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View Full Version : 1959 Fuelie Corvette "Purple People Eater"


Rixls6
12-28-2009, 02:50 PM
Talking with a friend over the weekend and the conversation became about a Vette that has been in his family since new and he may be ready to sell.
The `59 Fuelie Vette was bought new by his father and was built by Tero Corvette. Howard Winnan of Tero Corvette had worked at Nickey Chevrolet and was 1 one of the builders of the "Purple People Eater" Corvettes that were campaigned from Nickey. Apparently this `59 Vette was the 1st "tribute"? that was built at Tero of the "Purple People Eater". The story goes that the car was driven at one point by a Roy Kumnick and that there are many log books from its racing days.
Here's a link that talks about the Nickey built cars.
http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2005/05/01/hmn_feature15.html
Anyway this car he has is apart and has its original Fuelie stuff, and still sports the very faded purple paint.
I don't have any pics yet, but will get some when possible.
Any ideas of a value on this car? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

TimG
12-28-2009, 06:31 PM
Tero Corvette was a very popular Corvette builder in the Chicago area back in the 60’s and 70’s. They built and sponsored my old ’64 vintage racer that won June Sprints twice in the late 60’s. I have some old pictures of the ’68 that Bill Morrison raced that has their name on the side of it, also. These pictures are also in the new L88 book.
Most of the Chicago racers would buy salvaged Corvettes that were theft recoveries and turn them into race cars.