Jim Smith's 1979 Corvette

(Primary Participant)

    I have always had a weakness for yellow Corvettes. My first Corvette was a big block roadster, yellow with a black hood scoop which I purchased in 1969. I still own that car, but the body was destroyed in a fire about nine years ago. It is presently undergoing restoration.

    I have owned a '67 Coupe, an '87 Roadster (destroyed by fire) a '92 roadster, and an '82 Collector which actually belongs to my daughter. I just feel like it is mine because I have put a lot of time into helping her restore it. It is a 100,000+ mile car.

    When I spotted the '79, it was love at first sight. After the fire I purchased the '92 Aqua convertible from my good friend and collector Willis Prout. His wife, Sherry, had told me that she loved that car and if I ever wanted to sell it, that I was to see her first. Well, I was driving by his lot one day and there sat this yellow '79. As it turned out he was in the process of buying the car and I told him to tell his wife to get her checkbook out because I wanted the '79. That was October, 1996. This was my first "Shark."

    I soon became involved in NCRS and in April, 1998, the car received it's "Top Flight" award at the Southern Regional at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.

    It has also been picked at Labor Day Celebrations by celebrities Mike Vietro and Bud Gates.

    The car presently has 72,000+ miles on it, and as far as I know has never been on a trailer except for it's initial delivery from St. Louis to the dealer in Beloit, WI where it was first sold. I am looking forward to the privilege of driving it in the Historic Motorama.

    The Corvette is an L-82 with the 4-speed manual transmission. It has air conditioning, but no power windows or door locks and no tilt wheel. Those options became standard later in the 79 model run. It does have the optional front and rear spoilers, aluminum wheels, 2.55 X 60 X 15" tires and glass tops.

    About me:

    I am a Lifetime Member #454 of the Corvette Museum.

    I am also Ambassador to the Museum for Fun Center Corvette Club, Inc. located in the Manfield, Ohio area.

    I also belong to the NCCC and 2 chapters of the NCRS, (Lake Erie) and (Queen City)

    I have attended every Labor Day event at the Corvette Museum since the Grand Opening in '94 along with several other Museum events. I have met many wonderful people at those events. The Corvette may be the common denominator that brings us together, but it is people that makes it the Greatest Sports Car on Earth.

    Jim Smith
    Mansfield, OH
    NCM Lifetime #454

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