Chevrolet Corvette C1 Convertible (type 887) with factory hardtop 1961
Chassis no. CA10867S106343
 
Ex-Blaton Family (famous family of car collectors and racing drivers)
• Single family ownership from new up to 2017
• Highly original and excellently preserved with only 90,000 kilometres from new
• Rare factory hardtop
• Desirable manual transmission
• All documentation from day one
 
Back in 1953, Chevrolet's launch of a two-seater sports car was a radical

departure for a marque hitherto associated almost exclusively with sensible family transport.

Based on the 1952 EX-122 show car, the Corvette made use of existing

GM running gear and a shortened chassis frame, around which

was wrapped striking Harley Earl-styled glassfibre coachwork.

Motive power came from Chevrolet's 235.5ci (3.8-litre) overhead-valve straight

six and, unusually for a sportscar, there was automatic transmission, a feature that

attracted much adverse criticism at the time.
 
Intended as competition for the T-Series MG, the Corvette cost way above

the target figure, ending up in Jaguar XK120 territory but with an inferior

performance. Sales were sluggish initially and the model came close to

being axed, surviving thanks to Chevrolet's need to compete with Ford's

Thunderbird. A V8 engine for 1955 and a radical re-style for '56 consolidated

the 'Vette's position in the market, the model going on to become the world's

best-selling and longest-lived sports car.

 

This 1961 Chevrolet Corvette was delivered new via

Établissements C F Wismeyer & Co in Brussels, the local importer for Chevrolet, and sold

new to Mr Armand Blaton in Brussels. The Blaton family was already well

known in the motor racing world, with the brothers Armand 'Blary' and Jean 'Beurlys' Blaton

both being successful racers. This Corvette was ordered and registered in the name

of Armand Blaton Sr. but mainly used by his sons Armand and Jean.
The car was delivered fitted with the 245hp V8 engine, and the original sales

contract (on file) lists several desirable options: electric power

windows; hardtop; four-speed manual gearbox; twin four-barrel carburettors; heavy duty

brakes; safety belts; one exterior rear-view mirror; and a

Positraction limited-slip differential. With 'taxe de luxe' of 13% applied, this was

one very expensive motor car, costing Blaton 385,618 Belgian Francs.
 
The Corvette was first registered on 24th April 1961 as 'B1288', later 'B6277',

and finally 'ABL-078', reflecting Armand Blaton's initials. The car was originally

delivered with a speedometer calibrated miles per hour, which

Blaton changed two months after delivery to one in kilometres (correspondence on file).
 
Unhappy about the brakes, Mr Blaton contacted the Girling company

in August 1961 to inform them of this, stating that he wanted to fit 'Girling disc brake

equipment' to his Corvette (correspondence on file). He even contacted

Autostar-Bizzarrini & Co to get them to install their AC Dunlop patent

disc brake system, though nothing came of these approaches.

Clearly Armand intended to do hill climbs with this Corvette, and there

is correspondence on file with Ronald M Chazan of Corvettes Limited in California about

the best competition equipment for such events.
In April 1962, Armand had a minor accident with the car, which was not

his fault. Luckily only the right front wing, right front light, and front bumper

were slightly damaged, as can be deduced from the detailed 'declaration d'accident' on file.

In June of that same year there was more bad luck when the garage

door struck the Corvette in the right rear quarter, blown by the wind. The minor

repairs required were done at the supplying dealership, C F Wismeyer (invoice on file).
 
In August 1962, Armand Blaton wrote to his good friend Jacques Swaters, the

Ferrari importer for Belgium, saying that he wanted to change the

body of his Corvette for a special Bertone body (only one year after

he bought the car). Jacques Swaters frequently travelled to Italy, and having had a

meeting with Giotto Bizzarrini and Marcello Gandini, he informed Armand that

Bizzarrini's plans for a Bertone-bodied Corvette had been completed. However, Armand

decided not to commit to this venture as he feared that he would not

get his car back in due time. There are plenty of other anecdotes concerning

this Corvette, all contained in the fascinating history file. Clearly Blaton was keen to

experiment with his car, wanting to change almost everything, and

what happened is completely the opposite – it stayed beautifully original.
 

In 1966 another minor accident occurred in which the car was slightly damaged, and

on this occasion it was repaired by the established coachbuilders, Vesters &

Neirinck (invoice on file). In 2013 the car underwent some mechanical

work including an oil change and attention to the brakes, carburettors, and electrical

components. The last works were carried out were in 2014, since when car has hardly

been driven. It has remained in the Blaton family for its entire life. The

current odometer reading is just over 90,000 kilometres, which is correct.
 
The outstandingly comprehensive history file contains all documents

from new (perusal highly recommended).
 
The amazing amount of original paperwork includes a copy of the original

sales invoice (dated April 1961); the original 'contrat de vente' listing all options

requested by Mr Blaton (dated January 1961); a copy of the first Belgian registration

papers in the name of Armand Blaton (dated 1961); and old Belgian registration documents

`in the name of Armand Blaton (dated 1992). In addition, the car comes with the

original service book and owner's manual; a 1961 Corvette sales brochure;

'The Corvette Story'; old Contrôles Techniques and road tax documents; some period

photographs; numerous service invoices; correspondence with Wismeyer, Brussels;

and even the 'proces-verbal' when the owner received a fine for not parking the car properly!
 
Today, the Corvette is presented in highly original condition with a delightfully patinated

interior, still in excellent condition.

 

More pictures available

Visible only on appointment

For further informations , please contact us +32 (0)2 681 81 00 & [email protected]