Download

Then we come upon what Leno considers one of the most valuable cars in GM’s collection – the iconic
1959 Corvette Sting Ray race car that inspired the mid-year design from 1963-67 (and influenced every
Corvette since, even the C7, according to Welburn). He says one of the first things he did after taking
over design was to have the car restored, though the interior where Dick Thompson sat behind the wheel
remains just as it was.
And speaking of steering wheels, Jay had to remove the Sting Ray’s just to climb into the car and crank it
up to reveal some rumbling that is just sheer music to a Corvette fan’s ears.
We all may have seen photos of this car for years, but here we finally have a chance to hear it run! “Talk
about a piece of history!” Jay yells.
The Stingray has an illustrious history, winning the SCCA national championship in 1960, and Elvis even
drove it in his movie, Clambake.
Finally, Jay gets a look at another icon in the Corvette world – a red 1963 Split Window Coupe that
features knockoff wheels and fuel injection. Leno recounts the story of a friend who actually went to
great expense back in the day to have his ’63 split removed to make it look like a ’64. Whoops!
As the video ends, Leno, with Welburn beside him, drives off in Akerson’s 1958.
“What’s cooler than stealing the boss’s car?” Leno cracks. “Let’s see what two four-barrels sound like.
All right!”
A Scale Visions Birthday Tribute to Zora Arkus Duntov
Master model builder Don Theune shares his touching encounter with Corvette maestro,
Zora Arkus-Duntov
Forward: Zora Arkus-Duntov was born on December 25, 1909
and would have been 103. Zora often joked that he had the
birthday curse being born on Christmas Day. When you are a
kid and your birthday is on Christmas you tend to not get double
gifts. But Duntov made up for any toy deficiency as a child after
he took over the Corvette program. Arguably, no one had more
fun playing with Corvettes inside Chevrolet than Duntov. Not
only did he design and develop the go-fast parts we all came to
know and love, but he usually did his own track testing. What’a
lucky guy! Here’s our Happy Birthday tribute to Zora Arkus-
Duntov and a big THANKS to Don Theune.
Don Theune, owner/artist of Scale Visions, experienced a
turning point in his career at the 1993 Corvettes at Carlisle Show. Don finally got to meet two of his
Corvette heroes, Zora Arkus-Duntov & Larry Shinoda. Zora was presented with one of Don’s most cherished
possessions from his collection, his 1/25 scale 1963 Grand Sport Corvette #004. This was Don’s first model of
#004 Grand Sport, and was blessed with the signatures of Zora and Elfi Duntov and Larry Shinoda.
Duntov signed the roof of the Grand Sport model and as he was signing it, he noticed the mini copy of the
Dave Friedman’s book, “Grand Sport Corvette.” Zora pointed to the rear window and said to his wife, Elfi, (
in his Russian accent) “Elfi, look the book”, she laughed. Shortly after, Don ran into Duntov at the luncheon
and asked him, “What would you like me to build for you ?” Zora held up three fingers and said in his deep
Russian accent, “Tree Coupes,” then held up two fingers and said, “And two Roadsters.” Keep in mind that in