Classic Corvettes Steal Spotlight at C8 Convertible Reveal
Trio of Corvettes with space ties offer up a history lesson while the new C8 drop top previews the future.
To be honest, we kinda feel bad for the C8 Corvette Stingray convertible. After all, GM planned this massive party for the drop-top version of their new mid-engine marvel. Taking place at Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 2, this had the look of a proper unveiling, one that celebrated the car’s historic past while also looking ahead to the future. But then, a bunch of surprises threatened to take all the wind out of the vert’s proverbial sails. Starting with the simultaneous unveiling of the exciting C8.R racer. And then, Chevy also set up a fascinating display of three classic Corvettes with strong astronaut ties.
Granted, Chevrolet’s C8 convertible was still a smashing success. But we found ourselves especially enamored with the older Corvettes in attendance. After all, they were one of the few things in the world that packed arguably more star power than the latest and greatest Corvette in history. And this isn’t necessarily because of basic stats like their make and model year, but rather it was because of the legends that owned and drove them, hence the exhibit’s title, “Heroes & Hot Rods.”
Included in the classic trio was a rather normal-looking C6 Corvette of 2006 vintage. The car, owned by NASA Safety Specialist John Legere, didn’t offer up many clues as to what it’s all about on the outside. But when you pop the hood, it doesn’t take long to realize what this car represents.
Legere has made it his mission to turn this particular car into a rolling tribute to astronauts, along with the men who continue to keep the Corvette relevant. Altogether, Legere has collected autographs of 35 astronauts and 18 Corvette drivers, engineers, and/or executives on the C6’s engine cover.
“I’ve been collecting autographs since 2007,” Legere told the Houston Chronicle at a Corvette Museum event earlier this year. “I always carry a silver and a black Sharpie. Working for NASA opens that door for me. I’m closer to the astronauts than most people will ever get.”
Perhaps the most prominent signature on this special vehicle belongs to one of the most famous astronauts of all: Neil Armstrong. The first man to walk on the moon was also a huge Corvette fan, as most of us know. But as Legere explained to Bowling Green, Kentucky, news outlet ABC 13, obtaining Armstrong’s John Hancock wasn’t exactly easy. In fact, it took him a total of three attempts.
It’s hard to imagine any collection of Corvette-loving astronaut signatures being complete without Armstrong’s mark, of course. And that’s also why GM’s stellar display at the C8 convertible reveal included the legend’s very own 1967 Corvette (pictured below). Perhaps the most famous of all astronaut-owned Corvettes, this particular car was only in Armstrong’s possession for roughly a year. It then landed in the hands of another NASA employee, who proceeded to keep it for 44 years. Finally, in 2012, it was rescued from long-term storage and returned to its former glory.
Instead of restoring Armstrong’s Corvette, new owner Joe Crosby chose to preserve it. Along with a team of experts, Crosby underwent an extensive and careful process to ensure this car remained historically accurate in its representation. That included removing a set of fender flares installed by the car’s second owner at one point.
“I’m calling this a reactive preservation, which means that we have to react to a situation that exists that is inappropriate to the historical integrity of the car, in this case the fender flares,” team member and preservationist Eric Gill explained to Hemmings back in 2012. “We want to take it back to the condition it was in when Neil Armstrong traded it in.”
Today, this historic Corvette looks exactly as it did when it was under Armstrong’s ownership. And it, along with Legere’s rolling tribute, looked fantastic sitting next to the car that started it all: a 1953 Corvette.
At a time in American history where space and land-based travel were at a major turning point, these Corvettes are a fantastic reminder of where it all started. And right across from them, the new drop top C8 served as a sign of where it’s all headed in the near future.
Photos ands video for Corvette Forum by David Ciminelli
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