When Joseph Witzgall went to purchase his first sports car in 1994, he suffered the typical plight of a recent college graduate. Jobless and without credit or savings, he was a red flag to any reputable financial lending institution. Sparing himself the groveling it would take to convince a wary loan official to cut him a break, he opted to fall on the mercies of his grandmother, who conceded to a five-year small interest loan.
» Engine: 406 Chevy small block (528 hp/551 foot-pounds of torque)
» Wheels: Boyd Coddington 17 x 9.5 (front) and 17 x 11 (back)
» Performance: Tremec TKO 5-Speed, Accel Digital sequential fuel injection and ignition, Stahl custom headers and side pipes, March Performance pulleys, DeWitts big block radiator with dual electric fans, Wilwood brakes, Bilstein shocks, lightweight offset upper and lower control arms
» Interior: Corbeau racing seats and 5-point racing harnesses, custom carpet, dash panel, consoles, door panels, and kick panels
» Exterior: Custom-designed and hand-laid flares, hand-molded spoiler, custom fiberglass cowl cover, GM side pipe covers, L88 hood, hand-molded rear tail pan, custom paint scheme
The car he had his heart set on was a 1969 black Corvette convertible with a 350 small-block engine, custom interior and side pipes. The previous owner had decided it was more trouble to manage than it was worth, and was happy to have Witzgall take it off his hands. Fourteen years later, the car that once carted high school homecoming queens along parade routes in his hometown now boasts style and performance that were never before imagined.
Witzgall’s earliest memories with his father didn’t involve throwing around a baseball, but asking him how a clutch worked. When he brought the 1969 home, his first move was to put it through its paces drag racing at local venues. His interests eventually steered toward a love for autocross once he discovered how well the Vette could handle turns. To participate in autocross events, the Vette needed to beef up with wider fenders for harder hairpin turns and bigger wheels for maximum traction. Witzgall decided that what he really wanted was to completely restore the vehicle, so he created a savings fund for that purpose. Witzgall, who had never let another person come close to his car with a wrench, faced a dilemma handing the car over for a full-on restoration project.
“My issue was that I wanted to do the work myself; my only problem was time. I never wanted to give the car up for a summer, because I enjoyed driving it too much,” Witzgall said.
After some research, he found 2nd Generation Automotive Restorations in Walpole, Mass. After a number of phone conversations later, he was satisfied with the project proposal. He would have to surrender the car but would not be stripped of it for months at a time. The car was delivered on Memorial Day 2008. Witzgall remained a doting parent and traveled to Massachusetts on five occasions, which included a nine-day stint to help with major portions of the frame restoration. The rear tail pan was molded into the back of the car, which removed all the factory seams and openings. Witzgall said the restoration team followed the same process that race teams from the ’60s and ’70s did to strengthen the frame by welding the seams and gusseting for stiffness. After stripping and sandblasting the frame, it was coated with industrial epoxy primer and a few coats of DuPont paint were applied. After the frame was reattached, Witzgall had to decide on a paint scheme to go over the primer applications and selected a classic color scheme of silver and black.
The final weeks of the restoration included 16-hour days in which Witzgall was racing to complete the car before its first showing at the 2008 Corvettes at Carlisle in Pennsylvania, one of the largest Vette shows in the nation.
Their hard work paid off when, upon arriving at the show field, Witzgall noted a procession of people following him into position. If this A-list treatment weren’t enough, the judges too were impressed, and eventually capped the weekend by awarding his Vette with the coveted Celebrity Choice Award.
What do you drive? A 1969 Chevrolet Corvette.
Why do you drive it? This car is a blast to drive. The sound, the power, the incredible handling — there aren’t many 40-year-old cars that will outperform their evolved modern-day incarnations. This is one car that can.
What makes this vehicle so special? This is a one-of-a-kind original — a perfect blend of vintage and modern elements, producing a timeless car that can be appreciated by all generations. This car is both form and function.
What was your most memorable driving experience? Shortly after buying it, I spent four months stripping down the frame and suspension and installing all-new aftermarket parts in addition to having a high-horsepower engine built. I cautiously pushed the car harder and harder over about 40 miles before I completely opened it up. It was at this point I thought I saw something actually fly past the car on the driver’s side. Next I thought I heard a clank, but wasn’t sure. Then, two more objects flew by on the driver’s side, followed by one more on the passenger side. Then it hit me — those were my lug nuts flying by. Instant panic went through my mind, but I stayed composed enough to not hit the brakes and coasted to a safer speed prior to applying light pressure to the brake pedal. By the time I pulled over, most of my lug nuts were gone and several wheel studs had broken off. The car stopped with two wheels hanging on the last threads of the wheel studs. I am now the poster child for rechecking wheel torque after every other drive.
What was the first car you owned? My first car was a 1977 Toyota Celica coupe, handed down from my parents to my sister (for a one-year thrashing) and then to me. Fresh custom paint, new interior, custom sound system, and I was off to winning my first car show, and shortly after having the car stolen right out of my driveway. The car was located at a Maryland beach and returned to me — completely trashed.
What music are you currently listening to in your vehicle? Music? Music and 3.5-inch side pipes do not go together. I would have to upgrade my electrical system to install a stereo capable of playing above the decibels of my exhaust.
And your first ticket? What was it for? Not very exciting, but my first ticket was for tinted windows. All of my cars have always had tinted windows.
