Month: January 2014

If you visit the American Collectors Insurance website, you’ll find a page called “Tell Us Your Story,” where enthusiasts are encouraged to share tales about their vehicles.

That’s where we found a very unusual story that proves Corvette fever can afflict anyone, even a Rabbi!

Rabbi Barry Konovitch’s story begins in 1968 when he says he saw a new C3 Corvette and immediately knew he had to have one.

Fortunately, a friend of his Dad owned a Chevy dealership in Yonkers and had a red ‘Vette available because the dealer’s wife decided she wanted a diamond necklace instead! Oh well, guess everyone can’t be a Corvette fanatic.

Rabbi Konovitch says he was a little embarrassed about his new Corvette to start with since he was the associate Rabbi at one of the largest congregations in New York and a flashy sports car might set tongues wagging. So he parked his beautiful new love around the corner for a few days until one of his parishioners finally squealed on him.

Come to find out, though, there was no need for him to worry. He says most of his congregants thought the car was cool.

Now here’s the really cool part – he still has the car 45 years later!

Even cooler, though, is the story he tells of his first big trip in his new Corvette in the summer of 1968 with his wife, Aileen.

Naturally, with the 327/350 engine, Rabbi Konovitch found it hard to maintain the legal speed limit and soon found himself being followed closely for miles by an officer of the Canadian Mounted Police. Finally, the blue lights came on, and the Rabbi was terrified he was about to be hauled in front of a judge for speeding, though he had been careful to stay at a reasonable speed after seeing the law enforcement officer in his rearview mirror.

To his surprise, though, all the officer wanted was to take a look at what was then a pretty rare sight, especially in Canada. Probably the owners of the 2014 Stingray can relate!

“I haven’t seen the new Corvette in Canada,” the officer said. “Yours is the first one, and I couldn’t help but taking a good look. I hope you don’t mind.”

Like all proud new “fathers,” the Rabbi was quick to tell the officer all about the car, even letting him sit behind the wheel and show him under the hood.

We get the feeling that Rabbi Konovitch is just as enthusiastic about his Corvette nearly half a century later.

You can read more about this “cool” but once shy Rabbi at www.americancollectors.com.

Source:
AmericanCollectors.com

Related:
Bob Drews’ 40 Year Love Affair with a 1957 Corvette
Peter Haeckl Recounts His Lifetime Love Affair with the Corvette
Passion for a 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Passed from Father to Daughter