NCM Adds Award-Winning 1961 Corvette To Its Exhibit

A perfectly preserved 1961 Chevy Corvette finished in Honduras Maroon paint is now on display at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It’s part of an exhibit that replicates a period-correct American street corner from the early 1960s.

This Corvette is special because it’s been widely recognized as one of the best-preserved 1961 models of America’s Sports Car. It’s one of four cars to be recognized with both the Duntov Mark of Excellence Award and the 5 Star Bowtie Award by the National Corvette Restorers Society. It earned these awards for its pristine and original condition, looking exactly as it did when it was first produced.

Power for this model comes from a 283ci small block V8. The number “270” emblazoned on the valve covers indicates that it’s the dual-quad, solid-lifter, carbureted version of the small block, which was rated at 270 horsepower. It’s linked to a 4-speed manual transmission.

1961 saw the final facelift for the C1 generation, and it was a significant milestone for Corvette design. It’s when the C1 got the “boattail” rear-end treatment which formed the basis for the back of the iconic C2. 1961 was the first year that the Vette had quad round taillights, a design cue that would endure for more than a half-century through the C6 generation.

Up front, the grille was redesigned with the “teeth” removed, the headlight bezels had body-color paint rather than chrome, and “Corvette” lettering was applied with a more subtle crossed-flag emblem compared to the large, round emblem on earlier C1 models.

1961 also introduced features to the legendary sports car we take for granted today, such as windshield washers, padded sun visors, and interior courtesy lighting. The revised design and added comfort features made this particular model year a significant step in making the Chevy Corvette the premium sports car it grew into.