Effingham, Ill. (February 13, 2013) – Known as the rear-engine Corvette that was never meant to be, the 1964 XP-819 adds another chapter to its controversial history, attending the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance as a drivable chassis. Mid America Motorworks, the world’s largest aftermarket parts and accessories company for Corvettes, is thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated 1964 rear engine experimental Corvette, XP-819, will be unveiled to the public for the first time at Amelia Island the weekend of March 8-10, 2013.

Mike Yager, founder and Chief Cheerleader of Mid America Motorworks acquired XP-819 in 2002 when he bought it at an auction in Monterey, Calif. He quickly enlisted the help of Kevin Mackay, expert restorer and owner of Corvette Repair, Inc. in Valley Stream, N.Y., to complete a frame-off restoration. As Mackay dug into the restoration, he realized that this would be the most challenging project he ever worked on when each missing part had to be handmade, as no other car in the world shares XP-819’s build.

This year, the drivable chassis will cruise onto the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance show field with fully functional brakes, steering column and two seats. Mackay, who has more than 3,500 hours into the restoration, hopes to have the finished car, including the body, ready to debut in 2014 at the same show.

“I am looking forward to the day when XP-819 finds its way back home to MY Garage Museum,” Yager said. “It will be exciting to show guests a Corvette that I can confidently say they have never seen before!”

This engineering exercise was created under the auspice of a Safety Proposal, a program headed by Frank Winchell. Zora Duntov was unimpressed and opted for a mid-engine design with more stability and continually pursued his idea. XP-819 reflects several of Larry Shinoda and John Schinella’s later C3 design characteristics in the fender line, rear window deck area and swooping rear clamshell.

Chevrolet ordered XP-819 destroyed in 1969 and turned over the duties to Smokey Yunick. XP-819 was cut apart and stripped of usable parts and then unceremoniously stored in Yunick’s shop out of Daytona Beach, Fla. until it was discovered by Steve Tate, a Chevy dealer out of Gallatin, Mo.

The 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will be March 8-10, 2013 at The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The honoree for 2013 will be American racecar legend Sam Posey and will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Porsche’s legendary 911 and the 50th anniversary of the Corvette Sting Ray. The show’s Foundation topped the $2 million mark in charitable giving at the 2012 event. Proceeds from the event were donated to charities on Florida’s First Coast, a tradition that started at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance inception in 1996.