About
Gus Grissom 1967 Corvette.
During 1960’s “Space Race” between the Soviet Union and the United States Virgil “Gus” Grissom was a member of NASA’s very first U.S. manned space program and one of NASA’s Original Seven Mercury Astronauts. He also was a top notch engineer and pilot.
On Earth, he was often involved in a different type of race. One of such races was between him and his fellow austrnaut Alan Shephard. In late 1966 both of them would take delivery of identical brand new 1967 427/435 horsepower Corvette Roadsters.
Grissom knew that Shephard was the better driver so he asked Jim Rathmann, owner of Jim Rathmann Chevrolet/Cadillac in Melbourne to help him with his new Corvette. Rathmann developed a plan. He slightly widened the rear wheel openings to allow room for a set of racing slicks and added a 4:56 posi rear end. Thanks to Rathmann’s improvements Grissom won nearly every race, whether for a beer or for a dinner.
Unfortunately, Gus Grissom along with his fellow astronauts Roger Chaffee and Edward White dies in the Appolo One fire on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy on January 27, 1967.
His Corvette became part of history (as himself) – his wife returned it to Rathmann’s dealership after one and a half year since Appollo One tragedy. This car passed through various owners and several dealrs and finally sufaced in 2007 at the Russo and Steele Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, where it was featured with an incredible display of memorabilia which would be included in the sale of the car. After intense bidding Corvette and all of related memorabilia became part of Arizona collection.