yellow_2002_germany
Well-known member
I saw this in the local paper today. Perhaps someone here can help...
Montana car buff seeking first owner
1967 Corvette was first sold at Eriks Chevrolet.
By Ken de la Bastide Tribune enterprise editor
Montana resident Tom Kellar is on a mission.
Kellar recently purchased a 1967 Corvette and is looking for the original owner.
The car was sold at Eriks Chevrolet in Kokomo and went through a number of owners on its way from Indiana to Havre, Montana.
Kellar has been running a classified ad in the Kokomo Tribune in an attempt to locate the first owner of the ermine white Corvette with red vinyl interior, red stinger on the hood and red stripe tires. The car has a 427 cubic-inch, tri-power engine with a close ratio 4-speed transmission.
He has tracked down every owner, but he has been stymied in his effort to locate the original buyer.
The car is believed to be the very first Corvette sold at Eriks Chevrolet.
Kellar said the car was manufactured in St. Louis on March 24, and Eriks Chevrolet dealership was opened on April 1, 1967.
Obtaining the Corvette has been an act of patience for Keller, who waited 29 years for the previous owner to decide to sell.
Kellar traced the car from Kokomo to Rockford, Ill., to Grafton, North Dakota, to Helena and Great Falls, Montana.
“It’s the color combination,” he said of his attraction to the car. “White with red interior and the stinger stripe. And the performance. I’m a Corvette guy.”
Kellar worked for a Chevrolet dealership when the car would have been first introduced and believes it was the first tri-power car built.
“It has been a search,” he said of trying to track down the previous owners. “I got distracted from the search and the second owners died in 2007 and 2008.”
Kellar said the car has approximately 40,000 original miles.
He said the previous owner only put 91 miles on the car over a 29-year period of time.
“The best thing about the car was it sat, but that is also the worst thing,” Kellar explained. “I’m trying to restore it right now.”
Kellar also owns a 1966 Corvette. He has been able to track all the owners of that car.
“The Corvette Club of Indiana and the Delphi Club are trying to help me find out the original owner,” he said of the 1967 Corvette. “Eriks Chevrolet has also been attempting to find the original owner.”
Kellar said anyone who would purchase a car like that with the available options would keep it for a long time.
“This is a stand-out car,” he said. “Unless you were someone who purchased it and traded it. Most of the time, these cars were sold by a dealer once. After that, they were sold from owner to owner.”
Anyone with information about the Corvette can call Kellar 406-226-8475 or Sue at 765-854-6716.
Montana car buff seeking first owner
1967 Corvette was first sold at Eriks Chevrolet.
By Ken de la Bastide Tribune enterprise editor
Montana resident Tom Kellar is on a mission.
Kellar recently purchased a 1967 Corvette and is looking for the original owner.
The car was sold at Eriks Chevrolet in Kokomo and went through a number of owners on its way from Indiana to Havre, Montana.
Kellar has been running a classified ad in the Kokomo Tribune in an attempt to locate the first owner of the ermine white Corvette with red vinyl interior, red stinger on the hood and red stripe tires. The car has a 427 cubic-inch, tri-power engine with a close ratio 4-speed transmission.
He has tracked down every owner, but he has been stymied in his effort to locate the original buyer.
The car is believed to be the very first Corvette sold at Eriks Chevrolet.
Kellar said the car was manufactured in St. Louis on March 24, and Eriks Chevrolet dealership was opened on April 1, 1967.
Obtaining the Corvette has been an act of patience for Keller, who waited 29 years for the previous owner to decide to sell.
Kellar traced the car from Kokomo to Rockford, Ill., to Grafton, North Dakota, to Helena and Great Falls, Montana.
“It’s the color combination,” he said of his attraction to the car. “White with red interior and the stinger stripe. And the performance. I’m a Corvette guy.”
Kellar worked for a Chevrolet dealership when the car would have been first introduced and believes it was the first tri-power car built.
“It has been a search,” he said of trying to track down the previous owners. “I got distracted from the search and the second owners died in 2007 and 2008.”
Kellar said the car has approximately 40,000 original miles.
He said the previous owner only put 91 miles on the car over a 29-year period of time.
“The best thing about the car was it sat, but that is also the worst thing,” Kellar explained. “I’m trying to restore it right now.”
Kellar also owns a 1966 Corvette. He has been able to track all the owners of that car.
“The Corvette Club of Indiana and the Delphi Club are trying to help me find out the original owner,” he said of the 1967 Corvette. “Eriks Chevrolet has also been attempting to find the original owner.”
Kellar said anyone who would purchase a car like that with the available options would keep it for a long time.
“This is a stand-out car,” he said. “Unless you were someone who purchased it and traded it. Most of the time, these cars were sold by a dealer once. After that, they were sold from owner to owner.”
Anyone with information about the Corvette can call Kellar 406-226-8475 or Sue at 765-854-6716.
