http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/WilsonRacePhotos/Wilson%20Customs/DSCN1307.jpg

Sometime the best hiding place is in plain sight. Many of us have examples of this right in our own collections. Cars painted up in a racing livery that we just assumed were the whimsical afterthought of a toy company designer.

In reality, many of these designs are based on actually cars. From time to time, I will select a widely released racing replica and offer the "back story" or history of that particular piece. Information is widely available on street versions, so The Back Story will most often focus on motorsports based themes. Such is the case of Greenlight's racing themed 1962 Corvette replica.

It's almost as though the guys at GL were trying to slip a little history into our die cast collection. Many collectors just assumed that Greenlight racing themed diecast have been fantasy creations (excluding the wonderful IRL and Grand Am series), but all is not what it seems. Join me on a little journey of a diecast with genuine automotive heritage.

On October 11, 1961, when the white Corvette coupe rolled off the line, it was 1,261 of 14,531 built for the '62 model year. This particular hot rod was purchased by Hugh Powell of Riverside California. And I can just imagine that the MK Smith Chevrolet (Chino, CA) sales staff laughed when Mr. Powell boldly declared the car was bound for Europe as a race car. Based on the option package and build sheet, he was quite serious about this venture. The hardtop was ordered with heavy duty steering and brakes, black steel wheels and a Posi-Traction rear axle.

The fuel-injected small block was soon reworked as well as several additional "race" tweaks. These included driving-fog lights, new exhaust, a larger gas tank with racing filler cap and the peculiar blue stripping over the hood and around the roof line. The red interior was actually stock. Oddly enough, the passenger seat was left intact and no roll bar was ever added! I read that this was rare even by 1962 standards.

In a shake down run, the car won it’s first event, a hill climb in Verona Italy. From there is was entered into the 1962 edition of the 24 Hours Of Le Mans. Driven by Tony Settember and Jack Turner, Mr. Powell’s Corvette managed 14 hours and 150 laps before a missed shift led to transmission and fuel injection problems. When all was finished, they still managed a third in class and a very respectable 29 out of 55 total cars!

Over the next many years the car served as daily transportation for several owners. This even includes two repaints (first black and then red). In 1987 the car was purchased by the late Dale Pearman, a well known Corvette expert with a passion for vintage racing iron. Knowing the car's history, Dale set about to restore the Vette to it's original Le Mans configuration.

Unfortunately, Mr. Pearman did not see the completion of his beloved project. Friends finished the car just 6 months after his passing in 2004. Today, the blue and white Vette resides in the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green Kentucky. A tribute to it's spring drive through the French countryside over 47 years before. One of only five straight axle Corvettes to ever compete in the historic endurance classic.

Now you know the whole story! Greenlight produced this 1:64 replica as a part of the third release in the Corvette Collection. I think it was interesting that they offered no historic perspective on the car at all, leaving many to assume it was just a fantasy design. Now however, you know that your holding a little bit of racing history right in your hand.

I do hope you have enjoyed this journey through automotive history, this is the first of several I will share with you over the next few months. Watch for more in this series and thanks for read.

Ward Wilson
"69Stang"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/WilsonRacePhotos/1962LM03.jpg
web image of the real car in action!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/WilsonRacePhotos/Wilson%20Customs/DSCN1304.jpg

Diecast diorama photos by the author.

MK Smith in Chino. That be my neck of the woods. Thanks for the history. I enjoy reading about the old race cars. It is amazing how many cars you think are just make believes from the diecast maker are actually based on real cars. HW is the one that really surprised me with some of their cars. I look forward to your reports. On the diecast database I am redoing I am putting data down on race cars that were based on real cars.

Ward - thanks for the awesome research!!! I knew about the LeMans part of this car, but was always too lazy to research the whole story. Thanks to you, I don't have to! :)

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I'm loving it Ward :)

Thanks for the history and looking forward to the next installment :wave:


Denis :tongue:

Thanks for the pics and history on the Vette.

Your welcome gang, heck I'm just happy that you guys take the time to read my post!

If anyone is a member over at the Greenlight club (Under The Hood) feel free to copy this and post over there. Just credit to 69Stang, as that was the same name I used when I was a member last year.

It really is a great company club site, but since my collecting habits run almost to the racing replicas exclusively, I just did not see renewing my membership.

Thanks again for all your support guys, it keep this hobby fun to share with enthusiasts like yourself.

Ward

A++++++++++++!!!!!
Your text shoulda been on the GL package verbatim.
I wish more people could appreciate automotive history, not just the latest $100,000
road rocket or how much that '70 Hemi 'Cuda went for at Barrett Jackson.

That's a great read, Ward!

Thanks for sharing your research.

Jim

Thanks guys, your too kind. It's sorta my "thing" bringing diecast to life with understanding the history and people that make each subject special.

This sounds corney, but it's still true. If I can make that connection between even just one collector and the history of a casting, then I have fulfilled my mission.

Sports Car Road Racing is so misunderstood here in the States. Unless you bow before the mighty 800 pound NASCAR gorilla, most folks have no idea the amazing automotive legacy that lurks in their collection. Remember, in the late 60's, NASCAR was NOT the leading form of motorsports, it was the Trans AM series. More coverage, more fans, more everything except marketing. And that is what moved the circle track gang to the front. The big three saw more opportunity to sell cars through stock car racing to the non race fans. And you know the rest, where the money goes....

Obviously, the designers with the diecast manufacture know the history of each casting they release. But for some reason, they often leave the back story buried, leaving a little fun for the rest of us to dig for.

The big three saw more opportunity to sell cars through stock car racing to the non race fans. And you know the rest, where the money goes....



I would counter that drag racing pushed sales of regular cars more than any of the other type of racing in the U.S during the 1960's. You only need to look at the cars coming out of Detroit and how they were set up. I read an interview with Bob Tasca Senior and he had said in 1963-65 he sold an extra 2,300 Fords as well as millions of dollars in parts as a direct result of his NHRA racing program.

I think from a spectator point of view Trans Am racing is the most exciting though Nascar at tracks like Riverside was pretty cool also.

I don't believe Nascar has the big 3 to thank for their rise in popularity in the early 70's but rather two other companies: R.J. Reynolds and Busch.



Obviously, the designers with the diecast manufacture know the history of each casting they release. But for some reason, they often leave the back story buried, leaving a little fun for the rest of us to dig for.

This is so true. I remember Jada of all companies made a 71-73 Mach I with Mach I lettering showing up on the rear quarter panels. I thought this was so weird. Later I found out that there was a Mexican version similar to the Spirit Fords of 1972 and that the Jada was a sample of that car.

Hey Ward, When you get a chance can you research the other white 61-62 Corvette with the #12 on it? I am stuck on identifying it. Don Yenko used the #12 in Production B but I can't verify if the GL is the same car.

OK Atencio, points well made and taken. I was thinking of circuit racing and never even factored drag racing into my thought process. Touche!

I would say that all the series of that era, the AHRA, NHRA, IHRA were HUGH in that period. And yes, I agree that by far it was drag racing that drove the auto makers in search of performance. A few aero models were introduced to meet the needs of the NASCAR and USAC boys, but far more development dollars were spent on both drag and road racing at that time.

As for R.J. Reynolds and Busch, I also agree. Without the marketing strength of these giants, would NASCAR been able to gain the upper head on popularity? As for the big three, (4 at that time with AMC?) it has been written that they saw a need to reach the non race fan (a larger market) and that NASCAR offered that platform. With larger, family sedan type cars, it must have been perceived to be more of a "everyday common man" series. Not the radical image the others series equipment must have presented.

What a time to have been a fan of all motorsports! Can Am, Trans AM, USAC (stock car AND open wheel), NHRA (as well as IHRA and AHRA), Grand Prix, Dirt track of all types, The glory days of land speed efforts...it goes on and on! We have great versatility today, but I don't think the access is as inviting as in days gone by. Now it seems common to be boxed into a processed series, never acknowledging other forms of racing.

Oh by the way, the #12 is up next on my GL list. And your right, this is the Yenko car. Good eyes!

I love reading the bits of history that you post up Ward, thank you!

Oh by the way, the #12 is up next on my GL list. And your right, this is the Yenko car. Good eyes!

Sweet. I can't wait for the story on it. Thanks in advance.

great read. thanks ward

who would of thunk we'd get educated playing with little toy cars? nice read sir, thank you

I've seen it in person I believe.

Very Nice read. Beeing a Vette enthusiast and also loving endurance racing, this makes me appreciate this little model even more!! I will now store it in my museum Dio on my layout (when I finish it). Thanks again for the research and awesome read. Great work my friend.

Thanks for the back story. I knew the car looked familliar.