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I don't recall the first, as that was in the C1 era when I was in grade school, but the '63 split-window coupe really raised my eyebrows when it was introduced. The C2 then became my ideal in high school and college and I owned two of them decades later, one for 32 years. A C6 came shortly before selling the C2 and the C7 only four months ago.
I don't recall the first, as that was in the C1 era when I was in grade school, but the '63 split-window coupe really raised my eyebrows when it was introduced. The C2 then became my ideal in high school and college and I owned two of them decades later, one for 32 years. A C6 came shortly before selling the C2 and the C7 only four months ago.
+1, 1963 when I saw the Stingray. I was a freshman in high school. Oh, those were the days!
Bought my first a 1971 Stingray 4 spd T-Top in 1979 after graduating high school. Drove it winters and summer, preferred it instead of the 68 Shelby GT500 I bought 2 years before! Yes that sounds crazy but so true the Shelby was scary over 65 mph and vette would cruise at 80 with dependability and great gas mileage.
After some major customizing and dual quads it turned into a local show cruiser and sold to my other buddy to pay for my wedding in 87, that sucked (selling the car)! Since I bought many 79 to 84's fixed them up drove'm, beat on them and sold them off.
When I sat in and drove my buddies new C7 2014 it brought back so many memories of the 71's (Night race blue almost like my 71) raised fenders and hood I had to have one. Sold my 99 C5 conv on ebay and 6 weeks later a bad *** Z06 \ 07 makes me feel like I stepped back in time and loving every minute!!!!!!
...and my 24 year old son and I immediately drove it 850 miles to our home in NC! Got stranded in the snow in Virginia which actually helped make it an unforgettable, phenomenal father/son bonding experience! I had many Camaros back in the day and loved them, but this is a wonderful car experience!
With the brand new Corvette, I showed the son how to drive a rear-drive, nose heavy V8 in the snow (which he had NEVER experienced). In spite of having gotten stuck once in very deep snow, once we got going we made it the final 150 miles on hilly snow covered roads. He admitted he would never have been able to do that even though he is an excellent driver (of his FWD GTI)!!!
Age 8, sat in the driver's seat of a C5 at my Dad's work on take your child to work day. It was fairway green with wagon wheels and I thought it was just the absolute coolest thing. Fast forward to 2006, my Dad brought home a black C6 Z06. I was a senior in high school and played on the school golf team - my Dad said that if I got 1st place in my tournament, I could drive the Vette (of course I won, one of the best rounds of golf to date ). He also took me for a spirited ride around town and we had so much fun launching at every red light. I've had a love for Corvettes ever since and bought my first one, my C7, last year in 2014! Endless love!
It was without a doubt when the TV show "Rt.66" came on the airwaves. Shortly thereafter a friend of mine, who was a couple of years older, bought a burgundy/tan vert,4 speed with 350hp. I was smitten from that time on.
In the late 60's when I was about 10. My father was an engineer who worked for NASA in the manned spaceflight program. He worked with many astronauts, and GM gave many of them Corvettes ( for $1.00 / year ). As a kid I just loved the space program and astronauts, so of course I had to love Corvettes. Actually, none of that has changed over 40 years later.
( And for those who didn't know about this, Google "Astronauts Corvettes" . . . pretty interesting stuff.)
In 1980 I bought a 1973 Corvette. Coming out of a 1970 Roadrunner
It was now where near my next Corvette. 20 years later a 2002 Z06with several Camaro's in between. The 2002 is the one that really got me going of a string of 2006 Z06, 2008 C6, 2008 Z06, 2009 ZR1, 2014 Stingray and 2015 Z06. Still own 3!
I think I fell in love with Corvettes at about this exact moment. Age 4 with Dad's new 1964 Corvette in the Paddock at Pacific Raceways in Kent WA. I've owned 8 in my life now with #8 (AW Z06 M7) being built next week under my supervision in Bowling Green!
I was ~ 16 when my neighbor had a black and silver C3 like the one below.
The owner was the wife of a doctor. I delivered papers, mowed lawns, snowblowed driveways, painted houses and just about anything to make $ in that neighborhood. When it became time for prom, I boldly asked her if I could "borrow" the Vette for prom. Since I had been very reliable for years delivering their paper, she said I could if I would mow her yard for an entire summer. It was a huge yard, but I obviously was up for it.
I got it the day of prom and drove it all over the place with my friend. Then picked my date up and drove it till I had to deliver papers the next morning. From that point on I was hooked on Corvette's. It took me another 15yrs from that point in time to get my first vette (Black 1998 C5).
My boys don't know anything but Vette's. They only see Vette's... They will get Vette's when they can afford one.
I think I fell in love with Corvettes at about this exact moment. Age 4 with Dad's new 1964 Corvette in the Paddock at Pacific Raceways in Kent WA. I've owned 8 in my life now with #8 (AW Z06 M7) being built next week under my supervision in Bowling Green!
You lived in Kent but now live in GA? Which do you like better? I tracked my first two C5's at what is now called SIR. The elevation change on that track is so fun. I've dropped probably $20K on R-comps, break pads and rotors on that damn track. Once I had kids I couldn't afford it anymore.
I used to live in Maple Valley so I could just drive over there in my R-Comps and not take another vehicle to swap tires at the track. Now I live in Bellevue so it would be much more challenging to get down there without another person driving a vehicle with R-Comps in them.
1962. I priced one out at just over 4K, if I remember correctly. I was 21, 1A, not in school or married and Viet Nam was going full steam. I knew I would be drafted (I later joined) so I did not buy the Vette. I got married, built a house, got our twin sons through college and retired in 1996. I got my first Corvette the day before yesterday. She is a brand new 2015 torch red Z51, stick. It took 53 years, but I am in heaven.
AIn 1978 when I was a junior in high school, one of my good friends won a law suite resulting from some medical malpractice several years prior. He showed up to school in a custom painted (very tastefully done for the era) 63 split window, and I was hooked. We were all into cars and racing back then. A few years later I met a guy with a 67 427 vert (also custom painted with some wild candy tangerine schemes....yuk now but cool at the time) and then my other buddy who owned the body shop where we all hung out, had a stock black 69 4 spd L88 vert which he bought new. He still has that car and has since restored it and won several awards.
I had to wait until 2000 to get my first one. A Millenium Yellow 6 speed convertible, loaded with every option including the 12 disk CD changer, which was hot at the time. Note NO navi option. Had that car for 6 years and then moved to a 2005 silver coupe, 2007 yellow convert, 2009 silver coupe, 2011 silver GS coupe and finally now, have a 16 SG coupe on order for Museum delivery.
Drives my wife nuts but she smiles every time she gets behind the wheel of that "Chevy" as she calls it, and sneaks out for a ride with our son, when I'm not around.
Cars are one thing I truly enjoy and ever since my Jr. year at New Berlin West high school, a Vette will always be part of our family.
1962. I priced one out at just over 4K, if I remember correctly. I was 21, 1A, not in school or married and Viet Nam was going full steam. I knew I would be drafted (I later joined) so I did not buy the Vette. I got married, built a house, got our twin sons through college and retired in 1996. I got my first Corvette the day before yesterday. She is a brand new 2015 torch red Z51, stick. It took 53 years, but I am in heaven.
Great story and congrats on being initiated to the club. Imagine if you would have purchased that initial one for $4K and kept it pristine. Retirement would have been a little sweeter!
Family, Country, Fun....thanks for your service and having your priorities and values in line. Enjoy the Vert! She is a beauty.
You lived in Kent but now live in GA? Which do you like better? I tracked my first two C5's at what is now called SIR. The elevation change on that track is so fun. I've dropped probably $20K on R-comps, break pads and rotors on that damn track. Once I had kids I couldn't afford it anymore.
I used to live in Maple Valley so I could just drive over there in my R-Comps and not take another vehicle to swap tires at the track. Now I live in Bellevue so it would be much more challenging to get down there without another person driving a vehicle with R-Comps in them.
They have changed the name back to Pacific Raceways now. Yes I grew up in Kent,went to KM, worked at GRCC. I started racing cars at that track and have been a professional racing driver and coach for 30 years now!! It all started with that picture I think
I LOVE Georgia. While the NW is great in the summer, Georgia is beautiful year round..it gets colder here a few times a year, but our springs and falls are both like Seattle summer...Atlanta is a great city too,lots of food,culture and stuff to do...I've lived in Florida and California too, but I am not going anywhere now!!
1962. I priced one out at just over 4K, if I remember correctly. I was 21, 1A, not in school or married and Viet Nam was going full steam. I knew I would be drafted (I later joined) so I did not buy the Vette. I got married, built a house, got our twin sons through college and retired in 1996. I got my first Corvette the day before yesterday. She is a brand new 2015 torch red Z51, stick. It took 53 years, but I am in heaven.
06-18-2015, 06:12 PM
). He also took me for a spirited ride around town and we had so much fun launching at every red light. I've had a love for Corvettes ever since and bought my first one, my C7, last year in 2014! Endless love!
