What brought you to this point in your lives ?

[Jim W.]

What was the nucleus the attracted you to this Passon we all have towards the Corvette? While so so many other people flocked to Mustangs, Firebirds and Mopars, we still cling to this now 57 year old automobile? I bought my first Corvette in 1968 and it was a 1959 midnight blue with white coves roadster and I had the hardtop while was also painted Mid-night blue ( A non-stock color) But I just loved the heck out of that ol'girl. I did a number of de-modifications like pulling out the 4:11 posi pumpkin rear end and removing the duel carters in favor of a new intake and a single 4 BBL Holly. Then there was the doors were delaminating at a rapid rate, so I pulled both doors and rebuilt them from scratch. I learned all about fiberglas work and lot and lot of small 'C' clamps and sticky epoxy. I still to this day have the 'C' clamps I used on my 59 in my toolbox yet.

Damn thing rode so hard it was brutal going down to the dragstrip at Atco, NJ. but I loved that car. Finally found happiness and bliss. . And in the days mail was my draft notice, tried to hang on to her, but my father refused to look after her, so she got sold and I went off to basic training. My parent house burned down in 1972 and all of my past registrations were lost, and dispite that setback, I tried to find any old registration numbers, but alas, I failed in that pursuit. I would have loved to find her again, Don't even know if she's still around, but it was sweet while it lasted.

Do any of you do significant driving of you prized Corvettes? I don't know about where all of you live, but here outside of Philadelphia, the roads are horrible. I can feel even bump, pothole and gully and remember back to my beloved 59 and how it would feel today to drive her one more time.

[Frederick W.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

Bought my first corvette in 1980, it was a 69 roadster 350/300 silver/black 4spd car. It was wrecked with a damaged rear quarter panel, and was owned by a mechanic at a service station. I pulled in for gas and saw it in back of the shop area. Love at first sight.

Bought it for 4K, and my father and I repaired the glass and painted it in the front yard of the house using a Sears 3 HP homeowners compressor and a used Binks gravity feed gun. Neither of us had much experience with paint, but dad (RIP) could do just about anything well. After I buffed out the dust and occasional bug, it actually looked great. I was 17 years old.

I wrenched it and kept it going on my own for several years after. Sold it after graduating college and getting married. 25 years later saw an old picture of me and that car, which brought back a flood of great memories.
That led me back to Corvettes and it was the best thing I have done in years. Maybe a cliche, but damn I feel 17 again!

[Jack H.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

My situation is rather unique. My stepfather was a Chrysler exec and the family was on the Executive Lease Program (pick any car, any options, have it built to order and use it for 6 months/6000 miles before turning in). So, we'd go through 4-6 new cars a year. But, two doors/two seats, sorry, Charlie...

It was my uncle who owned Corvettes. His wife's family owned a Chevy dealership outside Saginaw, MI. When he passed away, ALL of the Corvettes he'd owned were sleeping peacefully in VERY deteriorated condition in his postage stamp back yard. My mother gave them to me...

So, I 'inherited' my way into this sport/hobby. I can remember the early years when the family would gather for holiday celebration at our home in Detroit. My uncle once said, "GM's making a 'plastic' car. Why don't we all go buy one, drive it until it doesn't go anymore, store it and eventually it'll be worth more than what we paid for it???"

Other family members looked at him as if he had a screw loose 'upstairs'... The old duffer apparently took his own advice!

[Pat M.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

Mustangs were my first love because a friend of mine had a beautifully restored 69 in high school. I didn't begin to really appreciate Corvettes until my mid 20s.

I make a point to drive both of my cars at least for a short drive every couple of weeks, and I always come home with a smile on my face. I drive them even more in the Fall and "Winter" here in South Louisiana, when the weather is cool, pleasant and (nearly) bug-free.

[Roy B.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

1967 I wonted and loved the sports car 57 T-Bird , had a 1937 Ford pickup but T-Birds I found for sale were asking $600.00 and up. Driving home one day a old guy stopped me driving a 53 Corvette asking me if I would trade the 37 for his 53 .After driving the 53 I thought it was a nice little sports car to drive to work and we make a trade . My 37 was really nice that I restored and later realized I made a mistake trading money wise , but fell in love with that little Corvette and been into them now all these years.

[Pete B.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

My brother was a student engineer at GMI in 1969. We lived in Tonawanda. He would get cars signed out to test mostly Camaros. He bought a managment car a 69 vert with the small block. Word on the inside was dont bother with BB to much weight up there and they overheat. Hmm, where have we heard that one? One night we took a ride he buried or at least I thought we did, the speedo. WOW...what a feeling!

When I grew up I bought an 86 new then a 91. Three years ago, after burying another late 40 year old friend, I got back in. So now I enjoy 2, 87 and 89, and hope to have the body off done on my 71 this fall.

Let the good times roll!

[Bill W.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

Jim,
I was aware of Corvettes in 1957, but thought I could never own one. Then the 1963's came out and I considered robbing banks to obtain one, decided to save my money instead. In 1966 I ordered a rally red coupe with few options, thinking I could keep it for a few months before the bank repoed it. My circumstances changed and the car was paid off in nine months. I spent the next few years adding the options I could not afford when I ordered the car. The added options cost more than the car did when new.
As for driving, yes, I still drive it often. Four hundred miles this past weekend, Albuquerque to Durango and back. Total so far, 122659 and at least that many more to go! Bill

[Lawrence R.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

My Cousin had a brand new 1960 Corvette, then bought a new 1963 Corvette and I was hooked. I bought a 1961 red on red, both tops in 1968 for $900 and had to sell 1 year later for $900. Have wanted one ever sense and last July bought my 1973 Corvette all number matching car L82 red with black interior and soft top. Love the Corvette, Love my wife also for letting me get another one after all these years.

[George J.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

In late high school I had a '77 Firebird and was getting a few car magazines about Pontiacs, etc., when an aunt gave me a subscription to Vette Magazine. I thought I wouldn't like it what with all the Corvettes with dragons painted on the hoods, and those weird suspensions they had. Well, long story short, after a while I realized that there was more to having fun than just going in a straight line (and into the back seat with Mary).
When I graduated from college in '95, I decided to get a Corvette and couldn't decide on a new '96 or a '66 427/425hp. They were both about the same price. I'd always wanted an old one, and so went with that. Very good decision. Of course the shop that was working on it the next year lit on on fire, but that is another story........

George

[Stuart F.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

Some very interesting stories. As for me, I was not a big Corvette fan other than I enjoyed working on them for their owners as they paid good money, and I enjoyed beating them on the strip and street with my Tri 5 Chevy's that I owned during the late 50's and early 60's. I was about to buy a 63 Biscayne 409 while in the Army, but a buddy convinced me I'd have more fun and get more skirts with a Vette. The rest is history. It's the only Vette I ever owned and still do. Guess it's a keeper.

Stu Fox

[Jay G.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

Familar story. But even in 1969 the 58 was a deal. Bought my first car after driving the familys 61 corvair and 62 F-85 w/ 215 Alum engine. (Interesting car).
So back to the first I'm 17 working gas station HS job. An ad shows up for a 58 Vette for $600 bucks. My Dad a Mech. engineer always ready to turn a wrench. We go look. Trans hanging out of it, held up with rope. The 58's On Blocks. I'm working filling station change oil, tires etc. The ol' man fronts me 300 bucks.
Then we did an amature resto. job. Strong # 4 car. But a HS Vette that will pull ok hole shot. Had a number of 'em since.
That car now is a Duntov car in Ct.
Now without our most recent 67 Vette.
But playing w our 69 SS 396 L-78 Grocery getter. This little sleeper is the fastest ride I've owned. Off topic.

[Keith B.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

dad dragged home is 67 project car in 1989. I was 5 at the time. he started have me help him restore the car and took to Corvettes at Carlisle. I have been hooked ever since

[Clem Z.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

2 of my friends had new 57 FI corvettes and i was still driving a 55 power pak chevy. i next moved up to 58 impala 348 3 X 2 and then a 59 impala 348 3 X 2 because a corvette was more than i could swing by my self. i dinged up the 59 so after some talking to soon to be mrs clem i ended up with a new 59 corvette,2 paychecks are better than one and as they say the rest is history.

[D S.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

Ahhhh...nostalgia time. Picture a tiny little west Texas town with one flashing red light surrounded by cotton fields on flat, red dust plains. The year was 1962 and my parents went to a Chevy dealership in a neighboring town to purchase a new '62 and brought home brochures. I so wanted a SuperSport but at 14 I wasn't the decision maker and we eventually got a Belair 4-door. No barn burner. One day soon after while at school I saw a red '62 Corvette being driven by a senior in high school pull into the gym parking lot. That was the stardust beginning for me. A few years later in 1965 we got transferred to a larger town near there. A senior had a '56 Corvette he raced at the local airport. It wasn't until after I attended college that a former classmate came by to visit me in his '65 Corvette convertible and we went for rides in it which may explain why my hair turned prematurely gray and began falling out. That was in the early '70s when I had moved to a large metroplex. It wasn't until the '90s when I bought my own Corvette, a red/red 1978. I sold it it to buy a maroon 1970 Corvette small block convertible and when that one went away seven years ago I bought my current green 1970 Corvette LS-5 convertible. Being in a Corvette "club" is a unique and rewarding experience.

[Henry S.]

Re: What brought you to this point in your lives ?

Familar story. But even in 1969 the 58 was a deal. Bought my first car after driving the familys 61 corvair and 62 F-85 w/ 215 Alum engine. (Interesting car).
So back to the first I'm 17 working gas station HS job. An ad shows up for a 58 Vette for $600 bucks. My Dad a Mech. engineer always ready to turn a wrench. We go look. Trans hanging out of it, held up with rope. The 58's On Blocks. I'm working filling station change oil, tires etc. The ol' man fronts me 300 bucks.
Then we did an amature resto. job. Strong # 4 car. But a HS Vette that will pull ok hole shot. Had a number of 'em since.
That car now is a Duntov car in Ct.
Now without our most recent 67 Vette.
But playing w our 69 SS 396 L-78 Grocery getter. This little sleeper is the fastest ride I've owned. Off topic.

Damn Jay, I liked to wet myself when I saw your 69 Nova!! I had a 350-3 speed 69 Nova SS and that SOB would fly!! Mine was pretty much a red plain Jane, black vinyl bench seat. I could outrun 396 Chevelles all day long with the darn thing. Must of been they were so light. I have no idea where that thing ended up. I got married and we traded it for a damn pukey green Impala 4 door. I HATED THAT CAR!!! I'm STILL kicking myself (no, not for getting married, for selling the Nova!!)