HELP!!
I need help tracing the history of my 1967 Corvette convertible (roadster)
"The Hecker Corvette"
SCCA (Sports Car Club Of America) B Production/IMSA/Trans Am race car
CLICK ON IMAGES ABOVE TO SEE MANY MORE PICTURES OF THIS CORVETTE
FACTS: PRODUCED: JULY 1967 ORIGINAL COLOR: SILVER PEARL-CODE 986
ORIGINAL INTERIOR: STANDARD BLACK VINYL
Purchased by Paul Hecker of Cleveland, Ohio from Sting Ray City also in Cleveland, as a stolen recovery in 1968 or 1969 and prepared for competition in the Central Division SCCA B Production class where he finished second in points to Allan Barker, who won the championship that year. It was believed to have been either silver or white with red or blue stripes in 1970. Hecker later became a Trans Am and IMSA racer in the mid 1970's driving this car and a 1969 Camaro previously campaigned by Bob Fryer and the University of Pittsburgh Road Race Team.
Sold to Tom McArthur in the early '70's (1971?), who painted it bright metallic (Marina?) blue with white stripes, then re-purchased by Paul Hecker and Blake Rear in approx. 1973. Paul and Blake and Bob Bienerth raced the car in SCCA, IMSA and Trans Am events at Mid-Ohio, IRP and Lime Rock, Nelson Ledges and other tracks with 302, 327, 350, and 454 c.i. engines until 1975.
After 1975 the car was sold to Ed Prutton, also of Cleveland, who raced in partnership with Paul Hecker until the partnership dissolved, at which time Paul became the sole owner. An engine fire damaged the cowl and hood, and paint as shown above applied by Steve Novak during this time period.
Paul Hecker passed away of a heart attack in 1996. Most of the documentation Paul had collected during his racing career was lost in a house fire that occurred a few years after his death.
Matt Hecker, Paul's son sold the car to Jan ______?, a Cleveland area resident who sold it to Joe Gordon of Sandy (Salt Lake City), Utah in 2000 or 2001. Purchased by me, Eric Ritchie of Katy (Houston), Texas in May 2002
BODY: Numerous stone chips on nose, trailing edges of wheel openings and on exhaust pipe behind front wheels, typical of a well used road race car. Windshield posts were cut down, now has full windshield and frame. Many small holes around cowl and doors, probably for tonneau cover. Still has stock headlights. Nose and front corners have been damaged and repaired. Rear clip (body from doors back) has been damaged and repaired, looks like it was partially replaced. Had a stock-type small block 327 hood. Driver's seat is similar to those in the original Grand Sport Corvette, could be military aircraft origin. Front and rear fender flares that appear to have been added after the blue paint.
CHASSIS: Seam welded and gusseted, Koni shocks, aftermarket front and rear sway bars. Rear half shafts are the u-bolt type usually found on small blocks and the side exit racing headers are for a small block. Fuel tank is stock type. Has J-56 heavy duty dual pin brakes. Roll bar is stamped 024340, but last digit is only a partial. The first three digits are usually the region. Region 24 is Northeast Ohio (NEOhio). The SCCA says no Corvette was registered with the first five digits of this number. The number is either a mistake, a fake, or from another sanctioning body.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CAR OR ANY PREVIOUS OWNERS OR DRIVERS, PLEASE CONTACT ME. Eric Ritchie e-mail: eritchie@sbcglobal.net or phone 281-578-0706 (home)
HOW IT LOOKS NOW
HOW IT LOOKED IN 1970
