Topic: Re: What Did It For You
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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Lifetime MemberLodi, WI - USA
Joined: 9/25/2007
Posts: 340
Vette(s): 1972 Targa Blue, T-Top, Saddle leather, 350 auto,numbers match, all original except '69 factory side exhaust.
Previously owned: 1969 427, 390hp, 4sp, Riverside Gold coupe, factory side exhaust
The TV show in the early 1960s "Route 66". The stories were never really about the Corvette, but they often showed Todd and Buzz cruising along Route 66 with the top down. I thought that was the coolest thing.
I absolutely fell in love with the 63 split window coupe (the year I graduated from High School) but the chances of an ILL farm boy actually owning a Corvette was totally out of the question.
While stationed at FT Rucker Alabama, many of the pilots drove GTOs, 442s, T-Birds and of course Corvettes.
But they were Officers. A Corvette was still out of the question for an EM.
After the Army and Vietnam, I was in College and a friend of mine had a 67 427 Coupe and he would give us "Thrill Rides".
That was it!!! I knew that somehow I had to have one. A few years later, while still in school, the Chevy Dealership in Platteville, Wl had a 69 Riverside Gold 427 Coupe for sale. This was in 1970. I was 25 years old so insurance wasn't too bad. I traded my 69 442 for that 69 Vette. And the rest, as they say, is history. I've owned one ever since.
I absolutely fell in love with the 63 split window coupe (the year I graduated from High School) but the chances of an ILL farm boy actually owning a Corvette was totally out of the question.
While stationed at FT Rucker Alabama, many of the pilots drove GTOs, 442s, T-Birds and of course Corvettes.
But they were Officers. A Corvette was still out of the question for an EM.
After the Army and Vietnam, I was in College and a friend of mine had a 67 427 Coupe and he would give us "Thrill Rides".
That was it!!! I knew that somehow I had to have one. A few years later, while still in school, the Chevy Dealership in Platteville, Wl had a 69 Riverside Gold 427 Coupe for sale. This was in 1970. I was 25 years old so insurance wasn't too bad. I traded my 69 442 for that 69 Vette. And the rest, as they say, is history. I've owned one ever since.
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I never really had eyes for a Vette, was pretty much out of my price range. I was happy with my 69 Cuda, 340 formula S with a snake shifter. Was always a Mopar guy, 383 Cornett, 340 Duster.
ebo
|UPDATED|5/7/2012 11:16:24 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Then in 81 or so the local Chev dealer got in a Dark green Vette, the long nose and tail really did it for me. Still could not afford it!
Two years later after pimping myself out (opps that belongs in the occupation thread) we had some cash to buy a toy.
I found a 1980 Red vette 4 speed (Lori loves to drive stick), the car looked like it was doing 100 mph standing still. We did a private deal trading our mint 76 Camaro for this vette. While talking to some people at work one knew of this car and told me it had been driven off into a cornfield! I put a stop payment on the deposit check and called this kid, got his mother and she totaly denied it. I found the body shop and called them, they spilled the beans. I told the kid that my mechanic needs to see it before I went any further. My mechanic said the rear 5mph bumpers had been rewelded so they would once again line up and the transmission cross member bolts had to be left loose for it to fit. I told the kid no thanks and he threatened my life. Really it was a bad scene, I called my local police friends and they said if he steps in your driveway hit him over the head with a bar and call us we will do the rest. I stayed up that night and did'nt a car slow down in front of my house, blood was pumping I went out side approached the car with a piece of redi rod and the passenger door opens up and this drunk starts puking.....I darn near killed the guy.
Well I was out of the vette buying buisness until a work buddy with a vette found our white 80 in 83 with 7000 miles on it. This time my mechanic said buy it ....it still has all the tags on the springs!
You'll also see we do have a Red vette.....buts that another story!
Once you drive one, like Jeff said looking over those big front curves....your hooked!
ebo|UPDATED|5/7/2012 11:16:24 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
ebo
How Funny Jeff...Corvette Summer was what got my attention, but when I really started looking at corvettes, I fell in love with the C2's. Then came college, marriage, kid, house.....I told myself "someday". Despite being a MOPAR guy, Frank & I used to go to the corvette show at Willow Grove Air base every year. Eventually (as many of you know) a neighbor told us about this Stingray at an auto salvage yard where he worked. Long story short - we saved her from an uncertain future. It wasn't what I longed for, but I've fallen in love with those curves & I wouldn't trade her for anything......well, except maybe for a '69 427 convertible 
|UPDATED|5/7/2012 8:28:03 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
|UPDATED|5/7/2012 8:28:03 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
LIFETIME MEMBER # 191
Former Member
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Oak Creek, WI - USA
Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1965
Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
Speaking of Mike Yager's Book, The Great White Shark is featured in it!!!!
I had been interested in Corvettes since my senior year of high school (1965) but I fought of the impulse to buy .......... until I saw my current 1981 White vette. Sure it has high miliage (149,000) but she is "original" and is gonna stay that way!! My daughter wants to drop a 427 in her but she will have to wait until Prince Sirkie comes for me to visit with my friend Forrest J. Ackerman!!!!!
Dan
Lifetime MemberIndianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2429
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed
Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses.
2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
Interesting that so many of us started with Mopars. While really not my "first love," my first car was a '66 Baracuda. Largest back glass until the 82 Camaro came out.
As for how my infatuation with Corvettes started... Well, I believe the court records are still sealed on that story, and I think things are better that way. At least until I take the time to write the book or screenplay on that summer...
I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!
2014216132127r.jpg)
Man Dean you really brought back memories of Route 66. I never missed a show watching Todd and Buzz cruise around Route 66 fighting crime & saving humanity. At least I think that's what they did. I was so in love with their Vette that I'm not sure what they were doing. The show being in black and white I fantasized their Vette as being RED. Recently I saw a color version of their car and was shocked to see it was........ blue 
???????????? Blew my whole fantasy. As soon as I was old enough I built model cars and the majority of them were Vette. When I was a senior in high school there was a girl whose dad worked for a chevy dealership. One day she showed up in a 69 vert. She took me for a ride (in the car) and that was it. From that point I always said that someday I WOULD own a Vette, and it would be RED. Well about ten years ago I finally got my 71 (black). As you can see it wasn't long and I put on the RED.
To me this simple car has not only been a great hobby, but has led me to some of the greatest people you can find that I have the pleasure to call friend.
Thank you Todd & Buzz
???????????? Blew my whole fantasy. As soon as I was old enough I built model cars and the majority of them were Vette. When I was a senior in high school there was a girl whose dad worked for a chevy dealership. One day she showed up in a 69 vert. She took me for a ride (in the car) and that was it. From that point I always said that someday I WOULD own a Vette, and it would be RED. Well about ten years ago I finally got my 71 (black). As you can see it wasn't long and I put on the RED. To me this simple car has not only been a great hobby, but has led me to some of the greatest people you can find that I have the pleasure to call friend.
Thank you Todd & Buzz
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When I was 18 and saw the 63 splitwindow coupe.........it was love at first sight. I had to have one. In 64 I bought a Riverside Red coupe. I was mad that they made the rear window one piece. To me it changed the lines. I bought the 327/365hp.
corvette440hp
I'd say it was all the corvette Hot wheels I had when I was a kid and later Corvette Summer...I'm a Star Wars Fan and watched it only because "Luke" was in it.. My family wasn't into cars.... I think I was adopted.. So my experience with muscle cars was with my friends out of high school.. One of my friends had a 67 Mach 1 fastback Which I was in love with, the other was a 69 Mustang Coupe they were both "built" I remember sitting in the back seat my ears going numb from the mufflers. I was mainly a VW person they were cheap and I could build them up pretty cheap...
|UPDATED|9/2/2012 10:38:55 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
And now some 40 years later I got my first vette... a 1975 Vette Coupe 
|UPDATED|9/2/2012 10:38:55 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
1975 Corvette Coupe
My first Vette.....trying to fix stuff
My Project:
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B6uOAIjGf3cWejQ5TjNkcVRybGs/edit
"little red corvette" with a big block.
I was 16 and working at the local car wash - that's where we ALL worked. A friend of mine showed up one day with a 67 big block and took a select few of us for a ride and an even fewer select drove it (lucky me). We would back into the staging area of the car wash ... spray a little water ... and let her loose .... the owner of the car wash did not like that very much so we had to take it else where.
Ever since that time ... C2 was in my blood ... between then and now .... lots of brit sports cars (65 Spitfire and 72 TR6) a 76 Vega ... 63 pontiac catalina, 72 Laxi 50 (that's all that was left on the badge) some ricers (79 RX7 - this is the car that caught Judith's eye and she said Hmmm ... he's goin' somewhere ! perhaps I will keep him) a prelude, several mitsu gallants during the child raising years ... and finally the 64.
C3 when I get some more room !!
I was 16 and working at the local car wash - that's where we ALL worked. A friend of mine showed up one day with a 67 big block and took a select few of us for a ride and an even fewer select drove it (lucky me). We would back into the staging area of the car wash ... spray a little water ... and let her loose .... the owner of the car wash did not like that very much so we had to take it else where.
Ever since that time ... C2 was in my blood ... between then and now .... lots of brit sports cars (65 Spitfire and 72 TR6) a 76 Vega ... 63 pontiac catalina, 72 Laxi 50 (that's all that was left on the badge) some ricers (79 RX7 - this is the car that caught Judith's eye and she said Hmmm ... he's goin' somewhere ! perhaps I will keep him) a prelude, several mitsu gallants during the child raising years ... and finally the 64.
C3 when I get some more room !!
When I was a little guy --- 5 or 6 tops --- my mother's Ford Falcon wagon broke down for the umpteenth time. The mechanic drove her home in a Corvette.
I'll never forget it! Mom and the mechanic pulled up in front of our house in a dark green C3 convertible with black leather interior and redline tires on Ralley wheels. It just plain took my breath away.
After that whenever I saw a Corvette I made my Mom slow down or stop so I could take a look. (She remembers and says it was "cute".)
I learned that those other really cool looking cars (1st. & 2nd. gen.) were also Corvettes but the C3s always did and still do get a good, long look from me.
Kevin
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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