1962 Purple Corvette

[GL Anderson]

Some of you have heard me mention the 1962 Shrine Corvettes that were a purple color with red interiors. I found a pic of one at the Corvette Museum and thought I would post it. The lighting makes the color appear more silver than the actual color which is a Cadillac color. Each year we would have a meeting with Joe Pike to have the Director pick the color for the coming year. The Director that year was a guy by the name of Quay Fitch. He owned a funeral home and thought this color combo would look nice. I remember the faces on the Corvette Patrol members as they saw them for the first time. They thought the cars looked like some of Quays caskets. I took the best looking girl in high school to the prom in my dads Shrine 62. She wore a red dress that matched the interior. Nothing matched the exterior! When the year was over we painted a number of the cars red to resell them. I think 5 went to California, so if you look at a red 62 check to see if it is kinda purple under the red. Happy Holidays to all. GL Anderson

[Loren L.]

How many do you know about today? *NM*

[GL Anderson]

Re: How many do you know about today?

Loren: I have been contacted by 3 people about these cars. The first was sanding down his red 62 and came upon the original color thinking "What moron would paint a Corvette purple" until he got to the factory primer under that. He called John Amgwert who told him part of the story and gave him my number. That was the car that showed up in I think Bend Ore some years ago. The next guy called and said he had a red 62 with Cadillac color under and gave me the serial number that was 2 off of the first car. I don't know the out come of that car. The 3d called about 5 years ago but didn't' have the serial number and was somewhat vague as to his story. I couldn't really tell him anything without more info. I am sure there are more out there but most people would think the Cadillac color if found was some sorta wild 60's hot rod paint job and not that it was original to the car.

[mike cobine]

Re: How many do you know about today?

"What moron would paint a Corvette purple"

I have seen a lot of purple Corvettes. I remember one junkyard that had two purple metalflake midyear convertibles. Of course, the fact that they were wrecked and in a junkyard probably speaks volumes about them being purple.

[Roy B.]

Re: How many do you know about today?

Many years ago in Ben Oregon I think it was the first time NCRS guys saw one,the owner had trouble convincing people it came that color.

[Mike E.]

Re: How many do you know about today?

Chuck Swafford was his name. He may have had trouble convincing some people, but John Amgwert and I had verified the car long before he restored it and showed it at Bend, so anyone paying attention would NOT have had trouble being convinced!

[GL Anderson]

Re: How many do you know about today?

Mike I think that is the name IIRC. Also all these cars were automatics. My brother and I gave my dad a set of the finned aluminum valve covers for Christmas 1961 to add to his car.