2020 Corvette VIN-Matched with 1953 C1 Has Amazing Stories Behind It

2020 Corvette VIN-Matched with 1953 C1 Has Amazing Stories Behind It
You never forget your first car.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette offers the option to select a unique vehicle identification number (VIN). The lengthy sequence must still meet legal requirements. It still starts with the numbers and letters that denote the vehicle’s manufacturer, body type, assembly location, etc.

The owner can choose the last number in the VIN for an additional $5,000. That’s exactly what David D’Onofrio did with his white 2020 Stingray. It ended with 00239. You’ve probably already guessed that there was a reason he chose that number. And a clever twist added to it.

After reading the story of another VIN matched set of C1 Corvettes, David wanted to share his experience. We are glad he reached us, as it is a great story that every auto enthusiast will enjoy. David is a huge Corvette enthusiast, having purchased his first Corvette in 1972 at the age of 16. After decades of searching for one, he finally bought a 1953 C1 Corvette in November 2012. It was a 1967 427 four speed. It was not an easy task. 1953 was the year America built its first sports car. Only 300 were made. David took the chance to purchase number 239.

Fast forward to a few years. Now, the mid-engine C8 Corvette has become a reality. David discovered about VIN-matching options for 2020 cars while conversing with another enthusiast shortly following the big debut in July. He attended the 25th anniversary celebration of the Corvette Museum in August 2019, and got to experience the C8 for the first time. He placed an order for a white 2020 model that ended with 000239. On March 13, he received the car at the museum.

David generously provided these photos of his Corvettes, which gives us the opportunity to compare their first and current generations. Many things have changed. Not the least of these is the V8 engine that was installed behind the driver. Apart from the location of the mill, buyers only had the option of a six-cylinder Corvette engine for the first two years. The 1953 Corvette was limited in options, with only a radio and a heater available.

While 2020 Corvettes come standard with more, David ordered a 1LT base model edition to keep it as close as possible. This is the first LT1-level C8. These cars are quite special, even though they can be used separately. This combination of matching VINs and low options makes it an very unique pairing. However, the story does not end there.

This is a great story, but there’s more to this Corvette story that must be told. David bought his first Corvette in 1967, a 427 model. It was purchased in 1972, and he sold it six months later. However, he continued to try his best to get it back by the end 1970s. He knows how unique a first car is, and after many decades of searching for leads, he was finally able to track it down so that he could visit the National Corvette Museum. He thought so, he finally reached out to the National Corvette Museum in November 2018, only to discover that the car was not his.

That conversation brought him to the person who had his old car. David was also introduced to the custom VIN option by the same enthusiast who I mentioned in the previous paragraphs. The circle is complete.David was able, in fact, to purchase his first Corvette. We think this collection is one of the most unique Corvette collections. It also includes a matching set of C1 and E8 ‘Vettes. David considers the collection priceless.

We are grateful to David D’Onofrio who shared these wonderful photos and the story.