Ready for the Road, This ’61 Corvette Goes Everywhere

One morning in 1994, I was looking at the local Las Vegas newspaper and noticed a short ad that said, “1961 Corvette red and white $20,000.” I called an anxious gentleman who explained to me that he was going through a divorce and had to divest himself of some of his toys. Later that afternoon, I drove over to have a look. The Corvette wasn’t in perfect shape; there was a gap in the hood between the front cowl, the engine was not original, and there were plenty of rattles and electrical gremlins. But when we took the car for a ride, I immediately wanted it. The next day, I walked across the street from my office to the bank, got a $20,000 cashier’s check, and then called the owner to ask for a time that I could pick up my car.

During my 31-year relationship with my Vette, I have made some improvements. I had the front end of the body repaired so that the cowl and the hood matched perfectly, and the front half of the car was completely repainted. I replaced the awful bias-ply tires and drum brakes that made the car scary to drive with disc brakes, alloy wheels, and radial tires. An electronic fuel injection unit replaced the cantankerous twin four-barrel carburetors, and the old unreliable generator was swapped for an alternator. I also eventually chased away all the rattles and electrical gremlins.

With the car sorted, I began driving it a lot. I made several cross-country jaunts with it, including a trip to Decatur, Illinois, for a Solid Axle Corvette Club convention and a visit to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It has been in countless parades and car shows, and we still take it to local cruise nights. Over the years, my garage has been home to a variety of different cars, but there has always been a space for my Corvette.

This story first appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join the club to receive our award-winning magazine and enjoy insider access to automotive events, discounts, roadside assistance, and more.

***