Sixty-five years is an awfully long time for a car to remain with one family, particularly when that car happens to be a highly collectible first-generation Corvette. This Roman Red 1960 example has done exactly that, staying under the same family ownership since 1961.
Its history would make it interesting even if it were an ordinary C1, but Chevrolet equipped this particular Corvette with hardware intended for considerably harder driving. Hidden beneath the familiar convertible body is one of the rarest performance packages available on a 1960 Corvette.
Mecum will offer the car at its Dallas/Fort Worth auction on October 23, where its combination of long-term ownership, originality, and unusual factory equipment should attract plenty of attention. It has also earned NCRS Top Flight recognition, adding another credential to an already compelling résumé.
After decades with one family, however, this Corvette is finally preparing to find another home. Whoever gets it won’t simply be buying an attractive early Corvette. They’ll get something far rarer than that, because only 118 others were reportedly configured with its most important option for 1960.
It’s One Of 119 ‘Vettes With RPO 687
Chevrolet’s RPO 687 option was aimed at Corvette owners interested in competition and demanding performance driving. Commonly associated with the “Big Brake” setup, the package combined heavy-duty braking hardware with special steering and upgraded suspension components.
Mecum says only 119 Corvettes received RPO 687 for the 1960 model year. The package remained available through 1962, but its limited production has made surviving examples particularly interesting among performance-oriented C1s.
This car also has an aluminum top-tank radiator, heavy-duty suspension, 15×5.5-inch steel wheels, and a big-brake scoop kit. A Positraction rear axle with an aggressive 4.11 ratio completes a specification that clearly prioritizes performance over relaxed cruising.
The 283 Makes 270 Horsepower
Under the hood sits the matching-numbers 283-cubic-inch V8, producing a claimed 270 horsepower. Rather than fuel injection, this Corvette uses the most powerful carbureted version of Chevrolet’s small-block offered that year.
Power goes through a four-speed manual transmission, giving the car a suitably enthusiast-focused drivetrain to accompany the RPO 687 hardware. Both the engine and transmission were rebuilt in 2024, while the Positraction rear axle was overhauled during the same year.
Interestingly, this Corvette was also ordered without a heater, which fits nicely with the rest of a specification seemingly more concerned with performance than creature comforts.
It Has Earned NCRS Top Flight Recognition
Visually, the Corvette wears one of the quintessential C1 combinations: Roman Red paint contrasted by Ermine White coves and a black interior. It comes with both a removable hardtop and a soft top, giving its next owner options depending on the weather.
Mecum also lists the original jack and handle among the included equipment. An additional set of whitewall radial tires mounted on steel wheels with Corvette spinner hubcaps is included, along with an extra AM/FM radio and speaker.
Most importantly, the car has received NCRS Top Flight recognition, an award emphasizing factory authenticity and correctness. Combined with its matching-numbers V8 and unusually rare performance equipment, that should give serious Corvette collectors plenty to examine.
65 Years With One Family Are Ending
Mecum hasn’t published an estimate for what the Corvette might bring when it crosses the block on October 23. Given the rarity of the RPO 687 package and the car’s other credentials, however, this isn’t likely to be treated like an average restored 1960 Corvette.
Its strongest feature may ultimately be something that can’t be ordered from a factory options sheet. After remaining with the same family since 1961, this Corvette is preparing to change hands for the first time in 65 years, closing an unusually long chapter in the life of a particularly special C1.