Our 1997 Carmen Red Metallic C5 coupe was purchased by us from the original owner "Harry Turner" in Sydney in 2014.
Harry ordered the C5 with every option available, including manual transmission, from the Bowing Green Corvette factory and went to America to see it come off of the production line.
He first registered it in 1999 after completion on the right hand drive conversion by Corvette Clinic in Melbourne. Harry, an NCRS member, took it to all the Nationals by trailer including Perth up until our purchase.
The C5 Corvette proceeds two others we have owned. A red 1984 Cross Fire coupe, on which so much was learnt by pulling it apart and putting it back together, then a Ruby Red 1993 40th Anniversary Coupe, purchased in 2002 from the original owner, all of which were purchased to drive which is reinforced by the fact we have driven to most Corvette Nationals through our C4 and C5 ownership period.
Club runs and trips to the Nationals have enabled us to meet so many great likeminded owners as well as others who are interested in Corvettes and to find out more about them and even ownership in order they can be part of this iconic American marque.
Jenny and I have even driven from Adelaide specifically to be part of NCRS meeting events which is also an excuse to catch up with Jenny's family in Sydney as well as site seeing opportunities along the way like the Blue Mountains and a Temora Air Museum fly day.
This Corvette has been awarded many National event trophies throughout is life which is a great incentive to keep it looking its best. We wish the NCRS Australian Chapter great success for the future.
Click here for the history flyer ->>>
Imported from Texas in 2010.
Converted to right-hand drive by Performax in Queensland.
Geoff purchased from the original importers Bob and Jenny in 2015.
Geoff’s dream of owning a Corvette has now come true.”
In 2006 I only owned one corvette. I was always working on it and it seemed it was always off the road being upgraded or modified. To solve this dilemma, I decided to purchase another Corvette to make sure I always had one to drive on weekends. My son went to Sydney in September 2006 to see some friends, so I asked him to have a look at a car for me while there and take a lot of photos. The car was perfect. 1973 Convertible with a 502 cubic inch Big Block, flash paint job and my favourite interior colour (Saddle). The next weekend, I flew to Sydney to have a look. Got on the midnight horror flight from Perth. Arrived at Sydney airport early then jumped on the train to North Sydney. Once off the train, it was a short walk to the car owner’s place. Spent some time pouring over the car and asking many questions. We went for a drive across the Harbour Bridge and through the jungle of Sydney. The sound of the sidepipes echoing around the buildings was awesome. Happy with the car, we went to the bank to sort out the money and he dropped me off at the airport to fly home again.
After organising transport, the car arrived in Perth a couple of weeks later. I spent the next seven years upgrading and modifying the car.
- Upgraded Stainless Steel brake calipers with drilled performance rotors
- New offset rear swing arms and plastic monoleaf spring
- Bilstein sports gas shockies all round
- New wheels
- TH700R4 transmission
- Fuel injection
- New radio with amplifier and better speakers
- Spiral inserts to replace the glasspak mufflers in the sidepipes
- March serpentine belt system
- Chrome bits everywhere
In 2015 we shut down our business and downsized. The cars had to go. We moved down south and with work, I didn’t have time for cars for a long time. Moving back to the city a couple of years ago, I decided it was time to buy another Corvette. I had been actively looking for around 6 months, but the cars I was interested in were overpriced and over east. I didn’t have the time to go travelling all over the country just to be disappointed. At work one day recently, a work colleague, who knew I was into cars, showed me a picture of a Corvette up for auction locally. Well blow me down, if it wasn’t my 73 Convertible that I had been missing for the last 7 years. It was the solution to my problem if I could get the car for the right price. Long story short, I managed to purchase the car before it went to auction. My car has come home and the people who have owned it for the last seven years haven’t done a thing to it. It was like it left home yesterday. Still has the minor issues I was working on when it was sold. Give me 6 months and it will be the perfect car it used to be.
Tim
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