Vette Vues Magazine
Corvette Photo Contest

Congratulations Vern Levengood...The 1961 Top Winner!

1.) Michael Chitema from Erie, Pennsylvania with Love at First Sight!

Our first photo was taken when Michael Chiteman, from Erie. Pennsylvania was too young to drive, but he was certainly old enough to already Love Corvettes! Michael’s mother captured this shot of him roaming through the brand new 61’s sitting on a dealer’s lot in Akron, Ohio. They were visiting so he does not know the name of the dealership (if one of our readers recognizes the dealership…let us know).

Michael writes, “Despite the sign blockage on the Shell station across the street, I’m sure I felt as if I were in heaven!”

2.) J.J. Sherman enjoys his 1961 convertible and for those rainy summer days, there is the auxiliary hardtop.

Our second photos are from J.J. Sherman, who resides in Cape Coral, Florida. J.J. Sherman enjoys his 1961 convertible and for those rainy summer days, there is the auxiliary hardtop.

J.J. Sherman’s two time NCRS Top Flight© Corvette is equipped with the desirable 283ci 315 Ramjet Fuel Injection engine and for all out performance it has the light weight fourspeed manual transmission and does 0-60 in 60 seconds.

This stunning ‘61 is optioned with the Positive Crankcase Ventilation and has the power-matched Positraction Rear Axle.

When J.J first bought his Corvette 31 years ago, it was in a basket. Since that time, J.J.’s sports car has had a body off frame restoration. It has all the right elements – timeless styling, V8 performance and a thorough restoration.

Restored to NCRS standards, this 1961 is painted with Honduras Maroon with the Ermine White coves. This was the last year for the two-tone exterior treatment.

Setting the exterior off are the optional whitewall tires. This was the last model with the wide whitewall tires option. It also has the 15x5.5 (5) optional wheels. These wheels are one-half inch wider than standard. They also have the 1960 passenger car hubcaps in place of the standard full discs.

J.J. Sherman’s interior is dressed out in black. Other interior options include the heater, and the transistorized push-button signal- seeking AM radio.

With $1,242.40 in options, this very striking 1961 Corvette is one of the finer examples. Powered by the high-performance V8 engine under the hood, this ’61 is certainly a highly coveted Corvette for both collectors and enthusiasts.

3.) George Poynter with his Fawn Beige Fuelie that he owned when he was 22 years old.

Our third photos are from George Poynter. George actually sent two 1961 Corvettes. This is the first one that George had. This is his 1961 Fawn Beige Fuelie and the year was 1964. “I was 22 years old and loved drag racing. Having grown up on Woodward just fueled the fire. I would street drive it and race it in the summer and switch out the rear end and drive it to school after work in the fall and most of the winter. The engine was the 283, 315 H.P.

I added a three angle valve job and some custom headers, slicks and a 5:13 gear in the rear end and I was ready to race. It ran in B/SP, the national record at that time was 12:93. I ran a 12:97 best at 107 MPH. The car was extremely reliable. With the 3:70 rear end I could get 17 MPG, by then I was intermittently familiar with the F.I. unit. The car had two tops when I bought it and I raced with the soft top to save weight. Notice in the pictures I adapted a set of Pontiac eight lug wheels to the car, always got a lot of looks and would still be “style’n” today. The only picture I have of me and the car is the one of me in the process of putting the slicks on, not a great shot but it shows ownership! I’m retired from GM and have always been a Vette fan; I currently have a C5 Convertible and am restoring a 67 L89 Roadster. I have well documented the restoration process and will put it in story form when I’m done (this winter). It is not one of only 16 delivered, it should be thought of as a “dealer installed” set of aluminum heads. They are correct 1967 aluminum heads.” 

Now the next 1961 that George sent we will not include in our contest, but I thought you would find it very interesting.  Unfortunately, due to copyright laws, we cannot use the articles that he sent but I think you will enjoy seeing just what George was up to. “I had a second 61 Vette, my mid-life crisis car. Here are a couple pictures of that. I competed in the start of “Hot Rod Magazines Fastest Street Cars in America”. One shot is out of Dec. 1992 Hot Rod Magazine, one is out of Hot Vettes Magazine 2/2/1994 and one is at the local drag strip with the wheels up. The car went 8:80’s in the 150’s in the quarter mile.

4.) Ray Scavino’s 1961 precious Jewel Chevrolet Corvette Convertible from Ukiah, California.

Our fourth contestant is Ray Scavino’s 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible from Ukiah, California. Ray is a member of the Solid Axel Corvette Club, Corvettes of Lake County, and the Western States Corvette Council, and we are pleased to say he is A LONG time subscriber to Vette Vues Magazine.

Ray purchased his Jewel Blue, with Blue coves, in Oakland, California in the fall of 1961. There were seven 1961 Corvette “Magic Mirror” acrylic lacquer exterior colors that year. The Jewel Blue was the second rarest color with only 855 painted that color.

He tells it has “the 283ci, single four barrel engine, with the four speed, 3:36.1 Positraction Gears.” The Optional Close-ratio four-speed manual transmission is an all-synchromesh transmission with a floor-mounted gear shifter. Of the 10,939 Corvettes produced, 7,013 choose the 4-speed transmission.

Other Options include the Wonderbar Radio, Wide Whitewall Tires and heater.

It was a “daily” driver until 1980’s, when Ray had the engine replaced with an early 327ci. He still enters in All Corvette shows, along with others, every year taking 1st or 2nd place in his (stock) class.

Our fifth and final contestant is Vern Levengood from New Berlinville, Pennsylvania. If you are going to be at Corvettes @ Carlisle, look for Vern’s ‘61 as he was just selected as a “FEATURE 1961 CORVETTE” at this year’s event!

Vern relates that he has owned at least one Corvette or more over the last 35 years including his most recent 1961 Fuelie, which is an NCRS Top Flight© - Duntov© car.

“Although owning or having owned mostly all original Corvettes (NCRS judged). I always had, I guess you can call it, a dream/concept of a modified Corvette to drive and show.”

He explains, “Sketching and redoing sketches for over two years I finally was pleased with the design.”

Continuing he revealed that he, “always liked the Solid Axle Corvettes, so my search started out to find a 1958 to 1962 vehicle that was not NCRS quality judging but a solid base car to work with. After two years of monitoring, I found a 1961 ‘NO Hit’

Corvette that did not have the original engine, missing a fair amount of original equipment, was never raced but in good shape.” He found one on eBay!!! However, that is a completely intriguing different story.

Vern had the vehicle trailered home and started to completely dismantle the car and rebuild it to his own design concept and specifications.

“Since I hold very near and dear the value of original Corvettes I did not want to radically change the look of 1961 Body Style.”

“The Seats were designed by Al Knoch himself, the paint and pinstriping was done professionally, the engine was custom built to my specs by Engine Factory in New Jersey.” Vern emphasizes, “All other things were done by me and two  other great local mechanics over about two years…no professional shops involved.”

• He put a 350 Chevy/465 HP Engine that was balanced and Blue printed

• Z24 PM Connecting Rods

• Hypereutectic Pistons 10.3 to 1 Compression

• Speed Pro Molly Rings

• Edelbrock Roller Camshaft 2204

• Edelbrock Double Roller Timing

• HD Trimetal Bearings

• Edelbrock Alum. Heads w/ 64cc Combustion Chambers

• Comp. Cams 1301 -16 Roller Rocker Arms

• High Performance Street Tunnel Ram Intake

• Two 4 Barrel 500 CFM Edelbrock Carbs

• Blueprinted Excel Dist. W 53M Volt Coil

• Hooker Headers

• Flowmaster Magnum Exhaust

• Holley Nitrous Oxide System. Multiple Carb Competition

• Ididit Custom Steering Column

• TPJ Competition Transmission

• Meyer Independent Front Suspension - Disc Brakes and Rack and Pinion Steering

• Griffin Transcooler / Special Options Radiator

• Shock Wave Air Bag Suspension Shocks

• 4.56:1 Positraction Rear

• Ron Francis Complete Wiring System

• Koolmat Insulation

• Dakota Digital Instrumentation - Odessey Series JJ - custom

• made to fit original 61 dash.

• Specialty Wonder Lift Power Windows

• Custom made Mono Leaf Springs

• AM/FM/CD Player Sound System

Well, those are our top five contestants. They are each unique, fascinating stories as well as exceptionally beautiful cars! It will be interesting to see who wins, as they ALL look to be winners!

Once again, we are asking our readers to vote online where you can cast your ballot. Thanks and may the best photo win!

Home

Vette Vues Magazine, P.O. Box 740598, Orange City, FL 32774
386-775-2512  Fax: 386-267-3150