Brother Drew came for a visit at the perfect time this weekend. Our family heritage is steeped in GM tradition, as our grandfather ID Polk established the first Chevrolet dealership in East Texas in the 1930’s. When Grandad retired, our father took over his share of Beaumont Motor Co. Many years later, Dad bought a Port Arthur dealership, Buddy Chevrolet to better service the Golden Triangle (Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange). As we cruised the lineup of corvettes at the Galveston Convention Center, we found the “vette owners” even more interesting than the cars they proudly displayed. “Mr Jerry” was a soft-spoken veteran of the Vietnam War, with a strong American spirit and an even stronger faith. We could have visited with him all day, but there were so many vettes to see, so little time.
Some “vette owners” adhered to the original paint and parts, while others added their own style. I found the “on fire vette” particularly intriguing with its “gull wing” design. It reminded me of a jet-powered seagull preparing for flight. I could easily see myself flying up the seawall, tossing bread crumbs to my favorite feathered creatures, but then I remembered their excited poop would mar my car:)
“The Lion King” was a cruising work of art. Hand painted replicas of the mascot were meticulously illustrated on the inner hood and trunk. It was a favorite of all the youngsters scoping out the event with their parents. With a biblical reference “Lion of Judah-Lamb of God” inscribed on the trunk, the message of faith was not missed by many. It reminded me of my favorite series of children’s books by C S Lewis, “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Drew and I were so impressed with these amazing vehicles, we texted the boys Tres & Matt with pics of what they were missing. They asked if the new mid-engine design was represented, which gave us a new mission. It didn’t take long to find a 2021 with this new design. It was awesome to look out, but I thought to myself I wasn’t sure I wanted to sit on top of the engine, not that any vette is built for the faint of heart.
In many cases, the engines were as beautifully maintained as the body of the car itself. The “Martini Girl” even depicted her name across the engine block:) I’m not that knowledgeable about the engines that power these beasts, but I can appreciate the beauty of them. The boys texted back that they were excited about the future time when Chevy will manufacture an electric vette. One of the owners assured us that was in the works for 2025.
Some of the classic corvettes were so meticulously maintained in their original state, that it was like going back in time to the 50’s and 60’s, when it all began. There was a gentleman from League City that proudly displayed his ’62 vette in mint condition. It is good to meet folks from the 60’s, that remember that era with the same passion as I.
For me the aftermarket paint jobs were an art form that I could appreciate. Some of the more notable ones were Martini Lady (hot pink), Blue Flame, and the Transformer Vette (silver gray). You would certainly need a climate-controlled garage to maintain these beauties, just as you would a famous painting.
Brother Drew was drawn to the classic SS Camaro, as our mother had one in 1966. It was canary yellow, and the envy of my high school classmates (on the unusual occasion when I was allowed to drive it:) When I cruised the “burger joint” with the top down, red hair blowing in the wind, I was on top of the world.
The most fear-inducing vehicle of all, though, was the Sheriff’s vehicle, which was sure to catch us if we dared to exceed the speed:)
islandwidow 