Back In Black Or Name That Corvette

The other day brother Keads put up this post about his classic Mustang. I was so inspired that I am shamelessly following his lead and ripping him off. I finally have all the necessary things done to get the Vette back on the road again. Lu and I went out to our local Utah DMV today and got the title transferred and the registration done. As of today it is legal and back on the road.

Here's a little video in homage to Keads. No, it is not a classic Mustang. It's just a box stock 80 Corvette, one of many hundreds of thousands that were made but she's sweet, gorgeous (if I do say so myself) and all mine. I have many hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars into her resurrection and, in spite of myself, I do love the old girl.

And a picture of the dash. Please ignore the ashtray and broken heater control. I have replacement pieces. Just lazy. That steering wheel is Lu's work. The stock wheel was in pretty bad shape so I bought a cover for it. Temporary. But Lu decided it needed to be a bit more secure so she sewed it on. I ended up liking it so much I decided to keep it as is. Is there anything that woman cannot do?

This is definitely a work in process and I can't decide whether or not to keep it. One day it's yes and the next it's gotta go. My mood on it is usually directly proportional to how much it's going to cost me or how much work I'm going to have to do to replace or repair the next item on the list. Still.

After getting the new plates installed Lu and I took her out for a nice drive. Tops off and windows down. She's a coupe, not a roadster but when she's all skinned out she does a pretty good imitation. Wind in my hair and all that. If I had any hair.

For the last 35 years I have wanted to drive my Corvette through the Virgin River Gorge section of I15. Until a few years ago I couldn't afford a Corvette. Today I made that dream a reality. I didn't have my camera with me so no pictures but I did find this video of the drive. This is Northbound. We took it Southbound today and returned on Hwy 91 over Utah Hill, the old route to Vegas before they finished the Gorge.


It's a good video. You may have caught a reference to Littlefield at the very beginning. It's where we used to go to drink adult beverages somewhat before we were exactly of legal age. See, at that time the drinking age in Arizona was 19 and since some of the group had older brothers nature just followed it's course. As it were.

The Gorge is a wonderful piece of twisty tarmac. It's a joy on a motorcycle. We used it to hone our youthful manly (well, boyly anyway) driving skills. There was a standing contest for the best time through the Gorge. For the life of me I can't remember the times but I do know that I scared myself more than once and I was far from the fastest, 1969 Chevelle SS 396 notwithstanding.

It was a great drive and a wonderful day. Just what the doctor ordered. Now, as of this moment, I'm inclined to keep the car. We're going to start taking day trips around the area in it. Nothing too far, just short hops with a nice lunch thrown in as a reward for driving around in a black on black car with no AC on hundred degree Summer days.

If I do keep her she needs a name. The black on black color scheme suggests at least one possibility.


One of my favorite songs but then I still have just a little of that kid who drove a big block Chevelle at warp speeds and occasionally imbibed in intoxicating beverages left in me. Anyway, name. Back In Black won't work. Too long. BIB has the unfortunate connotation of a man too old to keep his meal off his chest. So not going there. Black Beauty has been done. I'm stuck. Help me out here, I'm begging. If someone doesn't come up with something better she'll end being called something stupid like Bertha or Camille. Yes, I have absolutely no imagination.

Don't let my car end up as a Bertha. Send in your suggestion today. Operators standing by. There may be fabulous prizes (there won't). Don't let the stupid man choose. The very Car World is depending on you.

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