This may be the rarest Corvette known to exist, simply due to attrition, by default. Still rare in anyone’s definition, 43 were actually made, but this lone example of a 1983 Corvette exists at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Making the transition from the last C3, of 1982 vintage, to the highly anticipated change-over in model design, Chevrolet ran long in the 1982 production run and basically skipped the 1983 model year. The first 1984 Corvettes were ready for and ultimately set for sale in March of 1983 as 1984 models. As is the case to this day, “pilot cars” are produced of the Corvette. Not considered as part of the actual production run, these are cars used for testing and more often that not, later destroyed. They do not want them to fall into the hands of the public for liability reasons as you can no doubt imagine. Once in a while I delight in reading about an exception to the rule in a Corvette periodical, magazine or newsletter from the National Corvette Museum or any of the many Corvette Forums online. These pilot cars go for mucho dinero.

The lone surviving 1983 was given a serial number bearing witness to its 1983 birth as were all 44. But with some of the 43 being crash tested and some pummeled in all sorts of unimaginable ways, this white knight stands alone and unscathed. Well, almost. It was cloaked in a savings bond’s paint scheme as a sales pitch to employees at the Corvette Assembly plant. But then restored and returned to its former unashamed factory white attire. Now housed across the street at the National Corvette Museum, the car stands as a testament to a hand-off of one generation to another.

In their quest for different and diverse automotive subject matter for us collectors, Franklin has not missed many great Corvette opportunities. A little known piece of Corvette trivia to most Corvette-a-philes, the 1983 Corvette’s existence was possibly overlooked by most others. So I give props to FM for not being in the latter group. They have essentially revisited their 1984 Corvette tooling and offer this model to us ever-hungry Vette addicts as a limited edition of 1983 units. There had been more than one set of wheels utilized on the lone existing #0023 1:1 car and FM knew that and crafted the correct and current ones. I know because I asked them directly and specifically before this model’s release. They were up to speed on all elements of this issue.

The accurate blue interior was used, the engine made to look period correct and a simulation added to the top of the rear fender to indicate where the power antenna resides when the car’s ignition is shut off. I note an unexpected little bonus in a fabricated VIN number plate and the blue windshield sticker affixed to the actual car. To be honest I do not know the origin of its “RBV 098” history. The roof panel is accurate as a body-color piece and the fit of the rear hatch window, doors and clamshell hood are exacting. FM even thought to replicate the, “1983” National Corvette Museum” license plate. Nice touch! Issue price for this limited edition is $120.

-Tony Perrone