Classic Corvette ownership has one very amazing advantage: do it right, and owning / driving the greatest sports car produced in America is free.

How this is possible is based on the simple theory that a desirable work of art, for which the demand exceeds the supply, will appreciate. Do a good job of purchasing the right car and make good choices during your ownership and the asset will climb in value.

There are some rules that must be followed to attain this automotive enthusiast nirvana. To start with, driving is limited as a lot of miles added will detract from the value, both in terms of overall miles and the wear and tear that accompanies heavy usage. You also must maintain it such that as the years go by, the condition is at least preserved or improved upon.

Those with a business background may argue the point. They'll point out that there are many costs that are often ignored such as storage, taxes and labor. All valid points of course, but it is still possible to own a very special automobile and come out a $$ winner.

With all that as a background, I'll be keeping a blog of the expenses incurred in the course of owning a 1968 Corvette convertible.

Date	Vendor	Item	Cost
December-00-0000			$0.00
December-00-0000			$0.00
June-08-2011	Department of Motor Vehicles	Sales tax and DMV fees	$2,063.00
June-08-2011	Mercury	Insurance, annual	$409.00
June-08-2011	Original owner	1968 Safari Yellow Corvette Convertible	$21,000.00
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Brake caliper / machine front rotors (labor)	$218.90
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Right rear spring pad bolt & nut	$14.75
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Replace rear spring pad bushings / cut off right bolt and replace	$139.30
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Shipping	$9.50
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Replace headlight switch (labor)	$39.80
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Replace left rear axle bearings and seal (labor)	$208.95
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Remove / install speedometer / tachometer (labor)	$248.75
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Rebuild speedometer / odometer / tachometer	$500.00
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Spring pad bushing	$29.85
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Headlight switch	$89.90
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Grease Seals	$21.86
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Seal	$20.82
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Bearing	$17.25
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Race	$8.41
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Bearing	$17.98
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Front brake calipers	$365.50
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Oil Seal	$38.40
July-16-2011	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Inspection / Evaluation	$109.45
November-07-2011	Zip Corvette	Shipping / Handling	$34.74
November-07-2011	Zip Corvette	Seat Mount Shim Kit w/bag	$30.00
November-07-2011	Zip Corvette	Quartz Clock	$169.95
November-07-2011	Zip Corvette	Black Vinyl Floor Mats	$32.95
November-07-2011	Zip Corvette	Reproduction inside mirror + Miscellaneous	$142.60
November-07-2011	Zip Corvette	Key Fob	$8.95
February-19-2012	CA DMV	Personalized Plates \"SFRI YLW\"	$49.00
February-25-2012	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Carb rebuild labor / installation / adjustment	$218.90
February-25-2012	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Carb rebuild kit / Fuel filter / Float	$75.25
February-25-2012	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Oil, Oil Filter, Zinc Additive	$38.31
March-12-2012	Mike Bradley\'s Automotive	Rear Brake Calipers	$359.20
March-12-2012	Mile Bradley's Automotive	Labor - Rear Brake Caliper Repair	$199.00
March-17-2012	Pep Boys	Bosch Battery 24-700B	$117.04
May-12-2012	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Brake Master Cylinder / Fluid	$96.47
May-12-2012	Mike Bradley's Automotive	Brake Master Cylinder Labor	$119.40
November-20-2012	CSSB Inc	Deluxe Front End Rebuild Kit stage III p/n SU01B_68 1 with POLY VV-SU00B_68; polyurethane bushings	$360.00
November-20-2012	Paul Wustrack	Oil pan gasket; radiator cap; thermostat	$37.18
November-30-2012	Paul Wustrack	Oil / Filter	$35.23
November-30-2012	Paul Wustrack	Shocks, Center Links	$200.00
November-30-2012	Paul Wustrack	Exhaust Gasket	$0.00
November-30-2012	Paul Wustrack	Labor: Front end rebuild; oil change; valve cover gasket; exhaust gasket; oil pan gasket; oil pan repair; miscellaneous items.	$1,425.00
December-01-2012	Service Tire Company	Four wheel alignment	$80.00
March-12-2013	Zip-Corvette	67-69 Steering Column Coupler - Lower w/Rag Joint	$99.99
April-15-2013	Paul Wustrack	Labor - install steering couple, misc. front end / steering work	$150.00
April-20-2013	AutoZone	Header Gasket	$21.95
May-09-2013	Summit Racing	BFG SILVERTOWN REDLINE TIRE x 4	$960.95
May-14-2013	Service Tire Co.	Mount, balance four tires, four wheel alignment	$180.00
June-13-2013	Eckler's Corvette	Seat Back Pivot Screw, 1963-1970 Early; Seat Pivot Screw Washers, 1963-1978	$15.97
June-24-2013	Dave - Corvette Boneyard	1969 steering wheel, reproduction horn button, salvaged horn switch, misc. steering wheel adapter parts	$275.00
August-09-2013	Paul Wustrack	Labor - installation of steering wheel	$50.00
February-01-2014	J&D Corvette	Labor: align alternator and bolt to head properly: $95; align alternator and bolt to head properly: $145; replace fan clutch: $35; speedo cable: $95; diff. service: $49.50; trans oil service: 449.50; adjust shifter linkage: $55.10; oil / lube / filter: $20	$544.10
February-01-2014	J & D Corvette	alternator belt: $16.95; alternator bracket (used): $69; water pump: $89.99; coolant: $25; lower radiator hose: $27.95; water pump pulley: $79.99; hose clamps: $3; 5 blade fan: $79; fan clutch: $279; speedo cable: $23.99; diff oil additive: $9.95; diff oil: $19.95; trans oil: $18.95; Conv. oil: $14.95; oil filter: $5.99; waste disposal: $3.50; sales tax: $68.73	$835.99
December-03-2016	West Valley Service Center	Oil Change	$21.75
October-24-2017	West Valley Service Center	Tune Up, tune up parts	$285.14
November-17-2017	Gil's Muffler Shop	Exhaust System	$792.75
November-20-2017	Eckler's	Key Blank, quantity: three	$20.76
April-27-2018	Automotive Classics	Tune up, Plugs, Wires, Valve Cover Gasket, Header Gasket, Fuel Filter, Fuel Pump	$986.29
July-12-2018	Automotive Classics	R&R Heater core, Thermostat.	$632.63
Total:			$35,273.81

Fuel Cost
I've kept a log of every fill-up, at least those after the odometer was repaired; it wouldn't have made sense to record them with the odometer not functioning. As of January 20, 2025 I've driven it 34,320 miles. The overall fuel economy is 24.61 MPG. There have been 144 fill ups. With a total fuel cost of $6,963.21, the average gasoline cost is $4.13 per gallon. All fill-ups have been with 91 octane gasoline, the highest grade available in California.