1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Personal story and photograph submitted by owner Bob Brown - courtesy of the National Corvette Museum website - for participation in the National Corvette Museum 2008 Historic Motorama II.
This is a very early 1959, serial #J59S100048, and I believe it came off the line on 2 September, 1958, the first day of production for the 1959 model year. It is Snowcrest White with white coves and an all red interior. It has the stock 283ci engine with 245HP (2X4 carbs & hydraulic lifters) and a 4 speed T-10 tranny. Other options include the Wonderbar radio, heater, windshield washer and a single left side sunshade. We purchased the car from the 2 nd owner 19 years ago and we completed a body-off restoration in the spring of 2000.
The car was selected to represent the 1959 MY in the 2002 NCM Historic Motorama to celebrate Corvette's 50th Anniversary. I drove the car to Flint, Michigan via Route 66 (as much as possible) from LA to Chicago, participated in the 1000 mile Motorama, and then drove back to San Diego mainly via old Hwy 50. I got to see the heart of America, meet a lot of wonderful people and make many new friends; it was truly the trip of a lifetime.
The car received the coveted “Top Flight” award at the NCRS Western Regional in 2003, and represented the 1959 MY in Disney's 2003 “Salute to 50 Years of Corvette” at Disneyland . It has participated in numerous shows and road trips over the years and is ready to once again make the cross country trip via Route 66 to Bowling Green .
Liz & I met in high school and have been married 40+ years. I graduated from Purdue U. and then completed a 21 year career in the Navy, while also picking up a MS in Oceanography along the way. I recently completed 21 years working for Titan and L3 Communications designing, building and orchestrating computer aided war games for the U.S. Navy. Liz has worked the past 20 years for a small real estate development company in San Diego as Office Manager and Property Manager. We have one son, Brad.
We have been to the National Corvette Museum (NCM) a number of times, participating in the 1999 and 2004 National Caravans, as well as returning to the Museum to take delivery of a 1999 Torch Red ragtop, and finally, to take delivery of a 2007 Monterey Red ragtop in December 2006.
Liz & I are truly honored and excited to be a part of this historic Corvette and GM event. We look forward to seeing old friends from the first Motorama, and to meeting and making many new friends on Historic Motorama II.
Bob & Liz Brown
Always waving from San Diego, CA
NCM Founding Member #4030
NCM Senior Member #515055
When GM celebrates the beginning of its next 100 years on September 16, 2008, 55 Corvettes will be on display outside its World Headquarters at Detroit’s Renaissance Center. The Corvettes are in fact the Historic Motorama II, a caravan from the National Corvette Museum (NCM) which is comprised of one example from each of the 55 years of Corvette production. The caravan will depart from the National Corvette Museum on September 10th with stops along the way. People attending the GMnext Day activities on September 16th will be able to view the Corvettes before and after the official program.
Look at the next Historic Motorama II Corvette participant, representing a cross-section of Corvette enthusiasts from across the country.
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