Equipment
Hailed as possibly the first V8 powered Corvette, the EX87 roadster had been assigned job no. 5951 for its initial testing and experimental uses. As the story goes, Chevys chief engineer, three time Indy 500 winner Mauri Rose, had a pre production small block Chevrolet installed in a 1954 Corvette by Smokey Yunick for testing purposes. When those initial tests were completed, Zora Arkus Duntov acquired the car, carried out a few body modifications and then took it out for testing and development runs. Before 1955 production started, the engine was removed by Yunick and placed in another experimental Corvette, while the leftover mule was put out to pasture. As presented it looked much like it had when Duntov was dialing in the cars suspension and mechanical attributes from Arizo to Florida. Offered by noted collector, and Chevrolet dealer Bob McDorman, the body work showed several typical flaws of the day with some seam lines visible, but under the hood sat the origil engine, and it fired up immediately on sale day.
Market commentary
What we were a little confused about was that it carried a 1955 Corvettes ID numbers, and we were not able to get a full explation. However, one can assume that somewhere along this cars life, donor cars were involved in this vehicles restoration and rebirth. For the new owner, it is a verified piece of living history of Americas sports car, and has to take its place as significant models up there with the EX122, Mako Shark and Grand Sports. The price is what it took to own it and is reasoble for its history and provence.