To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Carrera Collection Part 1: Switzerland event, 7 July 2023.

• Offered from The Carrera Collection
• The first year to feature the “duck-tail” rear end and quad taillights
• Powered by a 283 cu-in (4.6 litres) V-8 engine, mated to a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission
• Finished in Jewel Blue and White over a Blue vinyl interior

Please note this car is currently undergoing registration in Switzerland. RM Sotheby's cannot guarantee this will be available by the time of sale.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass dieses Fahrzeug derzeit in der Schweiz zugelassen wird. RM Sotheby's kann nicht garantieren, dass die Zulassung zum Zeitpunkt des Verkaufs verfügbar sein wird.

Chevrolet’s game-changing Corvette enjoyed a new lease of life following its 1956 redesign, and for 1961 the hugely popular sports car was refined further. The grille became a more delicate affair, while the exhausts—known to tarnish chromework—no longer exited through the rear bumper. Most notable was the new “duck-tail” rear-end treatment, which featured four round taillights that would become a key identifying feature of Chevrolet’s two-seater sports car. Inside, cabin space was improved thanks to a narrowing of the transmission tunnel, while everything from a tachometer to sun visors and a temperature-controlled radiator were included as standard. Also included as standard was a 238 cu-in (4.6 litres) V-8 breathing through a single Carter carburettor—a combination good for 230 horsepower.

The 1961 model year also marked the end of an era for the Corvette, being the last time that the iconic side coves could be specified in a contrasting colour. Chassis 105111 is one of these special cars. Today, it is finished in Jewel Blue over contrasting White coves, with a vinyl interior finished in Blue. Less than 10 per cent of that year’s total production left the factory in Jewel Blue, while the matching Blue interior was an offering unique to the 1961 model year. The car is equipped with a heater, Wonderbar AM/FM signal-seeking radio, and a Powerglide three-speed automatic transmission.

Chassis 10511 was acquired by its current owner in 2012, when it was imported to Switzerland to join The Carrera Collection. When imported the mileage was noted as 9,760; at the time of cataloguing, the odometer read 10,009 miles, indicating that fewer than 300 miles has been covered during the consignor’s custodianship. The Corvette is accompanied by a Corvette Assembly Instruction Manual, a spare wheel, and wheel brace.

Seldom seen on European roads, this piece of 1960s Americana offers collectors the opportunity to acquire a well-presented 1961 Chevrolet Corvette C1 finished in a desirable colour combination.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/cc23.