Chassis no. 10867S103188

283-cid, 275-hp OHV fuel-injected V-8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 102.0-inches

The newly designed iconic Corvette arrived with the 1956 model. Restyled with a more flowing body, the car was given concave side coves finished in contrasting color. Roll-up side windows provided all-weather comfort and required exterior door handles. Engines were all V-8s. Development of the Corvette continued under engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov. The 283 cubic inch V-8 was adopted in 1957, making 283-hp with optional fuel injection, and a four-speed transmission was made available. By 1959 there were power options up to 290-hp and sales topped 10,000.

The 1961 model year brought Corvette a new look. The teeth were eliminated from the grille and headlamp bezels gave up chrome for body color. Most prominent of the changes, however, was a newly-contoured tail section, giving rise to the nickname “duck tail.” A precursor to the radical Sting Ray of 1963, it gave the public a preview of things to come.

A frame-off restoration by Jim Mariotti of Rochester, New York, this 1961 fuel injection Corvette has earned three Top Flight Awards from the National Corvette Restorers Society. These were awarded to Mariotti on completion in 1992, and again in 1999 and 2000 to subsequent owner Norman Penrice of Granite Bay, California. The quality of the restoration is such that the car could probably earn an award today.

Handsome in red with white coves, it has a Wonderbar radio, heater and clock. Contours and paint are excellent, and the stainless brightwork shows only minor scratches. The red vinyl seats are excellent, and match the carpet. The engine room is correct in every way, though not overdone. It comes with an Owner’s Guide, an album of the restoration, and awards scoring sheets.

In the popular 1960s television program “Route 66,” Todd Stiles and Buzz Murdock traveled that iconic U.S. highway in a duck-tail Corvette, seeking work, romance and adventure. Not surprisingly, Corvette sales took an upturn as soon as the show came on the air. Put yourself behind the wheel of this car and you can enjoy a reprise of 20th Century America.