#115, Charity sweepstakes starts for 36 rare Corvettes

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It’s difficult to imagine a more impressive integration of charity, automotive history and philanthropic generosity than “The Lost Corvettes” sweepstakes.

The group called Corvette Heroes has launched a national sweepstakes in which 36 classic Corvettes will be the prizes. The collection includes one vehicle from 1953, the year the iconic car was introduced, through a 1989 model.

Chris Mazzilli of the Gotham (New York) Comedy Club and a renowned Corvette expert as the owner of Dream Car Restorations on Long Island, N.Y., is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Mazzilli, who’s among the group of New York real estate and parking garage professionals who comprise the Corvette Heroes, talks with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia about the project and its usual circumstances.

The collection is known both as “The Lost Corvettes” and the Peter Max Collection because the renowned pop artist once owned the vehicles. He was going to use the cars as canvases for a series of paintings but never pursued the project.

The cars were stored in parking garages throughout New York for more than 25 years. But a few years ago, a representative for Max reached out to Scott Heller, who for two decades helped his friend move the cars to the garages.

The agent asked Heller if he was interested in purchasing the collection. Heller discussed the offer with his sons Michael and Adam Heller, and his cousin Peter Heller, as well as real estate associates Gary, Adam and Fred Spindler.

They contacted Mazzilli to determine what it would take to restore the cars. Mazzilli compiled a detailed analysis for the group on what each car needed and the cost of repairs and then the decision was made to purchase the entire collection.

Among the vehicles is a 1953 Corvette, among the rarest years of the automotive icon. The collection also includes a 1956 Corvette, resplendent in Cascade Green, and a highly coveted 1967 Corvette convertible.

Mazzilli also discusses the restoration details and the idea to make the project into a charity with the podcast co-hosts.

Proceeds from the sweepstakes of what is believed to be the greatest collection of Corvettes in history will go to American military veterans through the National Guard Educational Foundation.

To participate in the sweepstakes, donation entries (ages 18 years of age or older) are $3 each with discounts for multiple entries. Visit www.thelostcorvettesgiveaway.com. The deadline is April 30.

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