Muscle Cars - I can't take it anymore - someone cl

[Michael H.]

Mysterious Sightings

Verne,

Actually, I think she was in every town. I remember the stories of her (or copies of same) in the Chicago suburbs in the early/mid 60's. Was not possible to assemble in the local drivein's or garage BS sessions without hearing this story. I've never seen her though.

We had a girl in the SW suburbs in about 1963 that had a white (?) 59 or 60. Everyone called her "red rims". Story was, she was the mysterious driver of the Corvette that occasionally had this sign on the back of the car.

[Verne Frantz]

Re: Mysterious Sightings

That story certainly has gone down in gearhead history as one of the most iconic. I wonder how many guys cruised their local haunts in hope of finding her?
It reminds me of another story I've heard in different places. It goes something like this: I know a guy answered a forsale ad in his local paper by an old lady selling a '63 Chevrolet for $500. When he got there it was a '63 Vette.
No one will ever know if either story was based on fact, but it sure was fun in the retelling.

[Michael H.]

Re: Mysterious Sightings

Verne,

Not sure if this is happening in the rest of the world but this part of Florida has turned into one local cruise-in after another. If I want to, I can attend one just about every night of the week, every week. (I usually only do two) The stories roll on all evening and the girl with the sign on her Corvette has come up a few times in the last several months.

I think the first time I ever heard the story about the little ol lady with the "Chevy" for sale was in the mid 70's. (it was originally supposed to be a 53) That story made the rounds for decades and I think it's still active.

The shows usually attract people in their 50's and 60's and most of the owners are in that age range. They're not very knowledgeable, for the most part, about Corvettes, so the Corvette stories roll on all evening when they look at my car. My favorite is that the first few years of production were bodied in steel, not fiberglass. I finally stopped debating with them and just smile now.

Last week at a local event, a guy rolled in with a "near new" 1966 HEMI Plymouth Belvedere that had only 4000 miles on it. Absolutely incredible! Still had the original dated plug wires on it. I'll send a few pic's of it if anyone is interested. You won't believe this car.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Mysterious Sightings

There was a gal in a town near where I grew up that ran a 67 427 Camaro with "If you can "catch me", you can have me"

It was one vicious car with ladder bars and all.

The only race I know of that she lost was when she snapped an axle on the line.

Of course it didn't hurt that Daddy was the premier Chevy builder in the area.

My ole 65 two stroke Saab could have taken her if she'd have given me the thirty car lengths

[Clem Z.]

Re: Muscle Cars - I can't take it anymore - someon

i my days there was a girl in our area that drove a 57 bel air FI 283 HP 2 door hardtop. same story except if you beat her the pay off was different. later her brother was a NASCAR driver for a short time.

[Peter B.]

Re: Muscle Cars - I can't take it anymore - someon

Joe,

Great response. I do feel that the Muscle cars are great and I fully understand the low budget street racer issues. I was not old enough to drive in the early 70s but my first car was a used 77 Camaro. I did alot to it and had a blast.

Overall, I love all muscle cars, I just feel that the Corvette has such beutifull lines and style along with good power that it should be included in these muscle car books. Never the less, I will admit that when I go to any bookstore, I always see that there are more books dedicated JUST to the corvette than any other single car. Good Folling.

[Michael H.]

Re: Mysterious Sightings

Sounds familiar Chuck. There were quite a few girls that had fast cars in my neighborhood in the mid/late 60's. Made all of it more interesting. Surprised I'm not still in jail somewhere because of all the street racing I did then.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Yeah me too Mike

It kinda took all the fun out of a race when I made them pull four plug wires to level the playing field

By the time I could afford serious horse power it was 1975. I think you can figure out the rest of the story. Both the girls and the cars were long gone by the time I arrived on the scene

My Dad's 70 Plymouth Grand Coupe could consistently take my smogged 76 Road Runner by a fender every time from a standing start. Sad isn't it.

So I had to settle with J-stroking up the hillsides and buying lots of cheap rubber.

[Michael H.]

Re: Yeah me too Mike

Yes, things sure were changing fast by 1971. The world changed. Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison gone, all in the same year. Cars just didn't seem to be as important as they once were. Sure loved the bumpers on the new 71 models. Looked like great big bumper cars.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Oh Yeah! *NM*

[Bryan L.]

Re: Muscle Cars - I can't take it anymore - someon

I was fortunate to grow up in the era when the greatest cars ever were built. I couldn't count the street races I've had. Every stop light was a new adventure. Big block Chevelles, Camaros, GTOs, 442s, Chargers, Mustangs, Roadrunners, 'Cudas, Super Bees every where you looked. I was a poor boy in the blue collar neighborhood and couldn't afford much more than a small block 67 Camaro but I spent just about every spare nickel on speed parts and of course breakage. I remember putting a Crane Cams kit on lay-away and paying it out.

It was good clean fun.

I feel sorry for the kids today with their neon-lit econoboxes and fartpipe exhausts. They don't know what a real car is. I don't care if it will run 10s on 4 cylinders, it's not a musclecar.

BL

[Jay G.]

Re: Mysterious Sightings

Yup, I was that soldier. In Oct of 69 at 17 I answered an ad for 58 dual quad Vette for $600.00 in Newington Ct. Stuffed $300.00 I had and bummed the rest. Guys in school could'nt believe a Vett for $600.00. The Car resides in Newington still. Owner Paul L. got Duntov in 92-93. I sold it in 74 for $1500. for College tuition at CU. Just like looking for the girl to beat drag racing in EVERY town, some urban ledgends are true.

[Michael S.]

Re: Mysterious Sightings

Yes Michael, I would love to see the pix of the 66. Thanks in advance.

[Clare Carpenter]

Was that Belvedere silver?

Pics please...