Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

[Michael J.]

An interesting story. Not sure I would preserve it in this manner, but not sure what it would look like vs. a full restoration. In any event, it won't be driven anymore.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/10/03/neil-armstrong-corvette-heads-toward-preservation/?refer=news

[Roy S.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

I would say it is safe to assume based on what I see, it hasn't been driven in
decades!

[Michael J.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

I would say it is safe to assume based on what I see, it hasn't been driven in
decades!

You got that right. But at some point it was rode hard and put away wet, and they want to "preserve" that state I guess???????

[Roy S.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

You got that right. But at some point it was rode hard and put away wet, and they want to "preserve" that state I guess???????

You are right about that its life has not been easy; the question in my mind would be what was it like when Armstrong leased it? I doubt he turned it in with flairs, damaged body and abused.

[Michael M.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

If you were gonna "keep it as Armstrong had it", you would have to restore it back to the way it was when he had it. He only had it for a year, I would bet it didn't look like that!

[Rick A.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

yepper, he leased it for $1.00 and then when 1968's came out he turned it back in

[Marc W.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

Not sure how close Mr. Armstrong was with Mr. Rathmann, but Grissom's 67 had fender flares and racing slicks during the short time he had it. Just sayin?

[Ian G.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

If you read the whole article you see they plan to replace the fender flares with nos fenders (already obtained), repaint those sections and generally clean it up, as well as document its condition and make-up... trying to return it as close as possible to its condition in 1968 when he gave it up, without actually NCRS restoring it. pretty cool actually.

[Greg C.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

The article says that the flairs were added by the previous owner (not by NA). The only thing they are "preserving" is years of neglect and hard use. My guess is that it was looking pretty new and pretty original after the 12 months Neil had it.

Preservation is cutting edge? News to me.

[Roy S.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

The article says that the flairs were added by the previous owner (not by NA). The only thing they are "preserving" is years of neglect and hard use. My guess is that it was looking pretty new and pretty original after the 12 months Neil had it.

Preservation is cutting edge? News to me.

I agree completely. It sounds to me like once again someone wants to create some point in history that did not exist.

[Roy S.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

Not sure how close Mr. Armstrong was with Mr. Rathmann, but Grissom's 67 had fender flares and racing slicks during the short time he had it. Just sayin?

With respect to the Grissom Car once again recently published information is an attempt to recreate American History. The car received two NCRS very low top fight awards, in 1987 and 1989 some 25 and 23 years ago. It recently sold at auction as a spectacular piece of American History, in red with red interior and a white stinger (a color combination not even available during production). Another article indicates the car was originally Blue when built and leased to Grissom, which I happen to believe is true so information may exist to document the car had drag slicks and flairs; I have not seen that but I would probably come closer to believing that than I would anything else in its recent recreation of history.

[Marc W.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

Hi Roy, I can asure you the Grissom 67 was originally blue, and at one time it had a website with photos of the car that were taken while Gus had it, blue with the wide tires and flares. I have searched and searched but can no longer find evidence of the former site. Jim Rathmann did those modifications to the 67 in an effort to allow Grissom an advantage over Alan Shepard, who according to what I have heard was a slighly better driver and had an almost identical 67 big block.

[Roy S.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

Hi Roy, I can asure you the Grissom 67 was originally blue, and at one time it had a website with photos of the car that were taken while Gus had it, blue with the wide tires and flares. I have searched and searched but can no longer find evidence of the former site. Jim Rathmann did those modifications to the 67 in an effort to allow Grissom an advantage over Alan Shepard, who according to what I have heard was a slighly better driver and had an almost identical 67 big block.

[Marc W.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

If you get a chance check your E mail and PMs I just sent one to you. Marc

[Gene M.]

Re: Neil Armstrong Corvette being "preserved".

Preserving this car with the history of wear and tear by persons other than Armstrong is a farce. Who cares about a used up vehicle as claimed which it is not. It seems someone is just attempting to get a lot of attention to a "fabricated preservation" for eventual $ profit. I think I said the same as Roy but in much bolder terms.