Talked with 2 of 3 original owners today

[M W.]

Hi all,

I am so excited today. After a year or so of owning my 64 I finally decided to google my previous owners(which I had their previous information)to gather phone info on them and was able to talk to two of my original three owners. The original and second owners were so grateful I called them and I talked with them about the 64 they previously owned. Both had moved from their original locations but I was able to gather a few leads and the rest is history. The third owner is a long time friend of John Pirkle's so I figured it wouldn't be too hard to find him. The two I spoke with plan to look for any original photo's, paperwork and anything else that might be of interest to me. The second onwer was rather disappointed he didn't have a chance to buy the car when it was sold to me. Obviously he wasn't told of the sale. The first owner bought the car new in late July of 64 and sold it to the second owner in late 1968. Claimed they were starting a family and the Corvette wasn't family enough. Bought a station wagon. The second owner kept it until a divorce forced him to sell in 1983. The rest they say is history. What a great thrill to speak to these folks. We plan to continue our new found friendship.

Cheers to all,
Craig w.

[Mike M.]

Re: Talked with 2 of 3 original owners today

You are Blessed, my Son!
Congratulations/Enjoy!

[Gary S.]

Re: Talked with 2 of 3 original owners today

Craig, you are lucky, but leave no stone unturned if you want to know about your car. I hope you are trying to get everything you can from them and writing it down too. I have spent hours chasing owners over the last 20 years. I learned some tough lessons...and the two biggest are time is of essence and ask for everything you can think of (pictures of the car, pictures of the owner, any docs like cancelled checks, order forms, registrations, bill of sale etc.). The owners of C3's and down are getting old and dying off. I remember calling the original selling dealer of my first car (67) only to find out he threw out the records older than 1976 two years before I called. I could have called him two years before, but just did not get my butt in gear and do it. If I had, I would now know the original owner. In another case, I knew in 1996 the name of the original owner of another 67 I had. I did not call as I sold the car in that year. But, I bought back the car in 2007. I decided to call then but got his widow. He died in 2002. I did get a picture of him from his widow at least, but gone were all the storied he could have told me. I can't tell you how many great stories I have heard from prior owners...like racing the cops, cars stolen (one 3 times, once at work, once by a tow truck in front of his house), one stolen and found by the cops in a routine traffic stop two years after stolen, one found in an alley in Chicago after stolen from West Virginia, one taken to Italy after a shady dealer screwed over a foreign buyer..and I could go on. Do it now and get it all. Good luck, Gary

[M W.]

Re: Talked with 2 of 3 original owners today

Hi all,

I wanted to follow up on my previous posting regarding talking to the original owners of my 64. After talking at great length with the second owner I tried calling the original owner. He's the one listed in the owners manual. I was able to talk at lenght with his wife and she wanted me to email him as a suprise. She said over the years he has often mentioned the car and wished he had never sold it for many reasons. Well I wrote a nice long email including lots of great pictures of the car with before and after shots and emailed them to him. About a day later I received the most tearful response back. He said when he opened up the email and saw those pictures it opened up all kinds of long lost menories for him. He said he actually broke down and cried. It turns out he is still a Corvette fanatic. He owns a beautiful white C6 and has had many over the years. We have emailed several times and I have already invited him and his wife to come and visit anytime they are close to North Carolina. It would be a great thrill for me and I am sure for him to be able to drive it again. If it happens I plan to have the news media or local paper come out and do a story. He and the second owner have promised to sit down and write out a nice story as to how and why they decided to buy this car and what it meant to them. Both owners have stated they really miss the car.

I wonder if the restorer magazine would like me to do an article on reuniting the car with the original owner after 40 years?

Well sorry so long winded. On a side note, I tried to explain this to my wife and she just looked at me and said huh.... It's a Corvette thing I guess. What a thrill this has been for me. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing about it. More to come in the near future.

Cheers,
Craig Willetts

[Rick S.]

Re: Talked with 2 of 3 original owners today

Craig,
Great story! I was able to track down the original/first owner of my 67 roadster in my quest to prove a typo trim tag. My story is not as heart wrenching as your story but it sure was a fun search. I submitted and had my article published in the Michigan NCRS "Vette Signal". I would encourage you to submit your story to your local chapter and to the Restorer.

Regards,
Rick

[Vinnie P.]

Story will be Most Welcome!

Craig,

This would be great reading for all our members. Look forward to your submission.

Vinnie

[David D.]

Re: Talked with 2 of 3 original owners today

Craig,
Your story is so dang inspiring....When I bought my '64, more than 25 years ago, the owner told me he either sold the car to build a home for his growing family on land he already owned, OR he was headed for a divorce. I was so happy and just wanted to get in her and drive, that I never asked for any documentation, etc., etc......
I've thought many times over many recent years to try to contact him for any documentation etc...but always put it off, but with your story and the others here, I think it's time to do some digging and get in touch with him....
Thanks for the inspiration and I wish everyone in their persuit of this kind of their vehicle history much success.....
David

[M W.]

Re: Story will be Most Welcome!

Craig,

This would be great reading for all our members. Look forward to your submission.

Vinnie

Vinnie, thanks for the kind words of encouragement. Does it matter if the other individual is a NCRS member or not?

Thanks,
Craig