1953 Corvette

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Email Address

Hi Pat,

Do you have a scanner? We could publish copies on the pictures here on the CAC on your behalf if you could email them to myself or one of the other staff members.

-Mac

Mac
If you would please send me your email address I will send you the picture I have scanned. I know your address is probably listed somewhere but I'm still a newbie at this.

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Thank you for the welcome.

First off WELCOME to CAC and how cool of your father to drive the very first Corvette off the line. Would you ask your father if he remembers a guy names Shirrell Richey. He was the Electrical Engineer for the Corvette Motorama Car. I am pretty sure he had a lot to do with helping on the production of the 1953 Corvettes also.

Mr. Mike
Thank you for the kind welcome. I will ask Dad about Shirrell Richey. I will see what he remembers. My dad, though physically healthy, suffers from Alzheimers. Things in the past he remembers quite well but recent events are harder. That's why I'm on this site...to see if I can share some of the information that dad has before itis gone.
I will let you know what I find out.
Pat

 

[67vet]

Didn't the first Corvettes use 1953 passenger car hub caps because the Corvette designed ones were not ready. They probably had to scramble to get anything to put on the finished car.

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Wheelcover

Didn't the first Corvettes use 1953 passenger car hub caps because the Corvette designed ones were not ready. They probably had to scramble to get anything to put on the finished car.

Thank you for the interesting question:
Yes you are right. There was a part shortage. They couldn't build the special designed wheelcovers fast enough. The dome shaped wheelcovers you see on some of the 1953's are actually from a 1953 Bellaire.

 

[SebringBill]

Pat,

THANK YOU for the kind comments as well! (And the same to Jane Ann for the heads-up!)

So, your Father still has the Impala. When I dropped him off at the Sloan Museum parking lot after the 2003 SACC 50th Anniversary hoopla he told me he'd "tweaked" the engine computer chip, then promptly got in the car and proceeded to leave a pair of 30 foot rubber stripes when he took off!

Here's a picture of the proud owner just before warming up the rear tires:


and here's a picture of your Father and me during the parade on June 30, 2003, (thanks, John) taken as we were pulling into a Chevy dealer lot in Fenton(?) for a pit stop. He was telling me another great 53 story at the time.

I'm so happy that you found this place - I've wanted to get the picture of your Father and the Impala to him for years!

 

[XLR8]

Pat, I'm sorry that I wasn't here to help with the article, but I know you're in very capable hands with my "brother" Mac! I'm glad I could help you and Bill connect. We're all looking forward to anything you can share with us.

But first, I'll share Bill's photos in larger size:

Jane Ann

 

[Mike Terry]

Yes, you are absolutely right. The gentleman in the first picture is Tony Kleiber surrounded by the Plant Manager and Superintendent. Acording to my Dad when the first Corvette rolled off the line, the managers wanted their picture taken with it first. They posed for the picture...the top picture. After the picture was taken my Father climbed in the car and drove it out of the plant. That is what I believe is happening in the second picture, but that picture is different than the one I have. So I guess you can say the first Corvette actually had two first drivers.
Now if you look at Corvette American Legend: The Beginning by Nolan Adams, he shows the picture of my father with Corvette #1 on page 171, and the picture with Tony Klieber on page 168, 169. If you look closely at the car placement you can see that Dad is indeed sitting in Corvette #1 with Corvett #2 and #3 being assembled. The picture in Mr. Adams book is different than the second one in the posting by the way.
I also have in the original press photo..I do believe it is from the Flint Journal..a picture that I have not seen published anywhere...that names my Dad as the first driver. I also have another picture of #1 with Mr Fessenden and Mr. Forshee sitting in it. This is where I am stuck...I would love to show everyone these pictures but I don't know how to share them. I would gladly make and send anyone a copy that is interested.
Thank you for the interesting question about the two pictures. I hope I have been of some help.
thank you
Pat

Pat I would love to have a copy of the two pictures you are talking about. Please ask your father if remembers the Electrical Engineer on the 1953 Corvette project. His name was Shirrell Richey. He got to drive the number one car from Flint to Indianapolis In. where he lived and where there were more pictures taken. Mr. Richey gave the pictures to me and I donated the original one of the pic to the NCM but I have the other two originals plus the negitives. Yes if you would please send me a copy of the two picturies that you have I would be more then glad to pay for coping the pictures and any postage. Just let me know how mouh it would be. You can send the pictures to.
Mike Terry
1373 Echo Bend
Greenwood, IN. 46142
Thank You Much

How great it would be if your father could attend the CAC Event this year at Mid America in Effingham IL. I am sure that the other members would be glad to see and talk to your father. I know Mike Yager (the owner of Mid America) would love to have him at Mid America also.

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Mr. Richey

First off WELCOME to CAC and how cool of your father to drive the very first Corvette off the line. Would you ask your father if he remembers a guy names Shirrell Richey. He was the Electrical Engineer for the Corvette Motorama Car. I am pretty sure he had a lot to do with helping on the production of the 1953 Corvettes also.

Just finished talking with dad. With his Alzheimers he has a big problem remembering names. The name Shirrell Richey did not mean anything to him. He did know a couple of people from the Motorama Corvette but couldn't remember names.
For example he remembered Nolan Adams as the "book guy from California" He can't remember his name, but he remembered the book guy had #4,#12#14 1953's.
My apoligies...I really wish I had found this website and everyone while my dad's memory was still good.
Pat

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Oops sorry

Just finished talking with dad. With his Alzheimers he has a big problem remembering names. The name Shirrell Richey did not mean anything to him. He did know a couple of people from the Motorama Corvette but couldn't remember names.
For example he remembered Nolan Adams as the "book guy from California" He can't remember his name, but he remembered the book guy had #4,#12#14 1953's.
My apoligies...I really wish I had found this website and everyone while my dad's memory was still good.
Pat

I am so very sorry. I guess I need to verify some of the things my Dad says. Nolan Adams did not own the three Corvettes mentioned...#4,#12,#14. He only had one and I'm not sure of the number.
LOL...sometimes dealing with my Dad is like that TV show "Bleep MY Dad Says" with William Shatner. Sometimes my dad's memory is excellent and sometimes it isn't and you never know what he will say.

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Pictures

I would like to give a big thankyou to SebringBill and Jane Ann for the pictures of my father from the 2003 SACC convention. I was a real treat for me to log on to this site and see those pictures of my father. I woke him up this morning just to tell him he was on the internet. I am going to get a copy of the pictures to him as soon as possible. I can't thank you both enough.
I will say I have never met a nicer bunch of people than the people here at CAC. I thank everyone for there kindness and interest in my dad and the 1953 Corvette.
Thanks again
Pat McGriff Kelley

 

[XLR8]

.......... It was a real treat for me to log on to this site and see those pictures of my father. I woke him up this morning just to tell him he was on the internet. ......

Now THAT is cool. Not that I did much... I'm getting more out of this just knowing we've all given you and your dad a chance to reconnect and share some memories that are an important part of his life.

..........
I will say I have never met a nicer bunch of people than the people here at CAC. I thank everyone for there kindness and interest in my dad and the 1953 Corvette.
Thanks again
Pat McGriff Kelley

Here at the CAC, we've always valued quality over quantity and counted among our members some of the finest people in the Corvette community.

Welcome aboard.
Jane Ann

 

[Mac]

Here's the scans which Pat sent to me. Thank you, Pat!!

-Mac

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Car Price

Thanks again for your help Mac. I just wish newsprint scanned better. The NCM has offered the use of their high tech scanner, so I'll rescan them when we go down there in April.
What I found amazing is the price of the car in the newspaper article. The 1953 Corvette, in 1953, was listed at $3,250!! At that price I'll take two
Thanks again
Pat

 

[Mac]

Glad I could help.

According to my friend Mr. Peabody's "Wayback" machine, $3250 was double the cost of the average car and the better part of a year's salary...

-Mac

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Glad I could help.

According to my friend Mr. Peabody's "Wayback" machine, $3250 was double the cost of the average car and the better part of a year's salary...

-Mac

Yup and gas was around 10 cents a gallon then. We used to get a dollars worth of gas...that would last quite a while. A dollars worth now will barely get you out of the driveway.
Thanks Mac now I feel old...

 

[Mac]

Yup and gas was around 10 cents a gallon then. We used to get a dollars worth of gas...that would last quite a while. A dollars worth now will barely get you out of the driveway.
Thanks Mac now I feel old...

Yes but you're not alone. Most of the kids nowadays wouldn't even recognize the reference to Mr. Peabody, let alone his "Wayback Machine" so you know I'm not a spring chicken either!

-Mac

 

[53 Blue Flame]

Pat,
My name is Brett Henderson. I will be at the NCM in April to meet you and your father. I am an avid 53 fan, having owned a few and have restored eight of them, with three more waiting in line for their re-birth.

It is great that you found the CAC site . This is a very good forum with excellent open dialogue.

I look forward to meeting you and your father in April.

Sincerely,
Brett

 

[Vanity Plate Bob]

Hi. Welcome to CAC.
What they said.
Largest, greatest family ever.

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Pat,
My name is Brett Henderson. I will be at the NCM in April to meet you and your father. I am an avid 53 fan, having owned a few and have restored eight of them, with three more waiting in line for their re-birth.

It is great that you found the CAC site . This is a very good forum with excellent open dialogue.

I look forward to meeting you and your father in April.

Sincerely,
Brett

Brett
Thank you for the kind welcome to the CAC. My dad and I will be looking forward to meeting you and other 1953 fans in April...even though its a C5C6 Bash I'm hoping some 53 fans come. We tentatively plan on arriving on Wed and leaving on Sat so we may tour the plant on Thursday. Please bring pictures of your 53's we would love to see them.
We will be looking forward to meeting you in April.
Pat

 

[MPCamper@comcast.net]

Hi. Welcome to CAC.
What they said.
Largest, greatest family ever.

Thank you for the welcome. My experience here on this site has been incredible. Everyone has been so very friendly and helpful.
Thankyou everyone for your interest, your help and your kindness.
I hope my dad and I get a chance to meet some of you in person.
Pat