One of my best friends spends much of the year in Port Charlotte, FL. He loves it there. He collects cars, mostly 40s and 50s cars.
So when his former mentor told him about a C6 Corvette for sale from a neighbor’s estate, my friend took a look.
He’s really not a Corvette person, though he loves fast motorcycles – Hayabusas are his favorite. But he bought this 2008 Corvette, not knowing much about it except that it had a manual trans and was modified with a Vortech centrifugal supercharger. He let me check it over and try it for a short test drive.
An enthusiast’s garage tells a tale. A Nicky Hayden (late and famous motorcycle racer) number plate is screwed to the wall, some posters, which I don’t remember, except for one, a large and lovely Kerbeck Corvette poster, signed by somebody, celebrating the release of the 2009 ZR1. A motorcycle covered with a sheet.
And, of course, the car itself. A 2008 base Corvette, Crystal Red, aftermarket wheels – but look like later-year stock chrome rims. Yes, old guys like chrome. He gives me the fob. I get the green halo and the car starts right up. Louder than stock. He shows me on the phone that the car is insured and registered properly. I hadn’t even thought about that.
It idles smoothly. I back it out of the garage, noticing immediately it has a short-throw shifter that feels very different than the stock shifter.
We drive it slowly through the gated community. The off-idle response is slightly wooly, maybe a bit rich during warm up. The shifter feels great. The most positive shifter I’ve ever worked.
We’re out of the community gates and onto some lesser-traveled highway, lesser traveled, that is, for Gulf-Coast FL. I dip into the throttle in second and it almost immediately buzzes the rear tires. Along with a delightful, ripping exhaust note. Warmed up, the car is very smooth and responsive, if maybe a bit too abrupt onto boost. We drive further on a divided four lane and I u-turn (legally) and short-shift to second and then third. I step down onto the throttle. The car sort of lugs a couple seconds then boost comes on strong and the tires buzz again. What a hairy beast, I love it!
The car steps off to the side slightly so I backpedal gently to let the tires hook, which they do and the car makes a couple of quick snaps side-to-side, which I always love, before everything runs perfectly straight again. And there’s some pop and bang from the exhaust on overrun. What thrill! Just from that short drive, I realize I have some adrenaline flowing and wonder what it’d be like to own this car.
We drive slowly back through the gates like I’m just another vain old guy coming back from the country club.
After parking up, I look over the car. It’s great. Yes, the Vortech and intercooler. A fuel pressure booster. Polished headers, and SLP exhaust system. Big aluminum radiator. I don’t know who’s quick shifter. Drilled discs. The tasteful chrome wheels. The rear tires are pretty worn. Wonder why?! Underneath the car looks very clean, like it was never in the rain.
The black and Adrenaline Red interior needed a little wipe down, which I did and it looked great.
Linking the car and the ZR1 poster, I wondered if the late owner tried to meet or exceed at least the engine performance of the then-new ZR1 with his base 2008 Corvette. I think he was in his 80s when he passed, so 16 years ago, maybe he was about 65 and still feeling the need for speed and so he had his car boosted to his liking. Maybe it’s not as refined as a ZR1 but maybe it’s even more fun, and more powerful! Yes, the ZR1 had lots more track-related performance equipment. But for the street, this car gives you the thrills for a lot less money.
The car is for sale in FL. Under 37,000 miles. Needs sticky new tires. My friend is asking $30K. Just sayin’ in case you know someone who’d be interested!
And if you do know someone interested, I have no skin in this game. Just helping a very good friend. Contact me through the club, or watch for a for-sale ad on the club website soon.
