Rare '67 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe going once...

1967 Corvette Sting Ray coupe (Lot S88)

MARENGO, Ill. - Corvette enthusiasts searching for that next addition to their collection can look no further than Mecum's annual Bloomington Gold Auction, which will feature more than 400 Corvettes up for bid June 24-25, 2011, in St. Charles, Ill.

Among the main attractions Mecum will offer is a rare, highly optioned 1967 Corvette Sting Ray coupe (Lot S88) that represents all the knowledge and experience of Bloomington Gold founder and Corvette expert extraordinaire David Burroughs, who in 1993 completed a five-year restoration of the car for the current owner.

The Silver Pearl coupe was sold new in Evansville, Ind., where it has resided ever since with a series of three owners. It is well equipped with the L68 427/400 HP Tri Power big block engine, transistorized ignition, a 4-speed manual transmission, telescopic steering column, air conditioning, power steering and brakes, power windows, headrests, AM/FM radio and tinted glass.

But according to Burroughs, the main story is "the insane detail that differentiates this from any other Corvette. That "insane detail" is the result of his decades of devotion to the ideal of preserving history. The car literally showcases Burroughs' insistence on translating that philosophy into a finished piece whose minutest detail mimics true factory production. For example, the Silver Pearl finish was applied by a painter specially trained by Burroughs in factory paint processes. The finished paint was lightly buffed out, but only above the beltline, the factory having decided that since the area below the sharp break was typically in shadow, it therefore did not require the extra attention.

1966 Corvette Convertible 427/425 HP, 4-Speed (Lot S77)

Mecum will also auction a 1966 Corvette Convertible 427/425 HP, 4-Speed (Lot S77) that has earned NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold Survivor and Benchmark certification, in addition to many more desirable and collectible Corvettes.

Mecum's Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction is held at Pheasant Run Resort and is open to the general public. More information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815-568-8888.