Back in 1987 I took a Porsche 911 Turbo out and it was one awesome machine. I could not believe the power and sound of that car.
Most Impressionable Car Drive
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Middleburg PA
Most Impressionable Car Drive
Curious to hear your stories of that one time you got to drive (or ride in) a sportscar that just blew you away. Maybe the thing that hooked you on a certain marque or simply reinforced that you loved cars and someday would own your dream car.
I grew up reading Hot Rod magazine and was keenly aware of all of the performance cars. Throughout the 1960's there were certainly a pile of them to fall in love with. But, even though I was madly in love with all of the Corvettes and especially the Mid Years, it was a drive (by myself) in a friend's 1972 Porsche 911 that I remember as one of my favorite rides. I just couldn't believe how this car accelerated thru turns - it was a blast to drive. I now have a friend who has a 1988, white with black trim, Porsche 911 and although it's not a Corvette, it is an awesome car that always turns heads and is just a blast to drive.
So, what can you share with us about your most memorable drive/ride??
I grew up reading Hot Rod magazine and was keenly aware of all of the performance cars. Throughout the 1960's there were certainly a pile of them to fall in love with. But, even though I was madly in love with all of the Corvettes and especially the Mid Years, it was a drive (by myself) in a friend's 1972 Porsche 911 that I remember as one of my favorite rides. I just couldn't believe how this car accelerated thru turns - it was a blast to drive. I now have a friend who has a 1988, white with black trim, Porsche 911 and although it's not a Corvette, it is an awesome car that always turns heads and is just a blast to drive.
So, what can you share with us about your most memorable drive/ride??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 42
From: Detroit MI
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
The first time I drove a 5.0 liter Mustang in 1983 right after I received my driver's license. First V8, manual trans car I had ever driven.
I was hoooked on V8 manual cars and have owned once at all times since 1990.
I was hoooked on V8 manual cars and have owned once at all times since 1990.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,319
Likes: 0
From: Jamaica New York City
a 95 3000gt vr4.. i drove one back when i was 19.. i ended up buying me a the SL... i finially have one of my owned and i love ever bit of it 450+ pones and still going.. i love my vette but it won't get me out of snow.. plus the vette is more for weekend shows
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 72
From: Mooresville NC
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
In 1963 I was in Quantico, Virginia in Marine Corps Basic School. A friend that went to school with me in Illinois was lucky enough to get a 1963 split-window Corvette as a graduation present. I had the opportunity to drive it several times while at Basic School. After that I was forever hooked on Corvettes. Unfortunately I had to wait until 1985before I had my own Corvette. Now I can hardly wait until 2/1 when I pick up my third Corvette, a CRM Vert at the Museum. I know that I will enjoy it as much as the others, but I will never forget the drives in the Virginia countryside in the split-window. I wonder where Hank and that Vette are today? Pintobay thanks for starting this thread. It brought back some great memories.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I grew up in Birmingham, Michigan where many families were involved in the auto industry. My one friend's Dad was a top exec with Plexiglass and he often brought home experimental/prototype cars with Plexiglass components.
He once brought home what he called the 'Explorer' Corvette (maybe because of the XP experimental designation), a Sting Ray almost Mako like Vette with a double-domed Plexiglass bubble top. I got to ride in it...back in the 1960s the design of the Sting Ray just blew everyone away and this car was just off the chart...futuristic...space-age like the Jetsons.
The car I rode in was more Sting Ray but the top (shown below) is close to what I remember...
My friend's Dad also brought home an experimental Mustang where just about the entire roof was polarized Plexiglass panels...you could adjust the roof from clear glass all the way to total blackout (or any shade in between). It also had Plexiglass covered headlamps. The back seats were like large padded squares that just molded around you. I saw recently where one car manufacturer was offering a polarized roof panel...and I saw them experimenting with that concept 40+ years ago.
He once brought home what he called the 'Explorer' Corvette (maybe because of the XP experimental designation), a Sting Ray almost Mako like Vette with a double-domed Plexiglass bubble top. I got to ride in it...back in the 1960s the design of the Sting Ray just blew everyone away and this car was just off the chart...futuristic...space-age like the Jetsons.
The car I rode in was more Sting Ray but the top (shown below) is close to what I remember...
My friend's Dad also brought home an experimental Mustang where just about the entire roof was polarized Plexiglass panels...you could adjust the roof from clear glass all the way to total blackout (or any shade in between). It also had Plexiglass covered headlamps. The back seats were like large padded squares that just molded around you. I saw recently where one car manufacturer was offering a polarized roof panel...and I saw them experimenting with that concept 40+ years ago.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
1965. I was a junior at Pensacola High and a friend had just gotten a '65 fuelie. Another friend and I rode out to the beach in my '65 Ford Fairlane Sport Coupe and saw Bill's car in the parking lot at the old casino. We parked the Fairlane, found Bill, got his keys, and headed down the beach toward Navarre. Summertime, top down, 16 years old - what a hoot!
When we came back toward the casino we pulled in to Goza's Tastee Freeze to show off. To my surprise we did not get a second look. As I loped the fuelie through the parking lot I discovered the reason I was being ignored - two 427 Cobras, parked side by side. One red, one black.
Seems like yesterday.
When we came back toward the casino we pulled in to Goza's Tastee Freeze to show off. To my surprise we did not get a second look. As I loped the fuelie through the parking lot I discovered the reason I was being ignored - two 427 Cobras, parked side by side. One red, one black.
Seems like yesterday.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: PRINCETON WV
Back in 1977 I purchased a new Porsche 911S, my brother had a 1973 454 vette, the Porsche seemed to him it was more refined and faster top end, but I will never forget him going through the first three gears throwing my head back each time he hit a gear. Can not beat raw HP and torque. Loved vettes ever since.
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: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,277
Likes: 6
From: (d/fw) tx
it wasn't a sports car ride that left an impression, it was a heavily modded, early '60s, nova. street racing with my uncle and his buddy, i was 10-12 years old. being pinned against the back seat when we raced and later running from the cops had my heart pounding. i've loved the hp ever since. the only "sports cars" i've ever riden in was an mg midget and a triumph tr7. i don't consider a vette a sports car, i consider it a gt.
Last edited by gbgary; Jan 19, 2008 at 12:52 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 2
From: The Great Pacific Northwest...........I carry a gun cause a cops too heavy.
In 1968 I was at a service station (remember the service) getting gas when a bran new 68 vette left the chev dealership 3 blocks up the street. He got on it hard and we could here him comming, when he went buy us the tires were still boiling. needless to say that left an impression.
Shortly after that I sold my 55 Bel Air vert and bought my first vette, a red 1962. The rest is history.
Shortly after that I sold my 55 Bel Air vert and bought my first vette, a red 1962. The rest is history.
[/IMG]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1
From: Orwigsburg Pa.
When I was 16 we were cruising in my mom's station wagon and encountered a small block vette. The vette was passing me and the guys urged to me fight back. It was an uncrowded four lane divided highway and I thought--why not?
Oh I know you are thinking no way mom's wagon is going to hold off a 327 vette. But, my older brother convinced my Dad to order a 64 Ford Galaxie Country Sedan with a 390 4 barrel and and 3 speed stick(on the tree) with overdrive. When I downshifted into second and the overdrive kicked in if was like having 4.56 gears. I not only held him off but he got a nice long look at those big ,round taillights. He tried but he apparently was saddled with a wide ratio with high gears, probalby a 3.0 or 3.25. Young guy with his wife or girlfriend dusted by some high school punks in mommy's wagon. Can't make stuff up like that. That was 1966 and I got a million more for other days............
Oh I know you are thinking no way mom's wagon is going to hold off a 327 vette. But, my older brother convinced my Dad to order a 64 Ford Galaxie Country Sedan with a 390 4 barrel and and 3 speed stick(on the tree) with overdrive. When I downshifted into second and the overdrive kicked in if was like having 4.56 gears. I not only held him off but he got a nice long look at those big ,round taillights. He tried but he apparently was saddled with a wide ratio with high gears, probalby a 3.0 or 3.25. Young guy with his wife or girlfriend dusted by some high school punks in mommy's wagon. Can't make stuff up like that. That was 1966 and I got a million more for other days............
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,217
Likes: 153
From: Ft Mill, SC
I completely agree with Gene Gorman about the 427 Cobra. My brother has an ERA 427 Cobra Replicar similar to the one in the picture only in the Cobra medium blue with white stripes & turns heads & just reeks of being the real deal(we are both vette nuts as well, he has a 2000 LPE maggie supercharged C5 & an 1980 vette coupe & I have an 08Z06 & an 06 C6, but the Cobra is just way cool)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
When I was a 1st year college student, working part time at a grocery store, I had a friend that had a 1969 Chevelle SS 396, 375 hp, 4 speed. He let me drive it to lunch. It was a monster for going straight, if you could keep the tires from smoking.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton California
One of the most impressive cars I remember being in was a firend's 1970 Camaro back in the 80's. He did a lot of work to it, and that thing would just peg you to the seat, and you'd be at over 100mph in seconds. One of the few cars I have been in that made me instinctively try to grab on to something when he punched it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,682
Likes: 186
From: Sunnyvale CA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'19
It wasn't that many years ago at a GM Auto Show In Motion event held in the parking lot of Bay Meadows race track in San Mateo. I drove a Corvette. I felt like I was taking off in a jet fighter.
I knew that one day that car would be mine.
I knew that one day that car would be mine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 877
Likes: 21
From: Rocky Mountains Colorado
My Dad restored a 59 Cadillac. Huge fins. Convertible. Red.
Back in the late 70's I arranged to drive a couple to prom in it. Found a tux at a thrift shop and wore it with black chauffeurs cap. Top down. The guy's date was awed by the whole thing. It was fun.
Craig
Back in the late 70's I arranged to drive a couple to prom in it. Found a tux at a thrift shop and wore it with black chauffeurs cap. Top down. The guy's date was awed by the whole thing. It was fun.
Craig
Last edited by cnw; Jun 20, 2019 at 10:57 AM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 454
Likes: 66
From: Atlanta
Fantastic! That's a very cool prom tradition. Good on you for letting the young couple take the Vette. Bet the young man got a real kick out of driving it -- super nice of you to let him do that. What a thrill for both of them. Great pics too!
Ah, too be young again!!!
Ah, too be young again!!!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 52
From: Salt Lake City, UT
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
When I was a teenager, I had a 350z. It was quick. Then, a friend took me for a ride in his C5. It was QUICK. Bought my C6 not long after that. Had the itch.