Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Indiana Jones of Automotive Archeology: Tom Cotter



OK guys, drop what you are doing right now and check out the books by Tom Cotter!


This man has spent his adult life finding barn cars, meeting other guys who have found barn cars, and writing books about barn cars.  His books have engaging stories about real guys like us who have always dreamed of finding treasure in a barn, garage, back lot or a junk yard and, through persistence, struck gold.  The pages are filled with great prose and terrific “before” and “after” photos.  He is the master of automotive archeology!

I met Tom over the telephone a few weeks ago and have finished reading “The HEMI in the Barn”.  I couldn't put it down.  His other books include: “The Corvette in the Barn”; “The Cobra in the Barn”; and “TV Tommy Ivo”.  I just bought the "Corvette in the Barn" and will be reading it this week!

Tom has appeared on the Jay Leno show and Jay wrote the foreword to “The HEMI in the Barn”.  Here is a great interview with Jay:


Tom’s next book will be “101 Barn Cars That You Wish You Had Found!”  Wouldn’t it be cool if “Operation Corvette Rescue” appeared in Tom’s next book?

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

2013 ALMS Racing Mid Point: Corvette Racing in the lead!

This weekend we completed the 5th of 10 races in the 2013 American Le Mans Series season.  The No. 4 Corvette finished first driven by Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner.  They are the only driver combo to repeat a victory so far this season; I'm sure they are hoping to repeat their driving championship from last year. 

Once again this year the battle is primarily between Corvette and BMW; Team Corvette has three 1st place finishes; the two other 1st place finishes when to BMW.  The Viper team is much improved over last year, however, and at the midpoint is in third place ahead of Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin teams.  In the fifth race the finish was Corvette - Viper - Viper - Corvette adding a truly "American" flavor to the "American" Le Mans Series!

The next race will be on August 11th at Road America in Wisconsin; sadly I won't be able to attend this year as we did the past two years.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Corvette Parts for Sale!

It is time to clean out all the left over parts from the 1956 Corvette Restoration in order to get ready for the next project:  a 1967 Corvette project.

The parts below are suitable for a "survivor" project.  Some parts are new, others are pretty good.  

Please make any offer for the parts you need or for the entire lot!  I need to clean out the garage!

Email your offers to cary62vette@gmail.com 


Qty Description Condition  Corvette Central Price   Asking Price  Corvette Central Part Number
1 The big cast-iron third arm support (Original) Original  $   265.00  $  132.50 571059
1 Third arm Original  $   145.00  $    72.50 571065
1 The other steering tie rods and drag link (Original) Original  N/A   $    20.00
1 The metal “inspection” cover that goes on the floor above the transmission under the carpet Original
 $      5.00
1 Brake pdeal pad (for automatic) New  $     16.00  $    12.80 381006
1 Gas Cap, Vented Original  $     22.95  $    11.48 361013
Pair Left and Right Door strikers with anti-skid plates and screws Original  $     74.95  $    37.48 281051
1 Door hinge cover plate New  $       7.25  $      5.80 281070
2 Door hinge nut with cage New  $       4.50  $      3.60 281075
1 Door lock mechanism (Right) Original  $     99.95  $    49.98 281063
1 Door glass seal New  $     13.50  $    10.80 281014
2 Pr. Rear Park cable boots (rubber) New  $     12.50  $    10.00 191026
2 Door reveal moulding retainer outer (Left & Right) Original  $     46.20  $    23.10 281036
1 Door window inner moulding (stainless) Original  $     44.50  $    22.25 281015
1 Door window outer moulding (stainless) Original  $     59.00  $    29.50 281060
1 Door handle "Cup Support" Original  $     26.00  $    13.00 481180
2 Underbody seatbelt reinforcement - Outer Original  $     19.00  $      9.50 481423
4 Underbody seat hold down retainer plate Original  $       6.00  $      3.00 181310
1 Brake Pedal Clevis Pin Original  $       9.50  $      4.75 191007
1 Left Hand Brake line block w/hardware Original  $     19.95  $      9.98 191243
1 Right Hand Brake line block w/hardware Original  $     19.95  $      9.98 191242
1 Outer Steering column plate on Firewall Original  $     29.95  $    14.98 561144
1 Male decklid lock assembly (58 - 62) Original  $     45.00  $    22.50 541010
1 Glove box lock Original  $     36.95  $    18.48 501175
1 Speedometer gauge lenses (2 pieces - outer and inner) Original  $     46.50  $    23.25 391032
1 Gas tank meter sending unit Original  $     69.00  $    34.50 361107
1 Cigarette lighter lamp with shield Original  $     16.00  $      8.00 251006