Fantasy Junction

Description

1955 Corvette EX87 Roadster
VIN - EX87

- Believed to be the experimental Zora Arkus-Duntov 1955 test mule
- Under California ownership with the same family since 1968
- General Motors documentation, build records, and decades of maintenance records

History of the Corvette

The 1950s was a prosperous time for Americans, industry, and innovation, particularly in automobile design and manufacturing. With each year, exciting models arrived, and companies expanded on themes of luxury and performance. In 1953, when General Motors launched the Corvette, there was nothing quite like it. Conceived and built by sports car enthusiasts, the Corvette arrived with great fanfare but initially met with lackluster sales.

In 1955 big improvements offered new hope including the landmark V8 engine, an option that nearly doubled the horsepower of the original Blue Flame Six. The road to V8 power for this pioneering sports car, however, was not easy. Internally, the Corvette had both corporate champions and naysayers. Yet passionate enthusiasts knew the future of the Corvette had to include the V8 engine and eagerly forged forward, setting out to prove that a properly equipped Corvette could be a premium performance car. This is the story of the earliest attempts at building the Corvette V8 legacy, the GM designated EX87 (Experimental) coded Corvette history, and the remarkable 57 years of current family ownership, preservation, care, and historic research that chronicles this rare and important Corvette.

The Birth of Corvette EX87

Though novel and exciting, the public didn’t take quickly to the Corvette. Even as the 1955 models offered the optional V8 engine, customers wanted to see what the Corvette was capable of. Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov presented Chief Engineer Ed Cole with the idea of preparing a special car that could surpass the top speed record of 150 mph, held by a Chrysler 300. Cole agreed, but with time of the essence, Chevrolet engineer Mauri Rose (three-time Indy 500 winner) was called upon. Rose had installed a prototype V8 in a 1954 Corvette and begun performance evaluations as an experimental car, designated by GM as EX87. With the car already complete and time of the essence, Duntov set about preparing the drivetrain for the high-speed run at Daytona Beach. The 1954 body featured a head fairing, passenger side tonneau cover, and a low-cut windscreen. In November 1955, EX87 was moved to Chevrolet engineering and assigned the tracking number 5951. Running a 307 cid engine with a special Duntov camshaft and fitted with a specially designed belly pan for high-speed stability, Duntov himself piloted EX87/5951 (associated and recorded with both numbers in GM documentation) achieving just over 163 mph on the test run at the Arizona GM Proving Grounds. With confidence achieving well over the 150-mph mark, EX87 returned to the GM Tech Center where the engine was removed, disassembled, and checked in preparation for the Daytona run. Eager to market the pending speed record with the latest body design, the Duntov 307 V8 engine was installed in a 1955 production car, fitted with a prototype 1956 body and assigned the tracking number 6901. While this was taking place, the body from EX87/5951 was removed and replaced with the donor 1955 production body from the former production car established as 6901.

Ex87, having proven the 163 mph run had served a critical purpose for Duntov and GM. With the 307 engine removed and installed in the next car, EX87 was fitted with a 1955 V8 engine, 3-speed transmission, and 1955 body. The car was also assigned the serial number plate EX87. Concurrent with the 1955 transition to EX87, the special body formerly fitted to the original EX87 chassis including the belly pan, head fairing, and lowered windscreen, were installed on a 1955 chassis and prepped as well for a run at Daytona. In support of this lineage, numerous internal General Motors engineering build orders document the disposition of EX87, the subject development of the Daytona cars, the transfer of the body, engine, and other details to complete these cars, and the eventual disposition of EX87/5951. This unique car would continue as a GM development mule in the 1955 iteration to study axle hop at the GM Proving Grounds with special instructions called out on the build order “Car is to be used as a Special Demonstrator and is to be kept as clean as possible”.

With the original EX87 chassis fitted with a 1955 Corvette body, the car served as an internal test mule and courtesy car before it was transferred to a GM staff engineer. A letter on file indicates Russell F. Sanders (Chevrolet letter June 6, 1956) as the purchaser on title from GM, though it is unclear if this document is for EX122 or EX87. Though it’s not known if it was Sanders who purchased EX87 or possibly both cars, by 1968 this car made its way to Los Gatos, California when the eventual husband of the current owner purchased this car. Written statements from the owner indicate that the car was purchased from “the ex-wife of a GM engineer”. Under the assumption that he had purchasing a standard production V8 powered 1955 Corvette, the husband was not aware of any information regarding the previous history of Duntov and his V8 quest for speed. As anyone else might do with a vintage Corvette, he simply prepared the car for enjoyable use. In 1969/70 the engine failed, and the owner installed a short block 327 V8u as a performance upgrade but kept much of the engine components from the former engine and repainted the car in Venetian Red. The owner enjoyed taking the car to various Corvette events throughout the 1970s. But with each event and judges’ scrutiny, questions emerged that began to lead to a startling conclusion – the 1955 Corvette bearing the serial number EX87 was very likely the original basis of the Chevrolet Duntov V8 mule. Key features noted by both judges and Corvette experts include the handcrafted notch in the frame to clear the V8 fuel pump, the patched clutch hole in the firewall, the 1954 specification gas pedal, and two holes drilled into the original bumper as provision for a custom trailer hitch which was used for speed calibration on experimental cars during test runs.

In 1976 the owner showed the car at the NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) event in Berkeley, CA (judging sheet included with this car) and caught the attention of John Amgwert, the first NCRS President, and Noland Adams, historian and eventual author of “The Complete Corvette Restoration and Technical Guide”. The two experts were stunned by what they were seeing. They began collecting information as more evidence mounted that this car could be the original Duntov V8 powered car that broke the 150 mph speed record at the Arizona proving grounds during a test run with Duntov at the wheel. Adams renewed his efforts with extensive research into the GM archives in 1997, this time with the help of both husband and wife owners, and again in 2007 with expert Corvette enthusiast Loren Lundberg who concluded that the car indeed had a 3-speed transmission at one time, the chassis had been altered for a V8, the brake pedal was matched for clutch location spacing, and firewall patches were in place where the clutch hole had been. Enthusiasts to the core, over the past 57 years, the current owners spent have spent more than half their lives researching and fastidiously maintaining EX87 being careful to preserve the original chassis, the original tell-tale modifications for the V8 engine, and gathering GM documentation with expert opinions outlining the history of EX87 and the important contribution made to the legacy of the Corvette brand.

Current Condition and Features

Today with 20,594 miles indicated on the odometer and just under 400,000 revs recorded on the tachometer, this Corvette displays excellent cosmetic and mechanical features reflective of the original equipment and professional repaint performed on the car in the 1970s. The car presents as a handsome combination of preservation and selective restoration. The paint is glossy and smooth though showing signs of age consistent with the 40+ years since it was painted. The body panels exhibit fit consistent with GM factory molded fiberglass for the doors, hood, and trunk shut lines. The hinged convertible top cover, often difficult to adjust, fits quite well. The chrome trim, badges, and various exterior elements are in very good to excellent condition, showing a fine luster with very good chrome quality. The wheels are nicely trimmed with correct original type wheel covers over Venetian Red steel wheels. The car wears a set of vintage BF Goodrich Silvertown 6.70-15 4 Ply wide whitewall tires. The glass, lights, and lenses are all in excellent condition including the complex curved windshield, which, at the time of production, was one of the most advanced pieces of automotive glass ever produced. Two of the key features reflective of EX87 history include the mounting holes on the rear bumper and the Chevrolet EX87 VIN plate located on the inside driver’s door opening.

The interior continues to impress with finishes that have been faithfully restored to original specifications using correct materials. Even though the interior refurbishment was performed many years ago, the materials and finishes remain in excellent condition showing little to no wear. The seat and door inserts are correct and properly fit to the seat frames and doors. The seat foam is resilient, and the carpeting remains in very nice condition throughout the interior. The instruments are colorful and highly detailed with just a little bit of mellowing appearing on what could very well be the original center binnacle chrome and instrumentation. The canvas top is in excellent condition both inside and out, wrapped tightly over refinished top bows.

Under the hood, the 327 engine features accurate details appropriately dressed to reflect the 1955 configuration. While some of the fasteners and various hardware deviate slightly from typical factory specifications, the overall presentation is very authentic and properly finished. A pair of softened metal finned valve covers, a correct windshield washer bag, correct hose clamps, an original generator, chrome plated air cleaner, polished distributor and wiring shroud complete the handsome engine bay. Underneath the car, the suspension, driveline components, exhaust, solid rear axle and limiting straps all appear correct, displaying what appears to be the original chassis floor pan and correct replacements for various generally consumable parts such as hoses, mufflers, and various hardware. As one might expect from a car with known ownership and enthusiast preservation for nearly 60 years, there is no evidence of structural compromise to the frame, underbody components, or suspension attachment points.

This car starts easily and settles into a smooth idle, burbling with just a hint of more power offered by the upgraded 327 engine. Though not frequently driven in recent years, the car has an authentic and capable feel as it has always been maintained with annual fluid changes and inspections. The transmission shifts smoothly and engages the V8 engine with authority. At cruising speeds, the car is steady and evenly tracking with surprisingly good ride comfort and pleasing cornering when pressed into service.

This Corvette is accompanied by invoices documenting current ownership including recent service invoices for general maintenance, a car cover, a set of matching floor mats, miscellaneous spare cosmetic and mechanical parts, a tow hitch which attaches to the rear bumper, side windows, tire changing tools, various headlight trim pieces, two Corvette books, a display placard, and a file of documents including copies of GM engineering build orders from the 1950s outlining the development of EX87, the disposition of EX87 and involvement with Duntov, the internal use of EX87/5951, and subsequent transformation to the 1955 Corvette model, and additional historic reference information on the other test mules built in 1955 and 1956 concurrent with EX87.

With a remarkably important history and documented long term California ownership, this Corvette presents as a rare opportunity to own what could very well be the missing link in the earliest lineage of Corvette V8 history. Presented with documentation supporting 57 years of ownership and historic General Motors engineering records, this historically important Corvette is ready to participate in future Corvette events as a surviving ambassador to the legacy of the Corvette mystique.

Please Note: "This description is a summary of the current information available on EX87/5951 at this time. These references include GM Engineering notes, internal documentation, owner recollections, expert opinions/summations, and historic references from articles and books currently known and gathered. Buyers are encouraged to perform their own evaluations and to further engage Corvette experts as part of their review process before purchase."

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608