A Raffle Win, Not a Reservation
A couple from Jacksonville, Florida, recently became the owners of the 2023 VIN 001 70th Anniversary Corvette Coupe, a car previously showcased at the National Corvette Museum. Their new ownership didn’t come from an early reservation or a hefty deposit; it came down to a raffle drawing at the museum.
Meet the Winner
Cliff Payne now holds the distinction of owning the first-ever 2023 Chevrolet Corvette 70th Anniversary Coupe, a car bearing VIN 001, a detail that carries real weight among Corvette collectors and enthusiasts.
An Unexpected Convention Surprise
Payne was in Bowling Green attending the National Council of Corvette Clubs’ annual convention when the raffle results came in. What began as a routine convention trip turned into a life-changing moment once his name was drawn.
A Ticket His Wife Talked Him Into Buying
Payne described the moment as surreal, crediting his wife, Fran, for convincing him to buy a raffle ticket after she’d already purchased her own. “The moment they called me, it felt surreal,” Payne said. “Interestingly, it was my wife, Fran, who persuaded me to buy a raffle ticket that day, after purchasing her own. Attending our 40th National Council of Corvette Clubs’ convention, I had no inkling it would end with such an extraordinary surprise. Owning this particular Stingray, with its distinguished VIN, is beyond my wildest dreams.”
A Tradition Dating Back to 1999
The National Corvette Museum has run Corvette raffles since 1999, and this win brings the total number of Corvettes given away through the program to 432. Beyond the raffles, the museum remains a major destination for Corvette collectors and enthusiasts, housing an extensive collection of historically significant Corvettes and memorabilia.