This 1972 Chevrolet Corvette fulfilled my lifelong dream
Growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens, I was the neighborhood kid who would always detail all the older kids’ vehicles in the neighborhood. The C3 Corvette was always a lifelong love for me. I really loved the car so much. When I retired in 2010, I could finally fulfill my dream and try to find one.
I searched for a few years, and then I found a 1972 Corvette in Texas. It was just what I was looking for, so I pulled the trigger and purchased it in 2017. It’s been a six-year project; the car spent an entire year in paint. Everything was taken off. Jeff Buchak, the owner of Paradigm Automotive in Sparkill, New York, is a genius. He has done cars for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and for the SEMA show. Jeff does really high-end work. The paint is flawless, the gaps are flawless. I’m pretty much a perfectionist, and we made it perfect.
I was a fan of all the blues of the ’70s that Corvette did. There was Briar Blue, Targa Blue, Le Mans Blue. We took all the blues that Corvette offered for 1972, and we made one blend. The paint is unbelievable, because depending on the lighting conditions, it can look like Targa Blue, and then if it’s a little lighter, it may look a little bit like Briar Blue.
The engine is the numbers-matching 350 stock block. I like to go fast, so we stroked it out to a 383 and replaced the carburetor with a Holley Terminator EFI. We did all kinds of high-performance work with the trick flow heads and the cam and everything. I did the EFI and certain mods to it because I wanted it to be reliable. I wanted to be able to hop in the car and drive without incident. I take it to a lot of shows in the tri-state area, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. I belong to the Rockland Rodders Car Club in Rockland County, New York, and I belong to the All-American Corvette Club in Paramus, New Jersey. I want to try to do my part to get more younger people involved in it, and more involved in the hobby.
When I’m at a show, my car doors are open, I have kids in there, and I don’t care if they get it dirty or if they have ice cream on their hands. The car can always be cleaned. When you get a 12-year-old or a 10-year-old and you say, “Go sit in the car, take some pictures,” their eyes light up, and it means the world to them. They’re hooked at an early age. It’s these simple things that car people can do to get the younger generation into the hobby.
I had a young kid come up to me and say, “Thank you so much.” And I said, “Thank you for what?” He replied, “For preserving history. For giving my generation the opportunity to see what a 1972 Corvette Stingray looks like. And to enjoy it.” I had a tear come to my eye. And I said, “Oh, man. No, it’s my pleasure.” The younger people, they love it, they appreciate it, and hopefully, we can recruit that young generation of gearheads together into the hobby.
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As a fellow member of the AACC, I commend you for restoring such a beautiful C3… may God bless and hopefully you’d get to enjoy it for years to come. Happy cruising!!!
Love the attitude here. Here’s a gorgeous car that is spec’d to the owner’s special desires and impeccable standards with an emphasis on drivability and getting it out to events. Then let kids jump into the car & hopefully spark a connection to the hobby. Generous and brilliant!
Very well done ! Beautiful Corvette !
Nice story about your car. Here’s a story about mine (below). I think we may have known each other from E. 20th Street. Hope you are well and maybe I’ll see you at a car show. I go to Floyd Bennett Field often and they have some nice car gatherings there. https://www.hagerty.com/media/people/after-39-years-a-long-lost-1967-bmw-2000cs-miraculously-finds-its-original-owner/
Great story. Thanks for sharing.
The car looks awesome. You’ll have many more retirement years to enjoy that C3 like I do my 68
Awesome story. I’m like you, I take my car to shows and I let people sit in it. Why not? It allows people a deeper connection with the car, and it shows you’re not as stuck up as the people with DO NOT TOUCH signs everywhere screaming at everyone that gets a little too close.
I also offer people who approach and ask about my car at shows the opportunity to sit inside. The response I get is either one of reminiscence or intrigue. This translates for me into added value for vintage vehicle ownership.
That is a gorgeous blue. Love the car.
Great looking car and a beautiful attitude! Bring on the next gen kids/car crazies.
Great car! Great story! I just bought my dream Corvette 3 weeks ago. 1968 327/350hp L79 matching numbers red hard top convertible. Fun to drive. Not a show car but looks and runs great. Thank you for sharing.
Great car and story. I echo the feelings about letting others sit in our car, a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. We are now a few generations out from people seeing these cars first person. Besides the kids, the parents are intrigued and the comments received are priceless.
Stunning!!!!
Thanks, I wish more people with Classic Cars felt this way! I have a ’29 Ford 5 window Hot Rod and I know how I feel when some a Little Person comes over to look at my car and ask if They can sit inside of Her and ask questions about Her. Makes Me feel Great.
Bryar Blue, it’s not spelled ‘briar blue, as written in the article. I own one of the 1,617 made in 1972. My aunt owned it 48 years. My uncle bought at the GM
factory auction, from the plant manager. It has the auction plate still on it (721). All numbers match and all original with new tires. It was from Metamora, MI and lives in Niagara Falls, ON, now.