Those Were The Days

[Dan D.]

Re: Those Were The Days

My parents didn't have 2 cars either, but I did. In upstate NY you do not drive Corvettes in the winter. So we bought beaters and changed the plates over every fall and spring. That got old before too many years so we just spent the extra money for insurance and kept them both licensed year around. For the beater car I drove 5 year old Cadillac's. You could buy one quite cheap - no more costly than a Ford or Chevrolet, and there was still plenty of good miles left on them. Having a Cadillac and a Corvette was a real status symbol. People thought I had money, which I did not.

I was 24 years old in 1965 and I think that was the first year that I had a Cadillac and a Corvette that were both licensed year around.

In 1968 I bought my second Cadillac, picked it up right after work and immediately drove it to pick up my first date with girl. Her parents came out to look at it, we talked some, and then she got into the new Cad and we drove off into the sunset. I could never have guested how much that event would change my life, (or cost me) as I married her. That was 48 years ago and we are still together.

The perception of having money can be very powerful, as her parents thought with all that money I had I would be the perfect suitor for their daughter. I had a very good in-law relationship right up until they passed.

How's this sound for a Cinderella life event?

-Dan-

[Patrick B.]

Re: Those Were The Days

A guy in his early 20s in the 60s -70s who owned two cars? Not me nor anyone I knew. My parents didn't own two cars. Wouldn't happen.

[Mike B.]

Re: Those Were The Days

Great stories guys,

Corvettes, Cadillacs and Corvairs?? I thought I was doing good with my '68 C20 327 Chevy Pickup my senior year of high school back in '73! The year of the aforementioned gas crisis. Sure wish I knew where she was. Great times in the old girl. Wonder if she's still around?

Here's some more nostalgia. A matchbook that someone posted on Ray Boyle's Corvette Village site from back then. Here ya go Rocco. Thanks for starting this post. Mike

[Gerard F.]

Re: Those Were The Days

But the insurance for a young guy with a Corvette was another $100 a month. That was a deal breaker for most.

Not if you were in the service (US Navy for me) and you had USAA insurance. I was 23 when I got my year old 67 in 68.

[Don H.]

Re: Those Were The Days

Ok Jerry, I'll give you that. I wasn't. You were, and you deserved special treatment wherever possible for the sacrifice you made. I salute you.
Seabees can do!

[Jim D.]

Re: Those Were The Days

But the insurance for a young guy with a Corvette was another $100 a month. That was a deal breaker for most.

That's the truth. I've had at least one Corvette in the garage since I was 18 (1973). Back then, my insurance was the same as my rent - $100 a month. I was fortunate to have a good paying job and could afford it, barely. As far as having a beater for a second car, that never reduced my rates. All the insurance co.'s in my state base your liability rate on the "highest risk" car.

[Bill M.]

Re: Those Were The Days

Never had 2 cars back in the late 70's. drove my 65 rain or snow. Insurance was always a problem I lived in Queens N Y. finally got a second car in 81 a 68 K5 blazer. I met Alan Blay and he explained classical insurance to me and have been with him in one way or another ever since. Take a look at your kids cell phone bills! more than their car insurance! And they keep upgrading the dam things.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Those Were The Days

Never had 2 cars back in the late 70's. drove my 65 rain or snow. Insurance was always a problem I lived in Queens N Y. finally got a second car in 81 a 68 K5 blazer. I met Alan Blay and he explained classical insurance to me and have been with him in one way or another ever since. Take a look at your kids cell phone bills! more than their car insurance! And they keep upgrading the dam things.

I also lived in Queens (Bayside) when I bought my '69 in Feb. '71. I did not consider anything but a small block because my Dad's insurance agent who wrote all of our insurance policies told me that if I bought anything but a base small block he would not write the policy at any cost. I was very naive and believed that if he wouldn't write it, then nobody would. maybe it worked out for the best since if I had bought a BB maybe I would have sold it long ago as opposed to still owning it as I do the 350.
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: Those Were The Days

A guy in his early 20s in the 60s -70s who owned two cars? Not me nor anyone I knew. My parents didn't own two cars. Wouldn't happen.

In the late 70s/early 80s many high school guys had "winter beaters" so they could store their nice ride, at least here in Michigan.

I think of some of those "winter beaters" and wish I could get my hands on them now in the condition they were back then. A certain turquoise 1968 GTO always comes to mind - and I know it's been rusting away in a patch of trees for at least 30 years. Yes, his nice ride was even nicer.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Those Were The Days

Hey you Queens guys, I was brought up in Hollis, Queens through college. Joined the Navy in 66 and got my 67 from my roommate in 68. He was getting transferred and married. His wife to be told him to "get rid of the vette and get a nice family car" . So I traded my 67 Renault 10 for the Corvette.

I went home to Hollis only for a short time in late 69. Got a job in California and packed up my 67 Convertible with a hardtop with everything I owned at the time and drove out to California. Been here since.

Found out you couldn't fit much in 67 with the soft top in the back. Had to put on a luggage rack and a big Samsonite suitcase.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Those Were The Days

Here's my 67 cruising in Utah on a Road Tour to Denver (2015)

Note the new Samsonite luggage:

[Brian M.]

Re: Those Were The Days

Great Pictures Jerry.

Here's my 67 cruising in Utah on a Road Tour to Denver (2015)

Note the new Samsonite luggage: