THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506280181
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
George Cooper likes to take his 30-year-old car out once a week, drive it to a restaurant for Sunday breakfast or brunch. It shouldn't take him long to get there. His vintage vehicle is a red 1964 fuel-injection Corvette.
``We park it where we can see it,'' said Cooper. ``It's a rare model. They only made 1,300 fuel-injection engines that year.''
Cooper has a photograph album filled with pictures and ads of the car and its previous owners. Included in the history is an original price sticker for the car in 1964: $5,446.35. The original owner negotiated the Colorado dealer down to $4,926.
``I was offered $65,000 for it, since I bought it last year,'' said Cooper, with the satisfied smile of a sports car owner and wise investor.
Cooper was one of more than 100 Beachcomber Corvette Club members who drove their prized machines to RK Chevrolet for the third annual All-Chevy show this month. Other custom Chevys also appeared. Nearly 3,000 Corvette devotees and the merely curious attended.
The muscle cars provided glitter and served a worthy cause. Donations from concessions and raffles went to the American Diabetes Association of Virginia.
``Corvettes and diabetes awareness may seem like an odd combination,'' said regional director Kenneth M. Inchausti. ``But the show provides a welcome addition to our coffers.
``When you see a Corvette, think of it as a vehicle for diabetes awareness.''
Mike Tillett drove his 1985 jet-black 'Vette up from Manteo, N.C. He's the president of the Carolina Coastal Corvette Club and has been a Beachcombers member for four years.
``Right after I got this,'' Tillett said, pointing to his ferocious-looking sports car. He owned another 'Vette, a 1986, before purchasing his auto piece de resistance.
``It's been modified, has a different rear end than the original had. The engine is 350 cubic inches and develops about 410 horsepower,'' he said.
And that's not all.
``Oh, yeah. There's my stereo, my 1200-watt Kenwood stereo. She thumps.''
Tillett wanted to show off one final touch: His personalized license plate. It reads: MUSTUTRY. ``Some people do,'' Tillett said, shrugging and smiling slightly, confident at the thought that some people feel they must try to race him. Tillett drives his 'Vette regularly.
Many - maybe most Corvette owners - see their cars as Sunday-drive specials or look at them as investments. They don't mind others looking at them. But please don't touch.
Terry Fennessey bought his 1966 Nassau blue Corvette in Massachusetts. He brought it with him when he moved to Virginia.
How long did it take him to get it to its present restored state?
``Oh, about six years,'' he said. ``I used to drive it every day. Now I just drive it on weekends.''
An awful long period of hard work for weekends.
``Yes. But these shows make it worth every minute of the effort,'' Fennessey said, between answering questions and savoring the looks of awed 'Vette lovers. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by GARY EDWARDS
Terry Fennessey says it took six years to restore his 1966 Corvette
that he only drives on weekends.
The muscle cars served a worthy cause with proceeds going to the
American Diabetes Association of Virginia.
George Cooper's rare red 1964 fuel-injection Corvette is an award
winner. He was one of more than 100 Beachcomber Corvette Club
members who drove their prized machines to RK Chevrolet for the
third annual All-Chevy show this month. The show's preceeds benefit
the American Diabetes Association. Nearly 3,000 Corvette devotees
and the merely curious attended.
by CNB