It's jacked-up for a reason!
It may have the familiar 327 cu. in. V8 engine and four-speed transmission from any 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. But this one has one very distinct feature unlike any other: it sits on top of a demonstration stand. The reason was for GM marketing purposes to show off the then new C2 Corvette on the auto show circuit, such as Motorama. However, this Corvette actually began life as a road-ready, early production example painted Le Mans Blue with a white interior.
After it rolled off the assembly line, GM shipped it off to a specialty company that built attention-grabbing exhibits for commercial and industrial shows. Basically, the body was mounted on elevating rams that raised the exterior almost two feet off of the chassis, thus leaving the internal running gear fully exposed. Then the exterior of the engine, transmission, driveshaft and other mechanical bits were finished in bright red. Even the muffler’s exhaust chambers, section of the chassis, and the right front disc brake were exposed. After it was retired from the show circuit in 1965, this display Vette disappeared.
Seriously, no one knew where it was until the mid-1990s when it was discovered, of all places, in South Africa. It was then shipped back to the US, sold to a couple of collectors, and eventually restored. It’s now heading to auction where it’s expected to fetch between $1,000,000 and $1,400,000. Photos courtesy of RM Auctions.
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