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At what age and why did you buy a Corvette?

I'm not sure at what age I became a fan of the Corvette, but apparently I used to give my Dad near heart attacks when I was about 8yrs old any time I saw one while we were out in the family car. "OOOHHH, LOOK!!!" from out of the blue in the back seat would startle my Dad every time. There was just something about the shape of them that set me off (we're talking the C3 era here) with my personal favourites being the '74-'82 models. When I was about 11yrs old and we were living in Sask at the time I remember sending off a letter to a Sask based Corvette Club asking if I could be an honourary member and damned if I didn't get a letter back with a membership card, decal and a warm welcome! Still remember how excited I was the day that letter arrived.

I promised myself that one day I would get me a Corvette, but then life stepped in and there was always an excuse not to pull the trigger... pregnant wife, kids needing clothes, house needing repairs, etc. But I had also bought my first motorcycle at 19 and for the next 39yrs they always had priority for any extra cash lying around after all the bills were paid (and sometimes when the bills were not paid). I still admired the Corvette, but could never justify/afford the cost of adding one to my stable.

Earlier this year that all changed when I received a settlement from Veteran's Affairs for a work related disease and suddenly I had a bit of money to spare. A brief but intense search was launched for a C3, which was abandoned after realising there weren't many around my area that didn't require a lot of work to get up to par and I so started looking at the C5/C6 era. Just wasn't interested in the C4's at all, mostly because of the wonky space age dash and the "doorstop wedge" styling. Don't mean to insult anyone who has one, I'm just sayin'. Anyway, in late Sep this year I found a nice (or so it seemed at first) '97 coupe about 1.5hrs away and after viewing it decided to buy it. It wasn't until a few days after taking possession that I found out the many issues it had. Several weeks and about $3k later it is almost where I want it to be, just needs to have the paintwork buffed (so many scratches!), the RFA module replaced (TPMS and keyfob issues) and the cause of the 1-2 bangshift sorted out.

I've put a little over 2000km on her so far and every time I take her for a spin I can't help but smile. It is everything I'd hoped it would be and now I really wish I had been able to get one when I was younger.

 
@gem. Like you I also bought my first brand new Corvette when I was 19 years old. Long story but because previously I was in a head on collision with a drunk driver. After many months of healing and a law suit I came into a nice sum of cash. Usually when you are that young you tend to blow the money and partying it away but I decided to buy a new Corvette so I would have something to show for my pain and suffering. After enjoying the car for a couple of years a careless woman made a left turn at an intersection in front of me. I had the right of way. So the front left fender was smashed in. Bits of fiberglass were strewn all over the road. I was devastated. So still having some cash left I decided since the car was no longer going to be original I decided to customize it. Took many months with custom paint consisting of metal flake and crushed mirror, then coated with 19 coats of clear urethane and hand rubbed between each coatand lots of chrome motor parts and performance parts. Turned out very good. I had it in some car shows and was always winning second place for some reason. Corvette politics? LOL. You know when judges have Corvette friends and I'm not one of them. So one show I was in people not judges were allowed to vote. Guess what? I won the people's choice award. Fancy that, ha ha. I still have the trophy but the car was sold a long time ago. Don't know what ever happened to it if it is still around. I could write a book about this car but have rambled on long enough. Here is the trophy. It hangs in my garage overlooking my new 2020 Corvette convertible. I will always remember my first Corvette fondly with the best memories a guy could ever have.
 
Good story. There is something about buying a Corvette used or new and making it your own. You did that and treated it right. Good job.
 
my first was a 1985 (c4) i am from wyoming i started out to get a 78 25th anniversary one in michigan on labor day weekend. got a one way airplane ticket and was all set to jump in it and drive it home. boy did i get a lesson! this thing was not at all what the photos indicated. so there i was had a cashiers check and no way back home. thank goodness for ol army buddies. i rang one up and he came to my rescue. any how i found this 85 with only 44000 miles and brought it home. drove it for several years and i got hooked. sold it and bought a 2000 C5 had almost 100 more hp than the 85 sold it and got a 2001. lady ran a stop sign and totaled it so i found another 2001. this one is unique because it was built for CANADA, one of 137 millennium yellow convertibles it has a 6 spd stick which would make it even more rare. it only had 34000 miles on it. and i love it
 
Put the deposit for 50th birthday gift. I was going to get a new Porsche Cayman S..... but when the C8 dropped, it was a no brainer. I have always had modest ”sports cars” older 911’s, BMW Z4 3.0, old Lotus Europa & replica super 7, early Miata. But years ago I drove a Nissan 200sx race car with an LT1 swap, and I was hooked on the V8....... I wish the C8 had three pedals, but it’s an amazing car, and even my non-Z51 handles much better than I expected. I always thought I would get a Ferrari at one point, no need, the C8 is SO much better than any Ferrari or exotic I could afford, and it can be repaired without the sale of an internal organ.....
 
Never owned a vette and can’t recall ever driving one. Longed after old style NSX ever since they came out. Chased a few and watched the values march up.
In February, having chased another one, got to thinking about the C8 vs a 15 to 25 year old NXX
Appealing stying, better performance, better handling, better braking, nearly the same $ as for a good NSX, and a warranty. What’s not to like?
Order went in early March for Z51 LT2.
Delivered early September.
I raced open wheel for 18 years. Sold the race car 3 years ago. Had an itch to scratch and the C8 does it.
Only got out for one track session. Easier to push the C8 than my open wheel car ( and easier to get in and out) Very pleased with my choice.
Happy at a young 66.
 

I owned an NSX years ago. Amazing car for its time. Much better quality than the Corvette and got way more looks. Sorry I sold it a long time ago but was paying for two houses at the time and something had to go. Yes the price has gone way up since then. But enjoying my C8 just as much.
 
It’s a wild time in the world when our street cars are much more capable than our race cars...
 
It’s wild that our street cars are much more capable than most race cars...
 
Gorgeous NSX. Stock?
Was a 1991 standard. Shifts were like butter. Pretty much stock. Had a Sport exhaust on it. K&N air filter, and polished wheels. Changed the headlights to LED's. Sounded very sweet. Took a clip here. Was on a back road with no traffic. Was likely going around 200 K's or more. An old girl friend of mine took it with my cheap Sony camera.

 
Reactions: Kanuck
I’m sure you’ll agree that its the most reasonable (not cheap) sports car you’ll get. Was 65 senior retired and still driving a stick shift coupe. I enjoy the speed for the buck. No tickets yet (knock on wood). Cheers Dale !!!
 
Reactions: Dale124
I don’t know specifically WHY I bought my Corvette
as I have not really been the same person ever since
now I hang out with a bunch of new friends that are really really weird
… scary part is that I blend right in
Ha ha ha. The thing is we wave for some reason. Must be really weird. Who cares i enjoy my C5 when I’m driving around.
 
Reactions: YFCvii
No comments. Love my C5. Just imagine under 54K km. after all these years. 5 years of ownership.
 
Nice novel well expressed. Enjoy !!!
 
Reactions: JR410
 

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