- May 5, 2024
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Paul Messick in his dad's 1977 corvette (Photos by Emily Blackwood).
The exterior of the car before the restoration.
Sam Hall and Paul Messick
The interior of the car before the restoration.
The restoration of the interior of the car included digital gages and a new stereo.
Paul Messick's dad sold the car in 1995.
Paul Messick and his father have two things in common: the same name and a love for corvettes.
When Messick was 2 years old, his father bought a bright red 1977 corvette that would be in his life a lot longer than he could have ever predicted. His father drove it until Messick took over in high school. In 1995, Messick's father traded in the corvette for a newer one in New Symrna Beach, and Messick's father died just a few years later.
After two decades passed, Messick was browsing old cars on Craiglist when he stumbled upon a 1977 red corvette in New Symrna Beach. Though it was similar to the car his father had, he thought there was no way it could be the same one.
"My mom found the original VIN number on an old insurance card," he said. "Then I found a receipt with my dad's name on it under the jack of the car. It was definitely his."
Messick could only describe the car's condition as a "basket case." Desperately in need of repairs, he took it to the Auto Clinic of Ormond.
"It was barely running," said Co-Owner Sam Hall. "We had to give him the bad news that the frame was rusted through. But he found a full frame online in Texas that was shipped over to us."
Hall and his team spent the next three years cleaning the car up and giving it upgrades like a new engine and a 6-speed transmission. Hall said this isn't the first major car project he's taken on.
"Everyone wants the car they drove in high school," he laughed.
Messick said he wishes his father was here to see the car restored to its former glory.
"He probably would call me an idiot for doing all this," Messick laughed, "but I'm sure he'd like to see it."
