One For Dad

Click image to see a gallery!Jimmy Ballinger, right, asked me to photograph him with his father, David Ballinger, and his black ’62 Corvette convertible to illustrate this sweet story he submitted to Corvette Forum: Click here to see the gallery of photos!

One for Dad

I had purchased a 65 convertible after wanting one since I was a teenager. A couple of years later I had a particularly good year at work and was wanting to buy a new Z06. I had already gone to the dealership to place an order, but started feeling guilty. My Dad was so proud of me and was all for me buying another one for myself.

My dad was a mailman for 37 years and worked his whole life to raise my sister and me after my mom left. He could stretch a penny a mile. We never wanted for anything and my Dad would never buy anything for himself. He wore the same sport jacket for about 30 years whenever he would need to dress up. He had always told me about he had always wanted a 62 corvette, but then I came along, and then my sister, and then a brother (who died at 3 years old). He just could not afford to go to college or much less get that 62 corvette.

It just kept nagging at me that I could not stand the thought of me having 2 corvettes and my Dad not ever experiencing the joy of driving a 62. So I went out and bought a black 62 with red interior and gave it to him on Father’s Day about 5 years ago. The only stipulation is that when he passes on, it comes back to me and I will keep it until I am am too old to drive it. We played golf the day before I gave it to him, and ironically on the way home that day, he said “Son, if I ever hit the lottery, you and I are going shopping for a 62 corvette the next day.” When I gave it to him the next day, I had it up on my buddy’s lift. When my Dad came in we lowered it down and it had a big red bow lying across the hood. I put a card under the wiper. On the inside it said, “Dad, you just hit the lottery! I love you. Jimmy.” He started crying tears of happiness and said “No son, I hit the lottery 39 years ago.” (meaning when I was born). It choked me up then.

That was the happiest day of my life and I have never regretted for one second giving my Dad that car. He loves it. Man, does he polish and tinker on that car! He has also made so many close friends and he goes cruising with them almost every weekend. My only regret now is that sometimes I am so busy that I don’t get out and cruise with him as much as I should.

Funny thing is, Dad would always come over to my buddy’s shop (Ernie at Willcox) on Saturday mornings after we all ate breakfast. He always loved Ernie’s red 62 and even got us to take pictures of him sitting in it a couple of times. (see below of the pics of him in Ernie’s car before he got his). We knew he would spot the black 62 on Ernie’s lift the moment he walked in the door. Sure enough, he walked in and immediately spotted it. He said, “Who’s car is that?” Ernie said “I don’t know, why don’t you ask the guy who bought it.” Then we lowered it down and gave it to him. A day I will NEVER forget and probably my proudest moment to be able to give something back my pops! Jim

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