RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
NEWPORT, RI – The rumor spread quickly across the show ground at Fort Adams on Sunday morning based on the presence of a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette in Goodwood Green that was parked by its lonesome near the entrance at the Audrain Newport Concours D’Elegance.
By midday, a crowd had gathered outside of what became a cordoned off area around the two-seat sports car; a car that former U.S. President Joe Biden received as a wedding present from his father in 1967.
The rumor was that Biden would be making a surprise visit to the high-end car show. And he did just that, accompanied by a full complement of Service Service agents who kept spectators at a reasonable distance.
Joining Biden inside the secure area was former late-night talk show host and comedian Jay Leno, who hosts the classic car TV show “Jay Leno’s Garage.” Leno shared time with Biden, who guested on “Jay Leno’s Garage” along with the Corvette in October 2016 and even did a burnout. That episode has received more than 4.6 million views on the show’s YouTube channel. Biden was vice president at the time.
Biden received the Corvette more than 59 years ago from his father, Joe Biden Sr. who managed a Chevrolet dealership in Delaware. It came with 327-cubic-inch V8 engine, four-speed manual transmission and had an original sticker price of $5,700.
During a welcoming ceremony in which Leno spoke, Biden was given a membership to the Audrain Auto Museum in downtown Newport, which stages the annual concours, and was told his membership number is #46, a reference to his being the 46th president of the United States.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Biden received polite and respectful applause from the crowd.
In a message posted on Instagram late Sunday afternoon, Biden wrote, “Enjoyed spending Sunday in Newport with my grandson Hunter, my friend Jay, and some incredible vehicles during Audrain Newport Concours & Motor (W)eek. The green 1967 Corvette from Wilmington was looking especially nice.”
(Photos by Bud Wilkinson.)
