The elusive Can Am found pics !

[olredalert]

Pete------Typically, alot of these "SO" cars were production cars that were pulled after being completely built at St.Louis and shipped back to the tech center for modification. There is a 1965 427 roadster here in MI. that has the serial number "5". It came off the assembly line as a black/saddle leather loaded fuelie roadster (must have been gorgeous). It was then made into what I have always felt was the first 427 Corvette and also had a number of other cool special features. Along with the engine conversion they painted it a pale metallic silver green and dyed the original vinyl and leather pieces of the interior to match. They did manage to change the carpet out to a high quality color-matched cut-pile style. Also installed what I always think of as "Bill Mitchell grates" in the footwell area. You may have seen some in the past in other styling cars. They are like polished stainless floormats with slots cut in them. I have never seen a styling car from the Bill Mitchell era without them. I suspect that the pink coupe was done in much the same manner. I would be guessing but it probably started out as a 250 or 300 horse car with AC and auto. All the 65 body panels would make it a high probability that the car was done close to 1965 production.

--------What a dream job it would have been to work on these cars back in the day at the styling studio........Bill S

[PeteLeathersac]

Bill, you're so right about the dream job....pretty special bunch of people there together in a magical period of time. .
Interesting on the '65 427 car #5....more, more on any of these if you have anything to share! .
As I said before, the pink 396 car must predate Z16 production so would be interesting to get into. .
So no one w/ info or pics of the pink 396 car....or a good shot of that 'shaker' dome red car? .
Sorry for totally hi-jacking this thread? ~ Pete

[PeteLeathersac]

Hey check out this link....it's a Mecum ad for the pink '64 396 car coming up at BG! . Notes 396 hydraulic so sounds like L37 like the Z16 and not the L78 as the 'Vette's got in '65....wonder if there's an engine suffix on it? . They also note 'O' parts as in Type 'O' castings....Verne, you out there? . I'll go google-look for the dome car now? ~ Pete

http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions...D=BG0606-34429

[427TJ]

Oh boy, a pink Corvette. Why couldn't Mrs. Knudsen's favorite color be black or red or silver or gold or blue or white or yellow or green or maroon or gray or purple or orange or brown?

[PeteLeathersac]

So true but color aside, an important car in the evolution of Mark 1V production. . Maybe Bunkie chose the color himself....couldn't get the 'pink' off his mind when away from his little woman? .
I can't find anything online for the 'dome' car .
~ Pete

[olredalert]

Pete,

-----Google "Mid America Corvette". Once on their site look for Mikes collection under "My Garage". Then look for 64 Styling Corvette and you will get a better pic of the dome coupe..........Bill S

[PeteLeathersac]

Thanks Bill! . Bit of a dickaround finding the site but did....here's the link if anyone wants to look at the 'dome' car. .

http://www.mamotorworks.com/mygarage/cars/64.html

Does he own Cerv-1 and more importantly XP819? . Thought it was Yenko's '67 L88 DX car in the background for a sec but appears to be a incomplete glass mockup of one of the '68 L88 DX cars? . If he's got XP819, do you know if there's a 377 alum. back in it now....last I knew (20 yrs ago?) there was an iron motor in it? . Crazy stuff! ~ Pete