[RIDES] Dan’s 1980 Corvette

Aug 4, 2022

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Photo Credit: Dan Crisp

We always love to hear from our Corvette readers who want to share their Corvette Story, and today we received this great submission from Dan Crisp of Houston, Texas. Dan’s 1980 Corvette has been in the family since new and we find out how it came to be his on this edition of RIDES.

Finding a car that has been in the same family for over forty-two years is fairly rare, but Dan Crisp in the Houston, TX area has one. It is a 1980 Corvette with a 5.7 350 cubic inch numbers matching engine, three-speed automatic transmission, and original interior with 54,000 miles.

Dan with his mother and the Corvette in 1981

The 1980 Corvette was purchased new by his mother in Florida in 1980. She kept it for a couple of years before giving it to Dan’s brother, Jerry. Jerry would use the Corvette as a daily driver in Houston for a year or so before moving to Kentucky. As he lived on a bumpy old country road, Jerry didn’t drive it too often. He kept it garaged but neglected regular maintenance. After he was diagnosed with colon cancer, it sat in his garage untouched for about twelve years.

After Jerry passed away in 2019, Dan got the car and brought it back to Houston in February 2020. He’s been restoring it as his budget allowed for the past two and one-half years.

Jerry and Dan

It has been repainted the original Arctic White with a medium pearl added. All the rubber had rotted and needed to be replaced. Front and rear suspension were rebuilt, and front and rear seals were replaced. The brakes, exhaust, carburetor, manifold, tires, and radiator were also replaced, along with a long list of minor repairs. As you can see from the photo below, it’s already an award-winning Corvette!

Dan has put many hours of work into it, but he calls it a labor of love. Dan tells us that when he drives the 1980 Corvette, he can feel the presence of his mother and brother. His eight grandchildren love riding in it and Dan says he plans on keeping it in the family so that the next generation can continue to enjoy it.

Dan and his family-owned 1980 Corvette

Source:
Photos Courtesy of Dan Crisp

1 COMMENT

Phil B. Aug 5, 2022 At 5:10 am

Great story, my first Corvette I had the pleasure of owning back in 1992 was a Dark Green one with doeskin interior and I loved the way the 80 to 82’s body looked, I had it for 13 years until I sold it to by my 63 roadster, love the 63, but that 1980 still has a special place in my heart.