cbtimko

My local Arizona newspaper states the 2006 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction will feature the oldest existing corvette - a 1953 with serial number 003. Anyone know the fate of serial numbers 001 and 002?

62fuelie

Don't know that anyone knows with any certainty, but 001 and 002 have long been reported to have been destroyed by GM in testing. I think that it is pretty well accepted that 003 is, indeed, the earliest surviving Vette.

Grey Ghost

desertpilgrim

#1 is an unknown. #2 morphed its way into EX-122 with a 1955 body, frame, interior, engine, trans, and rear axle. Now in the hands of Kerbeck, it is impersonating the Motorama car, except that they have not removed the V8.

Nowhere Man

http://www.worldsoldestcorvette.com/

Cruzmeisters

"CLOSED FOR REMODELING"
Cruz

JohnFromVentura

I was there when 003 was pushed (with all parts inside) through the Rick Cole auction at the Monterey Historic races in 1987. It sold to three NCRS members for 37K.

Nowhere Man

ya I notcied that after I posted the link. but last time I visted the link it had all the info the poster was looking for. I saw car #3 at Carisle in 03. it was neat story

JohnZ

Here's #003 at the 2003 NCRS National Convention in Hershey, PA; earlier that summer, it was DRIVEN from New York to the SACC National Convention in Flint, Michigan.

71zman

http://www.kerbeck.com/kerbeck/kerbe...ldest_Corvette

Loren Smith

Here's a great write-up, from 1993 Corvette Restorer magazine:

http://homepage.mac.com/kirsch_calif...toAlbum29.html

desertpilgrim

You are absolutely correct that it is "a great write-up". It might well be the MOST ACCURATE REPORT EVER ON THE FIRST CORVETTES, as it relies SOLEY on Chevrolet Motor Division documents, not "maybe ifs", or "coulda beens".

jrepoff

I enjoyed this thread very much, I want to thank you guys for providing this information. As very interesting as it was I do have one question that maybe one of you may know the answer to or maybe there is not any answer. Where did the EX122 number come from ?
I understand the EX -> experimental but why 122 ? why not 001

I know it may be a dumb question but I figured maybe there might be some additional information regarding the number.
Thanks, John

Nowhere Man

I am not suro on this but if you do a search for oldest Corvette under JohnZ, Ithink he said it is a 55. but do a search and you will find the answer

desertpilgrim

#'s assigned in sequence. Was assigned just before Russ Sanders bought the car and the purpose was that any subequent owners would know that it was NOT a production car. #121 was a 1957 assigned to "DET. DEV." & #123 was another '57 that was "scrap 7/57".

jrepoff

Again I wish to thank you very much for the History lesson. This is all very interesting and I am sure I speak for many when I say it is great to be able to learn things like this that we may possibly never have the opportunity unless we were all part of this CorvetteForum.

Best regards, John

Loren Smith

The Motorama show car was EX-52, not EX-122.

DZAUTO

Originally, 003 was a 3-way ownership, with Howard Kirsch being the principle owner and keeper of the car. After Howard passed away, 003, along with many other early Vettes went to the Kirsch estate, primarily under the custody of his son. The car then sat in a trailer, outside, neglected, for some time. It is now owned by a person (I forget his name) in Tulsa and has deteriorated somewhat and needs to undergo another restoration. Sad!
BUT THERE IS HOPE BECAUSE IT STILL EXISTS INTACT!

cbtimko

Thanks for the information. I knew I could count on the forum!
I'm a C-5 owner myself, and I love the detailed history of these beautiful cars. I plan on going to the auction to see 003 in person, I bet it goes for a little more than the 37k that bought it in 1987!