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22nd ANNUAL CLASSIC CAR RAFFLE

Friday, June 25th, 2010

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE TO WIN A 1957 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE

Raffle tickets are available for the 22nd Annual Classic Car Giveaway benefiting Saint Bernard Parish and School in Rockport, Indiana. This year’s car is a NCRS restored venetian red 1957 Corvette Convertible valued at over $83,000.00.  The Corvette hotline number to order tickets is 812-362-7313.  Ticket orders may also be downloaded from the parish website at www.StBernardRockport.org where a photo tour and video tours of the car are featured.

The cost of each opportunity is $30.00 or 4 for $100.00.  Only 10,000 tickets will be sold.

“We were 116 tickets short of a sell out in 2009,” said David Lovell of Saint Bernard Parish.  “This 1957 Corvette is show-ready and is absolutely gorgeous. We’re hoping to sell every ticket this year.”

Saint Bernard Elementary School is the only accredited private/parochial school in Spencer County.  Over 20% of Saint Bernard students are non-parishioners and a bus service is available for families in the North Spencer area for daycare, pre-school and K-8 students.

The winner will be drawn on Sunday July 11
at 5:00 p.m. CDT at the annual Saint Bernard Summer Social on the church grounds at 6th & Elm St. in Rockport, IN.  Admission is free.  The Summer Social hours are 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and everyone in the community is invited to attend.

The 1957 Corvette was purchased from the fine selection of classics from ProTeam Corvette.

Classic Corvette Raffle proteam-corvette.com

22nd Annual Classic Car Giveaway benefiting Saint Bernard Parish

Terry Michaelis on Selection Committee for The “Exclusive” Great Hall

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

or What Do These Names Have in Common… Terry Michaelis of Napoleon, Ohio and Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson”Mr. October”

Napoleon, Ohio – - Terry Michaelis, president of ProTeam Classic Corvette Collection, has been named to the selection committee for Bloomington Gold’s The Great Hall, ie: Hall of Fame. Terry is in good company as some of the biggest names in the hobby sit on the eight member committee, among them is baseball hall-of-famer Reggie Jackson who is also a Corvette collector. Over the next five years, the committee will submit 50 of the hobby’s most significant Corvettes and 50 of its most influential people that pioneered the Corvette phenomenon for induction to The Great Hall.

Bloomington Gold USA founder, David Burroughs, decided to put together a select brain trust to find the Corvettes and the people that have influenced and shaped the sport. A selection committee will name ten people and ten cars each year for the next five. The inaugural Great Hall class will be announced at the Bloomington show in June. The Great Hall’s selection committee runs independently of Bloomington Gold making this more than a marketing gimmick for the annual show. Burroughs would like The Great Hall to “serve as a document that puts the Corvette phenomenon into print and serve as a historic document.”

Terry Michaelis has been a recognizable figure within the classic Corvette hobby for 38 years. His lifelong connection to these Corvettes and the people passionate for these cars made him a natural for the The Great Hall selection committee. “The Corvette phenomenon was and is driven by passion and the love of the marque with many milestones along the way but  it is more than just about the car.” Michaelis continued, “Bloomington has always been about connections. It’s renewing friendships. Reminiscing. First and foremost, it is the people that have chartered the course to the point of ‘The Great Hall’.”

Michaelis purchased a 1964 Corvette in 1971 and never looked back. Over the decades he has became synonymous for his over-the-top promotions and his encyclopedic knowledge of the Corvette. In 1987, he and his brother Fred opened ProTeam Corvette in Napoleon and are owners of the largest collection of classic Corvettes in the world. He’s bought and sold over 10,000 Corvettes in nearly four decades with a current collection boasting several 1953 Corvettes, some 30 iconic 1967′s, a stable of coveted L88′s, and two GM Styling cars, one of which he was recently seen on Discovery Channel bidding to a successful purchase of $925,000.00.

Bloomington Gold USA will mark its 38th annual show on June 25th-27th, 2010. It has become a mecca for Corvette enthusiasts worldwide. It pays close and continual attention to both the die hard hobbyist and the everyday fan. An award from Bloomington carries much weight within the Corvette set, moreover, past Special Collections have generated unrivaled buzz within all collector car circles. These examples and much more have made Bloomington Gold the longest running national Corvette show. It has become affectionately known as “The Granddaddy of all Corvette shows”. For more information, go to BloomingtonGold.com

ProTeam Classic Corvette Collection and Sales, based in Napoleon, Ohio, showcases the largest inventory of classic Corvettes in the world. More than $10 million worth of Corvettes are displayed in 60,000 square feet of showrooms and restoration facilities with over 100 classic Corvettes on display at any time. In addition, ProTeam offers more than 10,000 sq. ft. of used, new and hard-to-find parts. For additional information, write to ProTeam Corvette  • PO Box 606 • 1410 North Scott Street • Napoleon, OH 43545 • toll free: 888-592-5086 • For more information, email: beth@proteamcorvette.com or go to ProTeamCorvette.com

50th Anniversary of the Corvette’s Greatest Achievement…

Monday, April 26th, 2010

is coming soon as September 17th, 2012 marks 50 years to the day when the Chevrolet Corvette was transformed into the iconic 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe which is now a milestone and what we believe is the most significant event in Corvette history, thanks in part to the efforts of GM’s Bill Mitchell, Larry Shinoda, and Zora Arkus Duntov. Thousands of photos grace the internet and past magazine articles as the 1963 Split Window Coupe represents a hallmark of the famed Stingray and its design is endless without peers. Few car collections, personal or commercial, are without one such example.

One of ProTeam's 1/2 dozen 1963 Classics

Rare 1955 Corvette brought home…

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

from the Amelia Island, Florida Gooding and Co. Auction by… me! This rare 1955 was one of only 700 produced in 1955 and the Pennant Blue paint was only applied to 45 cars that year. Also, 1955 marked the first year for the V8 in a Corvette.
I paid $126,500.00 plus shipping for this past Bloomington Gold award winner which had been part of the Paul Jones Collection of Jonesville, Michigan until Paul sold the car in 2007 at the Mecum Bloomington Auction for $178,500.00.
Will consider an offer on this car that advances ProTeam’s basis should someone appreciate this car as much as we do. Email: terry@proteamcorvette.com

Also purchased at auction:
1967 Corvette Convertible, 300 hp, 4 speed… super rare and correct (real) Tuxedo Black with White/Black combo interior with its factory original body/trim tag. One of only a handful produced in this rare color combination. Body-off restored. NCRS Top Flight certified (98.2%) in 2007. Documented with warranty book/P.O.P, window sticker, dealer invoice, original canceled title, notarized deed of trust, owners manual packet, NCRS certificate/judging sheets/ribbon, and 1983 and 1986 dealer reassignment.
I really like this truly exceptional car and paid $73,000.00 plus shipping and am looking for someone who can appreciate it at least as much or more than me and will offer me a profit.
1995 Brand New Pace Car Convertible with only 53 miles from new… one of only 527 built. This car is in the wrapper with window sticker still on windshield. Automatic, leather, and loaded one owner car that I just bought at auction for $33,800.00 plus shipping.
Looking for an appreciative collector to advance my position. Email: terry@proteamcorvette.com

3rd Annual Corvette Market Seminar…

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

will be held at the Barrett-Jackson Auction on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 from 9:00am to 11:00am. This year Corvette Market Magazine welcomes two new panelists, Mike Yager of Mid America Motorworks and Terry Michaelis of ProTeam Corvette along with returning panelists David Burroughs of Bloomington Gold, Roy Sinor of NCRS, Michael Pierce of NCRS, Kevin Mackay of Corvette Repair, and Jim Jordan of County Corvettes.

- This group of panelists represent an unmatched level of knowledge, experience, and expertise in the world of collectible Corvettes.

- Admittance will be free for Barrett-Jackson consignors and bidders, Corvette Market and Sportscar Market subscribers, and owners of Bloomington Gold certified cars. Corvette Market Magazine is working on a co-promotional relationship with NCRS, and if achieved, then NCRS members will be admitted free as well.

- Under consideration are two sessions, the first dealing with restoration and preservation and the second with current market values.

- For more information, go to CorvetteMarket.com/2010seminar

The 100 Thousand Dollar Shopping Spree To buy the best C2 and C3

Friday, November 13th, 2009

… that you can for that money for both a driver and investment.

This is a very hard task as I would want to buy at least number two condition cars that are truly legitimate numbers matching with original VIN and trim plates and solid owner history.

I also would want no hit bodies, especially the frontal area.

This leaves the choices to the small block versions so I would buy a 1963 split window coupe for $60,000.00 to $70,000.00 and a 1969 or 1970 convertible with a 350 hp engine backed by a 4 speed transmission and this should be able to be accomplished for $30,000.00 to $40,000.00.

I would work on buying the 1963 first as that would be the hardest to do.

I would try to buy cars with good colors and as many options as possible.

This $100,000.00 challenge would make me a “price” buyer rather than a buyer who seeks “value” which generally will cost more but with an initial $100K available, I’d go to the bank and borrow the extra money it would take to truly get what I really would want at the end of the day.

Celebrity Pick at Carlisle…

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

It was an honor to be asked to be a celebrity judge at the recent Corvettes at Carlisle show and the choice was a hard one considering there were about 3,000 Corvettes to choose from. After walking row after row of mostly C4, C5, and C6′s or restored C1′s, C2′s, and C3′s, I came across an original, unrestored, unmolested black 1963 coupe that was in excellent condition making his decision, finally, easy!!! Congratulations to Jeff and Angela Boldosser for preserving a great original car and sharing it with almost 60,000 attendees at one of North America’s premier Corvette shows.

Monterey Madness…

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

When Bad Data is Good News and $118.7 million is Pretty Good! Five auctions in three days sold 558 classic cars. The average price was $212,711.00 per unit. 67% of the cars crossing the block went home with new owners. However, when compared to 2008, the numbers look a bit scarier, ie: nearly $139 million in sales in ’08, 70% sold, average price was $367,000.00 (+). All told there was a 17% decrease in sales from this year to last. The numbers don’t reflect the real story though. Experts, garage mechanics, and weekend warriors have all been reading the tea leaves for twelve months and they knew what would happen. There were no surprises and some real highlights like the $7.25 million paid for the Shelby Cobra. There was no speculating or nay-sayers just real bids for real cars and this is the real news out of Monterey for the collector car market and the enthusiasts who inhabit the hobby. Email: terry@proteamcorvette.com

The ZR-1 (1970-’72) Street Legal Racer…

Friday, September 19th, 2008

In 1970 Chevrolet Corvette introduced to the racing world a new street legal racing machine. The racer was dubbed the ZR-1. Production was limited to 1970, ’71, and ’72. Altogether for the three years, ZR-1 Corvettes totals 53 cars; 25 were produced in 1970, 8 in 1971, and 20 in 1972. Racers saw the natural roll bar effect of the coupe as a safety advantage and, as a result, there are few convertibles.

What is a ZR-1 Corvette? A ZR-1 Corvette is an LT-1 equipped Corvette produced in 1970, ’71, or ’72. ZR-1′s were specially equipped with all the heavy duty racing equipment  that had previously been used on the L-88 Corvettes of 1967, ’68, and ’69.  The only other Corvettes to receive this special group of heavy duty racing equipment in a package were the ZR-2 in 1971. The ZR-1 included the LT-1 engine, M-22 transmission, heavy duty J56 power brakes, transistorized ignition, special aluminum radiator, and special springs, shocks, and front and rear stabilizer bars.

ZR-1 identification features: (1) LT-1 engine, suffix CTV-1970, CGY-1971, or CKY-1972, (2) J-56 heavy duty brake package with dual pin front brake calipers (power), (3) F-41 heavy duty suspension package, 7 leaf rear spring, heavy duty shock absorbers, heavy duty 5/8″ front sway bar and heavy duty rear spindle struts, (4) M-22 (rockcrusher) transmission, (5) large aluminum radiator with expansion tank (no other LT-1 equipped car has an expansion tank), (6) steel fan shroud, other than 1972′s (most), (7) radio delete (no fenders drilled for antenna). The ZR-1 package could not be ordered with any creature comforts, ie: air conditioning, power windows, power steering, radio, alarm system, rear window defroster, or special trim items like P02 wheel covers.

The ZR-1 cars are the rarest small block Corvettes ever produced. The most common ZR-1 (the 1970) has only 5 more than the rarest L-88 (1967 – 20 units total). The ZR-1 cars are about five times rarer than L-88 cars.

You can see a pair of ZR-1′s Go to: 1970 – NSN-CG2 or 1972 – 241Z

note: portions of this article were taken from Vette Vues Magazine

Buy… Sell… Or Hold?

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

This is 2008 (not 2006 or 2007) and little in the news provide for anything euphoric, ie: the fuel mpg fracas, home mortgage fiasco, short sales, grain prices, oil dependency, the upcoming election, the Iraq war, US dollar devaluation, chicken little, and the media… pick your favorite fairy tale, etc.

So do we put off the joy and fun of owning a Corvette? Do we sell the Corvette we currently own? NO!! Because once we get these issues behind us, the new buyer and current Corvette owners will have had 2 or 3 years of cheap fun and you’ll probably do better than break even which is much better than you’ll ever do on your new microwave, plasma TV, washer/dryer, refrigerator, Cadillac, or SUV… Although I do enjoy those after 6:00pm moments of cold beer that I pull out of my depreciating fridge but I call that “The Fun Factor!”

fact one: Gas is cheap compared to the $3.00 to $5.00 12/16 ounce bottle of water that we purchase at sporting and other special events.

fact two: Do you hear the sucking sound of Corvettes leaving North America? Americans love their Corvette but so does the rest of the world and dozens are leaving every month due to the deep discount that foreigners get when buying US dollars, US products, and US companies which means every year there will be fewer Corvettes in North America and the remaining will plain and simply cost more due to supply and demand.

Who ‘da thought that anyone could afford to buy Anheiser Busch? Well, certain foreign companies would get a 30 to 40 percent discount on price offered due to the US dollar devaluation.

Buy… if that purchase does not stretch your rubber band and you plan on enjoying that purchase for two to three years.

Sell… If you need the money or have a better place to put that money but do not wait too long as the US economy will probably get worse before it gets better.

Hold… see above and do not forget to figure in the”fun factor!” I will!

Miller Bottle for tMichaelis

comments? email: terry@proteamcorvette.com