Maximilien Gagnebin
Senior Specialist
LOT 127
1960 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis no. 00867S107276 Engine no. 107276 F04IICQ
Sold for US$123,200 inc. premium
Lot 127
Property of the Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartier International, Bernard Fornas
1960 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
1960 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
The Audrain Auction|3 October 2025, 16:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1960 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Chassis no. 00867S107276
Engine no. 107276 F04IICQ
Chassis no. 00867S107276
Engine no. 107276 F04IICQ
283ci OHV V8 Engine
Single 4-barrel Carter Carburetor
230hp at 4,800rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission (see text)
Independent Front Suspension with Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
*Beautifully restored example
*Covertly and tastefully modernized with power steering and A/C
*Uprated to a 4-speed manual
*A phenomenal machine for tours and rallies
THE CAR OFFERED
The choice of a 1960 Corvette to join the outstanding collection of Bernard Fornas reflects his appreciation for classic American design and execution.
Sometimes overlooked among collectors, the '60 Corvette should not be dismissed, nor was it by Bernard Fornas.
The '60 Corvette subtly melds the design and mechanical features of the '58-'59 Corvettes --like classic 283 cubic inch Chevy small block engines and chromed tooth grilles -- while it eschewed the mixed metaphors of the later '61-'62 models -- with their gaping grilles and truncated "Stingray" style haunch. Unlike its successor body styles, the '60 Corvette still had a separate trunk opening, something that after 1962 didn't reappear on a Corvette until the dawning of the next century.
In terms of its design the '60 Corvette is the best of previous first generation Corvettes, an evolving world-class sports car that characterizes the best of American style, performance, reliability and design, and an antidote to later developments of "straight-axle" Corvettes before the revolutionary independent suspension Sting Ray of 1963.
Bernard Fornas recognized the stature of the '60 Corvette in February 2018 when he ordered this car from Classic Steering Parts in Leerdam, Holland after appreciating one of their Corvette restorations at a show in Paris a week earlier, presumably Retromobile.
The restoration had begun a few months earlier and was meticulously specified, then followed with a succession of photos of the Corvette and its parts until completion. Now showing just over 1,000 miles, it remains in barely used
and meticulously maintained condition.
00867S107276 was restored in Bernard Fornas's choice of Ermine White. The Corvette body's distinctive front fender and door coves are Inca Silver, and while the red upholstery and interior trim are catalog Corvette colors, the material is not: it is sumptuous leather. The exterior also features stock-style spinner wheel covers and BFGoodrich Silvertown radial wide whitewall tires. Headlights have halogen bulbs. The stock-appearing WonderBar radio has likewise been upgraded to function like a modern multiband radio.
Power comes from a 283 cubic inch, 4-barrel engine specially tuned for refined driving on tours and around town. Originally specified by Bernard Fornas with a 3-speed manual transmission, during restoration it was sensibly upgraded to a more desirable 4-speed, a choice better suited to a variety of driving situations.
Under the hood it looks quietly stock but hidden away are electric power steering and air conditioning which is evident only in the stock-appearing underdash air conditioning vents. An alternator, cleverly designed to comply with the original generator's form factor, powers all the accessories.
The speedometer has been converted to read in kilometers per hour and the odometer shows at the time of cataloging under 1,100 km. The engine temperature gauge conversely is calibrated in Fahrenheit degrees.
This Corvette has both a hardtop (in matching Ermine White) and a soft top which apparently has never been erected.
In preparation for the auction it has been thoroughly checked, serviced and inspected for proper operation, safety and reliability.
Bernard Fornas's 1960 Corvette is thoughtfully and accurately restored where appropriate but also carefully configured with modern touches, accessories and features that enhance its drivability, reliability and function. It is a symbol of the '60 Corvette's unique position in Corvette evolution and design, combining the best elements of the '58 and '59 Corvette without passing into the design revisions of '61 and '62. And it is restored and configured to be unusually useful and enjoyable on the road.
Taste, vision and discernment are embodied in the selection, specification and restoration of this '60 Corvette, an appropriate symbol of the vision of Bernard Fornas.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Auction Viewings
- 2 October 2025, 09:00 - 18:00 EDT
Bid now on these items
United Kingdom
1911 Delaunay-Belleville 26HP Tourer
£70,000 - £100,000
