Back in the Day
 

I was 21 and had just purchased a used 65 vert in the fall of 1966. Black with black top, 300hp, 4-speed with white interior.
My memory is getting a little shaky these days but I do recall pulling up to the local golden arches one evening only to find a couple of nice looking young ladies who were in need of a ride home when I returned to the Vette.
How many cars would do that for a guy? Man - did I have fun with that machine.:D
In January of 1968 I found myself in the Army at my first duty station and met my wife. I was impressed that she was not impressed that I had a Corvette!
I survived Vietnam, Desert Storm, four kids, twelve grandchildren and 46 years of marriage and a few other Vettes along the way.
Life is good but I sure wish I could have held onto that 65 vert!:thumbs:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cf262d54eb.jpg

I had a 65 black with White coupe. It was a fuel injection car with many options. Still have the wife, but sold the car to buy a business. The car appeared at the BLOOMINGTON GOLD MECUM Auction in 2010. It has had many owners who have all enjoyed it. One of my favorite cars for sure.

Thanks for your service! :flag:

Life is full of trade offs - I've still got my '67 that I bought in '71, but had to keep it through a nasty divorce. I suspect that overall you have probably come out ahead.

:cheers:

I've never seen whitewalls like those. Are those 66 hubcaps??

46 years
 

You look great for being married for 46 years. The car looks terrific as well. I have had my 68 for 43 years and I am jealous that the car looks as good as the day got it, but I clearly do not :ack:. Jerry

I remember the whitewalls "back in the day", but don't remember the manufacturer. somebody will, and will chime in . . . . .

Those are the original 1966 hubcaps, 5 spoke. The 1965 hubcaps were similar but with 6 spokes . . . . go figure!

:thumbs:

Great old photo, by the way. I bought my first Corvette, a 1963 327/340 HP convertible with both tops, 4:11 gears and a close ratio 4-speed upon my return from Vietnam. A silver blue car with Navy Blue interior, and I as well wish I had hung onto it. Although, the 1965 I sold last July I did own 39 year plus a few months, and have owned the '66 in my avatar for 35 plus years as well. So maybe I've done something right . . . .

Interesting info here, I knew that Goodyear made double stripe whitewalls, but I did not know that they were available on the Goodyear Blue Streak tires...

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a18181bcf9.jpg

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-VINTAGE-M-...-/261236044689

Good luck... GUSTO

Sharp eye on the hubcaps! When I bought it I asked the dealer to swap hubcaps from my 65 with a 66 he had on the lot. While stationed in Washington DC I bought a set of Goodyear bluestreak tires and torquethrust D wheels for the car. I threw the 66 hubcaps in the dumpster:ack: Know how much those 66 hubcaps are worth now?:toetap:
Just remembered another story - I was driving around DC with the top down and stopped at a light. A guy comes up to me and says, "Would you like to have a pretty girl to ride along with you?" I was stunned as I realized he was a pimp. There was no way I was going to pay for a girl to ride with me when back home in Grand Rapids, Michigan I could have one to ride along any time I wanted - and for free!

Don't I wish! I will be 70 in September. Lost all the hair on top and have gained about 50 ponds. I came in from mowing the other day and my wife says, "Hey sexy - nice outfit!". Baggy home boy shorts, sandals with socks, holey Detroit Lions T shirt and my old boonie hat from Desert Storm - sexy indeed!:rofl:

Royal tires made a double whitewall like that if i remember right.

Bought my '62 in 1967, planning to keep it a year - to "get it outta my system" - and then sell it. 48 years later, it's still in my garage:thumbs: Had it at a local Cruise past two Tuesdays.:yesnod:

:steering: Cruz :steering:

Current day pic: With a friends car

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...06beec0049.jpg

Boy, this thread brought me out of posting hibernation! :lol:

Got my first vette in 1969 as a young buck at age 19. Bought it for $3 grand but had to make payments of $85/month with nothing down. 1966 fastback with big block power and painted a cool banana yellow. Had so much fun cruising Southern California and meeting all the beautiful surfer blondes and assorted hippie chicks. I'm 66 now and own a 64 air coupe with extensive mods. Don't think I can pursue the hobby much longer due to health issues and changing priorities. Hopefully, my grandson will catch the fever and the car will be his.

I found 57 Vin #3537 car in 1971. It was an original Fuel Injected car, 2 top, Wonderbar radio, 4:11 posi, real factory 4 speed car. Corvette historian and 56-57 expert, MIKE HUNT from Wisconsin thought it may have been one of the first 4 speed cars made. The trans had its original dated tail shaft, but a 59 dated T-10 main case, so who knowns. We lost Mike in 2007 due to a motorcycle accident.

A father and son were restoring the Corvette in Long Beach, CA when Dad got sick with cancer and had to sell it. I paid him $2000 which was a lot in those days, but I really wanted the car. It had a 327 engine with a carb.
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I bought the 57 fuel injection engine and 4520 FI unit and 905 distributor from Chevrolet dealer PAT CONNELL at CONNELL CHEVROLET in Costa Mesa, California [ still open today] in 1973. He had purchaed a wrecked 57 fuel car for parts and was trying to find a car to put it in. I had the car, and he wanted to buy it. But I wanted the engine, so he sold me the complete rebuilt set up for $2500. I later discovered it was the correct assembly date for the car. Not the original, but a real 57 FI Corvette assembly.
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Went thru a bad divorce and stored the car for 5 years. Got remarried to my best friend and current bride, and finally finished the restoration in 1982.

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...s35ce3d99.jpeg
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SOLD THE CAR IN 1983 to buy a business. I lost track of the car after the new local friend moved to San Diego with the car in 1984.
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Just for fun and history, I HAD PUT A BUSINESS CARD INSIDE THE PASSENGER KICK PANEL, ''RESTORED BY WITH A DATE'' etc. The car wound up in Pipe Creek, Minnesota. The long time owner recently sold the car to a neighbor due to health issues. The new owner found me thru his cousin, who owns a 63 Z0-6 Tanker that I have known for three years. SMALL WORLD....AND FUN. IT'S THE PEOPLE AND THE CARS. I wish I still owned this car. Over the years I owned nine 1957 Corvettes. They are one of the best Corvettes Chevrolet ever made. CRUDE.......But fun cars.

Great stories, all . . . . . . !!!!

:thumbs: