Great car on Ebay but it needs some work

[Concordia 33]

Neil Armstrong's Corvette lands on eBay

It didn’t go to the Moon, but it sure looks like it did.

A 1967 Chevrolet Corvette once owned by Neil Armstrong is being auctioned on eBay.The blue coupe sat unused in a garage since 1981, before being purchased by its current owner in February of this year. It’s in barely running condition, but is mostly original. Aside from a new carburetor, water pump, muffler and wheels, the only major modification is a set of poorly done fender flares.The fully-documented ‘Vette has a 390 hp 427 cubic-inch V8 running through a four-speed manual transmission and, fitting of a Florida car, factory air conditioning as well as power windows. The odometer shows just 38,148 miles, but as it only has five digits and hasn’t worked since the 1970’s, there’s no telling how much mileage the car really has on it.According to the seller, the yet-to-be-first man on the Moon took delivery of the ‘Vette in December of 1966 as part of a special program run by Melbourne Chevrolet dealer, Jim Rathman. The enterprising salesman used to offer astronauts a special one year lease deal on ‘Vettes so they would always be seen behind the wheel of the latest model. One of his employees bought the car in 1968 when it was turned in for trade.Chevrolet’s connection with the space program launched in 1961, when GM President Ed Cole presented the first American in Space, Alan Shepard, with a new 1962 Corvette upon his return. Afterwards six of the seven Mercury astronauts would join him as Corvette owners, with only John Glenn opting for a Chevy station wagon. Many other folks with the right stuff would follow, and the Cape Kennedy Corvette Club held a parade of cars with 30 surviving astronauts on May 7th, 2011, two days after the 50th anniversary of Shepard’s flight.The auction for Armstrong’s car ends on May 6th, and as of this writing the bidding is closing in on $250,000, about $1 for every mile to the moon. That’s still not enough to meet the unpublished reserve, so the sky’s still the limit for this very unique piece of American history.

[Garret]

Afterwards six of the seven Mercury astronauts would join him as Corvette owners, with only John Glenn opting for a Chevy station wagon.

Why isn't that a surprise?

It'll be fun to see what it goes for.

[Concordia 33]

Why isn't that a surprise?

It'll be fun to see what it goes for.

I know. The bidding is up to $250,000 and the reserve still hasn't been met. I would have bid on it as I am a big fan of vettes and the space program, but I could't have bid more than $30,000 and I probably would need an extra $5,000 for the divorce.

[Garret]

Only $5,000?? Is that a misunderestimation perchance?

[Garret]

For those wanting to see it: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...item3a73d0ec00

Note another auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...item43af57d377

1987 Porsche 911 c2

SUPERCHARGED 1987 Porsche 911 carrera built and Caged Neil Armstrong vette eater

[Chris Coose]

Blow that air cleaner with some compressed air and that SOB will operate as ****ty as it did when it was new.

[brad9798]

Many of those 66 and 67 motors had some internal issues on the top end ... valves, rockers and such ...

I am surprised that it is so rough ... it would take at LEAST 50 grand to get that to my standards ... and THAT is keeping it exactly stock.

[bobbys]

Blow that air cleaner with some compressed air and that SOB will operate as ****ty as it did when it was new.

.

O ,come on how good can it run if it rang up 38000 miles on the moon!

[brad9798]

Not many car guys here ...

[Garret]

Well - I'm a car guy, just not a big block guy. Give me something that'll go around a corner (68 Z28 maybe?) & then I'll get interested.

[brad9798]

68 Z28 and corners ... (trying not to chuckle too much ...) a 1983 K-Car corners better ... with under steer ...

[bobbys]

68 Z28 and corners ... (trying not to chuckle too much ...) a 1983 K-Car corners better ... with under steer ...

.

Whats the cool factor of a Kcar.

Ok Glenn likes em in 4 door...

[brad9798]

NOTHING, bobbys ... but they nearly ALL handled better than 60s muscle cars ...

[Lew Barrett]

Not many car guys here ...

The fascination and extremely high prices that accompany celebrity ownership always amaze me. I'm not all that into 60s muscle myself, and would struggle to be interested in the car regardless of ownership. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

[brad9798]

My love of cars has NOTHING to do with what (celebrity) clown may have owned them ... no value in my mind ... LEW!

It is just about the car/year/collectible!!!!!!

[Lew Barrett]

I agree there; the artifact should speak for itself. Same as with boats. In the real world, it doesn't seem to work that way, but from my point of view, they can keep it for $250K! Smarter people than I have and will continue to make money trading in these things; my response is emotional, not rational. It's just remarkable to me what celebrity ownership can do to values.

[Garret]

68 Z28 and corners ... (trying not to chuckle too much ...) a 1983 K-Car corners better ... with under steer ...

I was trying to be nice & come up with an American muscle car I could say I liked. Maybe I had the year wrong (67?) -anyway, I meant the original Z28 with the high-revving 302 that had just a few released to homologate the model.

That was the only car of its type & era I've been in that went around corners almost as well as the European cars of the time.

[Vince Brennan]

Not many car guys here ...

Funny about that: Wooden BOAT Forum, y'know?

[brad9798]

EXACTLY, Garret ... virtually NO American cars did anything but go in a straight line ... EUROPE was way ahead of us at the time, in handling ...

No need to try to be nice ... old muscle cars are what they are ...

[Paul Pless]

Factory aluminum 427 giving 500 HP at 7,000 RPM bone stock with 4sp rock crusher. Independent rear suspension, 2400 pounds all up. Bring on the Eurotrash. . .

[leikec]

I was trying to be nice & come up with an American muscle car I could say I liked. Maybe I had the year wrong (67?) -anyway, I meant the original Z28 with the high-revving 302 that had just a few released to homologate the model.

That was the only car of its type & era I've been in that went around corners almost as well as the European cars of the time.

Speaking of 1960's American cars that handle well:




Jeff C

[Garret]

Not according to that idiot SOS Nader....

But I agree with you - though a bit of oversteer when you least expect it...

[leikec]

Not according to that idiot SOS Nader....

But I agree with you - though a bit of oversteer when you least expect it...

Not the late models--the oversteer is there (as on any rear engine car), but it is predictable and controllable in a corner. The early models (1960-1963) were much more tricky to handle in a corner...I am very careful with my 1962 Monza--even a freeway off ramp in the rain can be an adventure!

The 1965-1969 models had a redesigned rear suspension. The 1964 model had a transverse camber compensator installed that made it a much safer car than the 1960-1963 model cars. I've given serious thought to the idea of retrofitting the 1964 suspension arms and transverse spring to my car.

I despise Ralph Nader, but the fact remains that the 1960-1963 Corvairs were flawed (please remember that I'm a HUGE Corvair fan--but the truth is the truth). The addition of a rear sway bar to those early model cars would have made all the difference in the world....

Jeff C

[Jim Bow]

I have a spot in the garage for it. Right next to Lawrence's Brough Superior.

[Garret]

I despise Ralph Nader, but the fact remains that the 1960-1963 Corvairs were flawed (please remember that I'm a HUGE Corvair fan--but the truth is the truth). The addition of a rear sway bar to those early model cars would have made all the difference in the world....

Jeff C

No different than a VW or Porsche of the same era - but you're right, the Corsa's did handle better. My turbo Monza was a handful, but in instant grin creator.

[brad9798]

Not even a response from Garret ... hmmm

But now AMERICAN cars rule ... (perhaps this will get a proper response ... )

[bobbys]

I was trying to be nice & come up with an American muscle car I could say I liked. Maybe I had the year wrong (67?) -anyway, I meant the original Z28 with the high-revving 302 that had just a few released to homologate the model.

That was the only car of its type & era I've been in that went around corners almost as well as the European cars of the time.

.

My good friend had the 67 Z28,302 and the engine noise was like no other sound i ever heard from a engine, sweet!

[Garret]

Not even a response from Garret ... hmmm

But now AMERICAN cars rule ... (perhaps this will get a proper response ... )

Nope - there are gearheads & there are gearheads. I bought my first car at 13 & it was a TR-3. Therefore, I am proven as unfit to criticize other's choices when it comes to performance cars...

[coelacanth2]

Muscle cars were always meant to be straight line machines. The pony cars were, for their day, competent. I would suggest that a small block Vette with the high output motor and a gymkhana suspension could at least keep up with most of what Europe had to offer at the time, and probably more tolerant of abuse.

If you want rough, I'll give you rough - '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super "Heavy Half". 454HD big block with a one ton drivetrain and 3/4 ton rear axle. Horrible fuel economy but still going strong at arguably 500,000miles unrebuilt. burn rubber all the way through 1st and chirp the tires into second, nice cruise at 120 or so.

[brad9798]

Garret ...


All is good, brother!!

[bobbys]

Muscle cars were always meant to be straight line machines. The pony cars were, for their day, competent. I would suggest that a small block Vette with the high output motor and a gymkhana suspension could at least keep up with most of what Europe had to offer at the time, and probably more tolerant of abuse.

If you want rough, I'll give you rough - '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super "Heavy Half". 454HD big block with a one ton drivetrain and 3/4 ton rear axle. Horrible fuel economy but still going strong at arguably 500,000miles unrebuilt. burn rubber all the way through 1st and chirp the tires into second, nice cruise at 120 or so.

.

My brother had one in jersey but it rusted away in 5 years.

[Garret]

.

My brother had one in jersey but it rusted away in 5 years.

New Jersey rusted away? I've been wondering when that was gonna happen