The story of Roger Judski is truly a testimony of how the Corvette brings enthusiasts together, where it’s more than just metal, carbon fiber, and fiberglass composites rolling out of the dealership and down the road. When Roger announced his retirement seven months ago, it was more than just the doors officially closing on his beautiful 3,000 sq ft showroom in Maitland, Florida — it was the end of an era. Roger’s Corvette Center had faithfully served the Corvette community for 60 years, and in the process, Roger had amassed a collection of rare ‘Vettes and, almost more notably, a cache of parts that recently brought six figures on BaT.
The impact of one person is really told through the story — the collective stories of people who met, did business, and interacted with the person. What makes these stories more remarkable is the glimpse they give of the impact one person with a vision can have on our Corvette community.
Today, we have that collective story for you. The story of how one man introduced the iconic Corvette to enthusiasts around the globe, and in the process made dreams come true. Just last Friday, enthusiasts had one last opportunity to say goodbye to Roger, and while many could not attend in person, Roger’s Corvette Center’s Facebook page was flooded with touching send-offs to the man who affected so many lives, simply by being a conduit to the Corvette dream so many have. Even more impactful, former customers give Roger an appropriate sendoff, sharing how he helped them fulfill their Corvette dream.
A Showroom That Became a Central Florida Landmark
Roger’s Corvette Center wasn’t just a dealership — it became a fixture of the Central Florida landscape. For decades, Corvette enthusiasts treated the showroom as a kind of pilgrimage site, a place where every generation of America’s sports car was displayed with care and pride. The space was unmistakable: bright, spacious, and filled with a rotating lineup of pristine Corvettes, with Roger’s own rare and coveted collection anchored in the back corner. Visitors would enter through the side glass door and instantly feel the transition from ordinary life into something closer to Corvette heaven. And at the heart of it all was Roger, perched at his corner desk, greeting enthusiasts with the same warmth every time they stopped in.
A Curator of Low-Mileage Treasures
Long before the convenience of online auctions and searchable marketplaces, Roger built his reputation the hard way. He had an unmatched ability to source low-mileage Corvettes through a personal network of enthusiasts, collectors, and brokers — a network cultivated through persistence, trust, and old-fashioned phone work. His showroom didn’t just display cars; it showcased discoveries. Roger became known as the dealer who brought in the kinds of cars most buyers never saw in person, the gems hidden in garages, the untouched survivors. His openness and hospitality extended even to emerging automotive journalists, including one memorable moment when he invited us for an impromptu, behind-the-scenes look at his one-of-one Corvette Challenge Series C4 race car. Read more of our special time with Roger here.
A Dealer Who Made Everyone Feel Welcome
What separated Roger from the typical dealership experience was how he treated people. Whether a visitor was browsing casually, daydreaming about a future purchase, or seriously pursuing their next Corvette, Roger welcomed every interaction with respect and genuine interest. He had a way of making anyone who stepped into his showroom feel like their Corvette story mattered. Even those who never purchased a car from him walked away with the sense that they could, someday, because he treated them as valued guests rather than interruptions. That consistency, carried across decades, turned Roger’s Corvette Center into more than a business — it became a community hub, defined by his graciousness, his passion, and his unwavering presence. His retirement marked not just the closing of a showroom, but the closing of a chapter in Corvette culture.
More Than Just a Dealer…
Roger Judski wasn’t simply a Corvette dealer — he was a curator of some of the most coveted machines ever to roll out of St. Louis and Bowling Green. His personal collection represented the pinnacle of Corvette performance and rarity, with each car chosen not for flash but for significance. Together, these five halo cars formed one of the most impressive private groupings in the hobby:
(1) 1966 Big-Tank Coupe: A 427-425 HP “Big-Tank” coupe with full frame-off restoration to NCRS standards.
(2) 1967 L-88 Coupe: Documented, matching numbers, all original, 427 cubic inches of L-88 power.
(3) 1968 L-88 Coupe: Like its twin from 1967, this ’68 coupe is an all-original, matching numbers, L-88 legend.
(4) 1969 ZL-1 Coupe: Rarest of the rare and the crown jewel in Roger’s collection. One of only TWO factory ZL-1 (all aluminum 427) Corvettes ever built. Check out CorvSport’s full feature here.
(5) 1988 Corvette Challenge Race Car #98: The Corvette Challenge Series Winner for 1998 with only 3,606 “Sunday Driven” miles.
Roger’s legacy wasn’t just built on the cars he kept — it also lived in the staggering trove of original parts he accumulated over six decades. When his retirement triggered the massive Bring a Trailer liquidation, enthusiasts were stunned by the depth of what he had stored away. The lot was sold as an all-or-nothing package, and for good reason. This is just a sample of the parts Roger had accumulated–check out our full feature here: Iconic Retired Corvette Dealer Is Selling The Most Insane Parts Collection You’ll Ever See
- 29 NOS Bose radios for ’94–’96 C4s, plus 14 amplifiers.
- Genuine 1967 Kelsey-Hayes bolt-on wheels with Firestone SuperSports redlines.
- Grand Sport and Anniversary interior components, door panels, and bumper covers.
- Multiple NOS side-exhaust sets, glass tops, and big-block aluminum heads with late-’60s date codes.
- A brand-new 1993 40th Anniversary hardtop, removed from its original car at delivery.
- A rare NOS Harrison radiator for a ’61–’62 Corvette.
The auction drew nearly 24,000 views, 663 watchers, and 74 bids before hammering at $143,000 — a testament to just how extraordinary Roger’s parts cache truly was. It wasn’t simply inventory; it was institutional knowledge, preserved in metal, fiberglass, and cardboard boxes. It was the physical evidence of a lifetime spent keeping Corvettes on the road and in pristine condition. Roger was more than a dealer. He was a steward of the Corvette story — a role he fulfilled with a passion no auction result could ever measure.
Check out our exclusive feature with the buyer who plopped down $143,000 for Roger’s parts: CorvSport Exclusive: We Talk To The Man Who Just Paid 6-Figures For Historic Corvette Parts Collection.
THE LAST GOODBYE — A Community Gathers for the Man Who Sold More Than Cars
Last Friday’s farewell at Roger’s Corvette Center wasn’t just a retirement gathering — it was the final chapter of a six-decade bond between one man and the community he helped shape. As the doors opened one last time, enthusiasts old and new filtered into the familiar showroom, each carrying their own memory of the place. Some remembered walking those aisles decades ago when Roger still advertised in the Orlando Sentinel’s classifieds. Others recalled the first time they stepped through the glass side door and met the man at the corner desk, always ready with a smile and a conversation. Even those unable to attend, scattered across Canada, the UK, and beyond, flooded Roger’s Corvette Center’s Facebook page with messages of gratitude, admiration, and unmistakable warmth. The sentiment was unanimous: this wasn’t just the closing of a business — it was the celebration of a life’s work that touched thousands.
The Hallmark of Integrity
What resonated most across Friday’s sendoff was the theme woven through nearly every post and memory: Roger’s integrity. Enthusiasts spoke of him not as a salesman, but as a caretaker — someone who paired people with the right Corvette not through persuasion, but through honesty. It was a reputation that stretched far beyond Florida. The comments poured in from hospital beds, from new homes in other states, and from those halfway across the world. Whether someone had bought one Corvette, two, or none at all, the message was consistent: Roger made everyone feel welcome. Many praised his family as well — David Sr., David Jr., and Danny — who had carried the same values, the same warmth, and the same instinct to make a friend rather than simply close a sale. This was the fabric of Roger’s Corvette Center, and it showed in every word shared on Friday.
Four Buyers, Four Stories, One Defining Legacy
Among the most heartfelt comments were those from customers whose Corvette dreams came true because of Roger. Ed Y. shared the simple, powerful truth that captured the day’s emotion: he bought his favorite ride from Roger — a car that still represents one of his most cherished automotive moments.
Kevin S., who purchased his Collector Edition Corvette back in 2004 and now lives in the UK, expressed gratitude across an ocean, a testament to the global reach of Roger’s influence.
Daniel R., proud owner of Ron Fellows Edition #220, sent warm wishes tied directly to the joy he felt during his purchase — the kind of memory that only comes from working with someone who treated the process with professionalism and heart.
And Gary S., who bought Grand Sport #963, called Roger a true gentleman and professional, delivering a tribute that perfectly summarized how so many buyers felt: that their Corvette wasn’t just a transaction, but a milestone shaped by a man who genuinely cared. Each of these stories stands as a snapshot of what Roger did best — creating moments that lasted long after the paperwork was signed.
Memories Etched in Fiberglass and Friendship
Scrolling through the farewell posts felt like reading the communal diary of Corvette culture. There were stories of first visits stretching back to the early 1980s, recollections of walking the showroom with young sons, and memories of Roger giving guests hours of his time even when he knew no sale was coming. There were enthusiasts who never got the chance to buy their dream Corvette, yet still celebrated the memories of touring the showroom with Roger or receiving a small gesture of kindness that stuck with them for decades — the kind of stories that showed how deeply he touched people simply by being himself.
Some remembered watching the ZL-1 purchase unfold. Others reminisced about years in Corvette clubs, the excitement of special deliveries, or the comfort of knowing that Roger’s Corvette Center was always there, unchanged, dependable, and ready to welcome them back. The posts weren’t just comments; they were proof of a legacy built car by car, handshake by handshake.
The Final Wave Goodbye
As Friday’s farewell drew to a close, the mood was bittersweet — a blend of gratitude and the unmistakable realization that a constant in the Corvette world had finally come to rest. Attendees lingered for one last look at the legendary 1969 ZL-1, knowing this would be the final time they’d see it sitting just feet from Roger’s desk, the place where so many conversations began. Others spent their final moments chatting with the Judski family, thanking them for decades of service, hospitality, and friendship. And as the last visitors stepped out into the afternoon sun, the emotion was clear: Roger had done more than sell Corvettes — he had shaped lives, forged memories, and kept the spirit of America’s Sports Car alive for generations. His farewell wasn’t just a retirement event; it was a tribute to a man who turned a passion into a legacy, a business into a community, and a dream into something you could hold the keys to.
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