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Panama Yellow

“Don’t Wait Until You Retire to do Something”

Tara Restored her Stepfather’s Panama Yellow 1958 Corvette


1958 wasn’t all about Barbie dolls, hula hoops, and the “Cha Cha” dance craze. 1958 was a big year for the Chevrolet Corvette. In fact, a total of 9,168 convertible versions were created. That was a huge leap in production when compared to 1957 when only 3,467 were made. You may be wondering what sets this classic apart from the rest. The answer is: a louvered hood, chrome spears on the trunk lid, and the innovative four-headlight design.

Tara Bush in Longwood, Florida is the owner of a beautiful Panama Yellow 1958 Chevy Corvette. Her Corvette used to belong to Ron Olpp, Tara’s stepfather. He purchased the car in 1966 for only $600. Originally, the car was a turquoise color with a surfer painted on the side. He used to race the vehicle on Daytona Beach. Tara explained when they did the frame-off restoration, there were some rust holes in the frame, and every time you would hit it, sand would pour out. Funny thing is, they collected about a half bucket’s worth of Daytona Beach from the frame.

Ron retired the Corvette from racing in 1972 and parked the vehicle on a trailer. Although he purchased parts for it throughout the 70’s with plans to restore it once he retired, the car sat in storage for several years. In 2000, Ron’s health began to fail and that’s when Tara stepped up to the plate. She began the restoration herself! She completed the car 3 years later, but unfortunately, Ron passed away before he could see the finished product. Throughout this process, Tara learned an important lesson: “Don’t wait until you retire to do something.”

When Ron bought the car, it had a 13:1 1963 Corvette 327 under the hood. The factory four-speed transmission was replaced with an impressive Turbo 350 automatic, due to limited legroom. Tara explained, “My knees already hit the steering wheel, so driving the four-speed was uncomfortable and impractical.”

The best part is, many parts on the car are original. Some are NOS parts that Ron purchased as he was planning the restoration. The interior was redone with original “off the roll” GM materials, as well as the convertible top. And the Wonderbar radio is intact and still functioning, so Tara can cruise around town listening to her favorite tunes.

This car has been in Tara’s family for over 50 years, and that won’t be changing any time soon. Hopefully, the Corvette will be passed down for generations. If you have a classic Chevrolet Corvette that you would like to restore, be sure to contact Eckler’s Family of Automotive Parts for your car parts and accessories.

OWNER: Tara Bush, FL

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