How old were you?

**Roy B.** · September 28, 2009, 05:23 PM

Re: How old were you?

OK in 62 bought a 54 off a car lot for $300.00 in Ca. , and I think back of what a sucker I was then. It raddle's ,road hard, smoked , shifted hard into drive and I still smell the engine oil burning and that same darn night I took it out. it rained and the floor filled with water because the top dint fit for nothing. BUT I felt COOL along with my flat top haircut . Later gave it to my room mate because again being a sucker I joined the Army in 63.

**Jerry K.** · September 28, 2009, 05:41 PM

Re: How old were you?

That was a great/sad story, but look at all you've got now!

**Wayne M.** · September 28, 2009, 05:44 PM

Re: How old were you?

24 years old, in the spring of 1968 -- my first CAR, not just a Corvette. Got my driver license on the family's '52 Ford w/3 on the tree. Was slightly scared that I'd bitten off more than I could chew. Had to get a bank loan which didn't please my parents, even though I was making decent $$$ as a recent graduate engineer.

'65 convertible # 04835. white on tan vinyl, L79 w/3.08s, no radio (el cheapo added by earlier owner) or power anything. Lots of fun but stolen 6 months later.

Spent almost every weekend driving from Montreal to the Maine & New Hampshire beaches (while it lasted).

Attached Files

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**Tom H.** · September 28, 2009, 05:50 PM

Re: How old were you?

I was 21. Bought a silver L48 automatic 76. This was in 1987. Probably the best feeling ever ! That car started me on the path to a lifetime career in the Corvette business. Been a lot of fun. No regrets.

**Ciro A.** · September 28, 2009, 05:51 PM

Re: How old were you?

It was 1987, I was 25 years old, a 1981 Red on Red absolutely stunning, a gift to myself for graduating Air Force Pilot Training. What a feeling cruising down the boulevard at Seaside Heights on the Jersey Shore. Fast jets, red Corvette and plenty of young hot girls!!! doesn't get much better!!!!

**Steven B.** · September 28, 2009, 06:08 PM

Re: How old were you?

It began around 1958, I dreamed of Corvettes night and day. I saved lawn mowing money and in '61 worked in a grocery store, all the hours I could and saved most of my $1.00 per hour fortune. October 1964 came around and my 16th birthday. I had been Corvette looking when my Dad told me a guy was coming to our house with a white '57 Corvette and we were going to look at it. The November weather was cold in NE Indiana that night but I couldn't feel it. That first time he came I was excited and in a stupor. I set in it in our drive, hand on shift lever and imagining the Sun tach climbing quickly being pushed by the two WCFB's and lighting up the Atlas Bucron Cheater Slicks! I had butterflys that wouldn't quit! The owner, Max, was buying a friend's '64 silver/red leather, FI, 4 speed, KO coupe and needed to sell. Later in the week I saw a '62 Roman Red/black 340 HP, 4 speed in the paper for $2500 in the Fort Wayne newspaper. Alot more than I had. Max brought the '57 to our house again one evening and the price was agreed, after I asked how fast it would go and then tempered the mood, eye brows raised by Mom and Dad, I asked what the gas mileage was

.

Saturday, November 24, I was working at the grocery-still. Max brought the '57 to town and parked it right in front of the grocery. I got off for lunch at noon, walked by the Polo White/Red interior '57 smiling, went three doors south to the bank and got the money for Max. I walked back to the grocery and sat behind the wheel of the '57, hand onshift lever anxious for 9:00 pm to come and I could drive it. I had butterflys that wouldn't quit!

I remember the details like it was yesterday. I think of that time in my life often. I ordered and took delivery of a '77 but it wasn't quite the same, good, even great---but not quite the same. The same with the '78.

Today I went into the garage and uncovered the '77 and '78 and looked at them with a good feeling and a smile---but when I sat behind the wheel of the '57 and put my hand on the shift lever the butterflys came back. The butterflys just won't quit! The same feeling you get dropping in a roller coaster or standing in the back seat of the family sedan going over a hill.

Steve

**Joe C.** · September 28, 2009, 06:42 PM

Re: How old were you?

Well, I got my driver's license on my 17th birthday, December 3rd, 1969. The law said 18 in NYS, but I took Drivers' Ed, which cut one year off the age requirement.

The first car I ever drove was my dad's 1959 black Ford Galaxie 500, at the age of 11. Then, after I got me license, I'd use his beautiful 1963 1/2 red-with-black-top, Galaxie 500 fastback to "get around" (as long as I put gas in it!) until I was able to afford my first car.

As you might have figgered out, my dad was a Ford man. Well, he was actually a Merc guy, too. He always had great looking cars, and ALWAYS 2 door "hardtops". Before the '59, he had a beige, '57 Fairlane 500 hardtop with a T-Bird 272 Y'block in it, and "Hollywood" mufflers. Before that, he had a 54 Merc Monterey OHV V8 red/black top. Before that was a maroon '52 Merc with grey interior flathead V8.

I couldn't afford a Ford. So, I drove a 1958 Rambler Classic with flathead 4 banger, three speed on the column fordor green. It was really a nice car, once you got used to the blow-by which would find its way through the steering column, thru the horn ring, and into the cockpit (?) cock-pit? All of this time, I had been supplementing my meager income by collecting cans and bottles for the 2 cent (10-12 oz) and five cent (quart) deposit money.

Finally, in 1985, I got my first brand new Corvette. It was a beautiful red coupe, with the powerful 350 cubic inch "torque monster" known as the legendary L98!

How did I feel? Well, you can imagine my relief! Actually, it felt like a huge weight had been taken from my shoulders. Geez, all of those cans and bottles were heavy.

Joe

**Phil D.** · September 28, 2009, 06:51 PM

Re: How old were you?

I was 39 and bought a Corvette the same age as me. That was a year and a half ago. It felt just like when I was a kid and had saved up my allowance for weeks to get a toy car I wanted, only for a real Corvette I had to save up for years.

**Steven S.** · September 28, 2009, 06:56 PM

Re: How old were you?

I just got back in the States, was still in the Army for 6 more months and needed a car to drive to Ft Carson Co. Found a'65 convertible for sale for $1,500. I only had $1,200. Talked them down to $1,250. Borrowed $50 from my Mother-in-law. It was December of 1971. No snow and a great drive to Colorado!

**John H.** · September 28, 2009, 07:23 PM

Re: How old were you?

It was 1959, and I was 18, looking for the basis of a race car; found a '53 on a used car lot and bought it for $800. Sold the engine and transmission to a buddy for $25.00 for his Dad's truck, painted the Corvette black, and stuffed a 6-71 blown Buick "nailhead" V-8 in it with a '37 LaSalle 3-speed and a 4.11 axle. It became my "Woodward car", and regularly ran mid-12's at Detroit Dragway and Motor City Dragway.

Sold it in 1961. If I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still hear the blower drive and smell the smoke from the Bucrons.

**Mike M.** · September 28, 2009, 07:38 PM

Re: How old were you?

it was 1969, i just started med school after finishing pharmacy school. had a wife and two young daughters. didn't have a pot to pee in. then the med school dean offered scholarship $, which i gladly accepted. begged the wife to buy our 57 283 4 speed that Duntov'ed in 1991. told her if she allowed its purchase, i'd never ask for another toy again. she took the bait, i got the 57 for 900 bucks. somehow or another, more vettes ended up at our place over the years. still got the same wife and same 57. don't plan on replacing either with a newer model. mike

**Dick W.** · September 28, 2009, 07:41 PM

Re: How old were you?

17 and bought a year old '61 for $1,800.00 Senior in high school with a Corvette, I won't elaborate, but I was in heaven

**Duke W.** · September 28, 2009, 07:41 PM

Re: How old were you?

I was 16 when I took delivery of my special order SWC. It was better than sex, but then I was still a virgin... I think. I'm not really sure. I lost it an inch at a time so to speak.

And the new SWC sure helped to add a few more inches! Though somewhat cramped, when you're young and flexible, if you crawl into the back and fold the seats forward...