The unbelievable story of a secret Corvette
with only 3,000 miles
C1Finding low-milage classic cars tucked away in garages isn't exactly big news these days, but this one is a little different… In April, the Houston Mecum Auction will feature the most unmolested Corvette Stingray in all of consumer Corvette history and maybe the most valuable. Here's the car's crazy story:When a 30 yr old Colorado Springs man, Don McNamara, celebrated his discharge from the Marines with a trip to Vegas in the fall of 1966, he got a little lucky- winning $5,000. Obviously, he put it all towards the purchase of a 1967 big-block Corvette Stingray.
The car came just as he wanted… White paint, red stinger stripe, 4-speed, bolt-on aluminum wheels, side-pipes, and more. As Stingrays go, it was pretty much stacked. When it was delivered on May 20 by Ray Motor Co. in Lamar, CO, Don hit the town in his new baby…
But then after just a couple months the car disappeared. Don repeatedly told others he no longer owned the car, but people were right not to be convinced.
When Don passed away in 2011 his neighbors, to whom he had willed his ENTIRE estate, found quite a surprise in the garage: the white '67 Corvette Stingray Don purchased new in 1966. It had less than 3,000 miles.
Apparently Don did drive the car during the 70s and 80s, but only under the cover of darkness. When the odometer approached 3,000 he parked it for good, creating a strange shrine to America in and around it with his belongings.
Here are some of the most insane details about this car from Mecum:
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Unrestored with 2,996 original miles
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One owner until July 2011
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Documented with practically every original document including the window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, purchase receipt, title, registration, photos and owner's manual
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The original owner, Don McNamara is the only person to have driven the car
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3 people are known to have sat in the car
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No one has sat in the passenger seat
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Last driven regularly in October 1967 and not driven since the mid 1980s
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Mr. McNamara's belongings remain in the car