Alan Shepard’s Astrovette Is Going To Auction

1968 Corvette has big block power and a manual transmission because astronaut Alan Shepard wanted to go fast on earth, too. 

During the Apollo era, GM and a Florida-based Chevrolet dealership offered astronauts the opportunity to lease a Corvette to any spec they’d like for just one dollar a year. These Vettes went on to become known as “Astrovettes.” We love these things. However, we particularly love the one owned by the first American in space and one of few who set foot on the moon,  Alan Shepard. It’s not his NASA credentials that make us admire this one the most, though. Instead, we admire Shepard’s need for speed and decision to go all out when he picked his Astrovette. Now, some lucky individual with deep pockets will get to admire it on a whole new level.

Shepard’s 1968 Chevrolet Corvette with a big block 427 under the hood is rolling across the auction block at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale 2022 event January 22-30, 2022. We have no way of knowing what it will sell for. However, we can without a doubt tell you it’s going to be a lot. This is a part of Corvette and overall American history. How can you put a price on that?

Shepard Was A Corvette Enthusiast Long Before the Astrovettes Came Into Play 

We’ve known Shepard was a Corvette lover for quite some time. However, the story of his Corvette ownership over the years is quite interesting. In fact, we’ve outlined it before!

Shepard’s first Corvette was a used 1953 model. Then, however, he upgraded to a used 1957 Vette, which happened to be the vehicle he brought to Florida when he was training for the Mercury Space Program.

Speaking of the Mercury program, Chevrolet gave Shepard his next Corvette, a brand new 1962, after his ride upon Mercury-Redstone mission 3 in his capsule known as Freedom 7. As the first American in space, Shepard instantly became an icon.

Finally, Shepard landed in this 1968 convertible after GM partnered with Indy 500 racer and Chevrolet dealer Jim Rathmann to allow astronauts to lease a Corvette for just one dollar a year. The offering allowed them to spec it any way they wanted, so Shepard went all out.

Shepard Wanted to Go Fast

In his quest to go fast, Shepard opted for the iconic 427 cubic-inch L89 Tri-Power V8 in his Astrovette. Paired with a four-speed manual transmission, this monster made a whopping 435 horsepower when it was new. Shepard stated that he and his astronaut colleagues would often race their Corvettes full-tilt at Langely Airforce Base.

After its time with Shepard, this Corvette made its way to various locations for display. It spent time at the Corvette Museum of America and the NASA U.S. Space Walk of Fame.

The sale includes the original tank sticker, order sheet, and Corvette Club documents. Furthermore, it includes various magazines it was in, a GM courtesy car letter, and items from its time spent on display at various museums.

This Corvette is perhaps one of the most American Corvettes there ever was. With its big block V8, manual transmission, and past ownership by an American icon, it’s hard to imagine what the price may be. Regardless, it’s a fantastic timepiece that reminds us all of an epic time in human history. The space race was initially fueled by fear, but by the time man put foot on the moon, it wasn’t just an American feat. It was a feat of the human race. Furthermore, it was one of the very few times nearly the entire world stood in solidarity. Owning a piece of that history is priceless.

Photos: Barrett-Jackson