From an email cousin Dale sent to me:
1953 Corvette ...
Dale Iffrig
2:26 AM
My uncle, Joseph Darby, was a research chemist at Monsanto Chemical.
Monsanto was supplying some of the plastics for the fiber glass reinforced body
of this Sports Car. Chevrolet loaned serial # 3 to Monsanto ( for a short period ).
One fine day, Joe brought this car to our house on Annalee in Brentwood.
He let me drive it on Brentwood Blvd. Maybe 3 miles.
I was in seventh heaven !
You will notice these lucky people driving a like Corvette through
Forest Park ( St. Louis ).
peace,
dale
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http://www.tvraaca.org/corvette1953i.htm
Pretty cool huh?
The car must have magical qualities -- the lady's hairdo is windblown and she doesn't even care!
It's a nifty ad, and I certainly wouldn't complain about having one of those in my garage. (Although my preference would be a '57 T-Bird.)
I am most partial to the '62 body style. But I would be happy with any of the 1957 - 62 varieties. Great cars.
What do you think the Chevy guys would say if I swapped in a 427 Ford engine?
Great video. Brings back some fond memories.
Thanks Herb
Rich
Those early Vettes must have had measurable slack in their steering as that guy is constantly moving the steering wheel, even while driving straight.
As the saying goes: "Jesus, save me from your followers"
... so too, is the problem with Corvettes. Neat cars with a lot going for them, except the kind of
guys that think that Corvettes are the end all, beat all. No other car group has so many Rainman
types in their ranks.
Definitely ten minutes to Wapner. Definitely.
I enjoy driving my Corvette but find it very impractical unless your plan is to drive like your in a road rally. It rides rough, the road noise makes it hard to hear anything. There's barely enough room to haul anything or anyone. And there's nothing normal about the price of repair parts. I had wanted one since I was very young. I saved money while I was in Viet Nam to buy one when I got home only to find out my money had gone for nonessentials like food, clothing, gas and other unnecessary purchases for my family. Then a couple years ago I finally bought myself one and I'm still waiting to find out what the big draw was for such a machine. Now my new dream is for a Model A Roadster with a flathead V8 in it. Not a showcar but a well built hot rod.
A friend told me once that a Corvette pulled next to his T at a stop light and the driver asked him, "You want to race?" My friend said, "Sure, I'll race you, but I get to pick the road...."
I can see that road, too. Now, THAT is funny !
So, Mike .... did they ever find the bodies of your family after you killed them ?
I wish I had one of those, the Corvette I mean. And I would also like to be able to watch Dave again. He had a good show.
Herb,
I have # 424 with 27,000 miles. Great car !
Burger, things were pretty tough around Northern Minnesota those days. The mines were starting to back down on their production and my brother and I were both gone and Dad wasn't getting the pulp and log contracts he'd been getting. If it had just been the Old Man I'm pretty sure we would have had to have a discussion, but it would have been tough to look at Mom and my younger Sisters and give them hell for simply trying to get by.
i retired from the corvette plant in st louis, neat place
My wife sure enjoys the '59 I bought for her.
Much the same as driving the Touring in respect to people talking to you at a stop light or smelling the smells as you drive down a country road.......
Mike Garrison >>> "I enjoy driving my Corvette but, the road noise makes it hard to hear anything."
Sounds the same as my '65 Mustang.
When I want a comfortable, quiet, ride I take my '59 Chev.......
sorry to say I had one, quiet sure it was one of the
first 10 . I got a wooping 300 bucks for it.
what a fleet of T's I could buy now for what that
is worth. Then a mint 63 Split with genuine fuel
injected 327, got a 1000 bucks for it down on a
new 69 Caddillac coupe deville. such is life;....
I was 17 and my cousin let me drive his new 1964 Vette. It rode rough but it was so cool. Especially at 17 and cruising where your classmates saw you. As the commercial says, priceless!
Saw my first Corvette in 1953 in North Caldwell New Jersey. Brand new, just like the one in the film. Owned by Mr O'Brian the local real estate agent. It was a real eye opener for a 13 year old. Didn't get a ride at that time, but got my first drive of a 59 Corvette in 59 also in North Caldwell, when I was on leave from the US Army. Demonstrated to my passenger, the owner's daughter, how I could down shift back to low at speed and failed! 3 speed manual no synchro on low. Thought if I could do it in my 51 ford, it would be just as easy. Wrong! LOL now, not then.
Wondering how that girl was so cheerful in th cold air. Trees were bare.
Geo n L.A.