You know, I’m pretty sure no previous Corvette has been labeled with so many different names than this automobile. Corvette decided to build a tribute car to the retiring Corvette Bowling Green plant manager, Wil Cooksey. He spent 15 years of his life managing the built of, “America’s Sports Car”. In his honor, Corvette chose a fitting and unusually alluring color, Crystal Red Metallic Tintcoat, added black stripes with, “427” hood lettering, seat and floor matt embroidery, Z06 sills, body-colored door handles and rear spoiler, 3LZ package and special chrome wheels and titled it the, “427 Limited Edition Z06”. They also call it the, “Crystal Red 427 Edition” and, “The Wil Cooksey Special”. A rose by any other name would still be fast, sleek and highly noticeable.
Mr. Cooksey signed 1010 Crystal Red 427 Editions. Based on the horsepower rating, Chevrolet made 505 units. 427 of these are slated for the United States while 78 may be had by the rest of the world. The Franklin Mint also made 505 and Wil signed each 1:1 and 1:24th; the real car is signed sequentially under the center console arm rest. TFM model bears his signature on the limited edition plate located in the trunk area of the diecast. The Mint got everything right, the Titanium Leather Wrapped Interior option, the striping, badged floor mats etc. Based on their high-tech internally hinged door model, the replica is a perfect little ‘mini me’ to the big boy car. Engine, interior and trunk area detailing is spot on and the chassis and suspension components are miniaturized exceptionally well.
I’m told this model is sold out so if you collect Corvette scale mint models, you know what you have to do because, yes, this is a MUST have! * Thanks to Russ Giroux for my grandson’s Cooksey Edition!
-Tony F Perrone
