A Lifetime Of Memories With A 1964 Corvette

August 27, 2021 by Rod Worley
The Davis family in Meza, Arizona in 1988
Teri, Kimberly, Michael, & BillThe Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde once said, “Memory is the diary we all carry around with us.” For Bill Davis and his family, three generations share a lifetime of memories with their 1964 Silver Blue Corvette in their diaries.

We first met Bill on his walk up to the stage to collect another “Best in Show” award for his stunning mid-year. So often, we’re fond of saying, “Every Corvette owner has a story to tell.”

We didn’t know his story would span three generations.

Thankfully, Bill graciously shared his time, story, and photos with us. What follows is an edited transcript of our conversation about the passage of time and memories revolving around a beautiful Silver Blue Corvette.

A Corvette As Inspiration

Rod Worley – Editor – Bill, your 1964 Silver Blue Corvette is a stunning example of a mid-year. How did it make its way into your family?

Bill Davis – Well, Rod, my Father, and two of my brothers bought the Corvette in March of 1969 for my brother Bob, who was fighting leukemia. The doctors had only given him about two weeks to live at the time.

Bob loved Corvettes, so my Mother parked it outside of his first-floor hospital room as inspiration for him to get better. He would look at it from his hospital room and dream of being well enough to drive it one day.

That day came in May of 1969 when, much to the surprise of his doctors, he was well enough to leave the hospital. So Bob eventually got his chance to slide behind the wheel of the ’64, though only for about a month.

In August of 1969, just before his 19th birthday, he passed away from the disease he had been battling for two years.
Bill Davis driving in the 1969 Homecoming Parade
Waynedale High School, Apple Creek, Ohio

Homecoming Memories

Rod Worley – Editor – Seriously, getting to drive in a homecoming parade when you’re 15 years old had to be an exciting experience. How did you get the chance to drive the Corvette at the event?

Bill Davis – Waynedale High School in Apple Creek, Ohio, was our local high school. They had asked my Father to drive the Corvette in the 1969 Fall homecoming parade.

My Father agreed, providing they let me drive. At the time, I was about six months away from being 16 years old and didn’t have my driver’s license. So to get around it, one of my older brothers drove the car to the high school and then took it back home.

I’m sure the school wouldn’t let a 15-year-old drive in the parade today. But for me, it was an experience I’ll never forget.

I graduated high school in 1972, and when I return for reunions, my friends still bring up that homecoming parade almost 50 years later.

 

Restoration by Randy Gerber

Frame Off Restoration

Rod Worley – Editor – When did you decide to buy the Corvette from your Father and older brothers? You’ve mentioned you had a frame-off restoration done on the Vette as well.

Bill Davis – Years ago, my Father passed away. So the Corvette was just in the family, you know, like a family car, though I was the main driver.

Then in the mid 90’s I bought the car from my brothers and set out to do a complete frame-off restoration. In fact, my best friend in high school, Randy Gerber, did the restoration work from 2016 to 2018.

Randy has had an excellent reputation restoring vintage cars for the past 25 years or so. He is so meticulous with every aspect of his work.

Every piece that came off the car was numbered, bagged, and cataloged. It doesn’t matter what brand he’s working on; when he’s done, it’s a show-quality car.

All the gauges, radio, and dash are original and unrestored, but we added a vintage air conditioning unit. It looks factory installed with no extra buttons or switches.
Bill’s daughter Kimberly
On her wedding day

Love Affair Continues

Rod Worley – Editor – The photo of your daughter in her wedding dress beside your Corvette is priceless. Have your children and grandchildren made a connection with the Vette as well?

Bill Davis – I can remember riding in the passenger seat as my brother Bob drove it shortly after getting out of the hospital. My children have sat in that same seat, as well as my grandchildren.

Each of our family’s generations has made their own memories growing up with this ’64 in the family. One of my favorite moments was when my daughter Kimberly asked to include the Corvette in her wedding photos.

Though honestly, there have been so many treasured memories involving this car. What is exciting to me is how our grandchildren are beginning to enjoy a ride with the top down and the roar of the side pipes.
Bill Davis with Chip Foose at YearOne event

 

Photo by Kelly GennRare silver interior
Photo by Kelly Genn

Lifetime Of Memories

They say photography is the art of frozen time, the ability to store emotions and feelings within a frame.

You can’t help but feel it’s true as you look over these still images.

One thing is true, Bill Davis and his family have a lifetime of memories around their 1964 Silver Blue Corvette.
Bill & Teri Davis
Photo by Kelly Genn