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.