Apollo 12 Astronaut’s Corvette Stingray Lands In Washington, D.C.
Previously owned by astronaut Alan Bean, this Corvette is the only one left of its kind, and it will be displayed at the National Mall, Sept. 12-19.
The Corvette is America’s sports car for tons of reasons. It’s accessible to nearly everyone, unlike the exotics from Europe and Japan. It’s captured the country’s heart and held onto it for over six decades, whether winning races around the world or just making Main Street that much cooler. And of course, it’s drawn in many a celeb, race car driver, and military veteran who live and breathe for American V8s in a body no other car could successfully knock off.
If you happen to be in Washington, D.C. from September 12 through 19, you’ll have a chance to experience a double-dose of American pride when Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean’s 1969 Corvette Stingray is placed on display at the National Mall during the fifth annual Cars at the Capital exhibition, organized by the Historic Vehicle Association.
This custom Corvette was once piloted by Bean, who was the fourth human to walk upon the surface of the Moon when Apollo 12 landed there November 19, 1969. The car received a 427 V8 good for 390 ponies, a custom gold and black paint scheme, and a custom plaque on the left fender denoting the role Bean held during the mission. It was also one of three such Corvettes leased by the Apollo 12 astronauts that year, and is also the only such car in existence today.
The Corvette has since gone on to win a fair share of accolades and awards, including the ‘Top Flight’ award at the 2002 National Corvette Restorers Society National Meet, the ‘Duntov Award of Excellence’ at the same affair a year later, and the ‘NCRS American Heritage Award’ in 2008; the car is the only Corvette to win both Duntov and Heritage honors.
If you’d like to see this beauty in person, the Corvette will be in a glass display on the walkway between the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum and National Gallery of Art. The exhibit is free to all.
Photos: Historic Vehicle Society
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