A classic car fanatic has finally completed the restoration of his iconic Corvette Stingray after working on the model for over 20 years.
76-year-old Albie Carr has added the finishing touches to a painstaking reworking of the legendary American model after working on and off on the project since 2000.
Albie decided to take the car off the roads to convert the heads to unleaded when lead-based petrol was banned at the turn of the millennium.
However, the work quickly developed into a full-scale restoration with the engine and suspension among components upgraded.
Featuring on Forever Cars, a page looking at the best restorations on the road provided by Adrian Flux, the final product has now seen the light of day with Albie back behind the wheel two decades on
Albie said: “I can’t think of anything on there I haven’t done, and it runs better now than when I first got it, although it doesn’t start easily in the morning when it’s cold.
“I could go in the garage and not think about anything, just enjoy myself doing what I was doing. It was my hobby, the only hobby I’ve ever had.”
Albie fell in love with the Corvette Stingray after watching US crime drama ‘Judge Hardcastle’ in 1983. He quickly went about sourcing a model and almost agreed on a deal for a car in Yarmouth before the model caught fire.
He eventually opted for a Stingray sold at Corvette Kingdom but realised he needed extra funds to match the £3,800 asking price.
Initially, the bank manager was sceptical in handing over the money but to Albie’s surprise, they did a full U-turn 24 hours later.
“I asked him what made him change his mind, and he said ‘I know nothing about cars, but I got in touch with a man at an insurance company, told him what it was and he said ‘if he doesn’t buy it, I’ll buy it’.”
With lead fuel banned, Albie got to work on making the car fit for the 21st century with his small project escalating into a full reworking.
After no time at all, Albie had stripped the bodywork and had prepared the car to be resprayed. Work was also conducted on the suspension with a new roll bar added to the rear.
The model’s brakes, associated cylinders, and stainless steel brake pipes were also reworked. The car features a new petrol tank, new bearings and cam bearing head.
Entirely new electrics were also restored and a rebuilt four-speed gearbox re-installed. The final piece of the jigsaw, for Albie was the introduction of a brand-new hood cover
Albie explained: “I only took it round the corner, about half a mile, and I’d forgotten how many people look at it.
“Coming back there was a lot of traffic, but everything stops to let you out. If you were in an ordinary car you wouldn’t get out, but they all want to see what it is.
“It’s definitely satisfying to see it finished. I’m going to enjoy it now, and I’ll drive it as long as it’s still comfortable for me.”