darn it's a small world now isn't it ?   Who would have thought that from doodling away in my lounge here down under in Kiwi land just a few months ago, reading a forum topic with a link to an article about some lost and forgotten corvettes in the basement of a building in Brooklyn, that I would end up hunting them down !

Amazing what can be done with patience, perseverance, a laptop, Google (of course!), and a few spare hours while visiting New York for a couple of weeks.

Once my googling finally nailed a link (don't you just hate working through searches that come back with 100,000 or so hits) which appeared to provide a likely address, Google Maps did the rest. And the underground, which kindly provided a station just a 10 minute walk from the suggested site.

It was wing and a prayer stuff of course, even if it did turn out to be the correct place (my wife was less than convinced) it was unlikely that we would be able to gain access, but I figured it was worth a try - especially as we were unlikely to be in New York again any time soon !

So off we went, found the building, sure enough security blocking the entrance. Nice friendly chat with the man, told him all about us being from NZ and a Corvette owner and would this happen to be the place...     and IT WAS !!! Not only did he let us into the underground garage, but into the actual fenced & gated compound where the cars are kept... and have been left for the past 11 years.

What a stunningly sad sight. We spent an hour there, and I wandered around photographing pretty much every car. Many have settled on their rims with tyres rotted, all covered with a solid layer of what is likely to now be permadust, mixed with animal droppings and animal foot prints. One Corvette of every year from 1954 to 1987 approx. Mostly hard tops, a few soft tops. Some with the keys still dangling from the ignition, presumably left there 11 years ago. Just unbelievable. And so very very sad. Most looked like they would have been in top condition when they were bought by Peter Max and parked there. They sure are serious work now.

I took around 100 pix, will see if I can put a selection up somewhere.

If anyone in the New York area (or visiting) is interested in visiting (beware of depression likelihood!) drop me a PM and I'll give you the details. Hopefully you will get as friendly a reception as we did...

Kiwi Chris

Very cool Chris!!  I live very close to Brooklyn and never thought they would let you near the cars....(knowing security in the city since 9/11) LukesVette2008-08-17 05:08:14

I can't wait to see your pics Chris! I have seen some before in an article (I don't remember the publication). They were very very sad looking. Pity that they were let go.

Maybe some other rice dude will buy the lot and restore them. Ya just never know...

Me too....pics, pics, pics.    thanks and good job.

I posted an aticle about these Vettes awhile ago. How sad it is. This is such an unusual story as it goes he bought this collection of Vettes from a person that won them from a contest on VH1 with the idea to paint his famous style of paintings from them and never did, so the Vettes had no other purpose to him, very sad that he did not sell them. I really would like to see your pictures, although all of us would become very upset and angery to see these Vettes in such a sad state. You should share the story of your visit with Shark Bites and Corvette magazines. Aaron19762008-08-17 12:50:45

My son and I went there 2-3 years ago and looked at them through the fence. They were all in sad shape back then and I am sure they look worse now.

Here's a sample selection... make sure your tissues are handy !

The album is password protected, the password is xam

I will change the password after a couple of days in order to minimise the opportunity for unwanted proliferation, 'cos I don't want to inadvertantly get anyone into any trouble as mentioned above. PM me for the current password after this one stops working

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20346062

Chris

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Chris.

With the exception of the interior shots, it's pretty much the same sight we've all seen for the past 4-5 years...all the cars in sad shape. It's a waste, fer sure...