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As a (former) owner of a variety of cars over the last 50+ years, an old friend asked me the other day, why I enjoy my Corvette so much? After all, I've never owned a single car as long as my C6.
So, since I was sitting at my Commodore 64 putting more stuff on eBay I thought I'd take a break and ask y'all for your Corvette stories. Why did you buy one? How many have you owned? What, in anything, given your use of your current Corvette, would you rather have? What other cars have you enjoyed - emphasis on enjoy and so on and so on.. All stories and experiences are welcome.
For you nabobs who think I should post this in a more general forum, b advised I wanted to take into account the weather and such factors that are too often an excuse for no driving your Corvette.
Okay, so let's hear what you have to say. I think it might be double points night at the local casino so I'll look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Been going to Laguna Seca for ALMS/Tudor series for 15 years in a row, long time ago made friends with David Farmer who raced a Vette in the pre Pirelli series that ran back then. Also the sound of the C5R's back then was so loud you HAD to have ear protection, and they were bad ***. Spent a couple years searching then picked up my first one in 2011. Big fan for many years now.....
Ok, my list of cars is nowhere as eclectic as Keith's, but I was a lot poorer I think till my later years.
Datsun 1600 Roadster (red)
'65 Ford F150 Long bed with a 428SCJ engine, 4 speed toploader, 9" rear end, and Crager mags all around, and no power steering. (Black)
Mazda Cosmo Rotary (Silver)
64 Mercury Comet (Gold)
Mazda RX2 (lowered it, had tunnel ram intake, holley 4 barrel, electronic ignition, Headers, and could put out 30' flames out the back! (Green)
Taught the Wife how to drive a stick. She got a crappy old Honda, then later a Honda Civic S, then a CRX Si (Yellow) I got a '94 Acura Integra (White) then Ford Ranger STX 4X4 (White) and then another Acura Integra Sedan (greenish blue) and a Ford Explorer (Red)
'99 VW Passat 1.9T (Black) Lowered it, Chipped it to up the boost to 200HP, was fun well done and solid car.
'95 M3 that I still have, it was a revelation. 50/50 weight balance, race suspension, NA Motor mods, and great Audio system. Killer brakes too.....
A 2001 Honda Van (Silver) and later a 2007 Honda Van (Green and a major upgrade, it was living room on wheels)
Then my 2004 Z06 and the Wife got her 2008 Audi TTq (Black)
And now my 2002 Z06......
Was also into Bikes.
1973 Honda CR125 Elsinore
1974 Honda CB360 (gift from my Grampa)
1977 Yamaha RD400. (Fixed it a lot, better pistons with Dykes rings, ported, custom expansion chamber pipes, shoei Fairing....it idled like a top fueler..and instant revs...
1979 Honda CBX 1047cc 6 Cylinder. Custom paint by Pete Santini, Denco 6 megaphone pipes, Nitrous Oxide Bottle fed into it. It was wild.....
1985 Kawasaki 600R Ninja....gave it Vance and Hines exhaust system, it was fun and handled great.
Would love a late model Ducati Superbike sometime.....
When I was in grade school, a neighbor had an old drag Corvette. I can't remember the year but it might have been a 64/65. Anyway, it wasn't a big deal to go and spend the day in his garage hanging out and I just thought it was kinda cool. That started my passion for the Vette.
It wasn't until 2008 when my wife saw me searching Ebay for the umpteenth time and finally asked me why I haven't bought one. That's all it took. Spent a good part of 6-9 months searching and finally settled on my 2005 C6 Z51 convertible. I found it in Shelton with just under 16K on the ticker. I owned that car for 5 years and made it into a very clean show winner. In fact, it's still running around the Seattle area owned by a gentleman named Bill and it still wins.
In 2013 my wife and I decided to go on the 20th anniversary Corvette caravan to Bowling Green. I knew the trunk in the convertible wasn’t going to be big enough for all the luggage and cleaning supplies so I told the wife we need a “coupe” to make the trip. Made some calls to a dealer from the past and found a 2007 Z06 triple black. He shipped it out from Colorado and I bought it 5 months before the caravan. While on the caravan I was backed into by a truck and had to have the front replaced and some paint work done. Unfortunately, the paint was never perfect (to my liking) and I sold it in 2015.
I then bought my current C7 two months later. I really wanted a JSB ZR1 but couldn’t find one that was clean enough for me. I have had this car for 1 ½ years and I am actually glad I moved to the C7. Much nicer interior and new gadgets not found in a C6.
I have owned a lot of cars back in the day; mostly all Chevrolet. From Impalas to Chevelle SS I have had a lot. But driving a Corvette, there is nothing like it. And let me get a plug in for the 2019 Caravan…driving a Corvette with a couple of hundred of your closest Corvette friends is pretty awesome to. So, if you’re on the fence about the caravan, ask me a question or send me an email @ 2019PNWCaptain@comcast.net.
I had a 1959 MGA which was the worst car I have ever had!! I went to a dealer to see what he had and traded the MGA in for a 1962 Vette . One of the happiest days of my life. I had it for over 10yrs, but my late husband & I moved onto a houseboat and he talked me into selling it "a nice care like that doesn't belong parked in a dirt lot he said. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage and I married his best friend who lived next door. (friend for 6yrs!)
I was vetteless until 2006. He bought a brand new mustang and surprised me with a 1995 C4. "I have been listening to you cry about how much you missed your Vette" Well, he made the mistake of driving my C4 and also fell in love with it. Sold the mustang after only 6mo at a big loss. And,we went hunting for a Vette for him and found a 2002 Z06. He loved it, but in '09 we decided to go to the Bowling Green caravan. He bought a C6.. He offered to give me the C5,but I said no,I love the C4. Driving the C5 home I fell in love with it. Then he bought a new C7 and offered me the C6. No,I don't like the way it handles or looks (he had put lots of $$ into customizing it.) Well, I drove his C7 and said if you decide to sell this , I will take it!! Just love it and it gets so many compliments. It is Laguna Blue.
Anyway, we are "both" Vette lovers and don't want anything else!! I have had porsches and cameros-so what!! Oh, by the way my C5 has 99,350 miles and is still GREAT!!!
Last edited by VIK TOY; 03-05-2017 at 04:15 PM.
Reason: spelling
I'm enjoying the stories being sent in. even better than I had hoped for. Photos are great too even some surprises (Jet Ninja: Even though I knew you had an M3, I had you pegged as a long time Corvette guy...)
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Since I was a kid, I've always love Corvettes and there has never been a time when I didn't want one.
When I got my first job as a rookie teacher in California, I went out and was about to buy a green chrome-bumper C3 vert. Had it all set up and ready to buy when something told me to check the insurance rates first. As a 22 year-old male with one speeding ticket on my record, the insurance would have been more than the car payments.
So I kept my '74 Camaro...that's my niece on the hood...
A few years later after I got married and before we had kids, I had my eye on a sweet looking powder blue C3 with a dark blue interior and chrome wheels. I thought that was the most beautiful Vette I'd seen up until then. But as before, the finances just didn't come together.
So I kept my '76 Trans Am....
I drove F-body cars for many years...after the Trans Am I bought an '83 Camaro Z28 and after that I got a '91 Firebird Formula, all of which were able to carry my wife and small kids around in.
The Formula below is not my actual car...I couldn't find a picture of it. It is, however, identical to the one I had...same color, wheels t-tops, everything.
Finally, when my girls were grown and gone and I was making a little more money, I got my first Corvette...a Torch Red '02 which is what I had when the Original Root Beer Raiders were formed...Mark and Bruno know about that. Later on I bought the '06 Victory Red which is what I had when I met most of yous guys at one of Aaron's GTG's. Most recently I got the Laguna Blue C7 which is my current pride and joy I plan to keep for a very long time.
Last edited by ExRedRacer; 03-05-2017 at 05:37 PM.
OK Phil, you asked. Here are most of the toy cars I have driven and enjoyed over the years. They are in the order of when I had them.
Back in 1962 I bought my first car, a 1926 Model T Tudor sedan, which was my daily driving car in Seattle.
In 1963 I bought a 1930 Dodge sedan.
In 1964 that was followed by a 1937 Ford Fordor 85 HP sedan, which had 61000 miles on it when purchased. I was in the army then and the car ended up in Maryland. The photo shows my friend Rick, who was in the army with me. We drove the car all over, including many trips to Crystal Mountain skiing.
After getting out of the army and getting married, we bought this 1923 Model T touring in 1968. Me and my sister in the front and my mother, Anita and another sister in the back.
In 1970 we bought this 1958 Jaguar XK 150 drophead coupe. It was the first car I ever painted. The lovely young lady on the fender is Carol-Jean.
In 1970 we acquired a very rare 1933 MG J2 roadster. This was a very small car, which makes a MG TC look large. We just stepped over the doors as they were so small as to be useless.
Next came a 1957 Corvette, in 1973. This was the second car I painted.
On Mother's Day of 1976I bought this 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville for Anita to drive.
The Eldorado was followed by a 1937 La Salle, which Anita drove regularly from 1977 to 1979.
We acquired the 1932 Lincoln V-12 in 1978. It was all original paint, chrome and interior and drove well. The 450 cubic inch V-12 came with a hand crank, which I never used.
The Lincoln was sold so I could purchase this very rare 1929 Franklin roadster in 1979.
More to come in the next post.
Last edited by Kmcoldcars; 03-06-2017 at 01:00 PM.
While riding my bicycle around town I saw this 1972 Pantera sitting in a garage. I knocked on the door and the owner and I came to an agreement. This was in 1979.The car was used by Anita as her daily driver when she was going to Pacific Lutheran University.
After Bill Harrah died I bought this 1919 Cadillac limousine from Harrah's in 1983. It was a 30000 mile car. Before I bought it I had them measure its height. They said it was 6"9". My garage door was 6'11" so I know I was good. When they delivered the car it hit the garage above the door. It was actually 7'2" tall. I let the air out of the rear tires and got it into the garage. When it next exited the garage door and opening had been modified so the car would fit.
I saw an ad for this 1939 Delage D6-75 drophead de ville custom bodied by Coachcraft of London in Hemmings on a Thursday night in 1984. I called the number listed all day and finally got the owner at work just before quitting time on Friday. On Monday the company I worked for sent me to San Francisco where the car was located. When the owner got home from work I was waiting at his door and bought the car.
In late 1984 this very nicely restored 1928 Chrysler 72 Deluxe Roadster was purchased. It was a beautiful car and is now displayed in the ACM in Tacoma.
In 1989 this very rare 1971 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1 was purchased with 61000 miles on it. In 1971 only 81 GS Stage 1 convertibles were made. Stage 1 meant that instead of having the standard wimpy 455 engine, it had the high performance version of that engine. It was a very fast, fun car which we had until 2001.
Along with the Buick I also had a rare 1971 Javelin AMX with a 401 engine and original Wild Plum paint color. Only 745 were made with the 401 engine in 1971. I acquired this car in 1985.
In 1993 I got this 1914 Model T speedster. The car had been sitting for about 20 years and everything on the car was assembled finger tight. In three weeks I got it running, got a custom gas tank and spare tire mount made, painted the 2 bucket seats for the front and moved the front seat to the rear to make it a 4 seat car, and took it on a Model T club national tour. I got a National first place trophy as it was the only car in its class. With the optional wire wheels and aftermarket racing equipment the car would go about 75 MPH, although I never drove it that fast. 50 was scary enough with Model T steering and brakes.
In 1995 this 1927 Model T Ford Tudor sedan came along. It was very similar to the first Model T I bought in 1962.
The 1929 Franklin Victoria Brougham was purchased in 1996. I liked the short body that ended at the high point of the rear fenders with the trunk behind.
In 1999 the 1968 AMX with a 390 engine joined with the 1971 Buick and the 1971 Javelin AMX. They made an unusual muscle car gathering.
In 2007 we acquired this 1974 Pantera for Anita. The car had about 12000 miles on it and was sitting on 22 year old tires.
2008 saw the acquisition of this 2000 BMW M roadster for Anita. The car was bought in Anaheim with 49000 miles on it. It had a 240 HP 6 cylinder engine and a 5 speed manual tranny. It was a fun, fast car with excellent handling. She still has the car.
My first modern Corvette was this 1991 Steel Blue Metallic coupe, purchased in Stockton with 37000 miles on it. It showed me what great driving cars Corvettes were. It was purchased in December of 2008.
After selling the 1991 so I could buy my 2002 Z06 I missed having a C4, so I found this Black Rose Metallic 1992 beauty in Phoenix, with only 47000 miles on it.
These are most, but not all, of the toy cars I have had through the years. I still have the 1936 Packard, the 1962 Thunderbird, and the 1991, 2000 and 2002 Corvettes. Overall, life has been good.
OK Phil, you asked. Here are most of the toy cars I have driven and enjoyed over the years.
In 1964 that was followed by a 1937 Ford Fordor 85 HP sedan, which had 61000 miles on it when purchased. I was in the army then and the car ended up in Maryland. The photo shows my friend Rick, who was in the army with me. We drove the car all over, including many trips to Crystal Mountain skiing.
Wonderful stories/memories Keith. I was hoping you'd come through on this thread and you did not disappoint.
Your friend, Rick, though... I think he beat me up in the parking lot following a dance at The Spanish Castle. If you have his address, please let me know. I'd like to send him the $28.75 bill I got from my dentist, Dr Yen the following Monday.
Since I was a kid, I've always love Corvettes and there has never been a time when I didn't want one.
When I got my first job as a rookie teacher in California, I went out and was about to buy a green chrome-bumper C3 vert. Had it all set up and ready to buy when something told me to check the insurance rates first. As a 22 year-old male with one speeding ticket on my record, the insurance would have been more than the car payments.
So I kept my '74 Camaro...that's my niece on the hood...
A few years later after I got married and before we had kids, I had my eye on a sweet looking powder blue C3 with a dark blue interior and chrome wheels. I thought that was the most beautiful Vette I'd seen up until then. But as before, the finances just didn't come together.
So I kept my '76 Trans Am....
I drove F-body cars for many years...after the Trans Am I bought an '83 Camaro Z28 and after that I got a '91 Firebird Formula, all of which were able to carry my wife and small kids around in.
The Formula below is not my actual car...I couldn't find a picture of it. It is, however, identical to the one I had...same color, wheels t-tops, everything.
Finally, when my girls were grown and gone and I was making a little more money, I got my first Corvette...a Torch Red '02 which is what I had when the Original Root Beer Raiders were formed...Mark and Bruno know about that. Later on I bought the '06 Victory Red which is what I had when I met most of yous guys at one of Aaron's GTG's. Most recently I got the Laguna Blue C7 which is my current pride and joy I plan to keep for a very long time.
Nice stories, Joe. Fascinating to watch the progression from the Camaros and Firebirds to your C7. I gotta' admit though, You were fortunate not to receive a ticket just for the purple paint on that Camaro. Whitewalls are a nice touch. Makes me think you're closer to my age than I had first thought. Thank you for sharing. I'm loving these stories. We could make a book out of these if thy keep coming...
We'd have to make it a two-volume set though just to provide enough space to tell Keith's story.
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Originally Posted by last901
Nice stories, Joe. Fascinating to watch the progression from the Camaros and Firebirds to your C7. I gotta' admit though, You were fortunate not to receive a ticket just for the purple paint on that Camaro. Whitewalls are a nice touch. Makes me think you're closer to my age than I had first thought. Thank you for sharing. I'm loving these stories. We could make a book out of these if thy keep coming...
We'd have to make it a two-volume set though just to provide enough space to tell Keith's story.
Thank you, my friend, for sharing. Purple???
Actually, it wasn't purple...it was a blue sort of like the Laguna Blue of my C7. It's 43 year old picture, it was a slide my dad took, and the colors have faded over the years. Here's another photo with the color not faded as much...pay no attention to the guy sitting next to his niece. Just observe the color of the car. Thank you very much.
About those whitewalls....
It was a Camaro "Type LT" which meant that it was a "Luxury Touring" Camaro. Funny how slapping on an emblem with some contrived nomenclature makes one think that it's a more exclusive car than would otherwise be the case. I guess the whitewalls made it more "luxurious" and some of the features such as bucket seats, an automatic, dual side mirrors, and (slightly) tinted glass made it a "touring" machine.
Pretty funny stuff looking back at it all.
Last edited by ExRedRacer; 03-06-2017 at 07:31 PM.
Actually, it wasn't purple...it was a blue sort of like the Laguna Blue of my C7. It's 43 year old picture, it was a slide my dad took, and the colors have faded over the years. Here's another photo with the color not faded as much...pay no attention to the guy sitting next to his niece. Just observe the color of the car. Thank you very much.
About those whitewalls....
It was a Camaro "Type LT" which meant that it was a "Luxury Touring" Camaro. Funny how slapping an emblem with some contrived nomenclature makes one think that it's a more exclusive car than would otherwise be the case. I guess the whitewalls made it more "luxurious" and some of the features such as bucket seats, an automatic, dual side mirrors, and (slightly) tinted glass made it a "touring" machine.
Pretty funny stuff looking back at it all.
Yes, of course. Still looks purple to me Actually I sorta' think I prefer the purple. Love the "Afro". I wanted to grow one myself, but with the decline and fall - if you will - of my follicles above the timberline, I'd look like Larry of the Three Stooges. (Oh good grief, I hope Poodle Girl doesn't read this...)
Great story, Mark. As you know by now, when I started to seriously consider a Corvette in lieu of a Porsche (for various reasons) I wanted almost exactly what you bought for yourself. Polo Green too and... here it comes...it isn't easy being green. We took one off the showroom floor at the Chevrolet dealer in West Seattle and my wife went to put in the clutch and nearly stood the car on its nose. We drove an auto and she was used to standard 5 speeds manuals. Having the oem price sticker still on the windshield didn't help either.
So much for that attempt. Many more to follow before we bought the c6 Aero Lightweight (one of 42)
I'll see about scanning a few of the pictures I have handy. I had a box of older pictures that seems to have been misplaced when we moved 5 years ago so it'll be missing a lot of my car history...
Not sure why, but I thought your red C6 was your first Corvette. What's your car history?
Well, first of all, Joe, it's interesting and nice of you to recognize that was me in the 1966 photo. That '63 Roadster belonged to a friend of mine who had recently enlisted in the Air Force. He asked me if I would take over custodianship of his car until he got through basic training and was eventually assigned to a base.
He still had an outstanding balance on the loan so together we went to the bank and it was decided that I would pay off the loan (all $636 of it), he would give me power of attorney and then pay me back once he was stationed and could have his car back.
All well and good until I got my first speeding ticket within a few days of his departure and was ready to give the car back the minute he got his leave. More to the story but suffice to say, after he took it away I ordered myself a new '67 GTO.
That turned out to be a story in itself and after 9 months of $61 payments, $125 monthly insurance bills and a Chevron credit card bill of $100+ a month I traded it in on a new MGB-GT. The MPG difference alone almost made the monthly payment on that gem of British Craftsmanship.
I think that's about the time I started losing my hair...
So that's the story. Had some great times in that Corvette.
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Originally Posted by last901
... that gem of British Craftsmanship.
The disadvantages of communicating via the Internet...I can't tell if that was sarcastic or serious. I'm going to go with sarcastic.
I say that because I, at one time, owned another work of "British Craftsmanship", a Triumph TR7. It left me stranded on the side of the road more than once because the crappy electronics went out on me on a busy Los Angeles freeway. Also, the speedometer quit on me and there were other problems with the electric system as well.
As the old joke goes, the Brits have to like their beer warm because the electronics in their refrigerators are so unreliable.
03-04-2017, 05:55 PM
Okay, I'm Bored. Indulge me Vol 2, Episode 14
Actually I sorta' think I prefer the purple. Love the "Afro". I wanted to grow one myself, but with the decline and fall - if you will - of my follicles above the timberline, I'd look like Larry of the Three Stooges. (Oh good grief, I hope Poodle Girl doesn't read this...)
