Hi, I am Greg and I am a long-time SACC member.  My car landed on display at the Bloomington Gold Special Collection and this is my story...

My interest in Corvettes, especially C1 high performance or racing Corvettes started in the late 50’s early 60’s. My older brother was obligated to take me with him to sports car races at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This interest lead me to purchasing my first Corvette in 1964 during my senior year of high school. It was a 1958, two top, dual quad, 4-speed car. I am either the second or third owner and fortunately I still possess this car today.

The 70’s and early 80’s were spent going to college, getting a BS degree in Pharmacy, getting married, opening a pharmacy and starting a family. My interest in early Corvettes was rekindled by the mid 80’s and I started to look for a C1 with either a RPO 684 or 687 option. I also started to look for and purchase any RPO parts related to these cars.

While attending a swap meet during this time period, I purchased a complete RPO 687 heavy duty brake setup for a 1959-62 Corvette (finned drums, vented backing plates with screen covers and front fiberglass air deflectors). However, the quick steer adaptor was missing. The seller mentioned he removed the parts from a 1962 Corvette he once owned. I inquired if the car was fuel injected and he said originally it was but the FI unit was missing when he purchased the car. Fortunately for me, he was able to provide the contact information of the person who purchased his ’62.

I was able to connect with the purchaser, but he wasn’t interested in selling at that time. But he mention to check back periodically. I continued to check back every 6 months for the next 3 to 4 years. Finally in 1990, he agreed to sell the car to me.

[As a side note, it was during this time period that I joined the Solid Axle Corvette Enthusiasts (SACE) club as member 624. This organization was the forerunner to the Solid Axle Corvette Club (SACC) that we have today.]

After getting the car I began to reinstall the original brake parts. The missing quick steer adapter was still in place on the car and the crudely installed fiberglass front air deflector mounting holes and dried adhesive matched up perfectly with the remaining adhesive and mounting holes on the car. While working on the car I began to realize how special this vehicle was. Besides the fuel injection and heavy duty brake and steering options, the car also featured hard top only, radio delete, wide wheels, 4:11 positraction and Sateen Silver as the original color.

Finally, it was time to enjoy the car. The first event I drove the car to was the 1991 SACE National Convention in Springfield, Illinois which was held in conjunction with Bloomington Gold. I continued to drive and improve the car for the next few years always on the lookout for the correct missing parts. I was able to locate and purchase the missing 7360 Rochester fuel injection unit and 914 distributor. Original air scoops for the front and rear vented backing plates were also obtained along with a FI air cleaner and NOS front and rear metallic brake shoes and mounting hardware.

In 2013 the decision was made to start a SLOW but extensive body off frame rotisserie restoration. Most of the mechanical work was done by myself. but all the paint and body work was passed on to Roger Micheau of Escanaba, Michigan. Roger is a perfectionist! He did, however, have a little trouble adjusting to the no better, no worse, than the way the car left the factory standard.

Final finishing touches to the restoration were completed in late 2022. The car was judged for the first time in May 2023 at an NCRS Chapter meet receiving a Top Flight Award with a score of 99.4. It was also awarded an NCRS National Top Flight and a Bloomington Gold Certificate in 2023. Being chosen to be part of the Bloomington Gold 2025 Gold Collection is the cars latest achievement.