How old were you?

[Stuart F.]

Re: How old were you?

Ironically, I actually had my first Chevy V8 while I was in High School. I bought a 55 engine from a wreck to put into a 50 Chevy Coupe that I bought from a little old lady with a rod through the block. That was in 1956, and I followed that by trading it in for a 56 225 hp Vette engine w/o a manifold in 1957. I topped that off with a noname tripower manifold with 3 bolt Holley carbs and progressive linkage. In 58 I sold the 56 Vette engine and put in a 58 290 hp Fuelie engine out of a friend's Vette when he went for Pontiac muscle.

I recently found my collection of 55 and 56 Car magazines and articles that I used to study the Chevy V8, but all the installation modifications came from my head - no one had written anything up until then about such a swap.

Stu Fox

[Tory S.]

Re: How old were you?

I remember it like yesterday. It was a dark, cold, cloudy day in late February of 1975. I was 19 and dreaming of the summer to come in Kansas City. I drove my Toyota Celica over snow covered streets to the local dealership, Van Chevrolet on Johnson Drive. Glen Campbell was belting out Rhinestone Cowboy from my 8-track. It was a Tuesday morning. I walked in to find five salesmen watching TV. No one wanted to attend to a kid looking over a Corvette. I yelled over to them, "Which one of you wants to sell a car this morning?" I ordered a new white convertible that morning with 4-spd, FE7, all the power options, AC, two tops and radio delete. No 19 year-old would want an AM/FM radio when cassette tapes were now the thing to have!

The car arrived on a beautiful spring Thursday afternoon. I drove it straight home, took off the hardtop, put down the convertible top and the rest is history.

I am currently finishing a complete body off restoration.

Tory
'75 Conv
Original Owner

[Ken C.]

Re: How old were you?

The year is 1962 and I am fresh out of High School & working to save money for university and a vehicle for transportation. Fell head over heals for a 1957 Corvette. Now the dilemma, university or the Corvette. University won out (no regrets) but it only lasted a year and I could resist no longer. Found a beautifull 1960 Ermine White with Turquois interior, 4 speed dual quads. Loved it so much I found that I could enjoy the car and go to university by switching to night school. Took longer but in the end it was worth it. Drove the car until 1965 when the little one arrived, sad day when the new owner drove away. The love affair never ended and finally at 59 I had another Corvette, this time a low mileage 1979 coupe which I still have and througly enjoy. Complemented the 1979 with a 1987 Convertible this past summer.

Living the dream,

Ken

[Paul J.]

Re: How old were you?

It was 1973. I was 17 and had just finished a disappointing stint with a TR4 A. Our friend and mechanic told us that he occaisionally worked on a 64 Vette, and the guy was getting divorced and wanted to sell it. I had the money from the Triumph and a few hundred more, but not enough to cover the $2,600 we paid for it. Dad said he'd loan me the money if I'd pay him back. I managed a car wash on weeknights and serviced telephone company trucks on weekends, so an easy payment loan was'nt a problem.

I don't remember a lot about getting the car or how I felt, but I've had some awsome times with the car. Maybe more memories will return after the restoration when I'm driving it again.

[George J.]

Re: How old were you?

It was 1996, the summer after I had finished my third college degree and I was 28 years old. I loved performance and though I had always wanted a midyear, I was mighty impressed with the '96 LT4 that had come out. At the time a '66 425hp was about the same money as a new convertible with that great new engine. I decided that since I loved classic cars, I would get the '66. It was gorgeous: silver pearl with a black leather interior, teak, tele, 425hp, side pipes and knock offs. Man, did that car go like stink. I found out later that it had a Crower cam that was ever so slightly hotter than stock, mainly with more lift.
The next summer I was having a shop perform some work on the car and we had the carb off for a rebuild. No one had put a note on the car to not start it and the inevitable happened - poof! They saved the car, but the restoration would have taken so long that I agreed to be paid all I had into the car and they could keep it.
I then started looking for either another '66 425hp or a '65 Fuel Injected car. I found the fuelie first. That was 1997 and I still have it. Glen Green coupe with original side pipes. Love it.

George

[Paul H.]

Re: How old were you?

1972, 18 years old and a Freshman at Boston College. Bought my 65 Glen Green convertible for $1,500. Talked him down from $1,750. Still have that car today We used to go on double dates in that car. 4 of my buddies then bought mid-years and we went everywhere together in those cars. Never grew up after that

[Steven B.]

Re: How old were you?

Actually I'm extremely thankful that I still have my first Corvette and not my first Mrs.

I liked Corvettes but when my friend Steve Brohard (see post 7 of this thread) got his '57 I was hooked. I never passed up a chance to cruise in that car and I knew I would have one before too long. In 1969 I was 21, just home from RVN and went looking for that Corvette. I bought my '59 soft top, 270 4 speed no radio for $1000. It had new '68 Safari Yellow over a couple other colors over the original black and it looked great. My avatar pic was taken in 1969. For me it had to be '62 or older. I absolutely loved those cars and would have taken one over any newer one.

Just to sit in it makes my heart beat faster like it did back then. I doubt I will ever get tired of this car. Now I need to get some paint back on it so I can enjoy it again.

Tom

Unfortunately I did not get to see the '59 or you in '69 when you brought it by our house---the moving van had just left and I was on it. But two years ago I did get to meet up with both of you. Great car and great memories of scrounging through junk yards and "modifying" your mini bike back in the day.

[Ed H.]

Re: How old were you?

This may take awhile, as my AF enlistment began in 1954, at 17 years of age.
In 1957 I reenlisted in the Air Force for 6 more years. I was single and received a large reenlistment bonus. I was at Maxwell AFB, in Montgomery, Alabama. I traveled to Northern Alabama, because I heard that I could buy a new 57 Vette for 3700 dollars. That was a bait and switch. But in the showroom was a 57 Belair two Dr HT, with a 283HP Fuelie engine, 3 on the tree and 4:56 Poi-rearend, this is where my drag racing began. I made grown, Ford men, cry. The person who ordered the car did not take it. I got the car for 3300. Drove the car until I got married. Sold it for 3000 but that is not where the story ends. In 1960 I found a 56 Vette, w/two-fours, and a Duntov cam, for 900. Drove it until 64, when I got out of the AF. In 66 I joined the LAPD and thought I was rich. Sold the 56 and bought a 60. This is where my drag racing continued but in a more serious vain. I raced the car from 67 to 74. Got it up to 10:50 @ 140MPH. I went on my head at Long Beach and was out of commission for about a week. When I got back to work my supervisor ask me if I wanted to be a policeman or a racecar driver, lets see, racecar trophies, policeman a monthly check. All stopped at that point.

In 1999, I was retired from LE at 62 years old, so I decided to go look for a hobby. While going from car show to show I almost bought a 1662, bubble top, 4Spd, 409/409. My wife said on the way home, why don't you "LIVE YOUR DREAM". In Dec 1999 I bought a basket 57 from Dave Ferguson. That is where my life became involved with NCRS. I am the proud holder of a Duntov, and a Dave Hill. Oh, I purchased a 93 Ruby ZR-1 so I wouldn't be lonley after the 57 found a new home in Atlanta, Ga, in Charlie Fain's Museum.

Now I am concentrating on a 100 Point judging level. This new point system publishing is great, I didn't know I was an 82 point, 53-55 and 56-57 judge, just 18 points away. I hope to acheive the 100 point level by 2012, in San Diego.

[Wayne B.]

Re: How old were you?

George, skimming the responses and a little quick math and I do believe you're the youngster in this crowd. The rest of us remember when dirt was new.

[Jim D.]

Re: How old were you?

In 1969 at the tender age of 15 1/2, I used to wash and wax my neighbors 65 roadster (for free). I knew everything about that car. 365HP, 4 spd., side exhaust, silver w/ blk. interior. My neighbor got his license suspended for a DUI so he taught me how to drive it and let me chauffeur him around until he got his license back. To say I was bitten by the bug would be an understatement. I bought my first Corvette (64 coupe) in 74 and my second (60 that I still own) in 76. I've owned many others but my favorite is still that 65 that I learned to drive in.

Jim

[Michael M.]

Re: How old were you?

18 years old. The same 68 Vette I have today only 25 years later. Absolutely amazing feeling being 18 and driving a 68 427 convertible Vette. Nothing like it in the world.

[Steven B.]

Re: How old were you?

Back in 72' I was 17 when I purchased my first Corvette, a 1962 327 Base engine, 4-speed, hard top only, ragged out with thick imron paint for a high price of $2,200. One year later, I traded it for a 64 Coupe, totally stock, 65,000 miles, and the buyer gave me new GM Bumpers all around, a new stock paint job, and $400.00 cash for my 62. The race was on. Since then I have had = 54, 60, 65, 66, 68 (3), 70, 72, 74, 76 (3), 77 (2), 79, 82, 84 (3). I am still looking for more.

[Karl L.]

Re: How old were you?

I was 21 in 1958 and worked at a gas station in Saginaw, MI.
In Feb. of 58, I was heading to a speed shop on Richfield Rd.
in Flint, MI. As I was almost to the speed shop I passed a used car lot.
Sitting there "For Sale" was this ...""BEAUTIFUL- 1958-SILVER BLUE VETTE-WITH A SILVER INSERT-WITH A HARD TOP--SOME LIGHT WHITE SNOW LAYING ON IT (HIGH LIGHTING IT) AND IT WAS CALLING OUT TO ME>>>>"PLEASE STOP AND LOOK AT ME!"
Well... I stopped and looked..No one there--Lot closed for the day.
Got the phone number and called next day. My Boss and his wife lent me
the down payment and I bought it the next day.
"I WAS IN HEAVEN...TO SAY THE LEAST!!""
3 spd.- 411 posi- 2- 4's & Duntov cam, solid lifters and 2 small air cleaners. White soft top..silver blue interior..BF Goodrich Silver Town
W/W Tires. 12,000 miles on odometer. Cost was $3000.00.
It was my love.......""WISHED I STILL HAD IT!""
I sold it in Flint, MI, sometime in 59
REASON WAS WOMEN RELATED.... I just got too carried away and
didn't take care of what I should have been doing.
Last I had heard was that someone in Lansing, MI. bought it.
The "58" known as "REX" that Paragon has in it's showroom looks exactly
like mine. Every time I go there I look it over and dream and "DREAM!"
Karl.

[Dave B.]

Re: How old were you?

I was 35 in 1975 and just back from SEA, just divorced, and driving a worn out '64 TR-4. Decided I needed a new set of wheels to go with the single life, so went to Denver and bought a '63 red/red convertible with a hopped up NOM. I didn't know about the lack of originality at the time, nor care, since this car was Quick. Also got attention in Colo Spgs at the time. Didn't take too long to find out that a lot was incorrect, and being somewhat anal, I decided to replace the '64 drivers door, take the bondo out of the hood scoops and find some grilles, and generally strive for more originality and to tidy the car up appearance-wise. (When I found NCRS in 1984 I knew I had found kindred spirits). Finally sold it, but not before becoming hooked on Corvettes and mid-years in general. I have had a '64 and a '65, and now have a great '66, but the '63's (I owned 3) were still the most interesting.

[Steve N.]

Re: How old were you?

what a great thread. 1965(19 years old) traded a stock 1939 chev coupe and took over payments of a thousand dollars on a 1958 corvette.Usually drove one week and let it sit another week till I got payed so I could fix it and drive another week. Those were the days when you could get a clutch put in for 25 bucks. Finally had a fender bender and let it go after a fight with the insurance company. Moved to Seattle to work for Boeing and with a wife a child bought a tract house and spent my wifes new couch money for a 1956 stripped corvette. Played with the 56 but never finished it . Put in Motors but seems like my work cars needed the motors too. Won a 1970 corvette in a raffle in 97 and sold it in 2006. Beautiful car but it wasn"t a C1. Traded the 56 for a Complete and finished 60 corvette in 2006 by a pushy and persistent Canadian. Hopefully he follows through with the restoration. Payed a 125 bucks for that 56 and had a lot of years of enjoyment collecting parts for that car. If you are ever in Seaside Oregon I'm the gray haired Geezer with the same woman I married in 65 cruzing down Hwy 101 like we're 20 again