We met up with Billy Stevenson hours after he claimed this prize at the Mecum auction during the NCRS Winter Meet in Florida last January. When we came upon it, it sported a fresh Sold sticker and the owner was nowhere to be found, but we were so taken by it that we had to hunt him down. Billy hadnt even driven it yet, but he was willing to talk to us about it, and let us get some photos.
Billys had the Fever for years, we discovered. He owned a 62 in college, and later a 61 (both Roman Red). This Panama Yellow beauty will be sharing quarters with his Silver Pearl 67 convertible, which has taken two NCRS Top Flight Awards. Panama Yellow isnt often seenthere were just 455 of them produced in 58, and this is one of them. The color is what caught our attention in the first place, but there turned out to be more than just paint to drool over.
This pristine specimen had a full frame-off restoration in 1998, so its in magnificent condition. Its Charcoal interior is unblemished, and options include a power top and auxiliary hardtop, two-tone paint (Snowcrest White coves), Wonderbar radio, Powerglide transmission, and a heater. The 58 has about 51,000 miles on it, and the only item that wasnt stock when Billy took possession that day was the radiator cap. Fortunately, he was able to find one at the show, so the only problem that remained was how to get the car home to Panama City (in the Florida panhandle). The weather was threatening, and its a long way from Orlando to Panama City!
We never did learn how Billy got this spectacular Corvette home that day, but we look forward to seeing them both at NCRS events in the future.