RARE GEMS OF THE CORVETTE KINGDOM: Two very special original 427/435s ready to shine on the Barrett-Jackson block

December 8, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson

Two “Holy Grails” of the Corvette world are lined up to cross the Barrett-Jackson block in Scottsdale: a 1967 Chevrolet 427/435 Corvette (Lot #1371, left) and a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Convertible (Lot #1372, right).

For many collectors, the 1967 427 Corvette is the Holy Grail of the Corvette world. With 435 horses under the hood, that model is considered by many to be the pinnacle of classic Chevy performance. Very few legitimately original, documented examples still exist – which makes the fact that two of these Holy Grails will be crossing the Barrett-Jackson block at the Scottsdale auction in January all the more extraordinary.

Steady Me Baby

More proof positive that Corvettes and rock and roll were made for each other. Singer and musician Freddie Haeffner, along with his band “The American Stars,” knew all about both subjects. Freddie’s popular love song “Steady Me Baby” could have been written about this very Corvette rather than any other source of motivation. Listen to the song’s lyrics and hear for yourself. Freddie’s voice was the perfect blend of Elvis and Chris Isaak. No wonder this 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Convertible (Lot #1372) has become widely known as the “Music Car.”

(Freddie bought this red-on-red 435-horse 427 4-speed convertible road-rocket brand-new in January 1967. Talk about starting off the New Year with a bang. This singer had some influence, too, because he arranged for the factory to paint two sets of red, white and blue stripes across his new Corvette before it ever left the assembly plant.

The car would take on numerous promotional duties for the band and their music. Even the group’s 45 rpm records carried a similar red, white and blue label and 13 white stars. Eventually the ’Vette would gain 50 white stars across the hood, along with the words “American Music Special” on both sides. Freddie owned this car for 20 years and accumulated only 8,000 documented miles during that period. In all likelihood, this Corvette has never even been dirty.

Freddie sold his Corvette to a gentleman named Jim Wilson in 1985. After only two years, Wilson sold to Ken and Gary Naber, who had this wonderful machine restored to its original stock condition, minus the special graphics Freddie had initially specified. Nevertheless, Freddie’s passion will be forever linked to this car.

This Corvette remains one of the best, highly optioned 435-horse 427 roadsters in the land. The white convertible top and red interior are still in original, as-delivered, condition. Only three factory red-on-red 1967 Corvette convertibles with this engine option have ever been confirmed during the last four decades.

Additional features include a close-ratio 4-speed transmission, a 3.55 posi rear end, red line tires, tinted glass, AM/FM radio, and those terrific-looking N89 bolt-on wheels. The F41 suspension, telescopic steering column and power disc brakes helped it all come together in great package. Anyone who has driven a second-generation Corvette knows the sight and sensation of those sharp-edged front fenders as they start rising to the sky while you accelerate.

This machine has received numerous Bloomington Gold certificates and is a five-time NCRS Regional and National Top Flight award winner. Its judging scores always register at 98.5 percent or better. The Music Car has also been graced with NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence status. The 1967 Corvettes ‒ especially the big-block, 6-barrel, 4-speed cars ‒ will always be considered some of the most significant factory muscle cars ever built anywhere on Earth. When such a car turns up that has all that, in addition to a star-studded personal life, just remember these words from Freddie’s “Steady Me Baby” song: “I will have had the love of my life with you.”

Beautifully Sinister

The fastback coupe version of the second-generation Corvette has always been a candidate for the most striking automotive design ever produced for public consumption. They looked absolutely space-age when first unleashed on the streets. And the 1967 model was the most refined yet brutal version of them all. That makes this particular 1967 Chevrolet 427/435 Corvette (Lot #1371) the Ace of Spades in any deck of muscle cars.

There are only a few Tuxedo Black exterior with black leather interior 435/427 coupes ever built, and this impeccably documented example is one of those. This original, 4-speed specimen of Chevrolet’s engineering prowess has never scored less than 99.2 percent in any of its car show outings. It is a living, breathing history book on what a stock ’67 big-block Corvette should look like when restored to perfection. But in this case, no restoration was required.

This sinister-looking black beauty was sold new in California and maintains all its factory equipment, including the original AIR system, GM-issued trim tag verifying the color scheme, the actual Window Sticker, Tank Sheet and VIN plate. Additional documentation further confirms this car’s authenticity.

The car’s King-of-the-Hill 427 big block ingests air and fuel from three 2-barrel Holleys and dispatches horsepower through the factory close-ratio 4-speed transmission. A 3.70:1 posi-traction rear end keeps the engine in its most playful rpm zone so fun can be had by all, any time at all. Non-DOT 7.75X15 red line tires finalize that power’s connection to the pavement. The stock wheels have been upgraded to factory option N89 bolt-on units, which add even more exclusivity to this fantastic and already rare Corvette.

This machine is Bloomington Gold Certified and has accumulated multiple NCRS Regional Top Flights with judging scores of 99.2 percent.

To say the opportunity to own either of these stunning, rare and powerful Corvettes is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is an understatement. As they cross the block at the 45th Anniversary Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, remember: this is the stuff that dreams are made of.

‒ Written by independent automotive specialist Roger C. Johnson

For up-to-date information on these and other vehicles on the Scottsdale docket, click HERE.