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Our 1995 Z28 Camaro Convertible garage find survivor belonged to Nasa Astronaut Legend Admiral Alan Shepard, the 1st US Astronaut in Space. Admiral Shepard walked on and hit a golf ball on the moon.
The Admiral was a true sports car fan owning many Corvettes over his lifetime. As the years went by, he needed more room for him & his wife’s golf clubs so he special ordered this Z28 convertible from the famed *Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne Florida which was the same dealership that supplied all of the original astronauts with new Corvettes.
It is equipped as follows:
1995 Z28 Camaro Convertible, quasar blue exterior / beige custom leather interior / beige convertible top, 5.7 Aluminum Head LT1 275 HP V8, 4L60E automatic transmission, ps, power 4 wheel disc brakes, tilt, tach, clock, a/c, pl, cruise control, power mirrors, 245x50x16 radial tires on 16×8 factory alloys, performance axel, fog lamps, keyless entry, remote trunk release, leather wrapped steering wheel, front bucket seats, folding rear seat, color keyed carpet mats, molded convertible cover & bag & more.
Normal maintenance & upgrades include: Panasonic AM/FM/CD stereo installed when factory unit died, newly installed Falken 245x50x16 radials, Interstate battery & mechanical servicing including new brakes.
The Admirals Car is well documented with its original window sticker, owner’s manual, sales documents, 68k miles, clean Carfax, clean TX title in Shepard Trust name, family supplied photo of the Admiral, his wife & the car. We just shot a new photo of daughters Julie & Laura, referred to as The Shepard Girls by those in the Aerospace World, with the car and it still wears its original issue California license plate with original owner added Pebble Beach License plate frame.
Julie & Laura have both personally expressed many recollections of their dad saying his Special Order Z28 had a factory/dealer installed Corvette motor. Considering the many new Corvette’s he bought from Rathman Chevrolet & his close relationship to dealership owner & Indy 500 Winner Jim Rathman, this could have been easily arranged. Unfortunately, the ID #s on the block & heads are very hard to get to without much disassembly so we have not made this verification. If true, it only enhances the cars value.
Fortunately it has always been garaged & gently driven. It is as nice & original as the photos show inside, outside & underneath including a small dent in the rear muffler & burn in the carpet from the Admiral occasional celebratory cigar. Paint is in excellent condition w a few spider cracks on the front & rear bumpers but its paint is holding together well & still has same high gloss as rest of the car.
Last year we were fortunate to have been invited to be one of the lead vehicles at the NASA Houston employee only parade and car show.
This year, May 2023, our Astronaut Car was on display @ Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance collector boat & car show in Seabrook TX where it won The Mayor’s Choice Award.
It all started with NASA & but the New Space Cowboys are Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson & Robert Bigelow. Our Astronaut Car is on a promotional tour this year which include being on display @ various facilities, auto shows, magazines & online.
The Admirals Z28 Convertible is truly 1 of 1. It is the nicest survivor Astronaut Camaro, belonging to the 1st of the original Mercury 7 Astronauts, in existence & its documented ownership, make it one of the most collectable vehicles in early Aerospace history.
His 1968 Corvette sold for $308k @ Barrett-Jackson in 2022.
With support of the Shepard Girls & The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, the Admirals Camaro is offered for sale for $295k & @ that price, 50% of the net proceeds will be go to The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation which Admiral Shepard founded with the other original Mercury 7 Astronauts. To purchase you can Buy It Now or you can Make Offer. Also, you can offer more than the Buy It Now price. The higher the accepted offer, the more $$$ for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
This is a great story with a great cause, a great way to memorialize Admiral Alan Shepard, the 1st US Astronaut in space & a great end of the year tax write off.
AutoQuest Jeeps has been buying and selling Autos, Trucks, Jeeps, and other cool rides in TX & worldwide since 1995. If you have any questions on our Astronaut Car or want to purchase, please contact Phil Collum @ 832.473.7588.
Good luck & happy bidding.
Country Hours Mon-Fri 10am-5pm & all by appointment only. We are in & out of the shop so please call first for best results.
Phil Collum, AutoQuest Jeeps
Home of the Astronaut Car
Waller TX, 832.473.7588
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