Dale Pearman's Lemans 62

[Tracy C.]

A recent post below mentioned that Dale Pearman's Lemans 62 recently sold at the Gooding auction for $489K. This car was at Park City last year and Ken Hansen was gracious enough to show me car in detail one evening after the crowds had subsided.

Earlier in the day I just happened to jaw jacking with John Kennedy near his 5 star 67 (located about 3 cars away) just about the time Roy, Gilbert and Carlton walked up to view the documentation for this car.

I was pretty impressed with the whole thing and had taken the wife back for a closer look that evening when Ken caught me drooling on the car. The ol' girl sounded very pretty. I'm sure Dale would have been proud.

I didn't think to ask Ken, but other than Lemans in 62, how much racing history did this car have?

tc

[Rex T.]

Re: Dale Pearman's Lemans 62

Beautiful car!!!!!!!! Wonderful guy!!!!!! I sold him some parts for the car several years ago, nothing unusual just some nice standard 62 stuff. From the photo, it appears that the car doesn't have its roll bar. Is it missing or just the angle of the photo? Just curious.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Dale Pearman's Lemans 62

Rex,

I don't recall a roll bar installed. Doesn't show up in this pic either.

tc

[Dave F.]

Re: Dale Pearman's Lemans 62

Great picture. Since we're talking about it, here is the complete description from SCM. I know I'm likely infringing on copyright by posting this here, but I'm hoping that Sports Car Market will accept that I'm just trying to shed some light on this Corvette, along with giving SCM a plug. Did I say it was a great magazine?

"Another notable record came in the form of a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette racer, complete with it's own Le Mans history. When the gavel fell, it changed hands for $489,500."

"Ordered from the factory with hard top, radio delete, posi and RPO 687 performance option-big brakes and steering. Raced at Le Mans in 1962 by Tony Settember and Jack Turner Quick fill gas filler routed through rear window. Panel fit is better than new. The entire car looks new, but not too new."

"Sold on the phone, though the underbidder was a woman in the tent. Before the auction, I couldn't stop talking about the condition of this car to anyone who would listen. There was no pre-auction estimate, so we had no idea if the hammer price would be enough to sell it. Great money for a nice racer with fully stocked past." Report by Dave Olimpi for SCM.

-Dave

[Mike E.]

Re: Dale Pearman's Lemans 62

Its recing history was pretty much that--taken by a privateer to LeMans, did nothing terribly remarkable there--was brought back to the states and not raced anywhere significant. That's why it sold, when the other 62 car (#4)--Delmo Johnson, Rich Mason, etc., was a no-sale at $950k. # 4 had much more history, success, etc.

[Dennis C.]

Was also my understanding... Went to France...

...did half the race, transmission broke, and that was the end of it...