15 years ago
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
15 years ago
15 years ago, on Oct. 23, 2001, my 2002 TR MN6 C5 coupe was born. It was delivered to me Oct. 29, 2001 - 6 days later in Covington, GA.
I ordered my first Corvette on September 8, 2001, three days before that fateful day that changed all our lives forever. The day after the towers came down, I considered cancelling my order, thinking it was selfish/superficial to be thinking of buying toys during such a chaotic and solemn period. I decided to keep my order in, though, because I realized it was a great way of showing support for our nation by buying the quintessential American icon known as Corvette. It turned out to be a good decision as it's enriched our lives by bringing us together with Corvette lovers on and off this forum.
We've bought two more Corvettes since - another 2002 black A4 coupe and my current dd, a Blade Silver 2014 Z51 M7 C7.
It's been 15 interesting, fun years here on the forum and with our vettes and I look forward to 15 more. Thanks to all here who have befriended and helped me and contributed so much to this great forum and brotherhood.
Pics of the day I took delivery and brought her home
A few years later
Recently, I pulled the fenders off during a mod session and found this imprinted on the passenger inner fender well.
I ordered my first Corvette on September 8, 2001, three days before that fateful day that changed all our lives forever. The day after the towers came down, I considered cancelling my order, thinking it was selfish/superficial to be thinking of buying toys during such a chaotic and solemn period. I decided to keep my order in, though, because I realized it was a great way of showing support for our nation by buying the quintessential American icon known as Corvette. It turned out to be a good decision as it's enriched our lives by bringing us together with Corvette lovers on and off this forum.
We've bought two more Corvettes since - another 2002 black A4 coupe and my current dd, a Blade Silver 2014 Z51 M7 C7.
It's been 15 interesting, fun years here on the forum and with our vettes and I look forward to 15 more. Thanks to all here who have befriended and helped me and contributed so much to this great forum and brotherhood.
Pics of the day I took delivery and brought her home
A few years later
Recently, I pulled the fenders off during a mod session and found this imprinted on the passenger inner fender well.
Last edited by Patches; Oct 25, 2016 at 09:38 AM.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
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Congrats on 15 years with a great car. Here's to many more years with that '02. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 74
From: KcMo.
2018 C5 of Year Winner
Such an awesome post from such an awesome person! No one is surprised by that. We all here owe you a thanks in some way buddy. If for some reason you haven't helped teach something about the car we all love you've shown by example enthusiast etiquette on the forum and enriched all of our experience here, directly and indirectly.
I feel fortunate to have a friend like you and send good thoughts your way often.
Bless you and yours buddy! And that sticker date would have given me some serious goosebumps!
Taryn
I feel fortunate to have a friend like you and send good thoughts your way often.
Bless you and yours buddy! And that sticker date would have given me some serious goosebumps!
Taryn
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Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Thanks to my special friend, Bill. It was you and your design team that brought this awesome machine to us. No other car manufacturer on earth has ever been able to deliver this level of design, performance and affordability in the same package. AEI and SAE validated that:
Best Engineered Car of the 20th Century
Readers of Automotive Engineering International voted on the best engineered cars of each decade of the 20th Century. An overall winner was chosen from among the entries.
by Daniel J. Holt, Editor-in-Chief
First of all, AEI would like to thank the SAE Historical Committee for its assistance in completing this project. Also, we would like to thank the thousands of readers who submitted their choices for the best engineered cars in each of the ten decades of the 20th Century both via mail and over the SAE website at www.sae.org. The readers were asked to vote on the car and check the following criteria that fit their choice:
• The car successfully introduced a new engineering system and/or solution that was subsequently adopted by others, either wholly or in part.
• The car enjoyed exceptional longevity in the marketplace, thereby indicating and validating sound initial engineering capable of further development.
• The car achieved better performance than its contemporaries by virtue of the excellence of its engineering. Performance is defined as any combination of the following attributes — accommoda- tion of people and/or luggage, comfort, durability, economy of operation, environmental responsi- bility, handling and stability, production cost, quality, safety, and/or speed.
The following are the winners for each decade. There was a clear winner for each decade except for the last and the overall winner, where there was a tie. Since both vehicles for that decade are shining examples of engineering excellence we decided to award both vehicles the honor.
• 1900 - 1909: 1908 Ford Model T
• 1910 - 1919: 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
• 1920 - 1929: 1924 Chrysler Six
• 1930 - 1939: 1930 Cadillac V16
• 1940 - 1949: 1949 Volkswagen Beetle
• 1950 - 1959: 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL
• 1960 - 1969: 1964 Porsche 911
• 1970 - 1979: 1974 Honda Civic CVCC
• 1980 - 1989: 1984 Plymouth Voyager
• 1990 - 1999: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible and 1999 Mercedes-Benz S500
Best Engineered Car of the 20th Century
After reviewing all the votes for the winners of each decade and carefully reviewing the vehicles, the overall winner turned out to be a tie between the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible and 1999 Mercedes-Benz S500. Both vehicles have a long heritage of engineering excellence and these two cars are fine examples of the engineering technology that developed over the past 100 years. Each is a winner in its own right — the Corvette as a two seat convertible and the Mercedes-Benz S500 as a sedan. Our congratulations to both companies!
Best Engineered Car of the 20th Century
Readers of Automotive Engineering International voted on the best engineered cars of each decade of the 20th Century. An overall winner was chosen from among the entries.
by Daniel J. Holt, Editor-in-Chief
First of all, AEI would like to thank the SAE Historical Committee for its assistance in completing this project. Also, we would like to thank the thousands of readers who submitted their choices for the best engineered cars in each of the ten decades of the 20th Century both via mail and over the SAE website at www.sae.org. The readers were asked to vote on the car and check the following criteria that fit their choice:
• The car successfully introduced a new engineering system and/or solution that was subsequently adopted by others, either wholly or in part.
• The car enjoyed exceptional longevity in the marketplace, thereby indicating and validating sound initial engineering capable of further development.
• The car achieved better performance than its contemporaries by virtue of the excellence of its engineering. Performance is defined as any combination of the following attributes — accommoda- tion of people and/or luggage, comfort, durability, economy of operation, environmental responsi- bility, handling and stability, production cost, quality, safety, and/or speed.
The following are the winners for each decade. There was a clear winner for each decade except for the last and the overall winner, where there was a tie. Since both vehicles for that decade are shining examples of engineering excellence we decided to award both vehicles the honor.
• 1900 - 1909: 1908 Ford Model T
• 1910 - 1919: 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
• 1920 - 1929: 1924 Chrysler Six
• 1930 - 1939: 1930 Cadillac V16
• 1940 - 1949: 1949 Volkswagen Beetle
• 1950 - 1959: 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL
• 1960 - 1969: 1964 Porsche 911
• 1970 - 1979: 1974 Honda Civic CVCC
• 1980 - 1989: 1984 Plymouth Voyager
• 1990 - 1999: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible and 1999 Mercedes-Benz S500
Best Engineered Car of the 20th Century
After reviewing all the votes for the winners of each decade and carefully reviewing the vehicles, the overall winner turned out to be a tie between the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible and 1999 Mercedes-Benz S500. Both vehicles have a long heritage of engineering excellence and these two cars are fine examples of the engineering technology that developed over the past 100 years. Each is a winner in its own right — the Corvette as a two seat convertible and the Mercedes-Benz S500 as a sedan. Our congratulations to both companies!
Last edited by Patches; Oct 24, 2016 at 02:24 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
Congratulations on 15 years. 
My 2001 celebrated 16 years the 23rd of last month - seems more like 8 years than 16! I can't believe I have owned the same car and driven it every day of over 16 years - and still looks and runs better than the day I picked it up!
My 2001 celebrated 16 years the 23rd of last month - seems more like 8 years than 16! I can't believe I have owned the same car and driven it every day of over 16 years - and still looks and runs better than the day I picked it up!
Last edited by Choreo; Oct 24, 2016 at 08:01 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,732
Likes: 21
From: Napa Ca
Hey Patches. Followed many of your posts but first time to see a face and a car to your posts. I bought my "used" 2001 C5 the weekend after 9/11. It had a born date of 9/8/2000 and was a one year lease return. Looked just like your Torch Red coupe. Vette-less now but still follow CF. Also gave up a 35-year smoking habit the same weekend (had already been taking cessation classes and was on my last few nicotine "patches").
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 212
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Patches: I saved a picture of your ?? ( I think ) C5 (Out front of your house) to my phone long before I got my own red C5 as inspiration/motivation...Now I have a red C5 with the same CCW's so there ya go.
Last edited by Outlawtorn; Oct 25, 2016 at 02:00 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,875
Likes: 254
From: Hillsboro OR
Congratulations Patches. It was the correct decision and it still looks... newer than new. 
I have always enjoy and learned so much from your "how to" posts. Thank you.
and...
Evil-Twin (Bill),
I have always felt the C5 was a near perfect design. Owning it has fulfilled a childhood fantasy, given me the "permagrins", and has been like a personal psychiatrist since I've owned it.
To read that it was awarded Best Automotive Design of the 20th century by AEI is an accolade that few can share. Congratulations to you and your team and Thank You.
I have always enjoy and learned so much from your "how to" posts. Thank you. and...
Evil-Twin (Bill),
I have always felt the C5 was a near perfect design. Owning it has fulfilled a childhood fantasy, given me the "permagrins", and has been like a personal psychiatrist since I've owned it.
To read that it was awarded Best Automotive Design of the 20th century by AEI is an accolade that few can share. Congratulations to you and your team and Thank You.
Last edited by Bluefire; Oct 25, 2016 at 06:44 AM.