The Gold Collection is one of the staple events at each Bloomington Gold Corvette show. The invitation only displays features a new theme each year that showcases the pinnacle of the given year’s topic.
The 2024 Gold Collection theme was Fuel Injection. Fuel injection was first offered on Corvettes in 1957 and was an available option through 1965. It wouldn’t be seen again until the 1980’s. Over the course of its 9 model years, slightly over 11,000 Corvettes were built with a fuel injected engine under the hood. The new fuel injection technology provided more power, easier cold starts, and improved fuel efficiency.
The Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University was filled with nearly 30 examples of fuel injected Corvettes. It was comprised of a mix of stock and racing Corvettes. The racers alone could have been their own Gold Collection. The 4 Gulf Oil Corvettes headlined the racing contingent. They were joined by the 1960 #1 Lemans racer, the Bardahl special, and a rare 1957 airbox fuelie.
The factory stock Corvettes contained a mix of restored and unrestored cars ranging from a mean black 1957 airbox fuelie to the very first recipient of the NCRS Duntov award. 4 preproduction 1963 convertibles greeted attendees as they passed through the main entrance. The matching quartet of C2 convertibles wore VINs 003, 015, 016, and 017 respectively and drew considerable attention all weekend long.
Lastly, we also got to see the original fuel injection unit from GM’s iconic CERV1 concept car which was stationed right next to a very cool cutaway fuel injected engine display.
As usual the Gold Collection set the standard for a special Corvette display. The quality and mix of the participants ran the full gamut of the early fuel injected era from the street to the track. We can’t wait to see what the Bloomington Gold team comes up with for next year’s Gold Collection.
Now onward to our gallery of fantastic fuelies from the 2024 Gold Collection at Bloomington Gold.