It was like being in the White House situation room, remotely watching Seal Team 6 strike. Phone calls were answered as soon as they sounded. Emails shot off between calls. Papers and folders were stacked to the side of a computer display. On screen was a live stream — a man and his son impatiently waited on chairs. You could feel their tension. Or was it excitement?
Probably excitement.
We were monitoring a new Corvette delivery at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, making sure everything went right. It did.
In the free world, the leader resides in D.C. In Corvette world, the kingpin sits in a glass-faced office in Gaithersburg, Maryland. His name is Mike Furman.
In his career, Mike has sold over 4,100 Vettes, and will easily pass 5000 by 2022. He currently delivers more than one Corvette every day — about 300+ a year. Those deliveries are pretty much anywhere you want. Callaway Headquarters? Sure. Corvette Museum? Sure. Dealership in Fairbanks, Alaska? Sure. Mike takes orders from buyers all over the US. Some come to him to pick up their Corvette, film crew in tow, like Kirk & Laura in Bravo TV’s “Newlyweds, The First Year”. Some choose to watch their car be built, then take delivery at their local dealer. If you want something special, and it can be done, Mike will get it done.
Once you get that Corvette, you could join Mike for two track days of training at Spring Mountain Race Track in Nevada (GM picks up 60% of the bill). Mike could help you keep that Vette sparkling new — he’s an Adam’s Polishes spokesman. He’s also tight with the Corvette plant manager, in case you have any concerns while it’s being built.
Mike Furman is officially Mr. Corvette, but why?
He began selling Corvettes in July of ’78, three weeks before his 18th birthday for Malcolm Konner Auto Group Paramus, NJ. He always had a taste for muscle cars and developed a passion for “the official sports car of the Commonwealth of Kentucky”. Mike became a student of the brand, learning everything he could. He also put them in his garage. Over the years, he acquired 18 different Vettes (his current car is a fully loaded and well documented 1967 4 speed manual Corvette Coupe in Marina Blue with white interior).
Mike steadily climbed his way up the sales ladder, eventually landing as the General Manager of Damascus Chevrolet. Unfortunately, that position lasted only two decades as The economic turmoil of “The Great Recession” forced the dealership to close in 2009, and Mike found himself out of a job. He picked up a sales position at Criswell Chevrolet and began posting on the Corvette and Stingray forums.
Through personal knowledge, personal attention, and word of mouth, sales began to build. The digital age also helped. Mike could accurately value a trade with Carfax and other digital tools. Credit reports were easy to pull. Financing could be arranged remotely. He became the #1 Corvette salesman in the country in 2011, and twice won a GM backed national Corvette sales contest (’11, ’12) landing him at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, France. In October 2013, Mike sold 61 Corvettes, a GM record. Things continued to snowball from there.
Despite the overwhelming success and the hectic pace of life, Mike still makes time to connect with each and every customer, both past and present. Owners find personalized Christmas cards in the mailbox, maybe a hat, or even an event invitation. That personal touch (and exceptional volume pricing) keep customers coming back. Some are on their fifth Mike Furman Corvette.
What’s hot right now according to Mike? “Orders for the ’2019 Corvette and hopeful 2020 Mid Engine Corvette.”
When Auto Mentality asked “What’s next for Mike Furman?”
Mike replied, “Ferrari and Porsche owners. Never have I had so many of them in the marketplace for a Corvette, and raving about the 7th generation Corvette.”
For the record, Mike’s already having success with that…
Find Mike Furman on Facebook at: