For decades, the black and white photos of Bob Bondurant’s early racing days have felt like distant memories — grainy snapshots of a young driver carving his name into West Coast motorsport. But with this 1959 Chevrolet Corvette, those old images suddenly snap into color.

The car he once raced, ordered new by Paul Masse through Harry Mann Chevrolet, now sits gleaming in its factory white-and-red, restored with the kind of devotion that only a long term steward can provide.

That steward has been the seller, Chadwyck, who has cared for the car for 21 years. Now, he’s passing the torch in a Bring a Trailer auction where the high bid has already reached $30,000 with eight days remaining. As one commenter put it – “Had me at Bondurant” – and he’s not the only person feeling that way.

The original purchase order still exists: Paul Masse, $5,496.51, fuel injected 283ci V8, four speed manual, Positraction, heavy duty suspension and brakes. Everything a young racer needed in 1959.

Bondurant himself wrote about racing Masse’s Corvette in a 1962 issue of Corvette News, in an article titled My California Hustler. That detail sparked debate in the comments, with @Rbeemer noting that Bondurant mentions this very ’59 on the second page of the article. But @er countered that the magazine piece actually describes Bondurant driving a ’57 during the 1959 season — not this car. The seller stepped in gracefully, acknowledging the nuance while keeping the focus on the car’s verified history.

When the current owner bought the car in 2005, it wasn’t a showpiece. It was a project — a big one. Myers Classics & Corvettes in Rockford, Illinois, spent three years performing a body off restoration: repairing fiberglass, refinishing the two tone paint, reupholstering the red interior, overhauling the chassis, and installing a rebuilt fuel injected 283.

The transformation stunned the community. FourPeaksMotorsports summed it up perfectly: “What a stellar restoration! I can’t believe that you turned that pile of corvette parts into this. Just incredible.”

Even the brakes sparked nostalgia. Noisyboyz, recalling his own ’64 Fuelie with sintered metallic brakes, shared a vivid memory of sliding across two lanes of traffic before learning to warm the pads each morning. It’s the kind of anecdote that makes BaT feel like a garage full of old friends.

The Corvette now wears black #51 numerals, taped headlights, a driver’s roll hoop, and Firestone Deluxe Champions on steel wheels. The cockpit features Crow harnesses, a fire suppression system, and a Bondurant signature on the dash. The odometer shows 71 miles since restoration.

One commenter asked whether the car was meant for racing or display. Chadwyck didn’t hesitate: “Aside from a full safety and maybe some better tires for the track, this car is ready to race if you chose. Would be an amazing car for the Monterey Historics in August!!”

And CarDogThreePedals, with more than 13,000 likes, chimed in with the kind of reverence only a true enthusiast can deliver: “Had me at Bondurant. Somehow I just know that he’s smiling down upon this listing. Those big finned drums look so good.”

The heavy duty brake and suspension package wasn’t common. Fuel injected ’59s weren’t common. Race prepared cars with documented Bondurant history? Practically unicorns.

The Corvette is being sold on a bill of sale, not legal for road use, but perfect for vintage racing, museum display, or simply as a crown jewel in a serious collection. It comes with a binder of historical documents, photos from the restoration, and decades of stories.

And now, with seven days left, the bidding continues to climb as enthusiasts gather around a piece of American racing history — a car that once hustled through California under Bondurant’s hands and now stands ready for its next chapter.

Source:
Bring a Trailer

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