Hard question to ask yourself

[Robert R.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

To All:
The responses are amazingly similar.
For me, my first time seeing a Corvette up close and started the "addiction" was my cousin's neighbor's White '62. Seeing that car every week while growing up (he drove it daily and parked it on a Chicago side street in front of his house ALL year long) just reinforced that: 1- I had to have one and 2 - it had to be a '62.
In '74 I got mine and it was well worn even back then and needed a lot of mechanical, body and interior work. That process got me to a local club and very quickly met a couple of guys who introduced me to a new organization called NCRS. The addiction continues....

Bob

[Joe C.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

All right, time to get serious. Please realize that my above post was written with tongue firmly in cheek. I hope that nobody has taken offense, as ALL Corvettes are nice..........just that some are nicer than others!

When I was a kid, I remember how I'd look forward to going to all the local car dealers, to try to catch a glimpse of the new cars in late September (or, was it early October?). Those were the days when most of the dealers would cover the showroom windows with brown paper, or Glass Wax prior to the "unveiling".

The year was 1961, and at the tender edge of 9, I lusted after an Impala SS, with 409. Honduras Maroon was my color of choice. The brand new '62 SS with black gut that I saw hiding out back of Benson Chevrolet was beautiful, resplendent with its dual antennas, bucket seats, and rear speaker. I really liked the machine turned aluminum trim, and instrument panel bezel, too. Out of the corner of my eye, all the way in the back of the storage lot, almost hidden from view, I caught a glimpse of a beautiful little '62 Corvette, in Honduras Maroon/Black. Corvette was way out of my price range for a long time, but I knew that I'd have one some day.

The "meanest" Corvette that I can remember from my adolescence showed up in the summer of 1967, when I was 14. One of the "big guys" on my block, who was 18 years old, had a black/black '63 coupe. This car had a Baldwin Motion built 427 with tunnel ram manifold and dual quads sticking through its hood. Rear quarters were radiused to accept the wrinkle wall slicks that it wore. Had wheelie wheels out back, and 488 gears. "Benny the Ball" took me for a ride in it one day. We didn't strap in, in those days, so I just planted my arse on the seat and held on for dear life! The whiplash was punishing as Benny powershifted through the gears. I was scared s^&tless, and pictured myself crashing through the Corvette's split windows!

Then, of course, there was that beautiful blonde, driving the white '68, with: "If you can beat me, you can eat me" custom painted on the taillight panel, she...............

Joe

[Jay G.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

Funny similar experiences. I vividly remember at age of 11. My boys an I riding our bikes to see the New Chevys. At our local Chevy Dealer/Gas Station. Grew up in a town of 500 people. (Lucky we had a dealership.) In Sept. of each year see all the new Chevys. Saw the then new 63 S/W Silver on Red Fuel Car. The thing looked like it was from outer space. I knew I'd probably never get a new one but was hooked on Corvettes and Chevys ever since. We'd also go down to the dealership ever Sun AM in the summer as the Boys ahead of us would always wreck some Hot Rod on Sat nite and we all view the wreckage. Great fun for an 11 yr old. Altho some did die that changed the overall look. Later in 68 I was playin in H.S. Rock bands when Mikey our bass player got a 67 Chevelle SS 396. We'd all go racin at the Berlin Turnpike. No pink slip just braggin rights. Got my 58 Dual quad Vette in Oct of 69. Have had a number of rides since. A true addiction. My 67 SS 396 13867 Bucket 4-speed. Ragtop was bought on 2001 from Org. Owner. So Vettes are not the only HO we get from time to time. Later Jay

[Joe C.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

Funny similar experiences. I vividly remember at age of 11. My boys an I riding our bikes to see the New Chevys. At our local Chevy Dealer/Gas Station. Grew up in a town of 500 people. (Lucky we had a dealership.) In Sept. of each year see all the new Chevys. Saw the then new 63 S/W Silver on Red Fuel Car. The thing looked like it was from outer space. I knew I'd probably never get a new one but was hooked on Corvettes and Chevys ever since. We'd also go down to the dealership ever Sun AM in the summer as the Boys ahead of us would always wreck some Hot Rod on Sat nite and we all view the wreckage. Great fun for an 11 yr old. Altho some did die that changed the overall look. Later in 68 I was playin in H.S. Rock bands when Mikey our bass player got a 67 Chevelle SS 396. We'd all go racin at the Berlin Turnpike. No pink slip just braggin rights. Got my 58 Dual quad Vette in Oct of 69. Have had a number of rides since. A true addiction. My 67 SS 396 13867 Bucket 4-speed. Ragtop was bought on 2001 from Org. Owner. So Vettes are not the only HO we get from time to time. Later Jay

Man, that Chevelle is Cherry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jay G.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

Thanks Joe, Now if I can only convince the wifey-pooh the 68 Plymouth GTX is truly needed in our garage.....

[Michael D.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

For me it was a 64-67 Coupe, Black, side pipes, three tail lights each side. We were visting family in Carlstst NJ when I was maybe 10 years old back in the mid-late 60s. Tail lights was all I could see after the smokin burn-out the guy did. Made a great impression . I remember waiting outside until it was so dark I couldn't see hoping for another look at that black Corvette but never seen the car again.

[Gerard Q.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

58 in this color scheme..

[Randy G.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

My '57 Fuelie:

[Michael F.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

I just love my sixty-seven convertible!

[Ted S.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

For me the most memorable Corvette was the first one I saw in the old Route 66 tv show. I don't even know the year, but it really started the Corvette interest. Then 30 years with a 1960--that was a great car.

But my favorite has to be the '63 SWC that I now have. Power steering, power brakes and great on the open road. It is recognizable to a lot of folks and I get a lot of comments on the car.

[Ted S.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

I have owned and driven quite a few vettes since 1976 (The year I graduated HS) The most memorable are from past to present were a 68 with a Mako Shark rear I had traded a Chrysler Conqueror 17 boat with a 105 outboard. The Vette was a BB and had no back window. I remember gluing a hardwood floor in the back and placing the ad in the New Jersey Want Ad Press at the time! The Ad read What do you do if you want to take out your favorite girl and she wants to bring her dog Bruno along? This was my answer to the lack of storage issue! Does anyone remember the Corvette station wagon? The next one I remember fondly is the 73 roadster I purchased from a doctor in Denville, Then there was the 70 Coupe I traded even for a Caddy Seville Diesel I put a gas engine in then blew away a Porsche Turbo at the Toll booth coming home from the shore. I loved my 76 L82 4SPD with its silver on grey int, I forgot my 66 yellow powerglide AC PW AUTO roadster I had in HS (I learned that girls dont date shy fat guys even with a vette unless they shower daily) My Corvette story goes on till today! I have some good bad and ugly tales of corvette ownership some might enjoy. Reflection, experience, and time made me realize that there is no one special Vette! Every Vette is special! If it brings back memories, If you sit back and look at old pictures, then this fiberglass automobile is a part of your family and american history!

[Jerry L.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

New to this forum and I must say in two days what a help. How could anyone miss the Cobra killer Grand Sports!

Jerry

[Tom B.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

Must be a 1959. There has to be some reason I've kept it for 39 years. Had others including a BB '67 coupe but the '59 stays while others go.

Of course it could also be that it's all apart and too big of a problem to move.

Tom

[Stewart A.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

1957 the clean lines are perfection. The 58-60 are nice but suffer from heavy looking front best looking retro interior in the world. 1963 split windows are almost perfect but the square front does my head in. 1968 - 72 lines are great but have that porn star look about it, I think it will date better as it gets older. 1984 - 1993 the body is styled perfect just needed more factory performance. 2000 looks like a large RX7 nice rear ugly front. 2008 is great now they need to get rid of the plastic interior.
Yep make mine a 1957 Tuxedo black with red interior.

[Michael H.]

Re: Hard question to ask yourself

I've had several of each year C2's over the years and it's still a toss between 63 FI coupe and 66 big block conv. for me.