fatherlarry
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2008
- Posts
- 12
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello everyone.
I've been a Corvette enthusiast since the day I took a ride in a '63 split window coupe, back in 1963, Brooklyn, NY, on a day a friend and I played hookie. We were hitching to the beach and at a traffic light to the left of us, was a '63 split window coupe. I said to my friend, "let's see if this guy will pick us up", and he said "no way". But it seemed like this guy wanted to give too young 13 yr olds a treat for the day. Since I was the thinnest I crawled into the back, while Pete took the front seat. When he took off, all I could hear was the sound of the dual exhaust while looking up at split window. It was then that I caught Corvette fever. The fever also led me to follow in my dad's footsteps with a trade as an auto body specialist, and I am a muscle and pony car motor head. Living in Long Island at the time, I was priviliged to work with Joel at Motion Performance and was on the team who put together the Motion Corvette, Camaro and Vega.
I'm now retired from the auto body business, and I've worked at having Corvettes or Mustangs in my garage at one time or another. In my younger days, when I got out of Viet Nam, I raced at National Speedway on Long Island, and built a '57 Chevy E-Gaser and was a grand national winner.
I am a purist at heart, although my father and I did a lot of customizing in my shop. All my own cars were always stock, up until today.
Now to get to the point..My wife and I were on the computer the other day admiring the Vipers, which we have always done. We found a 2005 Commemorative Edition Viper nearby with 11,000 miles. Being retired now, I own a Z06, and run a Corvette website and forum, however, although I am very knowledgable about the Corvette from '53-present, I know very little about the Viper and what to look for as far as collectibility, production numbers, characteristics, desirability of certain years etc. Also, I would like to know if the Viper has traction control. Please don't laugh at me!
When we went to look at this 2005 White w/blue stripe Commemorative Edition, we fell in love with it. The seller told us it was #40 out of 100, although he did mention that the reason another potential buyer didn't buy it was due to the fact that when he initially came down to look at it, he thought it was the rarer 2004 Commemorative that went to Barrett Jackson. Are there two Commemorative editions, two years in a row? Also, I would like to understand the difference between the different models. We really do like the Commemorative edition. We aren't really looking for a collectible at our age, but just love the design and the color combo of the white/blue. Any helpful hints would be very appreciated, since I am seriously thinking about buying this Viper. What would you say is a fair price for it? The seller doesn't have any records or window sticker for the car, or any documentation of service. I guess I could get the serial number and have the history investigated. Thanks and my complements to the administrator for a very well thought out forum and website. My wife and I are looking forward to joining the Viper community and making some friends.
I've been a Corvette enthusiast since the day I took a ride in a '63 split window coupe, back in 1963, Brooklyn, NY, on a day a friend and I played hookie. We were hitching to the beach and at a traffic light to the left of us, was a '63 split window coupe. I said to my friend, "let's see if this guy will pick us up", and he said "no way". But it seemed like this guy wanted to give too young 13 yr olds a treat for the day. Since I was the thinnest I crawled into the back, while Pete took the front seat. When he took off, all I could hear was the sound of the dual exhaust while looking up at split window. It was then that I caught Corvette fever. The fever also led me to follow in my dad's footsteps with a trade as an auto body specialist, and I am a muscle and pony car motor head. Living in Long Island at the time, I was priviliged to work with Joel at Motion Performance and was on the team who put together the Motion Corvette, Camaro and Vega.
I'm now retired from the auto body business, and I've worked at having Corvettes or Mustangs in my garage at one time or another. In my younger days, when I got out of Viet Nam, I raced at National Speedway on Long Island, and built a '57 Chevy E-Gaser and was a grand national winner.
I am a purist at heart, although my father and I did a lot of customizing in my shop. All my own cars were always stock, up until today.
Now to get to the point..My wife and I were on the computer the other day admiring the Vipers, which we have always done. We found a 2005 Commemorative Edition Viper nearby with 11,000 miles. Being retired now, I own a Z06, and run a Corvette website and forum, however, although I am very knowledgable about the Corvette from '53-present, I know very little about the Viper and what to look for as far as collectibility, production numbers, characteristics, desirability of certain years etc. Also, I would like to know if the Viper has traction control. Please don't laugh at me!
When we went to look at this 2005 White w/blue stripe Commemorative Edition, we fell in love with it. The seller told us it was #40 out of 100, although he did mention that the reason another potential buyer didn't buy it was due to the fact that when he initially came down to look at it, he thought it was the rarer 2004 Commemorative that went to Barrett Jackson. Are there two Commemorative editions, two years in a row? Also, I would like to understand the difference between the different models. We really do like the Commemorative edition. We aren't really looking for a collectible at our age, but just love the design and the color combo of the white/blue. Any helpful hints would be very appreciated, since I am seriously thinking about buying this Viper. What would you say is a fair price for it? The seller doesn't have any records or window sticker for the car, or any documentation of service. I guess I could get the serial number and have the history investigated. Thanks and my complements to the administrator for a very well thought out forum and website. My wife and I are looking forward to joining the Viper community and making some friends.
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THANK YOU.
