“There are five teams of two judges — a team to do operations, mechanical, chassis, interior and exterior, and they do every car,” explained local Corvette expert and judge Jeff Bernhardt. “We have a series of judging criteria for each group, based upon originality and being restored to as it came from the factory.”
“It starts with 4,500 points, and as we find things wrong, we deduct points,” Bernhardt added. “You can lose 270 points and still be considered a Top Flight Corvette.”
As judges pored over the engine compartment of a 1960 Corvette, restorer Danny May watched closely. May, of Cinci Rods & Classics, has hundreds of hours of work in this Corvette, and it’s the first time it’s been judged.
“We need to get it scored, and then take a long look over the scoring sheet to see what we need to do to get it to Top Flight level,” May said. “What’s great about this process, you get a detailed sheet, with all of the judges’ comments, so you know where you need some work. Everything has to be factory correct. I spent hours on the Internet just trying to locate the correct gas cap for this car.”
May had two cars in the judging: the 1960 Corvette belonging to Andrew Rush of Goshen, Ind., and also a 1967 Corvette 427 belonging to Rush’s father, Randy.
“I’ve been working on these two cars for almost two years, doing a frame-off restoration on the 1967. I hope they get Top Flight, but if not, we’ll make the changes and bring them back.
“The award is so important to the owners. Getting Top Flight can increase the value of the car by up to 40 percent.”
George Swartz of West Chester wasn’t sweating his Top Flight award too much, as he watched the judges pore over his 1955 Corvette.
“I’ve been looking at the scoring sheets, and we’re scoring 99 percent all along the way, so it should get Top Flight,” he said.
This Corvette was being judged for the first time, and in addition to being an immaculate restoration, it was also the fourth 1955 built.
“I look for the unique Corvettes. This is No. 4 in 1955, and I also own No. 1 from ’55, ’56 and ’57.”
Swartz spent two years doing the frame-off restoration, and does all of the work himself except for bodywork.
“I really like Corvettes and ’57 Chevys. I have six Corvettes and seven ’57 Chevys.”
For more information about the Miami Valley Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society, go online to www.ncrs.org/mvc.
About the Author