39 Year Ago Today

[Clem Z.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

my 1964 365 coupe i bought new is about 3 miles from me and is owned by tony faulk who used to own "corvette world" near greensburg pa. still has the original engine. that is as close as i can come to my old corvettes

[Joe L.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Hey Joe:

I wanted a '69 so bad I could taste it (no pun intended). I still have my sales brochure and option wish list including the price (somewhere). I couldn't afford the car and the marriage, so I kept the '59 and got married (8/30/69). I'm sure I'd still have the '69, but I'm still married, so I guess I did the right thing...

The ZL1 is the ultimate BB...very cool rig! I was privileged to work at Tonawanda the summer (1969) they built the originals. That block was not on my wish list, but if I'd known then what we know now...

My '59 (my father bought it new) will be 50 on May 1, 2009. That's the projected START of the restoration. Maybe by 2019?!

Happy Anniversary!

Bill

Bill-----


I can remember this very well: I always loved C2 Corvettes from the time they came out in the fall of 1962. A friend of mine bought a brand new 1965 L-78 off the showroom floor of Central Chevrolet in Fremont, CA just after the cars became available. I was awestruck by the car and I'll never forget when I first saw it sitting under the streetlight, parked on the street in front of his house at the intersection of Trevor Avenue & Blanche Street in Hayward, CA. In 1967 he went into the Marines and tried to sell me the car but I could not afford it or the insurance.

However, when the 1968 Corvette came out I (and most other folks, too) IMMEDIATELY forgot all about 63-67's and I was glad that I had not bought my friend's 1965. The 1968 Corvette was, by far, the most awesome car I had ever seen. I first saw them "in the flesh" in the "Corvette Corral" at Laguna Seca Raceway in the fall of 1967. I just became totally OBSESSED with them. I still could not afford one or the insurance because I was still in college although I also had a good job, too, and was making good money. The insurance issue was the killer. So, I factory-ordered and bought the 1968 Chevelle SS 396 instead. But, my heart was with the 1968 Corvette.

The Chevelle's L-78 engine was very "finicky" and gave me lots of grief. Plus, it was a real "gas hog"----far worse than my previous 1966 Chevelle SS with 360 hp 396. It was the only car I ever ran out of gas with and that happened twice in the 18 months I owned it.

One day in early 1969 I was driving down Mission Bl., in Fremont, CA with my ex first girlfriend, Elaine Qunitana, and it just hit me that I could stand this car no longer and I just HAD TO HAVE the Corvette I was obsessed with. I told Elaine I was going to order a new 1969 Corvette and be-damned the cost and be-damned the insurance. I just HAD TO HAVE IT; NO OTHER CAR WOULD DO. I still remember the exact spot where my outburst occurred and think about it every time I pass that spot today. Elaine was shocked, to say the least. I don't think she thought I was really serious. But, I was. I mean, that 68-69 Corvette was just the most awesome looking car I had ever seen; NOTHING could keep me from owning one! And, nothing did.

[Pat M.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe - Sharks, particularly early Sharks, are STILL the coolest to my eyes. I never tire of their looks; the moment I lay eyes on one I still get a jolt!

[Ray G.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Hello Joe;

Very cool history.

But how could you buy a '69 Corvette when you were 5 years old?

Congratz, Ray

[Alan S.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Hi Joe,
I enjoyed reading about your car and how you made the decision to order it.
Regards,
Alan

[Paul J.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Congratulations Joe and Stuart for keeping your cars. How many people do you hear say "Boy, I wish I still had that car". I've had my 64 for 35 years and it still occaisionaly ignites some of those old memories. Even though it's not my favorite 'vette I guess I'll keep it to the end.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Jim-----


I'm ashamed to say it but no. It's still about 2 days of work from completion. The problem is it's been about 2 days work from completion for a LONG time.

You realize that San Jose is less than a year away...

[Joe L.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

You realize that San Jose is less than a year away...

Patrick-----


....but, I'm only 2 days work from completion of the project. That gives me lots of time.

[Michael G.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Congradulations Joe. Happy anniversary, and best of luck. Great stories. Thanks for sharing. Mike

[Jamie F.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe,
39 Years ago this week I was also in a Chevy dealer in Chicago looking at a Riverside Gold '69. I was only 12 at the time and my parents were looking at a Station wagon for the 5 kids. I remember looking at certain features and just thinking they were so cool! For some reason the "AstroVentilation" script on the windows stuck with me as something really unique. I tried to talk my Dad into the Vette, but he just gave me that look, you know it. They ended up buying a '69 Ford Country Squire down the street.
Well 39 years later there is a Riverside Gold '69 in my garage, exactly how I would have ordered it back then at age 12. A little different than yours as I really didn't have any concept of how I would have paid for it back then.
Took a while, but like you say, there's just nothing like the look of a '69!

[Lawrence M.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Great story Joe, thanks for sharing it with us. I was a junior in high school in the fall of '67 when I saw a '68 convertible for the first time. I was just blown away. My first thought was, " my god, it looks like a can-am car for the street". I turned to my buddy and asked " can you imagine just buying a 67 Vette and then seeing these new ones?
Also thanks for all your help and input on the board. Even though I currently have a C5, I am always trying to learn more about vintage Vettes for when I get my next one.

Larry Merchantz

[Ridge K.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Great story Joe. Thanks so much for sharing it. Like so many others have stated, how many people still have a 1969 they bought brand new.

Joe, hang onto that baby for at least 39 more years. And,......keep helping us all with part info for the next 39 years also. Ridge.

[David H.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Congradulations Joe! Cool story! Thanks

[Patrick H.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Patrick-----


....but, I'm only 2 days work from completion of the project. That gives me lots of time.

LOL!

I think I'm going to show up with Hinckley, Duke and a few others, finish the car and drive it FOR you.

Fender trim and side exhaust will be shipped ahead to Sara for safekeeping.

Patrick

[George C.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe, I know exactly what you mean. Felt the same back then. "Gotta have one".