2016 Carmel Artomobilia August 26-27
Three amazing Corvettes, one immaculate garage. Artomobilia’s Jon Pitz speaks to Les about his award winning cars and his participation in this year’s 2016 Carmel Artomobilia August 26-27, 2016 in the Arts & Design District of downtown Carmel, Indiana.
Fallen for a ’67 Corvette
For Les, his love for the Corvette begins before he even has his license. Watching the new models roll off the truck at the local Chevy dealer, he falls hard for the 1967 Corvette and vows to own one someday. Today his collection boasts several Vettes including a ’67.
A Triple Crown 1960 Corvette
The pride and joy of his garage has to be the lovingly restored 1960 Corvette. This sateen silver and red beauty is in original factory condition with “every nut and bolt the way it was when it rolled off the line”. This triple crown car, having won the NCRS Top Flight, Bloomington Gold and the Chicago Vette Fest Silver Spinner awards, is the centerpiece in Les’s collection.
Route 66 Helps Put the Corvette on the Map
The 1960 model brakes model year sales records for the Chevy Corvette with 10,261 units sold. What might have helped is the premiere of the hit TV show Route 66, featuring two young guys (in their brand new Chevy Corvettes) who take to the American highways in search of adventure, forever solidifying the link between the open road and this cool sports car.
Gutted ’59 Corvette Finds New Life as Resto-Mod
Les rarely gets to drive his restored 1960 Corvette, which is why he has a 1959 Corvette resto-mod sitting in the wings. It is a stock body with a new Corvette underneath – modern chassis, suspension, brakes and an LS3 500hp engine. “I wouldn’t take a restorable car and make it into a resto-mod but this car was a mess when we got it. Virtually none of the components were there”. With all the modern bells and whistles, this Vette can fly!
The Popularity of Resto-Mods
The ’59 is a prime example of why the resto-mod movement is so popular. Keeping a car in its original factory condition is the goal of every restorer but a resto-mod car is meant to be driven. With improved safety and performance built in, a resto-mod gives you a classic look with modern components and provides a gutted vehicle a new lease on life.
1967 Corvette is a Childhood Dream Come True
The third car in Les’s garage is a 1967 Corvette resto-mod. Like his other builds, this car isn’t a candidate for restoration so he decides to have some fun with it. He adds a 525 LS3 motor and an interior which mimics a Mercedes-Benz. “The ’67 is an iconic car for me. I wanted one since I was a kid.”
Sharing a Corvette Passion at Artomobilia 2016
For over 60 years the Corvette has been America’s sports car and it shows no sign of giving up that title. For true fans like Les, restoring and resurrecting these great cars is a labor of love. Be sure to come out and see his gorgeous ’67 Corvette resto-mod at this year’s Artomobilia. It might just ignite a passion in you.
Art Lovers and Car Enthusiasts Celebrate
Artomobilia is a two-day celebration of automotive art and design and the unending passion we have for our classic and collector cars. The weekend festivities kick off Friday night with Fuelicious: A Celebration of Wheels + Wishes, an exclusive event on the grounds of the Lucas Estate, featuring 50 distinct collector cars, all in support of the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund. Saturday the streets of Carmel’s Arts and Design District come alive with music, food, shopping and some spectacular cars on display. We hope to see you there!
Proud Sponsor of Carmel Artomobilia
Classic Auto Insurance is proud to support the 2016 Carmel Artomobilia and classic car collectors everywhere. Let us help you customize the perfect insurance policy for your one of a kind car. Our friendly, expert staff will answer all your questions and help you find the right coverage for your needs. Visit our website at www.classicins.com and see how we can help safeguard your dream car collection.
