Fame 2007

[Rob M.]

Please find a photo collection via http://www.ncrs.nl/index.php?job=act...2&nlanguage=UK of the annual Fame event in Valkenburg held last weekend!

regards,
Rob.

[Gary Bishop]

Great Event, Congratulations *NM*

[Steven B.]

Re: Fame 2007

Rob:

Always enjoy your postings and pictures of great cars in a distant land--which got me thinking how and when so many great old and newer vettes made their way to NL? Are there dealerships there, all imports? Seems to be a larger than usual number of great cars for one country and just find the interest great. I'm sure there aren't that many in France or GB or Italy? Or does Europe have more than I think? Looking forward to your response.
steve

[Jack H.]

Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and....

South America have more than you think. The lion's share were NOT factory original exports. They've 'wandered' into country as the personal property of GI's stationed abroad and/or been purchased and imported by locals. The love of the marque extends beyond our shores and often it's a matter of economics.

In many places, land is HIGHLY valuable so the notion of cars in a scrap yard rusting in peace until a champion comes to buy/restore one simply doesn't exist. Plus, individual nations tax vehicles (what we refer to as personal property taxes) such that when a car loses its owner/defender, it's a quick one way street to the scrap steel path.

Hence, post WW2 muscle cars of local origin are reasonably expensive. Example:

When I first visited England in 1998 to help the UK Chapter with its start up, one of the larger Jaguar dealers (Jag U Waar, not our pronunciation: Jag Waar) was across the street from the UK Chapter Chairman's office. I wandered over to visit and saw a 1965 XKE sitting.

It was relatively rust free, but missing the LF wing (fender), had NO engine or power train, and the interior was completely gutted. Basically, the car was a skeleton. I inquired as to price and the salesman described the car as a 'beautiful' restoration candidate that could be mine for only £40K. At $2 per pound sterling, he was asking $80K for the sucka!!!!

How much Corvette can you buy Stateside for that money? Get the picture...

[Rob M.]

Re: Fame 2007

Jack is absolutely right in stating that a lot of cars initially were imported by GI's which had their camps in W-Europe. This enabled us, locals to get familiar with the US brand of cars and some where so intrigued that they decided to either buy one of these cars or import one directly from the States.

Also, one way or the other, it seems that in some countries in Europe there is a higher interest in oldtimers (cars which are 30 year+). The Netherlands is certainly one of these countries. In the summer weekend a lot of these cars can be found on the Dutch roads, cruising to an event or just going out for a drive (with picknick).

Also the Scandanavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland & Denmark) seem to have a lot of beautiful restored old cars. The number of Corvette's over there are staggering.

Germany seems to house a lot recent cars and a lot of Germans like dressing up their cars although there are lot of nicely restored examples there as well...

I now of some nice cars in Austria and Swiss as well but I haven't heard much about Corvette's in Southern or Eastern Europe...

with kind regards,
Rob.

[Roberto L.]

Re: Fame 2007

Hello, in Argentina there several vettes, more than a hundred, may be two hundred. Most cars are sharks but you could find every single generation sample. Usually they are what you would call drivers or good drivers. A few BBs, even a 54 with political history and my car of course .
Recently some driver sharks changed hands in the 30K to 40K U$S range... They are really scarce here.

Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC




Asociación Argentina del Corvette

[Steven B.]

I had no idea...

of the amount of cars all over Europe and Argentina. I think many of us (or at least me) never thought about or knew the true numbers of Corvette enthusiasts out of the US. It's been drilled into our heads that this is "America's Sports Car" that I never knew the extent to which this international interest was there. Love the fact that those outside the US enjoy it as much as we do. Also, with so few of the c-1's made and still fewer still surviving, I just didn't think the numbers would be there for a large international interest, but as you say, WWII vets helped the import of them, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Thanks for the great education!

steve

[Joep F.]

Re: Fame 2007

I am staying quite regular in Moscow for my work. Its amazing, but even here I see from time to time apart from the new sold C6's also C2's. Ran last weekend in a 65 Convertible and some weeks ago in a 63 Convertible (see pic). Both of them in very nice shape. Prices here for a restored C1 are here advertised for around 150.000 USD. The C2 on the picture should cost 126000 USD and prices raise to 350.000 USD for a 67BB. An early C3 does around 100.000 USD. Pretty stiff prices, must have to do something with Russia's soaring economy, so my guess is that their owners are utterly rich and their Corvette is a way to express that.

Here a link to one of their dealers site, its in English too! Pictures though are clearly not taken in Russia!

Joep

http://www.old-time.ru/scripts/cars.php?lang=eng&type=1&man=77

[Michael W.]

Re: Fame 2007

In addition to Joep, I can give my bit of info from Central Europe and Turkey since I am living there for over 7 years now. In countries like Hungary, The Czech Republic and Poland Corvette Clubs are existing and I joined meetings in Hungary a couple of times. C4 and 5 are respresented in the numbers, but some C1 and 2 are there for sure!

Also in Turkey the volume of US classic and new cars is amazing. I drive every day on the Istanbul High ways and new Navigators, Escalade's, C6es are passing by. Classic side everything is represented, from 50s caddy's, bel airs, Cord, vettes, etc.

Hereby two links of Vettes I spotted:

Hungary: http://www.c2registry.org/index.php?...day=2007-07-17

Turkey: http://www.c2registry.org/index.php?...day=2007-07-17

Mike

[Sander B.]

Re: I had no idea...

hello Steve just to give you an idea

over here in the netherlands we keep a list of c1´s
with 120+ cars
that are seen on meetings and events over the country
i am sure there are more of them over here

there is also a sting-ray register with 140+ cars of the 63-67 era

and not to mention the c3 and up models the numbers are much higher

greetings Sander,