Bacci

Not first impressions but memorable moments for a 17 year old.

Customer came into the Texaco station that my dad owned and said he had heard we did a lot of work on Chevys. He was driving a 1958 Vette white with red coves. Wanted a tune-up. Opened the hood AND 283 blueprinted and balanced,with a Lathem supercharger with 4 side draft carbs. All the work was performed by Nichols Engineering in Highland Indiana. This was the shop that did lot of racing Pontiacs and prepared Fireball Robert's cars.

Tuned the Vette up and probably drove it a little harder than the school teacher owner. Blew out the heater core on the very first test drive and windows fogged up so bad that I could hardly see.

Next memorable moment was a young girl came to the station driving a new 1963 red convertible. The radio had quit and I was under the dash checking the fuse and she was sitting in the passenger seat. I complimented her on the nice Vette. She said, "My dad bought it for me. I am pregnant and my dad said take this car and don't come back until you have a husband." I was single and it was tempting!!!

jim lockwood

There are too many early memories of Corvettes which infested my brain with the need to own (at least) one Corvette. However, this is the memory which stands out above the rest:

The context is the summer of 1969, Columbia SC, University of South Carolina, I was walking home from an ME class to my apartment on Pickens Street.

A class mate with a maroon, fuel injected '65 offered me a ride.

Within one city block, in one magnificent roar and without ever upshifting from 1st gear, we went 0-60-0.

That set the hook and in 50+ years since, I have yet to spit it out.

Dan Hampton

1955. A wealthy doctor in town who lived in this beautiful craftsman-style stone home had purchased a '54 for his two sons who were in college. My first recollection of a Corvette at age 6. I can still see it sitting in their circular driveway.

blitz10

In 1972 a younger brother of a friend bought a l970 coupe that was loaded out, green with black interior. He bought it with money saved from mowing lawns. He had it parked in a basement garage, bought it from an airman and it looked new. He did not have a drivers license yet. Many of us went and looked at it. I was driving a 64 1/2 Mustang with a straight six and 3 speed. Nice car and only $450, all I could afford. Wished I had saved my money. 1 year later bought a lightly wrecked 66 coupe for $800. Many owned since, but now have a 67 and 69 coupe. That kid got me into corvettes since 1973.

59BlueSilver

Guess I was about 14 or 15 when a classmate graduated and got a real job came driving down main st. In a black/white 57. My mouth dropped, never saw such a beautiful car! My dream car, wanted one my entire life but had to wait until I was 67 to get one.

kolsen911

Mine actually started in about 1970, after my first divorce. I had always been a sports car nut, bug-eyed sprite, TR3, TR4, MG. Well one evening I spotted this beautiful 356 Porsche. Stopped at the lot and made an offer, said I'd be back the next day with the cash. Well I guess someone came in after me and bought it and drove off. So the next evening I'm out looking again and at another lot spotted two C2 Corvettes. On was a 63 split window for $1700 and next to it was a 65 for $1500. I didn't know anything about Corvettes except the 65 had "4 wheel disc brakes". My sports cars had front but no rear wheel disc brakes. Well that sold me, (if I'd only known) and I drove off with the 65. Had it for about 15 years, rebuilt everything, joined the Pacific NW corvette club and started autoxing and track driving. Loved that old car. Now I'm driving the 'Hemi/Vette' as well as my 72 Porsche 911 and my Classic Mini Cooper, (on sunny days).

kdzdds

1964. College frat member bought a red vert off showroom floor, drove it on campus and picked up a good looking chick (he kicked me out). That sold me.
Fast forward to 1969. Went to Chevy dealer and saw a Fathom Green coup on showroom floor, asked the salesman "how much". ... the four thousand plus price was
more than I could stand.... shortly afterwards Uncle Sam requested my presence....Found a Fathom Green 427 coupe in 2003, and still have it.

polo91

Great color combo, the green really ascents the lines of the car, and of course, saddle is the best interior for almost any color.

Lotsacubes

kdzdds, Boy... that sure is purdy. As a young man had a '69 vert in '72. The ONLY C3 that has ever interested me is the '69. Do all your little fiber optic lights work on the console? The girls always commented on those. Larry

dcamick

Not First, But Best! !973, Staying up in Mystic CT with a friend (Wife of a Lieutenant on a Sub out of New London) on my way to Boston in my 68 BB 427/435 Convertible. Had all the time in the world, stopped at this great bar in Groton Long Point. Met some great people! I actually felt like I was there all night! Left in the am for Woods Hole. Spent 3 SHORT weeks in Edgartown, MA (Martha's Vinyard), worked as a dishwasher at the Edgartown Inn........Camped at the Gay Head Cliffs where I almost drowned swimming out to a jetty off the cliffs..... Man, those were the days, My Corvette Friends.....Oh! my 68 was stolen twice in three weeks later that Summer in Boston (Brighton). I can't say I don't love New England!!!

OP, Thanks for the Post!

kdzdds

all instruments including fiber optics work!...a frame off restoration.

OLDED

I was 7 or 8 years old, attending a rural county fair in the Midwest with the family and the local Chevy dealer had a 53 on display.
The dealer was giving rides to lucky raffle ticket winners. Needless to say, I won a ride around town with a driver, thinking I was King of the fair LOL

Loved plastic cars ever since, including my 59 which I've had since 1980.

BW56

In 1957 I was 3yo. I had my picture taken on the track in a 1957 Corvette pedal car surrounded by the midget racers before the main event at South Bend Motor Speedway. I've loved Corvettes most of my life I guess. Fell head over heals in love with the first one I got a ride in. A red 1959, he drove it Saturday, Sunday and dates. And the hill climb I was working as the finish line runoff steward. Almost got a 59 in 1972, My mothers opinion was "You own a 61 chevy, Why get an older car?" THAT was the LAST time i listened to my mother's car advice. Before I could even wrap my mind around what she said, it was gone. Did get my 1964 convertible a few weeks later. I'm resto modding it as of April 15,2023. Ls3, Tremec 5 speed, 4 Wheel disks,Seats, Grill, Flairs etc.

DykstraMotorsports

I was three years old in 1976 and my Dad bought a 1967 Rally Red L-79 AIR roadster.

walleyfisher

riding in my dads 1960 Corvette with my (2) brothers and (2) sisters in the passenger seat at the same time in Detroit (1966ish)

DZVette

1953, the pharmacist who lived down the street bought a new one. He parked it in the driveway or out on the street many times. I was 6 years old.

vetteish

My dad’s buddy came home with a new dark green C4, tan interior. I was star struck

oneputt

I was 11 years sitting in the den watching TV when I heard a slight rumbling in the driveway, looked out in the driveway and saw what looked like a corvette. Ran out to see what it was and it was a brand new 1963 split window. My dad went and bought a new corvette, I couldn't believe it. Daytona blue with black interior. Thats all the details I can remember unfortunately and he's not around to ask. It was early fall and he told me it was the second one the dealer sold so it must've been an early one. Regrettably he sold it about 3 months later due to the trouble he had getting in and out as he was a salesman and made a lot of stops. the trouble was he was 6'3 and it was uncomfortable. Anyway that was my introduction to corvettes which I still love. I ended up owning 2 in later years, a !966 coupe and a 1965 convertible both which I loved, I still regret selling the coupe as it was a great car.

6spdgs

Father had gas station on LI and next to his gas station was a fuel company and son of owner bought a new 60 silver with white coves, dual quad. My friend and I took a ride and held on for dear life. What a introduction. I've had 4 corvettes since. Memories