"Never driven in the rain"
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,020
Likes: 3,427
From: Plymouth Massachusetts
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
The for sale ad should read " Car has avoided rain as much as possible" 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 4,360
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It depends on the quality of rain. For example, NJ rain probably glows in the dark, whereas cute little birds happily sip WA rain. I wouldn’t mind a car driven in CA rain, because…well it doesn’t actually rain there and spray bottles misting Perrier don’t count.
If a car lived in FL and they claimed it was never driven in the rain, it means the car was never driven. I always towel my car off after driving in the rain, but it’s probably futile.
Still, I appreciate the symbolism of “never driven in rain”. To my boomer sensibilities that sentiment had come to denote a superior level of care.
If a car lived in FL and they claimed it was never driven in the rain, it means the car was never driven. I always towel my car off after driving in the rain, but it’s probably futile.
Still, I appreciate the symbolism of “never driven in rain”. To my boomer sensibilities that sentiment had come to denote a superior level of care.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 16
Likes: 7
From: Red Sox Nation (okay, it's NH)
I think the seller is trying to articulate that their car was well maintained but yes, I hear you. It is a bit annoying. The phrase that gets under my skin is "original miles". I don't know about the rest of you but I've never driven an unoriginal mile in my life.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 1,040
Well Yes..but you are assured that the owner is no neophyte!.. So many of the old guys have never-ever had their Corvette tuned Period, let alone conservatively. Go to a racetrack and observe the racecar guys while "conservative tuning" their engine... If'in they aren't .. They are not racers!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,605
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I know the phase isn't always used this way, but in my mind original miles apply when the engine has been swapped. For instance a car could have 40K original miles, but only 5K on the new motor. Outside of that, I agree that it's a pointless phrase.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 4,360
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Goes back to 5 digit odometers.
Probably more meaningful than “highway miles”, “fully equipped”, “factory air” from the fully air conditioned factory?
Anyone old enough to remember “radio and heater”?
Probably more meaningful than “highway miles”, “fully equipped”, “factory air” from the fully air conditioned factory?
Anyone old enough to remember “radio and heater”?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 709
From: Swartz Creek MI
I would also agree that the "never seen rain" doesnt mean it was well cared for. Often times these are the cars that sit a lot and still have the 20 year old tires on because the tread is still "good". I would buy a car from a local racer before I buy a garage queen. People who track their car are more attentive to maintenance, on average.
What's next, never seen clouds??!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,657
Likes: 540
From: SE Pa
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 709
From: Swartz Creek MI
Doesn't matter about the wear on the tires. It's the age that is the big determining factor. After 6-7 years, the compounds in the rubber begin to deteriorate. A 20 year old tire with lots of tread is just as dangerous as a 1 year old tire with little to no tread left. You might as well toss them out because you wouldn't want to use them on your car anymore. Just an FYI ... most reputable tire shops won't install tires with date codes that are over 6-7 years old.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 691
Likes: 317
From: NW OH
Tires are still getting better every year. 3 or 4 years between replacement, you will be impressed by the performance. What is even the point of 20+ tires, if you want to have a tire museum, fine... drive on them, and you are a menace to yourself and everybody around you.
Just because a tire has tread and hold air does not make it "good". The rubber gets hard and can lose grip in unpredictable ways. Worse, it WILL fail eventually and can be devastating when it does. Tires (even back in the day) were never designed to last that long.
Just because a tire has tread and hold air does not make it "good". The rubber gets hard and can lose grip in unpredictable ways. Worse, it WILL fail eventually and can be devastating when it does. Tires (even back in the day) were never designed to last that long.
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 244
Likes: 131
From: Beautiful Texas Hill Country
I think what the intentions are....keep the car as a garage queen, later sell it with the original tires re-installed....or sell it with the original tires uninstalled to prove low mileage?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,605
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
The Z06 is a driver's car. Why don't you drive it and enjoy it (with a safe set of tires)?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 1,439
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
Just for everyone's edification, it is raining outside now, and my car is sitting in the driveway 