HawkRod's new driver - Warning: Non Mopar content!

[64BEL]

Cool new ride, Hawk! It brings back fond memories of my childhood. When we lived in upstate NY in the late '60s/early '70s, there was a young married couple who lived up the street. Charlie, and a friend of his who was always stopping over, always had new Vettes in those days. They were the cool young adults with cool cars in our neighborhood.
Have fun with your new ride!

 

[Don Frelier]

I'm taking bets on when the cute yellow Vette gets a 383 stroker you know a fake Mopar treatment.

Anyone in?

 

[Runcharger]

I don't hate those either. Should be a fun daily.

 

[toolmanmike]

I'll try to tell a story and channel a bit of @moparedtn although I'll never do stories as good as Ed....

So when I got back from my 2022 drive across country I was driving my 73 Road Runner quite a bit - using it like an (almost) daily driver. I found that I really enjoyed driving a classic car. But, it had some body/ rust issues, and I came to realize that the best thing for the car was to sell it and allow a new, passionate owner to care for it. I found a great young guy and I am really happy about where it ended up.
View attachment 1604483

But I lost my driver.

Separately, my father-in-law was always into classic Corvettes. I am now am the owner of his 1962 Corvette, which was his pride and joy for many years. In 2019, he asked me to be the next care taker, and I gladly accepted. Yeah, I know it's not a Mopar, but it has classic lines.
View attachment 1604481


Well, in the early 90's my father-in-law's best friend really wanted a Corvette too. So my father-in-law found him a Corvette in California. He drove and enjoyed it sparingly for many years. Well, then it sat for the the last 7 years, and finally his friend decided to sell the car due to some health reasons.
As you all have surely guessed, I ended up with it. This is mainly because I was able to buy it for a price I couldn't refuse - I would have been stupid to walk away. Yes, the fuel system is gunky, it has some electrical gremlins and the interior needs a little TLC, but the body and paint is super and the car has no rust! Yeah, I know, everyone laughs at "no rust" statements for Corvettes because they are made of fiberglass, but the frames have a tendency to rust. Worse yet, the fiberglass body is built on a "birdcage" of metal. If the birdcage gets rusty, you are pretty well screwed because you essentially have to tear off all the fiberglass to fix it. Well, this car has none of those issues. It is a 69 Corvette Coupe with 30,606 original miles, 350 small block, automatic, A/C, PS, PB and power windows too. It is not a fire breathing hot rod, but instead a perfect cruiser.

So, I am going to clean it up and make this my new (almost) daily driver. I'll drive and enjoy it, and not really be too worried about it.

Here are a couple of shots:
View attachment 1604485

View attachment 1604486

Now, don't worry. I'm not going over to the "dark side". I'm still a Mopar guy through and through. But sometimes life drops strange opportunities into your lap that you just can's pass up. Plus, this will still be a lot cooler to drive around in than some old Honda Civic or something! Additionally, if I later come upon some cool Mopar that I can make my driver, I can always sell this and convert the money into another Mopar.

I know this a B body forum, so I won't bother you guys with any build details. But I figured I needed to let you know what life dropped in my lap.

Nice Driver!

 

[Curiousyellow71]

I was shopping for a car to work on with my boys(step sons)...shopped around and musclecars of any brand were huge projects and I didnt want to give up any out of my fleet....then found this 76 with 32,000 miles. Yes plastic bumpers. But it's a classic car..and most don't know the difference.
I installed a really nice sound system and got rid of the single cat..that helped so now it's as powerful as a chevy pickup from the 70s.Lol. That wasn't all bad, I didn't really trust the boys with much hp. Maybe if it would've had power though...they'd had more interest..?

The kids took it to prom and I was impressed when the one had two girls riding with him. It has 37k miles now..only 5k in 15 years. Probably time to move it on..but I still have fun with it a few times a year. I have an appreciation for most classics. My first car that was handed down to me was a 71 chevelle...first car I ever purchased was a 69 charger...had both when I was 14 in the 80s.

 

[VANDAN]

Like that '62 ! Let me know when you need to "part ways" with it !!!

 

[ywca]

I'll try to tell a story and channel a bit of @moparedtn although I'll never do stories as good as Ed....

So when I got back from my 2022 drive across country I was driving my 73 Road Runner quite a bit - using it like an (almost) daily driver. I found that I really enjoyed driving a classic car. But, it had some body/ rust issues, and I came to realize that the best thing for the car was to sell it and allow a new, passionate owner to care for it. I found a great young guy and I am really happy about where it ended up.
View attachment 1604483

But I lost my driver.

Separately, my father-in-law was always into classic Corvettes. I am now am the owner of his 1962 Corvette, which was his pride and joy for many years. In 2019, he asked me to be the next care taker, and I gladly accepted. Yeah, I know it's not a Mopar, but it has classic lines.
View attachment 1604481


Well, in the early 90's my father-in-law's best friend really wanted a Corvette too. So my father-in-law found him a Corvette in California. He drove and enjoyed it sparingly for many years. Well, then it sat for the the last 7 years, and finally his friend decided to sell the car due to some health reasons.
As you all have surely guessed, I ended up with it. This is mainly because I was able to buy it for a price I couldn't refuse - I would have been stupid to walk away. Yes, the fuel system is gunky, it has some electrical gremlins and the interior needs a little TLC, but the body and paint is super and the car has no rust! Yeah, I know, everyone laughs at "no rust" statements for Corvettes because they are made of fiberglass, but the frames have a tendency to rust. Worse yet, the fiberglass body is built on a "birdcage" of metal. If the birdcage gets rusty, you are pretty well screwed because you essentially have to tear off all the fiberglass to fix it. Well, this car has none of those issues. It is a 69 Corvette Coupe with 30,606 original miles, 350 small block, automatic, A/C, PS, PB and power windows too. It is not a fire breathing hot rod, but instead a perfect cruiser.

So, I am going to clean it up and make this my new (almost) daily driver. I'll drive and enjoy it, and not really be too worried about it.

Here are a couple of shots:
View attachment 1604485

View attachment 1604486

Now, don't worry. I'm not going over to the "dark side". I'm still a Mopar guy through and through. But sometimes life drops strange opportunities into your lap that you just can's pass up. Plus, this will still be a lot cooler to drive around in than some old Honda Civic or something! Additionally, if I later come upon some cool Mopar that I can make my driver, I can always sell this and convert the money into another Mopar.

I know this a B body forum, so I won't bother you guys with any build details. But I figured I needed to let you know what life dropped in my lap.

Nice Corvette hawk rod. Enjoy it while you can and have a lot of fun with it. I have also been a lover of Corvettes in my younger days. I’ve had three C3, 76 77 and I currently still own an 81 black on black 4 speed 36,000 miles on it, the only problem now is that I need a shoehorn to get in it and out.

 

[Runcharger]

Yes: The only GM I've ever had the misfortune to own was a 79 Corvette. Ugly to get into and uncomfortable and I drove it like a Mopar so the drivetrain didn't hold up. But if you can fit in it okay and be comfortable and don't drive it too hard it will be fine. I like the look of the 73 and older.

 

[guy gadbois]

Congratulations Mr HawkRod! Nice looking car and I'm sure you will enjoy it. Of course, I'm a bit partial, especially since today is the 46th anniversary of me purchasing my first Corvette...and it was bright yellow!

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

Congrats Hawk!! Better then a HONDA!!!
How the hell do you fit in the thing?? Stay "nimble" with the back & legs for sure

 

[HawkRod]

Like that '62 ! Let me know when you need to "part ways" with it !!!

The 62 has so much family history so it'll go to my son or daughter. You can negotiate with them!
It's a solid lifter 340 HP, close ratio 4 speed and 4.11, so it still is fun to drive. It handles like crap and the steering is way to big, but it is kinda nice to put around in when the weather is nice. But it certainly isn't made for tall guys!

Nice Corvette hawk rod. Enjoy it while you can and have a lot of fun with it. I have also been a lover of Corvettes in my younger days. I’ve had three C3, 76 77 and I currently still own an 81 black on black 4 speed 36,000 miles on it, the only problem now is that I need a shoehorn to get in it and out.

Yeah, luckily I'm still limber enough to get in and out. That'll end eventually, and then it'll have to go bye bye if I still have it.
A lot easier to get in and out of the Road Runner, but I'm not going to beat that with daily driving!

 

[qkcuda]

Hawk, you better install a trailer hitch if you and Barry decide to road trip it. You will need the storage space.

 

[68BabyBlue]

Congratulations on your new ride, Hawk! You really threaded the needle - I was your age when I owned my only Corvette, and I sold it while I was still able to get in and out easily.

 

[eldubb440]

you guys would crack up if you saw me in the wife's TR6 ........... like 10 pounds of crap in a 2 gallon bucket

 

[eldubb440]

wait..... I need to convert pounds of crap to gallons....... I'm not sure it's possible...... never mind, carry on

 

[qkcuda]

You should see me shoehorned into my wife's Crossfire.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

MY GF Coral has a Miata... Say no more.... LOL

 

[gtx6970]

I have a soft spot for a 68-72 Steel bumper Vette. And a small block auto would be just fine .,,,as long as it has working AC.

 

[HawkRod]

Hawk, you better install a trailer hitch if you and Barry decide to road trip it. You will need the storage space.

Haha. Very true, with all the crap we have brought with us for our last two trips, there is no way we could pack what we needed in the Vette. But I'll continue to road trip my Road Runner to have the trunk space.

I have a soft spot for a 68-72 Steel bumper Vette. And a small block auto would be just fine .,,,as long as it has working AC.

I agree. This car is a factory A/C car with all the parts present, although it is not currently charged. But I guarantee you, I will fix the A/C!

 

[Nevada dan]

My wife went and bought a Chevy on me
I couldn’t argue being the price she stole it at
I’ve been fixing wiring, replaced the ignition switch and valve springs, car hadn’t been started since 2003 and some of them were pretty weak but it’s got a 396, 4 speed and 12 bolt
Can’t wait for it to stop raining so I can take it out and see how much abuse it can take, not nearly as much as a mopar but Chevy parts are cheap
So I can’t bust your balls either especially since it’s one of the best years they made in my opinion