Doug,
What a great idea for a thread. Well done.
I think I have ownership seniority here, but I almost don't know where to begin. I can, with certainty, say that this car is the one constant (aside from my son and my dear old mother) in a life filled with change.
To think I almost bought a '67 Plymouth GTX, but thank God* sanity took hold.
That Plymouth would have dissolved into iron oxide decades ago. I still have HEAVEN. I guess that begins to tell you what I enjoy about this car.........absolutely everything!
When I bought it, almost no one we knew had a Corvette; never mind a 435 hp Corvette. And, now all these years later, it's still unusual and rare. How many midyear big blocks have you seen cruising down the 401 lately? The reaction from other drivers is quite incredible.
What do I enjoy about this car? Absolutely everything.
Time and automotive evolution have passed it by, but it took mega-millions of research and development dollars, and all kinds of fancy computer bits and pieces to challenge this car. If you think this 45 year old car is slow and can't brake and corner, think again.
What do I enjoy about this car? Absolutely everything.
From the late 1960s when stuffing two guys and three girls in a midyear coupe wasn't unheard of, to my current mid-60's age, it's still the same feeling every time I look at it (amazement), and start it (what's beyond lust?), and then drive it (who needs Viagara?).
What do I enjoy about this car? Absolutely everything.
I make every effort to NOT come across as an arrogant Corvette driver when interacting with other marque owners, but c'mon, isn't there something special about these cars that only Corvette owners understand?
What do I enjoy about this car? Absolutely everything.
Cruising. Racing. Long trips. Showing (not so much). Even grocery shopping when I couldn't afford a 2nd car one year long ago. I've done it all with this car. I am one of those rare but fortunate guys who "kept his". You know what I mean. Every time I fill 'er up, there's always some sad-eyed guy who proceeds to tell me the story about the one "just like this" that he had, but sold, all those years ago. I guess I'm the exception. I kept mine.
What do I enjoy about this car? Absolutely everything.
The rough ride? The extreme loudness? The smell of fuel? Do I find those a negative? Not on your life. From driving this car for 45 years, to performing all maintenance, repairs and the complete body-off rebuild. I am at one with the beast, and the beast is in me. By now, it's hard to even think of being without it. The beauty of its age and the era it came from speaks to the greatness of the design and the vision of the designers and engineers. While driving, I am completely in touch with every movement, aware of the complete utilitarian feedback from the experience and at one with Zora. There is no similar feeling. It's as close to driving a stripped out, all-out racer as you can get on the street.
What do I enjoy about this car? Absolutely everything.
I recognize and salute the beauty and performance of later Corvettes. I'll be keeping this one.
What do I enjoy about this car? Absolutely everything.