"Astrovettes"

[Ron B.]

Here's one for the C3 guys. I found this going through old issues of Life Magazine. I don't remember seeing this before and I thought you would like to see some history. These guys are the astronauts of the Apollo 12 moon mission(before space shuttles, for the youngsters); Pete Conrad, Alan Bean and Richard Gordon. This picture from a December, 1969 issue, shows the identical gold Corvettes they purchased in Florida. Even astronauts knew Corvettes were rockets!!!

[Chuck R.]

Re: Your the best Roy, keep em coming *NM*

[Ron B.]

Re: Your the best Roy, keep em coming

Sorry, it's not Roy this time ( with respect!)! Ron

[Joseph T.]

Re: "Astrovettes"

Ron

I remember talking to a guy in Houston that owned and wrecked one of the cars pictured.

Thanks for sharing.

Joe

[Chuck R.]

Re: Roy, Ron, what's in a name............

Sorry there Bud,

The ole mental short circuits seem to be happening a little more frequently these days

Of course I DID snort quite a shot of laquer thinner this weekend too....... Yeah I'll blame that instead!

Chuckster

[Tim G.]

Re: Roy, Ron, what's in a name............

One of the cars in the photograph is here in Austin, it's the Alan Bean 390/427 four speed car. It was purchased in a sealed bid auction by the current owner in 1970. It has been shown many times and has been on display in Houston at NASA. The other two cars are missing from what I understand.
The story about how the cars were prepared for each owner is very interesting.

[Terry F.]

Re: "Astrovettes"

Those are all 68 or early 69 corvettes. Terry

[ed styczynski]

Re: "Astrovettes"

Iwas parked close to the one from Texas at the 2003 National. Did get to talk to the owner quite alot during the show. Very interesting - he was the second highest bid on the car, when the people running the auction called the high bid he lacked the money to meet the bid, guess who got the next call. I think I remember him telling me his bid was less them 4 grand at the time. The owner has alot of neat photos,etc. that came with the car. Two tone paint job was a real hoot at a NCRS Show.

[Roy B.]

Re: "Astrovettes"

I worked with the Apollo Astronauts in Burbank Ca. I was one of the few that built the seats they sat in , later when we were done we had a dinner with them my wife even dance with Alan Bean, I was making $5.35 an hour back then BIG MONEY back then! Ha!
PS; this ROY dint put up the pic.

[David Dawdy]

Re: "Astrovettes"

At the end of 1968, fresh out of the service over Christmas and New Years, I visited my Father in Indialantic, FL and visited Rathman Chev. There was several astronaut cars there at the time, perhaps these were included. But, on the showroom floor was a plain looking olive drab Camaro, except that it sat a little different and had a big, big price tag! The price was about half motor as I recall, big block, were there L-88 Camaro's?

[Verle R.]

Re: "Astrovettes"

There were COPO Camaros with special engines including ZL1.

You should have bought it.

Verle

[John H.]

Re: "Astrovettes"

David -

That was probably a ZL-1 Camaro - the engine option was more than the base price of the V-8 sport coupe; $2800 car, $3500 engine option. 69 were built.

[David Dawdy]

Re: "Astrovettes"

Now you tell me! I'm afraid my E-4 status didn't include that sort of luxury.