In 1963 two of my fraternity brothers had brand new Split Windows. They were futuristic compared to the others new 1963 cars. Both were 340 HP: one was Sebring Silver/Black and the other Riverside Red/Black. They were the envy of everyone on campus. I rode in the Red one a few times and this was my first ride with a "new" Corvette.

Home from college the summer of 1963, my Aunt Sil allowed me to borrow her new car. She had purchased a FI Split Window and that was the first Corvette I ever drove. When I first drove it, it was still like brand new: 360 HP, 4 speed, 4:56 and metallic brakes. The first time I accelerated at WOT, the cigarette ligher actually flew out of the dash. It was kind of scary compared to the MG-B that I owned but I really liked it and never forgot how quick it was.

Soon my cousin Steve became the primary driver and it became even faster. Below her son Steve is mounting slicks for a street run.

After mounting the slicks, he began to do burn outs. He was a real street racer. He carried two slicks behind the seats. The spare tire carrier was removed, because it intefered with the individual exhaust dumps he welded to the pipes ahead of the mufflers. The dumps were mounted right where the pipes turn towards the sides of the car, right after they come down the center of the car. They were capped off with a plate and 3 large wings nuts. He would crawl under, undo the nuts and voila: straight pipes.

I am not bragging, but this 327 was fast. The original 327 engine was balanced and blue printed by Bill Haenealt shop (sp?) G&H Engineering. My cousin Steve worked part time at Bills shop. Bills regular clients included several CanAm race car owners in the 1960's.

Steve told me that he never lost a street race to any other Corvette, small or big block. However, he did manage to eventually throw a rod through that original block after he returned from Viet Nam in 1968. He lost interest in it and when I saw it was up for sale, I purchased it.

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