 Unlike most people of my generation my introduction to American cars was not through the TV programs of the early and mid 80's (although I obviously watched them). It was through a friend who turned up one Thursday night in a 1976 Pontiac Firebird. It was a bit rough around the edges, but boy did it sound good!
A couple of years later he bought himself a 1980 Camaro (Straight 6) and had that for years. It was once the cover star of the AAC magazine. It was in this Yank that I had my first blast behind the wheel; that was it, I was sold. This is the same Camaro that is the American V8 project car.
Having attended Billings for the summer Nationals for a few years I decided that there were a couple of serious contenders for 'my car' either a mid seventies Firebird or a Corvette from the same era. After selling a house I had been renovating and freeing up some precious cash I was in a position to start looking.
 Ebay finally come up with the Answer, a 1978 L82 Corvette in silver and green. After making several bids and failing to hit the reserve. I emailed the seller at the end of the auction, and said my last bid still stood if he wanted a sale. He agreed if I could collect it before the following weekend as he was leaving the country for a while (hmmm sounds dodgy I know).
Having only ever driven a left hand drive once previously I managed to convince a mate (crockett89) to travel to London to view, check over and drive back the Corvette. After a long train journey we arrived at the lockup where the car was hiding and there it was in all its glory. Two hours later and an overdraft and it was mine.
There seemed to be a problem with the alternator as the warning light kept flashing and the battery had about as much life as a rock. So with a new battery and a tank of fuel we set out through central London towards the Midlands. An eventful first real drive in a yank; no lights on dashboard, no speedometer, no heater, a window that wouldn't shut (it was January) and an alternator that packed up after 8 miles. What a day!
 The car was re-sprayed recently slightly different to the original silver and dark grey, and was re-done in GM silver and dark green. The interior was also completely new and was hand made in green with silver piping to compliment the outside colour scheme. As with all these 'older' cars there is a never ending list of jobs to complete, (brakes are going to be replaced or upgraded over the coming winter) most of which, if I'm honest, I go looking for. There are however, very few things I would rather be doing.
I have had the car for twelve months now and have spent a small fortune, but it's been worth every penny. The car is great fun to drive and as I'm sure you all experience, draws huge amounts of attention.
God I love it!
Justin (jukka101 on the AACI Discussion Forum)
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