|
This is the original commemorative edition MK corvette, with very low miles and in almost new condition.The cat back
exhaust has been replaced with an appropriate OEM type, new tires, brakes, all fluids were changes and it was tuned
up.The rims were refinished to the original luster but the prior owner decided to have them refinished in 1985
style to give some contrast to the all aluminum finish 86.Other than this the car is completely original and
everything works like new. Here is an article on the car from Corvette Magazine, "A category of one", which explains
the history on this rare car.My particular MK corvette has the Automatic transmission with Z51 package, all
documentation on window sticker and tank sheet proves it is the real deal, not a clone or tribute as with so many
others out there being misrepresented.Sorry I will not export the car and it sold as is where is no warranty.
Of the 50 Malcolm Konner Special Edition coupes Bowling Green assembled, 20 came with manual transmissions; the
other 30 had automatics. Ten of the cars with manuals and an equal number of the automatics were built with the
optional Z51 Performance Package, while the 30 remaining Malcolm Konner Special Edition Corvettes came with
standard suspension.
When it came to delivering the cars, the Konner family’s idea was to re-create what Malcolm Konner had done some
27 years prior. “In 1959, my father dreamed up the idea of organizing a rally with new Corvettes being driven
from the St. Louis factory to the GM training facility on Route 22 in Union, New Jersey, ” says RJ Konner. “Dad
rented a plane and flew customers to St. Louis, where they took delivery of their new Corvettes. It was really a
fantastic event, with Pat Boone at the GM training center in Union flagging the Corvettes across the finish line.
So we thought, why not try to do something like this again?”
While Gary Konner attended to all of the details involved with getting the cars built and sold, RJ Konner ironed
out all of the logistical details necessary for a mass caravan from the assembly plant in Kentucky to the
dealership in New Jersey. After all needed approvals from Chevy were obtained, the Konner family waged an ad
campaign in various enthusiast publications to drum up interest. With most of the 50 cars sold, they chartered a
jet to fly the buyers to Bowling Green to pick up the cars, and together they all drove back to New Jersey.
Like most C4 Corvettes, the majority of the 50 Malcolm KonnerSpecial Edition Corvettes were driven frequently and
many eventually ended up in a sad state of disrepair. Some have undoubtedly been repainted a different color, and
without the unique Black/Silver Beige finish and badging they look like any other ’86, so it’s entirely
possible that a few of the survivors are in the hands of people who don’t realize what they have. The cars were
not built in sequence and don’t have special serial numbers, but they can still be identified by the unique
Malcolm Konner Special Edition option code 4001ZA, which is on the window sticker and build sheet. (Copies of these
for any C4 can be purchased from the National Corvette Museum.) The option codes, as well as the paint and interior
codes, for C4s are also normally found on stickers affixed to the inside of the center-compartment door. All of the
Malcolm Konner Special Edition Corvettes list “spec” (short for special) for the paint code.
When well-known Corvette collector Bill Hermanek discovered our feature car only one block away from his house, it
was still wearing its original paint, so it was apparent that this was one of the 50 Malcolm Konner cars. At the
time, Hermanek wasn’t looking for another Corvette, but the rarity of the car intrigued him. After some intense
negotiations, he added it to his collection. “The odometer showed 90, 000 miles, ” Hermanek tells us, “and it
needed a variety of things, but it ran and drove great, so I went ahead and bought it.”
Hermanek is currently president of the Long Island NCRS chapter, so it’s no surprise that he’s taking pains to
bring the car back to “as new” condition. The paint on the hood was significantly deteriorated, so had got it
refinished. The interior is all original, and a good cleaning brought that back to near-new condition. The car’s
special bras
|
