Charles Griffith, of Columbus Grove, has owned this 1962 Corvette for 10 years. He says any day he can drive with the top down is a good day.
COLUMBUS GROVE — There is something about a Corvette that attracts car enthusiasts like a magnet.
General Motors saw the magic happen on Jan. 17, 1953, when it unveiled its first Corvette as a concept car. The wow factor was so great that day at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City that GM knew it needed to begin producing the car immediately. Within five months, the Corvette went from being a concept car to seeing 300 Corvettes roll off a Flint, Michigan assembly line. All were convertibles with a Polo White exterior and a red interior.
Today, two million Corvettes and 69 years later, the excitement continues.
Motor Trend magazine credits the styling and reliability to Corvette’s success. HotCars.com points to its handling. Motor Biscuit cites its affordability, noting the price has never been out of reach for those who are bent on owning one.
All of those things are among the reasons Charles Griffith of Columbus Grove has the keys to a 1962 Corvette today. He’s owned it for 10 years, finding it in Elyria. Prior to that, he owned three Oldsmobile 442s.
“The 442s were nice cars, but I always liked the looks of the ’62 Corvette and it is easy to work on. When I had the chance to buy one, I took advantage of it,” he said.
The 1962 model is special because it is the last of the first generation of Corvettes. The second generation was due out in 1963. That would see a major update to the rear end, swapping out the curvy rear end for the “wedge tail” and a split rear window.
A new, convertible Corvette in 1962 came with a $4,038 price tag. If you were to buy a used one in today’s market you could pay anywhere from $29,700 in fair condition all the way to $81,500 in excellent condition, according to the National Automobile Dealer Association.
The ’62 Corvette was about speed. It boasted a 327, 340-horsepower V8 engine that guaranteed it could get you to your destination in a hurry. It could go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 132 miles per hour.
Griffith says any day he can take a spin in his Corvette with the top down is a good day.
“If I cannot drive somewhere with the top down, then I usually leave the Corvette at home,” the Columbus Grove man said.
GET YOUR CAR FEATURED
The Lima News publishes photographs of vintage cars, 20 years or older, free of charge in Real Wheels. It is easy to get your car featured:
• Mail: Real Wheels, Newsroom, The Lima News, 3515 Elida Road, Lima, OH 45807.
• Email: [email protected]
• Include: Photograph of your car; year of car, make and model; how many years you have owned the vehicle; car’s history; best memory of car; your name, address and telephone number (the phone number will not be published).
If you have further questions, contact The Lima News newsroom at 419-222-6397 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM
Check out cars we’ve featured and discuss your memories on the Real Wheels page at LimaOhio.com/tag/realwheels.
