1960 Corvette JRG Special Racer up for Auction

Coming up next month at the Bonham's auction in Paris is this fully restored Corvette JRG Special race car. 

Coming up next month at the Bonham's auction in Paris is this extremely unique 1960 Chevrolet Corvette 'JRG Special' Competition Coupe. It was built by Tom Falconer, who was also the author of "Original Corvette, 1953-1962" and was the judging chairman of the UK Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society.According to Bonham's, the car was raced in the early 1960s at various East Coast circuits. It started off as just another 1960 Vette with the optional '419' hardtop and no convertible hood.
In addition, the bumpers and hubcaps were removed. It pretty much was a typical 'B-Production' Sports Car Club of America weekend warrior and was likely driven to the circuits. Nor was it heavily modified.
In 1963, however, the Corvette Sting Ray was launched. It had an all-independent suspension, superior brakes, and better handling. In turn, it literally pushed aside the old live-axle Vettes in SCCA races and this JRG Special was retired from track service. Interestingly, it found a new career in drag racing. The JRG is also a sister car to the four white Corvettes that went to Le Mans in 1960 which performed quite well.

Moving ahead to 1989, the JRG was bought by another collector who found it laying in a back yard somewhere in Long Island, New York.The rear wheel arches had been cut in order to accommodate giant drag-racing tires. Although it sat for a few more years, a restoration was eventually planned and completed in just 12 months.Today, the JRG Special Corvette is as correct as it can be while still being safe to race. The wheels are original steels that are properly painted Roman Red. Power comes from a 4.7-liter cast-iron small-block V8 that was prepared by a Chevrolet race engine specialist.
All told, it can deliver 370hp at 7,000rpm using a single Holley four-barrel carburetor. The completed car was displayed for the first time at Goodwood in 2007 when it collected its FIA papers.In 2011, it was updated to UK road specs by adding legal lighting and a second race seat that made it eligible for international road endurance events. Bonham's is estimating it will sell for somewhere between €55,000 to €65,000.