Daily Slideshow: Veteran's C3 Corvette Is the One That Didn't Get Away

Dreaming of a Corvette

Whether you're talking about World War II or Vietnam or any other war in between, you've undoubtedly heard the stories. A young man goes off to fight for our country, returning home determined to purchase the car of their dreams. For many, that car was a Corvette, including John Adornetto. 

Adornetto was drafted in the Vietnam War back in 1968. And in the years that followed, he made up his mind to take the plunge once he got to come home. And that decision started a long and fascinating story Adornetto recalled to Super Chevy. 

Being Frugal Pays Off

There was only one problem - Adornetto didn't exactly make a ton of money in the Army. Just a little over $130 a month in basic pay, in fact. So to make his Corvette dreams come true, the young vet had to be frugal. “I got combat pay, overseas pay, plus my Army pay. I sent all that money over to my mom. She saved it for me,” Adornetto said. 

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Overcoming the Odds

By the time Adornetto returned home in 1971, his arm was in a sling from a shrapnel wound. But he was also able to make his dream a reality, picking up a 1969 Corvette. And in spite of his unfortunate encounter with that piece of metal, he was also able to start modifying the car to suit his tastes. 

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Chrome It Up

Work began in the engine bay, where Adornetto says he “pretty much chromed up” everything in sight. And while he was at it, he added a few obvious performance mods like an aftermarket intake and carb.

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Ahead of Its Time

In the '70s, fixed headlight conversions on Corvettes were cool. Which, when you think about it today, was a trend a little ahead of its time. So Adornetto modified the front end himself, adding a big block hood to cap it all off.

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Make It Your Own

As you can see from this vintage photo, the headlights have changed a little over time. Adornetto also added the flared fenders, Cragar wheels, and red paint, which replaced the original white hue.

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Almost Got Away

Adornetto spent the next several years driving and enjoying his 'Vette, though it stayed garaged most of the time. After racking up 58,000 miles on the car, he nearly sold it 30 years ago when he moved from Jersey City to Freehold.

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Excuses, Excuses

Pretty amazing considering the fact that Adornetto's friend liked to give him a hard time about not driving it. “It was always running. I never had insurance money and I never had time to register it,” explains Adornetto. But that all changed just a few short years ago.

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Seeing the Light Again

Adornetto decided to retire five years ago, at which time he finally got his 'Vette back on the road after it mostly sat in the garage for 47 years. And it still sports all the same old modifications he made decades ago, though he did replace the rusty side pipes with new ones.

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Fruits of Retirement

It's a fitting end to this story, one that proves there's really no upside in parting with the car of your dreams. It's clear that despite the fact that Adornetti rarely drove his 'Vette over the years, he never lost his love for it. And now he can finally enjoy it in retirement!

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