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Full restoration of 1960 Corvette brings car to lif

By JESSICA GRIFFIN/Sun Staff Writer     Saturday, May 14, 2005 9:51 A
ED

Bob and Debra Staton enjoy being followed

When they are driving on the interstate, the Winchester couple say
people drive past them gawking, sometimes even videotaping them o
shouting questions, but they don't mind

They love talking about their recently restored 1960 black Corvett
and attention is welcome. Their car even garnered national attentio
when it appeared in the June edition of Vette Magazine

"People just can't believe it's in that good of condition to be tha
old," said Bob

But the good condition didn't come easily

Bob purchased the car in 1968 for a mere $1,000. While he says i
wasn't in spectacular condition when he bought it, it was nothing
little orange paint and a few modifications couldn't fix

Those were the days when everyone had to have a hot rod, he said

"When I first bought it, everybody wanted to have a car with mor
horsepower and do what you weren't supposed to do," he said

When he met Debra, he escorted her on many dates in the car - whic
then had black stripes on its orange hue - and the two prowled aroun
town in the tiger-striped car until well after their wedding day

When their two children were born, however, the two-seater just wasn'
practical anymore. Unwilling to part with the classic car, Bob an
Debra parked it in their barn, where it stayed for more than 2
years

The couple always said they would restore the car, but the time didn'
come until their youngest son left for college

The two set a budget and began a project that would take the
four-and-a-half years and much more money than they'd anticipated

"We added power steering, power brakes and all the amenities of a ne
car, which makes it a lot more fun to drive," Debra said

They painted the car black with white accents and changed everythin
"but the frame and body, windshield and grill.

The restoration has been a project for both of the Statons, with Bo
doing the mechanic work and Debra making sure the car shines befor
and after each outing

The black paint requires such meticulous caretaking, Debra says, tha
she joined the Black Sheep Squadron - a national club exclusively fo
owners of black Corvettes who "understand the agony and the ecstasy o
owning a black Corvette.

In addition to the Black Sheep Squadron, the Statons also belong t
several other Corvette clubs and are members of the National Corvett
Museum, located in Bowling Green

It was during one of their many visits to the museum that the coupl
won their most prized award for the car - Dick Guldstrand's Celebrit
Choice award at the museum's 10th Anniversary. They also have wo
several other awards in car shows around the nation

During their travels with the car, the couple has met people from al
over the country and just had fun being with each other

"We've always had a close relationship and this is just a hobby tha
we both enjoy doing," Debra said

The couple says that it is a "fun car," and they wouldn't get rid o
it for anything

"A man once offered six figures for it and we turned it down," Bo
said. "This car is not for sale.

http://www.winchestersun.com/articles/2005/05/20/local_news/features/feature9938.tx

In 1968, Bob Staton, left, purchased this 1960 Corvette for a mer
$1,000. After a few years of driving the car, Bob and his wife Debra
right, stored the car in a barn where it sat for more than 20 years
Now, after four-and-a-half years of restoration, this 45-year-old ca
shines like new. (Sun photo by James Mann