Top Flight hopefuls prep their...
Top Flight hopefuls prep their cars for judging. Each owner is required to bring all supporting documentation and present it to the judges during inspection.
Corvette owners tend to enjoy their cars' performance and styling, and many install horsepower and cosmetic enhancements to reflect their own personal tastes. Older Corvettes usually pass through many owners as they age, and quite a few have been modified more than once during these transitions. It can therefore be difficult to verify a vintage Vette's original equipment, especially since assembly-plant record keeping was spotty in the marque's early days. Fortunately, a group called the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) exists to address this issue.
Formed in 1974 by seven enthusiasts, the NCRS is a treasure trove of Corvette documentation. The Society, which boasts local chapters throughout the country, provides owners with detailed "original equipment" information for cars built from 1953 to 1996. Among its members are trained judges who can verify a car's originality using the "Top Flight" Certification program. A Corvette that has achieved Top Flight status increases in value while also preserving its history.
The Florida Chapter of the NCRS has been active since 1978 and holds the Society's first event each year. As in previous years, the 2011 meet was held at the Old Town entertainment complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
According to NCRS Florida Chapter Chairman Ed Augustine, 120 Corvettes were displayed on the show field, of which 80 were evaluated to determine their "flight" status. A total of 44 cars were awarded Top Flight when judging was completed on Saturday, with awards presented to the cars' owners at a banquet that night. The dinner also featured a presentation by team members of the '63 "Nickey Nouse" A.J. Foyt Z06 Corvette race effort.
This beautiful Panama Yellow...
This beautiful Panama Yellow ’58 is an excellent example of the quality cars displayed at the event.
"We were happy with the turnout," said Augustine. "It was somewhat larger than the previous year. Our annual Sunday non-NCRS show had over 180 cars in attendance. This portion of our show is open to all Corvette owners and is growing in popularity each year."
The show field was packed with noteworthy Corvettes of all generations, including a pristine white '56 called "The Chief" that caught our attention. This second-owner car has been driven a total of 33,818 miles and was a bequest from the original owner to his son in 1995. It's unrestored, fully documented, and well cared for.
In addition to the NCRS show, the meet also featured a large vendor area. It was jammed with Corvette suppliers from around the U.S. selling items that ranged from hubcaps to complete cars. It was a great place to shop for those hard-to-find items for your Vette.
Meanwhile, a large For Sale area featured Corvettes of every vintage and provided an excellent opportunity to get an up-to-date look at typical selling prices. Based on the prices we saw at the show, this seems like a great time to buy a Corvette.
If you get a chance to attend an NCRS event in your area, be sure to take it. These meets are a great way to enjoy Corvette's rich heritage, or even get your own car certified. For more information on certification standards visit www.ncrs.org.
The ’63 “split-window” coupe...
The ’63 “split-window” coupe was dropped after one year due to complaints over rear visibility. Today, collectors covet an original split-window Corvette.
If you look hard enough, you...
If you look hard enough, you can usually spot a Corvette celebrity or two when attending an NCRS show. We found Carlisle Events’ Lance Miller (left) gabbing with Bowling Green Assembly Plant engineer Tom Hill about Hill’s white ’11 ZR1.
“The Chief” is an original,...
“The Chief” is an original, unrestored ’56 owned by Steven Wallach from Boca Raton. The dealer installed the Indian head on the hood because it was the logo for Wallach’s father’s estate.
Two beautiful ’54 Corvettes...
Two beautiful ’54 Corvettes sit on the show field, waiting to be judged for authenticity. The Pennant Blue Vette in the foreground is owned by Tallahassee, Florida's Brian Webb.
The NCRS held an Advanced...
The NCRS held an Advanced Judging School at the winter meet. Here, the instructor uses a Top Flight ’67 convertible to teach students what to look for during judging.
Wallach inherited The Chief...
Wallach inherited The Chief from his father in 1995, with 25,775 miles on it. As shown here, he continues to maintain it in original condition.
Corvettes built from 1953...
Corvettes built from 1953 through 1996 are eligible to be judged under the NCRS guidelines. This Torch Red ’95 is being readied for judging by its owner.
The winter meet features a...
The winter meet features a large vendor field, which helps visitors in search of those hard-to-find parts. These new old stock (N.O.S.) wheel accessories are a great example.
Need a ’67 convertible? Why...
Need a ’67 convertible? Why not start off with this slightly used body? (It does need a few parts, however!)
Van Steel Corvette Parts and...
Van Steel Corvette Parts and Accessories displayed a recently restored customer car. The company performed a complete, frame-off resto on the car, which grabbed a lot of attention during the weekend.
How would you like to have...
How would you like to have this ’63 “coupe” pull up beside you at a light? You never know what you will see at one of these events.
The “Pewter Rocket” started...
The “Pewter Rocket” started life as an ordinary ’00 fixed-roof coupe. By the end of its stay with us, it sported a modified MTI Racing LS2 with 500 rwhp, Wilwood brakes, a revised suspension, C5-R headlights, a Specter Werks rear bumper, and much more.
After a long and faithful career in our project-car stable, our '00 "Pewter Rocket" coupe has found a new home in Tennessee. During its time with Team VETTE, we made many changes to improve both the looks and driveability of the car. This process required us to remove many of the stock parts, which were put in storage in case they were needed at a later date.
That moment never occurred. So when the 33rd Winter NCRS event was held, we gathered up these leftovers and set up a booth on the show's vendor field. These parts included a complete set of C5 wheels/tires, front/rear sway bars, a front bra, fuel-rail covers, front/rear brakes, the stock exhaust system, a pair of headlight assemblies, the rear bumper cover, and other assorted items. In addition, we found two '89 pre-production ZR-1 wheels and tires, and decided to offer those for sale as well. We went to GM's online parts catalog to determine the retail and wholesale prices of each item. We then printed out this information out and took it with us.
Our display booth consisted...
Our display booth consisted of three folding tables and two camping chairs, with our wares piled on the tables. Traffic was heavy throughout the three-day show, and we were happy with our sales success.
Our first show day was Thursday under bright, clear skies. Many of the show's vendors came by to shop and offer us rock-bottom prices, which we declined. Some hard-to-find items such as our floor mats, bra, and fuel-rail covers quickly sold at or near our asking prices.
Friday was our best and busiest day, with the wheels/tires, headlights, and air-cleaner system all bringing good money. Saturday was a little slower, but by the end of the day, we only had a few remaining items, including our bumper cover, ZR-1 wheels/tires, taillights, exhaust, and sway bars.
Overall, we pocketed close to $2,000, which easily paid for our gas and other trip expenses. If you have some Corvette parts lying around, we suggest heading to your nearest Corvette show--and putting some cash back in your pocket.