Huckleberries Online

High Noon: In Praise Of The Stingray

Posted by DFO

March 5, 2009 12:09 p.m. • 33 comments

My love and commitment belong to the wife of my youth, Susan. 32 years proves that. My passionate joy belongs to the Corvette Sting Ray. Always has … especially the model from 1963. (46 years proves that, too.) I first beheld the ‘63 when I first held it in my hands. My brother, Gary, and I had just received a race car set with the “fast back” cars being small enough to fit in the palm of my little boy hands. Nevertheless, they roared … That’s when I fell in love with the Corvette. This past week, a buddy of mine, Michael B, loaned me his ‘Vette when he took off for Hawaii with his bride of 20 years for their celebration. I did not “hold it in my hands”, like I did as a boy in 1963….it held me/ Dennis Mansfield. More here.

Question: What in your estimation is the best now-vintage vehicle ever made?

33 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Charlie on March 05 at 12:52 p.m.
Anything prior to 1970. I’ve had 7 Corvettes, loved them all but would like to have had an AC Cobra big block. The bark of those side pipes will put a zip in your step. To each his own, but that my opinion.
florined on March 05 at 12:58 p.m.
Well, the 64.5 Mustang wouldn’t have garnered much respect in a revving session at an intersection, perhaps, but it was revolutionary in its own way…remember? It was the first of the non-luxury cars that had both a heater and carpeting as STANDARD equipment! And its low center of gravity allowed a stability and road grabbing capability few models could top, especially in its price range. Of course it’s award-winning design didn’t hurt its sales any, either. When I headed west in mine, smoking my Marlboros, toward a town I’d never been to, ‘twas a marvelous adventure.
Liz on March 05 at 1:12 p.m.
I always wanted a vintage mustang growing up in the seventies. Alas, I and another wayward youth did something extremely stupid with my mothers Oldsmobile cutlass. Therefore, whatever money might have gone towards a vintage mustang for moi had to go towards replacing the cutlass. I did finally get a mustang late in my senior year of high school, but it was the seventies redo…not the same thing at ALL…ah, well…
Liz on March 05 at 1:13 p.m.
I should add after the unreliability of the mid seventies Ford product, I have owned Toyotas ever since. So much for cool and vintage…
Cabbage Boy on March 05 at 1:25 p.m.
Drove my brother-in-law’s 86 vette through Montana. Loved hangin onto those curves through the mountains. Being accustomed to laboring around them in the suburban, hugging them at high speeds was much more enjoyable.

Also a newer Sebring Convertible rocketing through the highlands of Western Wyoming and Northern Utah. Long lonely open roads…
cantyoureadthesigns on March 05 at 1:43 p.m.
I just saw a red Stingray Corvette of that vintage yesterday, it’s still about my favorite muscle car.

My buddy had a mid-80’s ‘Vette which was rather problematic. After the 3rd engine replacement by the dealer, he started having trouble again, and eventually Chevy took it back under the Lemon Law and refunded his purchase price.
Stickman on March 05 at 2:09 p.m.
I had a 63’ split window, silver blue. The most fun I have ever had. Bought it for 1k and sold it three years later for 2k. Now, they are beyong most people’s reach. What a car though.
scootermom on March 05 at 2:12 p.m.
Gotta love the old T-Birds. Before they got big and ugly. I’m glad to see the new ones are honoring the vintage styling.
hmoffsuite on March 05 at 3:11 p.m.
The question is very broad. US ? European? etc. Some would say the Deusenberg (its a doozy), some argue the vintage Cadillacs or Packards which were supurb also. Its all in the eye of the beholder for certain. I would have to go with Charlie here, though. The Cobra was the ultimate muscle car (American made) and had low production figures. Consequently, (value is often in rarity) it commands big bucks now. I had one a few years ago and sold it for $150,000. Today, even in a soft market, it would sell for $500,000 all day long. (yes, it was stupid, but I made $15,000 on it and thought I had hit a homerun).. The 289 Cobras now bring almost as much as the 427 that Charlie mentioned above . Stickman had a super choice. The ‘63 split window was the first year of the new ‘stingray’ body style that went thru ‘67. It was a true marque year for Corvette, maybe the best, actually. A ‘showroom original with fuel injection will still bring $100,000. You sold too soon, Stickman. :~)
DFO on March 05 at 3:21 p.m.
I’m still heart-broken that I couldn’t afford the payments on my navy-blue ‘67 Camaro convertible (which I bought for $2000) and had to get rid of it. Man, did it look good with the top down. … On another note, I simply must ride in Gary’s vintage rig. He slipped out of Blogfest ‘09 before I could hit him up for a tour around River City.
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 3:29 p.m.
The 1964-65 mustang.
danofthecommunity on March 05 at 3:49 p.m.
‘55 Chevy Nomad.
EagleKeeper44 on March 05 at 7:23 p.m.
1970 Buick GSX 455 Stage 1 Convertible.

Go Fast With Class…
cantyoureadthesigns on March 05 at 7:53 p.m.
“I would have to go with Charlie here, though. The Cobra was the ultimate muscle car (American made) and had low production figures.”
-HMO

Charlie mentioned the big block AC Cobra, a British made (mostly racing) vehicle, albeit utilizing, in later years, American or Canadian (Windsor) V-8 engines, from the 260 ci, 289 ci, up to the 427 ci side oiler. Shelby did some minor final assembly on these after they came across the pond.

Now the Shelby Cobra Mustang was a whole ‘nuther animal from the AC Cobra.

As far as mass production muscle cars go, the Stingray Corvette had normal car amenities, near top of the line performance, and unparalleled modernistic, even futuristic, styling.
Stickman on March 05 at 8:16 p.m.
Eagle Keeper. Such a car was that. Dan, any Nomad had my eye. Gary, he will take you for a ride in his beauty if you ask him, maybe even in the Car d’ Lane. Dow Sausser has some very fine vehicles, I’m jealous. I had my ride once, a silver blue 63’ Vette that had a split. Such pleasure was that. The fastest in my life, a 427 68’ Camaro that will always make my hair stand up. Also a 68’ 427 Vette, such a car was that. I have the memories, as many of you do as well.
Stickman on March 05 at 8:24 p.m.
I just sent DFO a picture of my dream car. I haven’t a clue how to show it otherwise. If it shows up, then I want to see yours as well.
JohnA on March 05 at 9:11 p.m.
I drove the ‘65 Jag XKE yesterday. I put it on Craigslist and the next day a guy flew in from L.A. to check it out.

It’s only a 6-cylinder, but with three 2-barrel carbs, it really rocks. There’s something about the original Silver Bullet that makes people stop and look. A cool car and a cool ride.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.