Corvette in A Blizzard
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Seymour IN.
Corvette in A Blizzard
All of the media here in Indiana are talking about this weekend being the 30th anniversary of the huge Blizzard of 78,I remember a buddy of mine who was a few years older than I had just gotten a new 78 vette and was trying to get home from work in it during the midst of the storm,I just wonder if anyone else was crazy enough to be out in the caos in their vettes?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 367
From: PHOENIX AZ. WHAT A MAN WON"T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDE
All of the media here in Indiana are talking about this weekend being the 30th anniversary of the huge Blizzard of 78,I remember a buddy of mine who was a few years older than I had just gotten a new 78 vette and was trying to get home from work in it during the midst of the storm,I just wonder if anyone else was crazy enough to be out in the caos in their vettes?
KEN
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 7
From: Toronto Ontario
i've been driving my 80 , every day since last Jan 2007
if there is good meat on the tires - yer good while maintaining a straight line
just slow down before turns & easy on gas while turning
i live downtown , in a major city, so roads are generally free of ice/snow
i'm more afraid of some brain-dead hitting me than driving in the slippery stuff lol
if there is good meat on the tires - yer good while maintaining a straight line
just slow down before turns & easy on gas while turning
i live downtown , in a major city, so roads are generally free of ice/snow
i'm more afraid of some brain-dead hitting me than driving in the slippery stuff lol
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The only people out in that blizzard with their Corvettes were stupid people who weren't at home when it started...but still felt an obligation to brave a blizzard in a fiberglass C3. 
{Call a cab, for gosh sakes!} I had a '68 coupe at the time, and it stayed nice and warm in its central Indiana garage. Heck, it was 4 days until the 4 foot-deep drifts in front of the garage door could be cleared.
{Call a cab, for gosh sakes!} I had a '68 coupe at the time, and it stayed nice and warm in its central Indiana garage. Heck, it was 4 days until the 4 foot-deep drifts in front of the garage door could be cleared.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Seymour IN.
Yeah I wouldn't have taken a new vette out in that storm either,but he had been at work and that was the only car he owned at the time,he still talks about today how well the 78 done in the snow,I wonder what the frame looks like these days?
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,544
Likes: 0
From: Youngstown Ohio
Three stories from the 70/80's.
1) Had my T Tops stolen in Detroit....duuhhh. Had to drive home 250 miles in 30 degree weather freezing my butt off.
2) Drove with my sweet new girl friend "for the day" to Detroit, "with her parents permission", got caught in the biggest blizzard in 50 years and had to shack up with her in a beautiful hotel for 3 days.....sorry Pops...we had a great time.
3) A month later I had to go to Florida for 10 days, she drove me to airport with just a dusting of snow and I kept warning her regarding taking exit ramps to fast. Later that night I called home from Florida and she was crying she had scratched the front and bumped her head when she gently slid into a guardrail.......well to make a long story short....every day she noticed.. "a little bit more damage to the car"... BUUTT it was.. "very minor", everyone I worked with couldn't wait till the next day to see what was reported next......by the time I got home 10 days later she had broken it to me day by day, piece by piece, that she and a girlfriend had spun it down a gaurd rail...every body panel was torn open and shredded, front and rear windows and 1 T Top cracked the nose torn half off and the entire rear bumper panel gone the hood was cracked and sitting askew.
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was
.......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learned
1) Had my T Tops stolen in Detroit....duuhhh. Had to drive home 250 miles in 30 degree weather freezing my butt off.
2) Drove with my sweet new girl friend "for the day" to Detroit, "with her parents permission", got caught in the biggest blizzard in 50 years and had to shack up with her in a beautiful hotel for 3 days.....sorry Pops...we had a great time.
3) A month later I had to go to Florida for 10 days, she drove me to airport with just a dusting of snow and I kept warning her regarding taking exit ramps to fast. Later that night I called home from Florida and she was crying she had scratched the front and bumped her head when she gently slid into a guardrail.......well to make a long story short....every day she noticed.. "a little bit more damage to the car"... BUUTT it was.. "very minor", everyone I worked with couldn't wait till the next day to see what was reported next......by the time I got home 10 days later she had broken it to me day by day, piece by piece, that she and a girlfriend had spun it down a gaurd rail...every body panel was torn open and shredded, front and rear windows and 1 T Top cracked the nose torn half off and the entire rear bumper panel gone the hood was cracked and sitting askew.
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was
.......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learned
Last edited by 73-84 IMSA Widebody; Jan 26, 2008 at 01:42 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
The only people out in that blizzard with their Corvettes were stupid people who weren't at home when it started...but still felt an obligation to brave a blizzard in a fiberglass C3. {Call a cab, for gosh sakes!} I had a '68 coupe at the time, and it stayed nice and warm in its central Indiana garage. Heck, it was 4 days until the 4 foot-deep drifts in front of the garage door could be cleared.
{Call a cab, for gosh sakes!} I had a '68 coupe at the time, and it stayed nice and warm in its central Indiana garage. Heck, it was 4 days until the 4 foot-deep drifts in front of the garage door could be cleared.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,127
Likes: 2,326
From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
In 1978 my everyday car was a 1969 Corvette coupe 427/400 4 speed sidepipes. I had F-60X15 snow tires on the back. That car was great in the snow it when anywhere!!!!
SNOW TIRES ON A CORVETTE !!!! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
by the time I got home 10 days later she had broken it to me day by day, piece by piece, that she and a girlfriend had spun it down a gaurd rail...every body panel was torn open and shredded, front and rear windows and 1 T Top cracked the nose torn half off and the entire rear bumper panel gone the hood was cracked and sitting askew.
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was .......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learned
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was
.......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learned
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
They salt heavy in Indiana, don't they??
IMHO, except for that, as long as you can avoid all the morons who shouldn't be driving in the first place, a Vette is one of the best vehicles you can drive in the ice and/or snow...
...at least until it gets up to the air dam.
IMHO, except for that, as long as you can avoid all the morons who shouldn't be driving in the first place, a Vette is one of the best vehicles you can drive in the ice and/or snow...
...at least until it gets up to the air dam.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Three stories from the 70/80's.
1) Had my T Tops stolen in Detroit....duuhhh. Had to drive home 250 miles in 30 degree weather freezing my butt off.
2) Drove with my sweet new girl friend "for the day" to Detroit, "with her parents permission", got caught in the biggest blizzard in 50 years and had to shack up with her in a beautiful hotel for 3 days.....sorry Pops...we had a great time.
3) A month later I had to go to Florida for 10 days, she drove me to airport with just a dusting of snow and I kept warning her regarding taking exit ramps to fast. Later that night I called home from Florida and she was crying she had scratched the front and bumped her head when she gently slid into a guardrail.......well to make a long story short....every day she noticed.. "a little bit more damage to the car"... BUUTT it was.. "very minor", everyone I worked with couldn't wait till the next day to see what was reported next......by the time I got home 10 days later she had broken it to me day by day, piece by piece, that she and a girlfriend had spun it down a gaurd rail...every body panel was torn open and shredded, front and rear windows and 1 T Top cracked the nose torn half off and the entire rear bumper panel gone the hood was cracked and sitting askew.
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was .......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learned
1) Had my T Tops stolen in Detroit....duuhhh. Had to drive home 250 miles in 30 degree weather freezing my butt off.
2) Drove with my sweet new girl friend "for the day" to Detroit, "with her parents permission", got caught in the biggest blizzard in 50 years and had to shack up with her in a beautiful hotel for 3 days.....sorry Pops...we had a great time.
3) A month later I had to go to Florida for 10 days, she drove me to airport with just a dusting of snow and I kept warning her regarding taking exit ramps to fast. Later that night I called home from Florida and she was crying she had scratched the front and bumped her head when she gently slid into a guardrail.......well to make a long story short....every day she noticed.. "a little bit more damage to the car"... BUUTT it was.. "very minor", everyone I worked with couldn't wait till the next day to see what was reported next......by the time I got home 10 days later she had broken it to me day by day, piece by piece, that she and a girlfriend had spun it down a gaurd rail...every body panel was torn open and shredded, front and rear windows and 1 T Top cracked the nose torn half off and the entire rear bumper panel gone the hood was cracked and sitting askew.
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was
.......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learnedLong story short, my 68 wouldn't still be MY 68 if it wasn't for a buddy of mine who owned a shop and did me a favor by putting a $30k mechanics lien on the car, making it impossible for her to sell it.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio
My favorite line ever is from my ex-girlfriend.
Me: "The body's made of fiberglass"
Her: "Oh, so the car won't rust then, right? You could drive it in the winter and not worry about it"
Me: "Well, the frame can still rust, and the salt's nasty on the bushings, so, no, really."
Her: "What's a frame?"
I imagine it'd go pretty well if you put snow tires on it, what with posi and everything. Not saying I'd try it, but still....
Me: "The body's made of fiberglass"
Her: "Oh, so the car won't rust then, right? You could drive it in the winter and not worry about it"
Me: "Well, the frame can still rust, and the salt's nasty on the bushings, so, no, really."
Her: "What's a frame?"
I imagine it'd go pretty well if you put snow tires on it, what with posi and everything. Not saying I'd try it, but still....
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Not recently, But "in years past" ... late 70's....my daily driver was a 69 Vert followed by a 70 LT1 Coupe.
I drove them year round. I found that they actually did pretty good on snow and ok on a little ice. I went from Chattanooga to Atlanta one night on 4 inches of packed snow running 60 - 70 mph. Steady as a rock. Only car on the road for miles. It was great to be young and stupid. I am no longer young!
I drove them year round. I found that they actually did pretty good on snow and ok on a little ice. I went from Chattanooga to Atlanta one night on 4 inches of packed snow running 60 - 70 mph. Steady as a rock. Only car on the road for miles. It was great to be young and stupid. I am no longer young!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento (Citrus Heights) California
My favorite line ever is from my ex-girlfriend.
Me: "The body's made of fiberglass"
Her: "Oh, so the car won't rust then, right? You could drive it in the winter and not worry about it"
Me: "Well, the frame can still rust, and the salt's nasty on the bushings, so, no, really."
Her: "What's a frame?"
I imagine it'd go pretty well if you put snow tires on it, what with posi and everything. Not saying I'd try it, but still....
Me: "The body's made of fiberglass"
Her: "Oh, so the car won't rust then, right? You could drive it in the winter and not worry about it"
Me: "Well, the frame can still rust, and the salt's nasty on the bushings, so, no, really."
Her: "What's a frame?"
I imagine it'd go pretty well if you put snow tires on it, what with posi and everything. Not saying I'd try it, but still....
Slightly OT:
I get the same kinds of questions all the time from people who think they know their cars. Like my girlfriend's dad who adamantly proclaimed that no Corvettes were made in '73, even after I showed him my build sheet and the production numbers and even gave him the benefit of the doubt and let him know that it was actually '83 that no 'vettes were sold but he still wouldn't listen...
*shrug* not for me to say.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 367
From: PHOENIX AZ. WHAT A MAN WON"T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDE
Three stories from the 70/80's.
1) Had my T Tops stolen in Detroit....duuhhh. Had to drive home 250 miles in 30 degree weather freezing my butt off.
2) Drove with my sweet new girl friend "for the day" to Detroit, "with her parents permission", got caught in the biggest blizzard in 50 years and had to shack up with her in a beautiful hotel for 3 days.....sorry Pops...we had a great time.
3) A month later I had to go to Florida for 10 days, she drove me to airport with just a dusting of snow and I kept warning her regarding taking exit ramps to fast. Later that night I called home from Florida and she was crying she had scratched the front and bumped her head when she gently slid into a guardrail.......well to make a long story short....every day she noticed.. "a little bit more damage to the car"... BUUTT it was.. "very minor", everyone I worked with couldn't wait till the next day to see what was reported next......by the time I got home 10 days later she had broken it to me day by day, piece by piece, that she and a girlfriend had spun it down a gaurd rail...every body panel was torn open and shredded, front and rear windows and 1 T Top cracked the nose torn half off and the entire rear bumper panel gone the hood was cracked and sitting askew.
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was .......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learned
1) Had my T Tops stolen in Detroit....duuhhh. Had to drive home 250 miles in 30 degree weather freezing my butt off.
2) Drove with my sweet new girl friend "for the day" to Detroit, "with her parents permission", got caught in the biggest blizzard in 50 years and had to shack up with her in a beautiful hotel for 3 days.....sorry Pops...we had a great time.
3) A month later I had to go to Florida for 10 days, she drove me to airport with just a dusting of snow and I kept warning her regarding taking exit ramps to fast. Later that night I called home from Florida and she was crying she had scratched the front and bumped her head when she gently slid into a guardrail.......well to make a long story short....every day she noticed.. "a little bit more damage to the car"... BUUTT it was.. "very minor", everyone I worked with couldn't wait till the next day to see what was reported next......by the time I got home 10 days later she had broken it to me day by day, piece by piece, that she and a girlfriend had spun it down a gaurd rail...every body panel was torn open and shredded, front and rear windows and 1 T Top cracked the nose torn half off and the entire rear bumper panel gone the hood was cracked and sitting askew.
Though the suspension engine etc were not badly damaged there was little left untouched on the body. Of course I said it was alright as long as she was
.......of couse with in 2 years she robbed me blind, cashed in my credit cards, emptied my bank accounts after I had just sold my business and home in preperation to relocate, then skipped the country. I really am disapointed that Vettes really do hold up quite soundly......another lesson learned Another case of WAS THE SCREWING YOU GOT WORTH THE SCREWING YOU GOT.
KEN
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,374
Likes: 6,373
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Here is a typical day at work in the winter:
And I believe a roadster should be driven with the top down at all times. Here is me in my '64 in the snow... I did "cheat" and run the heater, though...
Last edited by lars; Jan 28, 2008 at 10:30 AM.