ET, funny you should mention that tale...I just told me wife about an old, gray haired lady in the Kroger parking lot today...we were both loading our cars with groceries...she was 2 cars down from me. I couldn't believe it when she said, "nice ride!!" LOL...she had to be at least 75 years young. I thanked her and said, yes, it's 14 years old....she said, "cool!" LOL again....then we started talking about how nice it was here in Michigan right now, and I mentioned the weather is supposed to turn worse next week; maybe drop into the 50s again. Her reply knocked my off my balance...she said, "But no snow so you'll still have good traction!" ....I am not making this up! When I took off I made sure she heard the Corsas and headers... Gotta love this car.

 

Great story Bill. It's fun keeping my cars looking and running new. Any true car guy/gal would agree.

 

If the by itself car doesn't bring a big enough smile Love the stares and the comments I get. Coolest I had was actually with my '93 anniversary. Pulled into a parking lot and parked and a jeep parked next to me. I thought I heard arguing between a man and a woman. The guy finally came over to me and asked 'that's a Corvette right?' I said yes and he said 'That's one of them new ones' (it was 2003 or 4 LOL) I said no its a 93 model. He pauses, starts walking back to his jeep and yells ' I told you it was a Corvette but its not a brand new one'!! They were laughing as they walked into the store and she yells at me when I drive by 'Nice car!'

Just one of the many moments that have 'made my day'

 

I will try to tell this story quickly.. about three years ago I stopped at a little breakfast stop a few miles from my house.. Two women in their 70's/80's stopped to look at my car... the one lady went in the restaurant and told the other lady that she would get a table... anyway this " Lady" was a Pilot, a member of the WAC group of woman pilots ( Woman's Air Corp ) ferrying fighter planes and Bombers to their final location before going over seas. She flew P51 Mustangs, and B-17 Flying fortresses. The woman asked me if she could see the engine.. we talked for a long time.. long enough for the other lady to come out and yell at her.. the funny thing is we talked about lots of things , sports cars and planes etc... I was really in Awe.. the last thing she left me with was this... Be careful of those Canadians.. they do not know how to drive LOL She must have come across Zilla... I wondered where that came from but it could have been that this lady was 80 some years old... She was all over my car with compliments and I was surprised how much she actually knew about sports cars.. and Corvettes..I think I amazed her with my knowledge on WWII planes. I thought I'd share this. I mentioned this several times over the last few years, that no matter if your 5 years old or 85 years old.. a Corvette has a large following of admirers. I was leaving the restaurant but if I was going in , I certainly would have picked up their check... it made my day and week.

 

Cool stories for sure!! My Pewter flies under the radar a bit more than the reds and yellows,,but she gets some attention too!! I too am retired,,allegedly!! Between my project house and family members with the "Oh,,your retired,,would you----",,I seem to have LESS time for things like taking care of my baby!! Hope to get some of the things cleared up soon,,,she needs some TLC!!! HOWEVER,,some priorities have to be set,, Mid 80's today,,had to take her on my weekly golf outing today,,,,,got some light sunburn!!! What a change!!!

 

Since Ive been retired, I do much more work than when I was actually working LOL.. between the grandchildren, keeping my wife of 43 years happy, my Photography and the gun club, I'm a busy person.. Not much time for too much work on the Vette but its keeps nice as long as I stay on top of it. I spent two years remodeling the house... I did all the work myself from walls to hardwood floors, new entrance, kitchen, new bathrooms, and a Home theater room equipped with theater seat and Butt buster interface with the sound system.

 

MY CE coupe get the occasional nice comment.It sure feels good when it happens! Lie others have said, I've owned newer cars and bigger cars and comparably priced cars, but I've never owned a car as much fun to drive as this one, nor one that has recieved so many complements.
Really, who says "nice car" about a Lincoln, or Hummer, or even a run-of-the-mill Porsche?
Corvettes are special. At least in my mind.
Nice post, Bill.
Glen

 

ET you are right - it never gets old. My car is 10 years old and my friend's daughter requested it to be her ride for a homecoming parade. It's stock and not a show car by any means. The style and "coolness" just endures.
And on the way home (of course with the top down) a guy in a blinged out SUV tells me how sharp the car is.

I don't own the car to impress anyone..so I just kind of say thanks. I just enjoy driving it...but it's still nice to have strangers just walk up and start talking about it.

 

THey have been very special to me since the first time I saw one at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City in 1953

 

That is what I have been told for the past week after wrecking mine and being so upset.
"its just a car" why are you so upset or depressed?
I have no idea how to explain it to them that to me its not "just a car"
it is part of me.

 

The people who say "It's just a car." are used to owning imports...

 

Just like you said, it never gets old!

 

Nice car OP!

Every time I drive my z06, some kid will yell--nice car. When I wash it in the driveway, kids will do the same as they walk, ride or even drive by with their parents (yell out the window--hot car, fast car--thumbs up).

UPS guy, people at gas stations compliment the near perfect, nicely maintained quicksilver paint and modred interior.

I love corvettes!

 

Nice ride!

 

A very popular expression use to be.. everyone should own at least one Corvette in their life.. you do not hear that as often as in the past... many of the New first time C6'ers do not buy into the hype. only about 5 % of the C6 people I see ever wave. Most of the C6 people who have owned other corvettes will always wave.. most C5 owners wave.. at least the ones who pass me. This whole brotherhood thing is childish to many outside the brotherhood... I know a few doctors and lawyers they all wave. the ones I know. I think those that dont own a corvette and think this is a childish ritual, I believe portray jealousy because they cant have it... most people who cant have something , secretly lust after it.. like that ZR1 we all make excuses for.. LOL

 

I have been driving my car for about two weeks,and i have got more,NICE CAR,SWEET RIDE,AND THAT THING LOOKS SICK,then i got with all my blue oval cars put togather,it draws so much attention.and to me its not just a car,i have wanted one my whole life,and so far it is everything i thought it would be and more

 

Sounds like good times !

I had a sea-hag open her door into my car today....GRRRRRRRR

 

I always turn heads with my '99 coupe...my favorite is when the kids at elementary schools jump on the fences just to see me pass by

Little boys start yellin and screamin "oooo coool coorveeette!!!..." I throw a few RPM's with my B&B bullets, and they go nuts reminds me of when I was a kid...

 

Buying mine was a dream come true. I get a few compliments here and there, but the town I live in, people with nice cars are frowned upon. Oh well. The sweetest feeling I have is walking out of my house in the morning into the garage and seeing her sitting there. I pinch myself just to make sure I am awake and it is still true, that yes, I do own a vette. I am originally from a town of 100 people back in my beloved Hoosier land. Growing up, a Camero or Trans Am was big money. I new from a very young age that I was going to work RR Donnely's and Sons printing factory just as my dad did and I would never be able to afford my dream of a vette. Well, I enlisted in the Army and knew then that I would never own one because I wasnt going to make a career of it and I had two kids and a wife to care for. Fast forward 11 years, 2 ex wives, child support for two, my new wife, 2 more kids and on our second house, I still didnt think I would ever own one. But low and behold, after a few pay raises and paying a few things off, the right deal on one for me came along and the bank said yes to my loan app. I will be 37 in May and cant believe that I have a C5 sitting in my garage. I will never forget driving it home from Alabama and having to wipe the tears out of my eyes!

And to think that I am now in the position that as soon as I get back from this sand I am buying my beautiful bride a new Camero and will start looking for another C5 for me, this time in the color I have always wanted......................Yellow!!! Yes, it one sense, it is just a car, but in the other sense, it is THE car!!!!

Thanks for the stories everyone, I hope this thread continues to grow! When I get back, maybe I can provide one of my own.

 

Mine doesn't seem to. I get lots of nice compliments.
I was coming out of Quiznos when an old rusted out truck turned into the strip mall. The moron driving yelled out his window, "Corvettes suck!". I was about to call him everything but a white boy, when from behind me I hear somebody say loud enough for me to hear, "F%^$in' redneck!". I spun around and this lady turned beet read. She had that look on her face like a kid busted getting into the cookie jar. She said, "I hate people like that. Busting on other peoples things to make up for their lack of. No class!"
I said, "You said it sister." We laughed, she complimented the car, and we went our merry way.
Gave me a helluva laugh, and made my day for sure.