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Seeing a pristine 1962 Chevy Corvette launch off a ramp eight feet high is ugly yet compelling. And it was so unnecessary. All the delivery driver had to do was ensure someone was behind the wheel of the C1 Corvette until the ramp was on the ground. Instead, the new owner could only watch while this tragedy unfolded. 

Here’s how not to load a C1 Corvette onto a ramp

1962 Corvette
1962 Corvette | Bob D’Olivo/The Enthusiast Network/Getty Images

The truck driver prepares the Vette by moving one tire chock — a tiny tire chock — to the edge of the lift. Did it occur to him that the car could easily roll over such a puny chock? Yeah, it’s Car Shipping 101. 

So TikTok user beach_pirate shows the arrival of this vintage Corvette gone horribly wrong. Once it crashes to the ground, things don’t look right. The front tires are lower and missing hubcaps from the violent impact. 

How bad is the C1 Corvette’s damage?

The jolt popped the trunk lid, too. If there’s anything good about dropping a C1 Corvette, it’s this car is relatively light. The outcome for this 3,000-pounder is far better than, say, a 1962 Cadillac. At well over two tons, a ’60s Caddy dropped from that height would have fared far worse. 

So overall, the Corvette looks none the worse for wear, right? Ah, not so fast. The video shows extensive car damage from being plonked onto the pavement from eight feet. 

The driver’s door no longer aligns with the quarter panel. Sad. And the entire rear body panel is broken in half. Furthermore, the passenger-side corner suffered more cracking and damage. Not good. And the grille guards ripped away from the front.

Does the new owner have to keep the damaged car?

The new owner purchased the Vette on Bring a Trailer for $111,000 on February 28. The car had been completely refurbished and repainted Almond Beige. But now might be an opportunity for the new owner to change the color again. 

So what happens next? We would decline the delivery and return the 1962 Corvette as not being in the advertised condition. Then it would be up to the transporter’s and former owner’s insurance companies to sort out the mess. One or the other would pay to restore the Corvette as best as possible. It’s unclear from the video whether the new owner would want the car back. 

We hope this never befalls your classic car delivery. 

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Staff Writer

Thom Taylor

Thom Taylor is a celebrated automotive journalist. He was awarded the Top 100 Most Influential People in Hot Rodding from Hot Rod Magazine, and was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame and the National Rod and Custom Hall of Fame. He’s a member of SEMA and the NHRA.

Thom has authored a number of books, including Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle and several guides for drawing vehicles like a pro, which pull from his distinguished ventures as an automotive illustrator.

Thom joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2019, and focuses his coverage on new vehicle releases, design, and the latest features and tech in the industry. His tenure of 25 years writing about the industry gives him a unique context for the auto news he covers, whether it’s part of the Rusty Monday series or the latest news from Chevy. Thom has built two complete cars from the ground up and driven vintage roadsters at the Indy 500.