Vemp 1204 000 2004 Corvette Resto Red Runner

2004 Chevy Corvette - Resto-Red Runner

How's the blown-and-flamed C5 car to drive? "It puts a smile on your face every day," says Wahl, who adds that Vette enjoyment isn't limited to him and his son. "My father used to tease me, saying, 'Ahh--it's just a car,'" he remembers. "He's always been into boats, and if the boat ever needed anything, the sky was the limit. "He ended up buying a Vette, and we now go to car shows together. He made the mistake of saying the Vette was 'his' one day…so now, my mom has one." As for any advice he may have (along with avoiding driving through salt water), Wahl offers this for anyone looking for his or her first Corvette: "Go to some car shows and talk to some enthusiasts. You're much better off [shopping with] private sellers versus dealers, because you can get more history, and the flavor of the car, by doing it that way." He adds, "I had just as much fun looking for a used one as I did trying to decide what to buy, and what color. "The Corvette is an American icon that many people buy and cherish, unlike a daily-driver car. It's something that they've always dreamed of." vette It puts a smile on your face every day!--Adam Wahl