Posted on 10/28/2014 8:09:09 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
Peter Max was not a car guy. So when he purchased a collection of 36 Chevrolet Corvettes, one from every year of manufacture up until 1989, he had a very specific plan: He would use this slice of American history as a tool to self-promote his work as an artist, painting the machines in lurid colors while staging them in various oddball scenarios only the most expressive of minds could envision.
Only that never happened. Instead, Max left his collection in a New York City storage lot, which is where they've lived for a quarter of a century, sat gathering inches of dust, moved only when switching from one storage location to another. However, that is all about to change, as the cars are now under new ownership – one that will lovingly restore the 'Vettes and get them back on the road.
The story of how Max acquired the cars began in 1989, when music network VH1 held a contest to award a lucky viewer with a Corvette from every year of the model's existence, from 1953 to 1989. Hemmings reports that VH1 purchased the cars for $610,000, and made its money back by creating a 900 number and charging contestants $2.00 per phone call to enter.
Placing just one call, Dennis Amodeo, a carpenter from Long Island, won the prize. Shortly after receiving his army of Corvettes, Amodeo received a call from Max who had seen the collection at an auto show in 1990. Max stated that he wished to purchase the cars, and at a meet in New York City, the two hashed out a deal that reportedly included $250,000 in cash, $250,000 worth of Max's artwork and an agreement that if Max ever sold the cars, Amodeo would receive a portion of the proceeds, up to $1 million.
That!
Is the original Nomad wagon, which turned into the 55 Chevy Nomad.
Wow...
The only vette I would ever own.
'63 or '67.
the Maroon 58 on the left side of the photo would do nicely.
I was raised by an aunt and uncle until I was five. I remember my 18 year-old cousin, home on leave from the military, buying a brand spanking-new Corvette. It was probably a ‘63 or a ‘64, I’m not sure. Anyhow, he let a friend drive it, and they hit a culvert doing at least a hundred. So, his funeral is one of my earliest memories. I guess emotionally I’ve never been a fan of the cars. Maybe that’s silly, but oh well.
In 1960 I was 11 years old when Dad went shopping for a new car to replace our 1953 Ford V-8. At the Chevrolet dealer there was a Nomad station wagon & a Corvette. I sat in that ‘Vette like it was an F-100 Super Sabre. Just the instrument panel made it something magical.
Dad bought a Kingswood station wagon with air conditioning, automatic transmission, & tailgate with electric rear window. All that stuff was solid comfort then.
Anyway, hope this ‘Vette collection is preserved for posterity.
As a high schooler I had a friend whose uncle was a Corvette collector. He had, at one time or another, owned 1 of every year (although not all at the same time!). His “baby” was a white ‘53 which he kept even as he bought and sold off the others.
I got to drive most of them - except the ‘53.
Lessee now...I grew up hearing that the 1953 was a half-year model that came only in white, underpowered with a straight six & `Blue Flame’ carburetors, had those chain link headlight guards, but that the 1954 was identical only up-engined with a V-8.
And now I much prefer sitting upright in my minivan while the young folks are lying stretched out flat in their Corvettes about an inch from the pavement. It’s called getting older.
;^)
... sigh ...
Some folks have so much money they lose perspective on the value of things. If I had even one of those, it would be one of my most valued possessions.
As an aside....
Back in the late 60s my aunt who lived in NYC dated Peter Max. When she passed away, I was given the chore of cleaning out her bedroom in the family homestead, where she stayed when she came to CT for the weekend.
In her closet I found a shoebox with notes and letters he sent her with all kinds of sketches on the edges of the papers [like doodles, I suppose]
Your post kindled the memory that maybe, I shouldn't have thrown the shoebox in the trash. Heh.
I'll drive a hybrid...
Those split window vettes were f’ing GORGEOUS. The entire body style was.
I have a 1993 40th anniversary addition Vette in my garage and just had it inspected last week (it was 2 months past due). I drove it 11 miles between inspections, which in this case, was 14 months. I bought it new.
Any idea what the storage costs must be by now?
Best looking Corvette ever.
Or what “business” was being conducted inside.
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