Dr. Mark Davis is Sending His Collection of Five ‘Ultimately Preserved Corvettes’ to Mecum Indy

Photo Credit: Mecum Auctions

It was a couple of years ago that we had the pleasure to first meet Dr. Mark Davis and got to know about his penchant for collecting only the most original, well documented examples of Corvettes. Back at Mecum’s Kissimmee 2024 auction Mark offered three of the most pristine Corvettes filled with binders of documentation. Called the “Ultimately Preserved Collection”, these original time-capsule Corvettes are matching numbers that also have every imaginable piece of documentation, as well as things like spare keys, service receipts, and more.

Dr. Davis purchased his first Corvette at the ripe age of just 17 years old and today he estimates that he’s owned over 150 Corvettes. His collection is a testament to his unwavering commitment to authenticity, with each Corvette meticulously verified as the most original of its kind, boasting matching numbers and unrestored condition.

“The Corvettes in my collection have to be fully documented from day one,” Dr. Davis explained. “I take great satisfaction in tracking them down and acquiring all the corresponding paperwork.”

Now, Dr. Davis is back with five more ‘Ultimately Preserved Corvettes‘ ranging from a 1962 roadster to a 2004 Convertible that will be offered this week during Mecum’s Spring Classic in Indianapolis. Check them out below with their official catalog descriptions from Mecum.com:

1962 Corvette Convertible

This 1962 Chevrolet Corvette was built by Chevrolet on April 2, 1962 and delivered to Sage Chevrolet in Calabasas, California. Records reveal that it was purchased when new by Bruno Salvatore Cirello of Spring Valley, California. After 10 years of ownership, Cirello sold it to a gentleman from San Diego, California. Then, in 1979, with the car still in “like-new” condition, it was purchased by its next owner, Erwin Hoffman, who would go on to immaculately care for the car for the next 34 years.

Current owner and Corvette preservation aficionado Dr. Mark Davis said Hoffman will be the first to tell you that he has been a “Corvette Guy” all of his life, noting that he owned several Corvettes over his lifetime, but this 1962 was always his favorite. Hoffman freshened up the paint early in the car’s life and went on to show the car at numerous Corvette events over the years, an effort that led to winning awards at both Bloomington Gold and the National Corvette Restorers Society. According to Dr. Davis, Hoffman was also a firm believer in following proper maintenance protocol and went “by the book” when it came to oil/filter and fluid changes. As a result of his exceptional care and the car always being kept in a climate-controlled space, this ultimately preserved Corvette still retains almost all of its original parts with the exception of only some maintenance items.

1967 Corvette Coupe

This Ultimately Preserved 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe from the collection of Dr. Mark Davis is one of the most well-preserved, original, unrestored, matching-numbers 1967 Corvettes in existence. With a mere 32,219 miles on the odometer, it remains in remarkably original condition, excepting such typical maintenance items as the battery, the tires and one radiator hose.

Because of its highly original condition, it has received more than a dozen of the most coveted awards in the Corvette hobby, including Bloomington Gold, Survivor and Benchmark Certification, two NCRS Top Flight honors scoring 98.3%, and the coveted NCRS 5-Star Bowtie Preservation Award, the latter making it one of only 21 1967 Corvettes so honored. It is also the only 1967 Corvette ever awarded the All Time Preservation award by the Historical Vehicle Association of America and the only ever awarded Best in Preservation Class at both the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance and the Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance. It has additionally served as a benchmark reference car at two NCRS annual judging retreats in Dallas, Texas, to train top Corvette judges from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, and has been photographed numerous times by the NCRS for its 1967 Corvette Judging Manual. At the 2019 Corvette Expo in Galveston, Texas, it swept the field, winning the Tri-Power Award, Best Survivor Corvette, Best Overall Corvette, Best Overall Car of the event, and the President’s choice award. The awards this Corvette has received more than verify the ultimate preservation of this 1967 Corvette 427 coupe.

1967 Corvette Convertible

Purchased from the original owner’s estate in 2023, this incredible, highly original, matching-numbers 1967 L79 327/350 Corvette convertible with a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission shows only 23,158 miles on the odometer. Purchased just days before taking his new girlfriend on their first date, this beautiful Corvette roadster would go on to be central to their relationship and lifelong marriage, and as such, the original owner cherished and pampered this Corvette with the love that one has for a child, according to Corvette aficionado, collector and current owner Dr. Mark Davis.

The low miles are a testament to the overall preserved condition. Meticulously kept and maintained, routine maintenance records with mileage verification from new, along with a copy of the original owner’s Ohio title, help to fortify the odometer reading of just 23,157 miles. Dr. Davis purchased this incredible car to add to his “Ultimately Preserved Corvette Collection,” and he has gone on to say that this car is one of the best, if not possibly the best, “completely all original Corvette’s he has ever seen.” It checks all of the boxes with its highly desirable, rare, original and beautiful Sunfire Yellow paint, its black soft top and black vinyl hardtop, which all present extremely well.

1969 Corvette Convertible

Hailing from the second model year for the electrifying third-generation Corvette run, this compelling example is an incredibly original, matching-numbers 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. Built on November 22, 1969, it is an ultimately preserved and almost completely original, other than maintenance items. All paint, glass, chrome and stainless trim are original, and the odometer reads 37,208 miles at the time of writing.

Power is delivered by the original L46 350/350 HP V-8 engine, paired with the original Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission driving a 3.70:1 ratio Positraction rear end. Rally wheels with raised white-letter Firestone Wide Oval tires deliver road contact. Finished in highly desirable and original Monza Red paint with the original black vinyl interior, the Corvette includes the original dated white soft top and Monza Red removable hardtop. Other highlights include factory front-fender louver trim, an AM/FM stereo radio, original power steering, the original and never-mounted spare, original dated tinted glass, a custom-fit car cover, a custom-fit hardtop cover, a convertible top “Dutchman’s Role,” rolling hardtop carrier, and an additional hardtop cover. Predictably, this Corvette received Bloomington Gold Survivor certification and the NCRS Top Flight award with a 97.0% judging score.

2004 Corvette Convertible

The story has been told, and records reflect, that this beautiful “Ultimately Preserved” Torch Red 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible was ordered in mid-2003 by Alexandra “Sandy” Davis of Clifton Park, New York. At that time, Alexandra Davis and her husband were planning on soon retiring to the state of Florida, and she wanted a “Little Red Corvette” to enjoy while living there. After waiting on their order to be filled, they traveled to the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to watch their new Corvette finally be built on Thursday, September 4, 2003.

After taking delivery, they went on to cherish and enjoy the Corvette for nearly 19 years. During their ownership, they carefully accumulated only a little over 5,000 miles. They absolutely loved their Corvette, taking incredible care of it while always keeping it in a climate-controlled space. Records reflect that, during their ownership, they went strictly “by the book” regarding Chevrolet’s recommended maintenance schedule. They changed the fluids along with the oil and filter regularly, whether it was needed or not. Records show the oil and filter were changed practically every year, when in most cases, that oil had only a few hundred miles on it. As a result, this 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible remains in incredibly original condition.

Dana Mecum’s 38th Spring Classic

Dana Mecum’s 38th Original Spring Classic is happening now through May 17th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, and an estimated 3,000 collector vehicles are expected to cross the auction block. The annual Indy auction has surpassed $100 million in total sales for the past four consecutive years, and we expect this year to be just as big. Fans can watch the action live on ESPN+, with coverage running from Wednesday, May 14, through Saturday, May 17, starting at noon Eastern each day.

Mecum offers options for in-person, telephone and internet bidding starting at $100, and you can register to bid at Mecum.com.

For more information on any of these great Corvettes or any other collector cars on the Mecum Indianapolis docket, head over to Mecum.com.

Source:

Mecum.com

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