Topic: What Your Vette Means...
in Forum: All Vettes Discussion
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...
It's still not stellar weather out today.... So I wanna pose this Sunday Topic just ta spark some of yer grey matter an git them thought juices a flowin....
What does ownin yer vette mean to ya? Why do ya keep it around?
My 1st adventure in a vette was a 1972 blue vert with a white top. The dealers daughter used to pick me up and let me drive it. I still visit this car at the local GM dealarship to this date. It is covered up in a corner of their garage. (It is predestined to be mine ya know. The date is yet unknown and they don't know it. But I just know...)
That's the background... flash forward to the present. Tux came to me as a divorce buy from a guy that had him "stored". Battle scars were obvious and I walked away that day. 3 mos later I got a 2nd call and brought him home. Now he's a differnet ride that makes me an others smile to look at.
The White Zombie is a present day C5 vert which is very driver friendly. It is more of a trip car and is my choice in the sun. Oh yeah, and it is incredibly smooth fast!!!
Then there is this red C4 coupe ARRRGGG / oh my achin knuckles. It is a winter project that is startin to take shape. By spring it will be a great driver car (104 K mi).
Sometimes I just sit and look at em an smile I can't explain it. There kinda like my kids. Each need a little somethin different, an each give back somethin different in return.
For my wife an I we were hooked 10 yrs ago when we driven around Effingham at FunFest the 1st time. Vettes in a row both sides of the highway as far as you could see. Wave after Wave to & from people we didn't know but each smiled with extreme enthusiasm.
We share that passion today! Who says a 2 seater isn't a family car? It's just she & I the way we 1st started. Life without a vette now? Not as long as I'm suckin air!!!
YOUR TURN, HOW ABOUT YOU???
Tuxblacray 2007-02-26 17:02:19
What does ownin yer vette mean to ya? Why do ya keep it around?
My 1st adventure in a vette was a 1972 blue vert with a white top. The dealers daughter used to pick me up and let me drive it. I still visit this car at the local GM dealarship to this date. It is covered up in a corner of their garage. (It is predestined to be mine ya know. The date is yet unknown and they don't know it. But I just know...)
That's the background... flash forward to the present. Tux came to me as a divorce buy from a guy that had him "stored". Battle scars were obvious and I walked away that day. 3 mos later I got a 2nd call and brought him home. Now he's a differnet ride that makes me an others smile to look at.
The White Zombie is a present day C5 vert which is very driver friendly. It is more of a trip car and is my choice in the sun. Oh yeah, and it is incredibly smooth fast!!!
Then there is this red C4 coupe ARRRGGG / oh my achin knuckles. It is a winter project that is startin to take shape. By spring it will be a great driver car (104 K mi).
Sometimes I just sit and look at em an smile I can't explain it. There kinda like my kids. Each need a little somethin different, an each give back somethin different in return.
For my wife an I we were hooked 10 yrs ago when we driven around Effingham at FunFest the 1st time. Vettes in a row both sides of the highway as far as you could see. Wave after Wave to & from people we didn't know but each smiled with extreme enthusiasm.
We share that passion today! Who says a 2 seater isn't a family car? It's just she & I the way we 1st started. Life without a vette now? Not as long as I'm suckin air!!!
YOUR TURN, HOW ABOUT YOU???


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Phoenix, AZ - USA
Joined: 3/13/2004
Posts: 537
Vette(s): 1975 Stingray Nomad Wagon, with Daytona front, custom hood scoop, dual side vents; 420HP 350; Doug Nash 5 speed; 1980 rear end W/4:11 gears; Cherry Red metallic paint.
Hmmm, you got my grey matter thinking. I can trace my passion for the body of a C3 back to when i was 13, at least. That would be 1974, although i am almost certain that it predates that.
The Red Vette is a dream come true for me. I have always admired the people who will cut into fiberglass and create something unique and beautiful, something one of a kind. I have always wanted to create something myself, and have had project cars that i can play with over the years, but never a Vette. The wagon back, i fell in love with that way way back when it first came out. I have the original Car and Driver that it debuted in.
So, when i came into a settlement that could allow it, i started searching the project cars on Ebay, looking for one that had the custom fiberglass done for me. Once i saw Cherry, i was in love. I will have her until one of us dies.
The yellow Vette was a gift from the family. We realized that even when finished completely, i wont be able to park Cherry anywhere and walk away. It just isn't in me to do it. So, one fathers day, the Yellow Vette showed up (havent really named her, just the Yellow vette)
I almost gave her up when she caught fire this last month. We were considering it seriously. But, there is this 12 year old girl that loves that car with the same passion that i had when i was a kid. I had made a comment to her a while back that if she kept straight edge and got good grades that i would let her borrow it when she got her drivers license. After the fire, i learned that she brought her GPA up from a 1.5 to a 3.0 in one semester, and turned into a good citizen student (got recognized as such), all using the Vette as the reason. Before evidently she got into a lot of fights, cheated, and such.
Once i learned of that, I knew that i had to keep it. So, how to rebuild it was the question. After much discussion, and realizing that the motor had to be pulled, the wiring had to be redone, etc. Ronda and i decided to do what we are now. We bought the donor car cheap, are rebuilding the motor in it, and creating mechanically the ideal Vette to drive everywhere. All to give to a kid one day. She doesn't realize it, but when she turns 24, if she keeps her life straight, she will own it. But, one step at a time. Right now, she is helping me rebuild it, when she has the time.
Itsdave92570 2007-02-25 10:08:31
The Red Vette is a dream come true for me. I have always admired the people who will cut into fiberglass and create something unique and beautiful, something one of a kind. I have always wanted to create something myself, and have had project cars that i can play with over the years, but never a Vette. The wagon back, i fell in love with that way way back when it first came out. I have the original Car and Driver that it debuted in.
So, when i came into a settlement that could allow it, i started searching the project cars on Ebay, looking for one that had the custom fiberglass done for me. Once i saw Cherry, i was in love. I will have her until one of us dies.
The yellow Vette was a gift from the family. We realized that even when finished completely, i wont be able to park Cherry anywhere and walk away. It just isn't in me to do it. So, one fathers day, the Yellow Vette showed up (havent really named her, just the Yellow vette)
I almost gave her up when she caught fire this last month. We were considering it seriously. But, there is this 12 year old girl that loves that car with the same passion that i had when i was a kid. I had made a comment to her a while back that if she kept straight edge and got good grades that i would let her borrow it when she got her drivers license. After the fire, i learned that she brought her GPA up from a 1.5 to a 3.0 in one semester, and turned into a good citizen student (got recognized as such), all using the Vette as the reason. Before evidently she got into a lot of fights, cheated, and such.
Once i learned of that, I knew that i had to keep it. So, how to rebuild it was the question. After much discussion, and realizing that the motor had to be pulled, the wiring had to be redone, etc. Ronda and i decided to do what we are now. We bought the donor car cheap, are rebuilding the motor in it, and creating mechanically the ideal Vette to drive everywhere. All to give to a kid one day. She doesn't realize it, but when she turns 24, if she keeps her life straight, she will own it. But, one step at a time. Right now, she is helping me rebuild it, when she has the time.

HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
My affection for Vettes started when I was 8 years old racing my brother on his Aurora AFX track! I always took the really cool C3!! As I grew up and during high school, I bought an old Pontiac Lemans and later, picked up my Chevelle SS396. Vettes were still merely a dream for me as I was always told how expensive parts were and how high insurance was.
LukesVette 2007-02-25 19:40:56
Fast forward to 1984. One of my best friends bought an early 80s 2 tone silver gray coupe. I almost fell down as he bought and sold this car in such a short anount of time. What a sin!!
Then came the Army, marriage, children (need I say more??). I kept collecting my Corvette hot wheels and matchbox cars. My dream went further and further distant, as I even had to sell the Chevelle for necessities when my second daughter needed heart surgery days after birth in 1994.
Then came the new house in 2001(need I say more). Bazillions (at least it seemed like it) of dollars later, my 2 car garage housed our home gym and myriad of bicycles and outdoor kids toys.
Fast forward to late 2002 - then came the war. My reserve unit was activated as we were part of the 101st's deployment force and we were in the desert shortly after new years 2003. A Corvette was the furthest thought from my mind.
Coming home from the desert, I finally pulled the trigger. I looked at my wife and said I wanted something to show for finally answering the call after 23 years of service. Early 2004, still on active duty, I found The Baby. Bought her and brought her home. The wife said, "you'll get all into this thing for a couple of years, get bored and sell it. Waste of time".
This time it's different. This car has many meanings to me. Every time as I dust her off and start her up, change the oil or anything else, I think of my family that sacrificed so much while I was away, my brothers overseas that I served with, my brothers that did not come home, my love for this country, my 8 year old dreams, my best friend (and we still talk), how good it feels to hear the old lady say "lets take the little blue car to dinner", my kids washing her on a hot summer day,
and the family I have grown to be part of here at C3VR. I could go on and on.
There is so much meaning in this car, it is now impossible to let go.
Well, off to the mall with the kids to kill some time. Later, I'll dust off the baby, warm her up, say a prayer for the troops kiss the wife and catch up with all of you.
Happy Sunday
Luke
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Moderator
Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
It all started in the mid 60's for me. I was just a young-en, well I still am I guess, and my dad brought home a 1966 coupe. He owned a radiator shop in Inglewood CA at the time and his friend who had a salvage yard had this new vette that had a dash fire. So he bought it, rewired and repaired it. When it was done, he took my cousin and I for a ride before he sold it
. Then there was a neighbor down the street that had a C2 with the fuel injection which was in the late 60's. He use to pop the hood for me so I could look at its engine every once in awhile
. Fast forward to a few years ago. I stumbled across this 76 that was in relatively good shape just in need of lots of little things. The price was to tempting to pass up so I brought it home. Figured I would sell the MG to cover its price. I forgot to mention I didn't ask the boss for permission. I told her I would sell the MG and she said "no way, the MG is my car now". The rest is history, I have two sports cars to work on now.



Well for me as long as I can remember from my childhood days I've always loved the looks and style of a Corvette. I had no interaction with Corvettes when I was young but knew that someday I had to own one.
cilrah 2007-02-25 12:03:52
In 1978 I joined the Army and only planned on staying for 4 years, well that turned out to be more like 23 years. When I left basic training in 78 I saw my first 1978 Pace Car. Although the '63 Splitback has always been my dream (and always will be) I now knew which Corvette I wanted.
During my entire military career I just not could seem to afford or justify buying a Corvette. Well in 2002 I retired from the Army and decided to start looking for something I had always wanted. In June 2005 I saw a 78 Pace Car online and the showroom in the picture background looked familiar. When I scrolled to the bottom of the page and saw that the car was at a Muscle Car shop in Tacoma, WA. The following Monday I went and looked at her. Although she had more miles then I wanted in a Corvette, the condition was outstanding. I gave them $500 to hold it and proceded to work on the boss for approval. She knew I wanted it more then anything and must have thought I deserved it 

My dream had finally all come true for me and I now spend half of the year sitting in my garage staring at my baby because I'm too affraid to drive it in this nasty Northwest weather 

MARK
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Willow Grove, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 232
Vette(s): 1974 Stingray Coupe LS4 454 Dark Brown Metallic with Deluxe Saddle interior
Here I sit, a perky 32 years old... lets rewind time a little...
at 13 years old I "inherited" a well worn 1980 Monza Spyder from my mom and I hot rodded a Buick V6 for... and I did it all right... not just a 4 bbl and glass packs..... later on I signed up for the Air Force when i was 17.... and never did i ever want a Corvette.... I always liked seeing them, but never wanted one... my heart belonged to hopped up V8 Monza ( still is) and the bigger 1960-64 Impalas...
Fast forward to 2006... surfing eBay to find my girlfriends 16 year old son a decent starter car..... I stumble on a 1974 Vette with a 454... I said hum..... good year, 1974... I was born that year...
what caught my eyes was the color... it was Brown Metallic.... not the usual red, white, silver ect...( Not that theres anything wrong with those colors) but I liked things to be different.... Had the car been red with a 454, i would have passed, had it been brown and a small block I would have passed.....
no , this car had it all for me, it was a less common color and a less common powerplant...
After buying it I am talking to a guy at work, who has a 1980 Corvette, red of course.... and he shuttered when i said, "my corvette is just another car"..... he laughed as he walked away and said " that attitude will change after you drive it a while...
Now its my "baby", the color of epoxy paint for my newly built garage was chosen to "best match the car" and my tool chest has since been sent to a buddys paint shop to be painted to match the cars color.....
But the car means more to me as a peice of America... I see myself driving through the countryside... tops off.... not a care in the world... For me, Corvettes of ANY color is a symbol of American Pride.... and automobile power....
For me, having a older Vette is a "worm hole" to times past that I'll never know..... sex without Aids.... Gas at less than 80 cents a gallon, no Al Queida but instead we just worried about the USSR... gas shortages... and all the other promises and problems of the 70's
So when I cruise in the car, I tend to listen to Oldies and songs that just go with cruising... No Barry Manilow, Madonna or any other crap....
So yes, after owning the car for less than a year... it has changed me...
Dad was the County Sheriff in illinois . so i was allways under the watchful eye of the law... Never a chance to get a little crazy with his car (63 Plymouth with a Police 383 Special)..
Entered the Air Force at the end of High School and found a Corvair at a good price but just not making the grade. A year later, after an accident I hade a check that would buy a 1930 Forde Hot Rod in the middle of repairs. Great price tho and just what my fiance didn't want aftger three months.
Traded for a 1967 chevelle. then a Ford Pinto and a tour to Germany.. Family got in the way after that..
In 2001 a fellow at work asked if i wanted a project to restore. Allways working on somethin at the house.. Seems it was a 77 Vet and needed a little body work. Gor hit above the left rear fender and hadn't been driven in over three years..
Owner was deceased and car was part of the estate to his brother. Done Deall in a matter of minutes..
Great car..Even GREATER Price.. and after a few months.. I now have a Vet.that I am proud to drive allmost anywhere..
Guess i finally found my childhood wish fullfilled.....
Nick
1971 was the year I became a teenager and I had been hooked on Vettes since I saw the split window coupes. When C3s were released in 68 I just couldn't keep my eyes away from them. I have photos from motor shows and magazines that I'd drool over. When I saw my first second hand one it was way out of my price range and not practical for the family. So I had to wait until now.. I now have a vette from my teenager year.
Mine too started as a young boy in the late sixties. My dad built and
drove circle track cars in the Carolinas. His buddies that had C2s
would bring them by the house and leave them for my dad to work on. He
bought and repaired many over the years and sold them for profit. I
will never forget the first time I drove his 63 roadster. I would do
anything to have THAT car back today. I owned a 63 hodrod in the early
eighties but sold it and ended up buying a 76 that was in much better
condition. I kept it a couple of years and traded up(I thought) to an
81. I never really liked it. I kept it until 87 and bought a never
titled 85 from a local dealer. I drove that car as a daily driver until
it had 200,000 miles on it. I sold that car to a local guy that owned a
garage. He wanted it to hotrod it a little.
I was without a Vette for a few years and missed them terribly. I have had numerous C3s since then that I use as weekenders and just for fun. I still long for a C2. I hope to have one in the next few years. I don't care about matching numbers as long as the car drives good and is reliable. Until then I will just keep the 75. It is a lot of fun. I would probably keep it forever if it was a 4-speed. I can't imagine being without one. Everytime I go out to the garage I smile. That's why I keep one.
Scott
I was without a Vette for a few years and missed them terribly. I have had numerous C3s since then that I use as weekenders and just for fun. I still long for a C2. I hope to have one in the next few years. I don't care about matching numbers as long as the car drives good and is reliable. Until then I will just keep the 75. It is a lot of fun. I would probably keep it forever if it was a 4-speed. I can't imagine being without one. Everytime I go out to the garage I smile. That's why I keep one.
Scott

Moderator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Otay...I need clarificashun on da kweschun
Whut does WHUT mean? The car? Whish won?
We used to play a game on trips when I was just a wee feller knee-high to a grasshopper...similar to the old "Slug-bug" game, but with a twist. Our(mine, really) game was "My 'Vette". Played the same, but it was Vettes instead of Bugs.
I've had the itch all me life. A '72 Ontario Orange convert when I were in high skool started the disease. That car seemed to be a magnet for every blue-haired granma in town. It got hit too many times...insurance said "No mo!".
Then came the other '72 later. Turned it from a pukey brown rat-trap into a 12 sec. street/drag car. Traded it(less engine/trans) for a 63 ChevyII(Nova) drag car.
Then came life...and the LTDs, Cordobas, Toyotas, Cadillacs, etc.
The '74 came by accident(or DID it???). Took it from a turd of a "Survivor" into an award winning showcar I can't drive...well...I CAN, I just don't. I'ma skeered of da bluehairs...and the punk ricers.
The '85 is "Mama's" car...
What does they mean?
It means I have something that 99.9% of humans have always longed for. The only TRUE American Sports car.
We have the friendship of thousands of others like us.
We have a common "thing" that gives us a reason to do things we wouldn't normally do...shows, club meetings, parades, ROAD TRIPS!!!
We have something that holds the garage floor down, and keeps it from drifting away...
It gives me an excuse to spend thousands of $$$ on TOYS!
Corvette ownership is special. That makes ME special.(Don't SAY IT!
)
Besides...iffin I didn't have a Corvette, whut th heck would I be doing HERE?!?
The passion is alive and well...some of us just tend to let it out more than others.
Whut does WHUT mean? The car? Whish won?

We used to play a game on trips when I was just a wee feller knee-high to a grasshopper...similar to the old "Slug-bug" game, but with a twist. Our(mine, really) game was "My 'Vette". Played the same, but it was Vettes instead of Bugs.
I've had the itch all me life. A '72 Ontario Orange convert when I were in high skool started the disease. That car seemed to be a magnet for every blue-haired granma in town. It got hit too many times...insurance said "No mo!".
Then came the other '72 later. Turned it from a pukey brown rat-trap into a 12 sec. street/drag car. Traded it(less engine/trans) for a 63 ChevyII(Nova) drag car.
Then came life...and the LTDs, Cordobas, Toyotas, Cadillacs, etc.
The '74 came by accident(or DID it???). Took it from a turd of a "Survivor" into an award winning showcar I can't drive...well...I CAN, I just don't. I'ma skeered of da bluehairs...and the punk ricers.
The '85 is "Mama's" car...
What does they mean?
It means I have something that 99.9% of humans have always longed for. The only TRUE American Sports car.
We have the friendship of thousands of others like us.
We have a common "thing" that gives us a reason to do things we wouldn't normally do...shows, club meetings, parades, ROAD TRIPS!!!
We have something that holds the garage floor down, and keeps it from drifting away...
It gives me an excuse to spend thousands of $$$ on TOYS!
Corvette ownership is special. That makes ME special.(Don't SAY IT!


Besides...iffin I didn't have a Corvette, whut th heck would I be doing HERE?!?
The passion is alive and well...some of us just tend to let it out more than others.



Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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in Forum: All Vettes Discussion
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