1960 Chevrolet Corvette with bizarre history up for auction and worth $2 million

Arriving, conquering, and departing in triumph.

An extraordinary opportunity awaits as a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, which secured an impressive second place in its class during the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans, prepares to be auctioned and is anticipated to fetch a price befitting its championship performance.

This remarkable vehicle was one of four Corvettes that participated in the historic race, marking the American sports car’s debut on the prestigious Le Mans stage. While racing titan Briggs Cunningham entered three of the Corvettes, the particular Corvette in question was skillfully campaigned by the determined and dedicated Camoradi USA Racing team.

Camoradi established its racing headquarters in Modena, Italy, serving as a central hub for its motorsport endeavors. In line with the practices of the time, the team opted to drive the car from their base to the track for the race, a customary approach.

The Chevrolet Corvette was registered for the race alongside three Maserati Tipo 61 cars from the Camoradi team, all of which competed in a distinct class, adding further diversity to the team’s formidable presence.

Among Cunningham’s vehicles, one car achieved a commendable eighth-place finish in the overall standings, securing victory in the GT5.0 class, exclusively comprised of the four Corvettes. Unfortunately, the remaining two vehicles met untimely fates, as one succumbed to an accident while the other fell victim to a devastating fire.

Fred Gamble and Leon Lilley formed an impressive partnership behind the wheel of the Camoradi Corvette. Remarkably, they completed the grueling 24-hour race with a single set of racing tires, covering an astonishing distance of two laps around the clock. Their remarkable performance earned them a respectable 10th place overall, while securing an impressive second place in their class, finishing just six laps behind the Cunningham car.

Regrettably, due to the prevailing regulations of that era, cars were mandated to attain a specific minimum distance, which the Corvette fell slightly short of with its accomplished distance of 2,307.7 miles. Consequently, it was not officially classified in the final standings, despite its remarkable performance.

Nonetheless, this outstanding achievement joined a list of accolades for the Camoradi Corvette. Notably, it secured another second-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring race in Florida, trailing closely behind another Corvette. Additionally, it achieved victory at the Cuban Grand Prix and achieved numerous podium finishes in various other races, solidifying its reputation as a formidable contender.

While the Corvette may not have achieved an official victory at Le Mans, it undoubtedly emerged triumphant in terms of its symbolic success. Remarkably, after swapping its racing tires for street tires, the car courageously embarked on the journey back to Modena, as reported by Vette Vues.

Unfortunately, later that same year, an unfortunate road accident occurred in Switzerland, involving the car. Subsequently, it remained in Switzerland and changed hands amongst several owners before ultimately being disassembled and stowed away in 1981. However, this remarkable piece of automotive history was not destined to remain forgotten. In 1995, American car collector Loren Lundberg discovered the Corvette in its disassembled state and made the decision to bring it back to the United States, where meticulous restoration efforts were undertaken to revive its former glory.

1960 Chevrolet Corvette with bizarre history up for auction and worth $2 million

In a strange turn of events, the Corvette’s original V8 engine and four-speed transmission were inexplicably separated from the car and dispatched to New Zealand. Astonishingly, they were repurposed for a racing powerboat, which tragically met its fate at sea. However, dedicated efforts were made to procure period-correct replacements, ensuring that the Corvette now stands in the same configuration it possessed during its illustrious participation in the Le Mans race.

Excitingly, this remarkable piece of automotive history will soon find itself under the gavel at the upcoming Mecum Auctions event in Indianapolis on May 20. Anticipations are high, as it is projected to command a staggering price of approximately $2 million, positioning it among the top five highest prices ever paid for a Corvette, excluding auctions conducted for charitable purposes.

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Mai Linh Pham

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