I'm an engineer (currently doing software, previously did mechanical) and live in the Chicagoland area.

Last summer, after 4 months of looking and researching I bought a 1967 roadster. At first I wanted to buy a '58-'62 generation vette because I really liked the classic styling, but then when I saw them side by side with stingrays at the "Chevy and Corvette" show at McCormick place last year I changed my mind. The handling and more comfy seating of the midyears clinched it.

Although I really like how the coupes look, I have always enjoyed having a convertible and wanted a roadster. The sidepipes were a must. Plus I liked the '67 427's stinger hood.

Mechanically, I wanted a car that I could drive often, that didn't eat too much gas, was fast and wouldn't need to be worked on. I wanted it to be in nice but not necessarily 'museum' condition. Originality was not a big priority for me either.

I used the newspaper, Corvette & Chevy Trader magazine and to some degree the internet to search. Most of the vettes I found were in 'jaded' condition, in other words were sitting unused in a garage. Finally, in the Chicago Tribune I found one guy who had the same priorities that I did: a fast but streetable, great handling, decent on gas, great looking car. In fact between the time I first talked to him and when I picked it up, he rebuilt the motor, put in new shocks, new water pump and a bunch of other stuff. Clearly, he cared about his car.

--matt