By Tommy Lee Byrd – Images by the Author
East Tennessee is known for moonshine and fast cars, and the tourist town of Pigeon Forge is covered with amazing car events from March until September. The kick-off to the car show season is always the Corvette Expo, as it takes place in mid March. This event is celebrating its 48th year, and it was once strictly Corvette-based. Now incorporating all Chevrolet makes and models, the Chevys in the Smokies portion of the event has given the show a breath of fresh air. The event features an indoor and outdoor car show, a swap meet, lots of great vendors, and Corvette cruise opportunities on the famous Tail of the Dragon.
We were blown away with the turnout of cars at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge. The convention center was packed with high-end restorations, amazing survivors, and dozens of cars with outstanding history. Some notable cars included a pair of 1965 Chevelle Z16s, one restored and one unrestored. Then, there was an unrestored ’69 COPO Camaro that has been a drag car its entire life, as well as a documented L79-powered 1965 Chevelle with COPO heritage. The most significant COPO in attendance was a ’65 Chevelle 300 two-door sedan, a one-off car that was ordered with a 396/425hp big-block, M22 four-speed, and 4.88:1 gears. Additionally, a Yenko Stinger Corvair and many other great cars gave us plenty to admire during the three-day event.
Even though the Camaros, Novas, and especially Chevelles stole our attention, it was ultimately the Corvettes that were a big focal point of the show. With rare combinations, extreme attention to detail, and huge values, the Corvettes offered a “wow” factor for both the casual enthusiast and the hardcore gearhead. Ultimately, Best in Show was awarded to Dale Flynn, owner of a 1957 Corvette fuelie, which is one of only 43 “airbox” cars built in 1957. His car has racing history in Southern California, and it also raced at Pikes Peak in 1964 and in Japan later in the ’60s, miraculously making it back to the United States where it sat in a barn for more than 40 years. Flynn and his sons restored the car and it’s a fine piece of the Corvette racing legacy. Overall, the event was a great way to kick off the 2025 car show season in East Tennessee, and it brought a great group of legendary Chevys out of hibernation.
