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Remember when you bought your first vette??
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Remember when you bought your first vette??
Mine was a little more than two years ago, and Mike Dyer, my father and I have done so much to it. Here is a pic of they day i drove it into the driveway. The drive home was waaaaay cold, because the heater didnt work and the window didnt roll up.
I dont even look like i was 17 years old lol.
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The part I like the most is i can point out everything that is wrong with it in the pic. (Mirrors, Pillar post, beauty rings...lol)
Any of you guys have pics or stories???
I dont even look like i was 17 years old lol.
[IMG]
[/IMG]The part I like the most is i can point out everything that is wrong with it in the pic. (Mirrors, Pillar post, beauty rings...lol)
Any of you guys have pics or stories???
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: New Castle In
...1975.....I bought my first Vette, a red 61 with a blown engine...it was complete and not in bad shape, it just wouldn't run....for weeks, I would go out after dark and sit in the car, just imagining what it would be like to actually drive it...a few months later, it was on the street....I drove it a few months and found a really nice 62 for sale for not much more money, so I sold my 61, made some profit and bought the 62
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
...1975.....I bought my first Vette, a red 61 with a blown engine...it was complete and not in bad shape, it just wouldn't run....for weeks, I would go out after dark and sit in the car, just imagining what it would be like to actually drive it...a few months later, it was on the street....I drove it a few months and found a really nice 62 for sale for not much more money, so I sold my 61, made some profit and bought the 62
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: New Castle In
...the 61 needed lots of TLC, plus it had the wrong engine...the 62 was a fresh/correct resto and needed absolutely nothing, it was near perfect.....sold the 61 for $4200. and paid $4800. for the 62...the 62 was white/blk/blk, white wall tires, hub caps, shielding, etc etc....it was a real beauty...sold the 62 Vette for $6400. in 1980 to purchase a low mile one owner 69 Dodge Daytona for $9000.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
My first was a black on black 79. I called about the vette and the guy wanted $8500 for it. I got directions to the house and drove for about 20 minutes to his house. His driveway was kind of up a small incline. The vette was setting in the driveway with the tires turned to the side and it looked perfect. I was hooked before I got out of my car. We drove the 79 down the road, it was perfect. Everything worked and I knew I had to have it. I offered $8000 and we shook hands. I was by myself and had no way to get the car home. We made an arrangement and he brought the car to me at my bank and we swapped money there. The first time I got in the car to start it, heat soak had the car and it would not start, 5 minutes after I had just paid for it. 
That was an easy fix and the car was dead reliable after that. The car was totalled while I was setting still at a redlight coming home from work one morning.
Still wish I had it. Maybe someday will pick up another like that one.
That was an easy fix and the car was dead reliable after that. The car was totalled while I was setting still at a redlight coming home from work one morning.Still wish I had it. Maybe someday will pick up another like that one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
3 years ago and I'll never forget it!
A 30 year dream finally came true. It is the year I wanted, though not the first color I would have chosen, but I love it now. Don't see many DBGreen's around, and Chevy chose this color for one of their promo shots back in 70.
Was owned by several corvette guys & mechanics and was pretty well maintained, though no where near perfect. Tinkering I love, and undoing all the Bubba stuff is at times is infuriating but also part of the challenge & fun. The motor is not original and has about 10K on it and it has started every time. The tranny & rear #'s match.
Glenn
A 30 year dream finally came true. It is the year I wanted, though not the first color I would have chosen, but I love it now. Don't see many DBGreen's around, and Chevy chose this color for one of their promo shots back in 70.
Was owned by several corvette guys & mechanics and was pretty well maintained, though no where near perfect. Tinkering I love, and undoing all the Bubba stuff is at times is infuriating but also part of the challenge & fun. The motor is not original and has about 10K on it and it has started every time. The tranny & rear #'s match.
Glenn
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
From: SAN FRANCISCO CA
why wait 30 years!!!!??? i have a buddy who's "dream car" is a porsche 911 (real original - typical yuppy). anyway, this guy drives a brand new bimmer which is nothing to speak of (325i) but still is about $35,000 of car. he always talks about how the 911 is his drean and "someday, someday...". i finally said "look, man. you think life is going to get BETTER for you? you've got a brand new baby, etc, if now isn't the right time, it'll NEVER be the "right time". sell your stupid bimmer, get a used 911 for 25 grand and a used 3 series for 10. then you'll have your luxury sports sedan AND your "dream car"!!! of course he didn't listen. he'll never get that dream car, as most never will. good for you glenn, at least you finally DID get yours...
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 570
Likes: 11
From: Lancaster PA
My 80 became mine a few months ago, but my family got it when i was 13 (5 years ago). We got it from a vette dealer out in the middle of rural PA. We go for the test drive and tested everything to see if it worked. I was instantly hooked. It was the first C3 i had ever ridden in, I had ridden in my uncles C5, but I didn't get the same feeling from it. There was just one small problem the power locks locked, but would not unlock. I was stuck in the passenger seat. Almost had to climb out through the t-tops. After much key twisting eventually the door unlocked. We came back the next day and brought it back home on the PA Turnpike, where it tried to overheat. A new hose clamp and it was fine.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 528
Likes: 9
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
I was 14 when my Dad bought it. I had turned him on to 'Vettes by leaving books and stuff laying around. So I got him hooked. One day he said we were going out and wouldn't tell me where.
We looked at a dozen C3s and walked away from each one.
I knew so much more than my dad that he was deferring to me on the decisions about the cars. It was the first time he treated me like an equal.
We found this '79 and I gave it the thumbs up. Went to the bank and picked it up on Monday.
That was 20 years ago! 3 years ago I bought the car which my dad had been taking care of but is retired and didn't want the burden.
So, here I am a 34 year old with a 30 year old car I have had for 20 years. I guess the thing is truly a member of the family.
We looked at a dozen C3s and walked away from each one.
I knew so much more than my dad that he was deferring to me on the decisions about the cars. It was the first time he treated me like an equal.
We found this '79 and I gave it the thumbs up. Went to the bank and picked it up on Monday.
That was 20 years ago! 3 years ago I bought the car which my dad had been taking care of but is retired and didn't want the burden.
So, here I am a 34 year old with a 30 year old car I have had for 20 years. I guess the thing is truly a member of the family.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 1
From: Lindenhurst, Long Island, New York
I got my first one just shy of 2 years ago. I just graduated college, had a nice job offer in hand (actually called to accept the job offer while I was in the seller's parking lot), and found, what I thought, was the perfect running project platform. I found it near my college in Rochester, NY, but I was moving in two weeks back to my home town on Long Island. I made arrangements with the seller to fly up to the Rochester airport after moving down to LI 2 days prior, he would pick me up and I would drive the vette home. Little did I know that I had a bad master cylinder (the brake would go to the floor intermittently), but I drove it home anyway with what I thought was a small brake issue 
Otherwise she ran like a top. The trip took 2 hours longer than I thought, had a 2 hour late start, and I drove all the way home with the T-tops off and got a serious burn (fair skinned redhead, I am). Keep in mind, in 2 days, I started my new job 
Here's a time line:
Graduated----------------May 25th
Moved to LI---------------May 27th-May 28th
Few up to pick up vette---May 30th
Started my new job-------June 1st
It was the most intense week and enjoyable week of my life. I've been hooked on My Pandora ever since.
Otherwise she ran like a top. The trip took 2 hours longer than I thought, had a 2 hour late start, and I drove all the way home with the T-tops off and got a serious burn (fair skinned redhead, I am). Keep in mind, in 2 days, I started my new job Here's a time line:
Graduated----------------May 25th
Moved to LI---------------May 27th-May 28th
Few up to pick up vette---May 30th
Started my new job-------June 1st
It was the most intense week and enjoyable week of my life. I've been hooked on My Pandora ever since.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,885
Likes: 1
I was a nervous wreck driving mine home almost 20 years ago. The seller was located way over on the other side of town and I had to drive the vette home for the first time in the middle of evening rush hour traffic. All was thinking was "please don't hit me!".
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I'm a big Steelers fan living near Cleveland. When the Steelers aren't on local TV my son and I go to a sports bar to watch the games. On opening day in 2005 we got to the bar just before kickoff and there was a nice looking red 76 vette in the front row of the parking lot with a for sale sign in the window. I told my son that I needed to look at it if it was still there after the game. It was.
We looked at it pretty close and it still looked good. Then my son told me the odometer said 42000 miles (which I believed and still do based on the condition) and I thought the owner would want more than I was willing to pay. After procrastinating a while I finally called the owner that night to find out what he was asking. Much to my surprise it was well within my budget. I had to leave town the next morning for business so I told the owner I would call the next weekend.
I spent every night that week on the internet looking at similar model years and prices. Everything I saw was $3000 more with double the mileage and interiors that were all torn up. So I called the owner on Friday to take a test drive on Saturday. One week later it was in my garage.
I'm so glad the Steelers weren't on local TV that day.
We looked at it pretty close and it still looked good. Then my son told me the odometer said 42000 miles (which I believed and still do based on the condition) and I thought the owner would want more than I was willing to pay. After procrastinating a while I finally called the owner that night to find out what he was asking. Much to my surprise it was well within my budget. I had to leave town the next morning for business so I told the owner I would call the next weekend.
I spent every night that week on the internet looking at similar model years and prices. Everything I saw was $3000 more with double the mileage and interiors that were all torn up. So I called the owner on Friday to take a test drive on Saturday. One week later it was in my garage.
I'm so glad the Steelers weren't on local TV that day.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
I was an Idiot on my first corvette It was a 77
Looked under it no oil leaks
no ride
no pop the hood
no advice from anyone
BOUGHT IT
Turned out to need the posi lube in the rear end and some door Elbo rests
Did I get Lucky or What
Ive now had my 75 for three Yrs. and its the bomb it needs A driver (Me) and that s all.
Looked under it no oil leaks
no ride
no pop the hood
no advice from anyone
BOUGHT IT
Turned out to need the posi lube in the rear end and some door Elbo rests
Did I get Lucky or What
Ive now had my 75 for three Yrs. and its the bomb it needs A driver (Me) and that s all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
why wait 30 years!!!!??? i have a buddy who's "dream car" is a porsche 911 (real original - typical yuppy). anyway, this guy drives a brand new bimmer which is nothing to speak of (325i) but still is about $35,000 of car. he always talks about how the 911 is his drean and "someday, someday...". i finally said "look, man. you think life is going to get BETTER for you? you've got a brand new baby, etc, if now isn't the right time, it'll NEVER be the "right time". sell your stupid bimmer, get a used 911 for 25 grand and a used 3 series for 10. then you'll have your luxury sports sedan AND your "dream car"!!! of course he didn't listen. he'll never get that dream car, as most never will. good for you glenn, at least you finally DID get yours...