The biggest names in the music industry, and showbiz in general, descended onto Los Angeles on a downcast February 4 night with torrential rain to celebrate the most spectacular musical achievements of the year. Spoiler alert, Taylor Swift was the biggest winner.
But here's the real star of the 2024 edition of the Grammys, and it's not even in the music industry unless you count the Steven Tyler association. This gorgeous, blacked-out '65 Corvette goes by the name of Janie's Black Knight, and it went under the hammer at Steven Tyler's fifth annual Grammy viewing party.
Like Sir Elton John, for the past few years, Tyler has been hosting a viewing party of the awards show, and it doubles as a charity event. The party is called Jam for Janie, and all benefits go to the rocker's Janie's Fund organization, which he set up with non-profit Youth Villages in 2015 to raise awareness on issues of abuse and neglect and, more importantly, to offer services and counseling to girls and young women who have suffered from both.
The name Janie's Fund is a direct nod to Aerosmith's Grammy-winning single Janie's Got a Gun. It was only a matter of time before Janie also got a sweet new ride, which is where Black Knight comes in, as a fully custom one-off build by specialist shop FantomWorks.
Photo: Janie's Fund
Black Knight started out as a '65 Corvette C2 Roadster that had been left exposed to the elements for the past 10 years. The previous owner had it done at FantomWorks years prior and now wanted to have it restored. He couldn't afford it, though, so he ended up selling the car to the shop, which then covered the expensive build for Janie's Fund over 4 very challenging months.
The name of the car is inspired by Batman, in that it's meant to evoke a vehicle that seems ordinary but can do extraordinary things – like getting millionaire A-listers to throw cash at it and help a very worthwhile cause in the process. Its all-black, stealthy silhouette with dark, menacing vibes also ties in perfectly with Batman's aesthetic.
Powered by a new LS3 fuel-injected engine developing 435 hp and mated to an automatic transmission, Janie's Black Knight rides on custom wheels with red caliper brakes. More impressively, it's no longer a Roadster because Dan Short of FantomWorks disliked the open top, so it features a FantomWorks patented 1963 Corvette split-window convertible top.
The interior is as black as night in all leather and deerskin, with custom bolstered seats, matching door panels, accent red stitching, and custom carbon fiber accents. Speaking of custom, special touches include one-off Dakota digital gauges with Janie's Fund and FantomWorks logos and the same logos on the carbon fiber engine cover.
Ahead of the viewing party, Janie's Fund called this very special 'Vette the ultimate rock'n'roll car, and they might have actually undersold it. They also called it "sublime," which was right on the mark.
Auction house Barrett-Jackson handled the sale of Black Knight at The Palladium, where Jam for Janie was held. As of the time of press, we're getting reports that it's already with a new owner, but there's no mention of how much money it fetched. We do know, though, that the entire lot, which also included art, Steven Tyler memorabilia, and a pair of Taylor Swift earrings, raised more than $2.8 million for Janie's Fund.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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