Astronaut's Corvettes

[Neal K.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Marc,
I spoke with someone at Rosner about a month ago who informed me that Rosner purchased the Rothman dealership a couple of years ago and that the Rothman records have been destroyed. When I spoke to them I was unaware of the astronaut connection with Rothman but was merely looking for the name of who my car was first sold to. I now plan to write a letter and make a more formal request. If I get a positive result I will let you know.
Neal

[Richard M.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Neal,

I know several of the employees at Rosner. They've done warranty service on my C6 a few times and I stop by in my '59 sometimes for warranty work. BTW the service department is great.

I live about 20 miles from there, and I go by there quite often, particularly on Wednesday late afternoons on the way to a cruise night up the road, coincidentally a few miles away on Nasa Blvd. I'm planning to be in the area likely next week and if you send me a email with your car information I can try to do some "footwork" for you.

I also have used Rosners' "Customer shuttle service" when getting my C6 worked on. The guy that drives the van for them worked for Jim at Rathmann Chevrolet for many years and when Rosner took over thay kept him on. I'll also get in touch with him and see if he remembers anything about the astronaut cars.......You never know.

Rich

[Marc W.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

I actually went down there back in 2000 and had the pleasure of sitting in Mr. Rathmann's office and talking corvettes and astronauts for about an hour. At that time he still had a file folder of paperwork on the astronauts cars. I wish that I would have thought to ask him if I could make copies. The invoice I was looking for was not in the file, however the invoice for Gus Grissom's 66 was. I don't remember all the options, but I do remember it was an early car 427/450. I feel that if those records still exist Mr. Rathmann kept them with him when he sold the dealership. I have considered attempting to contact him and see if he would allow me or someone else to make copies of those records. Perhaps someone in the NCRS office would have a better chance? Mr. Mozzetta, if you know someone at Rosner would you ask if they remember any of Gus' cars? His 65 coupe to be specific. It was glen green with a white and black interior. I would greatly appreciate your assistance. I am not sure if she is still there but Mr. Rathmann's office administrator was a nice lady named Donna Revills, she would be your point of contact, if she is still there

[Richard M.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Marc,

Sure, I can check on that for you when I stop by. Send me a email through the messaging system here with your contact info. I just discovered something and have some interesting info for you.

Rich

[Jim T.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

The Corvette News FEB/MAR 1970 issue has a centerfold picture of the astronaut men of Apollo 12 -Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon and Al Bean sitting on the t-top bar of their gold 1969 Corvettes. Head lined with "The magnificent men and their flying machines."

Mentioned in the article was Pete Conrad getting his SCCA competition license, he was issued a 1970 license number 12 in honor of the moon flight.

[Brian G.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Is this the picture?..........

[John R.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Thought I would chime in.... Have a 67 427 L36 from Rathman. Orig owner was an engineer at the Cape. Second owner was John K. Stegall, owned it from 10/67 to 9/68 always wondered if he was an astronaut. His address was located at Patricks Airforce Base. Anyway to research that or does anyone know what base the astronauts were located on? What about a search for all astronauts on the internet? Anyway to do that? Thanks.

Also, orig owners wife was the title clerk at Rathman during that time. I bet she would have a lot of valuable information?? May need to reach out to her.

Thanks and interesting subject!

[Jim T.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Is this the picture?..........

Yes, same picture without the information written in Corvette News.

[Ridge K.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

1960 Indy 500 winner Jim Rathmann dies in Florida at age 83 (Chevrolet dealer to the astronauts)


By Associated Press, Published: November 23, 2011.

[Marc W.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Ridge, Thanks for posting this, I knew Mr. Rathmann was getting up in years. I am glad I had the pleasure of meeting him and feel very fortunate, to have been able to discuss his relationship with the astronauts. He was a true part of American history, rest in peace Mr. Rathmann...

[Stuart F.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

The Rathman brothers were some of my early heros as I followed the Indy car racing while living near and visiting the Milwaukee State Fair Park races every year. It began for me with Rex Mays, Ted Horn, Billy Vukovich, Duane Carter, and of course A. J. Foyt - to name just a few. Surprised to hear that Parneli Jones is older than A. J. who I saw during an interview on TV during the last NASCAR race at Homestead. He is really showing his age and does not look to well.

Stu Fox

[Doug L.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Thought I would chime in.... Have a 67 427 L36 from Rathman. Orig owner was an engineer at the Cape. Second owner was John K. Stegall, owned it from 10/67 to 9/68 always wondered if he was an astronaut. His address was located at Patricks Airforce Base. Anyway to research that or does anyone know what base the astronauts were located on? What about a search for all astronauts on the internet? Anyway to do that? Thanks.

Also, orig owners wife was the title clerk at Rathman during that time. I bet she would have a lot of valuable information?? May need to reach out to her.

Thanks and interesting subject!

According to the NASA website there was no astronaught by the name of Stegall.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/index.html

[Andrew S.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Saw this post on another forum & it reminded me of this thread on astronaut's cars. From what little I know about Mr. Armstrong, I did not expect him to be the type to be interested in a BB Corvette, but who knows? There's certainly not enough information in the below listing to confirm that this was, at one time, Neil Armstrong's car. I'm sure there are more than a few folks named "N.A. Armstrong" out there. A shipping report might help things.

Anyway -- I thought this might be interesting to members out there interested in the Rathmann lease program & astronaut's cars.

Here are the links:

http://bringatrailer.com/2012/05/01/astronaut-special-neil-armstrongs-1967-corvette-427/

and here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...4912+&viewitem=

[Mike F.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

Found this,

NewspaperARCHIVE.com - Avalanche-Journal - 1969-02-26 ...




www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img...
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
... COMPLEX FACILITIES INSPECTED Air Force Gives City Delegation Tour Of ... it into space Sgt John K Stegall attached to the Space Centers guide division ...

[Mike F.]

Re: Astronaut's Corvettes

.........................

Thought I would chime in.... Have a 67 427 L36 from Rathman. Orig owner was an engineer at the Cape. Second owner was John K. Stegall, owned it from 10/67 to 9/68 always wondered if he was an astronaut. His address was located at Patricks Airforce Base. Anyway to research that or does anyone know what base the astronauts were located on? What about a search for all astronauts on the internet? Anyway to do that? Thanks.

Also, orig owners wife was the title clerk at Rathman during that time. I bet she would have a lot of valuable information?? May need to reach out to her.

Thanks and interesting subject!

Found this,

NewspaperARCHIVE.com - Avalanche-Journal - 1969-02-26 ...

www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img...
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
... COMPLEX FACILITIES INSPECTED Air Force Gives City Delegation Tour Of ... it into space Sgt John K Stegall attached to the Space Centers guide division ...

The newspaper article referring to Stegall is in the upper left hand column.