Chevrolet Purple People Eater will auction at Scottsdale

A 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Purple People Eater is to star in Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction on January 23-31.

The model is an iconic American racer that became famous during the early 1960s.

Chevrolet Corvette purple
The Purple People Eater is a legendary racing car

The auction house comments: "Presented with an enormous amount of documentation, awards and heritage, the famed Purple People Eater Corvette is being offered from the Chip Miller Collection.

"Campaigned by Nickey Chevrolet in 1959, the Purple People Eater is of course aptly named for it non-factory color that was applied in the Nickey body shop to help the car stand out from other cars on the track.

"After nearly dominating an entire season, the Purple People Eater 1959 Corvette was sold in 1961, repainted and raced for a few years before being resold into obscurity."

It was bought in 1974 for the grand total of $800. The buyers, Ken Heckert and Chip Miller, were completely unaware that it was the legendary car.

Over the years it has been renovated to its current, concours-grade state.

There is no estimate at present, but it's likely to sell for a sum in the high six figures.

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