Shriners Corvettes

[Dennis O.]

The recent thread on the newly found '67 Shriners car got me thinking. About 20 years ago, I had a '70 convertible that was (to me) oddly optioned.
It was "Corvette Bronze" with an LS5 and automatic, A/C, and no radio. I hated that color, and was going to repaint it "Resale Red", but quickly thought better of it. I decided to just sell it and easlily found a buyer. A little while after the sale, the buyer called me and excitedly told me that he had found out that this car was one of a group of cars that had been purchased by a bunch of Shriners in Nebraska. At that time I thought, "Ehh so what, it's still not the color for me". Does anyone know if this is a legitimate story? I've done a search and can't find anything about later model Shriners cars.

[Michael D.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

Birthplace of Legends by Peter LiCastro discusses the Shiner cars. They purchased new Corvettes each year and usually traveled to St. Louis to pick them up at the factory. Good opportunity for a media event. Their preferred exterior color was white.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

The fifteen '65s were Nassau blue on blue/white interior, as far as I can see. The photo date of Nov 21 narrows the VIN range down, as the 6-week strike was over on 6 Nov, with car # 1426 first off the line.

[Robert G.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

Is this the car?

https://www.proteamcorvette.com/Corvette-1970-1053E/1053E.html

[Michael J.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

Must be, no radio.

[Mike F.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

Did the Shriners get new cars every year?

Pic of 1969 cars.
http://villagevettes.com/wp-content/...Y-DELVIERY.jpg

Pic of 1971 cars. Appears to read, 15th Year - January 29, 1971 - St. Louis Assembly Plant - Omaha Tangier Shrine - Corvette Patrol. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vQFdP6Xqbv...Y 29, 1971.JPG

http://www.hovermotorco.com/2011/04/...-corvette.html

[Dennis O.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

Interesting stuff. One of the reasons that causes me to believe this may be an original Shriners car is that it was radio delete. Back in the day, a lot of folks used CB-Radios to keep in touch while on tours, etc. I can see why these guys would not want a stock radio. As to the Pro-Team Corvette? It sure looks like my old car; everything listed is the same, but how to be sure? I'm sure my memory is bad, but the color doesn't look quite right. Looks more like Ontario Orange to me, but then again, I never liked either of those colors. Funny thing, it seems to me that the guy who bought the car from me mentioned a group within NCRS that specialized in these cars. We'll see what shakes out in the next few days.

[Mark H.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

Volume 20 #1 of the Restorer has an article about the '67 Shriners cars. Quoting for the article:"The Omaha Tangier Shriner Corvette Patrol was organized in 1956as the official escort and parade unit of the Tangier Shrine Temple of Omaha. The original Corvette Patrol was limited to 11 members, composed of Omaha lawyers, bankers and businessmen. A fleet of 11 identical, white with red interior, 1957 Corvettes were ordered through Shrine member Gatewood Anderson's Chevrolet dealership in Wahoo, Nebraska. Every year for the next 25, a fleet of the newest Corvettes was ordered by the Shriners, and the group would travel, usually by train, to the plant for a ceremonious factory delivery of the fleet each Fall."

[Mike E.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

62 was Cadillac Amethyst Purple with red interior. They changed the decision-making process after that!

[Mark H.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

More info (it pays to keep those old "Restorers") from the Fall 1983 issue which features Chuck and Jan Swaffords purple '62: "The first group of 1957 Corvettes were all white with red interiors; the '58s were red with a white cove and red interior; the '59s were white with a red cove (a deviation from standard paint) and red interior; the 1960 cars were painted in Buick Wedgewood Blue with a white cove and blue trim; the '61s were a pale yellow with a white cove and a black interior; and the '62s were purple."

[Dennis O.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

After a closer look, the Pro-Team Corvette couldn't be the one I had. I never had any paper work on mine. It does lend credence to the Shriner car theory though. I can't imaging two people ordering that exact combination of options unless there was an ulterior motive.

[Michael J.]

Re: Shriners Corvettes

Not very expensive if it supposed to be a "rare" Corvette.