Astronaut's Corvettes

[Neal K.]

I recently learned from the NCRS Shipping Data Report that my 1967 L-79, which has a production date of September 6, 1966, was delivered to Jim Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne, Florida which is near the Kennedy Space Center. The Rathman dealership was sold a couple of years ago and the new owners say they don't have any old records regarding who may have been the original purchaser. One of my friends told me that he had heard that Jim Rathman had made a deal with Ed Cole to deliver new corvettes each year to the astronauts. I have done some checking on the internet and it seems that the story is mostly true. Instead of owning the corvettes it seems that they were leased to the astronauts wives for $1.00 for one year and then turned in. I bought the car in 1969. I know the owner before me who said he was second owner and believes the first owner had the car for about one year. The state of Florida department of motor vehicles says it doesn't have records going back that far.
Any one have any suggestions on how I might research the history of my
car back to september 1966. Obviously my curiosity is peaked.
Thanks
Neal

[Ridge K.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

I recently learned from the NCRS Shipping Data Report that my 1967 L-79, which has a production date of September 6, 1966, was delivered to Jim Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne, Florida which is near the Kennedy Space Center. The Rathman dealership was sold a couple of years ago and the new owners say they don't have any old records regarding who may have been the original purchaser. One of my friends told me that he had heard that Jim Rathman had made a deal with Ed Cole to deliver new corvettes each year to the astronauts. I have done some checking on the internet and it seems that the story is mostly true. Instead of owning the corvettes it seems that they were leased to the astronauts wives for $1.00 for one year and then turned in. I bought the car in 1969. I know the owner before me who said he was second owner and believes the first owner had the car for about one year. The state of Florida department of motor vehicles says it doesn't have records going back that far.
Any one have any suggestions on how I might research the history of my
car back to september 1966. Obviously my curiosity is peaked.
Thanks
Neal

Neal, does your Corvette happen to be a red 427?

[Neal K.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Ridge,
No, it's a marlboro maroon L-79 roadster.
Neal

[Richard M.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Neal, Send me a PM with your email address.

I know someone at a Chevy dealership in Cocoa Florida that may help you with your search. I can give you his contact info. Maybe a chance he knows something. He has been in the area at various Chevy dealerships for many years, has owned many Corvettes, and knew several of the astronauts, Alan Shepard and Mike Collins in particular. He helped me last year when I was searching for my '62's history and he remembered my car in 1972 because he almost bought it for himself then! Story Here.

Rich

[Jimmy J.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

What was the first year the Astronaut's got Corvettes from GM?
Thanks, Jimmy

[Michael D.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

What was the first year the Astronaut's got Corvettes from GM?
Thanks, Jimmy

Alan Shepherd was supposed to have had a '68 gratis from GM. The black and gold cars are '69s. There is a pic of one red, one white, and one blue C3 (70-72) given to astronauts. Try Google > Images.

[Ridge K.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Interesting, Neal. Hope you can track some more history.

I asked if it was red because I thought it might have been the Gus Grissom '67 big block that was also originally sold thru Jim Rathman Chevrolet.
It went on the auction block at Russo & Steele 3 or 4 years ago. Sold in the high 200s, if I remember correctly.

Ridge

[Marc W.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Hey Guys, Let me see if I can shed some light on this subject. Let me begin by saying that I am by no means an expert on the subject, but I have spent 11 years researching a 65 coupe that is rumored to have belonged to one of the original Mercury astronauts. I know that it has the same options as the one that belonged to this certain astronaut, and I have confirmed through the shipping information program that Rathmann Chevrolet was the original dealer. That being said here we go, yes the astronauts did have a special lease program that allowed them to pick any two new Chevrolets for a dollar a year. This program was set up after Gus Grissom, Alan Shephard, and Gordon Cooper became friends with Jim Rathmann, who as we know won the 1960 Indy 500 and had a Chevrolet/Cadillac dealership in Melbourne, Florida. Mr. Rathmann then went to Ed Cole, who after finding out that Jim Rathmann knew the astronauts made the deal happen. They say that Mr. Cole became quite the space buff. Shephard was a corvette buff before joining the space program, and is the only one to receive a" free" corvette, If I remember correctly it was a 61 or 62. The lease program started after Mr. Rathmann got his dealership which was after he won the 1960 Indy 500 so as near I could research, was probably around late 62 or early 63. I know through research that Chevrolet informed him that after 1963 if he wanted to keep his dealership he could not enter the 64 Indy as a driver. I think the lease program ended in 1971. As far as old invoices or Florida title information, all Florida DMV records prior to 1974 have been purged and destroyed. From my research it appeared that most were never registered to the astronauts anyway. I did go to Melbourne back in 2000 and meet with Mr. Rathmann. At that time he still had many of the original invoices for the astronauts car. Many chose something other than a corvette. The 69's you guys have mentioned were the cars that the crew of Apollo 12 had that matched. Gold with the black wings with each astronauts mission assignment painted on the side. The only one that has been located and documented is Alan Beans car, it now belongs to a gentleman named Danny Reed who lives in Austin, Texas. I have more stuff if anyone is interested, let me know. Hope this helps and I hope I don't come off as a" know it all" just been doing a great deal of research and still looking. Marc Williams Charlotte, N.C.

[Edward S.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

At one on the Nationals I was parked about 4 cars away from the gold/black from Texas. Did get to spend alot of time talking to the owner about the car and how he got it. He saw an ad somewhere for a closed bid auction for the car - he placed his bid and came in second for the car.
As fate would have it the person who came in first could not come up with the money so he bought the car. He had a wonderful photo of the 3 astronauts standing by their cars in front of one of the rockets. Car still had a NASA Parking Permit on it.

[Ridge K.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Hey Guys, Let me see if I can shed some light on this subject. Let me begin by saying that I am by no means an expert on the subject, but I have spent 11 years researching a 65 coupe that is rumored to have belonged to one of the original Mercury astronauts. I know that it has the same options as the one that belonged to this certain astronaut, and I have confirmed through the shipping information program that Rathmann Chevrolet was the original dealer. That being said here we go, yes the astronauts did have a special lease program that allowed them to pick any two new Chevrolets for a dollar a year. This program was set up after Gus Grissom, Alan Shephard, and Gordon Cooper became friends with Jim Rathmann, who as we know won the 1960 Indy 500 and had a Chevrolet/Cadillac dealership in Melbourne, Florida. Mr. Rathmann then went to Ed Cole, who after finding out that Jim Rathmann knew the astronauts made the deal happen. They say that Mr. Cole became quite the space buff. Shephard was a corvette buff before joining the space program, and is the only one to receive a" free" corvette, If I remember correctly it was a 61 or 62. The lease program started after Mr. Rathmann got his dealership which was after he won the 1960 Indy 500 so as near I could research, was probably around late 62 or early 63. I know through research that Chevrolet informed him that after 1963 if he wanted to keep his dealership he could not enter the 64 Indy as a driver. I think the lease program ended in 1971. As far as old invoices or Florida title information, all Florida DMV records prior to 1974 have been purged and destroyed. From my research it appeared that most were never registered to the astronauts anyway. I did go to Melbourne back in 2000 and meet with Mr. Rathmann. At that time he still had many of the original invoices for the astronauts car. Many chose something other than a corvette. The 69's you guys have mentioned were the cars that the crew of Apollo 12 had that matched. Gold with the black wings with each astronauts mission assignment painted on the side. The only one that has been located and documented is Alan Beans car, it now belongs to a gentleman named Danny Reed who lives in Austin, Texas. I have more stuff if anyone is interested, let me know. Hope this helps and I hope I don't come off as a" know it all" just been doing a great deal of research and still looking. Marc Williams Charlotte, N.C.

Great information, Marc!

Here's a shot of the gold/black '69 that Ed referred to. I caught it at a car show. A great Corvette with history ....

[Marc W.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Yep, that would be Danny Reed. Super nice guy, I think he bought the car back in 1971 just like he told you from sealed bids. Neat story, he is helping me with my research. Vettetube.com "astrovette" I think that's where I saw the video on him and his car.

[Michael F.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

can't say i like the color scheme much why not research thru nasa, slim chance they may have some records or at least maybe some old photos to help you some. good luck.

[Neal K.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Marc,
Enjoyed reading your history on this subject.
Does anyone know if GM has an archive and if so how to contact them. If Gm recognized the promotional value of having astonauts drive their cars they may have taken photos and kept documentation on the cars and the astronauts that drove them. Maybe there is more information available from the same source that NCRS obtained the Shipping Data Report. Anyone know the contact information(name, phone number, address or e-mail) for the source of th Shipping Data Report?
Anyway, even though the likelihood of my car having been one of the astonaut driven cars is extremely low, my curiosity has been peaked.
Any suggestions for a source of information is appreciated.
Neal

[Marc W.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Neal,

I have tried Mr. Sinor with the shipping data reports, no luck there. I have also tried the Museum in Bowling Green. Same story even after contacting several people. From what I can gather GM must not keep or at least they say they didn't keep the records of the cars. I am like you, someone somewhere has got to have records of these cars. They were just to special not to keep up with. I think Jim Rathmann is in his eighties now and from what I have read, has finally sold his dealership. It's now Rosner Chevrolet. I wish someone would procure his records or at least make copies of them. I still feel he would be the best resource. Most of the guys who could answer our questions are passing on, and I feel that its only a matter of time before our chance of getting answers is gone as well. Marc

[Jeff A.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

I recently visited the Kennedy Space Center and Alan Shepard's Vette was on display in the Saturn V building. See the attached.