Where is your first Vette?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
Likes: 1,470
From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
I started over two years ago to search for the first Vette I owned over thirty years ago. I have seen threads on here of Forum Members trying to find and buy back there first musle cars. I am currently working on a lead I got from a seller on Ebay from the Tulsa, OK area. This is were the buyer was from way back in 1979. I have checked out Corvette Clubs in that area and any person with a 1975 Vette convertible. The big problem I have is that I don't have the VIN for the Vette. So I was wondering if anyone on here every tried to find and buyback there first favorite sports car and how they approached the search. See my profile for details on the 75' Vette. Thanks in advance for all of your valued advice!!
Update: 09/14/09, I have found the purchaser of my 75' Vette. His name was Howard Kirsch (deceased) and his history with Corvettes is quit amazing. He was a joint owner of 1953 Corvette S/N (last three digits) "003". You can check out the story on the web "The Oldest Corvette". It was sold at auction at Barrett-Jackson in Scottdale, AZ in 2006 for $1,000,000 to Corvette collector named Ressler. The same person who purchased the first 2009 ZR1. He was a member of NCRS and I am in contact with there representative for the Tulsa, OK area. I am hoping he can shed some light on were his Corvette Collection is currently. I will update this thread when I have more details.
Update: 09/14/09, I have found the purchaser of my 75' Vette. His name was Howard Kirsch (deceased) and his history with Corvettes is quit amazing. He was a joint owner of 1953 Corvette S/N (last three digits) "003". You can check out the story on the web "The Oldest Corvette". It was sold at auction at Barrett-Jackson in Scottdale, AZ in 2006 for $1,000,000 to Corvette collector named Ressler. The same person who purchased the first 2009 ZR1. He was a member of NCRS and I am in contact with there representative for the Tulsa, OK area. I am hoping he can shed some light on were his Corvette Collection is currently. I will update this thread when I have more details.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 1,163
From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2018 C6 of Year Winner
My first Corvette was a `61 I purchased in 1972. Two years later I had to sell it and it went to Chicago where it was T-boned and destroyed by a transit bus. Unfortunately, the new owner was killed in the accident.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 2
From: Houston TEXAS
If you bought it from a dealer, couldn't they get the VIN# ? Free bump anyway and Good Luck with the search....
Mine is tucked in- in the garage! A couple have come and gone since then, but my first love is still here. Hell- I'll prob be burried in that car
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 244
Likes: 12
From: IL
My first vette was a 69 / 427 / tri-power. I sold it to buy the land my house sits on. The knuckle head that bought it totaled the car 2-weeks later street racing. 
The funny part of this story is that 1 year later I was walking thru a body shop. I saw a 69 disassembled and the engine on a mount. I recognized the engine immediately. I was told that a guy had bought the car at a salvage auction and was having it rebuilt. I would like to think that the car is still on the road creating smiles for someone. I know both me and my wife loved it.
The funny part of this story is that 1 year later I was walking thru a body shop. I saw a 69 disassembled and the engine on a mount. I recognized the engine immediately. I was told that a guy had bought the car at a salvage auction and was having it rebuilt. I would like to think that the car is still on the road creating smiles for someone. I know both me and my wife loved it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,123
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From: Issaquah WA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Elysburg PA
Update:The search continues!!
Well, I have spoken with Lloyd Miller, the 1953 restorer of "003", he help me get in contact with Joe K, the son of Howard K, the gentlemen I sold my 75' to 30 years ago. He remembered the car that his father purchased back then. He was the one who saw the ad in Hemming's Motor News back in July 1979. He told me some disturbing news yesterday, my Vette was totaled by a family member in the 80's. Now the good news, the Vette was reconstructed by none the less, Lloyd Miller, "003" restoration Ace. The Vette remained in the Collection (over 50 Vettes) till the early 90's, when it was sold to a banker in Tulsa. Joe k remembered his name and bank were he worked till his retirement. I had to do some detective work, but I did talk to the next owner, he relocated to Florida after he retired. I knew from talking to Joe K that he sold the car around 94', I was hoping he would of retained some expired registrations or insurance records with the VIN. Well, I came up short with no info, but dealt this setback, I am going to call Oklahoma DOT to see if I can get the VIN from them or PENDOT on my end. I will continue the search, so if anybody has seen a 1975 Millie Miglia Red Roadster with an L82, Turbo 400 with white soft top and matching hard top let me know, all your help will be greatly appreciated by "Old'75"Owner"!!
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: Hobart Indiana
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
My first one was a Pennant Blue 1954 that had never been altered in any way, was completely stock, I bought it in 1962 at an estate auction in Florida when I was 19, sold it to a Chevy Dealer who was also a collector in Gary, Indiana. Last I heard it was in a museum somewhere in Arizonia........
