"Worlds Largest Corvette Dealer"
The sales record was held for just under 30 Years ** per Chevrolet division
1986 MALCOLM KONNER COMMEMORATIVE EDITION - RPO 4001ZA
About Us
True Automotive Corvette History :
MALCOLM KONNER.......
- Malcolm Konner Chevrolet held the title of the “Worlds Largest Corvette Dealer” for just under 30 years from the late 1960’s until the dealership was sold in 1996. While the dealership’s namesake and founder passed away suddenly in 1983, his wife and family kept his spirit and love for industry alive by continuing the traditions Malcolm had begun. The year before his untimely passing, Malcolm had been named Time Magazine Dealer of the Year for New Jersey. He and his wife, Florence, had built more than just a Chevrolet dealership. They had fostered and made a home for a community of car lovers in the tri-state area. In 1986, Chevrolet honored Malcolm’s achievements and contributions to the community by producing a special edition Corvette in his name, the "Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition" (RPO Code 4001ZA). Chevrolet built 50 of the special edition coupes, of which included the first and only 1986 Calloway Twin Turbo B2K. To this day, Malcolm remains the only dealer for which a division of General Motors has ever honored by producing a special edition vehicle in his name. And in May of 2022, Malcolm was a nominee for the National Corvette Museum 'Hall of Fame' for his early dedication, & contribution to the true American sports car.
- The Konner Tradition began back in 1903 when Malcolm’s father Jacob Konner opened the family’s first dealership in Pine Brook, New Jersey. Malcolm, who was born August 17th 1914, grew up in the automobile industry. His father, Jacob, was a personal friend of Walter Chrysler and Louis Chevrolet. From a very young age Malcolm worked at his father’s dealership and Malcolm’s love for cars and the evolving industry eventually led him to open his own dealership at just 20 years old investing (his own savings of $1,380) Malcolm Konner, Inc. in 1935 sold DeSoto, Plymouth and GMC trucks. During the 1930s, Malcolm was also heavily involved in local racing as both a builder and a driver. He raced many of the local tracks (mostly dirt) and was very successful even though he never garnered national attention. On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Malcolm felt called to service and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served overseas in Europe and Northern Africa for the next five years while his wife ran the dealership. After being honorably discharged, he eventually came home to his growing family and business.
- Malcolm and Florence opened Malcolm Konner Chevrolet in 1955 in Caldwell, New Jersey. Just two years later, the Malcolm Konner Sports Car Center, a separate free standing showroom, was opened where Corvettes along with Triumphs and MG sports cars were sold. On October 15th 1959, Malcolm organized and led the first ever plant tour and Corvette rally. He chartered a plane to fly a group of customers to St. Louis to tour the Corvette plant, pick up their brand new cars and rally back to the finish line in New Jersey where celebrity Pat Boone, also a customer and friend of Malcolm’s, was waiting to greet them. Malcolm was decades ahead of his time in bringing a group of customers to the plant for factory delivery and rallying home with the new Corvettes. While rally's have become a common practice these days, Malcolm blazed the trail. In fact, the second ever factory delivery and Corvette Rally was held October 27th 1985 in memory of Malcolm. His wife and sons flew their 'Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition' clients to Bowling Green, KY to pick up their brand new 1986 Corvettes, tour the plant and rally back to the Malcolm Konner Chevrolet dealership in Paramus, New Jersey (where it had moved to in 1961).
Malcolm Konner Chevrolet grew to become not only the world’s largest Corvette dealer, but also the site of an unparalleled, Annual World Class Corvette Shows that attracted guest celebrities that included Zora and Elfi Duntov, Dave and Glenda McLellan, Larry Shinoda, Reeves Callaway, Gordon Killebrew, Dick Guldtrand, Tommy Morrison, Kevin Mackay, Doc Bundy, and John Greenwood and more. The dealership, under Malcolm’s management, was also a racing sponsor for many years.
- His son Gary continued this tradition when the Corvette Challenge series was announced and Chevrolet had been planning to create a race series with 50 identical cars for 1988 but ran into difficulty that they couldn’t get a commitment from other dealers so Malcolm’s son Gary committed to ordering 33 cars on 2/8/88 so they could then gain Corporate approval to proceed with creating the series.
As a result Malcolm Konner Chevrolet was named the 'Preferred Supplier for GM Goodwrench Parts' for the series and also had their own team ‘Miller - Malcolm Konner Racing’ sponsored 3 Malcolm Konner Challenge Corvettes for the full season and several other Challenge cars at various venues. In 1989 the dealership sponsored the Corvette Challenge Race at the Meadowlands NJ for the ‘Malcolm Konner Cup’ along with sponsoring several teams throughout the season. Malcolm Konner Chevrolet was more than the largest Corvette dealer for decades and a successful family business, it was the heart of a community that its founder, Malcolm, fostered with his love for cars and the industry.
- Beyond his passion and commitment to the automobile industry was his Commitment to Community, The Konner family had aways believed that Hanukkah and Christmas season should be a joyous time for all. They helped make the holidays a special time for the areas underprivileged children by joining with the United States Marine Corp's "Toys for Tots" Program becoming over the years one of the largest "Toys for Tots" collection centers in the entire state of New Jersey. Community had always been a Konner trademark. During the Iranian hostage crisis in 1980. Malcolm earned national recognition for his "Free the Hostages" campaign, during which he distributed more than 40,00 decals bearing the image of the American flag and the slogan "Free the Hostages". Malcolm was also a pillar in the local community. He served terms as President of the Paramus Rotary Club, President of the Paramus Chamber of Commerce, President of the Bergen-Passaic Chevrolet Dealer Advertising Group and when he was only 36 years old he was the President of the Caldwell NJ Chamber of Commerce in addition to sitting on the board of several Banks and Charitable Associations over the years. Malcolm’s philanthropy, kindheartedness, and compassion were but a few of the reasons why over 35 years after his passing he is still remembered not just by his surviving family and friends, but also by his customers, former employees, and fellow dealers "KONNER TRADITION"
Malcolm Konner's Exclusive Corvette Salon
Always inventoried over 200 new and pre-owned Corvettes
Malcolm Konner
2022 National Corvette Museum 'Hall of Fame' nominee
misc. Photo Gallery
Malcolm Konner Racing
Malcolm Konner Annual Corvette Shows
Malcolm konner advertisements & marketing
Articles. *including Malcolm Konner Chevrolet - Corvette
Corvette Challenge Story - Hagerty
Corvette Magazine Story - 1986 MKCE
Corvette Challenge Story - Hagerty
The 1971 - ZR1 Story '1 of 1'
Corvette Magazine Story - 1986 MKCE
Corvette Challenge Story - Hagerty
Corvette Magazine Story - 1986 MKCE
Corvette Magazine Story - 1986 MKCE
Corvette Magazine Story - 1986 MKCE
1986 MKCE - 'How One Dealer' Hagerty
Corvette Action Center - 1989 Tech, Poly Performance Story
Corvette Magazine Story - 1986 MKCE
Corvette Action Center - 1989 Tech, Poly Performance Story
Corvette Action Center - 1989 Tech, Poly Performance Story
Corvette Action Center - 1989 Tech, Poly Performance Story
1969 COPO Camaro - Mecum Auction
Corvette Action Center - 1989 Tech, Poly Performance Story
Corvette Action Center - 1989 Tech, Poly Performance Story
'Throwback Thursday' CorvetteBlogger - CorvetteFurman
'Throwback Thursday' CorvetteBlogger - CorvetteFurman
'Throwback Thursday' CorvetteBlogger - CorvetteFurman
National Corvette Museum & more... *coming soon
We originally sold to Reeves Callaway prior to convertion
We originally sold to Reeves Callaway prior to convertion
We originally sold to Reeves Callaway prior to convertion
898 Horsepower Callaway Sledgehammer
The only 1986 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette
We originally sold to Reeves Callaway prior to convertion
We originally sold to Reeves Callaway prior to convertion
is a Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition Corvette
Callaway's Largest B2K Dealer
We originally sold to Reeves Callaway prior to convertion
Callaway's Largest B2K Dealer
was Malcolm Konner
Grand Opening Corvette Caravan
US Importer of the Corvette powered Iso Grifo & Rivolta
Callaway's Largest B2K Dealer
Stopped at Malcolm Konner Chevrolet while heading to Bowling Green, KY
US Importer of the Corvette powered Iso Grifo & Rivolta
US Importer of the Corvette powered Iso Grifo & Rivolta
US Importer of the Corvette powered Iso Grifo & Rivolta
was Malcolm Konner in the early 1960's
Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition RPO Code # 4001ZA
US Importer of the Corvette powered Iso Grifo & Rivolta
US Importer of the Corvette powered Iso Grifo & Rivolta
On Display at The National Corvette Museum *Donated by the Konner Family
Kentucky to New Jersey 1986
Kentucky to New Jersey 1986
Kentucky to New Jersey 1986
Malcolm Konner Commemorative Road Rallye
A FOUNDING MEMBER
Kentucky to New Jersey 1986
Kentucky to New Jersey 1986
Since June 1, 1991
"MALCOLM KONNER COMMEMORATIVE EDITION" CORVETTE REGISTRY
MALCOLM KONNER CORVETTE REGISTRY
just a few: MALCOLM KONNER TV INTERVIEW'S & AD'S
"Free The Hostages" TV Interview
1980 with Malcolm Konner
1992 Millionth Corvette Story
NBC TV.
"Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition" TV promo
Cabel TV & Network TV
Corvette Challenge Race Series "Malcolm Konner Racing"
Malcolm Konner ordered 33 0f the 50 Challenge cars that were needed to get corporate approval for the series, and were also named the "Official supplier for GM Goodwrench Parts". They sponsored Car # 8 Mark Wolocatiuk, 58 Robin Dallenbach, 80 Doc Bundy, 70 Desiré Wilson and more... along with sponsoring the Corvette Challenge for the "Malcolm Konner Cup" at the '89 Meadowlands Race.
