40 Years

[Don H.]

I purchased my 1960 40 years ago today for the huge sum of $850. The car had been sitting for about 8 years with no engine (the bell housing back was still there). The soft top was bad as was the interior (hardtop was missing). Since it was my only car (after I got it running), it was used including one Iowa winter. It is an original Fuel car and has had the Fuel Injection back on it for well over 30 years. Over the years it has been driven and raced (drag & gymkhana) and has held the NCCC National Quarter Mile Drag Record three times. It has been driven to a NCRS Convention and multiple Regionals. I hope to do a frame up on it after I retire. Attached are a few photos. Don H.

[Bill W.]

Re: 40 Years

Great pictures .

[Leif A.]

Re: 40 Years

Sweet ride and a great story. So stoked to read that you actually used your Corvette. All Corvettes deserve to be restored after such a long and faithful ride. Keep us posted with pics. How long before you retire (or, start the process)?

[Pat M.]

Re: 40 Years

I purchased my 1960 40 years ago today for the huge sum of $850. The car had been sitting for about 8 years with no engine (the bell housing back was still there). The soft top was bad as was the interior (hardtop was missing). Since it was my only car (after I got it running), it was used including one Iowa winter. It is an original Fuel car and has had the Fuel Injection back on it for well over 30 years. Over the years it has been driven and raced (drag & gymkhana) and has held the NCCC National Quarter Mile Drag Record three times. It has been driven to a NCRS Convention and multiple Regionals. I hope to do a frame up on it after I retire. Attached are a few photos. Don H.

Great story and pics.

[Jim D.]

Re: 40 Years

You got me beat by 2 years. I bought my 60 38 years ago. I paid $2000 but it was in very nice condition and I drove it for 10 years without doing a thing to it. While cleaning the engine compartment, the "while I'm at it" bug bit me and a body off restoration followed.

[Scott S.]

Re: 40 Years

Don, Lets' Road Tour with it this year.
Scott

[Mike M.]

Re: 40 Years

i bought my first vet, a 57 in 1970( lets see if my ancient brain can subtract 1970 from 2014--i get 44 years the old girl has been in my keeping). i duntov'd it at anaheim in ?'92 0r ?/91, then drag raced it against dennis clark in 93 thru 94 at various ncrs regionals and national conventions. its been on many autocross tracks and drag strips(13.1 et;s in 1/4 mile drags) as well as road race courses over the years. it also led the marlboro national convention road tour that celebrated the 50th anniversary of 57 vet production( drove it from maryland to mass with 4.56 gears in the 283 hp white 57 with the grandkids taking turn riding with the old white headed fool. most all outings have not been in the box trailer. of all my vets, antiques, street rods and farm tractors, it gives me the greatest joy driving the old girl. hell, she's only 12 years younger than me. i'm not gonna get buried in her like some have done in the past. hopefully she be in good hand in 2057 to celebrate her 100th birthday. i'm certain the ground hogs will be delivering my mail in 2057. its been a hell of a ride. mike

[Tony S.]

Re: 40 Years

Congratulations Don!

[Craig J.]

Re: 40 Years

Awesome! What did you install for the engine?

[John R.]

Re: 40 Years

You can't buy history!!! Looks like you had some good times with that car, I hope there are plenty more coming.

[Terry M.]

Re: 40 Years

I have 44 years with my 1970 also Mike, but no grand kids. Duntoved 'Barbie' at 7-Springs in 1994 and Bowtie at St Paul in 1996. It sure looks like the creeks will rise around here, but if they are not too bad I plan to have her at Kansas City after 16 years off the circuit. I had to take off my shoes to figure that out Mike. I absolutely agree about the quality of the ride, and wouldn't do anything different along the way.

[Steven B.]

Re: 40 Years

Great story and Corvette Don! 'Glad you didn't sell it along the way?! They become part of the family. I will have my '57 fifty years this November. Paid $1675.00. Did NCCC autocrossing like you years ago. They steer better around the cones with the right peddle than with the big wheel. A little street racing for gas money, too. Hope you have many more happy decades with your '60. p.s., My first ride was in a Roman red/red '60 owned by my barber. Steve

[Mike M.]

Re: 40 Years

when the 57 duntov'd at the california nationals in the early 90's, it had the correct 548 cast # 283 sbc with near stock guts and stock 4520 rochester unit. when the grudge races between my white 57 283/283 and dennis clarks black 283/283 proceeded, i got a small journal 870 block, cut out the casting # and welded in a 548 casting #, removed the motor mount bosses on each side of the block, took a pair of 2.02 heads and removed the camel humps and fabricated the triangle upon the rectangle head casting. then had the block prep'd for 1/2" stroker crank , bored it .060" and installed a 64-65 fi cam. took out the t-10 and installed a tougher muncie , hurst hitter with 57 style shifter handle, aluminum flywheel, and on and on. had to modify the old rochester a tad. when all this "cheater" drivetrain was put back in the white 57, it looked just like it did with the 283/283 drivetrain. at this point , it'd run the 1/4 mile in low 13's with street tires. old Dipstick dennis clark simply installed a NOS system in his blaack 57. i never did find out if there were other mods to his engine. we had a ton of fun running the salt and pepper 57 fuelies. mike

[Don L.]

Re: 40 Years

Great story about a super sounding car. Awesome photos too. Your thread's bringing many more stories of similar car/owner relationships out, which makes for great reads. Reading these makes me wish I'd have agreed to the $250 the seller and I were part on a perfect '68 roadster when I graduated from high school way back when. If I had, I'd be close to being able to tell one of these stories. If only...

Thanks for sharing!

[David K.]

Re: 40 Years

when the 57 duntov'd at the california nationals in the early 90's, it had the correct 548 cast # 283 sbc with near stock guts and stock 4520 rochester unit. when the grudge races between my white 57 283/283 and dennis clarks black 283/283 proceeded, i got a small journal 870 block, cut out the casting # and welded in a 548 casting #, removed the motor mount bosses on each side of the block, took a pair of 2.02 heads and removed the camel humps and fabricated the triangle upon the rectangle head casting. then had the block prep'd for 1/2" stroker crank , bored it .060" and installed a 64-65 fi cam. took out the t-10 and installed a tougher muncie , hurst hitter with 57 style shifter handle, aluminum flywheel, and on and on. had to modify the old rochester a tad. when all this "cheater" drivetrain was put back in the white 57, it looked just like it did with the 283/283 drivetrain. at this point , it'd run the 1/4 mile in low 13's with street tires. old Dipstick dennis clark simply installed a NOS system in his blaack 57. i never did find out if there were other mods to his engine. we had a ton of fun running the salt and pepper 57 fuelies. mike

Mike,
Great story and funny how you "doctored" the block and heads to make it appear bone stock. That's exactly what you had to do back in the day to win races. It wasn't cheating as far as I was concerned, but rather just keeping up with the competition, because you knew damn well they were doing the same thing. Sounds like you just pushed the envelope a little further. LOL.

Dave