When did YOU know someday you would own a CORVETTE ?

[scottfab]

Following the lead of the recent HOTB question, when did you first know you'd own a corvette?

My story is as a teenager I was 16 and with two buddies hitch hiking into town. A guy in a brand new yellow 69 stopped and we all piled in. There we were all 4 of us in that car with the top out.
It was a 427 and it was then I learned the letters L88.
T'was a screaming machine it was. They guy had just landed after a tour of duty in a hell hole and was letting off steam.

My one buddy Dennis was positioned with his head above the T-top line and every time the guy would accelerate out Dennis could not breath from the blast of air in his face. I can still remember looking up at him with his squinted eyes and tears whipping backward. It still makes me laugh.

When I got out of the car I could not stop staring at the car.
That's when I knew I'd have a vett someday.

[-=Jeff=-]

I was 7 years old, we were in California vising my Aunt and my Dad's friend. His friend had and still has a 71 (I think might have been a 70) 454 4spd. it was White when I first saw it with Saddle/Tan interior.. That was a cool car to ride it, with the T-Tops off in the warm weather. (his friend restored it back to the original gold color some years later)

I knew then I wanted one.. Bought my first corvette when I was 20

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I was four years old. My dad had bought a used 1961 Corvette in 1965. I remember holding onto the crash bar on the passenger side of the dash pad....standing up! I WAS and STILL ARE hooked on Corvettes.

That car was so smooth from Turtle Wax paste that I can STILL close my eyes and feel my hand rub across it. Honduras Maroon/Blk 4spd.

Fast forward to 1978. I was 17 yrs old. Bought my first Corvette. 1969 Maroon/Saddle 350 hp - 4 spd Coupe. I've had at least one Corvette in the garage ever since.

[sammy]

in 2004 when i drove my first zr1.it took all day to close the deal but i wasnt going to leave without that zr1

[alwayscode390]

I remember being 5-6 and telling my Mom I loved the wheels on "that car" (sawblades)... the Corvette. She said " you have good taste son, maybe someday " ... well the savings account from that point on was titled " corvette money ".

I lost interest when my Mom took my savings account money from me when we were having hard times at the age of 15.

I only really wanted a c4, but the LT1 just wasn't fast enough for me. Hit a car dealer a month ago and saw a ZR-1 ... DAMN , I forgot about those!!! Stock wasn't going to cut it so I was out to find a LINGENFELTER CAR.

Found my car a day later LOL !!! ---

[Paul in SC]

June 1997
After separating from my wife, moving out, hitting 45 and the mid-life crises all at the same time, I decided I needed a wakeup call with a new car. Test drove Mustangs, Nissan Zs and Camaros. Even put $100 bucks down on a new Camaro SS SLP, vert, white with orange stripes. Then, a day later, passed a dealer that specialized in used Corvettes in Long Branch, NJ and stopped. A Steel Blue '91 ZR-1 sat in the showroom screaming, "Dirve me if you dare!" I did and bought it on the spot. What a machine!

I got home called the Camaro salesman and told him I wanted my $100 back because I bought something else. His response was, "What did you get, a Mustang", in a cynical tone. I said no, a Corvette ZR-1. After an extended period of silence on the phone, he responded simply, "Good choice, come and get your money">>>

[USAFPILOT]

I was at Landmark Chevrolet in Houston staring down a 1995 ZR-1 Corvette at around 15-16 years old and new I had to have one someday, and I do. It was a personal accomplishment for me when I bought that ZR-1. I was mesmerized then just as I am now when I see it, even more when I drive it.

[WARP TEN]

Dating myself, but in the spring of 1963 at about age 17. My dad came up from New York to Connecticut to pick me up from prep school for a weekend. Unbeknownst to me, he had borrowed a Silver 4-speed '63 Stingray convertible from GM (he was a journalist and could do things like that) and I got to drive it back home--a 2 hour drive. When we got home I told him that I had forgotten something vital at school and could I please drive the Corvette back up to retrieve it? He said yes and I got another 4 hours of wheel time. What a rush--I knew I would someday have one.
It wasn't until the mid 70's that I got a used Marlboro Maroon '67 Coupe, 300hp 4 spd that I kept for a few years, then on to other cars. In the early 90s I got to know about the ZR-1 and started searching and attending shows like Bloomington Gold. Joined Larry Merow's ZR-1 Registry around when it first started, I think in '93, and the ZR-1 Net fairly early on also. I really liked the idea of the special engine, the rarity and the group of enthusiasts involved with the ZR-1. Bought my '93 Quasar Blue HIL KING in October 1994 in Baltimore while attending a high school reunion in New York and drove it home to Chicago with a Permagrin on my face. Owned it for 13 years, sold it in 2007 and now have the '95. Life is good again. --Bob

[John Boothby]

It was 1965 and I was a senior in HS. I went down to the local Chevy dealer (Community Chevrolet) in Las Vegas and there was a brand new 65 Canary Yellow FI coupe in the show room. $5500 ( way too much for this poor boy at the time) but that was my dream car from then on. I did buy a 68 Camaro in 1968 when I got home from my first overseas deployment ($3,400 sticker) but they gave me 400 off for military service! Had to sell it after I got married. Never forgot the Vette. Went looking after I retired and found the ZR-1.

[efnfast]

I knew the day I wrote the check. Bought mine last year. It was the only 'vette I ever rode in. Yes, I said rode in. I didn't drive it until it was paid for and I was driving it home. My wife passed me on the way home. I was in the right lane doing 60. Now not much passes me.

[Daniel_Mc]

I’ve always been into cars, well at least as long as I can remember. Typical kid Lamborghini’s, Ferrari, etc. I guess it was 1988 or 1989 so I was in 1st or 2nd grade and I noticed a White car going by every day while we were at recess. That was the coolest looking car; it was a white C4 with white or chrome wheels. I waited to see that car almost every day there was another around that time or a little after it was a red I would guess 88 thru 90 vert with the hard top. I never dreamed I would actually own a Corvette but things fell into place and I picked up the first C4 a Black 1989 coupe with 19K miles on it when I was 16. I loved that car and had some really good times with it. Now it is almost 15 years later and I am on my 5th C4 and 1st ZR-1 we have been through 2 89’s, 2 96 GS’s, and now the Z (still have 1 89, 1 GS and the Z). I still can’t believe that I have been given the opportunity to take care of these cars and best of all we have made some great lasting friendships through this hobby.

And I guess I am stuck on the C4 I have looked and driven C5’s all types and power levels, C6’s of every type and I keep coming back to the C4 it's just something about this platform that I just really love.

Daniel

[BigJohn]

The day I wrote the Check!!!!!!!!!

:cheers:

[LancePearson]

Like others, as a teenager, looking at things I could not afford. College, marriage, family, all that took up decades and when I became a widower and the kids were gone it was after four years of social life either slow women or fast cars and the cars come with instruction books and can be repaired when broken...and the cost is about the same.

i now have two, a bright red 76 and a bright red 1991 ZR-1. Youth is when I got hooked, much later is when the time came....yes, I've road raced on a track the 76. Am thinking about that maybe with the Zr-1

Lance P.

[mike100]

I never thought to get one and was happy enough to have had a couple of F-Body cars back in the day. Then there was a 10 year foray into trucks and Jeeps.

I knew I had to have a C6 when the LS7 powered Z06 came out. The C5 actually made me not want to own a vette...I mean the base coupe was getting its *** handed to it by M5 BMW's etc. That LS7 was a different story.

[Jagdpanzer]

Similar experience here. I was into hotrods and drag racing when I was a kid growing up in the rurals of southwest Kansas.
Then I got into things nautical after a doing a hitch in Uncle Sam’s canoe club. The C6 ZO6 with the LT7 caught my attention when it first came out. 427cid and 505 hp was just to cool. After thinking about it for a while I figured why not do a Corvette project with my two teenage sons so they could enjoy the same experience I had at their age. We looked around awhile for a 62 Vette to do resto project but the $$, effort and facilities required turned out to be more than we wanted to get in to at the time.
Then we came across the C4 ZR-1s, which back in the day I remembered only rock stars and professional athletes could afford. To make a long story short a few weeks later we came across the red 94 now setting in the garage and it been a great experience ever since.

[RyanChappel]

My best friend in high school was service manager for the old Bud Gates Chevrolet in Indy. Bud Gates loved fast cars and similar women. I remember he had a Benz 300 SLR with a shattered windshield, and that thing (incredibly valuable today) sat next to the body shop, with no windshield, uncovered, for months until they finally found one...also sitting around were various road racing cars' I remember one with a birdcage style frame and a Chevy smallblock..we are talking '63-64-65 here...occasionally, my friends' dad would bring home a Vette for the weekend....and we got to play.....unbelieveable....

I used to see ZR-1's in the for sale section of Autoweek for $60K and more..they were always out of my league...up until a three years ago, when I looked again...the rest is history....:dancing

[cvette98pacecar]

I cant remember when I knew I wanted a Corvette. However my granddaughter is 4 years old. I was looking at a 65 Roadster "396". I told her, Mickey Mouse (I call her Mickey Mouse)come look at this car. She ran into the kitchen and said "Grandpa it is just a car it isnt a Corvette". So I can tell you my Granddaughter knew when she was three that she would own a Corvette. She even knew the color year and model.

[jimmy b.]

In 1967 I was 11 yrs old, one day me and my best friend just "happen" to miss the bus. We decided to walk to school and were planing a side trip through the woods to get to school. Just then a beautiful 64 silver blue corvette convertible pulls up and stops. The guy says "get in" , turns out this guy was my best friends cousin. He didn't buy the miss the bus "story". He took us right to the schools front door. I'll never forget that 1st ride, we were so small back then that we could't see over the dash. I stared at the dash and the hurst shifter all the way to school. I knew right then this was the only car for me. My first vette was a 63 conv, I worked three jobs to get the money to buy it when I got my license. And the first day I drove it to high school I became Mr. popular go figure. I hope to always have a corvette...jimmy

[vilant]

Well my father bought a brand new 1972 coupe and had to sell it 2 years later when I was born. He always loved vettes and always talked about his '72. He passed his passion along to me. I knew I would get one eventually, but when he bought a used 2006 coupe this past Feb., that really put the bug in me. Bought my first Corvette 4 months later.

[Hammer]

I can't remember ever not wanting a Corvette.

[ZR-1 Franz]

My father always owned Chevrolets, as long as I can remember. Chevies were built here
in Switzerland at a GM assembly plant in Biel, about 25 kilometers from here, Chevies
were always good cars and Louis Chevrolet was a Swiss citizen before he went to America, and the dealership here was really good, great mechanics, excellent service.
I guess these were reasons for him to buy such cars.

When I was at the age of six years I saw the first Corvette, a brand new '58 at the
Chevrolet Dealership here in Solothurn. This was love at first sight.
Then my first Corvette was a brand new '74.

Franz

[Fully Vetted]

To be honest, I never thought I'd own one. Let alone the baddest Vette of them all.

Here's to living the dream...:cheers:

[tomtom72]

I have to laugh when I think about my first corvette purchase, and for that matter even the purchase of my 90 ZR-1. I laugh because both purchases, even though they are separated by at least 25 years, started out looking at foreign cars! Back in 1977 I wanted the Champagne Edition Europa, and ended up with an '72 LT-1 found for me by a friend that owned a '72 L48 4spd car.

In '03 I started at BMW.com, then to Nissan.com, Mazda.com, Ford.com, and even to chevy.com to find out I couldn't afford a new ZO6! Then I found out I couldn't afford another LT-1 car. Jez, they got expensive! One of my CAC buddies, Rob L, PM'ed me "you should look at ZR-1's. Look for a 90 if you're on a budget." So looking around I found our Mothership site and did my reading in the Maintenance section and then found my 90 on Collector Car Trader.com

Funny how things are different, but yet the same. Both times a corvette was the furthest car from my mind. Both cars were late production delivered to their original owners in June, and I was the second owner in each car's history, and both corvettes were somewhat rare & unique among corvettes. I get a laugh every time I think about it. :sign10:

:cheers:
Tom

[Paul Workman]

For me, I was 14 when a black 63 SWC passed the family as we rode in the "Family Truxter" one night.

The Stingray was was almost invisible, except for the headlights and the reflections of the moon glinting off the shiny black paint and the soft glow of the instrument panel. But, the hook was really set as the Vette accellerated past the "Truxster". It was the sound of those chambered pipes that put my hair on end, and I've been in lust and an automotive junkie ever since!

The LT5...Talk about stuff for automotive junkies to chew on! I've always loved the style and the clamshell hood of the C4s. I bought my first Vette, a black 95/M6/LT1 car, but kept my eye peeled for a ZR-1.

I joined the forum in 06 (I think iot was) and met Pete on the forum. Although he offered to let me drive his Z, that didn't happen right away. But, the thing that struck me was Pete and the people on this forum. Its a fantastic forum loaded with knowledge and people willing to help. And, as much as anything, it was because of this my mind was put to rest, far as worries about the rare and discontinued LT5!

One day my dealer friend called me and asked if I was still interested in a ZR-1. I said something like, "Oh, hell yeah!" He told me I had right of first refusal, and could I come by and try it out? I came. I drove. I was helplessly impressed. She was a dream come true, and I drove her home the same day!

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x220/6PPC_bucket/Z9-4-11005Large.jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x220/6PPC_bucket/GalenaJune2012006.jpg

P.

[batchman]

I've been enjoying all your stories. My story is a little different - remember I'm an old Mustang guy, and having said that I do appreciate the welcome I've found here!

When did I know? When she said "Yes"! She had (and still does) an 88 Z51. Of course, some years later, when she wanted a faster C4, it was me who suggested the ZR-1 - I'll hope that at least partly redeems my Ford background!

Cheers,
- Jeff

[scottfab]

I've been enjoying all your stories. My story is a little different - remember I'm an old Mustang guy, and having said that I do appreciate the welcome I've found here!

When did I know? When she said "Yes"! She had (and still does) an 88 Z51. Of course, some years later, when she wanted a faster C4, it was me who suggested the ZR-1 - I'll hope that at least partly redeems my Ford background!

Cheers,
- Jeff

No body is perfect. I too had a mustang from 74 till 77 then I stepped up to the "real McCoy" and have never looked back.

[Fully Vetted]

Yep, me, too. '96 Cobra. But now I have seen the light.

[tomtom72]

:o Okay as long as it's confession time.....I was a member of the Blue Oval Brigade too! 71 Mach1 351 4BBl/4spd, 72 V6 Capri, 76 V6 Capri 3.0, 78 T-bird, 86 T-Bird 302(for the wife), 88 T-bird Sport 302, 89 Probe(for the wife), 94 T-bird V6(for the wife), (the big D happened), 88 Escort, 89 Tempo........:o

Mach1 & 76 Capri & 78 bird & Escort & Tempo I bought used, the rest were bought new. The 72 corvette was post Mach1, and the 90 is the end point in 04.....oh my DD is a 08 Cobalt Sport 5 spd (first new GM product) so I think my conversion is now complete. Maybe?:dontknow:

I became a Blue Oval guy at the 64-65 World's Fair where I saw the Ford GT40 MkIII and it was love at first sight. I was 13. To me it was just better looking than the C2 and then I discovered the Cobras. I guess you could say I was recalcitrant? :redface:

[DaveK]

When I was 6 years old my parents got me a mixed set of little "Matchbox" cars as a Christmas present. Most were the typical boring British cars of the time but one was this incredible looking curvy thing. I didn't know it at the time but it was a C3 'vette. That memory just stayed with me.

Then when they launched the ZR-1 in Europe the press was full of it and wow I couldn't believe it. I fell in love all over again and dreamed of owning one, knowing that I'd never be able to afford it. Those things are pretty near impossible for "regular" guys to own in England.

Flash forward to 2005. After emigrating to Canada two years before it had taken a while to stabilize things like jobs etc. Me and my girlfriend were doing a review of our financial position and I joked that we could afford to buy a ZR-1. My girlfriend knew how much I'd dreamed of owning one and told me immediately to go and find one. I balked at the idea because of our other plans - we were planning on getting married the next year. I couldn't believe it when she said "Don't worry, we'll postpone the wedding."

That's when I KNEW that I'd own a Corvette, that it would be a ZR-1 and that I'd picked the right girl.

Dave

[Hog]

I balked at the idea because of our other plans - we were planning on getting married the next year. I couldn't believe it when she said "Don't worry, we'll postpone the wedding."

That's when I KNEW that I'd own a Corvette, that it would be a ZR-1 and that I'd picked the right girl.

Dave

Boy did you EVER pick the right girl.

Does she have any sisters?

peace
Hog

[LancePearson]

that's a nice story...what does your Z look like and did you get married?

Lance P. by the way, welcome to North America.

[DaveK]

Sorry Hog, no sisters I'm afraid. Hey Lance, thanks for all the email advice by the way. Yes we got married a couple of years after we bought the ZR-1.

http://www.vette-dreams.com/f/Dragon1.jpg
My Beast

http://www.vette-dreams.com/f/Wedding.jpg
Wedding day

http://www.vette-dreams.com/f/wedding2.jpg
With friends from the local Corvette Club

[LancePearson]

Not only the car that is attractive..nice wedding photos.

Not sure quite what you mean about email advice. Ann landers I am not!

[DaveK]

Sorry lance. I was talking about the mails we've exchanged on writing/editing.

[LancePearson]

Gotcha! Write about her!

I am still getting names and cars straight here.

[rkreigh]

when I was 8 I got a 69 "drive by wire" toy corvette and would run around the house behind it. then I got in to slot cars and later RC

I always made sure the corvette was the fastest and best looking car even if it took a few mods.

in 87 I bought a Turbo Buick because it was fast, cheap, and easy to modify and at the time faster than the corvette even though I really wanted a corvette.

later on I finally got a 69 Vette, later a 68 Convertable, and a 71 coupe which had a nasty 427 home brew L88 (my buddy still owns it)

after getting tired of working on vettes more than driving them, I got a DRM 450 for 23k which at the time was a steal. people thought I was crazy buying a used, modified vette with OMG 63k miles on it but I knew how durable the LT5 was and the DRM with the headers, ported top plenum and 4.10 gears, black with red interior, and roll bar, chrome a molds, was a fantastic deal and really got me hooked on the ZR-1

4 ZR-1s since then, I settled on the LSV 390 which is a keeper and will likely last longer than I will, 80k miles, still pulls over 500 rwhp and is my favorite of all of them with the rowdy yet streetable cams, and more grunt than I need which just about right

now I'm playing with the TT Z06 more, but still end up driving the ZR-1 because it's better looking, and has a look, feel, and sound that is the most satisfying and it's almost as quick to 100. beyond that the Z06 will bury it as it has 800 rwhp.

my next vette will likely be a c8. hoping they bring back an LT5 and twin turbo the c8. a 750 factory vette that is around 3k lbs and has a killer look would be what it takes. I like the c7 very much but not enough to part with the corvettes I have.

the one corvette I will likely sell soon is my old c3 1980 drag car. it runs 9.20s at 142 but I just don't get out to the track enough anymore and would rather bolt on the drag radials, drive there and drive back rather than hassle with trailering and climbing in and out of a caged car.

if anyone is interested let me know, and I'll send pics and write up on the car

[Don in VT]

I was 19 years old ( The year was 1954 )and I was driving a 1951 MGTD. I passed a Chevrolet dealer in Lake Oswego, Oregon and I saw my first Corvette in the show room window. Soon after that day I bought the car. It was white with red interior. I think the Vette was a very late 53 or early 54. At the time all I cared about was that it had a inline 6 and was going to be faster then my MG 4 banger and it had a heater.

I am now driving my 26th Corvette, a 1990 ZR1.

Cheers,

Don in VT

:fahne:

[Fully Vetted]

I was 19 years old ( The year was 1954 )and I was driving a 1951 MGTD. I passed a Chevrolet dealer in Lake Oswego, Oregon and I saw my first Corvette in the show room window. Soon after that day I bought the car. It was white with red interior. I think the Vette was a very late 53 or early 54. At the time all I cared about was that it had a inline 6 and was going to be faster then my MG 4 banger and it had a heater.

I am now driving my 26th Corvette, a 1990 ZR1.

Cheers,

Don in VT

:fahne:


Now that's a great Corvette story! According to my math you are 78 now and still enjoying life with a Corvette. There's hope for us all!

Cheers, my friend and thanks for the story. :proud:

[Bob Eyres]

When did I know?
When I was eight years old and my Dad took me in the back door of our local Chevy dealership to see the new fiberglass sports car that just arrived. The 1953 Corvette.

When did I make the commitment?
When I was twenty years old, in the fall of 1965, relaxing in my college apartment when an old friend drove into town to visit his girlfriend. That night he said, "hey guys, if you let me spend the evening here with my girl, I'll provide the transportation to get your butts out of here", and tossed me the keys to his "new Chevy".
That "new Chevy" was a brand new 1966 Nassau blue Corvette roadster, with a domed hood, and badges that said "Turbo-Jet 427". A 450 hp. rocket ship that none of us will ever forget. We had never seen one, and we were told, "Get outa' here, and don't come back 'till way after midnight".
Let me just say, HELL WAS RAISED :eek:. That machine took us on a wild ride, and eventually all the way to Sebring and back, on spring break.

[BigJohn]

Come on, some of these time lines just don't add up!!!

:confused::confused::confused:

[Hog]

Come on, some of these time lines just don't add up!!!

:confused::confused::confused:
Someone is 78 years old, another is 68.

peace
Hog

[BigJohn]

Someone is 78 years old, another is 68.

peace
Hog


OK!!!
Kind of like my brother and me.
We need more storys!!!
:neutral:

[JThomas]

Being a kid raised in Detroit, cars were always a big deal. My father was employed by the Chrysler Corporation so we were used to seeing and talking about cars such as the 300, Sport Fury, Dodge Chargers, Plymouth Road Runners and the like. But I have these older cousins that drove cars such as Camaro Z-28, Mustang Mach 1, etc., so as a child I bought model cars and dreamed of the day I could own something as cool as the cars my family members were driving.

I had always seen Corvettes and thought the Mid-year cars were really what I wanted, but in 1976, when I was thirteen, a cousin bought a brand new White/Red Corvette coupe. This was the first Corvette I was ever able to get close to. I thought the car was fantastic! Then in 1978, my older brother, who worked for Chrysler, ordered a 25th Anniversary Edition Corvette. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I tried to get him to order the car with the L-82 and a four speed, but he chose the automatic and base motor instead. I knew then, some day I would own a Corvette and get it just the way I wanted it. I began to save my pennies and my plan was then to find a Mid-year, hopefully in good shape and fix it up.

That plan never came to fruition, but in 1992 I found that the time was now right to finally buy that Corvette. Life was good, I had some extra cash and was in a solid relationship, so my girlfriend and I set out to find this life’s dream of a Corvette. We were at a dealer and I’m looking at all the Corvettes and my girlfriend says to me, “What about this one over here”. It was a 1989 Charcoal Metallic Coupe. Automatic, glass roof, low miles priced right. Done!

I thought it couldn’t get any better than this. I knew there was such a thing as the ZR-1, but hey, for my first Corvette I was feeling pretty good about my “new” purchase. I drove that car for two years then sold it. Plans were in place to get married in the Fall of 1994 and the Corvette was a luxury that didn’t quite fit into the picture at the time. My wife and I were married Labor Day weekend in 1994, the same weekend the National Corvette Museum opened. I tried to talk her into going to Bowling Green that weekend and she said, “You must be out of your mind”. I then told her, I would have another Corvette some day and she said “probably so, but I will have a house and a child first”.
Done!

In 1998 Rachel was born and I had finished the nursery and remodel of the basement. I turned my attention to Corvette once again. In the Spring of 2000, I came across this stunning Silver and Black 1997 Corvette coupe. Purchased from the same dealer I had bought the 1989 car from. It was a beautiful car. It fit my theme of silver cars, going back to the 25th Anniversary car my brother had ordered, and it had performance like the ZR-1 that I thought I would never own, and the price was right. I bought that car and again thought to myself, it couldn’t get any better. Jennifer and I took our first trip to the museum in that car in the Summer of 2000 and in 2001, our son Evan was born and the Corvette spent more time in the garage and covered but I soldiered on.

In the Spring of 2002 I got caught up in the excitement of the 50th Anniversary of Corvette. Hoping the car would be gold, I made a promise that I would order myself a 50th Anniversary Edition car, get all the bells and whistles I could and it would be my last Corvette, never to be driven by another. We went to Bowling Green for the unveiling of the 50th Anniversary car and when I saw the color of the car I was disappointed. However I turned and there on display was a U88 Medium Spiral Grey coupe. My wife and I looked at each other and said, “That might work”. It fit the silver theme I had for Corvettes, it still had the 50th Anniversary badging on it, so we returned home with our silver ’97 and thought do we really need to do this? I came to the conclusion that yes, we should do this, so off to the dealer to order this new 2003 Corvette, Medium Spiral Grey, Black interior, glass roof, 6-Speed and Z-51 suspension, and the R8C Museum delivery, Done!

I promised my wife this would be the very last Corvette. We enjoyed that car for four great years and along came the C6 Z06. This car, had 505 Horsepower, the motor measures 427 Cubic Inches, top speed of 198 MPH, aluminum chassis, wider fenders, fixed roof! I remember thinking, how do I justify this? It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, who needs all of that? The answer, I do. So the only question now was how do I get Jennifer to buy into this? Answer, let her choose the color. She chose black, and that was fine with me. Bye bye 50th Anniversary coupe, hello to insanity!

Following the Z06 came an opportunity to finally own a ZR-1. In the Spring of 2008 I purchased a high mileage ’92 ZR-1, Red with Black interior. I will always enjoy the C4 platform, mostly because my first Corvette was a C4, but having a ZR-1 is the ultimate C4. I enjoyed that car for three years and met a lot of wonderful people on this registry. I sold the ’92 in 2011 thinking it was fun for a while, and I enjoyed the search for parts and getting the car in respectable shape. But when I sold it, I knew I would have another some day.

Two months later, in December of 2011 I purchased my 1995 Bright Aqua and Grey Corvette ZR-1 with low miles and an awesome history. It sits along side the Z06 in the garage. Jennifer, Rachel, Evan and I enjoy the cars every chance we get. If you’re keeping score, that’s been six Corvettes, one wife, two kids, and we are currently in our second house. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Then there is the C7 . . . . . . . :cheers:

[JThomas]

No other stories?

[Blue Flame Restorations]

No other stories?


Joe, yours topped most of them :cheers:

[tf95ZR1]

Early 90's I got a divorce. I borrowed $$ from my parents to hire an
attorney. Instead, or maybe just with some creative accounting, I
purchased my first Corvette, a black, lowered convertible with beautiful
Boyd rims. A real "chick magnet" in that it was a head turner for most women.
Then I got re-married and traded (up) to my present ZR-1. Now,
my wife teases me that more guys than women notice my car.
Oh well....

[Fully Vetted]

...my wife teases me that more guys than women notice my car.
Oh well....

It's much safer that way...

[RHanselman]

I think I was conceived in a Corvette... ouch!

I had 6 neighbors while I was growing up that had Vettes. Across the street a 66 coupe which I helped paint, across the street and a few doors down was a 58 that just sat in the street, next door a 63 straight axle drag car, behind us a 67 427 conv, a few doors up a 68 427/390 conv and then the car I tried to buy for $1200 (but I couldn't get the money) was on the next street over a 67 Conv 427 with a wrecked fender. The car was also stripped to the fiberglass...

No wonder I caught the bug...

First Vette was an 86 coupe I bought in Pilot Training. It's been ZR-1's after that until I bought my 95 LT-1 Turbo Car.

[LancePearson]

I'm laughing...at 25 the vettes would have maybe been "chick magnets." At 69 now, the women in my age group I date are not so easily impressed or interested. The Vettes are respected as my interests but they also have their own interests after going through some of what life throws everybody.

If you want to impress a really top flight gal in my age group I can pretty much assure you that the car even if it were a Ferrari wouldn't do it nearly as much as a huge stock portfolio, the ability to take them traveling all over the world, having two homes in two places, etc. If they amount to much they are independent and have learned to accomplish things for themselves and this leads in my experience to them finding and following their own interests. Some love cars but not anywhere like us guys do.

I'm not talking about turkeys now but some pretty decent gals in all departments.

So, "Chick Magnet" when I was young? That window passed a while back I think for the car to do it. Offer instead to take them to China or a week in Paris or shopping at Harrods....then you got company.

LOL.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

I'm laughing...at 25 the vettes would have maybe been "chick magnets." At 69 now, the women in my age group I date are not so easily impressed or interested. The Vettes are respected as my interests but they also have their own interests after going through some of what life throws everybody.

If you want to impress a really top flight gal in my age group I can pretty much assure you that the car even if it were a Ferrari wouldn't do it nearly as much as a huge stock portfolio, the ability to take them traveling all over the world, having two homes in two places, etc. If they amount to much they are independent and have learned to accomplish things for themselves and this leads in my experience to them finding and following their own interests. Some love cars but not anywhere like us guys do.

I'm not talking about turkeys now but some pretty decent gals in all departments.

So, "Chick Magnet" when I was young? That window passed a while back I think for the car to do it. Offer instead to take them to China or a week in Paris or shopping at Harrods....then you got company.

LOL.

Lance,

You have to come to Japan. Ask Scott and some others......no age limit her for the young chicks; at 69 you are still a young stud in this country. I love it.............

[Funracer]

Grew up in Miami. My Dad went in to private practice (after many
years of medical school and training) in 1969. I was 12 yrs old. The next day he went to the local Chevy dealer and traded in his Morris Minor for a silver '69 4 speed coupe. He used to drive it very fast.

Six months later he walked out the door to go to work. In 15 seconds
he walked back in and said "The Corvette has been stolen". With the insurance check he bought another '69, a yellow automatic. When I was 14 he let me drive it around the block.

Shortly after that my Dads pilot friend gave me a ride in a '62
340 horse. He drove it hard and scared the cr*p out of me. I figured any car that scared me like that I just HAD to have some day.

By the time I could afford my own it was 1993. ZR1's were THE vette
to have in the early '90s. I test drove a Buick Grand National. Not scary
enough. Z's were fairly scarce then and if one was around how to get a ride in it? I became impatient (a failing of mine to this day) and looked through Hemmings and Auto Trader (not much internet then). I joined the
original ZR1 Registry started my the late Larry Merow.

I still had never driven or had a ride in one but finally could not wait any longer. With help from Larry I found a '91 w 11K miles on it in New Jersey and flew up to see it. Believe it or not the guy only wanted $32K for it. It was the least expensive 91 for sale in the country at that time as far as I could tell.

I knew I would own a vette someday because of those early Corvette
rides. When did I know it would be a ZR1? On that test drive. As soon
as the secondaries opened that car was SOOOOLD!:cheers:

Still a thrill after 20 years!

Rgds

[rebelz]

For me, 1960 when I saw the first ad for the 1961 Corvette. When did I know it would be a ZR-1? When I saw this Ad: We'd Love To Show You The New ZR-1...

In 2007 I bought mine!

[voxdeidave]

In 1991 I was with my mother shopping for her new econo-box at Thomas Chevrolet in Media PA. A bored 12 year old sitting in a crowded show room was a sight thankfully one of the salesmen couldn't stand. Within a few seconds of being spotted he had me sitting behind the wheel of a gleaming Black/Red C4. From that moment on I knew this was to be "my" corvette......it just took me a few years and a couple of college degrees to actually put it in my garage.
Never dreamed I would find a Black/Red 91 Zr1 in my price range, but I did. And the cross country road trip several summers ago to drive it home from LA to the PA poconos with my step-dad was an adventure that I will never forget. He is no longer with us as of this past winter. But, every time I get behind the wheel I'm instantly transported to both that dealership many years ago and just a little bit of tire rubber left on my dad's favorite stretch of route 66 headed east!

[dredgeguy]

In 1988 when I was single, ran into an old friend at a local bar on a Friday night. He had a few more beers than he should have and proceeded to tell me he had to sell his 'baby", a red/gray 86 with the 4+3 trans that weekend. He was in the middle of a nasty divorce and on Monday the lawyers were going to get it. Said he would sell it for what he owed the bank. Saw it that night and it was perfect, only 18,000 miles. Drove him home and then looked closely at the car the next day. Golf clubs fit in the hatch so wrote him a check and had a red Vette! Drove it as my daily driver. Got married in 90 and my son was born in 93. Yup, sold it in 94 but promised myself would get a replacement some day. So I waited 18 years and upgraded to the red/black 92 ZR-1. More grins to the mile then anything on this planet and that is why I have a Permigrin.

[4CAM LT5]

It was sometime during 1964...I was ten years old, and I saw a 1963 Sebring Silver Split-Window Coupe. Love at first-sight. Fast forward forty years, to 2004...got my first Corvette at the age of 50. Have had five since then.

[Rex Ruby]

Always loved cars as far back as I can remember. When a cousin of mine returned from Viet Nam he bought a '66. On a visit he took me and my brother out for a ride. That was it, had to have a corvette some day. Like most of us raising a family took most of the financial resoures at the time. Would always look at Corvettes and lust for one. In the late 80's a friend was buying Corvettes in Florida and bringing them back to Phila selling them at a profit. Asked him to drive one, it was a '78 and what a POS. Poor performance (I think my Maxima was faster) everything rattled. I almost cried after that drive I was totally let down. A few years later in the early 90's a friend had bought an '88 and let me drive it. That '88 extremely clean and well taken care of, loved it. He put it up for sale a year later, I wanted to buy it but it was a little too soon as I had 2 kids close to college age. 1999 I started my own business, had a company car from the previous job that I had to turn in leaving me needing transportation. Was working with a 30K budget, was looking at Sevilles and beamers when I had an idea to look at Corvettes. Came up with a plan to buy a clean used Corvette for about 20K and use the rest to buy a decent pick up truck. Found my Ruby (LT1) for 18,800 and bought a nice Chevy 2500 pick up for 10K. 2002 my wife decided she wanted a convertible. We bought her a Ruby (LT1) vert. Two years later the vert was hardly being driven and the wife tells me if I want to sell it to buy a ZR1 and can work out the money to go ahead and do it. So, in 2004 I bought my '94 Z. In 2010 wife wanted a Corvette for a daily driver so we bought her 2001 Pewter couple. Even though she has a Tahoe as a back up she drove her vette to work today in the snow!

[Cal55]

Some great stories here that I enjoyed reading. I just remember growing up in the 60's thinking and saying some day I'm going to own a Corvette. I just always thought they were a cool car. I bought my first one in 1989 it was a 70 Bridgehamton blue 350/300 4-speed coupe that was a 20 footer but I guess I had Corvette fever. I tracked down the original owner to find out it had 100,000 miles more on it than I thought. I think the odometer was at around 75,000 and he told me he towed his snowmobiles with it and took it hunting with his dogs in the car. The car was his daily driver, but still come on man. As they say ignorance is bliss. I put a lot of money in that car much more than it was worth at the time and the frame was pretty rusty. It was a fun car to drive but a money pit, I kept it for about 10 years. I bought my second one in the fall of 2009, a Polo green/beige LT1 6-speed coupe with decent mileage from a Chevy dealer. I enjoyed that car even though I didn't drive it much and sold it last spring. I really missed owning a Corvette and bought a 91 Quasar blue/black ZR1 with around 27K miles on it last summer that I really enjoy.
Joe