First C2 Corvette Sold to the General Public Is Set to Hit the Auction Block

The very first C2 Corvette sold to the general public is changing hands for the first time since 1975.

Over its seven decades in existence, the Corvette has enjoyed many milestones, encompassing many models. Among the many celebrated Corvette models built over the years, the first and last are often among the most special of that special bunch, particularly when we’re talking about the more coveted generations of America’s sports car. As such, this particular 1963 convertible – the very first C2 Corvette sold to the general public, as well as the earliest second-gen model known to still exist – is quite the offering for Mecum Auctions and its upcoming Kissimmee sale, which takes place January 4-15.

The first C2 Corvette is indeed special for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the second-gen is arguably the best in a long line of amazing cars, one that’s still highly coveted to this day. The C2 Corvette marked some massive changes for the iconic sports car, from its futuristic, timeless style to the copious amounts of power available from a variety of small and big block V8s.

As for this historically significant model, it was originally shipped to its selling dealer on August 29, 1962, and was later purchased in 1975 by a pair of twin brothers that routinely flipped these cars to help fund their college education. The brothers soon discovered that this was, in fact, one of the very first C2 Corvettes ever built, and wound up keeping it until one of them – Brian Richardson – who was also a bobsledder for the U.S. Olympic Team, passed away earlier this year.

Now, this very special Corvette is looking for a new home for the first time in decades, fresh off a total restoration. Finished in Riverside Red with a matching red interior, it’s also powered by the L84 327/360 HP V8, which is mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Other notable features include an AM radio, heater/defroster, tachometer, and aluminum alloy knock-off wheels wrapped with whitewall tires.

As one might imagine, this special piece of Corvette history is expected to command big bucks at auction, with an estimate of between $600,000 and $800,000. But given its prominence within the history of what is already one of the most special vehicles ever conceived, that’s not a surprise by any means.

#gallery-1 {
margin: auto;
}
#gallery-1 .gallery-item {
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
}
#gallery-1 img {
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
}
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {
margin-left: 0;
}
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Photos: Mecum Auctions