When did YOU know someday you would own 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...

[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.


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!




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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

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........

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?

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?

[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]

Originally Posted by DaveK

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