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.
Smart carpenter.
Wonder what Max’s artwork is worth today?
Hard to see nice cars under such dust, though.
That is not right.
At least Max did not ruin them with psychodelic artwork.
That Barrett-Jackson show on TV ought to be good.
Which one would you take if you could only have one?
1963--any model.
1958
1958-62, they had such a “badass” yet classy look.
A 1954 Waldorf Corvette Nomad Wagon.
I had to google that. Very interesting!
It was September of 1964 in Baton Rouge Louisiana. I had come up from New Orleans with a church group to play in a basketball tournament. We stopped for lunch at a White Castle when this bright red ‘63 split window driven by the prettiest blond haired beauty I had ever seen pulled up.
I’ve lusted after them ever since (the car too!) ;’)
That is one bizzarro automobile - kind of like the bastard spawn of smoking hot ‘vette and an ugly duckling Nova wagon. If Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett were cars, that’s what I would expect their offspring to look like.
Those years were gorgeous.
Too bad they look so awful now.
“Which one would you take if you could only have one?”
Either the 57 or the 58.
Won every SCCA race we entered in 1957 with one and won the Guadalahara Sate Fair in 58 with a 58 which we sold to Rodriuez after we beat their factory Porche and lapped their 57 Corvette.
“Which one would you take if you could only have one?”
Either the 57 or the 58.
Won every SCCA race we entered in 1957 with one and won the Guadalahara Sate Fair in 58 with a 58 which we sold to Rodriuez after we beat their factory Porche and lapped their 57 Corvette.
‘63 split window. One model year only for the backlight. Incredibly rare.
CC
i get julia is the nova,’ but lyle ain’t the vette.
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