Watch a C1 Corvette Take a Hard Fall Off a Transport Truck

Jun 08, 2023

A single wheel chock wasn't enough to prevent disaster in this case.

Watching your newly acquired vintage sports car come off the transport truck should be a happy moment. Unfortunately for one 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible owner, that memory will forever be tainted with frustration. That’s because they had to watch in horror as their C1 Corvette took a high dive off the back of a transporter.

The video detailing the event was uploaded to TikTok and shared across other social media platforms. The clip starts with the Almond Beige Corvette being prepared to leave the enclosed trailer. The transport driver immediately heads towards the back of the lift platform and places down a single wheel chock on the driver’s side. As the driver begins to slide the car out from the trailer, it quickly picks up momentum. The driver is clearly aware something is wrong, and can be seen trying to use his weight to slow the classic sports car down. It is already too late at that point however, as the left rear wheel jumps the chock and the Corvette slams several feet to the ground. The car’s fiberglass rear bodywork was the first thing to hit the pavement, followed quickly by the front end. While not in frame, the sound in the clip suggests the car’s nose also dragged along the trailer on the way down. The impact was hard enough to pop one of the hubcaps off, while also breaking the trunk latch. Someone in the background can quickly be heard expressing their distaste with the driver’s methodology, followed up by some incredulous remarks from the driver himself.

As the video continues, it becomes clear that this particular Corvette owner won’t be enjoying their car anytime soon. The fiberglass bodywork around back is properly split apart and misaligned in places, while the front license plate frame is twisted up and away from the fascia. Based on the bounce that the car did after hitting the ground, it’s possible that there may be suspension or frame damage to contend with as well. It’s hard to say whether or not the car is totaled from the clip alone, but it seems like the most likely outcome.

What makes this whole situation even worse is the fact that this car just sold on Bring a Trailer back in late February for $111,000. For reference, a brand new Corvette Z06 starts at $109,295 with destination and gas guzzler fees included. Folks who saw the video went to the previous auction listing asking whether the two cars were actually the same. The buyer confirmed so yesterday morning. According to the auction listing, the car had been with the previous owner for 44 years, and had undergone some reconditioning back in the 1990s. The C1 received Top Flight awards from the National Corvette Restorers Society in 1998 and 2002. The car still looked well kept and cared for at the time of the auction based on what we can tell.

While the video evidence will certainly make any insurance claims related to this incident pretty straightforward, this one is probably going to hurt for a while. Even if the car is repairable, I’m sure knowing the last owner cared for that car for almost half a century makes the current owner feel particularly upset. In the end it's a great reminder to always have some redundancy with your safety equipment.

Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.

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