savewave

Actually, that might not be stated correctly. I often tell people that we don't own our old Corvettes, they own us. You'll appreciate that better than those who have never owned an old car.

We're not all the same and that's good. Some of us like our Corvettes restored to original perfection. Some like to modify them.

Me, I like to drive my Corvette. I know it's going to get dirty when I do, but I don't care.

I take it to a few shows each year when it's an event benefiting a charity I support. Sometimes the car wins a trophy, but I don't care because I don't go to car shows to be competitive. I go because I like hanging around with Corvette people and seeing their cars.

I'm glad there are people who are purists when it comes to original, correct Corvettes because I enjoy seeing their cars. I'm glad there are people who modify their Corvettes because I enjoy seeing those Corvettes, too.

Still, what puts the biggest smile on my face is to drive my '65 convertible down the highway. If it breaks, I'll get it fixed. If it gets bugs on the nose, I'll wash it when I get home.

I knew the '65 wasn't factory correct when I bought it. In fact, that's why I bought it. I didn't want the responsibility of preserving and protecting a factory correct car. I wanted a mid-year I could drive without guilt.

To my way of thinking, each of us should have the Corvette that puts a smile on our faces and we should celebrate the fact that each of us is different, rather than all being the same.

I have friends who are NCRS types as well as friends who pride themselves in owning a not correctly restored Corvette. None of us ever has too many friends.

YMMV and, if so, that's great!

ragtopman

I think you hit the nail on the head with your thoughts already.

hedgehead

It makes you feel good.
If you never had one, you always wanted one.
Nobody doesn't like and old Corvette.
They are unpretentious.
It gives you a purpose, if you need it.

Vette Daddy

No other car does a thing for me. No other choice.

Pierre

When my son was about 16 or 17, he started to hang around at shopping centres and other places with friends and I didn’t feel comfortable about his friends and his running around. But, he was sorted of “into cars”.

So I made a deal with him, I told him if I was to restore an old Corvette, could I count on him to stay home and help me. He was quite excited about that and he committed to help me “all the way”.

So I bought a ’56 and he did stay home and help me with the “body off” restoration. That took about three years to complete. During that time he stopped hanging around with those individual that I didn’t really like.

That was about 12 or 15 years ago. He has since successfully completed high school and beyond and now owns a 2001 Z06.

5thvet

Well put, Savewave!

Don

INMYBLOOD

I grew up riding in one. It was the only car for me. It really is an escape anytime I'm in it and out driving.

Frankie the Fink

Because I can't afford a '65 Shelby Mustang..

Seriously, as a poor kid growing up in the streets of Pittsburgh - NObody even had a car...Mom & Dad's family walked or took the streetcars everywhere. When we moved to Virginia I was fortunate enough to grow up in the surfing and muscle car scene and even worked on my Dad's used car lot. Funny, but Corvettes were just one among many muscle cars I loved but could never own. Fast forward to 2007 when I had just sold my '66 Mustang convertible and I was looking hard at C2s and came across my '61. I bought it straight off....sorry C2 owners but people will lean over your cars to take a picture of a C1!

Anyway I've got the bug for a C2 now and a 'warchest' of cash but wading through the overpriced, junk out there is tiresome... (I took a brief side road for a '69 Z-28 but after looking at 6 in a row I couldn't find a real one with an original engine - I am now OVER it!).

Vega$Vette

For me it's this

I was raised in the 60s. Mom and Dad scraped by to pay the mortgage and put food on the table and little was left for luxuries.

So I started working at 15 to be able to get the things I wanted in life. Bought a 64 GTO at 17 a New 69 Z28 at 19. We cruised, partied and life was good

The 70s 80s - innocence lost, working, married and raising my kids changing times.

Building, Tinkering and Driving the older cars with the windows down and the music up takes me back in time.

1snake

I bought my 60 when I was a teenager and we've grown old together (the car is aging much better than I am). Many other Corvettes and hot rods have come and gone but there's something about this car that has become a part of me.

Jim

63Corvette

Becaues it gives me the "best seat in the house" in some of the best racing in the world

Have you ever seen/heard a Cobra or 250 GTO, or Lightweight E-Type, or 250LM being driven in anger? Ever passed one, or been passeed by one? Ever gone eyeball to eyeball with a driver of a 250LM as he spun down turn 8B of the corkscrew, or raced with Sterling Moss, David Piper, Carroll Shelby? Well imagine.....racing a car that only grows MORE valuable each year that you race it.........eventually paying for all of the racing that you have ever done! That is the essence of Vintage Racing:-)

carcrazyandbroke

Yep, that's about it for me too.

RatDog

I don't own a Corvette and I've never owned a Corvette but I've wanted one since I was in high school. I graduated in 1964 so the C1's and C2's are special to me. They're a reminder to me of that time in my life. I've never owned one because there was always other "life stuff" (kids, paying for a house, etc.) that had to come first. But, after all of these years, I'm going to be getting one soon. My wife, who's always known I wanted a Corvette, is coming into some inheritance money. I asked her what she was going to do with it. She replied, "I'm going to get a personal trainer at the gym, I'm going to get a new bedroom set, and you're going to get a Corvette". To say I'm excited would be a gross understatement.

There's just something about those cars that I can't explain, something that would make me lust after one for 50 years.

BTW, I think my wife is pretty special, too .

-- Steve

Jakes Dad

I have yet to own 1, but have grew up around C2's. Dad worked hard and alawys had at least 1 63 or 4 around. He has drove most every one of them he has had. Had 1 that reastored by him to Bloomington Gold in the early 80's and he still visits it when he goes to see my sister. There cars are just fun. Are they the safest thing on the road today ? No do they get 40 mpg ? No. But they don't have to. For me it is something that will alawys bond me and may dad. I am grown and have my own family now, but still I get away for a day trip every once in awhile to go to look at a few cars and it is just a great hobby.

66since71

Why? I forgot to sell it... Keep forgetting. Guess I'm too busy smiling every time I drive it.

capevettes

I love to drive them. I love to look at them. They sound great. I basically grew up with Corvettes. I have met so many good people along the way that I would never have known if it weren't for this shared passion. It just never gets old even though I'm a bit older than when I started.

waltonb123

I couldn't agree more, great job!

bb62

When I bought my first C2 (a 64 365HP convertible) back in 1981, it may have been an older car at the time, but it was a powerful Corvette compared with what was available at the time. I drove the 81 models and was unimpressed by the performance. And if performance was important then an "older" Corvette was required.

Even today, with my 67 435, it is still a fast car, it is totally gorgeous, and after 17 years of ownership, if I had to sell, it would feel like I'm losing a friend.

Railroadman

Savewave, very well put. I especially agree with the "not perfect" concept. Like you, I respect and am impressed at the NCRS winners - I admire their attention to detail and patience. My '92 has some small cracks, the paint isn't perfect, and it would not be allowed onto a judging field. But it's taken the wife and me from western New York to the Canadian Rockies and Yellowstone, to Carlisle Corvette weekend, to Memphis for the CF St. Jude's gathering, to our daughter's in Tennessee, and other places are yet to some. We love it and can't wait to get MORE stone chips and dirt on it.

It's all good!

Tom E.

When I was in High School & College in the late 1960's, I thought Mid-Years were a huge status symbol (mostly because I knew a few rich guys who owned and abused them, and also The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean sang songs about them). I idolized those bands and thought owning a Vette would make me as cool as those guys, but about all I could afford and keep running was a '64 VW Bug.

When we are young, we mainly think about the future, but as we age, we seem to reminisce more & more about the past...that's me anyway.

Fast forward 40 some years...and those lingering fond memories. So I bought a '65, made it look and drive how I wanted it to be, and now "Im the coolest thing around."