Previous owner comes through!

[Tim L.]

I was like a kid on Christmas morning when I opened the mail from the previous owner...16 old photos of my Corvette!!! He bought car in 1978 in Norfolk, VA. The next 3 years drove it, lived in WV, moved to Michigan. 1981 stored it for 7 years in cousin's barn. Pulled it out of the barn in 1988 and started disassembly for restoration. Life got in the way and he sold it in boxes to a Corvette restorer in the early 90's.

These 3 photos show it in the barn and washed off on the trailer. I've got history back to 1978 now!

[Tim L.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

In his emails he stated it had a yellow engine...sure enough it does! Nice to see it is very intact. The other 2 show the interior being gutted. Great shots to have!

[Joseph M.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

priceless photos and so great to have as the current owner! Congrats and kudos to prior owners taking the time to collect this history for us!

[Tom H.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

That is awesome. Thanks to you and the past owner for sharing the history.

[Tim L.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

I had noticed a dealer logo on the tail of the one photo, I emailed the past owner today to see if he remembered what it said: COLONIAL as in Colonial Chevrolet in Norfolk, VA. It appears to still be in business as Rick Hendrick's Colonial Chevrolet. Anyone familiar with the place? Sometime in its life it spent time there, either new or as a used car. What are the chances of them stilling having records!?!?

[Edward M.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

In his emails he stated it had a yellow engine...sure enough it does! Nice to see it is very intact. The other 2 show the interior being gutted. Great shots to have!

The yellow engine has me curious. Did Chevy paint any engines yellow in those years. Marine engine? Truck engine?

[James G.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

Tell us more Tim,
What year is the car? 66 NASSAU blue I think, but has a 67 hood on it. 300hp engine ?

My bet is Colonial Chevrolet was the original selling dealer. Used car dealers never added these plates.

[Tim L.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

Yes, it's a 66 with 327-300hp. The engine is original to the car. From what this past owner said when he bought it, someone had painted the top half of the engine yellow. Who knows why...probably because it looked cool! When he bought it in 1978, it pretty much looked like what is in the photos: no front bumpers, 67 BB hood, mags, and tubular sidepipes. David removed the sidepipes and bought factory sidepipes (when you could get them cheap!) and installed. It is not a factory sidepipe car. When it was restored, it was put back.
When I bought it in 2005, it was restored, but the factory hardtop was long gone. I still keep looking at the pics in awe! Now I have another starting point...Colonial Chevrolet.

[Chris E.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

Tim, neat pictures! Thanks for sharing! Yet another midyear added to the "Yup it's a vette and it had a HITCH at one point" club. I'm a member too.

Also, does it look like the passenger door was original maroon? Maybe you can see the job number written on the door and see if it matches with the one on the bulkhead behind the convertible top or up by the passenger footwell??

[Tim L.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

Tim, neat pictures! Thanks for sharing! Yet another midyear added to the "Yup it's a vette and it had a HITCH at one point" club. I'm a member too.

Also, does it look like the passenger door was original maroon? Maybe you can see the job number written on the door and see if it matches with the one on the bulkhead behind the convertible top or up by the passenger footwell??

Looks like maybe it was sold new in Norfolk...used in the backwoods of Virgina pulling a trailer of who knows what?!?!
I took the maroonish color to be primer on the doors. I've searched for other job numbers and came up empty. I'm going to have to pull that door panel off and see if its still there!

[Steven B.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

I had noticed a dealer logo on the tail of the one photo, I emailed the past owner today to see if he remembered what it said: COLONIAL as in Colonial Chevrolet in Norfolk, VA. It appears to still be in business as Rick Hendrick's Colonial Chevrolet. Anyone familiar with the place? Sometime in its life it spent time there, either new or as a used car. What are the chances of them stilling having records!?!?

Tim, chances are no records retention that far back. I have checked dealer records for cars in various states and there is little reason, and too much cost and inconvenience, to maintain the records. But if I were you I would sure give it a shot.

Good Luck!

Steve

[Francis F.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

I was like a kid on Christmas morning when I opened the mail from the previous owner...16 old photos of my Corvette!!! He bought car in 1978 in Norfolk, VA. The next 3 years drove it, lived in WV, moved to Michigan. 1981 stored it for 7 years in cousin's barn. Pulled it out of the barn in 1988 and started disassembly for restoration. Life got in the way and he sold it in boxes to a Corvette restorer in the early 90's.

These 3 photos show it in the barn and washed off on the trailer. I've got history back to 1978 now!

Tim,nice pics,,
what is the orig. color???(trophy blue,my guess)
but trim tag will tell,can you reveal to us ??
ps hope you saved the trailer package option..
Francis

[David H.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

Congrats Tim on finding a previous owner! It is exciting when you do. I have been searching as well and found one owner from 1967 of my brother's car. We had a good chat a couple of weeks ago and he has stayed in touch with me via email. He is gathering anything from the car he can find to send to me. Hopefully there will be pictures. He bought the car in Chatanooga TN from Four Star Motors. Unfortunately they are out of business according to him. I have contacted the Chamber of Commerce and the local historical library trying to get info on the dealer.
Anyone out there ever heard of or delt with Four Star Motors? I am hoping the previous owner can come up with something with a name on it for the owner that sold it to them. It's fun to research it and follow the trail.
Looking at your car in the barn gives me pains everywhere. That poor car! Well, mine wasn't much better when I went to Dallas to bring it home. Inside a portable storage trailer covered with dust just like yours. I had to hook a winch to it to drag it out. I am really starting to like the looks of the C2s. I may have to find one after I am done with this one.
Thanks for sharing!

[David V.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

Congrats Tim. I have the complete REGISTERED ownership history of my 57 from when it was sold new in N.C. thru present from Sec. of State. I have often thought of trying to get a hold of prev. owners. How were you able to be successful? Ph calls using directory ass or newspaper ads in cities where your vette was owned? How bout some story telling?

[Jerry W.]

Re: Previous owner comes through!

The picture of the front of the 62 Red vette in the previous post reply shows the area behind the eyebrow above the front bumpers as being "Red"....same color of the car.....Is this correct ?....Or should it be Black...The JG doesn't say.