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We have had Corvettes for 3 generations. A 71 LT1 survivor with 40K miles on it that my dad bought new and left me. It went to a collector because I drive this stuff, and even though a fantastic driver for a C-3, too valuable to drive on street. Dad also had a 69 L-36 big block vette coup with 43K miles that we still have and my son is caring for quite well I might add. That car was a survivor as well, but much rougher and took a lot of work to get to a dependable drivable state. Its been down Rt 66 twice from chicago to Santa Monica with me and my son spending a week each time. We road trip it 2k miles every year. Original 15 footer paint, perfect for driving.
I have been hot rodding all my life starting with a 50 plymouth convert, candy apple red , chevy 283 bored to 4" making what was then called a 301. Had a 3 speed with OD. I was 16 and learned a lot of things the hard way. Later after school I acquired a 75 C3 coupe, loaded it up with Dick Guldstrand suspension goodies which made it tough to drive on the street but better at the track. Built a mild 350 and learned to drive old school track in that car. We didn't even approach the speeds of today, but I was dripping with sweat and a smile on my face after each session.
Then back to school for an MBA and kids. Next was a 91 camaro RS convert with the 305. Pulled that engine and went to a zz4 short block and aluminum heads. Left the TC 5 speed "world class" alone, 3.42 gears and mild handling goodies, for spirited driving on Colorado roads. Learned to program the old OBD 1 ECM,s after some psycho engineering students hacked and converted the hexadecimal codes to English. Turned into a great touring/road trip car that I took my family in for frequent adventures.
Then went to the dark side when Ford came out with the terminators in 03/04. Still have my 04 convert with mild mods ground up and over 500HP/TQ with mild port on eaton. Still had kids at that time so needed a 4 seater and again had a great touring/roadtrip car. That one is up for sale to help pay for the new Z07.
Also found a 65 impala convert original BB car with 4 speed about 10 years ago. Everything matched but the 396, which was date coded correct but not matching numbers. That engine is on a stand and preserved and I replaced it with a L-36 spec 427 (all typical period correct mods) to drive. That was a common swap back in the day and I haunted the junk yards in Chicago for double hump small block heads, 4 bolt main small and big blocks.
Muncie m-20 in 65 Impala has Autogear ultra wide ratio gear set mated to posi 3.08 so can launch like a 3.55 gear but cruise at 3000 rpm on tire set up at 75mph. That car has been back and forth to California on road trips numerous times, whole family grown kids and all. Never put the top up, plenty of room and could have put 3 more kids in the trunk. will never sell that car! Stopped by the Garden Grove drive in show a couple of years back and they gave me a trophy for it, probably because I drove it out.
I only point out the above, because I am so out of date on technology that I hope this site along with more reading will get me a better understanding of the new Z06/07. I notice a lot of guys on this site have come up with the c5's and C6's and so have had the opportunity to see these cars evolve. I always needed a 4 seater until the kids grew up so couldn't go to the newer Corvettes. I got to drive a Lingenfelter C-5 at Willow springs and I thought that was awesome. So, looking forward to having a lot of fun on this site and with the new Z06. If this is too long and boring, you can delete! Best, bob
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