For me, it was when my dad brought home a new 1979 Red T-Top (pictured in my signature).

My uncle had a C3 Corvette when I was a kid. I thought they were such cool looking cars. But honestly I was more of a Camaro fan as a kid and had a Camaro as my first car. When I was older I wanted a convertible or T-Top sports car with a V8 engine. I looked at Mustangs and Camaros and realized that a Corvette C4 was in my price range and had exactly what I wanted. I also found that there was a huge community of Corvette enthusiasts to lean on and feel part of. I bought my 92 Convertible and loved every second of ownership. I kept it for a couple years before deciding I wanted a C3 instead.

In 1963, I was 12 and living in North Haven, Connecticut with my parents and sister. At the time, I was more into riding my bike and didn't really notice cars too much until.... A guy that was living in our neighborhood but a brand new '63 Corvette Stingray convertible in a blue color. That one I 'definitely' noticed and after that, I was hooked. Then, when I was 16, when I was obsessed with every muscle car out there, the 1st C3's came out and I told myself that one day I would own one. Well, after that thru the years, I owned a '70 GTO RA3, a '74 TransAm, a '79 Z28 & my '85 Monte Carlo SS, I finally got my '78 Corvette SA in 1995 and it has and is my favorite of all of them. I still get a big smile on my face when I go out to the garage for something and see it.

Well, it was probably in high-school. An upper classman had a 66, I think, maroon 427. He would let you ride with him, put a $100.00 dollar bill on the dash, and if you could get it you could have it. Nobody did! Another friend in shop class had a 58 I helped restore. Many years passed. Another friend had, still has, a 85 vert. My wife said if you can find a purple one, she likes purple, you can buy it. So...as Carlisle approached my friend with the 85 said let's go. The 72' I now own was my goal. In the dark garage when I got it home, a drop light held up to the body made the dark Grey color a deep purple. My wife was smitten. Lots of dedication and work restored it to close to O.E.M. color and condition. Still have it, drive it, and enjoy it! An EBO friend helped many years later to carry a hard top out of Carlisle to add to its character. It's a keeper.