John's Vet Shop

Home  / Current Project  / Disassembly  /  Engine  /  Interior  / Painting  /        Project 58

          [Sign my Guestbook]   [Read my Guestbook]

Project - 58

 This is the first Corvette I ever restored.  I rescued the car from a local car lot in 1976 - where it was earmarked to be modified for racing (bummer).  The car is a 1958 Charcoal / Silver Convertible with a SilverBlue interior (very unusual color combo - long story). It sports a 245HP (dual 4bls) 283 with a 4speed tranny.  I originally bought the car with the intention of just cleaning it up and making a good driver out of it - but one thing led to another and WALAH !!  Even after 25 years of use -  it still turns heads. It took me six years to complete the car - and many hours on the phone looking for hard to find parts.  I believe the hardest part was the Driver-Side Power Window Switch Bezel (the car has power windows).  This car is like my wife - It was the first one I got - and I still have it.

It was restored in a one car garage - on a very tight budget - by a novice.  But it made the cover of Vet Views magazine - and took most every award in the Dallas Ft Worth area in it's day.

OFF WITH THE BODY THE FRAME - TO BE RESTORED THE 283 - PRETTY AIN'T IT
PAINTED POLISHED & PUT BACK INTERIOR RESTORATION THE END

GETTING A LITTLE TLC

IN DON CLARK'S

BUSTED KNUCKLE GARAGE

They say A Picture is worth a Thousand Words

This one is worth a Whole Lot more than that to me

   In case you don't recognize him - the elderly Gentleman in the Photo is - Zora Dontov.  I had the fortunate pleasure of meeting him (and his lovely wife)  in a Corvette Expo in Dallas in 1982.  What an interesting gentleman.  Although he told me the 57 was his favorite - he was gracious to adorn this photo of my 58.  If you don't know who Mr. Duntov is - I'm not going to tell you - let me just say this - if not for him there would be no 1958 Corvette.

Jump to John's Garage Home