Kathie & Jim Summers 1965 Corvette

(Primary Participant)

"It's triple black now, but supposed to be Glen Green, and the motor isn't original, the nose is cracked and will eventually need replacing, so it'll be a GREAT driver."

Jim was raving about a '65 convertible he found in a Sunday classified ad. (We already had a 74 big-block Garage Queen).

"I really think you should come look at it."

I'm not stupid, so knew this was just a formality, but agreed to go check out this midyear.

After receiving Jim's sworn promise that we wouldn't restore it for at least five years we drove it home. I started receiving weird Christmas and birthday gifts: teak steering wheel, set of knock-off wheels, winter cover, summer cover, new visor skins, etc. all being stored in the garage awaiting that restoration. Since she didn't have the original motor we agreed this Vette would always be a driver - just a much better looking one someday! Is anyone surprised to read that the waiting period got shortened to four years and the new nose and paint job escalated into a full-blown body-off restoration?

We ordered a new front clip and scheduled the restoration for late fall 1994. We decided to return her to Glen Green paint, and quickly realized the top was going to look crummy against the new paint. We found a NOS white vinyl top which was what she originally had. Now the interior was going to really look shabby, so replace the worn black with bright white. Well, heck, now the chrome will look awful, so locate a plater. Oops, don't forget the new black carpeting and console cover. Four months and lots and lots of dollars later we drove her home again.

Our Dream Vette never came out of the plant as she is now - but she COULD have. Glen Green paint, white vinyl top, white interior, 4-speed, 327/350, teak wheel, knock-offs, and side exhaust - ah, I do LOVE that sound! She earned Jim a boat-load of trophies during the next couple years - which is very ironic since we owned a trophy shop at the time ! ! ! !

That '74 big-block Garage Queen has found a new home, but our Dream Vette has been joined by a '62 Burgundy convertible and a '98 Fairway Green convertible - all with white tops and stick shifts.

We are THRILLED to have this opportunity to participate in the Historic Motorama. We've already found new friends in 1956 participants Richard & Carolyn Fortier - and look forward to having a fun-filled, safe journey with all the lottery winners!

Almost forgot - - - she WAS a Garage Queen :-)

Lake Hopatcong, NJ
NCM Lifetime #614

HERE