Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

[Steve B.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

I'm of the youngest participants of the forum and member of the NCRS at 29 years old and my younger brother David, who is 26, is also a frequent participant here and an NCRS member. Here is my take. YES. Be like my father did. Teach your children (let's not exclude the girls) how to drive stick. Bring them to a secluded, open, safe, straight drive and have them open up the car. Purposely allow them to feel comfortable driving a stick on a hill and on a highway with bias ply tires. This will allow them time to understand the car. Just like my father did with my brother and I as we were campaigning our '66 L72 for the Duntov award. He even allowed us to drive the truck and enclosed trailer. This formed an unparalleled comfort with driving the cars and unyieldingly shaped our passion. Ended up my first car I drove to high school was a '70 Camaro with 18k original miles (was a total cream puff with original paint) and my brother's first car ended up being a '72 Nova factory SS350 with a build sheet and 4 speed. In the interim, my dad allowed us to use his 66 L79 survivor convert he bought from the original owner and his stunning 36k original mile 1 repaint born with drivetrain '69 Z28. Now my brother and I have a Grenning/Papsun certified '70 LT1 Convert and a build sheet/MacNeish documented '69 Z28. We are the future of the hobby. Period. My point being is that if we're nervous of an accident and that is the only reason why we're not showing the next generation what a classic car will be, we're depriving the millennials of the right to learn. Then we have no business saying the future of the hobby is dead. Hand over the keys dad - but not before a healthy education of what the car is and how the car handles.

Dan

Well said Dan, and I agree 100%

[Edmund C.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

Gents: An interesting line of discussion. My thoughts remain to teach our sons and daughters how to drive old C2 4-speeds; to park in safe locations; to be careful out in the world; and, most importantly, to enjoy these beautiful rolling pieces of history. Once we move on, someone needs to continue to love and care for these vehicles. I love seeing some young kid or pretty young lady squiring around in an old classic. Heck, I was 16 and drove a 1971 Buick GS 455 ragtop beater (which I still drive on Fridays to this day) that I paid $1K for with lawn mowing funds. I blew an engine and 2 transmissions; yet, I eventually smartened up. I also think that the guys and gals in Bowling Green need to offer up a stripped down C7 for around $44K. This would attrack the next generation of Corvette fans to the table. Dodge has stripped down CORE SRTs and so does Porsche. They are awesome. Just my 2 cents. Best, Ned

[Don L.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

Great thread. Thanks for posting. I read this line of discussion and it causes me to think of a couple things.

I got my passion for cars (and at the time, the thought of actually owning a Corvette was a wild dream) as a very early teen. I started by being the wrench fetcher for my dad, who didn't really have the bug, but did do his own maintenance. By the time I was 17 or 18, dad became the fetcher. High school auto mechanics classes, coupled with my experience from working on my own ride plus working on many friends' cars helped me pass his abilities and he begrudgingly yielded. I remember missing on a beautiful '68 L79 Corvette convertible when I was either 17 or 18 because I couldn't come up with the $4,000 that the seller wanted and I wouldn't ask mom and dad for the extra $500 so it went to someone else.

Fast forward a couple decades - I factory ordered my first new Corvette. I took my (then) 6 year old son with me, perhaps trying to plant the car seed in him. I'll spare the details of that day, but suffice to say I was then and am still, through recollection, warmed with his excitement of the experience. He liked cars, but didn't love them as the old man does. When he moved away to college, I bought my '72 convertible. Apparently, the love for that $4,000 L79 car never left me. When he came home from school for a visit, I let him drive my C3. I went with him. I asked him what he thought of her and he said it was "OK". I was almost heartbroken that he didn't love her like I did. He's since "come to his senses" and does appreciate the car and its place.

Fast forward another few years to when I bought my (then) new C6 Grand Sport. When Evan drove that one, he did love it. He's claimed that one for when "it's time". He lives far from my wife and me, and sends me pictures of "cool cars" from time to time. He does what maintenance he can on his own car and likes doing it. Evan isn't as crazy about cars as I am, but I happy that he has more interest in them than electronic entertainment.

My point in all of this is to share that if we are to continue the legend of the Corvette, and all classics for that matter, we must do our part to turn those interested wrench fetchers into wrench turners and sideliners to drivers. Sure these old cars are deficient when compared to new models for safety. That needs to be part of the training and for those that have the passion, it seems should be an achievable lesson. I liken the responsibility of driving a valuable (and fun) classic car to the responsibility we teach when teaching our kids how to handle a firearm.

The future of this hobby, not differently than any hobby, is with our youth. Find the right kids and invest in them. They're out there.

My $0.02.

[Gene T.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

Gents I always worked to purchase my own cars and I was financially able to buy a '73 Red Coupe in '77. I kept that car until the early 80's. My next purchase was a Black '79 fully loaded Coupe which I kept for 19 years. I had married and had two kids; one daughter and one son. When I threw out a elevated dollar figure in 2002 of what I wanted for the '79, then it sold. It crushed my daughter that I was selling the Corvette that she could remember being in our family from her youngest years. Before it left our possession, I drove each of my kids separately on a Sunday night from home to a closed for the night Home Depot parking lot. It was common knowledge to them that they were about to drive the car around the parking lot with me in there. They were both elated that they were able to drive dad's black vette. The '79 did sale and it took me two years to find a replacement, an immaculate '99 FRC that had never been in the rain or on a dirty road. My daughter was the first one to see the car once I returned to our home. I finally gave in and allowed my son, who was approaching 17, to drive the FRC in our small neighborhood while I was riding 'shotgun'. My faith in my son's respect for the car ended when he on purpose 'goosed it' in front of his male friend's home. I sold the FRC and now the proud owner of a 50th Anniversary Z06. In summary, the situation is a case by case decision on when a kid is allowed to drive a muscle car. Most do not have the knowledge to realize how the car can potentially get them serious hurt or killed by showing out to their friends. BTW I am 59 years old and my daughter is 29 and my son is 27. Just my 2 cents

[Ralph S.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

This is what I did when I was 18 years old to my new 1969 435hp Corvette on a snowy February day.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

For a while I had GR 70 radials on my 63 51/2" rims. I could hardly get it to slide around a corner in snow. The tread was so opened up.

Stu Fox

[Edmund C.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

[Edmund C.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

Does anyone remember this C2 scene from Star Trek? It was pretty cool. The other shot is one of my kids driving an old Buick we have (he's 15). Hoping to encourage this upcoming generation of car nuts.

[Gene M.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

Keep in mind we (gray hair or no hair crowd) have an attachment to the 50's and 60's cars. Young people for the most part do not. It is no different than the 20's and 30's cars that we have little to no interest in. It's great to think that some day the youth will "love the cars" we are so found of. But let reality surface the numbers of those kids will be far fewer than our generation numbers. The value placed on them is greatest with our crowd except for a few value seeking younger investors. The modern vehicle shopper seeks the new Corvette, Mustang, Jaguar, BMW or some kind of Jap Crap. Old tech Corvettes is far, far down the list of options.

My 7 year old grandson enjoys the Corvettes and 57 Nomad but most others I talk to do not experience the same and say I'm lucky. I'll continue to involve him as much as I can and taking him to the cruise ins and rides. His involvement in maintaining the cars with grandpa and dad is growing each year as he gets bigger and can handle more. After all these cars have to go somewhere when I'm gone.

[Michael J.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

It can work, not a Corvette, but..... My daughter always wanted a pink with white pony interior '64 1/2 Mustang convertible. I had one done for her as a safe driver with power rack and pinion steering, power disc brakes, auto, and the original 260 CI 2 barrel engine. She got it for her high school graduation and has kept it until she moved to NYC and couldn't take it. She still loves the car, and drove it constantly everywhere she lived.

[William N.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

I was fortunate enough to save enough paper route money as a teenager that I purchased a 63 split window. as I remember it, there was more than once that the above average brakes and steering/suspension capability kept me from an accident, during those initial driving years.
I have two daughters, and I purchased a 2 seat conv. with ABS & air bag for the first and will do the same for the second. I also believe in making sure they know How to drive so I have/will send them to a proper driving school ie: Bondurant.

[Roger G.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

I'm not sure how I survived my teenage years. Throw a corvette in the mix, and I probably wouldn't be here posting.
After witnessing the aftermath of a 16 yo wrap his brand new corvette birthday present around a telephone pole in 1979 ( the telephone pole won), I have a lasting impression that has colored my opinion.

I realize all teenagers are not the same, but I tend to see things in black and white. That being said, to each his own, it makes sense to some and not to others.

[Jim D.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

I'm not sure how I survived my teenage years. Throw a corvette in the mix, and I probably wouldn't be here posting.

As Clint Eastwood said "A man has to know his limitations". My 1st Corvette, at the age of 18, was a 64 coupe with a brand new LT-1 350, 4 spd. and 4:11 gears. That was followed by a 70 LS-6 Chevelle. Yes, I look back at all the stupid crap I did and ask the same question.

[Roger G.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

[QUOTE=Jim Durham (8797);784476]As Clint Eastwood said "A man has to know his limitations". My 1st Corvette, at the age of 18, was a 64 coupe with a brand new LT-1 350, 4 spd. and 4:11 gears. That was followed by a 70 LS-6 Chevelle. Yes, I look back at all the stupid crap I did and ask the same question.[/QUOTE

Who can disagree with Clint? ... Now if he said "A teenager has to know his limitations".

[Patrick N.]

Re: Teenagers and Corvettes: Does it make sense?

I'm of the youngest participants of the forum and member of the NCRS at 29 years old and my younger brother David, who is 26, is also a frequent participant here and an NCRS member. Here is my take. YES. Be like my father did. Teach your children (let's not exclude the girls) how to drive stick. Bring them to a secluded, open, safe, straight drive and have them open up the car. Purposely allow them to feel comfortable driving a stick on a hill and on a highway with bias ply tires. This will allow them time to understand the car. Just like my father did with my brother and I as we were campaigning our '66 L72 for the Duntov award. He even allowed us to drive the truck and enclosed trailer. This formed an unparalleled comfort with driving the cars and unyieldingly shaped our passion. Ended up my first car I drove to high school was a '70 Camaro with 18k original miles (was a total cream puff with original paint) and my brother's first car ended up being a '72 Nova factory SS350 with a build sheet and 4 speed. In the interim, my dad allowed us to use his 66 L79 survivor convert he bought from the original owner and his stunning 36k original mile 1 repaint born with drivetrain '69 Z28. Now my brother and I have a Grenning/Papsun certified '70 LT1 Convert and a build sheet/MacNeish documented '69 Z28. We are the future of the hobby. Period. My point being is that if we're nervous of an accident and that is the only reason why we're not showing the next generation what a classic car will be, we're depriving the millennials of the right to learn. Then we have no business saying the future of the hobby is dead. Hand over the keys dad - but not before a healthy education of what the car is and how the car handles.

Dan

Well said, all 4 of my kids will drive my cars. My daughters drive my Vette's. they both waited to get their license but very passionate about Corvettes-especially my 68 BB. They start with my 05, lots of training on how to handle the car, as well as being as much of a defensive driver as possible.