First Corvette!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 200
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From: Emerald Coast FL
First Corvette!!
What a coincidence - my squadron reunion and our wedding anniversary occurring on the same weekend...wife says I never take her anywhere, so we packed out bags and headed to the USAF Museum for a three day reunion and memorial service, topped off with the dedication of one of my old jets as a permanent museum display.
On Sunday morning, getting ready for the memorial service, putting on the Class A's and polishing my shoes, the wife gives me a box that I assume is my anniversary gift. I open it up and there's a C-5 model inside. "Oh, that's nice...she's telling me we can someday get the Vette we've talked about. Maybe after retirement. Hey wait, there are keys inside the model...and they look real! What did you do???" And the sheepish response..."I bought you a Corvette."
Well, after the shock wore off, I found out it wasn't a C-5 (not that we could afford one, but it was the only model she could find). I'm the proud owner of a 1973 Corvette. Turns out, she'd bought the Vette my new brother-in-law was selling. I had seen it once before, but it was under a car cover and all I saw was that it was a Vette...and very nice. Needless to say, I was full of questions and she didn't have any answers...color? interior? engine? trans? All she could say was, "It's a Corvette - what else matters?" How profound.
It was about a month before I could get leave, we rented a car to drive home, pick it up, and drive it back to where we live. It had less than 500 miles put on it in six years, and I put a hard 400 miles on it on the trip home. But it held up like a champ, not so much as a hint of problem. So, what did I get??
1973 L-48 4 speed Coupe
White, with Saddle leather
73k original miles, numbers match
A/C, PS, PB, Tilt/Tele
Other than wear items (tires, alternator, water pump, etc) it's completely original, right down to the owners manual with the coffee stain on the cover. It's in great condition, just needs some tender loving care and very minor maintenance due to being nearly 29 years old. So far, I've replaced the fuel pump, rebuilt the power steering ram and valve, and added DynoMax ceramic coated headers. High on the list of things to do are brakes (the whole nine yards) and sidepipes/chambered exhaust.
So needless to say, my 5.0 Mustang sleeps outside now while the Vette rests in a warm, dry garage. I think my modified 5.0 is a better all-around driver and you can't beat fuel injection, but nobody looks at me when I drive it around town. The Vette attracts attention everywhere it goes - and lots of thumbs up. And I'd almost forgot what a 4-V sounds like when the secondaries open. The fuelie always sound the same.
So I'm new to Vettes and new to the forum. I've been lurking here a few weeks and already learned a ton of stuff. Since I was a kid, I'd always wanted a Corvette but never knew why...now I know.
Oh yeah, what did I get her for our anniversary? Flowers. But you can bet I'll do better next year.
Slick
[Modified by SlixVett, 10:55 PM 1/22/2002]
On Sunday morning, getting ready for the memorial service, putting on the Class A's and polishing my shoes, the wife gives me a box that I assume is my anniversary gift. I open it up and there's a C-5 model inside. "Oh, that's nice...she's telling me we can someday get the Vette we've talked about. Maybe after retirement. Hey wait, there are keys inside the model...and they look real! What did you do???" And the sheepish response..."I bought you a Corvette."
Well, after the shock wore off, I found out it wasn't a C-5 (not that we could afford one, but it was the only model she could find). I'm the proud owner of a 1973 Corvette. Turns out, she'd bought the Vette my new brother-in-law was selling. I had seen it once before, but it was under a car cover and all I saw was that it was a Vette...and very nice. Needless to say, I was full of questions and she didn't have any answers...color? interior? engine? trans? All she could say was, "It's a Corvette - what else matters?" How profound.
It was about a month before I could get leave, we rented a car to drive home, pick it up, and drive it back to where we live. It had less than 500 miles put on it in six years, and I put a hard 400 miles on it on the trip home. But it held up like a champ, not so much as a hint of problem. So, what did I get??
1973 L-48 4 speed Coupe
White, with Saddle leather
73k original miles, numbers match
A/C, PS, PB, Tilt/Tele
Other than wear items (tires, alternator, water pump, etc) it's completely original, right down to the owners manual with the coffee stain on the cover. It's in great condition, just needs some tender loving care and very minor maintenance due to being nearly 29 years old. So far, I've replaced the fuel pump, rebuilt the power steering ram and valve, and added DynoMax ceramic coated headers. High on the list of things to do are brakes (the whole nine yards) and sidepipes/chambered exhaust.
So needless to say, my 5.0 Mustang sleeps outside now while the Vette rests in a warm, dry garage. I think my modified 5.0 is a better all-around driver and you can't beat fuel injection, but nobody looks at me when I drive it around town. The Vette attracts attention everywhere it goes - and lots of thumbs up. And I'd almost forgot what a 4-V sounds like when the secondaries open. The fuelie always sound the same.
So I'm new to Vettes and new to the forum. I've been lurking here a few weeks and already learned a ton of stuff. Since I was a kid, I'd always wanted a Corvette but never knew why...now I know.
Oh yeah, what did I get her for our anniversary? Flowers. But you can bet I'll do better next year.
Slick
[Modified by SlixVett, 10:55 PM 1/22/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
Re: First Corvette!! (SlixVett)
Awesome story and Welcome. I'd say you owe her something BIG for her birthday or your next anniversary. But what do I know I'm single :D
Show us some pics if you can. And don't forget to ask questions. Good Luck
Scott
Show us some pics if you can. And don't forget to ask questions. Good Luck
Scott
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,879
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: First Corvette!! (SlixVett)
All she could say was, "It's a Corvette - what else matters?" How profound.
I think we sometimes loose sight of how lucky we are.
Welcome. I had to kick my 5.0 outa the garage too!
I think we sometimes loose sight of how lucky we are.
Welcome. I had to kick my 5.0 outa the garage too!
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Emerald Coast FL
Re: First Corvette!! (Scott78)
Thanks for the kind words. I ciphered out how to post pics so take a look. After struggling to keep the white 5.0 clean for years, I swore I'd never own another white car. Oh, well...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Oregon
Re: First Corvette!! (SlixVett)
Does she have a sister?! Way to go! Hope you can post some pic's soon! You can use this for your sig until then!(ha-ha) Luv those '73's!
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/orvette//P9200095.jpg
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/orvette//P9200095.jpg
