Description:
Back-to-back SCCA B-Production National Champion in 1961 and 1962, this Gulf Oil-sponsored 1961 Corvette was the most dominant Corvette racer of its time and the first formally sponsored Corvette champion, winning almost every race it entered. It is one of two delivered by Yenko Chevrolet to the legendary Grady Davis, who ordered them equipped with the RPO354 fuel-injected 283/315 HP engine, Borg Warner 4-speed transmission, Positraction rear end, heavy duty brakes and suspension and quick steering adapter. Both cars were then prepared with the so-called Sebring Racing Package, which was supplied courtesy of Zora Arkus Duntov and consisted of a 37-gallon fiberglass fuel tank, hood louvers, headlamp covers, and auxiliary front anti-sway bar.
The Gulf Corvette made its competition debut on March 25, 1961 at the Sebring 12 Hours driven by Don Yenko and Ben Moore, who took it to 3rd place in the GT 3000 class. Yenko followed that up with consecutive SCCA B-Production victories at Virginia, Cumberland, Bridgehampton, Dunkirk, and Lime Rock. The Gulf Corvette’s record was interrupted in July at the Meadowdale National, where it was discovered under protest to have an aluminum flywheel, an oversight resulting from its preparation for FIA competition. The SCCA penalized Yenko, suspending him from competition for six months.
Having invested the full might of Gulf Oil’s Research and Development arm in the car’s success, Grady Davis immediately turned to “The Flying Dentist,” Corvette specialist Dr. Dick Thompson, who followed Davis’ instructions to “win every race here on” for the B-Production championship with victories at Bridgehampton, Indianapolis, Thompson, Road America and Watkins Glen.
Yenko was still on probation when the 1962 season began with the Marlboro “Refrigerator Bowl” in January, and Davis had assigned Dick Thompson to drive the new 327-powered A-Production Gulf Oil Corvette. Ben Moore took over for Yenko, beating Bruce Jennings’ potent Porsche 356 Carrera to take 3rd place overall. Yenko returned to the driver’s seat in February 1962 and at season’s end was crowned the SCCA B/Production champion for the second consecutive year.
This historically significant racing Corvette made an astounding 11 trips to victory lane in its pursuit of the SCCA B-Production National Championship. It was discovered in 1990 and meticulously restored to its 1961 Sebring configuration by noted photographer and author Richard Prince. It has since won the NCRS American Heritage Award, was part of the Bloomington Gold Special Collection and has been inducted into the Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame. It received its latest award in 2013 when it was inducted into the Bloomington Gold Great Hall.