We were extremely lucky to have a 1962 Corvette as a station vehicle. There’s no denying that. Any radio station would have hopped at the chance to have one to help represent it. It was a convertable that had a soft top that I had seen maybe 3 times since I started at KOKZ in 2008. It was a very dry canvas that needed some work to be usable. Plus, you had to be no taller than me (5′ 6″ if you measure me right out of bed) to fit in it with the top up. So, it was never up.
It looked GREAT, but had some issues that would cost a good chunk of cash to remedy. The suspension needed a complete overhall, the engine could have used a good tune-up, the interior was not great. It needed new seats or at least a new reupolster, the floorboard carpet needed LOTS of help or just torn out and replaced, as I mentioned before, the soft top needed re-doing to be functional, and the radio would lose reception (ironic for a radio station vehicle, huh?).
But, when the weather permitted, we always got her out and had the fluids changed and just a quick once over to be sure she was safe to drive and would be ready for the annual 4th Street Cruise. I’ve ridden in it many times over the last 13 years and eventually was insured to be able to drive it. After COVID took over 2020, the vette stayed in perpetual hibernation since the cruise was cancelled and nearly all outings, appearances, live broadcasts were abandoned for safety and health precautions. I worried about her, sitting in the garage and not runing or even being started for a full 2 years. An old car like that, needs to be run once in a while so it doesn’t just die.
After I got over my COVID issue, I asked if I could have the keys to get her started up and run around the Cedar Valley, to get her juices flowing again. It had been about 10 to 12 months since she was last taken out so I was hoping she would just start. If that happened, I’d let her idle a while and then check fluids again. If all was normal, I’d take her out for a ride.
For me, the ONLY good thing about 2020 was driving the vette around town, and then driving her down to the Hiawatha offices several times before fall changed the temps. Sixty-five degrees becomes a cool fifty degrees at 70 mph with no top and staying that way for about 45 minutes becomes quite cold. She was running like a champ, smooth (except for the actual ride – she’s bumpy), quiet for a 350 with a Carter carb and just a pleaseure to drive. I saw lots of people who saw me and waved or yelled, “KOKZ! WHOO!” She was an attention getter!
I brought her home a few times to wash and dry her, clean the dash and various meters therein, and Windex the glass. By May 28th, she was shining and ready to show at the Shine & Show and then ready to run for the cruise! Sadly, she got overheated due to two things;
- There were so many cars this year due to not having one in 2020, that they were coming in and jumping into the cruise lines for the first 2 hours!
- There is an electric fan switch that I was not aware of, that had I turned it on, would have been able to run the whole 4 hours.
I drove her down to Hiawatha a few more times before we traded her in towards a station vehicle that could carry more than just 2 people and a bottle of water. There’s not much room in the vette, which we all know, so a more practical vehicle was needed so the station could carry all of the things we need when we set up for a live broadcast. Two tent canopies, up to 2 folding tables, a generator, plastic bin that holds table cloths, bungie straps, and other equipment needed to run a remote location broadcast.
In the days before the trade, I decided to spend the last moments with her, driving around, getting seen, and taking pics of her in front of many local landmarks. Some images to remember her by…
Thank you, Vette, for many years of joy with you in the many events you appeared at, the many miles you took us in between, and the fun you gave the many staff members who were lucky enough to drive you.
Click the first pic below to open tha gallery to click through full images.
