Bucket List
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 230
From: McDonough, Georgia
Bucket List
So, in the late ‘60s, I saw my first Corvette. Actually, in those days, one didn’t see many Corvettes where I lived—in the foothills of NC in a small town (Valdese).
A friend of mine bought a used one—a ’59—and since he was a “car freak”, he decided to turn it into something fearsome. He dropped a “blueprinted” 396 (cu in) into it. I don’t know what that meant exactly but I’m going to guess that it was an engine built with a plan in mind (from the block up) unlike most of the kids my age did. We added something when we had enough money to buy it. As I recall, it was supposed to have around 400 HP.
It was a thing to behold! And as much of a crazy car guy my friend was, he was scared of it right away. He said if the wheels were turned too much off straight ahead, the backend would try to pass the front end (as he put it). It broke traction just pressing the gas pedal down half way.
That was my first view of a Corvette. It was sort of light blue with that white splotch on the side. I dreamed I’d own one someday.
In 1978, while in advanced army training in Indianapolis, I killed an afternoon looking at cars and a dealership had a ’67 on the lot for sale. It was a maroon sort of color. All of those were Stingrays to me. The most beautiful car I had seen—certainly surpassing the ’59 I first saw. What a daring and bold design! But, I was in the army, nearly halfway into my career I didn’t need to buy a car I’d sell later when I rotated overseas or packed away in a garage somewhere.
In 1980, I went to a Chevy dealer and looked for a Corvette. It was then I learned—as the salesperson told me—a dealership had to “earn” the right to sell a Corvette. It had, as he loosely explained to me, something do with selling a certain amount of regular cars before you were given a Corvette to sell.
I retired in 1990 and just never looked around for a Corvette afterwards. I commuted into and out of Atlanta to the Federal Building. Divorced and remarried. Two stepsons and a daughter later wasn’t the best time for a sports car. And then, they grew up, left home, and so did my wife (LOL).
So, in the four years that followed my second divorce, I saved $750 a month for nearly four years and in the late summer of this year, at the age of 67, checked that item off my bucket list when I sold my 370Z and ordered this “pretty girl”. Yep, that’s what I tell my girlfriend when I’m picking her up in it—that I’m bringing my “Pretty Girl”.
A friend of mine bought a used one—a ’59—and since he was a “car freak”, he decided to turn it into something fearsome. He dropped a “blueprinted” 396 (cu in) into it. I don’t know what that meant exactly but I’m going to guess that it was an engine built with a plan in mind (from the block up) unlike most of the kids my age did. We added something when we had enough money to buy it. As I recall, it was supposed to have around 400 HP.
It was a thing to behold! And as much of a crazy car guy my friend was, he was scared of it right away. He said if the wheels were turned too much off straight ahead, the backend would try to pass the front end (as he put it). It broke traction just pressing the gas pedal down half way.
That was my first view of a Corvette. It was sort of light blue with that white splotch on the side. I dreamed I’d own one someday.
In 1978, while in advanced army training in Indianapolis, I killed an afternoon looking at cars and a dealership had a ’67 on the lot for sale. It was a maroon sort of color. All of those were Stingrays to me. The most beautiful car I had seen—certainly surpassing the ’59 I first saw. What a daring and bold design! But, I was in the army, nearly halfway into my career I didn’t need to buy a car I’d sell later when I rotated overseas or packed away in a garage somewhere.
In 1980, I went to a Chevy dealer and looked for a Corvette. It was then I learned—as the salesperson told me—a dealership had to “earn” the right to sell a Corvette. It had, as he loosely explained to me, something do with selling a certain amount of regular cars before you were given a Corvette to sell.
I retired in 1990 and just never looked around for a Corvette afterwards. I commuted into and out of Atlanta to the Federal Building. Divorced and remarried. Two stepsons and a daughter later wasn’t the best time for a sports car. And then, they grew up, left home, and so did my wife (LOL).
So, in the four years that followed my second divorce, I saved $750 a month for nearly four years and in the late summer of this year, at the age of 67, checked that item off my bucket list when I sold my 370Z and ordered this “pretty girl”. Yep, that’s what I tell my girlfriend when I’m picking her up in it—that I’m bringing my “Pretty Girl”.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 3,103
Enjoy you new car it looks great. I know it will treat you well because yours was built the same day mine was.
My first Corvette experience was back in 1963. A good friend of the family had a 63 convertible and that was the first Vette I ever rode in. He then bought a 67 fast back with a 427 and that was the second Vette I rode in.
Back in those days owning a Corvette was very special and limiting because of being a two seater. We were three boys in our family and my Dad bought us a 1970 Road Runner. Vettes were too expensive and we needed a car that could carry more than two people. Those were great years for muscle cars and everybody had them. We all felt the Corvettes were in another league reserved for the elite.
After getting married and raising two kids along with paying mortgages , education and two weddings there was no room for sports cars.
About 5 years before retiring I started looking into Corvettes and Vipers and my wife would tell me that she would buy me a sports car when I retired. She is an awesome wife and we have been married for 41 years and we both retired last year October. This past Summer she started planting the seed and showing me Corvettes for sale at some local dealerships. She also said the warranty on our 2015 Cadillac was about to run out and it might be a good time to trade it in a my Corvette. Well me being a good husband and not wanting to disagree with my wife I decided it was indeed a good time to buy a Corvette. So now I no longer have a Cadillac but I have an awesome 2019 Corvette instead.
I have always wanted a sports car and the Vette has been at the top of my list. I waited most of my life to finally get mine and even though I'm 63 years old I feel it's never too late to buy your dream car. I feel like a kid again and that's not a bad thing.
My first Corvette experience was back in 1963. A good friend of the family had a 63 convertible and that was the first Vette I ever rode in. He then bought a 67 fast back with a 427 and that was the second Vette I rode in.
Back in those days owning a Corvette was very special and limiting because of being a two seater. We were three boys in our family and my Dad bought us a 1970 Road Runner. Vettes were too expensive and we needed a car that could carry more than two people. Those were great years for muscle cars and everybody had them. We all felt the Corvettes were in another league reserved for the elite.
After getting married and raising two kids along with paying mortgages , education and two weddings there was no room for sports cars.
About 5 years before retiring I started looking into Corvettes and Vipers and my wife would tell me that she would buy me a sports car when I retired. She is an awesome wife and we have been married for 41 years and we both retired last year October. This past Summer she started planting the seed and showing me Corvettes for sale at some local dealerships. She also said the warranty on our 2015 Cadillac was about to run out and it might be a good time to trade it in a my Corvette. Well me being a good husband and not wanting to disagree with my wife I decided it was indeed a good time to buy a Corvette. So now I no longer have a Cadillac but I have an awesome 2019 Corvette instead.
I have always wanted a sports car and the Vette has been at the top of my list. I waited most of my life to finally get mine and even though I'm 63 years old I feel it's never too late to buy your dream car. I feel like a kid again and that's not a bad thing.
Last edited by JDSC8VETTE; Nov 1, 2018 at 10:25 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 230
From: McDonough, Georgia
Enjoy you new car it looks great. I know it will treat you well because yours was built the same day mine was.
My first Corvette experience was back in 1963. A good friend of the family had a 63 convertible and that was the first Vette I ever rode in. He then bought a 67 fast back with a 427 and that was the second Vette I rode in.
Back in those days owning a Corvette was very special and limiting because of being a two seater. We were three boys in our family and my Dad bought us a 1970 Road Runner. Vettes were too expensive and we needed a car that could carry more than two people. Those were great years for muscle cars and everybody had them. We all felt the Corvettes were in another league reserved for the elite.
After getting married and raising two kids along with paying mortgages , education and two weddings there was no room for sports cars.
About 5 years before retiring I started looking into Corvettes and Vipers and my wife would tell me that she would buy me a sports car when I retired. She is an awesome wife and we have been married for 41 years and we both retired last year October. This past Summer she started planting the seed and showing me Corvettes for sale at some local dealerships. She also said the warranty on our 2015 Cadillac was about to run out and it might be a good time to trade it in a my Corvette. Well me being a good husband and not wanting to disagree with my wife I decided it was indeed a good time to buy a Corvette. So now I no longer have a Cadillac but I have an awesome 2019 Corvette instead.
I have always wanted a sports car and the Vette has been at the top of my list. I waited most of my life to finally get mine and even though I'm 63 years old I feel it's never too late to buy your dream car. I feel like a kid again and that's not a bad thing.
My first Corvette experience was back in 1963. A good friend of the family had a 63 convertible and that was the first Vette I ever rode in. He then bought a 67 fast back with a 427 and that was the second Vette I rode in.
Back in those days owning a Corvette was very special and limiting because of being a two seater. We were three boys in our family and my Dad bought us a 1970 Road Runner. Vettes were too expensive and we needed a car that could carry more than two people. Those were great years for muscle cars and everybody had them. We all felt the Corvettes were in another league reserved for the elite.
After getting married and raising two kids along with paying mortgages , education and two weddings there was no room for sports cars.
About 5 years before retiring I started looking into Corvettes and Vipers and my wife would tell me that she would buy me a sports car when I retired. She is an awesome wife and we have been married for 41 years and we both retired last year October. This past Summer she started planting the seed and showing me Corvettes for sale at some local dealerships. She also said the warranty on our 2015 Cadillac was about to run out and it might be a good time to trade it in a my Corvette. Well me being a good husband and not wanting to disagree with my wife I decided it was indeed a good time to buy a Corvette. So now I no longer have a Cadillac but I have an awesome 2019 Corvette instead.
I have always wanted a sports car and the Vette has been at the top of my list. I waited most of my life to finally get mine and even though I'm 63 years old I feel it's never too late to buy your dream car. I feel like a kid again and that's not a bad thing.
Yes, weird sort of kindred spirits we are. We followed our builds with each other, picked up near the same time, Our first Corvette, both retired (at about the same age), etc.
Now, if I can just receive the Stingray console cover (that I've been told is back-ordered... GRRR).
And congrats on your new 'Vette, also !
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 230
From: McDonough, Georgia
Yep, there it is ! What a design that was !
in the Early '90s, there was a guy who managed a gas station in Riverdale, GA. Once or twice a week, he drove his '63 split-window there and parked it. I saw it a lot. One day, I stopped and asked what it was worth. He said he wouldn't take $35k for it. It was beautiful !
in the Early '90s, there was a guy who managed a gas station in Riverdale, GA. Once or twice a week, he drove his '63 split-window there and parked it. I saw it a lot. One day, I stopped and asked what it was worth. He said he wouldn't take $35k for it. It was beautiful !
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,040
Likes: 4,610
Waited for opportunity to meet bank balance for my 1st new Corvette, a C3. I hadn't given much thought to buying a new one, but I saved up $5K & my 2 year old Cadillac as trade swung the deal in ca$h for the new C3.
Drove my 1st Corvette stick at 20 yrs old - moving a 1970 350/4-speed in and out of a driveway during a house party. I was hooked on the manual. 46 yrs later, I bought a new C7 M7. The new C3 I bought was an A3.
For the next 37 years, new Corvettes weren't worth buying. Then along came the C7......when a worthwhile new product met desire once again.
Drove my 1st Corvette stick at 20 yrs old - moving a 1970 350/4-speed in and out of a driveway during a house party. I was hooked on the manual. 46 yrs later, I bought a new C7 M7. The new C3 I bought was an A3.
For the next 37 years, new Corvettes weren't worth buying. Then along came the C7......when a worthwhile new product met desire once again.
Last edited by Skid Row Joe; Nov 2, 2018 at 03:58 AM.
