I'll tell you what I can - I know somethings never end up in writing
My grandfather had this car as long as I can remember. When I was about 6 he wanted to sell it to my dad, but he couldn't afford it. It was his show car, and his toy. Originally, from what I've been told (and I'll confirm this with the VIN if 5 days woohoo!), it had a 427 in it. He would let my uncle, and others drive it. Well, one day they brought it in for repairs, and something went wrong. Some genius mechanic dropped a screw or some darned thing into the cylinder (again, the story I've been told) and destroyed the original 427. So, to get it running, he had a rebuilt 350 (the current engine) dropped in. Shortly after that, a good family friend who works at a refinishing shop offered to repaint it in exchange for a hunting trip to Canada (they live in MA). Well, this was about 5 years ago. He took it in, and never finished.
I had an old 1986 Ford Bronco II that was my baby, I repainted it desert camouflage (see pic) and had huge plans to fix her up with my dad. Well, I totaled it, so we bought a new (if you can call it that) one for a few hundred bucks from a friend in June of 05. My dad left for a week to go to a teacher's conference, came home, and passed away from a massive heart attack the next day. My mom and sister were in Connecticut (with the people who towed this baby down actually) and so I was with him - at 17, just graduated High School - and had to call my mom and sister and deliver the news. This all connects, I promise
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I started college in the fall, and in November was told my Grandfather (mom's dad) had passed. Well, he was actually supposed to come visit us a week later, and when he did I was going to ask him about buying this Vette and some guns (he had a collection of 70+). Well, we went to MA and I got to talking with my uncle. He agreed to give me a couple guns, and one for my mom (hence the 12ga, the Colt 45 and Smith and Wesson 41mag some of you have seen on these boards) and said that I could take the Corvette as long as I promised to never sell it. Okay, done.
Well, (trust me this is the short version
) my grandfather's girlfriend (who had been with him for 20 some years) decided she had bills to pay and started selling off EVERYTHING. The guns (which were supposed to be my uncle's), my coin collection (never saw it), his boat, his truck, EVERYTHING went. Well, a year and some odd months later, I'm the only one in the whole family with anything of his, a handful of guns and the Vette. Like I said, heresy for it to leave the family. Now, if you offered me a life time of stability for my family, put my future kids through college and the ability for my wife and I to buy whatever we want and travel wherever we want, for the rest of our lives... well, I might be able to hand it over - He'd understand.
Seeing as that's never going to happen, this Corvette is my metaphorical connection to my father and grandfather. I never got to work on a vehicle with my dad (sold the second Bronco II to get the cash to tow the Vette to NC), which is why I know little of mechanics, and someone needs to honor the memory of my grandfather (seeing as his girlfriend sure as heck didn't). So this is a project with them in mind. It will look and feel like I imagine they'd want it to. Sounds kinda cheesy, but if you've ever heard "Riding with Private Malone" you'd kinda understand what I mean. I've got a long lineage of men in the military (which is why it's my turn this fall) and this is also for them.
Anyway, a lot of emotional connection and one bloody battle to get it down here, but finally she's home.
You asked. :laughing:
Seeing as you just read that here are some more pictures for your viewing pleasure. More on Monday, I promise!
