33-Year-Old Corvette With 13 Miles On It For Sale In Plymouth

By Bill Shields, WBZ-TV

October 21, 2011 4:29 PM

The dusty 1978 Corvette. (Photo courtesy: corvettemikenewengland.com)

Reporting Bill Shields

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PLYMOUTH (CBS) – He’s known as ‘Corvette Mike’ for a reason. Inside his showroom in Plymouth are dozens of Corvettes, all shined up, hand polished and ready to go.

Except one.

A dusty 1978 Corvette.

But if you look closely, you’ll see it has 13 miles on the odometer.

“It’s a brand new Corvette and it’s all full of dust and that’s the way it’s going to stay,” ‘Corvette Mike’ Milian of Corvette Mike New England told WBZ-TV.

WBZ-TV’s Bill Shields reports

In 1978, a man in Ohio bought the 25th anniversary limited edition Corvette, stuck it in his barn and then walked away.

Recently, he needed some cash and Corvette Mike ended up with the car. He won’t say how much he paid for it.

“The car had everything original, even the battery, and it fired right up. The window sticker is on it. Everything from 1978. And it’s even got some rare options, which was the CB radio.”

Yes, CB radios were hot back then.

But not as hot as this Vette.

1978 was the first year the Corvette was used as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500.

“(There’s) no extra charge for the dust, but that’s part of the unique character of this car, that it was a barn find. That it hasn’t been touched in 30 years, basically,” said sales manager Jason Francisco.

“If somebody buys it, they can wash it,” said ‘Corvette Mike.’

Who ever buys the car will get an added bonus – the original gas receipt. It shows the original owner paid $5 for 7.5 gallons.

Mike believes the car will probably sell for somewhere around $50,000.

The window sticker shows it sold for $14,631.21 in 1978.

You can read more about the car on Corvette Mike’s web site.

33 Year Old Corvette With 13 Miles On It For Sale In Plymouth

Tsal

You might have to have been part of the muscle car era to have the goosebumps but WOW

retphxfire

I want it!!!!! I’m not a ‘car person’ but I like the idea of this car.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f19/brand-new-1978-corvette-106444/#post2411415 Brand New 1978 Corvette – GM Inside News Forum

[...] [...]
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/all-other-vehicles/100433-33-year-old-corvette-13-miles-sale.html#post891830 33-Year-Old Corvette With 13 Miles On It For Sale – Toyota 4Runner Forum

[...] [...]
BobJ

1978 wasn’t the muscle car era but it is still neat to see an untouched survivor which is what gives this vehicle it’s only value. A 1978 Corvette is no big thing so whoever buys it will have to keep it the way it is and not drive it so they don’t lose their investment or they can just drive it if money is no object to them.

tsal

It was after the muscle car era but still close enough for those of us who lived in that era. I’d have bigger goosebumps if it were a 67

http://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/1409534-1978-corvette-13-original-miles.html#post21391545 1978 Corvette — 13 original miles – Sports cars, sedans, coupes, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, tickets, dealers, repairs, gasoline, drivers… – City-Data Forum

[...] [...]
JohnC

There is no way it “fired right up.” A 33 year-old battery will not crank, and 33 year-old gas will not burn.
JohnC
ASE master tecnnician.

Rob Tetrault

I know absolutely nothing about cars, and was thinking the same thing.
Mark in ATL

They stated in the article that they had to replace the battery. One thing I can guarantee, those cylinder walls were rusty as all of the oil that would normally coat them had drained away, and for them to say the seals are fine are wrong again. The rubber needs to stay “wet” to keep them from drying out. In short, this 13 mile vehicle would need most of the power train overhauled. There is no telling how bad that paint is, you simply cannot store a car that long without taking precautions, like cranking the motor and letting it get the oil to proper temperature to burn off the impurities. Cool story though.

Mark in ATL

Sorry, they said on Mike’s website that the battery had to be changed. If they didn’t bother to change fluid first, they weren’t too smart.

Axle

Yup, it just proves the guy is a typical car salesman, full of s**t
brian

correct, and 33 y.o. tires and all the hoses weatherstripping ect are shot as well.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f38/33-year-old-corvette-13-miles-sale-plymouth-106454/#post2411583 33-Year-Old Corvette With 13 Miles On It For Sale In Plymouth – GM Inside News Forum

[...] [...]
StephenW

78 engines were a pale mockery of “muscle car” engines. Nothing special about this car but the paint.
crazy stan-g

At least there is no rust.
tony

all rubber would be rotted, the leather interior dry, filled with bugs and dirt, gas tank would need to be flushed and refilled with NEW gas, that will ignite. the battery would need AT LEAST a charge if not replacement since the acid inside of it probably turned to water. and any chrome would probably be showing signs of needing to be redipped….. i bet under the dust is a whole world of work this car would need. BUT, its mint condition and definitly a favored classic car…….. stingrays are awesome……
hardy har har

It’s a Transformer!
Willowdee

The price of $14,631 works out to $51,639.42 in todays money, so where is the “BIG DEAL”? Sounds like the slaes manager is no genius! The car promoted properly should bring a lot more than that, regardless of whether it is a muscle care or not. I’ve sold a lot of “FINDS” in my life for much better prices.

mare531

I am sure he didn’t pay that for the car, that is what he supposes he will get. If he paid, I dont know, even $30k for the car, that is still a $20.K profit. And I bet he didnt even pay that. I love this car and wish I could buy it, rust, leather cracking, old battery, dust and all. I love it.

tsal

I’d agree mare – weather it is actual muscle car era or not (it’s only few years after past era) doesn’t matter one bit. It is a piece of yesterday’s cars. I can think of several others I would prefer but when it comes right down to it, this is a great find.
leon Phelps

The car cost over 45K in todays dollars, he was lucky to get 15k for it, the guy took a huge fincancial loss on the car.

The car is 220 hp and a 3 speed Automatic!! Yuck

This car would lose a race with a 4cyl Camry Hybrid, and that get 40 miles per gallon city.

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/off-topic/23871-78-vette-13-miles.html#post460030 78 Vette With 13 Miles?! – The Vette Barn Forum – A Community for Corvette Lovers

[...] [...]
PB

Very surprising that there is no damage from mice or other rodents. Is Ohio a rodent-free state?

Lightfoot

Very good point. That is the first thing I would suspect also.

stu povick

I’d pay about 7k for it ……. next to the C-4s tthose are about the most undesireable Vettes ever made …… in our Corvette club we call them “Star War Vettes ” ……
http://blackandgold.com/ee/37462-anyone-want-33-year-old-corvette-13-miles.html#post342109 Anyone want a 33 year old Corvette with 13 miles on it?

[...] [...]
Old Salt

Everything’s original from 1978, and the 1978 battery fired right up? I don’t think so.
MM

Vettes aren’t muscle cars. 220hp, 3500lbs? What a pos! 15.2 @ 95 in the 1/4? LOL!!! It would make great bonfire kindling.

tsal

you are being far too technical with regard to the muscle car and I’d still put a 67 vette up against anything you have. It’s the whole mindset and not the car of the year but if you were not there and not part of it then perhaps it is hard to understand
Elvis

It is not even that fast, that was for the 4speed standard, this is a 3 speed Auto!

http://guyspeed.com/78-corvette-with-only-13-miles-for-sale/ ’78 Corvette With Only 13 Miles For Sale

[...] Mike Millian, known to his friends as “Corvette Mike,” is selling the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pictured above. Don’t let the years of dust fool you. It’s in cherry condition with only 13 miles on the odometer. [...]
http://1069therock.com/78-corvette-with-only-13-miles-for-sale/ ’78 Corvette With Only 13 Miles For Sale – KLUB 106.9 The Rock

[...] Mike Millian, known to his friends as “Corvette Mike,” is selling the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pictured above. Don’t let the years of dust fool you. It’s in cherry condition with only 13 miles on the odometer. [...]
http://katsfm.com/78-corvette-with-only-13-miles-for-sale/ ’78 Corvette With Only 13 Miles For Sale – 94.5 KATS: THE Rock Station

[...] Mike Millian, known to his friends as “Corvette Mike,” is selling the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pictured above. Don’t let the years of dust fool you. It’s in cherry condition with only 13 miles on the odometer. [...]
http://955glo.com/78-corvette-with-only-13-miles-for-sale/ ’78 Corvette With Only 13 Miles For Sale – 95.5 GLO

[...] Mike Millian, known to his friends as “Corvette Mike,” is selling the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pictured above. Don’t let the years of dust fool you. It’s in cherry condition with only 13 miles on the odometer. [...]
http://keyj.com/78-corvette-with-only-13-miles-for-sale/ ’78 Corvette With Only 13 Miles For Sale | Rock 108 Real Rock Radio

[...] Mike Millian, known to his friends as “Corvette Mike,” is selling the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pictured above. Don’t let the years of dust fool you. It’s in cherry condition with only 13 miles on the odometer. [...]
http://96xrocks.com/78-corvette-with-only-13-miles-for-sale/ ’78 Corvette With Only 13 Miles For Sale | THE ROCK OF EAST TEXAS

[...] Mike Millian, known to his friends as “Corvette Mike,” is selling the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pictured above. Don’t let the years of dust fool you. It’s in cherry condition with only 13 miles on the odometer. [...]
http://z94.com/78-corvette-with-only-13-miles-for-sale/ ’78 Corvette With Only 13 Miles For Sale – Classic Rock & The Best New Rock

[...] Mike Millian, known to his friends as “Corvette Mike,” is selling the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pictured above. Don’t let the years of dust fool you. It’s in cherry condition with only 13 miles on the odometer. [...]