by Rick Tavel © March 8, 2014
Terry Michaelis with his celebrated "Last Sting Ray" (Photo: ProTeam Corvettes) |
Bloomington Gold Great Hall (Photo: Bloomington Gold) |
This year marks
the end of a five year program honoring ten individuals or organizations and
ten Corvettes as the most important in the history of the car, culminating over
five years with the 50 most significant
and influential people or organizations and the 50 most influential and
historic Corvettes, throughout the Corvette’s legendary and storied 62 year
existence. Michaelis will join nine
other 2014 inductees such as Larry Shinoda, Vince Piggins, Karl Ludvigsen, Ronnie Kaplan, Irwin
Kroiz, Bob Gold, Al Grenning, and organizations the National Corvette Museum
and Cypress Gardens as well as noted past inductees such as
Zora Arkus-Duntov, Bill Mitchell, Jim Perkins, Reeves Callaway, Mike Yager and
Kevin Mackay to name just a few.
Michaelis' Dick Lang Z06 restoration cost over $225K |
Over the years Terry Michaelis’ collection has been a
virtual dream team of Corvettes. While many collectors salivate like a
Pavlovian dog at the thought of one day finding and restoring any forgotten Corvette
tucked away in a barn, a few years ago, within months of each other, Michaelis
discovered two separate “barn find” Corvettes.
But these were not ordinary forty-five year old barn finds, they were 1963 Z06’s both
had racing history. After acquiring the cars
and thoroughly documenting their provenance he restored the important cars and
then sold them.
Enthusiasts may have also seen the six part TV documentary, “The Last Sting Ray,” about the restoration and history of another one of Michaelis’ finds, the documented last 1967 Sting Ray ever produced. After a very costly, world-class restoration it sold on TV at Barrett-Jackson’s auction for $660K in 2007. Those who got to see the car cross the block also got to see Terry kick off the sale of the silver coupe and also observe one of qualities that has made him so successful over four decades; like P.T.Barnum, he is known for “over the top” marketing.
And he is relentless in his continual quest to find other
Corvettes to add to his stable. A stable that has at one time included several of the Great Hall's fifty most important Corvettes.
Most recently he has shown and taken home several ribbons and
awards at concours and judged Corvette events throughout the country with his
1963 Z06 “tanker” formerly raced by Dick Lang.
And when he puts one of his Corvettes up for sale, the buyer must keep
in mind that he will be bartering with the consummate Corvette collector and
expert who knows more than the buyer does about the Corvette and the Corvette
collector market. His Lang Z06 crossed
the block at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale but the Corvette failed to meet Terry’s reserve
even though it was bid to a healthy $900K.
Simply based on the restoration, the history, the significance and the
awards, the car was worth more and Terry knew it and wasn’t going to be
“low-balled” with a mere $900K bid! And he must have been right because the Corvette subsequently has sold.
Michaelis snatched up this important 1969 L88 for less than $300K |
1953 Daytona Beach Time Trials NASCAR headed to Amelia Island |
Winning awards is not unusual for one of Michaelis’ Corvettes which always seem to be featured at
concours events throughout the country. The
awards, though a satisfying testament to the quality and accuracy of the
restoration, ultimately add value to the car when it if offered for sale. One of his cars, a first generation 1953 Corvette,
which he refers to as his “Beach Car,” is
the oldest known competition Corvette, one of the three first generation Corvettes to run at the 1955 Daytona Beach Time
Trials, and has been invited to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. This is one of three Corvettes that were
prepped for the NASCAR time trials where the Corvettes ultimately proved to be
a worthy competitive sports car and played an important part in the survival of
the Corvette brand.
But as busy as he is with his Corvette business and
collection Terry is never too busy to take some time out of his schedule to
talk with and help Corvette enthusiasts and collectors and to share his vast
knowledge on Corvettes. Whether it is a
question on a correct restoration part or to tell the story and history of a
car Terry takes the time to help a new Corvette enthusiast just starting out in
the hobby just as he would for one of his repeat customers. And he
recognizes the role those Corvette friends and acquaintances have played throughout
his career. When asked about his
induction into the Great Hall he says, “As flattered as I am to accept entry
into the Great Hall, I don’t enter alone. I take along the decades of indelible
friendships and memories.”
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