Corvette Blog

Would it not be a great thing if there were a resource for everyone seeking to restore a Corvette?  What if there were written materials with technical information to help rebuild a vehicle to the highest standards of excellence?

We know that there are Corvette enthusiasts who are geniuses in terms of making all the correct decisions relative to transforming a "barn find" into a beauty from the past.  We see the evidence at Bloomington Gold, Corvettes at Carlisle, and National Corvette Homecoming, or at any of dozens of other judged shows.  Wouldn't it be marvelous if these folks would share their cumulative thousands of years of experience with the newbies?

Well, of course, I am setting you up for the good news that this is exactly what the National Corvette Restorers Society does!  If you are in the process of restoration -- or if you are contemplating purchase of an older Corvette (1953-1993) -- talk to these people immediately!

I spent quite a bit of time at the N.C.R.S. booth at the Bob McDorman 34th Annual Corvette and Classic Chevy Show, and learned so much I will have to share it with you over the course of several blogs.  Please check out their resources.

 [ Related Blog ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Events , Corvette Restoration | 3 Comments Permalink

Leading up to this year's Woodward Dream Cruise, igotshotgun.com did a four video series on the historic Vinsetta Garage.  I discovered it at SPEEDChannel.com myself, but you can find it either place.

The Vinsetta Garage opened in 1919, and it looks like it, with two ancient non-functioning gas pumps sitting out front.  Owner/manager Jack Marwil runs a tight ship with an assortment of fine technicians, who transfer beauties of the past into efficiently functioning automobiles for cruising today.  Restoration and modifications go hand in hand.  Their fans are multitudinous, who clearly make understatements like "They do really fine work here!"

The Vinsetta team members pride themselves in restoring vehicles to "better than new," but have discovered, interestingly, that sometimes "some people get turned off by that, especially the Corvette guys!"  From what I hear, GM really likes this place.

[ igotshotgun.com ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Events , Corvette Restoration | 0 Comments Permalink

What do you call a man who eats, sleeps, and vacations with Corvette parts?  One such man is Terry, and he confesses to a Corvette addiction.

Since as a youth he started bringing parts car after parts car to his parent's home, the evidence of addiction has been clear.  When others would go to the lake house, or the shore, or Disney World, Terry would go to cars shows, looking to hawk Corvette fuel injector kits or wheel covers.

Terry's niche is Corvettes and other Chevies from the 50's through the 70's.  If you need parts related to 1957-1965 Corvette fuel injection, if you're looking for RPO 276 Corvette wheel covers from that same era, or thermostat housings, you need to call Terry.  Thermostat housings?  Don't get him started!  He calls himself the thermostat "housing authority".

Does humility play a part in his expertise for "early, hard to find" Corvette parts?  A favorite saying: "I don't know it all, but I want to.  Teach me.  I'm all ears."

Sadly, he has no website.  Call Terry at 586/996-1967.

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Equipment , Corvette Parts , Corvette Restoration | 0 Comments Permalink

Corvette Blog is back fresh from the Bloomington Gold event in St. Charles, Illinois.  And what a great time it was for this blogger!  And to think I missed the first 34 years! 

Corvettes were there by the thousands!  Vendors who cater to Corvette enthusiasts were there by the score!  The venue was well designed.  The sights were great.  The weather was almost perfect (at least while I was there).

We've made some new friends, and told a lot of folks our story that we are a "source of everything Corvette".  Please check back over the days to come as we write about Corvettes and people that caught our attention at Bloomington Gold.

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Enthusiasts , Corvette Events , Corvette Recognition , Corvette Restoration , Vacationing in a Corvette | 0 Comments Permalink

I call it Steve's Corvette Garage.  Yesterday, I was given a first class tour of Advanced Automotive Technologies in Rochester Hills, a couple dozen miles north of the world capital of the automobile, Detroit.  The building's exterior reveals nary a hint of the automotive delights inside!

Gregarious owner Steve Pasteiner piloted me through an efficient, clean, hands-on operation, with many informative stops along the way.  It's a challenge to delineate all the areas of expertise demonstrated here, but I will give it a try.

I had previously blogged about one of Steve's products, the 50th Commemorative Edition Corvette.  Two of these beauties there were shipping later in the day, and another was nearly completed.  Others were earlier in the process.

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Enthusiasts , Corvette Equipment , Corvette Parts , Corvette Restoration | 1 Comments Permalink

Experts on pre-owned Corvette ownership recommend that pre-owned Corvettes be selected for purchase with a strong bias toward the "cosmetics" unless the purchaser can do hands-on cosmetic repair himself or herself.

In an article entitled "Corvette Buying 101" seven critical recommendations for buying a pre-owned Corvette are given.  Consider them carefully:

Posted By Bill Connell In Buying a Corvette , Corvette Restoration | 2 Comments Permalink

Where would you go to read the sales literature for a 1960 or a 1973 Corvette?

Well, you could visit the incredible resources of the  National Automotive Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library or the National Corvette Museum.

But what if you have no plans to be in either Michigan or Kentucky to visit one of these places any time soon, but you would still like to see the original sales "catalog" from the dealership to see what equipment was optional, or what colors were offered, in a particular year?  Perhaps you want the original literature to have on display with your classic Vette this summer.

One clear option is to purchase an original brochure from one of a few car catalog collectors.  The company with the most effective website that I have found is McLellan's.  This link will take you right to their Corvette page!

If you would like us to feature another company, please let us know with whom you have done business.

[ Corvette Blog on N.A.H.C. ]

[ National Corvette Museum ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Memorabilia , Corvette Restoration | 0 Comments Permalink

Suppose you are restoring a classic C1 Corvette, and you discover that you need a front engine mount cushion kit.  To whom do you turn?

Likewise, you need an oil filter for a first generation Corvette, but you want it to be exactly like the original black filter with white silk screening on it.  Where?

Perhaps it's a chrome plated rear view mirror for a 1959 Corvette.  Who has unique parts you can count on?

One source for many is Paragon Corvette Reproductions of Swartz Creek, Michigan, not far from Flint.  Complete on-line catalogs for C1, C2, and C3 Corvettes are available.

[ Paragon ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Equipment , Corvette Restoration | 2 Comments Permalink

Attentive visitors to the National Corvette Museum discover a direct connection from the museum to another organization entirely.  The story is simple, but often overlooked.

Many men from the National Corvette Restorers Society had possessed the dream that was fulfilled in 1994 when the museum opened.  Terry McManmom was the first to move on the dream way back in 1984.  At least four other individuals were also key in the creation of this fabulous facility: Ray Battaglini, Jon Brookmeyer, Dan Gale, and Darrel Bowlin.

Posted By Bill Connell In Classic Corvettes , Corvette History , Corvette Museum , Corvette Restoration | 12 Comments Permalink

The Corvette Action Center is a great repository of information.  This article on purchasing a pre-owned Corvette gives a great overview of the subject.

Buying your first Corvette can be a difficult task if you're not sure what to look for. You've heard all the terms ("matching numbers", "body-off restoration", "frame-off restoration" etc), but you're not sure what they mean. Our goal here is to provide you with a little bit of knowledge before you go into the Corvette buying world and to supply you with a handy check list of items that you may want to check out the Corvette that you're interested in purchasing. Depending on options, some of the items on the list may or may not apply to the particular Vette that you're looking at. Hopefully, we've compiled a fairly broad enough array of items to look at that will cover just about all Corvette model years.

Posted By Bill Connell In Buying a Corvette , Corvette Restoration | 1 Comments Permalink

Classic Reflection Coachworks of Lakewood, Washington wants to take your C5 Corvette and customize it to look like a 1962.

The appeal of such cars (beside the fact that you see them more in your dreams than on the street) is the opportunity to blend various styles and design cues together, to put excitement and fun back into the old familiar shapes, to haunt our thoughts with these wide-eyed round headlights and muscle-car curves once again.

Their handiwork is remarkable.  In the words of CRC: "This new automotive conversion transforms your C5 Corvette Roadster into a modern legend. It takes you back in time to a classic looking car, yet it has the safety, comfort and performance of America’s most desired sports car."

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Equipment , Corvette Fun , Corvette News , Corvette Parts , Corvette Pictures , Corvette Restoration | 2 Comments Permalink

Thanks to a helpful story on the “Latest News” tab at Corvette Action Center today, it was learned that the National Corvette Museum is selling parts on eBay to raise additional funds for the operation of the Museum.

In my visit to the eBay link, it appears that the majority of the parts are for Vettes, but there are goodies for some other GM products, too. Take a look!  For example, that replacement tail light assembly for your 1970-71 Corvette may be waiting there for you!

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Equipment , Corvette Museum , Corvette Parts , Corvette Restoration | 1 Comments Permalink