The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum is currently undergoing an extensive renovation, and is set to reopen its doors in April of 2025. As part of the renovation process, the museum has arranged to auction off 11 significant vehicles from its collection that have no connection to the Indy 500, but still hold a tremendous amount of historical and monetary value. Among the vehicles set to be auctioned is the 1957 Chevy Corvette SS, otherwise known as Project XP-64, an utterly unique experimental prototype created by Harley Earl and Zora Arkus-Duntov.
Courtesy IMS Museum
According to a report from Indianapolis affiliate Fox 59, the cars will be brought to market by RM Sotheby’s, and are considered to be some of the “world’s most desirable and historically significant cars.” In addition to the 1957 Corvette SS, the auction will include a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Streamliner ‘Monza,’ 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II, 1909 Mercedes Brookland ‘Semmering Hill Climb,’ 1991 Benetton B191 Formula 1 Car, 1907 Itala, 1929 Bugatti Type 35C, 1911 Laurin & Klement Racer, The Spirit of America, and a 1911 Mercedes 22/40 Touring.
“The main response I have gotten consistently from people is it’s a very prudent thing that you are doing because, in essence, you are guaranteeing the future of the museum for generations to come,” said the president of the IMS Museum, Joe Hale.
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As for the Corvette, the concept was initially conceived by Harley Earl as a Chevy engine mounted in a Jaguar body for competition at Sebring in 1957. However, Zora Arkus-Duntov proposed something else entirely – a ground-up race car design to compete in racing events the world over.
The project took five months to complete, and included a production-spec 283 cubic-inch Chevy V8 producing 375 horsepower, mounted in a vehicle with a dry weight of just 1,850 pounds, almost a thousand pounds less than a production-spec Corvette. Matched with a sleek aerodynamic body, the Corvette SS managed a top speed of 183 mph at Sebring, and although it only completed 23 laps before it was retired (and subsequently banned by the AMA as part of a sweeping ban on manufacturer-sponsored racing), the XP-64 remains a hugely desirable vehicle for collectors. The car was later donated to the IMS Museum in 1970.
RM Sotheby’s is expected to announce auction details in the next few weeks.
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Comments
hopefully it will end up in Bowling Green
GM has got to buy it back, no matter the cost.
It’s one of one and a milestone in the Corvette’s history.
Yes I hope someone buys it and donates it to the Corvette museum.
It is sad they are selling these cars. They are in a place middle America can see some of the woods most historic cars.
While independent of the track I wish Roger Penske would get involved and expand the museum. This would benefit the track, series and his legacy. His cars all should be housed at the track.
People make a fuss over the basement cars not seen there are more in outer buildings too just as amazing.
Penske has had his own racing museum for years in Scottsdale. Open to the public for free.
I would also like to see it at the NCM. The museum is not owned by GM, but if GM could see their way clear to purchase the car and donate it, that would be gracious of them to do so. One of the 1960s Wankel powered experimental cars was purchased for the NCM. I believe that most if not all of the money used to purchase that car was raised by the museum privately.
Absolutely stunning car!
I had the chance to see the SS in up close at Laguna Seca-around 1987. They filmed a segment of a tv car show featuring the SS. I remember seeing it on tv later but don’t remember the name of the show. Although it didn’t race someone took it for a few hot laps. I thought he was rather brave-the tires appeared to be a very old set of Firestone race tires that said “Gum Dipped” on the sidewall.
Looks like an “opportunity” for Rick Hendrick….
just watched the winner, sincere among so elegant cars like 1948 Talbot, Packards etc… have you seen the scrap that won ´? well, since some years we have our disppointments with car industry not being fair and this is since 20 years at least and now what to have been an elegance dispute is a bugatti of an abandoned yard that won…. so this from indy museum maybe has great chance for the next 2025 years, because what is hapenning with CEO judges of car industry ? is Sandra Buton dement now ?