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is a little story about our car. We joined the Queensland Corvette
Club in 1995. That same year, we bought and restored our first Vette
- a 1974 Stingray, which John Bondok converted for us to RHD. We
had so much fun with that car. We travelled a lot and won heaps
of awards . It really brought us back to life after I made it through
a near fatal work accident.
Although it was hard to part with, we sold the beautiful black '74
- to fund the conversion and restoration of the our next project.
I had been talking to Rob McAllister at the Melbourne convention
1999 about a neglected 1973 L82 Stingray which he had in his shed.
I let him know I was looking for a car just like that to restore
and convert myself. This car was a challenge - it had been stripped
by Mexicans in Pomona (just outside of LA) and left out in the weather
for years. The engine was so stuffed that the timing chain had just
about worn through the timing cover. It is amazing how the engine
even ran - but when Kerry and I drove it, we both knew it was something
special.
Rob decided to sell us the car a few months later, and I started
a two year body-off restoration and conversion to RHD in my back
shed. It was an epic journey which I will never forget!! Thanks
to John Bondok for an excellent conversion kit, and Chris Carson
for the final fit of the dash - the car hit the road in mid 2002.
I removed and cleaned every nut and bolt in the car, and had them
zinc plated or replaced with stainless. I had the interior re done.
I wire brushed the chassis and painted it in two Pack epoxy. I stripped
the body by hand, and I undertook a complete rebuild under the hood!!
We've had fun showcasing the car at a few shows, including the Ford
& Holden expo, the Brisbane Hot Rod Show and both concourses
at the Gold Coast and Brisbane in 2002. We are looking forward to
driving to Canberra at Easter for the Convention.
Cheers |
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