Two 50-year-old classics head to Indianapolis
Mecum Auction's Spring Classic kicks off this week in Indianapolis. Headlining are two Corvettes, both packing incredible stories and extreme provenance.
The first is a Marina Blue 1967 Corvette with the legendary 427-cubic-inch, 435-horsepower V-8 engine and a four-speed manual transmission.
Still sporting its original drivetrain, components and even tires, this incredible machine has been driven a mere 15 miles in the last 15 years. The odometer shows 8,533 miles and the vehicle has never been in a show or judged publicly in its 50-year history.
Keith Richard Litavsky, the original owner, served fearlessly on the front line in Vietnam. During the war, Litavsky sent money home to Lisle so he could purchase the car upon his return, said his son, Matt Litavsky, in a video promoting the sale.
In Litavsky's final battle during the war, his unit walked into a jungle that had been sprayed with Agent Orange the night before. In an ensuing firefight, most of the men in the unit were killed. An injured Litavsky carried his wounded commanding officer out of the jungle, but that officer soon died when the helicopter went down shortly after leaving the battlefield.
After returning from Vietnam decorated with two purple hearts, Litavsky went right to Jack Douglass Chevrolet in Hinsdale and purchased his dream car. He meticulously kept a log book on every mile driven. Matt said his father stored the Corvette in his garage up on jack stands to remove any weight from the springs, suspension and tires.
"He took care of it like it was his sixth child," Matt said.
Matt said his father started suffering from various illnesses and cancers shortly after returning from the war. Sadly, Litavsky died in 1993 from what his family believes was his exposure to Agent Orange.
Litavsky owned the Corvette for 26 years. Matt was given the car just before he father passed, and he's now owned it for 24 years. He's hoping a buyer will give it the care and love his father did, and enjoy it as much.
The Corvette is documented with the original window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, owner's manual and extensive handwritten maintenance logs that include Litavsky's diaries of its use.
1967 convertible
The other Corvette stunner is a 1967 convertible. In addition to being a multiple Bloomington Gold and National Corvette Restorers Society award winner, this is the only known Tuxedo Black on black 1967 435 horsepower convertible to earn both Bloomington Gold Benchmark and NCRS Top Flight honors.
"It is one of only 10 (known) left with this color and engine combination," said owner Chris Piscitello of Mettawa.
When original owner Bob Olderog and his girlfriend, Connie, arrived at Bob Eriksen Chevy Center in Milan, near Rock Island, to pick up his new Corvette, he was disappointed to find it had the Red Stinger stripe. He had ordered it without the stripe. Fortunately, the factory apparently refused his request to remove the stripe and, over time, Olderog grew to appreciate it.
Olderog did, however, change the wheels and tires at the family business, Olderog Tire Service Inc. in Davenport, Iowa. After two years of babying his beloved Corvette, Olderog married Connie in 1969 and sold the car to his close friend, Dan Hummel.
Hummel passed it on to several other caretakers before it came to reside in the hands of its current owner. Piscitello has a collection of about 15 classic cars and he has owned the Corvette since 2002.
With some internet research, Piscitello was able to track down the Olderogs in 2003 and he invited them to travel from their home in Iowa to see their old convertible at the Bloomington Gold Corvette show, held at the time at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. Bob and Connie Olderog came and saw the car for the first time in 30 years.
"It was very emotional for them," Piscitello said. "They were amazed the car still existed, and in this condition."
Watch both cars, and 2,000 others, cross the auction block when the event kicks off this Tuesday. The Mecum Auction Spring Classic continues through May 20.