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Nightwind
is a one owner car with 62,000 actual miles, originally factory equipped with 390 HP 427 CID engine, wide ratio Muncie 4-speed transmission, 3.08:1 positraction differential, power brakes, power windows, power steering and air conditioning.
The original/present owners, Larry and Sherry Van Gelder, ordered the car to specification through a dealership in the Chicago suburbs in late 1968, (delivered in January 1969), and drove it to Florida in 1974. The body was heavily modified to near its present appearance in 1978, with the exception of the nose, which was redesigned in 1991. All fiberglass modifications were designed and executed by the owner, with extreme patience and guidance provided by Jim Grindrod of Pinellas Park, Florida.
Nightwind successfully competed in dozens of autocrosses/gymkhanas between 1969 and 1981, including the first weekend after it was delivered in January, 1969. It was driven from the Chicago suburbs to Pell Lake, Wisconsin, to run in the annual ice gymkhana on the frozen lake, sponsored by the Chicago Corvette Club. At the time of the race, it had been driven less than 400 total miles. On dryer ground, it was obvious that the suspension needed tweaking
Garage kept since new, but not "babied", it is now a Street/Performance vehicle. It previously competed successfully in car shows, autocrosses, rallys and drag races, and was featured in a multi-page article, with photographs, in the January 1982 issue of "Vette" magazine.
Small changes, such as the LED taillights, are constant and ongoing. (By the way, don’t look for the taillights in stores. They are manufactured for use in heavy duty commercial vehicles, with the body of the car modified for installation).
As technology changes and advances, the car will continue to be modified and improved. That’s what keeps the entire concept dynamic, interesting, challenging and FUN
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