Images: Mecum Auctions

Bunkie Knudsen began working for General Motors, in the Pontiac division, starting in 1939. After a brief side trip as General Manager of the Detroit Diesel division, Knudsen returned to Pontiac as General Manager in 1956. His many successes at Pontiac led to his promotion to head of the Chevrolet Division in 1961.

Such executive levels at General Motors brought more than just stock options and yearly bonuses. In 1963, GM Styling built a special Corvette for retired Styling chief, Harley Earl. On seeing the car, Knudsen ordered up one for his own use as well. Reportedly, Knudsen had done the same in 1961 after seeing the Bill Mitchell-developed show car, code-named XP-755 and later known as “The Shark.”

This car, finished in Rose pearl paint, with a white stripe and convertible top, later became part of the Bob McDorman Collection. The Corvette’s interior follows closely that of the Harley Earl car, but the chromed external sidepipes set this one apart from others.

Under the hood, the 327cid engine displays a chrome plated version of the Rochester fuel mechanical injection that Chevrolet engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov had also fitted to some competition Grand Sport Corvettes that year.

This car and many more from the Bob McDorman Collection are being auctioned at a special auction event run by Mecum Auctions on November 6, 1020 in Canal Winchester, OH, a dozen miles southeast of Columbus. Reportedly including “The World’s Most Complete Corvette Collection,” a total of 150 vehicles are slated to sell at the ‘no reserve’ auction, including this one.

McDorman, a Chevrolet dealer in Ohio, began by collecting Corvettes but expanded the scope of the collection over the past decade. From a 1915 Chevrolet Royal Mail Roadster to the Serial #1 2009 Corvette coupe, the collection covers almost a century of notable vehicles from the General.

Additional information can be found at the event web site.