The car: 1972 Corvette
The owner: Bob and Becky Anderson
Key features: 383 cubic-inch motor, 420 horsepower, four-speed transmission
QUESTION: What did you have to do to get it in its present state?
ANSWER: A complete restoration, motor, paint, upholstery, added power steering and power brakes
Q: What else do you want to do to it?
A: It's done.
Q: How did you acquire the vehicle?
A: Bought the car unrestored from a beautiful lady in Merced who drove it every day
Q: Why did you pick that particular car?
A: I have always loved the Corvettes. It's a fun car to drive and very fast with the motor I put into it.
Q: What started your love affair with cars?
A: I bought my first car, a 1946 Ford, when I was 11 years old, with money from work I did on a ranch in Snelling, mowing lawns and working for neighbors. I just liked the challenge of playing with and working on them. At 14, I bought a 1951 Chevy and restored it to hot-rod status and drove it through my junior year in high school, when a 1958 Plymouth came along.
Q: What advice would you give others about starting such a project?
A: It takes a lot of time and patience to restore a car, not counting the cost that is always more than you think it's going to be. You need to just take your time and get a parts list made and get those parts before you start. Ask questions and don't give up.
Q: Do you have any other collector vehicles or project cars?
A: I have six cars and a 1975 jet boat, including a 1964 Chevy Impala, 1972, 1974, 1980 and 1981 Corvettes, all restored, and a project 1981 Corvette.
Q: What is your favorite memory about this ride?
A: I have a lot of memories from a lot of cars but the one that stands out is of my 1972 Corvette. I was putting new power brakes on the car. In that year power brakes were an option and this car didn't have them. My wife Becky was helping me; she was pumping the pedal as I bled the brakes. I had spent a lot of time on the brakes and just wanted to get done. I could hear Becky pumping the pedal when I opened the bleeder and nothing was coming out after I started wondering what I did wrong. I opened the car door and watched as Becky was talking on the cell phone and pumping the clutch.
