I purchased some old Hot Rod magazines at a swap meet this weekend. In a Hot Rod,1965 issue ad "Sell-'55 Vette Chevy research experimental prototype. Built and owned by Arkus Duntov. Collector's item. Completely restored. $3,500 invest. Best offer" So I try to locate the owner through the electronic phone pages; and bingo, I make the contact. The owner lived in Grosse Pointe at the time and pestered Zora for 2 years to sell the Corvette. The 55 was purchased in about 1962. He said that when he received the car it was silver, and the side spears were taken off. The car had gone 165 mph. in Arizona He had seen pictures with Zora in the car and a fin was behind his head. He tried to sell the car locally in 1965 and couldn't get $2,000 for it (He even tried through the Jack Douglas dealership). It eventually sold; and the last time he saw it-it was painted yellow, with turquoise carpeting. The car may have gone to Washington.
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Re: Zora's 55 Corvette
Interesting - any chance that owner remembers the serial number? -
Re: Zora's 55 Corvette
Is this the same yellow car that was offered for sale at Bloomington by Zora's wife.
JoeComment
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Re: Zora's 55 Corvette
Sounds like the same one I saw at the car lot in Tarpon Springs, Fla. two years ago. Advertised as the first V-8 proto car and had belonged to Mrs. Duntov.Comment
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Re: Zora's 55 Corvette
If anyone can remember what year the Elfie Duntov yellow car was for sale at Bloomington..there will probably be a picture to be found in Vette Vues covering the auction. I seem to remember the auction stalled out at $90,000 and no sale..but I could be wrong.
I probably took a picture of it at Bloomington and have it somewhere.
JoeComment
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The car is pictured on the cover of
The Corvette Restorer, vol 2 #3, captioned as a 1956-Assembled Corvette. It is NOT the Desert Proving Ground "speed" car. That was Engineering #5951, the body of which was removed when it returned to Michigan and was placed - MINUS the fin - on 55 #1399 which was one of two cars donated to NASCAR at Daytona in 1956 to participate in their short-lived Sports Car racing program.
At some time in the late 80's(?) I believe the car appeared at one of the January auctions in Scottsdale. Can't remember the results.Comment
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