive equipment list includes 4 Season Air Conditioning, transistor ignition, 3.08:1 Positraction axle, AM-FM radio, tinted glass, power windows, power steering, power brakes, air injection smog control, telescopic steering wheel and the speed warning accessory. Upon arriving at the dealership it was further equipped with a set of Michelin tires. Painted Sunfire Yellow (1967’s fifth most popular color) with White interior and Black vinyl trim, it is a handsome and highly unusual Corvette, as attractive to the eye as its lengthy options list is to Corvette collectors. It was restored in the early 90s and is the most successfully judged of all the outstanding Corvettes in this collection, winning its first NCRS Top Flight awards in May and August 1991, then again being judged NCRS Top Flight at the 1999 National Convention and Southern Regional. It completed its Performance Verification at Zion, Utah and put it all together for the Duntov Award at the National Convention that year. The owners at the time, Bob and Nancy Unger, went all the way back through the chain of ownership to locate and get a statement from each of the prior owners. In some cases they even sent along copies of registrations, purchase agreements and other documents they still had in their files. It has been superbly maintained since and remains in exceptional condition today. It is nearly show ready, demonstrating the quality of its restoration by the way it is holding up. It is thoroughly documented and has an outstanding selection of options including the Big Block L68 V-8, factory air conditioning and high speed 3.08:1 Positraction rear axle ratio for relaxed driving on the highway. The Powerglide automatic is a matter of personal preference, but for any Corvette Collector who finds the heavy clutch of a Big Block four-speed to be a challenge it is a shining opportunity. It also is one of the rarest of all Mid-Year Corvettes, a combination of options that is probably unique. Without reserve