1962 Tangier Shrine Parade Corvette Goes to Mecum Auction in Kissimmee. This Corvette is painted Heather Amethyst. In this post, we will look at some of its histories.
Photo Credits: William Wolf IV
Here is some history on this unusual 1962 Tangier Shrine Parade Corvette painted Heather Amethyst.
In 1957 eleven Omaha business and civic leaders formed the Tangier Shrine Patrol. They performed in parades throughout the Midwest and East showing their driving skills and promoting traffic safety in the community. The men also helped to raise money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The founding member was a Chevrolet Dealer. His name was Garwood Anderson of Wahoo, Nebraska. He ordered an identical Corvette through the Central Office Production Order system.
The group of men continued to order identical Corvettes for 25 years. They would use these Vettes while performing their precision maneuvers. Often they would be only 6-inches apart as they did their close-order drills.
Chevrolet General Manager Bunkie Knudsen said they could have their choice of any color from the GM division for the 1962 Corvette. The men voted for the Cadillac Heather Amethyst with white interiors. However, the white interior was not available, so they chose red. The extremely unusual combination left made it easy to identify the Shriner parade Corvette. Interestingly enough, one of the first owners painted the car silver.
A man in South Carolina purchased the 1962 Corvette in 1983. He was doing a frame-off restoration and found the layer of amethyst paint.
The Carolina man checked with a Bloomington Gold judge who helped identify the car as one of the 1962 Tangier Shrine Patrol Corvettes.
The Corvette, now back in its original amethyst and red combination is at the Mecum Auction and goes across the block Thursday, January 12, 2017, in Kissimmee, Florida.
The 1962 Tangier Shrine Patrol Corvette powered by the 327/250 HP V-8 engine also has a 3-speed manual transmission. Other features include Metallic Brakes, heater, and defroster, signal-seeking AM radio, tach and clock, and whitewall tires with full-size spinner wheel covers.
The Mecum website says, “This unique Shriners Corvette comes with a letter from the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, verifying its display there from June 14, 2006, through April 6, 2008.”
SOURCE: Mecum Auction Website
The Mecum Kissimmee 2017, the world’s largest collector-car auction began Jan. 6 and continues through Sunday, Jan. 15, at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.
The Kissimmee 2017 auction is open to sellers, buyers and spectators. Bidder registration is $200; registration includes admission for the bidder and a guest for all remaining auction days. Persons interested in consigning a vehicle to be auctioned at Mecum Kissimmee 2017 can visit Mecum.com or call 262-275-5050 for complete details about the consignment process and pricing.
Schedule:
Osceola Heritage Park
1875 Silver Spur Lane
Kissimmee, FL 34744
Jan. 6-15, 2017
Admission: $30 per person, per day, or $200 for all remaining days of the auction; children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission
Preview: Gates open daily at 7:30 a.m.
Auction: Vehicles start at 10 a.m. daily, with Road Art beginning at 8 a.m. daily
Kissimmee Premier Airings (NBCSN): Thursday, Jan. 12, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Live); Friday, Jan. 13, from 2 to 6 p.m. (Live) and 8:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Saturday, Jan. 14, from 8:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Monday, Jan. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 29, from 2-3 p.m.
(All times Central)
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